Resaca Battlefield project turned back over to DNR
Mar 19, 2010 | 744 views | 9 
| 7 
| 
| 
| 7 | |
The Calhoun Times conducted a reader poll asking readers what they thought of projects potential termination. Click to make larger.
Commissioners voted on the decision during their regular March 16 meeting, citing numerous complications, including financial ones, which have made the endeavor too difficult for the county to oversee.
County Attorney Suzanne Hutchinson pointed out the original agreement that the county entered into with the Department of Natural Resources had a strict timeline.
“There were certain dates the county had to meet in order to bid the project in order to be in compliance with the deadline for the bond money appropriated by the state in this project,” Hutchinson said.
During the Tuesday, March 16, meeting, Gordon County Board Of Commissioners also:
- Approved a zoning change from A-1 to C-6 for 1405 highway 41 North. The application was submitted by Larry Mulkey and Garland Cook.
n Approved a grant application for the Section 5311 Public Transportation Assistance.
n Approved a grant application for the Recreation Department to be submitted to the United Way. The grant would be for $10,000 and would go toward paying recreation fees for children who cannot afford to pay them. The grant requires no matching by the county.
An Army Corp of Engineers Wetland Permit is required for part of the project that is located in a flood plain, and Hutchinson told the board the state applied for it for it some time ago. The state’s original plan was to transfer that permit to the county, she said.
“We had to have that permit transferred in order to bid the project,” she explained.
Now, the Army Corp of Engineers officials have informed the state and county they will not be transferring the permit to the county.
Because there was a change in the ownership of the permit, the county, were it still overseeing the project, would actually have to apply for the permit. There would also be additional steps in that permit process that would take an additional six months. The additional permit would cost the county $100,000 and push the project cost past $3.3 million in state funds, the only state money dedicated to the endeavor.
“Basically we are at a standstill with the agreement at the present, because circumstances have changed on our end and on their end,” Hutchinson said.
Hutchinson said she contacted a DNR representative and explained that the county couldn’t even attempt to bid the project without the permit and would not know the final cost of the project.
County Administrator, Randy Dowling said the county was prepared to receive bids before officials learned of the need for the additional permit.
“The county staff fulfilled our responsibility in a timely manner, but this project was not represented by the state accurately,” Dowling said.
Moving forward
Hutchinson said she was informed that DNR would take responsibility for walking trails, road and signs leading to the site but not a visitor’s center now that the county has turned the project back over to the state.
“I would like to see the state move forward with it. It was their money, it was their land, it was their project,” said BOC Chairman Alvin Long.
However, Long also said that he felt the county could build the site cheaper, faster and better than the state could.
Long also took the time to apologize to Kenny Padgett, Chair of the Friends of Resaca Battlefield.
“In the economic situation we are facing, we as a county, the majority of the county should move forward,” Long said. “I know other people on this board have worked on it, but I have been on this thing myself for 10 years.”
Long said the economic benefits to Gordon County could have been substantial.
“I truly, in my heart of hearts, feel this would be an economic stimulus to Gordon County,” Long said. “We are not going to give up on this.”
While Padgett said while he and the Friends of Resaca are disappointed by the outcome of the contract between the state and county, the organization recognizes that many entities were willing to work toward the battlefield.
“I want to thank the Town of Resaca and the City of Calhoun for their financial efforts to assist Gordon County in getting the site opened,” Padgett said.
Both Calhoun and Resaca offered to assist in creating the road that would lead into the site.
“I think they all know the great loss of tourism dollars that we could have enjoyed,” Padgett said.
During the Tuesday, March 16, meeting, Gordon County Board Of Commissioners also:
- Approved a zoning change from A-1 to C-6 for 1405 highway 41 North. The application was submitted by Larry Mulkey and Garland Cook.
- Approved a grant application for the Section 5311 Public Transportation Assistance.
- Approved a grant application for the Recreation Department to be submitted to the United Way. The grant would be for $10,000 and would go toward paying recreation fees for children who cannot afford to pay them. The grant requires no matching by the county.
Postings are not edited and are the responsibility of the author. You agree not to post comments that are abusive, threatening or obscene. Postings may be removed at our discretion.
Judging by your post on this website.You have been getting your talking points from reliable places CNN ,Comedy Central and the Atlanta Journal.Oh yes the fundraising letters of the New Democratic Party. You sound like Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid !!Keeping on talking.
seems to describe the majority of the post by those who post the most.
A few years ago, family and I visited both battlefields.
$$$ spent at Chickamaugua and Kennesaw: Zero.
Planned return: No.
Truth IS a BUNCH of MONEY was made on that battlefield. Just asked the guy who sold the land to the state.
In a bruising recession, everything except leaders.
Long said. “I know other people on this board have worked on it, but I have been on this thing myself for 10 years.”
Translation: There is an opportunity for large campaign cash!