Gilmer County commissioners agreed to hire a contractor for the Rock Creek Road bridge projects.
Charles Wells Services Inc. was given the contract for $1.2 million to place box culverts to replace the two bridges at a special called meeting May 25.
“They are not including the cost of ordering the culverts in their proposal,” Gilmer County Chair Charlie Paris said.
Commissioners declared the project an emergency at a special called meeting on May 22, so they could choose a contractor rather than bid the project out.
As part of the contract, Charles Wells Services will install and maintain a temporary bridge, demolish the old bridge and place the box culverts.
Gilmer County will be responsible for purchasing the box culverts, permitting the project and paving, along with some other pieces.
Paris said the culverts were running $143,000 for both of them.
“Now, that was before,” he said.
Commissioners approved the project moving forward with as much speed as possible.
Paris said the county would start the permitting process on an emergency basis, but when the culverts came in, they would begin the project.
“We will continue the permitting process, but we are not going to hold up on it because this is an emergency situation,” he said.
Civic center grant
Commissioners voted to apply for a DNR Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant to renovate the Gilmer County Civic Center.
The grant would be a matching grant of $146,500 from the fund and a matching amount from the county.
The grant would be used to renovate the gym, some offices, the interior bathrooms, pressure wash and some roof repair.
Emergency Management Director Keith Kucera told the board the grant deadline was coming up. Applications would be reviewed in November, and grants would be awarded next spring.