Dahlonega Streetscape Phase One Has a Whopping $1.31 Million Price Tag

DAHLONEGA, Ga. — City officials learned Thursday the price tag for a proposed downtown streetscape has a much higher price tag than they had estimated.

The project, which is aimed at improving pedestrian safety and landscaping was originally estimated at $984,778. But during Thursday’s work session, council members were told there were six bidders and the lowest bid received was $1,316,979.77 from TriScapes, Inc.

Despite the miscalculation, Downtown Development Authority Director Joel Cordle recommended council accept the bid and move forward with Phase 1. Cordle said, based on current trends, the cost will only rise in coming months due to increasing costs of material and labor.

Council also discussed accepting Heavy Constructors Inc. bid of $2,495,125 for renovations to the City of Dahlonega Wastewater Treatment Facility.

Council also discussed amending the city’s ethics resolution to provide for the mayor or mayor pro tem to appoint three council members along with the city attorney to act as an investigating body to determine the validity of any ethics complaint and to dismiss or refer the complaint to the Board of Ethics.

In a special called meeting that followed the work session, Council approved the alcohol license application of Rick Clark, the registered agent of Kingwood Dahlonega International Resort dba Rick’s at Achasta, for consumption on the premises of beer, wine and distilled spirits with Sunday sales and outdoor sales permitted.

In other action, council approved a resolution to amend the Fiscal Year 2016 budget for each fund and prohibiting expenditures from exceeding the actual funding available.