Whitfield County approves business park bids

photo David Pennington, the mayor of Dalton, Ga., stands inside of the City Hall facility.

The Whitfield County Commission met in a specially called meeting Monday to approve more than $1 million to pay for projects at Carbondale Business Park.

It took commissioners only a few minutes Monday morning to approve two items awarding bids for the projects. The money will come from the county's capital fund.

Northwest Georgia Paving will receive about $975,000 to widen U.S. Highway 41 and put in turn and deceleration lanes at the intersection of U.S. 41 and Carbondale Business Park Road, according to the agreement.

The company also will install water and sewer lines to certain parts of the property to complete Phase I of the project.

The paving company placed the lowest bid out of five companies, county engineer Kent Benson told commissioners.

Commissioners also approved a bid to pay $35,950 to Moreland Altobelli Associates to do required studies before the next two phases of the park can be started.

The county hopes to receive state grants for at least some of the $2.9 million in costs projected to complete the infrastructure for the park, Benson told commissioners.

The county spent $5.85 million for 184 acres off exit 326 in southern Whitfield County in January 2010. In February, it announced that XL Brands, an adhesives company, would be the first business to purchase land in the park.

The Dalton City Council allotted considerably less money at its regular meeting Monday evening and had no major items on the agenda. It approved an Emergency Solutions Grant for the Salvation Army and agreed to give $3,450 for additional repairs to the Blunt House.

The council previously had approved about $7,000 in funding for repairs to the historic home on South Thornton Avenue. The Whitfield-Murray Historical Society, which owns the Blunt House, plans to open it to the public part time after the repairs are completed.

In other business, the council voted to change employees' pension plan contribution rate form 18.1 percent to 18.8 percent.

Mayor David Pennington noted the city had increased the contribution rate several times recently as more employees retired and the city has fewer employees.

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