Commissioners discuss 2016 SPLOST, road work

Pike County commissioners discussed potential 2016 SPLOST projects as well as other road issues and work in the county at their Dec. 9 meeting. County manager John Hanson said striping of Williamson-Zebulon Road will begin soon and then Cook Road, McKinley Road, Old Meansville Road, Buchanan Road and Carver Road will be restriped as well.Commissioners approved the 2016 LMIG project list which is submitted to the Georgia Department of Transportation each year. ’We always put at least two to three projects in case there are funds left to use,’ said county manager John Hanson. ’We fully intend to resurface all three roads, including New Hope Road, Shepherd Road and Jonathon’s Roost Road.’Hanson said the resurfacing of Roberts Quarters Road would be the first project if the 2016 SPLOST passes. He briefly discussed the plan to use SPLOST funds in conjunction with LMIG funds to contract for the paving of several roads at once in order to get a cheaper price. Hanson said work has been ongoing on replacing a culvert at Old Zebulon Road and employees were digging out the area to replace the failed culvert with a larger culvert pipe. During the Dec. 9 county commission meeting, commissioners:’¢ Heard that the Parks and Recreation Authority will apply for a trails grant for Flanders Farm after the trail around the park was denied the grant. Hanson said the trail at Flanders Farm better fits the grant requirements and would be available to all citizens. The proposed trail location is the site of old county road that went through the area. ’¢ Approved the GDOT radar list which consists of all the roads in Pike County, their speed limits, distances and other information. The list must be approved by the commission each year for officers to be allowed to write speeding tickets. ’¢ Approved 2014-15 year-end budget amendments. ’¢ Heard from county attorney Tom Morton about the Council on Aging board and a recent overhaul of the council in Pike and Spalding which will provide hot meals and services for the area’s growing population of elderly citizens. He also informed the board about the Pike County Transportation Committee which needs to start planning for transportation changes that will come after updates to the Savannah port and resulting westward shipping routes. ’¢ Approved renewal of alcohol licenses for retail sales of beer for Jack Park, doing business as The Cedars Golf Course in Zebulon and The Pines Golf Course in Williamson.’¢ Approved the renewal of an alcohol license for retail sales of beer for Rakesh Chouraia, doing business as Mountain View store on Highway 19 south.