GAINESVILLE -- After six months of discussions, revisions, and negotiations, Hall County Commissioners approved a $61,216 contract to completely strip and rebuild a tennis court in a Hoschton neighborhood that was damaged by a county water line installed beneath it.
John Mercer has spoken on behalf of neighbors in the Village at Deaton Creek, and said overall the process hasn't raised any ill will between neighbors and commissioners.
"We are all very pleased with the commission. There was never any real question from them. They were very supportive, and knew what the problem (was)," said Mercer.
County Purchasing Manager Tim Sims said the contract was awarded to the only returned bid (25 solicited); it exceeds the $55,000 originally budgeted for the work.
That did cause some concern as to whether or not commissioners would approve the bid, or resolicit bids once again, something they did back in February.
"We're just very grateful that we've seen this through, and it's come to fruition," said Mercer.
Commissioner Jeff Stowe added a "friendly amendment" to the motion, which was approved unanimously, that calls for this repair to be the last time the county has to "pour money" into this tennis court.
"We made a good faith effort to get this where it was (before the county water line was installed)," said Stowe.
The contract was awarded to Talbot Tennis, which is based in Marietta.
COMMISSION APPROVES DE-ANNEXATION REQUEST FOR CLERMONT PIZZA SHOP
Papa's Pizza to Go has asked to be de-annexed from the town of Clermont in order to serve alcohol at the restaurant.
Hall County Planning Director Srikanth Yamala confirmed the plan, and commissioners approved this phase of the de-annexation request.
According to Yamala, Clermont, which is a dry city, needs the county's approval before they can finish the de-annexation process, making sure the business won't be stuck in "no man's land."
Once Clermont gives the final nod, the pizza shop is free to obtain all the necessary busines licenses for the county and continue as normal.
OTHER NOTES
-The commission's voting session on May 14, 2015 has been moved up to 3:00 p.m. (from 6:00 p.m.) due to a scheduling conflict.
-64 individual road improvement projects that we mentioned earlier were given the go-ahead.
