Whitfield County plans to renovate park, buildings

Jamie Jones

July 21, 2008 09:26 pm

— Changes may be coming to the Tunnel Hill historic park and two Whitfield County buildings.
The Whitfield County Board of Commissioners on Monday approved three contracts totaling $85,799 to upgrade Administrative Building No. 2, the Emergency Services Building and the Tunnel Hill park. The vote was 3-0. Commissioner Greg Jones did not attend the meeting and chairman Brian Anderson votes only to break ties.
Dalton-based American Consulting Professionals will conduct engineering and permitting services for the Tunnel Hill historic park, which is adjacent to the Western and Atlantic Railroad tunnel, at a cost of $37,049. The county plans two walking trails and other additions.
Atlanta-based MACTEC will perform a feasibility study to expand and upgrade Administrative Building No. 2, which is across from the courthouse at the corner of King and Selvidge streets, for $33,750. Commissioners hold their business meetings there. The building, which is a former church, needs significant upgrades, county administrator Bob McLeod said. It needs to be weatherized, made handicapped accessible, and have the plumbing and bathrooms redone.
Dalton-based Carlson-Jones Architects will design development and construction plans to expand the Emergency Services Building, which is on Professional Boulevard, for $15,000. McLeod said the building needs to be expanded since staffing and the facility’s operations have grown.
All projects will be funded by the county’s capital budget.