Mayor Thomas Seabolt told members of the McCaysville City Council, “Maybe by the next meeting we can have some concrete information for you.”
Seabolt’s comments followed a discussion and concerns over the appearance of the Toccoa River Park and the lack of bidders to complete projects funded by a OneGeorgia grant.
The discussion began after Councilwoman Sue Beaver said, “Don’t give up on us” in regard to a lack of progress at the park. She assured the council the project would be done and that city officials were trying to get someone to do the job.
No one submitted a bid for the March 26 bid opening. An early effort seeking bids produced the same result.
City Clerk Nancy Godfrey said, as a result, the state will “let us request sole source procurement if we can find someone.”
Seabolt said he has someone that might possibly do the job.
Councilwoman Susan Kiker said there is landscaping needed in the park and that would help its appearance.
Beaver told her, “the landscaping is in the plan,” referring to the work for which bids were sought.
After further questions from Kiker and Councilman Jason Woody, Godfrey is to see if landscaping bids could be sought separately, and if that part of the work could go ahead and be completed.
In other action at the meeting, Police Chief Mike Earley said March had been the busiest month ever as his department was dispatched to 113 calls.
Still the department remains short-handed. Earley told the council he couldn’t find any help. “Nobody wants to do it anymore,” he said, speaking of law enforcement.