Grovetown Middle area closer to getting sidewalks

After months of talking about paying for them, sidewalks are coming to the area around Grovetown Middle School.

Columbia County officials have tentatively agreed to a contract with Georgia Paving for $57,184.60. That cost will be split among three government bodies: the city of Grovetown will pay $30,000, the school board will pay $15,271 and the county will chip in 11,913.60.

"This is something we need and had a real safety issue there with the kids walking to school," said county Board of Commissioners Chairman Ron Cross.

The county commissioners will offer final approval to the contract Tuesday night.

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The sidewalks will cover about 2,500 square feet to cover the area from the school to Adams Lane at the city limits.

The need for the improvement was brought to public attention by the school's principal Carolyn Fries, who sent a letter home to parents, among other notifications. She stated children walking to school along Harlem-Grovetown Road in the early morning hours are not easily visible and in danger because they have to walk on the shoulder of the road.

When officials first discussed the sidewalks, Grovetown offered $30,000, the county offered $12,000 and the Georgia Department of Transportation tentatively promised $24,000 - money left over from the city's greenway project. But the state's offer was rescinded after a closer look at the greenway project showed the project was going to cost more than first estimated.