Leftover funds go to sidewalks, recreation

Columbia County commissioners recently decided to use up remaining discretionary funds from a 2001-05 special purpose local option sales tax for sidewalks and recreation projects.

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Commissioners met Aug. 14 and picked multiple roads to receive sidewalks from a $713,436 pot of transportation discretionary funds.

Commissioners earmarked more than $266,000 for sidewalk construction on Mullikin Road, where Evans resident Christian Giles was fatally struck last month by a Ford Expedition while walking on the edge of the road.

The estimated cost of the project is $275,000. Commissioners have not said where the remaining funds needed to build the sidewalk would be found.

Other roads selected for sidewalk construction included portions of Columbia Road, Brockwood Street, Blanchard Road, and on streets in Harlem and Grovetown.

Also, Commissioner Scott Dean decided to use $42,091, the remainder of his recreation discretionary fund from the 2001-05 SPLOST, to build restrooms at Eubank Blanchard Park.

Commissioner Diane Ford donated $60,000 of her $100,385 recreation sales tax money to complete the restroom project at the park. The rest of her funds will be used for campsite improvements at Wildwood Park.

Commissioners Ron Cross, Ron Thigpen and Tommy Mercer are awaiting a list of recreation needs within their districts before deciding how to spend their remaining discretionary funds.