SOUTH

Henry County

Bed tax raises $27K

Henry County has about $27,000 this year from its hotel-motel tax proceeds to spend on promoting tourism, according to a presentation given on behalf of the Convention and Visitors Bureau at the Sept. 4 meeting of the Board of Commissioners.

The money comes from the five-percent tax levied on every room sold in the county, and its use is restricted to tourism promotion. The money must be allocated by the end of the year, according to officials, although it doesn’t have to be completely spent by that time. A number of potential advertising vehicles and several possible attractions to promote were mentioned.

Commissioners made no public comments in response to the presentation and took no action.

MONROE ROARK FOR THE AJC

McDonough

City approves $50K for traffic signal

A few weeks after county officials approved a similar measure, the McDonough City Council agreed officially to step up with its share of the cost for a permanent traffic signal at McDonough Parkway and Highway 20/81.

The signal was intended to be temporary, installed by the Georgia Department of Transportation as part of its McDonough Parkway expansion project, but the state agency agreed to leave it if the county and city agreed to pay the costs of the installation. The Henry County Board of Commissioners officially approved its end of the bargain last month. The intergovernmental agreement approved at the City Council’s Sept. 6 workshop meeting calls for the city to contribute $50,000 toward the cost of the signal, and that money will come from the city’s SPLOST funds.

The vote was 6-0 with one council member absent from the meeting.

MONROE ROARK FOR THE AJC

Fayette County

End near for highway repaving

The much-anticipated end of the repaving of Ga. Hwy. 54 in Fayette County is almost near.

The city of Fayetteville reported on Sept. 17 that the Georgia Department of Transportation’s overnight crews are returning in order to finish the remaining work by the end of the month. The 12.5-mile project, which stretches from Fayetteville through Peachtree City to the Coweta County line, was delayed by heavy rain earlier in the summer, and by unforeseen foundation and stormwater pipe repairs.

All main travel lanes have been resurfaced except for a segment near N. Jeff Davis Drive. The asphalt topping on the turn lanes and intersections will be completed, followed by restriping. Crews are also re-installing the timing systems for traffic lights at finished intersections.

JILL HOWARD CHURCH FOR THE AJC

UPCOMING