FLOWERY BRANCH — In an effort to make the drive up the highway more appealing, the Flowery Branch City council voted unanimously Thursday night to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with Hall County to maintain an I-985 exit.
The exit in question is exit 12 at Spout Springs Road. The agreement would have Hall County provide the maintenance to the exit, including machinery, workers, gasoline and other expenses, with Flowery Branch re-reimbursing $10,000 to the county every year.
The agreement comes as the county attempts to get help from the various cities that house 985 exits to maintain the increasingly busy interstate. County commissioners agreed to plans to try to come to terms with the cities of Flowery Branch and Gainesville, with plans to reach similar deals with Oakwood and Buford in the future, at a meeting in February.
"About a month and a half ago we brought an agreement between the county and GDOT to maintain those exits," said Hall County Public Works and Utilities Director Ken Rearden at the Commission meeting. "We're marching up the interstate trying to get the cities to help participate in that, since it helps to beautify their cities as well."
The maintenance includes cutting grass and beautifying the area of the interchange and right of way for the interstate. The agreement is a one year deal, with options to renew the agreement for up to 10 years.
Lights Ferry Road Maintenance
The Council also voted to consider a contract for completing a missing section of sidewalk near the new Lights Ferry Road roundabout.
More than 350 feet of sidewalk on the south side of the Lights Ferry project was left undone after construction on the roundabout and the nearby Harbour Lights development did not meet.
The city received two offers, one from GDP Partners for $62,910 and the other from JD Concrete for $17,450. The council agreed to consider the offer from JD Concrete.
