Excess funds of $54,360 from the Six Flags Special Services District will fund a landscape maintenance contract for one year for I-20 interchanges.
The agreement was granted Jan. 22 by the Cobb County Board of Commissioners for the South Cobb Redevelopment Authority (SCRA).
These extra funds are revenues remaining in the district’s dedicated account after accounting for bond payments, according to Cobb Community Development Agency Interim Director Michael Hughes.
In October 2014, the commissioners approved this district’s creation to allow the charging of 3.5 mils on property within the district to fund, wholly or partially, services within the district and construction and maintenance of facilities.
Also, in September 2015, the commissioners, in collaboration with the SCRA, approved a $10 million redevelopment bond, using the proceeds from the district as the revenue source for repayment.
Among the construction items included in the bond package were landscaping and beautification improvements to the I-20 interchanges.
Before the Georgia Department of Transportation authorized construction of the landscape improvements on state right-of-way, maintenance agreements were required.
Then the SCRA procured construction/installation services for the landscaping improvements, including six months of maintenance of the landscape material.
In October 2017, the commissioners approved the original intergovernmental agreement with the SCRA, regarding use of the district’s excess funds to pay for ongoing maintenance of the I-20 interchange improvements.
The agreement was active for one year from the effective date, which was Oct. 26, 2017.
Installation of the landscape material was completed in August 2018 - about two months before expiration of the intergovernmental agreement.
Project completion occurred later than originally projected due to delays in obtaining required permits from the GDOT as well as saturated soil caused by heavy rainfall.
Now that the agreement has expired and the installation of the landscaping has been completed, the SCRA has requested that the intergovernmental agreement be extended for one year to fund the ongoing maintenance of the landscape material.
It is estimated that the annual cost for the landscaping maintenance contract associated with the I-20 interchange improvements will be around $54,360.
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