Toccoa to Pursue LMIG Funds for Safety Projects

The city of Toccoa is pursuing additional funding from the state of Georgia for road projects related to traffic safety.

Last Monday, Toccoa City Commissioners unanimously voted to give staff the go-ahead to apply for additional LMIG funding from the state of Georgia.

LMIG stands for Local Maintenance Improvement Grant.

It is money that the state of Georgia awards to cities and counties for local road projects.

Toccoa City Manager Billy Morse said this is additional funding that the state is making available for the specific purpose of safety projects.

Morse said that the city has a number of projects it would spend the money on.

“We are recommending that you apply these funds towards replacing the guardrail on White Pine Road, installing 70 handicap ramps in the south central area and installing a new sidewalk on Franklin Street, South Tallulah, and South Pine,” said Morse.

According to Morse, the money requires a 30 percent match from the city, which Toccoa would cover with SPLOST funds that are available.

Morse said that the city plans to request a significant amount of funding to get all of that work done.

“We are recommending that the city of Toccoa apply for $200,000 of those funds,” said Morse. “The city’s match would be $60,000, making it a $260,000 project.

Morse said there is no word on when the city will hear on whether it receives the money, as the deadline to apply for the funds is not until May 1.

Also on Monday, the city commission approved in the motion for the city to use KCI Engineers to assist the city with this effort.