About Dawson County news. (Dawsonville, Georgia) 2015-current | View Entire Issue (May 17, 2023)
6A I DAWSON COUNTY NEWS I dawsonnews.com Wednesday, May 17,2023 Corridor talks rekindle wider traffic dialogue Photo courtesy of Dawson County Schools Area residents Ann and Fred Becking, left, listen as Long Range Planning Committee acting chair Jane Graves and Director of Economic Development Kevin Herrit brainstorm how to handle development along Lumpkin Campground Road North. By Julia Hansen jhansen@dawsonnews.com Over 20 people stopped by Fire Station 2’s com munity room for a May 3 drop-in meeting about the Lumpkin Campground Road corridor, according to a recent Dawson County Government Facebook post. Dawson County offi cials and representatives from consulting firm KCI also attended the public input session.The session was part of the study’s first phase. No specific projects have been identi fied as of yet. Consulting firm KCI’s study is looking at Lumpkin Campground Road’s southernmost seg ment from the Forsyth County line to the Dawson Forest Road roundabout and from its intersection with Ga. 53 north to Ga. 400. Director of Economic Development Kevin Herrit, who had transpor tation planning experience prior to his current role, emphasized inter-parcel connectivity where possi ble around denser devel opments like the new ones on or near Lumpkin Campground Road North. That way, not as many cars are on the road, he told meeting attendees. Herrit also mentioned the county’s forthcoming greenway initiative, which county staff presented dur- ing the Board of Commissioners’ meeting on Oct. 7, 2021. A major sticking point for citizens at the meeting was Lumpkin Campground Road North’s intersection with Ga. 400 and Harmony Church Road. That inter section’s X shape, delayed light signals and develop ment along Lumpkin Campground contribute to a frustrat ing traffic backlog cross ing or turning onto Ga. 400. “All of the development is coming up here, and we live here,” Anne Becking said, gesturing to the Harmony Church Road area. “We can’t get across [Ga. 400] to come this way.” “They have so much development going on on this side of the road [such as] apartment complexes, and I think it’s going to have to be a four-lane road. I don’t know how they’re going to forgo it, ” Anne’s husband, Fred, said. Last spring, traffic engi- neer Abdul Amer reviewed Fox Creek Properties’ now-with drawn Etowah Bluffs mixed-use project and made note of that same intersection. The engineer recom mended that left-turn sig nal phases and signal tim ing would have to be updated at Ga. 400’s inter section with Lumpkin Campground and Harmony Church roads which crosses at an acute angle. The intersection of Lumpkin Campground Road and Ga. 53 presents several challenges as well. That part of the corridor south to the roundabout with Dawson Forest Road is not the subject of the ongoing KCI study. Planning Director Sharon Farrell previously clarified during talks for funding this study that an older 2019 study did exist for that middle section of the corridor. Industrial vehicles are forced through that inter section rather than having another route to help avoid it, District 2 Commissioner Chris Gaines said. Gaines also suggested getting rid of the north bound turn lane onto Lumpkin Campground Road so there could be two lanes going toward Ga. 400. “It’s the lowest or least expensive fix until we can get a roundabout there,” Gaines said. Development Authority of Dawson County Vice- Chair Jere Allen men tioned the idea of a second right-turn lane so that peo ple don’t have to queue up for so long waiting to turn onto Ga. 53. Improvements requiring more land are complicated by the intersection’s light signals each being close to the street corners, Gaines added. Although the Georgia Department of Transportation owns the intersection’s northeastern corner, an old insurance building occupies the southeastern corridor, and the historic Bethel church and cemetery and Lumpkin Campground border that part of the roadway. As for Lumpkin Campground South, acci dent hot spots lie at the route’s intersection with Whitmire and Red River drives. Meanwhile, some were still pondering the completion of Marketplace Parkway as a frontage road for the retail stores there. “This is a great frontage road, and it just needs a little piece added to be complete,” said Planning Director Sharon Farrell. In that same way, any major fixes to the Lumpkin Campground Road corridor may take thinking outside of the box. In a Facebook post, Dawson County encour aged people to post com ments on their April 12 announcement of Wednesday’s meeting. Many replies suggested adding green-light arrows or reconfiguring turn lanes at the Lumpkin Campground-Ga. 53 inter section. Others mentioned problematic adjacent road ways that aren’t a part of KCI’s current study, such as Grizzle or Dawson Forest roads. Former District 3 Commissioner candidate Deanna Dickinson sug gested rerouting traffic to Ga. 400 through the movie theater parking lot; closing off of the Crosby Station entrance from Lumpkin Campground to make it emergency access only; and promoting use of parallel access roads. Still others voiced a desire to stop or slow local growth and development. Within the past few months, Dawson County commissioners and com mittee members have explored possible tools to help tackle traffic issues such as a wider road study or Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. Both efforts are still forthcoming as of this publication. In that same way, others explained that any major fixes to the Lumpkin Campground Road corri dor may take thinking out side of the box. “More pavement may not be the answer,” said Public Works Director Robert Drewry, citing the obstacle of redirecting traffic where existing busi nesses or residences are. “See the undeveloped land up there?”, Drewry said, gesturing to largely wood ed areas north along Lumpkin Campground Road and Ga. 400. “Now’s the time to start thinking about what it’s going to look like there with traffic [in the future].” In related news, the board unanimously approved Drewry’s request to apply for almost $83,0000 in GDOT Safety Action Grant funds. This state grant is a type of Local Maintenance Improvement Grant or LMIG. This money would spe cifically address low-cost safety fixes that help reduce the frequency of crashes, the BOC’s May 4 work session agenda stat ed. According to a list made by county staff, fixes would include updates and/or the addition to striping and reflective pavement markers. Dawson County would have to match 30% or roughly $24,800. If awarded, these GDOT LMIG funds plus the county’s match would total over $107,000. The money would cover repairs to striping or relat ed road markings along the following routes: • Auraria Road from Ga. 136 to the Lumpkin County line • A.T. Moore Road from Ga. 9 to Kelly Bridge Road • Burt Creek Road from Ga. 136 to Shoal Creek Road • Grant Ford Drive from Ga. 136 to its end • Harmony Church Road from Ga. 400 to Ga. 136 • Henry Grady Highway from Ga. 400toGa. 136 • Lumpkin Campground Road North from Ga. 400 to Ga. 53 • Lumpkin Campground Road South from Ga. 53 to the Forsyth County line • Oakmont Drive from Carlisle Road to the end of the right of way at turn around point Of the requested funds, more than $32,000 alone would go to Lumpkin Campground’s northern most and southernmost segments. DCN will continue fol lowing Dawson County’s study of Lumpkin Campground Road. Ga. BOE adopts new English/language arts standards By Dave Williams Capitol Beat News Service The state Board of Education adopted a new set of “Georgia- grown” standards for English/ language arts (ELA) instruction in public schools Thursday, the last step in abandoning the fed eral standards known as Common Core. As was the case with new math standards the board adopted in August 2021, the ELA standards were driven by teachers with input from educa tional leaders, parents, students, business and industry leaders, and community members. “These updated and improved standards - created to prioritize learners with the input of parents and educators - will give students a strong foundation for both literacy and success,” Gov. Brian Kemp said after Thursday’s vote. “Georgia’s new ELA stan dards eliminate the final rem nants of Common Core in Georgia, fulfilling Governor Kemp’s and my commitment to Georgia-owned and Georgia-grown, clear, and developmentally appropriate standards for Georgia stu dents,” added State School Superintendent Richard Woods, who recommended the new standards to the board. “Knowing that early literacy is essential to all future learn ing, the standards place a strong emphasis on the funda mentals in the early grades.” The General Assembly put an emphasis on reading during this year’s legislative session, passing two literacy bills aimed in part at an approach called the “science of reading.” About 36% of Georgia third graders read below grade level, according to the state’s 2022 Milestones test results. Teachers will receive train ing on the new ELA standards during the next two school years. New resources will be developed, assessments will be aligned to the updated stan dards, and communication will be provided to parents to ensure a smooth transition. Photo courtesy of DCS0 Recently, six men from Dawson and Lumpkin counties completed the Dawson County Sheriff's Office 52-hour SWAT school. DCSO hosts SWAT school By Erica Jones ejones@dawsonnews.com Recently, the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office hosted a 52-hour SWAT school for attendees from Dawson and Lumpkin counties. According to information provided by the sheriff’s office, the school pushed the men to their mental and physical limits, and six men were able to successfully fin ish the school and celebrate their gradua tion upon completing it. “I am extremely proud of these men and their commitment to our county, our office and our chosen profession,” Dawson County Sheriff Jeff Johnson said in a Facebook post. “These newly certified SWAT Operators are truly a testament to the selfless character of our public servants and are the embodiment of dedication and service. What an honor it is to serve with all the men and women of our DCSO. We, as a county, have a lot to be proud of.” CONTACT YOUR LOCAL SALES REP OR MARKETING@DAWSONNEWS.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION. 10AM- RTH GEORGIA PREMIUM OUTLETS SPONSORSHIP AND BOOTH SPACE AVAILABLE JOIN US FOR OUR PREMIER DISCOVER NORTH GEORGIA TRAVEL AND LEISURE GUIDE The Event will feature great places to Visit, Dine, Play & Stay! It’s a must have for families planning a day trip or weeklong holiday.
