Hinesville residents may soon have a new — and economically responsible — way to get around the city.
The city is to receive about $800,000 to help get a public transit system up and running as quickly as possible from President Obama’s recently passed economic stimulus package.
“It will happen relatively quickly,” Mayor Thomas told the council Thursday. “They [government officials] want us to get the money into the economy as soon as possible.”
The mayor said the long-awaited project had been put on hold as the city waited for funding from the fiancially unstable state DOT. But the waiting is over and the city has the final piece of the puzzle allowing the system to move forward.
“The funds will go towards buying buses and bus stands and things of that nature,” Thomas said.
According to the mayor, they’ve already met with a consultant to begin the process of planning for the system. As of right now, they’re unsure of how many buses or bustops the funds will provide.
“We’re doing a minimal transit system,” said Thomas, who expects more details in about three weeks.
In other news from Thursday’s meeting, P.C. Simonton and Associates was authorized to contract Low Country Landscape to complete landscaping and irrigation for Memorial Drive phase I and II. The contract is for about $180,000.
City Manager Billy Edwards also wanted to clarify that during the Feb. 19 meeting, the council voted to change Meloney Drive from a one-way to a two-way. However, the change is actually occurring on Brittney Lane.
Councilman David Anderson also presented a monthly business license update in which he said more than 20 new licenses were issued in the past month.
“This list is going to get longer as we go,” Thomas said of the imminent growth and the relatively high number of permits.
The city is to receive about $800,000 to help get a public transit system up and running as quickly as possible from President Obama’s recently passed economic stimulus package.
“It will happen relatively quickly,” Mayor Thomas told the council Thursday. “They [government officials] want us to get the money into the economy as soon as possible.”
The mayor said the long-awaited project had been put on hold as the city waited for funding from the fiancially unstable state DOT. But the waiting is over and the city has the final piece of the puzzle allowing the system to move forward.
“The funds will go towards buying buses and bus stands and things of that nature,” Thomas said.
According to the mayor, they’ve already met with a consultant to begin the process of planning for the system. As of right now, they’re unsure of how many buses or bustops the funds will provide.
“We’re doing a minimal transit system,” said Thomas, who expects more details in about three weeks.
In other news from Thursday’s meeting, P.C. Simonton and Associates was authorized to contract Low Country Landscape to complete landscaping and irrigation for Memorial Drive phase I and II. The contract is for about $180,000.
City Manager Billy Edwards also wanted to clarify that during the Feb. 19 meeting, the council voted to change Meloney Drive from a one-way to a two-way. However, the change is actually occurring on Brittney Lane.
Councilman David Anderson also presented a monthly business license update in which he said more than 20 new licenses were issued in the past month.
“This list is going to get longer as we go,” Thomas said of the imminent growth and the relatively high number of permits.