Chattooga County Seeks Bids for Nearly 19 Miles of Road Resurfacing

Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Andy Allen has announced that the county is accepting sealed bids for a major road resurfacing project funded through the Georgia Department of Transportation’s Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG/LRA) Program.

The project includes 18.54 miles of road resurfacing throughout Chattooga County. Contractors will provide both labor and materials for the paving work. Roads identified as newly constructed dirt roads will receive 2.5 inches of asphalt, while resurfacing projects on existing roads will receive 1.25 inches of asphalt.

A complete list of roads included in the project is available from the Commissioner’s Office or online at www.chattoogacounty.gov.

Sealed bids must be clearly marked “Sealed Bid” and delivered to the Commissioner’s Office at 10102 Commerce Street, Summerville, by 5 p.m. on Friday, July 24, 2026. Bids will be opened during the Commissioner’s meeting on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at 10 a.m.

Contractors submitting bids must include a 10 percent bid bond, carry at least $1 million in general liability insurance, maintain workers’ compensation coverage, and be properly licensed to conduct business in Georgia. The county also requires contractors to provide a drug-free workplace for employees working on the project.

Commissioner Allen noted that the county reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

Chattooga County Seeks Bids for 18.5-Mile Road Resurfacing Project

Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Andy Allen has announced that the county is accepting sealed bids for a major road resurfacing project that will improve more than 18.5 miles of county roads through funding provided by the Georgia Department of Transportation’s Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG) and Local Road Assistance (LRA) programs.

Read more

Chattooga County to Hold Public Meeting on Proposed Moratorium for Tiny Homes, Container Homes and Other Non-Traditional Developments

Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Andy Allen has announced a public meeting to gather comments and discuss a proposed temporary moratorium on certain non-traditional development projects within the county.

According to a public notice released by the Commissioner’s Office, the proposed moratorium would apply to projects including cargo container homes and structures, tiny home developments, multi-service community developments, and other similar non-traditional residential or mixed-use developments that may be identified during the county’s review process.

County officials say the purpose of the proposed moratorium is to provide time to review existing land use regulations, evaluate the potential impacts of these types of developments, and determine whether changes to county ordinances are needed to protect the health, safety, welfare, and orderly growth of the community.

The public meeting is scheduled for Friday, July 10, 2026, at 10 a.m. in the Chattooga County Commissioner’s Office, located at 10102 Commerce Street in Summerville. Residents, property owners, developers, and other interested parties are encouraged to attend and provide input before any action is taken on the proposed moratorium.

The Commissioner said the meeting is intended to ensure the public has an opportunity to be informed and participate in the discussion before any decision is made regarding the proposal.

 

County Exploring Temporary Reopening Option for Mosteller Creek Bridge

Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Andy Allen says the county is exploring whether smaller passenger vehicles could be allowed back across the Mosteller Creek Bridge on Oak Hill Road west of Lyerly while long-term replacement plans are developed.

Read more

County Dumpsters To Open Sunday Afternoons At Chattooga Transfer Station

Chattooga County residents will soon have another opportunity to dispose of household garbage at the county’s free dumpsters.

Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Andy Allen says the dumpsters at the Chattooga County Transfer Station on Stockade Road in Summerville will now be open on Sunday afternoons for residents bringing household garbage.

Allen noted that the Transfer Station itself will not be open on Sundays, only the free household garbage dumpsters.

The county also reminds residents of the current transfer station fees, which are scheduled to take effect Monday, September 8, 2025. Fees listed include $60 per ton for in-county garbage, $80 per ton for out-of-county garbage, $45 per ton for brush, $160 per ton for car tires, $260 per ton for truck tires, and $10 each for mattresses and box springs. The minimum dump fee is $5.

Chattooga County Transfer Station To Begin Sunday Hours

Chattooga County residents will soon have an additional opportunity each week to dispose of household garbage as county officials expand operating hours at the county’s main transfer station.

Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Andy Allen announced that the transfer station on Stockade Road will begin opening on Sundays, providing residents with a weekend option for household waste disposal.

Under the new schedule, the county’s main transfer station will operate from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Sundays.

Allen said the change is intended to help residents who have difficulty visiting the facility during normal weekday hours.

“This will let people get rid of some of their household garbage on the weekends,” Allen said.

The expanded hours will apply only to the county’s main transfer station on Stockade Road. Other garbage collection sites located throughout Chattooga County will remain closed on Sundays.

According to Allen, opening every collection site on Sundays would significantly increase personnel and operating costs. County leaders instead chose to focus on adding hours at the main transfer station while keeping expenses manageable.

Allen said he has wanted to open the main site on Sundays for some time and believes the added hours will provide greater convenience for residents whose work schedules and other commitments make weekday visits difficult.

County officials hope the expanded access will help residents keep up with household waste disposal needs without requiring costly expansions at collection sites across the county.

Audit Questions More Than $29,000 In Sales Tax Paid To Broadband Contractor

Corrected:

Last week, Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Andy Allen released the county government’s 2024 audit. The audit covers the final year that former Commissioner Blake Elsberry was in office and points to serious problems in the county’s bookkeeping and financial oversight.

Read more

Courthouse Reopens After Bomb Threat Investigation

The Chattooga County Courthouse reopened Wednesday afternoon after a bomb threat prompted an evacuation and law enforcement search of the building.

According to Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Andy Allen, the threat was reported to the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office Wednesday morning. Officials immediately evacuated and secured the courthouse while deputies conducted a thorough search of the facility.

Authorities later determined there was no active threat and gave the all-clear for employees and the public to return.

The courthouse resumed normal operations at 1 p.m.

Allen thanked the Sheriff’s Office, first responders, courthouse employees, and the public for their cooperation during the incident, saying the safety of the community remains the county’s highest priority.

No injuries were reported, and authorities have not released additional information about the source of the threat.

Mosteller Creek Bridge On Oak Hill Road To Close June 16

Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Andy Allen has announced that the Mosteller Creek Bridge on Oak Hill Road west of Lyerly will close beginning June 16 following a state inspection that found structural concerns requiring immediate attention.

Read more

Audit Reveals Financial Control Issues, Documentation Problems in Chattooga County Operations

A recently released audit of Chattooga County’s 2024 financial records identified deficiencies involving accounting procedures, procurement practices, internal controls, budgeting, and documentation. Major findings included more than $333,000 in ARPA-funded broadband project expenses that lacked sufficient supporting documentation, payments on road projects that exceeded approved bid amounts, missing procurement records, untimely bank reconciliations, and several departments exceeding approved budgets. Auditors also cited inadequate segregation of duties and training deficiencies. Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Andy Allen said “We walked into this mess” when he took office and agreed with the audit findings and said corrective steps have already been implemented, including added accounting staff, stronger oversight, improved documentation requirements, better procurement procedures, regular budget reviews, and additional employee training. (See full story below).

Read more