Ringgold progresses to next step of $100,000 DNR grant
Ringgold officials say the city has been notified that it has reached the next step of a grant process that could result in $100,000 in funding for the historic Nature Trail.
During the Jan. 28 City Council meeting, City Manager Dan Wright updated the board on where the grant process stands currently.
“As y’all are aware, back in October, we had the opportunity to apply for another grant through the Department of Natural Resources,” Wright said. “We’ve never received this particular grant; this is through the Land Water Conservation Office. We received our letter last week that said congratulations on going to the next step on the $100,000 grant.”
When applying, Wright and city officials said the plan was to make upgrades near the Dragging Canoe Launch, the parking lot in front of it, and down to the wooden pedestrian bridge.
Wright says it’s a process, but that the prospect of receiving the grant is looking good.
“So, the way this works is, as long as you’re able to meet all the deadlines and you’re able to supply all the information, and there’s not some huge environmental issue that arises, which would be unusual since this is already an existing trial, we have a great opportunity,” Wright said. “We’ll just be taking it from gravel to hard sur- face (concrete). It’s about 1,600-plus linear feet of 10-foot trail starting at the wooden pedestrian bridge there on the Richard Taylor Trail going back to where it splits off and goes back up to Emberson Drive.”
Wright explained that in a normal year, on a normal timeline, the city might learn of a decision on the grant as early as August, but that the recent government shutdown might delay that decision.
“We’re going to charge ahead,” Wright said. “That’s what the state of Georgia said to do.”
Wright said the grant will also contribute to the addition of concrete at the parking lot in front of the Dragging Canoe Launch, which will create handicap parking spaces and make the launch more accessible for everyone.
Catoosa County officials signed off on new technology contract that’ll see an off-site company handle the county’s server and software needs.
The board unanimously approved the agreement on Jan. 15 after Chief Financial Officer Carl Henson explained how the deal will help the county’s server and software needs run more efficiently.
“Catoosa County has always hosted their own server on site, but since we no longer have an in-house IT person, we’ve had to contract that with another vendor,” Henson explained.
Henson said that for the last 18 years, Catoosa County has contracted with Tyler Technology to provide its accounting software, which has included updates for the annual licenses, maintenance and support.
Now, Henson has explored a bigger agreement of services that will expand what Tyler does for the county’s tech needs.
“We looked at the quote from Tyler to provide the total service; the updated licensed maintenance and support, as well as hosting the server, which provides for off site backup,” Henson said. “Also, it’ll take out the server business, so we’ll basically no longer be maintaining this server.”
Henson says there several benefits to the option including compatible cost as it relates to the expense of overseeing the server in house.
“The cost was almost equal to providing it in house,” Henson said. “There’s also off-site backup, which we all know is more secure. We’ll get more responsive support because it’s in house with Tyler. There will be no more server replacements and faster upgrades to our software.”
Henson and county staff recommended a three-year contract at an annual rate of $34,349 with and up front cost of $6,500.
“That’s to migrate the system and also set it up on their server,” Henson said. “The total contract amount will be $109,547 for the threeyear contract.”
Commissioners ultimately approved the agreement unanimously, but not before chairman Steven Henry clarified the added responsibilities.
“So this is the same, we’ve used them for 18 years; we’re just letting them handle our hosting now,” Henry asked.
“Yes, and it’s provided for in our current budget,” Henson replied.
In addition to taking server upkeep off the plate of county staff, Henson opined that having the server maintained off site is ideal if certain issues arise.
“It’s much more secure off site, and here again, they will maintain all the backups,” Henson said. “Also, in case of a disaster, they will provide us support for recovery.”