Barrow Journal

The Town of Bethlehem will hold a public hearing Monday, Feb. 27, at on its proposed 2012 budget.

A closed session concerning real estate acquisition will be held after the budget hearing.

Barrow County’s own Christmas city, Bethlehem, will be featured as one of Georgia’s “Hidden Treasures” in the episode that will be aired on Wednesday, Dec.15, at 8 p.m. on Atlanta’s WSB-TV.

Jovita Moore, who hosts the episode, and a film crew from WSB visited Bethlehem recently to interview local residents, film local sites and gather information about Bethlehem and its history. The Barrow County Historical Society shared historical information for the production. [Full Story »] 

Slowly but surely, the desired plans for intersection improvements and a possible red light installment are seeing progress for the town of Bethlehem’s busiest intersection.

Guy Herring, director of planning for McFarland Dyer and Associates of Suwanee, met once again with council members Monday night and gave them an estimated cost of $430,000 for intersection improvements at Hwy. 11 and Star Street. That amount includes a 15 percent contingency fee.

Herring said he would present the plans to Department of Transportation officials in Lawrenceville and then to officials in the Atlanta office.

He said the cost figure was an estimate and not a “definite budget.” [Full Story »] 

Town of Bethlehem officials voted unanimously to allow a $1,500 allotment for the county Economic Development Council. The EDC had hoped to receive $7,500 from the Town of Bethlehem, but instead will receive $6,000 less.

“My opinion, especially this year with us working on roads is that I am concerned with how tight things will be,” mayor Sandy McNab said. “I think we can use that money right here in Bethlehem.”

Council member Scott Morgan said he could not see giving more than $2,500 but later made a motion for $1,500 which was seconded by Wayne Ridgeway. [Full Story »] 

Town of Bethlehem officials dotted all the I’s and crossed all the T’s during a called meeting last Thursday concerning intersection improvement work at Hwy. 11/Star Street.

The council signed a contract with McFarland-Dyer and Associates to make intersection improvements by surveying and additional use of civil engineering and signal design. [Full Story »] 

To say Bethlehem officials are anxious about getting improvements made at the intersection of Hwy. 11/Star Street would probably be an understatement.

Town leaders have been lobbying state Department of Transportation officials for years about installing a red light at the intersection, yet the wait continues.

During Monday night’s town meeting, another step was taken toward that long-term goal when the council voted unanimously to accept the low bid from McFarland-Dyer and Associates (MDA) for $38,800 to survey, landscape and handle engineering work at the intersection in hopes of getting a traffic light.

The council was informed Monday improvement design would be ready in approximately 60 days. A red light could be installed within 6 months to a year, depending on the DOT and what water lines have to be moved. [Full Story »] 

The wheels are finally beginning to turn for the Town of Bethlehem concerning work at the intersection of Hwy. 11/Carl Bethlehem Road.

Mayor Sandy McNab opened the four sealed bids the town had received for the project during the July council meeting. While McFarland and Dyer Associates of Suwanee was the low bidder at $38,800, no decision was made during Monday night’s meeting concerning the awarding of a contract.

Council member Scott Morgan said he was not prepared to vote until he had a chance to review in depth all four bids.

“I don’t know if I’d feel comfortable otherwise without reviewing each one in detail,” Morgan said. [Full Story »]