CAIRO — Grady County commissioners differed on spending toward various expenses recently. 

In a 3-2 vote, the commission awarded a $462,637.50 bid to Southern Concrete Construction Company for bridge construction on State Park Road. 

Commissioners June Duke Knight and Keith Moye voted against the motion.

“I think we need to prioritize some things first,” Knight said. 

Knight noted Open Pond Road’s condition and its need for repairs. 

“We’ve got to get the bridge in,” said Chairman Ray Prince. “That road’s got to be done.” 

Commissioners also differed on a $7,000 engineering services expense to apply for a Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank (GTIB) grant.  The grant would go toward a roundabout for Highway 188. 

Knight and Moye voted against the motion in another 3-2 vote.

“I still think you’ve got to spend your money where you need to be spending it,” Knight said. 

Prince noted six or seven studies were done for the roundabout project. 

“In my opinion, they didn’t do enough studying,” Moye said. 

The vote was to ratify the board’s verbal approval for applying for the grant. Moye and Knight voted against in the verbal approval.  

In a 4-1 vote, a $38,700 expenditure was approved for control board repair at the Grady County Detention Center. The county’s contingency fund will provide $10,000 for the work.

Finance Director Donna Johnson said slightly over $30,000 remains in the contingency fund. 

In other financial business, the Grady County Board of Commissioners: 

• Approved a $57,257.21 bid for equipment for the volunteer fire department. 

• Approved a $15,000 budget increase for annual funding for the South Georgia District Attorney’s office. 

• Approved two invoices, $4,592 and $9,163, for mitigation monitoring. 

Reporter Jordan Barela can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1826.