Barnesville awarded $1 million CDBG to fund water and sewer work in Richardson Street target area

The City of Barnesville has secured a $1,000,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs to fund water and sewer improvements in the Richardson Street target area.

City staff and grant consultants (Allen-Smith Consulting) explained at a required public hearing that the project is largely a repeat/update of a previously submitted application and is intended to serve low- and moderate-income (LMI) households in the designated target area. Debra (Debra/Debra) Smith of Allen-Smith Consulting and Melissa Thompson (DCA field representative) said the grant will serve about 68 housing units (approximately 135 people) with roughly 133 identified as low- to moderate-income beneficiaries; the consultants confirmed there would be no displacement as part of the project.

Council approved the CDBG application (Resolution R2025-0004) and later acknowledged receipt of the awarded funds and the required public hearing to outline activities, beneficiary counts and Section 3/fair-housing compliance. The project description included replacing or upgrading water and sewer lines and related infrastructure on Richardson Street, Sanders Court and Adams Court. The City stated prior CDBG projects (2019 and 2021) had been closed out and that the proposed 2025 project aligns with the Comprehensive Plan and service-delivery strategy.

City Manager Tammy York and Grant staff said the City has certified there are no conflicts of interest and it will comply with all HUD and DCA requirements, including fair housing, Section 504 (disability access), and Section 3 hiring priorities where applicable. The next steps are design and procurement in accordance with HUD/DCA rules and local procurement requirements; the City will publish Section 3 and bid notices and begin project scoping and engineering.

The award gives the City a principal funding source to address the water infrastructure problems residents described during summer 2025 public comments. City officials said the grant funding will be used in coordination with ongoing operational treatment (aeration and flushing) and any targeted capital replacement identified through engineering assessment and sampling.