[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6277420,"mediaKeyId","2655115-308a83486076ae0e15cbf8d81f4f9379","parentId",2655115,"title","Council partners with elementary school for Earth Day recycling drive","audioSeconds",292,"startMs",2455000,"endMs",2747000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2655115-308a83486076ae0e15cbf8d81f4f9379&start=2455&end=2747","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2655115-308a83486076ae0e15cbf8d81f4f9379/thumbnail_2455000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6277420/Walnut-Grove/Walton-County/Georgia/Council-partners-with-elementary-school-for-Earth-Day-recycling-drive","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277420-dc3583f5e34a78996b5f9f890ccb95e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770457615&Signature=nKeQ8m3UvXMc18wKkS9Br7RT4nzmL0pSHW7yGQF0gY7rjYtokfDUdGh4SE6XiKVbvec6XIK3ns08x683CGIZkmCvzyrwhQhmG2X3f30WZxxSMLvXCnPilc7Amomxj~VSjQ~KTuY2IHx5DyEBQzPisTninxPkUJzgjtXBOenOh6He~BBOkJQyUGc36yl604e5HCiEiCvml-yPqEtxHQBVbRmS-Lj2JMfsu0hTsA0dck7N9aYXbe3Bl4o-n5M6yYQMSaqZEZp-qQPlXeHHDQ4pRdDJd1XZrMNEoo0iqcZidpl7jYm71dHwx-i0lPH0aOq3RXB5axDuyu1ghDMHq6AopQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-16T04:01:44Z","article","Walnut Grove City Council members announced a citywide recycling day for Earth Day, April 22, 2025, in partnership with Walnut Grove Elementary School, Keep Walton Beautiful, and Southern Sanitation.

Councilmember Linda said she and others received letters from third-grade students asking the city to reduce single-use plastic straws as part of a 'Going Green in the Grove' effort. Councilmember Rachel said the city will host a recycling drop-off at City Hall on April 22 and invited residents across the city and nearby areas to bring acceptable recyclables; a list of accepted items will be shared on city social media.

Councilmembers encouraged residents to complete an online 'Envision Monarch Grove' survey about community planning and to attend upcoming planning meetings. No new ordinances or budget appropriations were proposed at the meeting; the discussion centered on community engagement and event planning.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","03/13/2025 6:00 PM Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Councilmembers announced a citywide recycling day on Earth Day (April 22, 2025) in partnership with Walnut Grove Elementary and local organizations, part of a 'Going Green in the Grove' initiative prompted by third-grade student letters.","taxTitle","Walnut Grove, Walton County, Georgia","taxId",74351,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6277426,"Residents press council for speed-calming on Emerald Drive; council to add issue to work session",1264,917000,2181000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2655115-308a83486076ae0e15cbf8d81f4f9379&start=917&end=2181","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2655115-308a83486076ae0e15cbf8d81f4f9379/thumbnail_917000.jpg","/articles/6277426/Walnut-Grove/Walton-County/Georgia/Residents-press-council-for-speed-calming-on-Emerald-Drive-council-to-add-issue-to-work-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277426-a654e2520003cbbfd02e6cb4bc41b3a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770457615&Signature=evcrng6DgUAol2VsYxcxmmLu6pbkAzgNiBbSudo0pee6K6SRhPiKKEf-7xD~EDt5PbhBvtES6seluBZumPP18iqP5YwRg8QsS5SGQnFNe0JbruaJfX3AUBZoS0~0V9Ng-o0QVQzCTbt-LOsGLe9ewxWE9XWt8CKbJTFxFmu6c0J07jjim8Q60wkJdDEgkGrykvzzXz~xyuY3ej6h8TboYw7XfqYwEzyEeFuYffDnXRWVLYjPb8EuehZ8D4Y83APlUYv23zSOTyqpJH-oMS1CJvN4ZxS0NLh7xEQeF7CFxKe4zIkfr10zR5yDaOIqSCWCbmfN0V569HvMVGk0JVHIjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents of Emerald Cove told Walnut Grove City Council that speeding on Emerald Drive and nearby streets has become dangerous for children and pedestrians and urged the council to consider speed bumps, additional stop signs or other traffic-calming measures.

Lucy Levtha, who identified her address as 2230 Emerald Drive, said she sees “10 to 15 children running around that neighborhood at any given time” and described repeated near-misses when drivers fail to slow on the hill. Brenda Ramsey, who gave her address as 2221 Emerald Drive, said neighborhood members have repeatedly asked a frequent speeding driver to slow down and warned, “Someone's gonna get hit,” and called the situation “really getting very dangerous now.” Another resident described a child—identified as Ayla—who ran into the street and narrowly avoided being struck because an approaching car was traveling at high speed.

Council members acknowledged the problem is not unique to Emerald Cove and said the issue will be added to the next work session to explore solutions. The mayor and councilmembers invited residents to bring neighbors to the work session, submit emails, and supply location-specific information so staff can compile maps and consider measures such as additional stop-sign control, speed humps, or increased sheriff’s patrols. Council members noted some enforcement in parts of town is handled by the sheriff’s department and said they will follow up with sheriff’s offices to clarify enforcement coverage.

No formal vote or ordinance was taken at the meeting; the council recorded direction to staff to research options and place the traffic-calming discussion on the upcoming work-session agenda.","Multiple residents from Emerald Cove urged the council to install speed bumps or other traffic-calming measures on Emerald Drive and nearby streets after near-misses and frequent speeding. Council said it will add the issue to the next work session and invited more neighbors to participate.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6277431,"Council names public works manager as safety coordinator to pursue training and equipment grants",63,1187000,1250000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2655115-308a83486076ae0e15cbf8d81f4f9379&start=1187&end=1250","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2655115-308a83486076ae0e15cbf8d81f4f9379/thumbnail_1187000.jpg","/articles/6277431/Walnut-Grove/Walton-County/Georgia/Council-names-public-works-manager-as-safety-coordinator-to-pursue-training-and-equipment-grants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277431-e6c2e340e0a0e8f2009af0fc6152a5a8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770457615&Signature=J9ArYQ4lCkInvkGLtdjAcFHMp1s587EqrGk4WbevKvBP-yHle9FEJC1WJBXP2~exUXaRGzhDqjuE6rpJBku8~Y-80Iiu2BBuRYEyD4Zt-D5jsXgqcxYltIJPzYexgvrBqibPzLalojtwIQjMGVXPBnElPGjP69-RjZSeitkK-rn-gEPjmc-grV3EIBR9CWrdG98zh4ozpDRfUNqbjd03n1qzaE2BiTEUa1PR~RqBRlXAdasLE-1I3HmVDBur6zK-jun-kI9KjNvLsVRpkWfE~5YFX75fJ6Be1Az99ROAhARWnYY85ZaRCVEIHznQEvPP5NJ5NQBFifrsKeLc5y8PNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Walnut Grove City Council unanimously approved a resolution appointing the public works manager as the city’s safety coordinator to oversee staff training and pursue grants for safety equipment.

Council members said formalizing the position will allow staff to access training, participate in a program that supports safety equipment purchases, and apply for grants. The public works manager agreed to take the role, and council approved the resolution by voice vote.

The council’s action directs staff to implement the coordinator role and to pursue training and grant opportunities; the meeting record shows no dissent and the resolution passed unanimously.","Walnut Grove City Council unanimously passed a resolution appointing the city’s public works manager as safety coordinator. The role allows staff to pursue safety training and grant funding for safety equipment.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6277437,"Council accepts IHC bid for sewer-plant expansion; shortfall of about $697,000 noted",258,1269000,1527000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2655115-308a83486076ae0e15cbf8d81f4f9379&start=1269&end=1527","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2655115-308a83486076ae0e15cbf8d81f4f9379/thumbnail_1269000.jpg","/articles/6277437/Walnut-Grove/Walton-County/Georgia/Council-accepts-IHC-bid-for-sewer-plant-expansion-shortfall-of-about-697000-noted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277437-b4af3d716bfd0ce6514c3efaec4b7123/orig.mp4?Expires=1770457615&Signature=ExV2V45u4iLgxtkTNLVb-R36UbO67yOQs1JzU92cFIpr1v3uymzQ1J9TcLJUXzjIgBqCFWLfnukRCSclidpwhLGur4a8S3RGZXa98M2bHabOsys0I7-lgyTm48jV~1bUPAIC6BC0T5mPkkvx8bixGAl0n2BU0xHnR3ceKHy436J1Py~6kgDTXWy6iSMGRGh0asK3-VBmb2TtiRzTU1nRF0kFS90j9aedTSmdauYGiZbhr5Bk1nXc5hVtj6ughnzGCqiNVJpr8JzZr3LH5RqLvpMUtxPK8eDI51n81tGHPClbK-55aeA3wQrP62m3NgrsI7PfUYPm-8kiInr193Jxwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Walnut Grove City Council voted unanimously to accept a bid from IHC Construction Services LLC for the LAS sewer plant expansion, approving the bid at $4,055,000 and authorizing staff to proceed with the notice of award and contract review by the city attorney.

Council members said the bid creates a funding gap of roughly $697,000. The vote came after staff presented a summary of the city’s accounts and the projects included in the current budget and after brief questions from council about operating costs for the sewer system.

The council’s finance remarks noted account balances across operating and reserve funds and identified sources staff will examine to cover the shortfall; council did not approve a specific financing plan during the meeting. When a councilmember asked for the city’s monthly sewer operating expense, staff said they did not have that figure immediately available and that the precise monthly amount was “not specified” in the materials provided that night.

Councilmembers also addressed contract procedures: the notice of award and contractor bonds and insurance will be forwarded to the city attorney for review before a formal contract is executed. A councilmember clarified that approval to accept the bid would allow the city to issue the notice of award so the process need not wait another meeting; attorneys will still review the documents before any signatures for the construction contract are required.

The motion to accept the IHC bid passed unanimously. The council did not record individual vote tallies in the meeting transcript; the presiding official announced the vote was unanimous.

Council members said staff would follow up with the attorney’s office and return with contract documents and any financing recommendations at a later meeting.","Walnut Grove City Council voted unanimously to accept a $4.055 million bid from IHC Construction Services LLC for the LAS sewer plant expansion and approved sending the notice of award and contract documents to attorneys for review. Council members and staff noted a financing shortfall of roughly $697,000 and discussed next steps for contracting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council partners with elementary school for Earth Day recycling drive

Residents press council for speed-calming on Emerald Drive; council to add issue to work session

Council names public works manager as safety coordinator to pursue training and equipment grants

Council accepts IHC bid for sewer-plant expansion; shortfall of about $697,000 noted