The Newton County Board of Commissioners has awarded a $12 million bid to Choate Construction Company for the expansion of the Cornish Creek Water Treatment Facility.

The expansion of Cornish Creek will increase the plant's water treatment capacity from 15 million gallons a day to 25 MGD and is expected to take 15 months to complete. According to Jim Mathis, president of Infratec Consultants Inc., the county's consultant for the project, the plant is currently operating at 10 MGD.

The BOC voted to award the $12,140,000 bid to Choate at its Tuesday meeting after listening to a presentation on the project's bidding process and receiving a recommendation from county purchasing director Tina McDonald.

McDonald said in addition to being the low bidder out of five short-listed companies, Choate also received the highest committee ranking when prior experience, personnel and financial standing were factored in, along with price.

Funding for the expansion will come from the sale of revenue bonds.

In other BOC news:

• The board approved a request to the Georgia Department of Transportation for a signal warrant analysis for the intersection of Ga. Highway 212 and Oak Hill Road. The intersection has restricted sight distance from Oak Hill Road and historically has had speeding problems on that section of Ga. Highway 212, according to a memo from County Engineer Kevin Walter.

• An updated environmental health fees schedule was approved by the board. Changes to fees include new charges for the re-inspection of food facilities.