The Board of Directors of the Highway 278 Improvement Association, Inc. voted at its March 22 meeting to create the Highway 278 Community Improvement District (CID).

According to a press release from the association, the CID will begin at exit 90 on the north side of Highway 278 and continue east past the Highway 142 intersection. The release states that the CID will contain approximately 120 parcels of land along an approximately three-mile stretch of the highway.

According to the release, under Georgia law, a CID can be created with the consent of at least 50 percent plus one of the property owners and at least 75 percent of the assessed values of properties in the proposed area.

Kathy Morgan, Recruitment Coordinator CID Hwy 278 Improvement Association, said that the CID improvements can include beautification projects, construction of curbs, sidewalks and street lights, parks and recreation areas, storm water disposal and transportation.

Morgan said that the next step in the process will include a review of the final map by Newton County Tax Commissioner Barbara Dingler, who will certify the boundaries of the CID. Once the district has been certified by the tax commissioner, according to Morgan, the resolution creating the Highway 278 Community District will be presented to the Covington City Council. Morgan said she is hopeful that the resolution can be taken up by the council at its second April meeting.

According to Morgan, there are currently 25 CIDs in Georgia, with the largest being the Cumberland CID in Cobb County. The Newton County CID Act was passed by the Georgia General Assembly in 2016.