COVINGTON, Ga. – The Newton County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Feb. 19 to use SPLOST funds to help Porterdale put a signalized crosswalk on Highway 81 near city hall and B.C. Crowell Park.

County Manager Lloyd Kerr said the city had approached District 5 commissioner Ronnie Cowan requesting help with the project.

“They have a lot of foot traffic through the town of Porterdale and this will help to make it safe for people to cross the street,” he said.

Kerr said SPLOST funds are available cover the $7,874 cost of the project. He said the SPLOST committee recommended the approval of the request.

Porterdale City Manager Bob Thomson Porterdale had paid for a $6,500 speed study for the area.

“Anything involving GDOT, who is our friend, also involves expenditures that are not initially apparent at the beginning, so we paid that out of our SPLOST. There are additional expenses related to it,” he said.

District 4 Commissioner J.C. Henderson, whose district includes part of Porterdale, said the crosswalk is needed.

“It kind of goes downhill,” he said,” And particularly when you go downhill it speeds up and it might give motorists a sign that somebody is crossing the road. I’ve seen kids get kind of close to cars trying to cross the road.”

Thomson said the location is the distribution point for a free lunch program.

“I’m just thankful that nothing has happened.”

Cowan said the vote shows the partnership that the county has with its cities.

“I think this has worked out and it shows that we’re all part of the same boat working together.”