Following a public hearing to revise some school zone speed limits, the Douglas County Commission announced at its Monday work session that it is getting closer to a solution.

Once the proposed changes are in place, Douglas County Department of Transportation Director Randy Hulsey said “school zones will be in compliance with all state requirements.”

Five locations, Chapel Hill Middle School, Holly Springs Elementary School, Mt. Carmel Elementary School, Sweetwater Elementary School and Yeager Middle School, will receive school zone flashers.

The Sweetwater Elementary School will serve Lithia Springs High School as well and the Holly Springs flasher will serve Chapel Hill High School. Hulsey said the flashers could also be programmed so they are only active during the school year.

The commission announced it is also closer to awarding the bid for construction at Lithia Springs Park.

Douglas County Project Manager Wayne Watson said C.P. Richards Construction Company Inc. submitted a low bid of $2.2 million for the project.

The 15 bids received, Watson said, ranged from the low bid of $2.2 to $3.1 million.

Changes could also be on the way for how 911 calls are received. County Grant Consultant Robin Bishop said the current E-911 system will be upgraded to the new Viper E-911 system which will give the center the ability to see text messages.

Photos in JPEG and MPEG format can also be received, which would give witnesses or victims of a crime the opportunity to follow up verbal information and descriptions with a photograph.

The meeting also included good news for Douglas County’s criminal justice and Rideshare programs.

The Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council recently awarded a grant of $61,858 for a domestic violence investigator, $32,581.50 for a video evidence transfer for the sheriff’s department and $75,000 for record storage software for the superior and state courts for their portions of the United judicial Court plan. The new software will allow the department and court systems to transmit the information without having to physically deliver video.

The Federal Transit Administration also reimbursed the Rideshare program $225,370 for 12 vans purchased in 2009 and $74,079 to be used for van purchases in 2011 or later.