Austell Approves New Program to Use Mammoth Gravel Mound

Have you seen that mammoth pile of gravel next to Austell’s Louise Suggs Park? (You’re thinking: How could you miss it?)

Well, it could soon disappear if the city’s new program is successful. The program allows residents who live within Austell’s city limits to purchase the gravel for their mud driveways, therefore helping beautify the city and eliminating mud that can clog the drainage systems.

Austell Public Works Director Randy Bowens said, "I hope it will resolve some of the erosion problems."

Ward 3 City Councilman Martin Standard said the program can help people who do not have the resources to pay to have their driveways paved or who have been parking in their front yards because they have no other places to park their cars.

Recently members of the city council attempted to define terms in the city’s codes and ordinances, like “hardened surfaces.” Cars can only be parked on “hardened surfaces,” and the council members agreed that gravel counts as a hardened surface.

Austell residents, those who pay taxes to the city, can pay $10 per pickup truck load, $25 per one-ton truck and $50 per tandem truck.

Because of the low cost, the city council members wanted to ensure that citizens were not purchasing the gravel and then reselling it for a higher price.

Gravel cannot be used on or near any sidewalk for safety reasons, and the property owners will be responsible for removing any loose gravel from nearby sidewalks or roadways, according to the gravel application.

Also, gravel cannot be laid down to the edge of the road, but must have a border or some structure that prevents it from falling loose throughout the roads.

Applications will be sold Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., but gravel will only be loaded on Fridays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.