Work has continued into 2026, with the commission considering bids for third-party inspections in March and later discussing pulling roughly $15,000 from contingency funds to address a bad dirt condition found during construction.
IssueToccoaapproved
Toccoa commission approves bid and bond financing for Ritz Theatre expansion after geotechnical review
A downtown theater expansion moved from soil testing to a construction contract and bond financing, with recent talk of extra costs for bad dirt found at the site.
Latest
August 31, 2026: Ritz Project update
What happens next
No next step has been documented.
At a glance
What this means now
The story
The Toccoa City Commission discussed a geotechnical boring investigation at the Ritz Theatre expansion site in September 2025, part of early groundwork for the project.
By November 2025, the commission was reviewing civil engineering and plumbing details for the project, with a contractor expected to provide pricing for consideration.
Later that month, J Davis Construction submitted a formal base bid of $2,998,529 for the Ritz Theater annex, and the commission approved the bid for the expansion.
In January 2026, the commission approved a bond agreement to help finance the expansion through the Downtown Development Authority, with Commissioner Jamieson opposed and Mayor Hellenga abstaining; the financing was reported finalized and closing the following month.
Work has continued into 2026, with the commission considering bids for third-party inspections in March and later discussing pulling roughly $15,000 from contingency funds to address a bad dirt condition found during construction.
What happened
How this issue got here
Open any step for its supporting record. A proposal remains labeled as proposed until later evidence establishes an outcome.
Appeared on agendaproposedRitz Project update
Update on the Ritz Project
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Ritz Project update
Update on the Ritz Project
Appeared on agendaproposedRitz Project update
Update on the Ritz Project
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Ritz Project update
Update on the Ritz Project
DiscusseddiscussedRitz Theatre construction: contingency funds for bad dirt condition
we will be pulling some funding out of
contingencies for bad dirt; the amount is around $15,000.00
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Ritz Theatre construction: contingency funds for bad dirt condition
we will be pulling some funding out of contingencies for bad dirt; the amount is around $15,000.00
Appeared on agendaproposedBids for third-party inspections for the Ritz Addition
Consideration of Bids for Third Party Inspections for the Ritz Addition
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Bids for third-party inspections for the Ritz Addition
Consideration of Bids for Third Party Inspections for the Ritz Addition
DiscusseddiscussedRitz Theatre addition project and bond financing
The Bond
financing will be finalized this week and should close on Thursday.
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Ritz Theatre addition project and bond financing
The Bond financing will be finalized this week and should close on Thursday.
Appeared on agendaproposedBond Agreement for the Ritz Expansion
Consideration of Bond Agreement for the Ritz Expansion
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Bond Agreement for the Ritz Expansion
Consideration of Bond Agreement for the Ritz Expansion
ApprovedconfirmedBond Agreement for the Ritz Theatre Expansion financed through Downtown Development Authority
A motion was made by Commissioner Carter, seconded by Commissioner Matheson to move
forward with the Bond Agreement as submitted. Motion carried 3-1; Commissioner Jamieson
opposed; Mayor Hellenga abstained.
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Bond Agreement for the Ritz Theatre Expansion financed through Downtown Development Authority
A motion was made by Commissioner Carter, seconded by Commissioner Matheson to move forward with the Bond Agreement as submitted. Motion carried 3-1; Commissioner Jamieson opposed; Mayor Hellenga abstained.
DiscusseddiscussedRitz Theater annex expansion project and bond financing
J Davis Construction provided a formal base bid of $2,998,529 for construction of the Ritz Theater annex based on the current plans.
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Ritz Theater annex expansion project and bond financing
J Davis Construction provided a formal base bid of $2,998,529 for construction of the Ritz Theater annex based on the current plans.
Appeared on agendaproposedRitz Expansion
Consideration of the Ritz Expansion
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Ritz Expansion
Consideration of the Ritz Expansion
Appeared on agendaproposedRitz Theatre Expansion update
Update on the Ritz Expansion
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Ritz Theatre Expansion update
Update on the Ritz Expansion
ApprovedconfirmedBid for the Ritz expansion
A motion was made by Commissioner Fry, seconded by Commissioner Matheson to approve
the bid for the Ritz expansion. Motion carried unanimously 3-2.
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Bid for the Ritz expansion
A motion was made by Commissioner Fry, seconded by Commissioner Matheson to approve the bid for the Ritz expansion. Motion carried unanimously 3-2.
Appeared on agendaproposedRitz Theatre Expansion project update
Update on the Ritz Expansion
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Ritz Theatre Expansion project update
Update on the Ritz Expansion
DiscusseddiscussedThe Ritz theater civil engineering and plumbing update
the Civil Engineering should be back on Wednesday, plumbing changes and Civil Engineering; Jacob will be able to give a price for consideration.
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The Ritz theater civil engineering and plumbing update
the Civil Engineering should be back on Wednesday, plumbing changes and Civil Engineering; Jacob will be able to give a price for consideration.
DiscusseddiscussedGeotechnical boring investigation at the Ritz Theatre expansion project
Discussion of Geotechnical Boring at the Ritz Theatre
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Geotechnical boring investigation at the Ritz Theatre expansion project
Discussion of Geotechnical Boring at the Ritz Theatre
Appeared on agendaproposedGeotechnical boring at the Ritz Theatre
Discussion of Geotechnical Boring at the Ritz Theatre
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Geotechnical boring at the Ritz Theatre
Discussion of Geotechnical Boring at the Ritz Theatre
Appeared on agendaproposedGeotechnical boring at the Ritz Theatre
Discussion of Geotechnical Boring at the Ritz Theatre
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Geotechnical boring at the Ritz Theatre
Discussion of Geotechnical Boring at the Ritz Theatre
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