THOMASVILLE, Ga. — If the improvement project at Cherokee Lake appears to be at a standstill, it is.

A state permit is holding up some of the work, Thomasville City Council members said Wednesday.

The Covington Avenue lake, a city park and recreation site, was drained last year to make way for dam improvements, removal of trees and stumps and development of a community trail.

The state final land buffer variance permit is needed to complete. The permit is expected in mid-May.

“It’s a permit you have to have from EPD (state Environmental Protection Division) when working within 25 feet of a stream,” said Lauren Radford, city director of community engagement and outreach.

A stream is created by runoff from the lake,  Radford said. 

“It’s protection for the folks downstream,” she said.

Once the permit is received and work resumes, the project is expected to be completed in four to eight weeks.

At a Wednesday city council workshop, Council member David Hufstetler asked if the project could be expedited.

“Anything within reason, we’d like to get that done,” he said.

Wayne Newsome, interim city engineer, said more trees need to be removed. Trees cut down in the project will be used to create fish habitats when the lake is refilled.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved the work. The holdup is the state permit, Newsome told the council at the Wednesday workshop.

A dump truck has been sitting on the west side of the lake for a long time, Council member Todd Mobley said. 

“There’s grass growing up around it,” he said.

“It might be waiting for the train,” quipped Keith Bass, interim utilities general superintendent, in reference to a Monday event when a train malfunctioned and blocked city railroad crossings for about five hours. 

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820