Mayor Mike Eason Archives

City Council votes 2-1 to take legal action against Dawson County Board of Commissioners

News April 2, 2021 , by Bill Johnson

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — In a special called meeting this morning (Friday, April 2) Dawsonville City Council voted 2-1, with Councilman Mark French opposed, to reject the county-proposed intergovernmental agreement (IGA) regarding Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax VII (SPLOST) and proceed with legal action against the Dawson County Board of Commissioners.

Councilman Caleb Phillips was unable to attend the meeting.

Councilman Mark French

City leaders agreed in March to a resolution to sue the county, challenging the legality of the six-year, $60-million Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) VII passed by Dawson County voters last month. In a special called meeting on Mar. 29, they decided to delay the lawsuit and try again to reach an agreement.

Prior to Friday’s vote, City Attorney Kevin Tallant announced that at he received a response from the county to his request to resolve the dispute at 11:09 p.m. on Thursday and recommended council discuss the response in executive session.

When council came out of executive session, Mayor Mike Eason said, the county’s response was “there is no room for negotiation in this matter.”

Councilman Stephen Tolson

The mayor then asked for a motion to reject the IGA and move forward with the action to resolve this matter in the court.

Councilman Mark French instead made a motion to accept the IGA as presented and forego any further consideration of legal action. The motion died for a lack of a second. Councilman Stephen Tolson then made the motion to proceed with legal action which Councilman John Walden seconded.

“This is a mistake in my humble estimation,” French said. “I feel we are not serving the people who elected us to the best of our ability.”

Tolson replied, “I simply cannot, in good conscience, accept an illegal taxation on our citizens. My ethical and moral compass guides me to work a little harder to get what I think our citizens deserve. It sounds like the only way we can do that at this point is to move forward with filing this action.”

Council agrees to purchase Laserfiche records management software system

News December 23, 2020 , by Bill Johnson

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — In the final meeting before the Christmas Holiday, City Council voted unanimously Monday (Dec. 21) to purchase a records management software system from Laserfiche through MCCI at a cost of $19,152.50 with an annual service cost of $3,695 .

City Clerk Beverly Bannister requested the purchase which includes set up, training and ongoing assistance. Mayor Mike Eason said, “It’s going to enhance our capability to find documents and provide information to the public and to counsel.”

Councilman Stephen Tolson presented a review of city-owned lease properties, including the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame Museum and the Distillery and recommended the lease at the Museum be increased from $400 to $500 per month plus 5 percent of revenue. He also recommended an increase from $3,000 a month to $4,500 a month to lease the Distillery.

Councilman Caleb Phillips, who was appointed Mayor Pro Tempore for 2021 during the meeting, made a motion that was unanimously approved to table the issue until the next meeting.

Council also approved the final plat for Oakdale Subdivision located near Allen Street and Memory Lane before adjourning until the New Year.

Beverly Bannister Caleb Phillips Dawsonville City Council Mayor Mike Eason Stephen Tolson

City appoints Jonah Howell solicitor

News November 18, 2020 , by Bill Johnson

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — During an abbreviated 30-regular meeting and work session, the Dawsonville City Council unanimously appointed Jonah Howell city solicitor Monday.

The appointment followed an executive session an agenda amendment. Howell has served as acting attorney for the City Council on several occasions and is currently the solicitor for the City of Cumming.

Council postponed taking action on a request by Allen Street Properties, LLC and B & K Turner Family for annexation into the city limits.

The property consists of 74.865 acres located at Perimeter Road. The applicant also requested rezoning from County Zoning of RSR (Residential Sub Rural) and RA (Restricted Agriculture) to City Zoning of R3 (Single Family Residential.

Because the applicant has not submitted the request to the county, council voted to postpone any decision until Jan. 19. “We didn’t feel it is appropriate to deal with this matter until it is approved or disapproved by the county,” said Mayor Mike Eason.

Utilities Director Gary Barr was honored for his 30 years of service to the City of Dawsonville. “We appreciate Gary for all he has done for the city,” Eason said. “He’s going to be missed. We’re still using him to consult on some stuff that no one else knows about this city.”

Finance Director presented some good news to council, reporting that collections from Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) and Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax are approximately 10 percent above than the amount budgeted despite the impact COVID-19 has had on the economy.

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com

City Solicitor Jonah Howell Dawsonville City Council Mayor Mike Eason

Eagle Scout candidates present projects to city

News October 21, 2020 , by Bill Johnson

DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. – Monday’s City Council meeting was highlighted by two young Eagle Scout candidates who presented their proposed projects to city council.

Christopher Parker Hartley unveiled plans for a dog park at Main Street Park that included signage, play equipment, dog toys, water spigot, sanitation cleanup station and planted trees. The estimated cost is $5,250 and Hartley said he has a potential donor who has pledged $5,000 to fund the project.

Austin Wood’s project called for the installation of two walking trails and construction of a bridge over a ravine in the park. One trail would lead from the Main Street Park to the library. The other would wind around the other side of the park.

Ian Bliss was also scheduled to present his Eagle Scout project but was not able to attend the meeting. Mayor Mike Eason said he would be invited back for the November meeC

Austin Wood Christopher Parker Hartley Dawsonville City Council Eagle Scouts Ian Bliss Mayor Mike Eason

City sets rollback millabe rate at zero

News August 18, 2020 , by Bill Johnson

Mayor Mike Eason

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – City Council voted unanimously Monday to set a millage rate of 8.511 mils for the 2020 tax year and then approve a rollback millage rate of zero which means, once again, city residents will not pay a city tax.

Finance Director Hayden Wiggins calculated that the city’s action would save a homeowner whose house is valued at $250,000 about $851.

Council also unanimously approved a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) budget amendment from $1,812,912 to $2, 269,269,569 to coverage an overage in the cost of the Main Street Park/Farmers Market.

After a lengthy discussion on the status of the 53^rd Annual Mountain Moonshine Festival with Rhonda Goodwin, president of Kare for Kids, Mayor Mike Eason said in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Council required more specific information before the city could approve the event. The festival is traditionally held the third week in October.

City Attorney Dana Miles suggested the council not make a decision until September.

“I anticipate if the governor follows the timeline he has in the past you may not have a new EO (executive order) until August 31. It might be prudent to set your meeting Sept. 1. By then we will, for certain, have a published executive order.”

Council voted to postpone any decision until a called meeting Sept. 2 at 4 p.m.

Council members voted 4-0 to utilize the services of Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) to conduct an operational efficiency study rather than participate in a similar study with Dawson County Government and the Etowah Water and Sewer Authority.

Mayor Eason said the cost of the GMA study will not exceed $4,000 while the cost of the other in unknown.

ABOUT FETCH YOUR NEWS

Dawsonville City Counci Georgia Municipal Association Kare for Kids Mayor Mike Eason millage rate Mountain Moonshine Festival

Farmer’s Market Grand opening July 18

News July 11, 2020 , by Bill Johnson

DAWSOVILLE, Ga. — Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black will be the guest of honor at the grand opening of the Amicalola Regional Farmers Market and ribbon cutting for the new City of Dawsonville Farmers Market Pavilion on July 18 at 8:15 a.m.

The fourth season of the market opened earlier this spring and is held every Saturday from 8 a.m. until sold out or noon. The market is held at the brand new City of Dawsonville Farmers Market Pavilion located on Allen Street which was completed earlier this year and funded by SPLOST VI.

“The City of Dawsonville is proud to see the results of the SPLOST VI used in a way to help our citizens. The Farmers Market has been a great success since it opened in restricted mode during the COVID pandemic,” said Mike Eason, Mayor of the City of Dawsonville, “This structure will serve our community in many ways for years to come. The ability to have a Famers Market in a covered, lighted facility is just one of many uses that we can expect. We at the City of Dawsonville want to thank all the citizens of Dawson County for supporting this project in SPLOST VI.”

The Amicalola Regional Farmers Market is organized and hosted by the Amicalola Regional Agriculture Committee, a program of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce.

“The committee was started more than five years ago to determine ways to link local farmers and producers with local citizens. Having a set place for the farmers market has been a dream of the committee for many years and we are proud to see that dream come to fruition,” said

Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black will be the guest of honor at the grand opening of the Amicalola Regional Farmers Market and ribbon cutting for the new City of Dawsonville Farmers Market Pavilion on July 18, 2020 at 8:15 a.m.

The fourth season of the market opened earlier this spring and is held every Saturday from 8 a.m. until sold out or noon. The market is held at the brand-new City of Dawsonville Farmers Market Pavilion located on Allen Street which was completed earlier this year and funded by SPLOST VI.

The Amicalola Regional Farmers Market is organized and hosted by the Amicalola Regional Agriculture Committee, a program of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce.

Citizens are invited to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony for the pavilion during which Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black and Mayor Mike Eason will speak and lead the cutting of a green ribbon. Beyond visiting the regular farmers market vendors, attendees will have a chance to win items provided by vendors to celebrate the grand opening.

“We greatly appreciate the vision and support of the citizens of Dawsonville and Dawson County as it gives our local farmers, gardeners and crafters an opportunity to provide fresh, local foods to the community as well as an opportunity for folks to learn about where their food comes from,” said Amicalola Regional Agriculture Committee Chair Louise McPherson, “The market is also a great place to find unique handmade gifts for special people and occasions.”

###Agr

The Amicalola Regional Farmers Market is run by the Amicalola Regional Agriculture Committee, a committee under the Dawson County Chamber. The market is open to vendors in Dawson, Cherokee, Lumpkin, Hall, Forsyth, Pickens, and Gilmer counties. The market is held every Saturday at the City of Dawsonville’s Farmers Market Pavilion throughout growing season.

Agriculture Commissioner Gary Blac Amicalola Regional Farmer's Market Christie Moore City of Dawsonville Dawson County Chamber of Commerce grand pening Louise McPherson Mayor Mike Eason

Councilman said ethics complaint politically motivated

News December 21, 2019 , by Bill Johnson

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Post 4 City Councilman Mark French said during a preliminary hearing before the Dawsonville Ethics Board Friday the complaint filed against him by fellow members of the city council is politically motivated.

Councilman Mark French

In a six-page written statement presented to the Board, French said, “It is based solely upon on political motives and not on any alleged improper action on my part. The Council is well aware of my support for another candidate in the recent Mayoral election. In my opinion, the complaint is both frivolous and patently unfounded.”

Mayor Mike Eason defeated Durant Wright in the November election.

The meeting, which lasted just 51 minutes including a 30-minute executive session, gave French an opportunity to present a formal response to the Board. Neither he nor the city was represented by an attorney Friday as both will be during formal hearing which could be held later next month.

French argued in his written statement, “the complaint against me should, in the first place, be dismissed for failure to comply with the rules.”

Sec. 2-82 of the City’s Code of Ethics requires that a city official charged with a complaint must be notified within seven calendar days after the City Clerk receives the complaint. French said he was not notified until nine days later on Dec. 4.

Attorney Ab Hayes, who will represent the city during the formal hearing, told the Board he would contact French’s lawyer, Steven Leibel, in an effort to resolve the issue.

After reading French’s statement, the Board dismissed three of the nine alleged violations.

Those dismissed are as follows:

Sec. 2-77 (12) A city official shall not directly or indirectly make use of, or permit others to make use of, official information not made available to the general public for the purpose of furthering a private interest;

Sec. 2-77 (14) A city official shall not order any goods or service for the city without prior authorization for such expenditure. No city official shall attempt to obligate the city or give the impression of obligating the city without proper prior authorization;

Sec 2-78(a) A city official may not participate in a vote or decision on any matter affecting an immediate family or any person, entity or property in which the official has a substantial interest.

The alleged violations the Board agreed to consider during the formal hearing are as follows:

Sec. 2-77 (1) No city official shall use such position to secure special privileges or exemptions for himself or herself or others, or to secure confidential information for any purpose other than official duties on behalf of the city;

Sec. 2-77 (2) No city official, in any matter before the council or other city body, relating to a person or entity in which the official has a substantial interest, shall fail to disclose for the records such interest prior to any discussion or vote or fail to recuse himself or herself from such discussion or vote as applicable;

Sec. 2-77 (6) All public funds shall be used for the general welfare of the people and not for personal gain;

Sec. 2-77 (10) No city official shall use city facilities, personnel, equipment or supplies for private purposes except to the extent such are lawfully available to the public;

Sec. 2-77 (11) No city official shall grant or make available to any person any consideration, treatment, advantage, or favor, beyond that which it is the general practice to grant or make available to the public at large;

Sec. 2-78 (C) A city official may not participate in a vote or decision on a matter in a financial or other personal interest, direct or indirect, which is incompatible with the proper discharge of his official duties or which would tend to impair his independence of judgement or action in the performance of his official duties.

Mayor Mike Eason Steven Leibel

John Walden sworn in as city council member

News December 18, 2019 , by Bill Johnson

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — John Walden was sworn in Monday as the newest member of the Dawsonville City Council. Walden has 20 years’ experience as a design and civil engineer. He ran unopposed to represent Post 3 and will take his seat on the council on Jan 6.

Council approved several issues under the consent agenda, including:

Newly elected officials training in the amount of $1,100 for John Walden;
2020 staff appointments of Bob Bolz (City Manager), Beverly Bannister (City Clerk) and Tracy Smith (Deputy City Clerk);
2020 mayor and council board designations and compensation;
A budget amendment in the amount of $6,115 to bring City Hall into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act;
A GEFA loan modification with debt forgiveness that increases the amount of forgiveness the city will receive from $112,200.77 to $134,640.92. The loan was utilized to finance the 2017 water meter replacement program.

A number of professional services contracts were renewed under the consent agenda. But Councilman Mark French requested the contract with City Attorney Dana Miles be voted on separately.

Miles will be a witness in Friday’s Ethics Board hearing in which French is accused of having violated provisions of the city’s Ethics Ordinance. French voted against renewal of Miles’ contract but was outvoted 2-1.

Earlier in the meeting, French also made a motion to remove the executive session from the agenda, stating, “The mayor failed to notify me of what would be discussed. I asked a week ago and have heard nothing.”

In a phone conversation with Fetch Your News Wednesday, Mayor Mike Eason confirmed he did not tell French what would be discussed. “I did not,” he said. “I could have but we don’t always do that. If he would have asked me, I would have told him, but he didn’t ask.”

Council unanimously approved the appointment of Alexa Serrano to the Planning Commission.

A public hearing was held on the request by Sachinkumar Patel that a portion of the five acres located at 60 Hwy at Hwy. 136 be annexed into the city limits. There were no objections and the Board of Commissioners has signaled the city that it will have no objections.

Bob Bolz Dawsonville City Council John Walden Mark French Mayor Mike Eason

Dawsonville City Council work session scheduled Monday

News October 20, 2019 , by Bill Johnson

The Dawsonville City Council will meet for a work session Monday (Oct. 21) at 5:30 p.m. in the G.L. Gilleland Council Chambers, 415 Hwy. 53.

Financial Administrator Hayden Wiggins has requested that council reneDaw an annual software maintenance agreement with Edmunds GovTech in the amount of $10,345. The city has utilized the company since 2015 and the agreement will expire on Dec. 31.

Council will hold the first reading of a request by Sachinkumar Patel to annex five acres of land located at 60 Hwy. 136 East into the city. It is currently in Dawson County and zoned Residential Agricultural. Patel would like the city to rezone the property Highway Business.

The city’s legal representation, however, has recommended denial based on the fact the applicant is requesting that the annexation would be a portion of the parcel and not the whole parcel as required by law. A second reading is scheduled for Nov. 4.

Council will consider a change order in the amount of $42,361 to TriScapes for sod and irrigation alternates at Main Street Park. The funds will be paid out of SPLOST VI funds if available. The city approved a landscape agreement with TriScapes in July in the amount of $125,775.

Public Works Director will ask council to consider approval of a Local Maintenance Improvement Grant (LMIG) for milling, paving and striping 4,150 feet of Perimeter Road. The city would be responsible for a 30 percent match in the amount of $9,381.91.

Mayor Mike Eason will ask council to consider the appointment of Clint Harper and Laura Barr to the city’s Design Guideline Committee.

Dawsonville Mayor Mike Eason

City Council to amend ordinances at Monday’s meeting

News August 18, 2019 , by Bill Johnson

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – The Dawsonville City Council will hold a combined work session and regular meeting Monday (Aug. 19) in the G.L. Gilleland Council Chambers on second floor starting at 5:30 p.m.

During the regular meeting, Council will consider an amendment to Meeting Room Rules and Regulations.

A public hearing will be held to consider a zoning amendment correction from Institutional District (INST) to Town Business District for property located at 86 Hwy. 53 West.

Council will then consider sign options for Main Street Park and Farmer’s Market and adoption of a city ordinance to amend its Zoning Ordinance.

A large portion of the meeting will be to review and amend a number of city ordinances including the Business Regulation Ordinance, the general penalty provisions for violations of city ordinances, repeal of the ordinance as it relates to a fee schedule for violations and the existing alcohol ordinance.

Mayor Mike Eason is expected to present the millage rate certification and request approval to roll back the millage rate and not levy a city tax for FY 2019.

Eason will also announce the city has received a Certificate of Achievement from the Government Finance Officers Association for excellence in financial reporting 2018-19

Council will consider a request for a budget amendment from (special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST VI) in the amount of $998,900 for FY 2018-19.

Dawsonville City Council Mayor Mike Eason

Still time left for early voting in municipal election

News October 30, 2019 , by Bill Johnson

Mike Eason

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. –Voters still have a few days of early voting left to cast a ballot in the Nov. 5 general election for the City of Dawsonville.

Incumbent Mike Eason is facing a challenge from political newcomer Durant Wright in the race for mayor. Two city council seats are also on the ballot but, in both cases, the candidates are unopposed. Long time councilman Caleb Phillips represents Post 1. First time candidate, John Walden will represent Post 3.

Eason was appointed to office in 2017 after former Mayor James Grogan was impeached. He won a special election in 2018. He has had some successes as mayor, including the construction of Main Street Park and the farmers market.

Wright recently moved here from Tennessee. He owns several small businesses and believes his business experience will benefit the city.

Councilman Caleb Phillips

Voters must live within the city limits to vote in the mayoral or city council races. However, there is an important referendum on the ballot that county voters are encouraged to vote on – the education special purpose local option sales tax, or ESPLOST VI.

The one-cent sales tax will extend the current ESPLOST for five more years, or until $48 million is collected. It can be used to fund capital projects. School officials have earmarked $17.5 million for a new agriculture facility, multi-purpose facility and a technology facility. $12 million would be set aside for a new elementary school and $12 million for technology upgrades.

Voters may cast an early ballot at the Dawson County elections office, 96 Academy Avenue between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Friday.

Election Day is Nov. 5 when all precincts will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Caleb Phillips Mayor Mike Eason

Tanner, Gooch discuss bills passed in 2019 General Assembly

News April 9, 2019 , by Bill Johnson

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Sen. Steve Gooch of Dahlonega and State Rep. Kevin Tanner of Dawsonville were the featured speakers at last night’s Dawson County Republican Party Meeting at the Bowen Arts Center.

Gooch represents 200,000 north Georgia residents, including those in Dawson, White, Lumpkin, Union and Forsyth counties. The district is made up of about 75 percent Trump voters.

“It’s the most conservative district in the state senate and the third most conservative in the country,” he said. “So, it’s pretty easy for us to go down there and vote a conservative agenda cause that’s who we are and who we try to represent back home.”

Sen. Steve Gooch

He said he had took some heat from liberals for his vote in favor of the fetal heartbeat bill – the bill that bans abortions as soon as a doctor can detect a fetal heartbeat — but added, “I was proud of my vote on that heartbeat bill, saving hundreds of thousands of unborn children. It was probably the best vote I had taken in my nine years in the senate.”

Gooch also talked about passing enabling legislation to create business courts in the state. The legislation will allow businessmen and women to take a case directly to a business court rather than the Superior Court. “A lot of business issues are highly specialized and not many Superior Court judges have business experience,” he said. “In a business court, they would be able to bring in experts that know a lot about the subject matter.”

Another issue he has spearheaded for several years is the expansion of high-speed internet access to rural communities. He and other legislators who understand that high-speed broadband internet service is essential to schools, businesses and hospitals made it a priority this year. They passed legislation that allows power companies and phone companies to begin selling internet service in rural areas.

Rep. Kevin Tanner

Tanner also weighed in on the fetal heartbeat bill, saying, “I have several in Lumpkin County who are very much opposed to that legislation. There is no way I could ever change their mind and I’m very much pro-life and there is no way you could ever change my mind. It’s a moral fiber issue for me.”

Tanner worked hard on getting new voting machines for the state. The bill passed in the House along party lines with Democrats opposed. The new machines, which will cost between $150 million and $200 million, will allow voters to cast a ballot electronically, print out a copy for their approval then scan it to have it recorded.

“I have yet to be able to get my democrat colleagues to give me a reason they would be opposed to that particular machine,” Tanner said. “The reality is (opposition) is coming from the national party that they should oppose the legislation. I will say this, it is proven statistically that the best way to rig or cheat in an election is paper ballots. If you want to stuff ballot boxes and rig an election, paper ballots are the best way to do that. These machines make it very difficult if not impossible for that to happen because if there is an audit, there is a trail we can follow.”

Tanner has been a champion of mental health reform in Georgia which has led to the creation of a behavioral health reform and innovation commission made up of 23 members. Four will be legislators but the majority will be experts in the field of mental health.”

“The problem is once you graduate from a mental health court, there is no follow up,” he said. “If you have schizophrenia, or you have bipolar, or acute depression, you have to be followed your entire life to make sure medication is being taken and you’re not having an episode.”

Last night’s meeting was the first since the election of a new slate of officers at the County Convention. The new officers include Seanie Zappendorf (chairperson), Mike Berg (first vice chair) Pepper Pettit (second vice chair), Dale Smart (secretary) Katie Hulsebus (treasurer) and Norman Samples (committee member at-large).

Among the elected officials who attended the event were Mayor Mike Eason, Commissioners Julie Hughes-Nix, Sharon Fausett, City Councilman Stephen Tolson and former Commission Chairman Mike Berg.

Julie Hughes Nix Mayor Mike Eason Mike Berg Sen. Steve Gooch Sharon Fausett Stephen Tolson

James Grogan’s fight with the City of Dawsonville goes to the Georgia Supreme Court Wednesday

News October 8, 2018 , by Bill Johnson

ATLANTA, Ga. — Oral arguments in the case of Grogan v. City of Dawsonville will begin Wednesday afternoon in the Georgia Supreme Court, 40 Capitol Square in Atlanta.

The Dawsonville City Council voted to remove former Mayor James Grogan from office in May 2017, following a city council-initiated investigation into alleged misuse of city funds.

Grogan lost an appeal in Dawson County Superior Court five months later. He then attempted to win election to his former office but was defeated by current Mayor Mike Eason.

Grogan’s attorney Steven Leibel has asked the Supreme Court to reverse the lower court’s decision.

In a brief to the Supreme Court, Leibel wrote, “Grogan has not only been denied his right of appeal, he also has been penalized tens of thousands of dollars for having exercised that right.”

The City of Dawsonville has spent more than $70,000 in attorney’s fees fighting the appeals.

Oral arguments in Superior Court will begin at approximately 2 p.m. Each side is given 20 minutes to present their argument with the appellant going first.

Georgia Supreme Court welcomes the public to attend oral arguments.

James Grogan Mayor Mike Eason

Eason defeats Grogan in special election 195-120

News March 20, 2018 , by Bill Johnson

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Mayor Mike Eason, a 31-year special agent with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the state’s first inspector general, defeated former Mayor James Grogan 195-120 in a special election Tuesday.

Eason, 67, was appointed mayor last December after Dawsonville City Council removed Grogan for alleged violations of the city’s charter.

Eason said, “I appreciate everyone getting out to vote whether they voted for me or not. It means a lot to me knowing I have the support of the citizens. I plan to serve all the citizens, not just the ones who voted for me.”

Eason, who will take the oath of office April 9, said the city is working on a resolution to regulate the city’s speed limit. Another priority, he said, is working with the Downtown Development Authority on the comprehensive plan.

Grogan said he plans to call Eason to offer his congratulations and support.

The former mayor said he does not know what his future plans are right now. “It won’t be political,” Grogan said. He added that he was surprised by the outcome. “I got so much positive feedback from the citizens during the campaign, I was totally shocked,” he said.

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com

Dawsonville City Council Mayor Mike Eason

Dawsonville City Council meeting at 5:30 Monday

News March 17, 2019 , by Bill Johnson

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – The Dawsonville City Council will hold a combined work session and regular meeting Monday (March 18) at 5:30 p.m. in the G.L. Gilleland Council Chambers.

Council will hold a second reading of a proposed amendment to the city’s Ethics Ordinance aimed at clarifying and better defining the scope of the ordinance and clarifying, defining and restricting conflicts of interest and penalties applicable for elected officials and employees. The amendment also provides for defining qualification of members of the Ethics Board that will hear complaints from citizens.

Ensite Civil Consulting, LLC will ask Council to rezone 38.58 acres at 592 Hwy. 53 West from Single Family Residential (R-3) to Residential Planned Community (RPC) for the purpose of building a 172-home subdivision targeted for seniors. The subdivision would consist of quad homes and townhomes and would require a density of 4.5 units per acre. Planning Commission has recommended council deny the request based on density, no age restrictions and traffic concerns.

Mayor Mike Eason will read a proclamation declaring March 18 as Tigers Day in honor of the Dawson County High School boys’ and girls’ basketball teams. The boys team posted a 27-5 record, won the Region 7-AAA championship and advanced to the State Tournament’s Final Four, farther than any DCHS team ever.

The girls team posted an impressive 22-9 record and advanced to the State Tournament’s Elite 8.

Dan and Venita Anderson will request Council annex a 12.19 acre tract at 378 Shoal Creek Road into the City of Dawsonville.

Council is also expected to vote on a resolution of recertification as City of Ethics status with the Georgia Municipal Association.

Council will also consider a recommendation by Christopher Poje to adjust water and sewer rates and water and sewer tap fees.

Dawsonville City Council Mayor Mike Eason

Mayoral candidate forum scheduled Feb. 13

News February 7, 2018 , by Bill Johnson

Mayor Mike Eason

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – The Dawson County Chamber of Commerce will host a candidate forum Tuesday, Feb. 13, at 6 p.m. at the Dawson County Performing Arts Center at 1665 Perimeter Road to introduce the candidates in the upcoming special election for Mayor of Dawsonville.

The format will allow citizens to submit questions to be asked of the candidates — current mayor Mike Eason and former Mayor James Grogan — at [email protected]. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.

The deadline to register in this election is Feb. 20. Election Day is March 20 when polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. To register to vote, change your address or view a sample ballot, visit www.mvp.sos.ga.gov.

Former Mayor James Grogan

Advanced voting begins Feb. 26 with all voting taking place at the Dawson County Board of Elections office at 96 Academy Avenue. Advanced voting will be held Monday through Friday through March 16 from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

This special election is to fill the unexpired term of mayor. The candidate that is elected will serve as mayor until December 2018.

Dawson County Chamber of Commerce Mayor James Grogan Mayor Mike Eason

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