City Council Approves Water/Sewer Rate Hike

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DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Dawsonville residents can expect to see an increase in their water and sewer rates this summer.

City council voted 3-0, with Councilwoman Angie Smith absent, in favor of a 15 percent hike beginning in July.

City Manager David Headley said it’s been a long time since the last rate hike and the increase is necessary to pay for repairs and maintenance on the city’s water and sewer system.

“We commissioned an independent study in 2012 and the engineering firm recommended a 20 percent rate increase but we decided not to do it then because the economy was in such bad shape,” Headley said. “Since then we’ve looked at it again and a 20 percent increase was again recommended. But, we decided that some projects could be included in the SPLOST so council approved a 15 percent increase so it wouldn’t cost taxpayers as much.”

Asked about the public’s response, Headley said he had some phone inquiries about the increase, but few complaints.

“Most folks understand,” he added.

In other business, council:
⦁ Tabled an update to the city zoning map until the May meeting;
⦁ Mayor W. James Grogan read a resolution proclaiming Georgia Cities Week April 17-23;
⦁ Re-appointed Dan Worley, B.J. Farley and Pam Bragg to the city’s Planning Commission for a three-year term beginning April 26, 2016;
⦁ Authorized the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) planning study update;
⦁ Authorized travel for the mayor to attend Georgia Rural Water Association meeting May 10-12 at Jekyll Island and for the mayor and city council to attend the Georgia Municipal Association annual convention June 24-28 in Savannah;
⦁ Approved a low bid of $20,780.68 for the purchase of lawn mowers from Terry’s Tools of Dawsonville;
⦁ Approved a change order for upgrade of a natural gas line built in the 1950s on Maple Street to Mills Ford Road in the amount of $107,000. In completing the work, crews discovered the line on Maple Street needed work as well and was not included in the original scope or work;
⦁ Tabled a decision on selection of a concept drawing to utilize the 16 acres behind City Hall until the next council meeting;
⦁ Approved a request by John R. and Yvette Daniel for annexation into the city of 79.98 acres located on Hwy. 53 West and re-zoning to Restricted Agriculture;
⦁ Approved Christina Steele’s request for re-zoning 2.72 acres located at 21 Church Street from R1 (Restricted Single Family Residential) to Neighborhood Business for the purpose of opening a child care center.

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