County Set to Begin Property Revaluation Process

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Dawson County is about to undertake a massive property revaluation and equalization project that could take up to two years and cost more than half a million dollars. County commissioners will discuss the project during Thursday’s work session which begins at 4 p.m.

Equalization is the process of bringing about conformity to a common standard so the property of one shall not be assessed at a higher or lower percentage of its fair market value than the property of another. Some 15,000 parcels, 12,000 residential homes 1,800 commercial/industrial properties and 200 pre-bill mobile homes will be included in the project.

This will be the first time the county has contracted the work. Georgia Mass Appraisal Solutions and Services (GMASS), the only company to bid on the project, submitted a bid of $588,300.

Chairman Billy Thurmond will ask the Board to consider approval of a professional services agreement with Georgia Mountains Regional Commission (GMRC) in the amount of $1,000 to prepare and submit a Community Development Block Grant regarding Senior Center Expansion. If approved, funding would come from the Grant Fund Contingency for potential grants.

Finance Director Nancy Neikirk will ask the Board to approve a budget amendment in the amount of $869,006, most of which is related to the reimbursement the county received for the 2015 winter storm clean up ($652,994). Approximately $36,000 is related to the 2016 compensation increase approved after the 2016 budget was adopted. About $48,364 is for Risk Management’s Special One-time Return for Safety. The remainder is attributed to donations received in 2016 as well as carryover of donations from the prior year.

Other items on the agenda include:

• Presentation of Fire House Subs and Chick-fil-A Dawsonville Fund Raising Opportunities to Support Dawson County Emergency Services;
• Presentation of a request to surplus three fire apparatuses;
• Presentation of Scrap Tire Storage and Disposal Draft Ordinance;
• Presentation of Dawson County Rotary Club request to contribute handicapped accessible playground equipment for the playground at Rock Creek Park;
• Presentation of FY2017 Legacy Link addendum;
• Presentation of FY2018 Legacy Link contract;
• Presentation of a revised travel policy;
• Re-appointment of Susan Roof to the Library Board.

Commissioners do not vote on agenda items during a work session. The purpose of a work session is to discuss items that may be voted on at the next regular meeting.