DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – In his report to the Dawson County Board of Commissioners during Thursday’s work session, County Manager David Headley said SPLOST and LOST collections are up 18.03 percent compared to last year. Revenue collected from the Special Purpose Local Option Tax reached $698,736 in August, about 14 percent over its projection. Local Option Sales Tax revenue reached $614,883.

Headley also reported the number of building permits issued in August increased by about 50 percent to 42. There were 22 Single-family permits issued, 11 more than in July. The county also issued 172 business licenses last month and 1,407 for the year.

David McKee, President of KARE for Kids, asked that commissioners once again grant permission to use the county parking areas during the upcoming 50^th annual Mountain Moonshine Festival (Oct. 27-29) in order to raise funds for needy children in Dawson County.

McKee proposed charging a $10 parking fee per vehicle as has been done in previous year. McKee said several county organizations have agreed to staff the lots and collect fees. KARE for Kids, Inc. is a 501(C)(3) organization and is fully insured.

McKee, who is also Dawson County Public Works Director, asked the Board to consider amending a contract it made last May for road improvements to Tanner Road, Kelly Bridge Road and Steve Tate Highway as part of the SPLOST VI project list. An alternate project for Thompson Road was not awarded at the time due to a lack of funds. However, McKee said current SPLOST VI revenue allows for the addition of Thompson Road to the project.

McKee said that C.W. Matthews Contracting Co., Inc., is not obligated to complete the amended scope of work, but had agreed to do so at the cost submitted previously ($925,899.20).

Planning and Development Director Jason Streetman asked the board to cancel the contract approved in 2016 to provide development overlay for the Ga. 400 corridor from Hwy. 53 to the Forsyth County line.

The GA. 400 overlay as approved covers a large swath of Hwy. 53 within its boundaries but leaves an area of approximately eight-tenths-of-a-mile out of the overlay. Streetman said his staff had identified several parcels of land that should be included in the overlay.

He said with the Board’s approval his staff is ready to move forward with a timeline of dates for open houses, planning commission meetings, etc.

The cost for the project is expected to be approximately $45,000 and Streetman the cost could be absorbed within his department’s existing budget.