Dawson County Commission Work Session Set Thursday
News February 22, 2017
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — The Dawson County Board of Commissioners has a work session scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday in the Government Center Assembly Room.
Judge Andrew Fuller will present a request to commissioners for annual renewal of a contract with Northeast Georgia Probation Services for probation supervision and rehabilitation services.
Family Connection Coordinator Nancy Stites will present a request to place Little Lending Libraries on county government property.
Director of Senior Services Dawn Pruett will request a budget increase for the Legacy Link Match.
Accounting and Budget Manager Natalie Johnson will present the 2016 commissioners expenses and District 2 County Commissioner Chris Gaines will present a request for new development authority member training funds.
Commissioners Work Session Set Thursday
News February 8, 2017
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Dawson County commissioners will address several key issues at Thursday’s work session, including appointments to the Development Authority, compensation for the new staff attorney, Monroe Frey III, and the results of the 2016 employee compensation study. The meeting begins at 4 p.m. in the Assembly Room of the Government Center.
Those being considered for appointment to the Development Authority include Mike Ball, Brian Trapnell, Steven Melching, Anthony Passarello and Calvin Byrd. If approved, their terms could run through 2020. But Authority Chairwoman Dr. Sherry Weeks said last week the organization may not survive past 2017 without funding from the county.
Commissioners voted late last year to withhold funding from the organization.
Commission Chairman Billy Thurmond and Commissioner Chris Gaines were not on the board when the decision to de-fund the Authority was made so their input could impact that decision.
County staff members will provide presentations regarding proposed dates for the 2017 Emergency Services Boot Drive, a 2017 SPLOST VI update and board appointments and the 2017 Georgia Trauma Commission EMS Trauma Equipment Grant application.
County Employees Health Insurance Cost Increases
News June 2, 2017
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – The Dawson County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to increase by five percent the amount county employees will contribute to their own health insurance plan with Northwest Benefit Corporation.
In the past, the county has paid 85 percent of the cost while employees paid the remaining 15 percent. The plan approved Thursday calls for an 80-20 split.
Commissioners said it was a very difficult decision, but as Commissioner Sharon Fausett put it, “The cost of health insurance is out of control. We need to be fiscally responsible. I don’t want employees to think we take them lightly because we don’t. I appreciate what you do but we have some very difficult decisions to make.”
Commissioner Jimmy Hamby said, “I do understand the cost coming to the county as well as the employees. But we can’t go to the taxpayers every time we need to increase something in the county.”
Commissioner Chris Gaines said, “Experts say the average split is 75-25 so we’re still well beyond what some surrounding counties are doing both in the public and private sector.”
The total cost to the county is just over $3.7 million, an increase of about $527,386 over last year.
Commissioners voted unanimously to allow Ross & Associates to proceed with an update of the 2009 Methodology Report for the Impact Fee implementation. The county contracted with Ross & Associates to create the report in 2002. It was updated in 2006 and again in 2009. The fees were collected through building permits and construction orders. However, impact fees have not been imposed since then.
Once the update is completed, it will come back to the board for final approval.
Commissioners also agreed to accept a $2,063 grant that will allow Director of Treatment Services for the Northeastern Judicial Circuit Debbie Mott to purchase computers, monitors, scanners, printers iPads and laptops for her office. There is no county match required. Georgia Accountability Court Funding Committee was created in 2012 and has provided local courts with critical funding necessary to support the growth of accountability courts in Georgia to reduce the prison population.
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 www.fetchyournews.com
Thurmond, Gaines Take Place on Board of Commissioners
News January 13, 2017
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — The Dawson County Board of Commissioners welcomed two newcomers to the first meeting of the new year Thursday. New Commission Chairman Billy Thurmond presided over the work session and special called meetings and Chris Gaines took his seat as the new commissioner representing District 2.
First order of business during the work session was for the new Board to consider a request by Public Defender Brad Morris to renew an intergovernmental agreement with Hall County to share the cost of two employees in the Public Defender’s office equally. The contract has been in place since 2005. The expense required to fund the IGA ($70,059.13) has been requested and approved in the 2017 budget.
Morris also presented a request that the county renew a contract with the State of Georgia to fund the cost for one attorney and one administrative assistant as State employees in the Georgia Public Defender’s Council.
The contract covers the two employees’ salaries and cost of employment as set forth in Attachment B to the State Contract, and a 5 percent management fee ($180,186.32).:
Next, Emergency Services Director Lanier Swafford presented a request for his department to apply for a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant (SAFER). The grant program was established to assist local fire departments with staffing and deployment capabilities in order to respond to emergencies safely and meet National Standards.
The grant is 100% covered for the cost of salary and benefits for two years.The only cost the county would incur would be the cost of uniforms and gear (approximately $2,000.00 per employee per year). At the end of the two years, the grant offers three options – employing agency assumes responsibility of the cost; apply for a hardship extension to the grant if local funding is limited; termination without penalty.
After two years, the cost for 6 employees would be $231,702 plus benefits. The cost for nine employees would be $347,553.
Commissioners will appoint a vice chairman at the next regular meeting and is expected to renew the contract with Danielle Yarbrough.
During the special called meeting that followed immediately after the conclusion of the work session, commissioners appointed new members to the county’s Planning Commission.
Commissioner Sharon Fausett appointed Jason Hamby to the commission with Haynes Johnson to serve as alternate.
Commissioner Gaines appointed John Maloney with Jeff Looper to serve as alternate.
Commissioner Jim Hamby appointed Tim Bennett with Joan Gibbs to serve as alternate.
Commissioner Julie Nix appointed Neil Hornsey with Mike Miller to serve as alternate.
Chairman Thurmond appointed John Dooley but has not named an alternate. All appointees terms will run concurrently with the commissioner who appointed them.
County, Sheriff Spar Over Budget Request
News September 20, 2017
Chairman Billy Thurmond
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Dawson County Sheriff Jeff Johnson and the Board of Commissioners butted heads over the sheriff’s budget request during a called meeting Tuesday afternoon.
Johnson says he cannot provide the services required of his office on the $7.3 million budget commissioners have proposed. He requested $8.1 million. But commissioners say Johnson’s predecessor, Billy Carlisle who retired last year, provided those same services on a budget of only $6.8 million. They say the half million dollar increase they have proposed plus a significant pay raise for all county employees, including the sheriff’s office and another $300,000 for capital expenditures, is all the taxpayers can afford.
Sheriff Jeff Johnson
Commissioners will consider the arguments made by Johnson and his attorney, Joey Homans, until Thursday when the final budget is set to be adopted.
In initiating the discussion, Chairman Billy Thurmond said, “It is our goal to help you meet your needs. By no means do we want to run your department. We have no idea how to run your department. That takes money and we’re looking for every means and every way to generate the revenue.”
Commissioner Chris Gaines echoed that sentiment, saying, “I want the very best Sheriff’s Office this county can afford.”
Commissioner Chris Gaines
It is worth noting that the sheriff’s budgeting process is unlike any in state government. Commissioners control the budget, but sheriffs are constitutional officers, elected by the citizens. Their budgets cannot be cut unless the sheriff agrees. If push comes to shove, the sheriff can take his appeal through the court system.
Johnson may have been setting the stage for that when he said, “If you look at our budget, just the line items, take away the salaries and benefits, our budget was reduced. Our overall budget was reduced. That’s where we’re at. We come into this process short on staff, short on uniforms, short on equipment and short on a long laundry list of items.”
Both sides would like to avoid litigation because taxpayers would be forced to pay the legal fees of both the commission and the sheriff’s office, which could cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Commissioner Sharon Fausett
Commissioner Sharon Fausett opened the door to future opportunities for the sheriff’s office to achieve some increases, saying, “This budget isn’t written in stone but we have to start somewhere.” She indicated that she might be open to future adjustments in the budget if revenue rose above expectations and the need was warranted.
“But I don’t want to get below the 15 percent contingency fund,” she said. “I don’t want to raise property taxes and I don’t want to borrow money. I want us to be fiscally responsible.”
Commissioners questioned why the sheriff chose to make purchases outside the county’s purchasing department where discounts and other efficiencies are available. They say that is a duplication of services that costs taxpayers more money.
Johnson explained that for big ticket purchases, in excess of $100,000, he does use the purchasing department but added, “I’m accountable to the voters of Dawson County for how I spend my money and why I choose certain contractors. But often times, the lowest bid will get you just that, the lowest quality. He cited two examples of contractors the county selected in the past that he felt failed to do live up to their contract.
Commissioners have argued in the past that the Sheriff’s Offices in Lumpkin and White counties serve a larger population but have a smaller budget than what is being proposed for Dawson, a county with a population of about 23,000.
For example, the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office budget is $6.6 million and its population is 29,966 while the budget for White County Sheriff Neal Walden is only $5.4 million for a population of 28,000.
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
New Attorney Reports to Work Amid Uncertainty
News February 9, 2017
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Monroe Lynn Frey III, Dawson County’s new staff attorney, reported to work Monday amid a great deal of uncertainty about compensation, the need to hire a secretary or paralegal, and a potentially costly transition period.
The Board of Commissioners has yet to vote in a regular meeting on Frey’s compensation, although County Manager David Headley said Frey would be paid a salary of $85,000 a year to start and that could increase to $90,000 following a six-month probation period, not including a benefits package. The board is expected to discuss that during tonight’s work session.
Frey has expressed an interest in hiring a secretary or paralegal, something that could cost up to $50,000 annually, not including a benefits package and could require board approval.
Then there is the transition period. Commission Chairman Billy Thurmond said Joey Homans, who has been the county’s contract attorney the past 20 years, will stay on throughout the transition period. How long that will take is unclear. Meanwhile, county taxpayers will be paying two attorneys.
Commissioners voted 3-1 to approve Frey’s hiring with Commissioner Chris Gaines opposed.
Gaines, who was at the state capitol Thursday, said, “My vote was not against Mr. Frey. He was the most qualified of the three that we interviewed. I was just opposed to the process. We interviewed individuals only. I thought we should interview law firms also.”
Homans said he also had concerns about the cost of retaining two attorneys for an undisclosed period of time.
New Commissioner’s Top Priority is Improved High-Speed Cable Access
News December 9, 2016
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — When Chris Gaines is sworn in on Dec. 22nd, he will bring a strong record of public service to the Dawson County Board of Commissioners.
A graduate of North Georgia College and State University with a degree in Business Management, Gaines has been a Dawsonville City Councilman, a member of the Board of Directors for the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce, a founder of Boy Scouts of America Troop 422 as well as a member of the Lion’s Club and the Jaycees.
Gaines has laid the groundwork for his first year in office by attending meetings of Georgia’s Joint High Speed Broadband Communications Committee throughout the state.
“My first priority will be to expand our fiber optic network and bring more options for high speed internet connectivity to our homes, schools and businesses,” he said.
As a former City Councilman, Gaines believes he can help strengthen the relationship between city and county government and the Etowah Water and Sewer Authority.
“I’d like for us to begin holding meetings in order to end some of the power struggles we have seen,” he said. “We won’t agree on all things but at least we can communicate in a spirit of cooperation.”
Gaines said the Board of Commissioners has done a great job, considering the economy they have had to work with the past few years and he credits county employees for their contributions.
“Our county employees are our No. 1 asset,” he said. “We need to listen to our employees more and develop good two-way communications. They have developed a culture of excellence across all departments.
Gaines is well aware of the growth spurt that is headed for Dawson County and says the county has to be prepared for it.
The key to good quality growth, he said, is a viable land use plan developed with a lot of input from our citizens. “We have a need for entry-level housing for our service employees, teachers, police and firefighters. We must balance the type of growth we need with the quality of life we all want.”
Trump, Isaakson and Gaines Win Dawson Co.
News November 9, 2016
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Voters across north Georgia turned out in large numbers to vote in the 2016 Presidential Election. In Dawson, White and Lumpkin counties more than 80 percent of active registered voters cast their ballots.
There were only a handful of contested races in Republican dominated Dawson County where 11,836 of 14,591 registered voters turned out.
As expected, Donald Trump registered a landslide victory over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with 9,880 votes to 1,444 in the presidential race.
Former City Councilman Chris Gaines easily dispatched Independent Robert Wiley, an ROTC instructor at Dawson County High School, 8,464 to 2,589.
Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson defeated Democrat Jim Barksdale 9,296 TO 1,231.
Incumbent District 2 Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols beat challenger Eric Hoskins 9,378 to 1,601.
Dawson County voters overwhelmingly said no to what they perceived to be the state takeover of local public schools, defeating Amendment 1 7,022 to 4,428.
They also rejected Amendment 3 which calls for the establishment of a Judicial Qualifications Commission, 6873 to 3,746.
Amendment 2, which imposes penalties for sexual exploitation and assessments on adult entertainment, 9,446 to 1,854. Amendment 4, which allows revenue to be taken from existing taxes on fireworks to support trauma care, fire services and public safety, 9,283 to 2,048.
Wiley Qualifies to Run for County Commision as Independent
News July 26, 2016
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Dawson County Elections Supervisor Glenda Ferguson confirmed Tuesday that Robert Wiley, a retired U.S. Army major and combat veteran, has qualified to run for the District 2 Board of Commissioners seat as an independent in November.
Wiley needed to obtain the signatures of 5 percent of Dawson County’s registered voters (about 661) on a nomination petition. Ferguson said her office certified the signatures of 665.
Wiley’s opponent is Republican Chris Gaines who defeated Tim Davis in the May General Primary election.
Wiley, a junior ROTC instructor at Dawson County High School, said he is a Republican but missed the deadline to qualify for the General Primary after just completing his Masters Degree in Public Administration.
Independent Candidate May Challenge Chris Gaines in November
News, Politics June 9, 2016
DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. — A retired U.S. Army Major and veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is attempting to get on the November ballot as an Independent to run for the District 2 seat on the Dawson County Board of Commissioners.
Robert Wiley is currently a junior ROTC instructor at Dawson County High School. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Indiana, a Masters Degree in Public Administration From Weber University and is working on his PhD.
Wiley said he is a Republican but chose not to run in the General Primary election because he was working on his doctorate at the time.
In order to qualify, Wiley will need 5 percent of registered voters (approximately 661) to sign a petition by July 1. The petition will then have to be verified by the county’s elections office. Wiley said he has more than 400 signatures now.
Chris Gaines won the primary, beating Tim Davis by 91 votes last month.
Robert Wiley, County Commission Candidate Dist. 2
News, Politics June 10, 2016
DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. — Dawson County is among the reddest of red counties in Georgia, if not the nation. Few can remember the last time a Democrat or independent was bold enough to even run for county commission here, much less win.
So, you might say that Robert J. Wiley, who is attempting to run as an independent against Republican Chris Gaines in the November General Election for Board of Commissioners in District 2, will have an uphill battle on his hands.
First, he will have to obtain more than 600 signatures on a nomination petition in the next three weeks to even become eligible to run. Then he will have to defeat a popular former Dawsonville City Councilman who has strong name recognition, a history of public service and who is battle tested.
But then, Wiley is no stranger to combat. He is a retired U.S. Army Major and a combat veteran with two tours of duty in Iraq and one in Afghanistan under his belt. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Indiana, a Masters Degree in Public Administration From Weber University and is working on his PhD in Public Policy and Administration. He is currently a junior ROTC instructor at Dawson County High School.
Wiley says he is a Republican and would have run in the Republican Primary had he not missed the deadline due to working on his PhD.
He and his wife and three daughters have only lived in Dawson County for two years, but he says the people he has talked to feel they have been disenfranchised and want to have a strong voice in county government.
If he’s elected Wiley says his top priority is to oversee a healthy budget. “If the budget is out of whack you can’t do anything,” he said.
Another priority for Wiley is employee retention. “I believe our county employees are underpaid,” he said. “We can do better than what we’re doing. Also, the infrastructure must be maintained. New developments coming to the 400 corridor. I don’t want us to bring in retail businesses that put old established businesses out of business and leave us with a bunch of empty buildings. I’d like to see most of the retail businesses stay in the 400 cooridor. There are a lot of farms on the north side I dont want to see their farming way of life change.”
Chris Gaines Quest for County Commission Seat Not Over Yet
News, Politics June 10, 2016
DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. — Chris Gaines expressed disappointment Thursday that in order to reach his goal of becoming Dawson County’s District 2 Commissioner he may have to win one more election.
It was less than three weeks ago that Gaines, won a hotly-contested race over Tim Davis in the Republican Primary. Since no Democrat had qualified, it appeared Gaines would be headed to the swearing in ceremony in January. Then he discovered that Robert Wiley, a retired Army major, combat veteran and junior ROTC instructor at Dawson County High School, is attempting to meet the requirements to run as an independent in November.
To qualify, Wiley will have to obtain the signatures of 5 percent of Dawson County’s registered voters (about 661) on a nomination petition by July 1. He says he currently has more than 400.
“Obviously I’m disappointed,” Gaines said. “He has followed the rules, but he claims to be a Republican so he should have qualified to run in the Republican Primary election.”
Gaines said he reached out to Wiley and the two had lunch a week ago.
“I didn’t know him and I wanted to find out why he was running and why he didn’t run in the primary. He said he just missed the deadline and the elections office told him the only way he could run was to qualify as an independent.”
Gaines previously served on the Dawsonville City Council. “I’m dedicated to running for this seat,” he said. “I have a proven track record and I’m confident we will pull it out with my long history of leadership in the county. It will just take more time, effort and capital now.”
Chris Gaines, BOC Candidate, Dist. 2
News, Politics April 6, 2016
To provide voters the information they need to make an informed choice in the May 24 General Primary election, Fetch Your News will work hard to present a profile of each candidate running for public office. All candidates will be contacted and offered an opportunity to respond to questions.
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — At 38 years old, Chris Gaines is younger than many of Dawson County’s elected officials but he brings an education in business management, an understanding of how government works and experience in handling a municipal budget to his campaign for District 2 County Commissioner.
The former Dawsonville City Councilman is running for the seat vacated by James Swafford. Swafford is not seeking re-election after two terms in office.
Gaines works as a commercial risk manager for Pointe North Insurance Group and says he has a unique perspective to offer. “I have a young family and I have the ability to bring, sound modern business principles to the table,” he said.
Asked about what he wants to accomplish if he’s elected, Gaines said he will balance business growth with residential growth to keep property taxes low and cultivate a more diverse business base to take advantage of the high speed fiber network already in place.
“We need to attract light industrial, data centers and tech firms in defined areas that provide high paying jobs for our citizens,” he said.
Gaines also said that he will encourage city and county officials, the Etowah Water and Sewer Authority and the county’s school system to work together in a more effective way for the citizens. “I believe by working together, we can accomplish so much more,” he said.
Bearden, Sosebee Wrap Up Qualifying in Dawson Co.
News, Politics March 8, 2016
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Qualifying closed Friday in Dawson County with two more candidates tossing their hats in the ring. Incumbent Ted Bearden qualified to run for County Coroner and Frank Sosebee became the fourth candidate to qualify to run for Sheriff.
Ted Bearden Coroner
Sheriff Candidate
Tony Wooten
Jeff Perry
Jeff Johnson
Frank Sosebee
School Board Dist. 1
Doris Cook
School Board District 2 Candidate
Elaine Wilson
School Board Dist. 4
Roger Slaton
Tax Commissioner Candidate
Johnny Glass
Karin McKee
Tony Stewart
Probate Judge Candidate
Jennifer Burt
County Commissioner Dist. 2 Candidate
Chris Gaines
Tim Davis
County Commissioner Dist. 4
Heather Hulsebus
Julie Hughes Nix
Magistrate Judge Candidate
Lisa Thurmond
County Commission Chairman Candidate
Billy Thurmond
Peter Hill
Tax Commissioner Candidate
Andi Henson Juliette
Coroner
Ted Bearden