Commissioners Reject Revision to IGA
News May 6, 2016
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Amid groans of disapproval from area stakeholders, Dawson County Commissioners voted against a revised intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Etowah Water and Sewer Authority that would have resulted in water main replacement, a water line extension program and installation of fire hydrants in a currently under served area of the county.
The Board approved the IGA on April 7 which called for a 5-year term and a cost of $3,500 per hydrant during the initial construction phase and $4,500 for any fire hydrant installed after construction had been completed. Five days later, EWSA approved a revision of the IGA asking for a 25-year commitment plus $5,000 per hydrant during initial construction and $6,000 per hydrant following construction.
Dick McNeil, who said he represented affected homeowners, spoke in favor of the revision during the public comment period. McNeil said the agreement would provide high quality fire protection system for residents, properly equipped fire stations, adequate water pressure and the proper number of fire hydrants at the proper locations. “Our community has a definite need,” McNeil said.
The Board also approved:
An electronic cigarette ordinance;
The vacant and burned structure ordinance;
A revised IT server agreement with Dell Marketing in the amount of $226,879.47 with a contingency of $23,120.53;
Additional funds in the amount of $5,045 to cover Juvenile Court Reporter expenses;
An budget amendment for the Children and Family Services in amount of $4,000 for one half the budget year to fund supplements to four recently filled state–paid positions;
An invitation to bid on Shoal Creek Parcel to grow crops;
The bid from Peach State Ambulance for the purchase of three ambulances in the amount of $640,445;
The bid from Townley Construction of Dawsonville for heavy equipment, paving equipment and tractor and mower maintenance equipment at a rate of $114 per hour in the shop and $130 per hour in the field;
A bid from Athletic Construction for rehabilitation of the county’s athletic fields in the amount of $121,190;
A traffic signal request for Hwy. 53 and the driveway at CVS Pharmacy and
A bid from Bobcat of Gwinnett /Bobcat of Atlanta for the purchase of one rubber track skid loader in the amount of $55,561.06.
Commissioners Approve Canopy Design for Government Center
Business, News April 22, 2016
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Dawson County Commissioners approved the design for a new canopy to protect visitors to the Government Center during inclement weather, amended the county’s smoking ordinance and adopted a vacant and burned structure ordinance during Thursday’s voting session.
Commissioners chose Option 3 with a revision to be determined later for the canopy that will stretch from the handicap parking area at the rear of the facility to the front entrance. Approval was for the Rosser design only and the bid contract will still need to be approved. The canopy has a price tag between $167,300 to $270,228 depending on the options the Board chooses.
The new ordinance defines vacant commercial structures as those that have been unoccupied for 90 days and requires they be maintained in good repair.
The owner of a partially burned structure has 30 days after the completion of an investigation by the Fire Department and law enforcement or insurer to remove all refuse, debris and charred or partially burned material. If the structure is burned to an extent that can’t be repaired, the owner has 60 days to remove the remaining portion of the building. Penalty for violation of the ordinance is not less than $250 per day nor more than $1,000 per day. Each day that the violation continues after due notice is given is a separate violation.
Commissioners also amended the county smoking ordinance to read: No person shall smoke tobacco products or use electronic cigarettes or vape products on property owned, leased or operated by Dawson County.
In other action, commissioners:
⦁ Approved a request by Casey and Constance Tatum to rezone five acres from Residential Sub-Rural Manufactured/Moved to Residential Agriculture
⦁ Approved the 2016 Arbor Day Proclamation;
⦁ Tabled re-cosideration of a bid to replace the county’s servers until the May 5 meeting;
⦁ Approved a budget amendment for the District Attorney’s office to cover the expense of a murder trial;
⦁ Scheduled public hearings for consideration of the 2016 Land Use Plan for May 17, 2016 and May 19, 2016;
⦁ Approved the surplus list of 2016 vehicles and equipment;
⦁ Approved naming an unnamed county creek Logan Creek;
⦁ Approved an Etowah Water and Sewer agreement to allow residents to grow crops on property owned by that entity;
⦁ Approved a request by the Clerk of Courts Office to allow a budget amendment to cover a legal settlement in the amount of $4,950;
⦁ Appointed Charlie Auvermann to the Joint Development Authority Board.
All votes were 3-0 with Commissioner Sharon Fausett absent.
Board of Commissioners Meets in Work Session
News April 15, 2016
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Dawson County Commissioners plan to add a canopy to the county’s new Government Center to protect pedestrians during inclement weather. The canopy will stretch from the handicap parking area at the rear of the facility to the front entrance.
At Thursday’s work session, Rosser’s P.J. Docka presented the Board with three separate options ranging in price from $117,520 to $225,190 plus a 20 percent contingency. Funding for the project is included in the current budget. SPLOST V included $12,010 for Rosser’s design fee.
Commissioners are also working to replace the county’s current internet server which is outdated and no longer supported by the manufacturer.
County Attorney Joey Homans told the Board he has some concerns about a bid submitted by Dell Marketing which specializes in IT systems. But he expects to have details of the bid finalized before next Thursday’s voting session. Dell’s bid of $226,879.47 with a contingency of $23,120.53 to fund unforeseen items was the low bid.
In other action, the Board is considering:
⦁ A request for a budget amendment by the District Attorney’s office to cover the expense of a recent murder trial;
⦁ A request by resident Jean Clowney to submit a proposal to the US Board on Geographic Names to apply the name Logan Creek to an unnamed stream that flows into Lake Sidney Lanier;
⦁ A request by the Clerk of Court’s office for a budget amendment in the amount of $4,950 to cover the expense of a legal settlement;
⦁ A request by Planning and Development to hold public hearings on 5/17/16 (Planning Commission) and 5/19/2016 (Board of Commissioners) for adoption of the 2016 Land Use District Map.
Julie Nix: Career Public Servant, Not a Career Politician
News, Politics April 14, 2016
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — After 16 years on the Dawson County Board of Commissioners, some people may consider Julie Nix a career politician. But they would be wrong.
“I’m a career public servant,” she said. “And I believe serving others is a good thing.”
Nix, served the public as a school teacher for 30 years before entering the world of politics to follow in the footsteps of her father, who served two terms in the Georgia House of Representatives and one term in the state senate.
Why would Nix seek a fifth term in office considering the rough and tumble world politics has beecome?
“With two commissioners leaving the board at the end of this year, I realized that the board would be very inexperienced if I left,” she said. “The two who will remain have a total of only eight years experience. Plus, I got a lot of encouragement from a lot of folks who wanted me to run again.”
Nix said the county is in good shape financially. “We have some beautiful buildings, including a library and government center, all of which are already paid for. The county is not in debt for any of it. I believe we have used the taxpayer money wisely and I will continue to do that.”
With a population boom headed to Dawson County, Nix said if she’s re-elected, she will focus on the infrastructure the next four years. “I’ll pay special attention to our roads. SPLOST VI has money designated for paving roads like Dawson Forest and Kelly Bridge Road. So, I want to continue to implement the SPLOST-financed projects.”
One glaring need, Nix said, is more affordable housing.
“We need affordable housing so that people who work here can live here,” she said.
Because of Dawson County’s sound financial condition, she says there is no need for a tax increase.
“I will absolutely not vote for any tax increase,” she said.
Nix has two grown sons, Wyatt and Ryan, and two grandchildren.
Long time EMA Director Runs For Commission Chairman
News, Politics April 12, 2016
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 — Name recognition will not be a problem for Billy Thurmond as he campaigns for Chairman of the Dawson County Board of Commissioners.
Thurmond has served his Dawson County neighbors for 37 years in the county’s Emergency Management Agency and he brings an impressive resume to the campaign. During his tenure, Dawson County was recognized as the state’s EMA of the Year in 2000. In 2011, he received the Governor’s Public Safety Award for contributions to the profession and, in 2012, he was honored as Georgia’s EMA Director of the year.
Now that he has retired from public safety, Thurmond would like to serve the county as commission chairman.
“I have a good knowledge of the county and its people and I think I can bring something positive to the county, ” he said.
Thurmond says he believes Dawson County is headed in the right direction but his vision is to make government more productive and cost efficient.
He said he would begin by stemming the flow of valued county employees away from the county to other municipalities that can offer higher pay and incentives.
“I’ve made a study the county’s workforce and discovered we’ve had a great deal of turnover,” he said. “We’ve lost 300 employees in the last 5 years. We’ve become a training ground for county employees who then move on to other municipalities and that’s not cost efficient. I want to make sure we’re competitive in the work force.”
Fleet maintenance is another area where Thurmond said some savings may be found.
“Sixty per cent of our county vehicles are at least 10 years old and have 175,000 miles. We need to take a good look at that and see if it might be more cost effective to replace them rather than continue to repair them.”
Thurmond said he is well aware of the growth headed toward Dawson County.
“We are going to experience a lot of growth and I want to make sure that growth is tied to our land use plan,” he said. “I want our county to maintain its natural beauty.”
Thurmond said he wants the citizens of Dawson County involved in planning how that growth takes place.
“Our citizens are our greatest asset,” he said. “I would like to form some type of citizen committee to have them help us plan for the future and make recommendations to the BOC.”
Thurmond and his wife Lisa are active members of Kilough Church. They have two grown sons and one grandson.
Heather Hulsebus, Candidate BOC Dist. 4
News, Politics April 8, 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 — In challenging a four-term incumbent for a seat on the Dawson Board of Commissioners in District 4, Heather Hulsebus says she will bring a new energy and fresh perspective to the job.
The 37-year-old Hulsebus is a patient services specialist for Resurgens Orthopaedics. She earned an Associate’s Degree in Occupational Health and Safety and Information Systems and Technology.
“The incumbent has been in office for 16 years,” Hulsebus noted. “I believe it’s time for a changing of the guard. I will bring a fresh perspective to the Board of Commissioners.”
A key issue in the campaign is how candidates will handle the tremendous growth that is headed toward Dawson County from Atlanta and Forsyth County.
Hulsebus said, “I’ll be very mindful of how we grow. I don’t want to say we should stop the growth but we should be very cautious. As someone who grew up in Dawson County, I want to be a part of planning the growth in way that won’t destroy our friendly, small town, southern charm.”
This will be her first campaign for political office but Hulsebus is no stranger to the political arena. She is the President of the Foothills Republican Women. She has also been hyper active in public service. She was named Dawson County’s Outstanding Citizen this year. She is a graduate of the Lions Club International Southeastern Leadership Institute and has worked within the Lions Club for 12 years.
If elected, Hulsebus said, ” I will take my direction from the citizens and do the best I can for them.”