DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. – The $29.9 million 2020 budget Dawson County Commissioners adopted in October grew by more than $900,000 during Thursday’s regular meeting.
The Board voted 3-0 – with Commissioner Julie Hughes Nix absent due to an illness in her family – to amend the budget by $836,000 to fund a pay raise for county employees. The increase was based on a salary study conducted by Management Advisory Group late last year. The Board also voted to approve upgrades to employees’ defined benefit and defined contributions plans that will add an additional $70,000 to this year’s budget.
Commissioners accepted a staff recommendation to award Jarrard & Davis a legal services contract at a rate of $200 per hour for attorneys and $100 per hour for paralegals. The contract is for one year with four one-year renewal options.
Each election year, local government is required to set qualifying fees for candidates who plan to run for elected office. The 2020 fees are set as follows: Sheriff $1,779.86, Probate Judge $1,491.65, Tax Commissioner $1,491.65, Magistrate Judge $1,491.65, Clerk of Court, $1,491.65, County Commissioner $288, Commission Chairman $360, Surveyor $10, Coroner $108, Board of Education $99.
Following public hearings, the Board unanimously approved Tim Stowers’ request to rezone 10.5 acres on Harmony Church Road from Residential Agricultural to Residential Sub- Rural and Michelle Taber’s request to rezone 2.67 acres on Frank Bruce Road from Residential Agricultural to Residential Sub-Rural.
Commissioners had a very busy slate of agenda items to consider during the 4 p.m. work session.
Court Administrator Jason Stephenson led off by advising commissioners Hall County had under billed Dawson County for the cost of one Administrative Assistant and a law clerk for each Superior Court Judge for several years. The amount that was improperly billed totals $15,200.
Other work session issues discussed include:
— The potential sale of a 77.67 acre tract of land located along Shoal Creek to Caballero Holdings, LLC for $311,111. The Tax Assessor’s Office appraised the property at $647,074. An appraisal performed by J & T Smith, Inc. valued this property at $1.1 million.
— A request by Public Works Director David Mckee to award a debris removal and disposal contract to Graham County Land Company. The contract will not have any cost to the county unless the company is called to report during a disaster such as a winter storm. The contract, if approved includes removing and disposing of vegetation in rights-of-way; hazardous tree removal; vehicle removal; freon management; electronic waste removal.
— A request to award a debris monitoring contract to Debris Tech, Inc. The contract, if approved, would fast-track federal and state disaster relief funding and allow county staff to work in other needed areas.
— A request by Emergency Services Director Danny Thompson to renew a statewide Mutual Aid agreement with GEMA and the Department of Homeland Security to provide assistance and support in managing a disaster that occurs within Dawson County and other participating agencies.
— A request to accept a 50/50 Georgia Forestry Commission Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant that requires a $5,000 county match.
— A request to apply for a 50/50 Georgia Emergency Management Performance Grant to cover a portion of the cost for RAVE emergency alerting, weather siren maintenance, and Crisis Track damage assessment. The grant is $15,568.00. Dawson County’s match is $7,784.
Items discussed during a work session are not typically voted on until the next regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners.
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. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
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City, county officials call for $45 million TSPLOST
News January 15, 2020
DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. — In a special joint called meeting Tuesday, the Dawsonville City Council and Dawson County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution calling for a voter-approved referendum on collection of a $45 million transportation special purpose local option sales tax (T-SPLOST).
The question to be placed before voters on the May 19 general primary election ballot would read:
“Shall a one percent sales and use tax be imposed in the special district consisting of Dawson County for a period of time not to exceed five years and for the raising of not more than an estimated amount of $45 million (forty-five million) for transportation purposes.”
City and county officials submitted separate lists of road projects they will include in the TSPLOST if it is approved.
Dawson County Public Works Director David McKee said, “Staff spent the better part of a year-and-a-half looking at various projects to be included in the respective lists.
The most expensive is an on-going, every-day road improvement program with a cost of approximately $10,500,000. Next most expensive is the storm water culvert rehabilitation project with an estimated cost of$7,000,000.
McKee said, “We maintain about 91 miles of storm water culverts. Of those 91 miles, you can imagine a lot of them are failing. This will allow us to start a program to align those pipes so when it does rain, we don’t have roads to collapse.”
The county would receive approximately 91 percent of the tax collected, or $40,950,000. The city would receive nine percent, or $4,050,000.
Road projects the city would like to include in the TSLPOST with estimated costs in parenthesis are:
Main Street from Hwy. 53 to Main Street Park repair ($162,000)
Maple Street repair ($360,000)
Pearl Chambers Drive, Court and Way repair ($250,000)
Richmond Drive repair ($95,000)
Jack Heard repair ($91,000)
Memory Lane repair ($105,000)
Stegall Place repair ($98,000)
Stonewall subdivision repair ($200,000)
Rain Hill subdivision repair ($40S0,000)
Existing Asset Road Improvement Program ($29,000)
Burt’s Crossing Drive, Winding Court, Ridgewater repair (($260,000)
** SR 53 at Allen Street intersection improvement ($1,000,000)
** Intersection improvement SR 9N at Perimeter Road ($500,000)
**Intersection Improvement SR 9S at Perimeter Road ($500,000)
Total of city projects $4,050,000
Road projects the county would like to include in the TSLPOST with estimated costs in parenthesis are:
Shoal Creek Rd. rewiden and rehabilitate ($1,300,000)
Shoal Creek bridge replacement ($3,500,000)
Dogwood/Nightfire rehabilitation ($1,000,000)
Lumpkin Campground Rd. corridor improvement ($5,000,000)
Elliott Road widening ($1,000,000)
Cowart Rd. rehabilitation SR 53 to county line ($1,500,000)
Grizzle Rd. widen and rehabilitate ($1,200,000)
Frank Bruce Rd./Seed Tick Rd. ($1,500,000)
Old Henry Grady rehabilitate ($800,000)
Gold Mine Road improvements ($1,400,000)
Hubbard Road Improvements ($1,200,000)
SR 53 at Dawson Forest Rd. intersection improvements ($1,500,000)
Country Crossing Subdivision rehabilitation ($550,000)
Existing asset stormwater culvert rehabilitation ($7,000,000)
Existing asset road improvement program ($10,500,000)
*SR 53 at Allen Street intersection improvements ($1,000,000)
*Intersection improvement SR 9N at Perimeter Rd. ($500,000)
*Intersection improvement SR 9S at Perimeter Rd. ($500,000)
TOTAL $40,950,000
New retirement plan under review by BOC
News December 18, 2019
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – The Dawson County Board of Commissioners will hold its final work session of the year Thursday at 4 p.m. in the Government Center Assembly Room, 25 Justice Way. The meeting will be followed by a voting session at 6 p.m.
During the work session, Commission Chairman Billy Thurmond will lead a discussion about a defined benefit and defined contribution retirement plan for county employees. It is a plan the county terminated in 2012 due to its expense.
Chief Financial Officer Vickie Neikirk will present 2020 Qualifying Fees for local offices. The fees are: $1,778.86 (Sheriff), $1,491.65 (Probate Judge, Tax Commissioner and Clerk of Court) $360 (County Commission Chairman), $288 (County Commission), $99 (Board of Education), $10 (Surveyor).
Several important zonings are expected to be voted on during the voting session.
Ridgeline Land Planning, LLC has requested to rezone property located at Hwy. 9 and Dawson Forest Road CHB (Commercial Highway Business) to CHB (Commercial Highway Business) and RMF (Residential Multi-Family) for the construction of a 140-unit attached townhome community. The issue was tabled Nov. 21 to await the result of a development of regional impact (DRI) study.
Jim King has two rezoning requests before the Board. The first is a request to rezone 78 acres located at Hwy. 400 near Kilough Church Road from RA (Residential Agricultural) to RMF (Residential Multi Family). The Planning Commission recommended denial.
King also requested the rezoning of 40 acres located at Hwy. 400 North near Kilough Road from RA (Residential Agricultural) to CHB (Commercial Highway Business). Planning Commission recommended approval.
The Board will consider a request by Public Relations Manager Laura Fulcher to purchase Zencity — an artificial intelligence software technology system — that will track residents’ social media posts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other platforms to learn how residents feel about county issues.
The system which would cost taxpayers $18,000 the first year, has already attracted opposition. A Facebook poll conducted by For the Love of Dawson shows 96 percent of 164 respondents say they do not want the county to purchase the system.
Commissioners will also hold a public hearing on a Land Use Resolution update.
One item that is not on the agenda is a renewal of the contract for County Manager David Headley. The county manager is on a year-to-year contract that is usually voted on before the end of the year.
Other agenda items include consideration of:
A 2019 Salary Study;
Request for Impact Fees for Library;
Revised Dawson County Employee Handbook;
The sale of approximately 300 acres on Dawson Forest Road;
FY 2020 Public Defender Intergovernmental Agreement between Dawson and Hall counties;
Family Connection request for a Fiscal Agent;
The appointment of a member to the Board of Tax Assessors;
The appointment of a vice chairman to the Board of Commissioners.
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. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
BOC will vote on Ridgeline Land Development townhomes
News November 20, 2019
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Dawson County commissioners will vote on a controversial rezoning request Thursday (Nov. 21) that could add 140 townhomes near the heavily-traveled intersection at Hwy. 53 and Lumpkin Campground Road.
The voting session begins at 6 p.m., following the work session.
Ridgeline Land Planning, LLC has requested rezoning the property from Commercial Highway Business to Commercial Highway Business and Residential Multi-Family. The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval.
In the only other zoning application before the Board, Bentley Corners LLC has requested rezoning 1.679 acres located at Elliott Family Parkway Residential Agricultural to Residential Sub-Rural. Both rezoning applications were submitted before the Board voted to implement a moratorium.
Under the New Business portion of the meeting, commissioners are expected to vote on:
A special event business license application for Kathy Roos TNT Fireworks;
A request for proposals for consulting services for the 53 Overlay District and 400 Corridor District Update;
A local maintenance improvement grant application for road improvements;
A request for additional funding for increased attorney fees in juvenile court;
Appointments of Jere Allen to the Development Authority and Tony Passarello as an alternate to the Planning Commission.
Key items that will be considered include:
A presentation of the 2019 Salary Study by Management Advisory Group President Dr. Donald Long;
A request for impact fees for library materials by Chestatee Regional Library System Director Leslie Clark;
A request to accept Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency K9 Grant Award;
A request to accept Georgia Trauma Commission EMS Trauma Related Equipment Grant;
A request to apply for Georgia Forestry Commission Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant;
A presentation of FY 2021 Georgia Department of Transportation / Federal Transit Administration Section 5311 Transit Contract;
A presentation of FY 2020 Legacy Link Contract Addendum No. 2.
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. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Commissioners set to approve 2020 budget today
News October 17, 2019
DAWSONVILLE, Ga – The Dawson County Board of Commissioners will hold the third public hearing before adopting the 2020 budget during Thursday (Oct 17) at 6 p.m. in the Dawson County Government Center Assembly Room, 25 Justice Way.
The 2019 budget was just over $27 million. The proposed 2020 budget is $29.9 million, an increase of almost $3 million or 10.26 percent over this year.
When Commission Chairman Billy Thurmond presented the proposed spending plan two weeks, he said it is justified by what is projected to be a $2.8 million increase in revenue for next year. But much of that increase will come from the county’s reserve or “rainy day fund.”
In some unfinished business from Sept. 19, commissioners are expected to vote on a controversial vape shop ordinance.
New business items on the agenda include a request to use the county facility parking lots during the Mountain Moonshine Festival;
Consideration of an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between Dawson County and the Development Authority of Dawson County;
Consideration to move forward with a public hearing for Special Event Business License Ordinance Revision; Consideration of the sale of surplus real property owned by Dawson County;
Consideration of a request for additional funds for legal fees;
There will also be a number of zoning requests for commissioners to consider.
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. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
500 new residential units on planning commission agenda
News November 18, 2019
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Zoning requests on Tuesday’s (Nov. 19) Planning Commission meeting could add as many as 260 townhomes and 240 detached dwellings to Dawson County if they are ultimately approved by the Board of Commissioners. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the Dawson County Government Center Assembly Room, 25 Justice Way.
Planning Director Jameson Kinley said Monday that Ridgeline Land Planning, LLC is requesting property near the intersection of Lumpkin Campground Road and Hwy. 53 be rezoned from Commercial Highway Business to Commercial Highway Business and Residential Multi Family to accommodate a 140-unit attached townhome community.
Also Jim King has requested 78 acres at Kilough Church Road and Ga. 400 be rezoned from Residential Agricultural to Residential Multi Family to accommodate 120 townhomes and 240 detached dwellings. King has also requested that 40 adjacent acres be rezoned from Residential Agricultural to Commercial Highway Business.
In other business before the Planning Commission, Bentley Corners, LLC is requesting a rezoning of 1.679 acres of property located at Elliott Family Parkway from Residential Agricultural to Residential Sub-Rural.
Pacific Group, Inc. is requesting zoning stipulations update of 98 acres of property located at Dawson Forest Road West from previous zoning approvals.
Jeffrey Cahill is requesting a rezoning of 17.15 acres located at Auraria Road from Residential Agricultural to Residential Rural Estate.
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. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Boy Scout Troop 422 honored at county commission meeting
News September 22, 2019
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – During Thursday’s Board of Commissioners meeting, commissioners presented a certificate to Blake Wood and Boy Scout Troop 422 in recognition of their work to install a Little Lending Library at the Margie Bowen Senior Center.
Little Lending Libraries promote the free exchange of books on a “take a book, leave a book” premise.
Development Authority of Dawson County Chairman Brian Trapnell gave commissioners an update on his group’s activity, including a pending $100,000 Appalachian Regional Commission grant application. “This is an exciting opportunity for us,” he said. The grant is for 2020 and Trapnell said he should know if the application is accepted by Sept. 30.
Trapnell said recommendations for the ARC grant include future placement of infrastructure, plans for industrial, commercial and retail marketing and formalization of incentive packages for retail, commercial and industrial marketing.
Commissioners also approved two rezoning requests but denied a third. They approved a request by Jim King on behalf of Charles Turner to rezone 4.3 acres at the intersection Ga. Hwy. 400 and Blue Ridge Parkway from Commercial Planned Community Development to Community Highway Business for the construction of a used car lot.
They also approved a request to rezone 6.06 acres on Price Road near Toto Creek from Residential Sub-Rural to Commercial Highway Business for the construction of a vehicle and RV storage facility.
The Board denied a request by Jan Butterworth to subdivide a 10 acres of her land from Residential Agriculture to Residential Sub-Rural. Butterworth wanted to gift four acres to her child. Planning Director Jameson Kinley, however, said a subdivision of less than five acres is prohibited under the RA zoning. The vote to deny was 3-1 with Commissioner Tim Satterfield opposed.
Commissioners tabled a vote on a vape ordinance for one month to gather more information.
In other business, the Board approved:
- A funding request to purchase additional fire hydrants;
- Consideration of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Georgia Emergency Management Agency concerning a new grants management system;
- Consideration of construction of services for the Senior Center;
- The 2019 county surplus list;
- Annexation request C2 -000024.
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. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
2020 road improvements on BOC agenda Thursday
News November 6, 2019
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – The Dawson County Board of Commissioners will hold a voting session Thursday at 4 p.m, in the Government Center Assembly Room, 25 Justice Way, followed by a work session at 6 p.m.
During the work session, Public Works Director David McKee will present the 2020 Local Maintenance & Improvement Grant (LMIG) Application and Approval Request for the Board’s consideration.
LMIG is a state program where the county receives money from the State Motor Fuel Tax collections to make road improvements. The grant requires a match of 30 percent. This year the amount allotted to Dawson County is $450,435.77 with Dawson County’s match of $135,130.73, the total budget for projects is $585,566.50. The roads targeted for improvements using the grant include Goswick Drive, Joseph Lane, Sundown Way, Sundown Drive, 3 sections of Perimeter Road and North Seed Tick.
Planning Director Jameson Kinley will ask commissioners to approve a bid proposal from B + C Studios for consulting services for the 400 District Update and the 53 Overlay District. The total amount for the projects is not to exceed $95,700. The B + C Studios bid was the only one received.
Chief Financial Officer Vickie Neikirk will present a request for additional funding to pay for increased attorney fees for the county’s Juvenile Court. The Court has seen an increase in the number of dependent children over the last several years who are entitled to appointed attorneys. In addition, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) does not have enough volunteers to serve on every case. All funds from Indigent Defense – Parent and Indigent Defense – Child have been expensed to pay attorney invoices. At this time there are no additional funds within Juvenile Court’s budget that can be moved to cover attorney fees through the end of 2019. County staff recommends moving $63,000 from General Fund’s fund balance to cover the additional expenses.
Other issues to be considered during the work session include:
Presentation of a request to accept Victim of Crime Act Grant Award;
Presentation of Special Event Business License Application;
Presentation of Land Use Resolution Update;
Presentation of a request for Capital Improvements Element Adoption;
Presentation of FY 2019 Third Quarter Financial Report;
Presentation of Board Appointments.
During the 6 p.m. voting session, commissioners are expected to vote on:
A Special Event Business License Ordinance revision;
A request for approval of FY 2020 State Public Defender Contract;
A Memorandum of Understanding with Georgia Forestry Commission concerning cooperative purchasing and supplies;
Renewal of Automatic Aid Agreement with Cherokee County Fire Department;
Consideration of Legal Services for Dawson County Constitutional Officers / Elected Officials / County Employees;
Board Appointment of Austin Harmon to the Planning Commission as an alternate.
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. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
BOC expected to approve rollback millage rate Thursday
Business August 21, 2019
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Dawson County citizens will receive some good news when the Dawson County Board of Commissioners meets at 6 p.m. Thursday (Aug. 22).
Following a public hearing, the commissioners will announce the 2019 millage rate will be set at 8.0890, a full rollback from the 8.138 mils the county has collected for at least the previous five years.
Commissioner Chris Gaines said Wednesday, “It’s not a big number, but it’s a first step in letting our citizens know that we are trying to rely more on sales taxes than on property taxes.”
The 2019 total budget is set at $42,520,137. The General Fund is $6,111,870 which is balanced with the aid of $655,609.
Commissioners are also expected to approve an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the Etowah Water and Sewer Authority (EWSA) that will transfer approximately 305 acres of land adjacent to the intersection of Dawson Forest Road and SR 9.
EWSA President Brooke Anderson once said the land currently serves no purpose. Gaines said the county still owes about $1.3 million on the land. EWSA will pay off the remaining debt and the county will also get some additional tap fees.
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. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Changes to Etowah Village site plan leads to another delay
News June 20, 2019
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Dawson County Commissioners were scheduled to vote on the oft-postponed Etowah Village Thursday. But when it came time for the public hearing, a representative of Dawson Village Partners announced the company is proposing major modifications to the site plan, including no buildings west of the Etowah River. With that, the Board voted to table the vote until July to ensure the public learns more about the project.
Be sure to read Fetch Your News Friday for all the details.
Commissioners hit pause button on vape ordinance
News September 20, 2019
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – County commissioners were prepared Thursday to end the sale of flavored vape products and prevent vape shop owners from having their business license renewed. But the compelling and passionate argument of dozens of consumers and vape shop owners caused them to reconsider – for now.
The Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to table an ordinance that would have put four specialty vape shops out of business and impacted thousands of their customers.
The proposed ordinance would define a specialty vape shop as one whose sales of alternative nicotine products and vapor products, combined, exceeds 25 twenty-five percent of sales.
Those who pleaded with commissioners came from Dawson, Cherokee, Paulding and Gwinnett counties. One man came all the way from Warner Robins. Many repeated the same theme: Vape products get smokers off cigarettes. Another man who smoked cigarettes for 40 years said flavored vape products were the only way he could quit. Other smokers said without flavored vape products they were afraid they would go back to cigarettes.
Jamie Wheatley, owner of The Vaperz Den, said, “The proposed vapor ban would push people back into a more harmful choice. There is something in this ordinance that no specialty vapor shop could operate in this county. There are four that it would force out of business.”
Wheatley continued, saying, “We know the underage thing is a big deal. We’re the ones that card at the door. You can’t walk into any one of these specialty vape shops without being of age. I would like to ask if there is a way we could table this ordinance and schedule some one-on-one meetings with you guys to educate and inform you about what it is we do and come to some sort of compromise that we can continue to do business.”
Their comments obviously had an impact on commissioners.
Julie Hughes-Nix who made the motion to table a vote on the proposed ordinance said,
“I appreciate your comments. Everyone up here is listening to you because we care. I want to learn more. I think we need to do a better job of checking into what we need to do here.”
Her words were interrupted by a long, very loud applause. “So my recommendation to this board is that we table this and go back to the drawing board.”
Commission Chairman Billy Thurmond said, “There has been a lot of information brought forward tonight that needs to be investigated.
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. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
BOC will vote on massive Etowah Village development Thursday
News May 13, 2019
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Dawson County Commissioners are set to make a decision on one of the largest developments in the county’s history during the voting session that starts at 6 p.m. Thursday.
The Planning Commission voted 3-2 last month to recommend denial of the Dawson Village Partners rezoning request that would include 2,175 residential units, approximately 300,000 square feet of retail space, 200,000 square feet of office space, a luxury hotel, Chinese cultural arts center, continuous care retirement community and 450-bed assisted living facility.
The Planning Commission based its recommendation of denial on the impact the development would have on the health, safety and general welfare of the citizens and the environmental impact on the Etowah River and flood plain.
But the final decision is in the hands of county commissioners.
If approved, the development, which will be known as Etowah Village, will be located at the intersection of Lumpkin Campground Road and Ga. 400 then expand west to Etowah River Road before crossing the Etowah River.
In a public information meeting in April, Project Engineer Corey Guthrie said the project will take 10-15 years to complete and would be constructed in five phases.
Phase 1 will consist of building the fire station, hotel and retail along Hwy. 400. Phase 2 calls for construction of office buildings, apartments, a cultural arts center. Phase 3 will be the addition of continuous care retirement center. Phase 4 would include a 450-unit active adult community. The final phase calls for the addition of 171-single family units.
Guthrie said if the county commission approves the project, it will be at least nine months to a year before ground is broken.
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. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
BOC will consider employee compensation study Thursday
News December 4, 2019
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – The Dawson County Board of Commissioners will hold a 4 p.m. work session Thursday (Dec. 5) in the Dawson County Government Center Assembly Room, 25 Justice Way in Dawsonville, followed by a voting session at 6 p.m.
During the 6 p.m. voting session Dr. Donald Long of the Management Advisory Group will present the final results of a Compensation and Classification Study conducted for the Board of Commissioners.
The study found that of the 332 employees covered in the study that 119 receive compensation that is below the proposed market minimum. It also found that if a full-range of equity adjustments are implemented that compensation would increase for 219.
The study offered three options for the Board’s consideration.
In option 1, the estimated annualized cost calculation at 100 percent of the market average would cost $917,180.
Option 2, the estimated annualized cost calculation at 105 percent of the market average would be $1,434,592.
Option 3, the estimated annualized cost calculation at 110 percent of market average would be $2,054,061
Leslie Clark of the Dawson County Library System will seek direction from the Board on how to access impact fee funds to purchase new materials for the main library and the Library Annex.
Commissioners also are expected to vote on an application for an alcohol license for the retail package sale of beer and wine for Uk Thakar.
During the 4 p.m. work session, commissioners will hear a proposal from Brooke Anderson, General Manager of the Etowah Water and Sewer Authority (EWSA) regarding its proposal to sell 300 acres of land at the corner of Hwy. 9 and Dawson Forest Road.
EWSA, which entered into an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the county concerning the disposition of the land, approved a purchase contract with DR Horton at its Board meeting on Nov.14, Per the IGA, the Authority will present the recommended proposal to the Board of Commissioners for final approval.
Public Defender Brad Morris will request approval of the FY 2020 IGA between Dawson and Hall counties. The counties have shared the cost of two employees of the public defender’s office since 2005. The cost to Dawson County is $83,563.20 and the amount has been approved in the 2020 budget.
Public Relations Specialist Laura Fulcher and Planning Director Jameson Kinley will ask the Board to consider the purchase of Zencity, a data-driven decision making tool for local government that reportedly gathers feedback from citizens to help commissioners better understand the concerns of citizens in order to make more informed decisions. The cost is $18,000 for the first 12 months of service.
Family Connection Coordinator Nancy Stites will present a Dawson County Community Partnership, Inc./Family Connection fiscal agent request to the Board. Family Connection coordinates programs such as mentoring, school-based health clinics, Stewards of Children training and underage drinking prevention.
The Board will also consider the appointment of Tom Camp or Tim Goodyear to the Board of Tax Assessors.
Commissioners also will discuss the appointment of a vice chairman of the Board of Commissioners for 2020 and a revision of the Dawson County Employee Handbook
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. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
McGriff appointed to Georgia Mountains Regional Commission
News August 17, 2019
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. –The Dawson County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to appoint Betsy McGriff to the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission.
McGriff is the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Development Director. She is a native of Bulloch County and holds a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Georgia Southern University. Both the city and county governments must approve the appointment. She was approved by the Dawsonville City Council at its last meeting. McGriff replaces County Manager David Headley in that position.
The Board also approved Henry Grady Highway as the detour route for SR 136 while a new bridge at Toto Creek is built. The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has designated the bridge as functionally obsolete. Construction is expected to begin in late 2020 or early 2021.
Michael Reuter’s request to rezone 11.29 acres at 244 Norma Road from Residential Agriculture to Residental Sub Rural was also approved. Reuter said he planned to keep six acres for his own residence and sell the remaining five acres. Under current zoning restrictions, no more than three houses could be built on the remaining acreage.
Dan Mueller speaking on behalf of BTD asked to rezone 33.52 acres at Lumpkin Campground Road from Residential Agriculture to Commercial Industrial Restricted. Commissioners granted the request unanimously. Mueller said the purpose of rezoning is to accommodate the expansion of the industrial facility. He said phase one of the expansion would add about 250 employees and phase two could add up to 450.
Commissioners also approved an amendment to Chapter 22 of the Dawson County Fire Safety & Prevention Ordinance.
Danny Thompson was unanimously approved to the EMS Advisory Council, replacing Lanier Swafford who now works for the state.
McGriff
Chairman Billy Thurmond also indicated he would send a letter of appreciation to Swafford thanking him for his many years of service.
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. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
County Commission begins new meeting schedule Thursday
News May 1, 2019
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – The Dawsonville Board of Commissioners will begin its new meeting schedule Thursday with a work session set to begin at 4 p.m., followed immediately thereafter by an executive session and then a 6 p.m. voting session.
WORK SESSION
During the work session, commissioners will hear a request from Sheriff Jeff Johnson to retire the Sheriff’s Office K9 Kimbo and transfer ownership to the dog’s handler, Lt. Jessica Kraft. Dr. Katie Ferris of the Chestatee Animal Hospital has recommended Kimbo’s retirement for medical reasons.
Public Works Director David McKee will ask for Board approval to retain an on-call, full-depth reclamation service. An invitation to bid (IFB) was released with a sample job at Hightower Parkway at SR53 to the end of the pavement. The lowest, most responsive bid was submitted by ShepCo Paving, Inc. in the amount of $203,500. The pricing received for this sample project will be set for the life of the contract per job at $6.25 per square yard for 10” cement reclaimed base; $152 a ton for Portland Cement; $6 per square yard for haul-off excess material, if required.
Parks and Recreation Director Matt Payne, will present a proposed agreement with the Rotary Club of Dawson County to provide the county with a venue that would house outdoor pickleball courts, batting cages, and an outdoor basketball area at Rock Creek Park.
Payne will also ask commissioners to approve a Dawson County Employee Night at the county swimming pool on May 17. The Parks and Recreation Department has hired lifeguards and pool attendants for the 2019 summer season. To provide a great time for Dawson County employees and families, plus use the night as a training night for our lifeguards and pool workers.
County Chief Financial Officer Vickie Neikirk will give a financial status report for the first quarter 2019.
VOTING SESSION
During the voting session, commissioners will hold public hearings on an alcohol license for Olive Garden Holdings, LLC and updates to the county’s Land Use Resolution.
Commissioners are expected to vote on a contract with CT Darnell Construction for design-build services for Fire Station 9 for an amount not to exceed $1,736,271 and approve the transfer of funds in the amount of $736,271 to this project.
A services agreement with Dawson County Humane Society for Treatment and Housing of Animals will also be up for a vote. This agreement memorializes the county’s funding obligation and the Humane Society’s duty to provide housing and medical care services for impounded dogs and cats. The agreement does not obligate the County in 2019 for any money that has not already been budgeted.
The Board will also consider addendum No. 3 to the FY 2019 Legacy Link Contract for Nutrition Program Services. The addendum includes an additional $5,284 from Nutrition Service Incentive Program funding (NSIP State) to be used by year end.
Commissioners must also decide on increased funding for legal fees in 2019. In December 2018, the Board made the decision to utilize outside firm of Jarrard & Davis for legal services after the retirement of in-house attorney. There was $160,413 approved for the County Attorney budget for 2019. Those funds have already been used to pay for legal fees in 2019.
Because of increased need for legal services, as well as costs for clearing up outstanding issues, the county has exceeded the funding available to pay future invoices. Current amount left in the County Attorney budget for 2019 is $19,284. Estimated costs for remainder of 2019 (April – December) will be at least $250,000.
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. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
ABL Management: “Sheriff acted in bad faith”
News November 27, 2019
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Sheriff Jeff Johnson’s refusal to pay ABL Management $52,060.88 for inmate food services forced Dawson County commissioners to pick up the tab or go to arbitration. During an executive session last week, the Board decided to pay up. The amount, however, will come out of sheriff’s budget.
According to a Demand for Arbitration filed by ABL Management, Dawson County Sheriff Jeff Johnson is more than 120 days past due on his payments to the company.
ABL claims Johnson “has acted in bad faith, has been stubbornly litigious and has caused (the vendor) unnecessary trouble and expense.”
The sheriff has said some of the invoices went missing. One county official questioned that. “I don’t know if I buy that. I know if I had missing invoices that totaled more than $52,000 I would have been all over that wanting to know where they are.”
The company sent Johnson a “final notice” more than a month ago. The Board of Commissioners received the Demand for Arbitration Nov. 5. The Board sets the Sheriff’s Office budget each year but the Sheriff’s Office has sole responsibility for operating within that budget.
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. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com