Dawson County Board of Commissioners Archives - Page 6 of 13 - DawsonDawson

Blacks Mill Road bridge replacement, road repairs on agenda for Thursday county commission meeting

News November 13, 2018 , by Bill Johnson

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – The Dawson County Board of Commissioners will meet in a voting session Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Government Center Assembly Room with infrastructure improvements among the key issues to be considered.

In 2017, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) ordered that Blacks Mill Road bridge be closed due to unsafe conditions. In February, county officials approved an IFB. Director of Public Works David McKee will ask commissioners to award a $375,000 contract to Georgia Bridge and Concrete and approve $233,700 in SPLOST VI Road and Bridge funds for the project. GDOT has approved $175,000 in state funds. $33,700 has already been spent on design and specifications.

Commissioners will also direct their attention to road repairs. Georgia’s Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG) is a program that awards counties money from the State Motor Fuel Tax collections for road projects. The program requires a 30 percent county match. This year the amount allotted to Dawson County is $414,931.34. With Dawson County’s 30 percent match of $124,479.34, the total budget for 2019 LMIG (projects) is $539,410.47.

Roads on the proposed list include, but are not limited to, Amicalola Drive, American Way, Easy Street and Hightower Parkway.

The Parks and Recreation Department is also requesting commissioners award a contract to Everlast Construction Group, LLC. For exterior renovations at the Veterans Memorial Park gymnasium in the total amount of $235,140. In February, commissioners agreed that $250,000 could be applied from SPLOST VI funds.

Commissioners will also be asked to accept the bid of Patrol Outfitters to upfit two 2019 Chevrolet Tahoe Police Pursuit SUVs in the amount of $23,312.10 for the Sheriff’s Office.

One zoning request is on Thursday’s agenda. Donald and Deborah Dearwent have made a request to rezone property at 3264 Hwy. 9 from Residential Sub-Rural (RSR) to Residential Agricultural / Residential Exurban (RA). The property is currently for sale and the owners would like to allow for prospective buyers to be able to use it for a bed and breakfast.

Chairman Billy Thurmond will read a proclamation declaring Nov. 15 as Hunter Adams Day.

Adams is a Dawson County High School graduate and a competitor in regional, state and national bull riding competition.

He was ranked in the Top 10 in the 2017 Junior National Bull Riders Association County Parks and is a qualifier in the 2018 Junior National Finals Rodeo. Adams has also served the community as a volunteer to work in the Dawson County Parks and Recreation’s Special Olympics ShinE Metric.

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

Billy Thurmond Dawson County Board of Commissioners

Commissioners reappoint Headley county manager

News October 24, 2018 , by Bill Johnson

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – David Headley was hired as Dawson County Manager two years ago. Thursday, the Board of Commissioners showed their appreciation for the way he has managed the day-to-day operation of the county by unanimously reappointing him for another year.

Dawson County Board of Commissioners Chairman Billy Thurmond said, “David has done a good job. He’s shown good leadership skills and he has the staff working together and going in the right direction. We’re proud of the way he has taken care of the county’s business.”

As county manager, Headley supervises nine department directors and more than 200 county employees, implements board policies and assists the chairman with annual budget preparations.

“If you were to ask me what our biggest accomplishments were in the last two years, or what I’m most proud of, it would be the people we have hired,” Headley said.

He has demonstrated the ability to identify highly-experienced, highly-qualified individuals to serve citizens.

When Lanier Swafford resigned as Public Safety Director, Headley hired Danny Thompson, a veteran firefighter with 29 years fire and emergency services experience along with 26 years’ experience as a paramedic.

Thompson also is a Certified Emergency Manager who has commanded in high rise fire situations and received the 300 Club of Atlanta award for life-saving efforts while serving with the Sandy Springs Fire Department.

He also hired Planning and Development Director Jameson Kinley who has a number of unique qualifications, including a specialized background in Geographic Information Science.

Kinley has worked closely with the planning department the last two years and has the ability to take Dawson County to the next level with technology. Headley said Kinley will use his GIS skills to analyze data and help give the Board of Commissioners and committees more updated and accurate information so that better decisions can be made for the citizens.

Headley also hired Matt Payne, who has nearly a quarter century of experience in parks and recreation operations, to be Dawson County’s Parks and Recreation Director.

From 1995 until 1999, he served as athletic director for the Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Department. After that, he worked as athletic director for the City of Cumming, where he was responsible for all aspects of athletic programming and maintenance and operations of the city swimming pool.

“There is an old quote that says, if you want to run fast you run alone. But if you want to run far you run together,” Headley said. “Our employees are running together and that should make the citizens feel good about the way things are being run.”

From an operational standpoint, Headley said, “The county has made big strides as far as how open the budget process has become. In the past, when department heads presented their annual budget requests, they made them to the chairman and county manager. But for the past two years, all commissioners and citizens have been welcome to attend.

“In the past, that has been pretty much a closed-door process,” he said. “Commissioners have not been involved in it. The chairman met with the department heads and he determined what needed to go forward. He presented the budget and they voted on it. But, we have opened the door to communications we never had before.”

Headley has 28 years of county government experience with 16 of those years in county government management. Most recently, he served as the Dawsonville City Manager. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and served in the United States Marine Corps. He and his wife, Sandy, and their two daughters reside in Cumming.

Billy Thurmond Danny Thompson David Headley Dawson County Board of Commissioners Jameson Kinley

Dawson County impact fees inch closer to reality

News August 4, 2018 , by Bill Johnson

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – The Dawson County Board of Commissioners moved closer to reinstatement of impact fees on developers by holding the first of two public hearings Thursday. The second is scheduled for Aug. 16.

County commissioners approved impact fees in 2006, but suspended them during the recession of 2009 when new development was practically non-existent. The fees are imposed on new development projects to pay for all — or a portion of the costs — of providing public services to those developments.

Bill Ross whose company, Ross and Associates, has been working on an impact fee program for the county outlined that program during Thursday’s commission meeting.

Ross pointed out that the county’s population is expected to double in the next two decades and that there will be 2,700 more housing units by then. “By 2040, almost half the traffic on your roads will be generated by new development that has moved into the county,” he told commissioners.

The program looked specifically at the impact growth will have on library services, parks and recreation, fire protection, law enforcement and road improvement.

By 2040, it is projected that the county will require one new library and twice the volume of books, computers and DVDs. Four new fire stations will need to be built and 16 firetrucks purchased. The county, Ross said, will need 137 additional acres for recreational facilities.

The maximum fees the county could impose of various types of development include $3,400 for a single-family home, $1.64 per square foot for a shopping center and $1.88 for a super market.

Following the Aug. 16 public hearing, commissioners are expected to vote in favor of the reinstatement of the fees.

Commissioners also held the first of three public hearings on the county millage rate for next year. The proposal is to leave the rate the same as it has been the last 10 years, at 8.138 mills. However, at the end of the public hearings, the Board could choose to set the roll back rate of 7.393 mills.

The next public hearings are set for Aug. 9 and 16 at 6 p.m.

Commissioners also approved:

The purchase of four new vehicles for the Sheriff’s Office under the Georgia Department of Administrative services Vehicle Cooperative for a total of $125,563.75
Phase 1 of the three phase county wide computer replacement program. The total estimated cost for 2018 is $145,000 with funds coming from SPLOST VI. The total estimated cost for the three-year period is $435,000;
A new professional services contract that will extend the number of years the contract can be extended from two one-year renewals to four one-year renewals;
The appointment of Kara Wilkins as the new executive director with an annual salary of $5,000 to be prorated for the remainder of 2018.

Dawson County Board of Commissioners

Alcohol ordinance amendments, requests for special event permits top a busy commissioners agenda Thursday

News April 18, 2018 , by Bill Johnson

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Thursday’s Dawson County Board of Commissioners meeting will focus on amendments to the alcohol ordinance, requests for special event permits and an offer of free services from one of the state’s top architectural and engineering firms. That meeting will start at 6 p.m. in the Dawson County Government Building.

Commissioners are expected to vote on a special event business license for Amicalola Farmers Market to operate a farmers market in the parking lot at Veterans Memorial Park every Friday from 2 until 8 p.m. through the end of September.

Celerino Garcia is requesting a special event permit to operate a bouncy house at the Hacienda Bar and Grill in the Publix Shopping Center on state Route 400 during a celebration of Cinco de Mayo Sat. May 5.

Robin Allen submitted a request for a special event permit to assemble on the steps of the Government Building to celebrate the National Day of Prayer from 6 until 7 p.m. on May 3.

Joe Anderson has requested a special event permit to conduct a motorcross endurance event on his private property on Auraria Road Sunday, Oct. 7, from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Also on Thursday’s agenda is an offer by Robertson Loia Roof, the architectural and engineering firm that designed Rock Creek Park and Dawson County Junior High School, to redesign the facade at the Veterans Memorial Park gymnasium, a project budgeted for $150,000, at no charge to the county.

Other items on the Board’s agenda include:

⦁ The purchase of four new computers for the Tax Commissioner’s Office due to the state updating its motor vehicle system, which is not compatible with the county’s existing computers;
⦁ Revisions to the county’s alcohol ordinance;
⦁ Presentation of 2018 Arbor Day Proclamation;
⦁ South 400 Center Lane Road acceptance into county maintenance;
⦁ A request for partial abandonment of Will Hall Road; and
⦁ Appointments to the Industrial Building Authority and Library Board.

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

Dawson County Board of Commissioners

Judge Bishop rejects sheriff’s claim that Dawson County Commissioners abused their discretion

News March 16, 2018 , by Bill Johnson

Sheriff Jeff Johnson

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Senior Superior Court Judge Fred A. Bishop has ruled against Dawson County Sheriff Jeff Johnson in his petition for mandamus against the Dawson County Board of Commissioners.

In ruling against the sheriff, Bishop wrote, “(Commissioners) exercised their discretion in a reasonable fashion. They have honored their obligation to do so giving all due consideration to the needs of the sheriff and to the entire fiscal picture of Dawson County and its citizens, of which the sheriff’s duties are a key part – but not the only part. I conclude there has been no abuse of the Board of Commissioners’ discretion and petitioner has not shown good cause for making mandamus absolute in this case.”

Johnson stated, “Obviously, we are disappointed in the ruling and continue to be concerned for the safety of our community. Our primary argument was and continues to be for additional staff to perform the duties and responsibilities required of this office. Very little in the ruling addressed this primary concern. Ultimately, the court found that the BOC properly exercised their discretion in setting the budget. Regardless of this outcome, we will continue to serve the citizens of Dawson County at our highest level.”

Bishop rejected several of Johnson’s claims. For example, the sheriff testified that he sought to have staff paid for accrued leave lost at the end of 2016. However, when asked on cross examination if he had sufficient funds in the budget to do so, he testified that he did. In fact, it was recently disclosed that at the end of the budget year, Johnson had more than $397,000 left in his budget that he did not spend.

Bishop rejected Johnson’s claim that his request for additional funding was justified by the county’s increased population. Bishop found the best indicator of population trends shows the county has grown by less than 1 percent per year.

While Johnson claimed that crime and arrest figures have increased sharply, the judge noted that the sheriff’s own indicators demonstrate that is not the case. Crime, arrest and activity figures are up and down year by year the judge wrote and the Georgia State Patrol has helped lighten the sheriff’s load considerably by its activity.

In ruling for the county, Bishop wrote, “The Board of Commissioners is charged with management, control and use of all county property, funds and assets in such a manner as to balance a budget, which reasonably provides for all county operations within available funding.”

He added, “The board has assigned the highest priority to public safety, which gets roughly 47 percent of the Dawson County General Fund appropriations, and specifically to the Sheriff’s Office, which was allocated about 29 percent of that budget for 2018.”

Bishop likewise rejected Johnson’s claim that his budget had been cut from the previous year. “The 2018 budget allocation to the sheriff from SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) has increased by $100,000.00, from $500,000 to $600,000.00, and the Capital Fund budget appropriation included $40,000 for an HVAC system upgrade as well as the $260,000 set aside to cover half of what the sheriff requested for a 911 dispatch CAD system,” Bishop wrote.

Finally, the judge found Johnson’s claim that the county refused to meet with him not to be factual.

“The record clearly shows that the Board of Commissioners met with the sheriff on a number of occasions to hear his comments and requests and to hear his attorney speak on his behalf at several meetings,” Bishop explained.

Upon hearing the decision, County Commissioner Chris Gaines said, “I am proud of our team and especially our attorney, Lynn Frey, for his hard work and efforts to properly defend a decision that was made in the best interest of the community. As we have always said, as revenue increases, we look forward to working on meeting the needs of every department.”

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

Commissioner Chris Gaines Dawson County Board of Commissioners Judge Fred A. Bishop Sheriff Jeff Johnson

Board of Commissioners to vote on Dawson Forest development

News January 17, 2018 , by Bill Johnson

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – The Dawson County Board of Commissioners is expected to vote Thursday, Jan. 18, on two variance applications that would allow Dawson Forest Holdings to build 177 single-family homes and 95 townhomes near Hwy. 53 and Elliott Road.

The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Dawson County Government Center Assembly Room.

Area homeowners voiced strong opposition when the applications surfaced a year ago. Commissioners sided with the homeowners at that time.

However, attorney Joshua Scoggins, of the Miles, Hansford and Tallant law firm, has filed new applications after he acknowledged there were some “technical deficiencies” that now have been corrected.

That acknowledgement, however, did nothing to lessen the opposition. Dozens of homeowners attended the Planning Commission meeting last month to voice their concerns, leading the planning commission to unanimously recommend denial of the applications. Now, the final decision is in the hands of the Board of Commissioners.

Commissioners are also expected to vote on a request for funding from the Development Authority of Dawson County (DADC).

The board voted to eliminate the budget for 2017 and 2018, but DADC Chairwoman Sherry Weeks made a presentation at a special called meeting last month requesting that operating expenses be restored. The annual budget had been $150,000.00, but Weeks is requesting an additional $25,000 to fund a move from its Prominence Court location into the Chamber of Commerce facility.

Other items on Thursday’s agenda include:

Consideration of the Georgia Trauma Commission Non-Competitive EMS Equipment Grant Application;
Consideration of an Emergency Management Services Uniform Award Recommendation;
Consideration of proposed text amendments to the Animal Control Ordinance;
Consideration of 2018 qualifying fees for elected officials;
Consideration of board appointments for the Tree Preservation Committee;
Consideration of the Impact Fee Methodology Report final draft;
Appointment of a county clerk; and
Appointment of Board of Commissioners vice-chair.

Dawson County Board of Commissioners Dawson Forest Holdings Development Authority of Dawson County

Dawson County Commissioners issue call for legal services

News November 10, 2019 , by Bill Johnson

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Still grappling with the rising cost of legal fees, the Dawson County Board of Commissioners voted Thursday to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for legal services.

The firm of Jarrard and Davis has been under contract to represent the county since Lynn Frey, the county’s in-house attorney, resigned. But the contract with Jarrard and Davis will expire on Dec. 31.

Purchasing Manager Melissa Hawk presented commissioners three options; Hire an in-house attorney; Release a RFP to procure legal services by Jan. 1; Offer an extension request to Jarrard & Davis at the same prices, terms and conditions to begin Jan. 1, through Dec. 31.

Commissioner Julie Hughes-Nix has expressed her concern about the rising cost of legal fees. The Board recently voted to approve a request for increased legal funding for 2019. The request was for an additional $250,000, bringing the total 2019 budget up to $410,413. As recently as 2017, the budgeted amount for legal services was $232,000.

The Board also approved a land use resolution update that will add two new classifications – Residential Suburban 2 and Residential Suburban 3 – and adopted a moratorium on rezonings through Feb. 7.

In other votes, commissioners approved:

A resolution to allow the county manager to approve a new special event business license for an annual event that was previously approved by the Board of Commissioners, providing there has been no material change in the event;
A contract with the Georgia Public Defenders Office for 2020 in the amount of $187,311;
The renewal of a memorandum of understanding with Georgia Forestry Commission that allows the county to purchase and operate Georgia Forestry equipment and trucks at a reduced cost for three years;
A mutual aid agreement that requires both counties to respond to structure fires in areas identified in the agreement;
The appointment of Austin Harmon as an alternate planning commissioner in District 4.
Updates to the capital improvement element plan required by the Department of Community Affairs.

Dawson County Board of Commissioners Jarrard & Davis Lynn Frey

Developers last-minute changes to Etowah Village plan leads to another delay in vote by BOC

News June 22, 2019 , by Bill Johnson

DAWSONVILLE, Ga – Developers of the controversial Etowah Village announced during Thursday’s meeting of the Board of Commissioners that they have made major changes to their rezoning application. But they came unprepared to present a visible display for the public to view.

Commissioner Sharon Fausett

“We have revised our plan based on comments we received at the last public hearing as well as your comments,” said architect Jim King, speaking on behalf of Etowah Village.

As a result, District 1 Commissioner Sharon Fausett motioned to table a vote on the project until July 18. Her motion was unanimously approved.

The revision included taking out everything west of the Etowah River and changing the public entrance on Hwy. 53 from a public entrance to a gated emergency vehicle-only entrance and only emergency personnel will have a key.

King said by eliminating everything west of the river, the overall density of the project will be reduced from 2.8 units per acre to 2.4 units.

Fausett took King to task for not being prepared. “It’s really bad you don’t have anything the people can see,” she said. “People need to know that this is gone. This is left. This is still here but it’s being shifted to here. This is such a huge project whether you are for it or against it you would still like to have all the information.”

Fausett said later she was not told about the changes until just before the start of the meeting.

Planning Director Jameson Kinley said the revised project would include 338,000 square feet of retail space, 243,200 square feet of Class A office space, a convention and performing arts center, a site for a future fire station, a cultural center and public awareness of Chinese arts and gardens, four-story hotel, 800 units of multi-family housing (apartments), 180 units of single-family attached homes, 205 units of single-family detached homes, a 350 unit continuing care center and 156 acres for parks and green space.

Fausett said the delay will give the public time to understand the changes.

“If you don’t give people time, it’s like you’re trying to pull the wool over their eyes. I want to give the public time to digest this.”

Commissioners did approve PR Acquisitions, LLC’s request for an update of the Master Plan for 338 apartments. The original plan was approved in 2006. The owner Michael Moore told commissioners he is simply asking that conditions included in the original zoning that are no longer relevant go away. Moore proposed that Harry Sosebee Road be aligned to tie into a future traffic circle at his cost.

Judd Hughes request to rezone property located at Harry Sosebee Road and Hwy. 53 from Residential Agriculture (RA) to Residential Multi-Family (RMF) was approved 3-1 with Commissioner Tim Satterfield opposed.

Other items approved during the voting session include:

An update of the land use resolution;
A Dawson County food drive conducted by the Public Defender’s Office;
An Amicalola Electric Membership Corporation easement for the new Public Works Complex;
A request for No Thru Truck Traffic on Blacks Mill Road;
Improvements for Red Rider Road;
Reappointment of Gail Smith to the Library Board;
Assignment of contract to Professional Probation Services.

Dawson County Board of Commissioners Etowah Village Jameson Kinley Sharon Fausett

Commissioners set to vote on Etowah Village

News June 18, 2019 , by Bill Johnson

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Two major developments that have attracted heated opposition from citizens will be on the agenda when the Board of Commissioners meets in a voting session Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Dawson County Government Center.

That session will be preceded at 4 p.m. by a work session and executive session.

Dawson Village Partners wants to have about 800 acres at the intersection of Ga. Hwy. 400 and Lumpkin County Road rezoned to accommodate Etowah Village, a massive development that would include 538,700 square feet of retail space, 243,000 square feet of office space and 2,174 residential units in addition to a hotel, convention center and Asian cultural arts center.

Opponents believe such a major development would overburden the infrastructure lead to overcrowding schools and lower property values. Even more important, they believe it will destroy the quality of life they enjoy and that has attracted many others to move here.

And, Dava Hudgins gave commissioners something else to consider at the last public hearing when she said some part of the project would be built on a historic site.

“My ancestors opened a trading post on that site,” she said. “They married Cherokee women. There are Indian mounds there and I know where there are two different Indian burial grounds. It’s not just a flood plain. It is historically important.”

Historic sites are protected by state and federal laws.

Hudgins took Dist. 1 Commissioner Sharon Fausett and Dist. 4 Julie Hughes-Nix to visit the site Saturday. They are expected to report on their findings at Thursday’s meeting.

There is also a request by Judd Hughes to rezone 40 acres on Dawson Forest Road from Residential Agriculture (RA-1) to Residential Multi-Family for the purpose of building a 240-unit apartment complex is less contentious but has drawn a significant amount of opposition.

Other items on the voting session agenda include:

A PR Acquisition, LLC request to update zoning conditions on property near the intersection of Harry Sossebee Road and Lumpkin Campground Road because some of the original conditions no longer apply to the property which was approved for 388 homes;

Consideration of a Dawson County Food Drive spearheaded by the Public Defender’s office;

Consideration of a request by an Eagle Scout to build a Bocce Ball Court at Rock Creek Park for an Eagle Scout project;

Consideration of Amicalola Electric Membership Corporation power easement for the Public Works Complex;

Consideration of No Thru Truck Traffic on Blacks Mill Rd;

Consideration of improvements to Red Rider Road;

Consideration of appointments to the Library Board.

Dawson County Board of Commissioners Dawson Village Partners Etowah Village Julie Hughes Nix Sharon Fausett

Chamber of Commerce wants commercial impact fees reduced

News February 18, 2019 , by Bill Johnson

Commissioner Sharon Fausett

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Impact fees dominated much of the discussion at the Dawson County Board of Commissioners work session last week.

Chamber of Commerce President Christie Moore made a presentation and requested commissioners consider reducing impact fees on road projects and fire protection categories to 25 percent. Moore said impact fees are the reason at least one company declined to open a business in Dawson County.

“We’re not here to speak about the residential side,” she said. “We’re here to speak to the commercial side of things. We can’t calculate how many businesses we’ve lost (as a result of impact fees). We can only calculate what we have received. So far only $73,000 has been collected from commercial impact fees. Our concern is not the large businesses like the Olive Gardens of the world. They’re used to impact fees. But it really can hurt some of our attempts to attract other organizations that we really want in our community.”

Moore provided the example of one large fitness center that had planned to build a new facility in the community but backed out when it was learned the impact fee would be $51,000.

Commissioner Chris Gaines

District 1 Commissioner Sharon Fausett challenged the notion that the impact fee was the sole reason the company backed out.

“What would have been their tap fee,” she questioned. Moore said she didn’t know. Fausett said, “But you know it would have been a lot more than that right.”

“It certainly would have been,” Moore said and that is another entity we’ve been advocating with.”

“(Impact fees) are nothing compared to that (tap fee),” Fausett added. “It just seems to me like this is all being blamed on impact fees and I disagree with that.”

District 2 Commissioner Chris Gaines said the announcement that Northeast Georgia Medical Center will open a new hospital at GA. 400 and Hwy. 60 in Lumpkin County will create new opportunities.

“We’ve all continually said we want to diversify our economic base beyond just retail,” he said. “I think we have a great opportunity of attracting commercial office space when it comes to the medical aspect that is going to be ancillary to the hospital. It seems to me (impact fees) are a barrier we’re putting in place that we do control. I think we need to take a good look at this to make sure we don’t miss out on some high paying jobs that can revolve around the new hospital.”

Items discussed during a work session are typically not voted on until they come before the Board in a regular meeting.

Chris Gaines Christie Moore Dawson County Board of Commissioners Dawson County Chamber of Commerce Sharon Fausett

Dawson BOC to discuss legal representation at Thursday work session

News January 23, 2019 , by Bill Johnson

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – The Dawson County Board of Commissioner will discuss how to proceed with its legal representation during Thursday’s work session which begins at 4 p.m.

County attorney Lynn Frey, who was hired as in-house counsel in Feb. 2017, announced in a letter to commissioners that he is retiring due to an illness.

The BOC retained Jarrard & Davis, LLP to serve as interim Dawson County attorneys for a period of 60 days on December 27, 2018.

In following the county’s purchasing policy ordinance County Manager David Headley will ask the Board to approve a request for a professional exemption for Jarrard & Davis to fulfill the scope of services in the approved agreement and to approve a budget for their services.

Chief Financial Officer Vickie Neikirk will recommend using the funds allocated for the county attorney in 2019. All costs will go into account called Legal Fees.

Other items on the agenda include:

Presentation of LED Lighting Project Proposal for the library that was tabled from the Nov. meeting;
Consideration of the Comprehensive Plan, tabled from the Jan. 17 voting session[, Voting Session)
Presentation of Capital Improvements Element Annual Update;
Presentation of FY 2019 Legacy Link Nutrition Program ;
Presentation of Community Development Block Grant Language Access Plan Update;
Presentation of Professional Exemption Request for Interim County Attorney;
Presentation of Board Appointments to the Joint Development Authority (Christie Haynes Moore, John Drew, Betsy McGriff);
Discussion of Grant Application Procedures.

David Headley Dawson County Board of Commissioners Lynn Frey

Commissioners will direct attention to comp plan during Thursday’s voting session

News December 19, 2018 , by Bill Johnson

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – After months gathering public input at citizen meetings and an online survey, the Dawson County Board of Commissioners could adopt one of the county’s most important documents at Thursday’s Board of Commissioners meeting – the 2018 comprehensive plan.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. in the Government Center Assembly Room.

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs has approved the plan which is a guideline elected officials use to plan how the county will look in the future. Counties are required to update the plan every five years in order to be eligible to receive state grants.

But Commission Chairman Billy Thurmond indicated during last week’s session he would like to hold one more public hearing to give citizens one last chance to provide input.

Planning and Development Director Jameson Kinley and Adam Hazell, director of planning for the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission, presented the plan at that meeting and surprised commissioners by introducing something called a character map.

In the past, the Board has utilized a future land use plan that directs how each parcel of land is to be zoned. As long as developers asked for rezoning that adhered to the future land use plan, the request was usually approved.

But Kinley and Hazell said commissioners could elect to use a character map in place of the future and use map. The character map offers additional flexibility in that commissioners could look at zoning on a neighborhood scale as opposed to individual parcels.

“If someone were to come before the county looking for a rezoning now, they would almost essentially have to fit exactly what it is on (the future land use map) versus having some options that might be available to them under the character area map,” Hazell said

Even if the Board did opt for additional public hearing, it could approve the plan Thursday and still hold the public meeting later since the plan can be revisited.

In other agenda items the Board is expected to vote on:

Rescinding its objection to an annexation request the city council approved on Dec. 3;
A contractor for work on the Lumpkin Campground Road and Hwy. 53 intersection;
A rezoning request for a three-home subdivision;
Grant applications and reappoint of members of the planning commission.

Billy Thurmond Dawson County Board of Commissioners

Dawson County to hold departmental budget hearings next two weeks

News August 3, 2018 , by Bill Johnson

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – A process that often goes unnoticed by the public, but which plays a key role in how tax dollars get spent will play out over the next two weeks when Dawson County’s department heads appear before the Board of Commissioners to request funding for their departments.

The hearings begin Monday and will be held Monday through Thursday for the next two weeks in the Dawson County Administration Building starting at 9 a.m.

The process can be tedious and, at times contentious, as department heads defend their requests and commissioners attempt to ensure the county provides the services citizens pay for at a price they can afford. Every dollar is questioned and must be justified to survive the process.

The first to come under Board of Commissioners’ scrutiny Monday will be the Superior and Drug Court, followed at half-hour to 45-minute intervals by Tax Commissioner, Development Authority and Finance.

On Tuesday, commissioners will hear budget requests from the Public Defender, Elections Superintendent, Extension Service, Probate Judge and Public Works/Transfer Station.

Magistrate Court, Family Connection, Good Shepherd Clinic and Sheriff’s Office will bring their spending plans to commissioners on Wednesday.

The Sheriff’s Office budget is expected to get very close scrutiny. Sheriff Jeff Johnson sued the county last year when commissioners approved a $900,000 increase in the previous year’s budget. But Johnson maintained it wasn’t enough so he went to court.

The sheriff lost the lawsuit and the good will of the commissioners in the process. Commissioners believe the sheriff wastes too much money by not utilizing the county’s Purchasing Department more and by not submitting purchases to a competitive bidding process.

Week one closes out with budget requests from the coroner, facilities department, IT, clerk of court/board of equalization, and county manager/county government.

Dawson County Board of Commissioners Sheriff Jeff Johnson

BOC says no to smaller lot sizes in Chestatee

News July 4, 2018 , by Bill Johnson

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – The Dawson County Board of Commissioners unanimously denied a request by Brian Ferris and Chestatee Development Corporation to amend Chestatee subdivision’s Master Plan during Tuesday’s meeting.

Ferris wanted to change the master plan that called for lots in the Linkside section to have 100 foot widths to allow 70-foot widths to accommodate 11 more lots in that section. There are 46 lots in Linkside and 34 remain unsold. Homeowners in Chestatee have strongly objected to the request, saying it would decrease the value of their homes and create additional traffic congestion.

Ferris’ attorney Ethan Underwood argued that his client didn’t need approval of the Board to change the master plan. “The number of lots per unit shall not require further approval by the Planning Commission or Board of Commissioners,” he said. “That’s the law. That’s the master plan.”

In other business, the Board agreed to a request by Georgia State Patrol Post 37 to purchase two radar units and two laser units to equip the patrol cars assigned to the Dawson County area at a cost of $8,890. Commissioner Chris Gaines pointed out that GSP’s law enforcement effort has raised $83,118 for the county this year.

Commissioners voted unanimously to allow Tax Commissioner Nicole Stewart to write off $73,237.38 in uncollectable taxes due to businesses closing or moving out of county.

The Board also agreed to purchase 16 new fire hydrants at a total cost of $55,440 for Nix Bridge Road, Overlook Drive, Woodland Circle and North Seed Tick Road.

Fire Chief/Public Safety Director Danny Thompson requested the Board appoint Lucas Ray as interim Emergency Management Agency Director while he completes courses required for him to gain Certified EMA status. Commissioners, instead, chose to appoint Thompson as the interim director.

The Fiscal Year 2019 contract with Legacy Link was renewed at a cost of $337,901 and commissioners unanimously approved the Title VI plan for Dawson County Transit.

The Board also approved the following appointments: Kathryn Reagan Smith and Gail Smith (Library Board); Brian Trapnell (Industrial Building Authority); Brian Trapnell and Christie Haynes Moore (Joint Development Authority).

Commissioner Chris Gaines Dawson County Board of Commissioners Nicole Stewart

BOC delays vote on Chestatee variance

News June 22, 2018 , by Bill Johnson

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – The Dawson County Board of Commissioners tabled a variance request by Chestatee Development Corporation Thursday to gain a better understanding of the legal complexities surrounding the issue.

The petitioner has asked for a variance to the master plan for Chestatee subdivision that would allow Brian Ferris, the property owner, to build lots with 70-foot widths instead of 100-foot widths, thus allowing 11 additional lots in the Linkside section of Chestatee.

The vote to table was unanimous and followed a 10-minute, back-and-forth discussion between County Attorney Lynn Frey and Ethan Underwood, the lawyer for the petitioner.

Dave Pollack was one of six Chestatee homeowners who spoke in opposition to the variance.

Attorney Ethan Underwood

“Linkside was originally marketed as luxury homes on half-acre lots starting at $600,000,” he said. “The quick math that I did shows we will lose 20-30 percent (home value) not only in Linkside but in all Chestatee if this goes through.”

Loss of home value was the issue most often mentioned by homeowners who spoke in opposition but traffic was another concern.

Michelle Pyne expressed concern about traffic safety, especially at the entrance to the Linkside section. “Fireside Lane is the only entry into Linkside,” she said. “Everyone living in or visiting Linkside must navigate the intersection of Fireside Lane and Fireside Drive. The golf cart path crosses that intersection and it has already caused some serious safety concerns. The intersection is also about 30-40 feet from the swimming pool, tennis courts and basketball courts so that adds to the foot traffic there. Adding at least 22 more cars, if not more, to the master plan for Linkside would certainly make those serious concerns even more.”

Frey questioned Underwood about where the authority to modify the master plan comes from.

“Our assertion is the master plan references the requirement for a covenant and the covenant states the declarant has the authority to modify those lots,” Underwood said. “Our position, as laid out in our reservation of rights, is that specific approval supersedes a general provision of the land use resolution.”

In other decisions, the Board:

Accepted the results of the Fiscal Year 2017 financial audit by Rushton Company;
Ratified the Georgia Trauma Commission Grant that will fund the purchase of emergency equipment for ambulances;
Disposal of four climate control units for the Detention Center;
Approved a list of surplus items to be sold on Govdeals.com;
Approved a design/build contract with Charles Black Construction in the amount of $2,644,127 for the new Fleet/Public Works complex;
Approved a special event business license for Carol Stream Amusements, Inc. Carnival to operate in the parking lot of North Georgia Premium Outlets. The vote was 3-1 with Commissioner Julie Hughes-Nix opposed;
Approved a site plan for John Megel Chevrolet to build a used car lot on its property;
Approved the 2018 Land Use District Map;
Approved the re-appointment of Joey Bearden to the Department of Family and Children Services board.
Approved moving the next regular meeting to July 3.

Dawson County Board of Commissioners Lynn Frey

Commissioners approve changes for Riley Place

News May 19, 2018 , by Bill Johnson

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Following a public hearing Thursday, the Dawson County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a request by Riley Place LLC to amend an existing 4.869 acres of the original 26.1 acres zoned Commercial Planned Comprehensive Development (CPCD) to allow for 28 additional townhomes, clubhouse and swimming pool.

The property is located on the north side of Dawson Forest Road and was originally permitted for 200 townhomes. Adding 28 townhomes will not exceed that number. The owner plans to build a new clubhouse, swimming pool and additional parking spaces.

Several homeowners who live in Riley Place spoke in favor of the amendment and said the developer had gone above and beyond to answer their concerns.

Only one person spoke in opposition.

Hugh Stowers said, “We need a new ordinance for one house per acre. We’re headed to becoming Forsyth County. Any of these developments is going to cost other taxpayers.”

County staff has been working with ShawHankins on the annual renewal of employee health insurance plan that is set to expire June 30, Human Resources Director Danielle Yarborough reported to commissioners that claims had declined 16 percent during the year and renewal of the plan would reflect an increase of only 1.3 percent.

Her recommendation, which was approved unanimously, was to consider switching dental coverage to MetLife, Life Insurance and Disability to Lincoln Financial, Flex Spending to TASC, and to begin offering Teledoc services to all county employees not currently under our medical plan. The cost to absorb the 1.3 percent increase is $44,507. Under the plan, premiums to current employees will remain the same. The Teldoc coverage will cost $29,376.

Commissioners also approved a contract with Powers Heat and Air to replace two 8.5 ton air conditioning units and two 7.5 ton units at the county jail at a cost of $45,527.

Commissioners also approved:

An increase in the county’s matching funds for Legacy Link that is necessitated by an increase in federal funding of $106;
A special event permit for TNT Fireworks to operate a retail fireworks stand in the Ingle Shopping Center located at 118 S. 400 Center Lane. The stand is scheduled to be open June 21 through-July 5 from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.

Dawson County Board of Commissioners

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