Passarello provides Development Authority update
News February 7, 2021
DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. – Development Authority of Dawson County (DADC) Chairman Tony Passarello gave the Board of Commissioners an update on the Authorities work on behalf of the citizen during Thursday’s voting session.
DADC recently elected new members to the Executive Board, including Mandy Powers, the new Chairman of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce.
Passarello said county unemployment fell from a high of 11.7 percent last spring to 3.6 percent today. With regard to workforce development, Passarello said, “I would like to report great success there. He cited the Authority’s work with Lanier Tech and the University of North Georgia that enabled the awarding of a three-year startup grant worth $20,000. It’s a way for us to integrate some of their students into our economic development,” he said.
“We also continue to have a lot of interest in participating in areas of office-to-the-front, distribution to the rear type of businesses,” he said. “Right now, we just lack the capacity for them to go into the time frame they need.”
He also pointed out there are some companies interested in relocating from Forsyth County and several existing Dawson County facilities that are looking for additional space.
In other business, commissioners approved:
- An alcohol license for Akshar Priya, LLC doing business as Bo’s Food Mart;
- A modification to the employee handbook that will allow a limit of 20 hours buyback of paid time off;
- Acceptance of a Georgia Child Passenger Safety Mini-Grant’
- A change order to the Rock Creek Park berm construction project;
- Acceptance of the Harry Sosebee Road Right-of-Way and Development Agreement;
- The Green Infrastructure and Low Impact Development Program;
- A 2 percent supplement to salaries for elected official salaries;
- Elected Emory Dooley as Board of Commissioners Vice Chair for 2021;
- Tabled consideration of Study Concerning Cost of Services by Land Use Type;
- A revised resolution requesting the Calling of a Special Election to Impose a County One Percent Special Purpose Local Option Sales and Use Tax.
Dawson County Commissioners meeting Thursday
News February 3, 2021
DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. — The Dawson County Board of Commissioners will hold a work session Thursday (Feb. 4) at 4 p.m. to be followed immediately by a voting session in the Government Center Assembly Center, 25 Justice Way in Dawsonville.
Item No. 1 under New Business will be a request by Sheriff Jeff Johnson for additional office staffing.
Emergency Services Director Danny Thompson will then present an update of the Local Emergency Operations Plan.
Purchasing Manager Melissa Hawk will present a proposed amendment to the county’s Purchasing Policy Ordinance.
David Headley will present the county manager report.
Development Authority of Dawson County Chairman Tony Passarello will then make a presentation to open the voting session.
Commissioners will also consider:
- A review of the County Employee Handbook’s Paid Time Off Policy;
- A request to Accept Georgia Child Passenger Safety Mini-Grant;
- Rock Creek Park Berm Construction – Change Order / Funding Request;
- Harry Sosebee Road Right-of-Way and Development Agreement Acceptance;
- Green Infrastructure and Low Impact Development Program;
- Elected Official Salaries;
- Board of Commissioners Vice Chair Appointment;
- Study Concerning Cost of Services by Land Use Type (Residential / Commercial / Agriculture);
- A Revised Resolution Requesting the Calling of a Special Election to Impose a County One Percent Special Purpose Local Option Sales and Use Tax.
ARC awards Development Authority $50,000
News November 20, 2019
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — The Development Authority of Dawson County was presented a check for $50,000 by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Tuesday (Nov. 19) to support the completion of an economic development strategic plan.
The check provides fifty percent of the funding for the total grant project which supports the development of a professional strategic plan for economic development for Dawson County. Once completed, the strategic plan will include a target industry analysis to encourage the attraction of high quality jobs, an analysis of potential locations and infrastructure needs for future light industrial and office growth, a strategy to maintain the destination retail position Dawson County currently holds, and recommendations for green/open space acquisition to maintain the high quality of life that is so important to local citizens. Community engagement will be a key element throughout all stages of plan development.
“The Development Authority has been working hard behind the scenes with the Chamber to develop a comprehensive, strategic approach to our economic development efforts. We’re excited that the ARC has recognized these efforts and our potential by funding a substantial portion of our strategic planning process,” said Development Authority Chairman, Brian Trapnell.
“The result will be a professionally developed, multi-year document outlining how we can grow as a community while maintaining the quality of life important to Dawson County residents and businesses. The future of economic development and the resulting opportunities for our residents in our community is bright and the ARC grant is one more exciting step in helping us move forward to that future.”
The check was presented at the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission’s November meeting which was held at Atlanta Motorsports Park in Dawsonville. The Georgia Mountains Regional Commission (GMRC) is a strategic partner of the Development Authority and Chamber and assisted in writing the grant.
The GMRC Economic Development Division assists communities with economic and community development, asset based development, social infrastructure, physical infrastructure, and workforce development needs that lead to the creation and maintenance of employment opportunities for residents, a strong tax base for local governments, and a safe, secure, and viable community.
The funding for this study is drawn from the Appalachian Regional Commission. The work of the ARC specifically serves to strengthen the economy and improve living standards in the Appalachian region which includes 420 counties across 13 states. The ARC has funded numerous projects over the years that have supported job creation, encouraged business development, increased education and job training opportunities, and improved telecommunications, infrastructure and transportation in the Georgia Mountains Region. In the last five years, the ARC has invested $6 million in funding and has leveraged $7.8 million in local funds, created 1,089 jobs, retained 685 jobs and generated $218 million in private investment for the region.
The Development Authority of Dawson County issued a request for proposals for the development of the strategic plan, which will be the first of its kind for this community, in October and expects to select a firm by December. The planning process and community engagement sessions will begin in January 2020. The final plan is expected to be delivered in August 2020.
PHOTO Representatives (listed left to right) pose with $50,000 grant check presented to the Development Authority of Dawson County. (Daniel Martin, Director of Economic Development, GA Mountains Regional Commission; Brian Trapnell, Chairman, Development Authority of Dawson County; Annaka Woodruff, Program Manager, Appalachian Regional Commission; Betsy McGriff, Economic Development Director, Dawson County Chamber; Christie Moore, President, Dawson County Chamber; Billy Thurmond, Chairman, Dawson County Board of Commissioners; Mike Eason, Mayor, City of Dawsonville).
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
Board of Commissioners to vote on Dawson Forest development
News January 17, 2018
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.
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
Dawson County celebrates Manufacturing Appreciation Week
News April 15, 2019
PRESS RELEASE
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — April 15-18 is Manufacturing Week in Dawson County. During the week, the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce and the Development Authority of Dawson County will celebrate local manufacturers and industrial suppliers with staff visits to show appreciation and spotlight posts on social media. To kick off hte celebration and recognize the positive impact of local manufacturers, the Dawson County Board of Commissioners passes a resolution of support at their April 11 voting session.
Manufacturers and industrial suppliers play a vital role in the local economy. In Dawson County, the average annual wage for manufacturing-based employment is $10,000 more than the overall county average annual wage. Additionally, manufacturing facilities place a low burden on public services, enhance the diversity of the tax base, provide support to local nonprofits and enrich the education of local students through work-based learning initiatives.
“We have a growing cluster of advanced manufacturing and metal working industries in Dawson County, several of whom are expanding and adding new product lines, Chamber Economic Director Betsy McGriff said. “We are excited to place focus on these firms during Manufacturing Appreciation Week.”
The Chamber recognizes that saying “thank you” to business and industry does not end with one week of appreciation. The Chamber staff and board in partnership with the Development Authority continues to work year-round to foster growth in the manufacturing sector to help connect these businesses to the community at large. Manufacturing growth in Dawson County will provide additional opportunities for citizens to work closer to home for a better wage and improved quality of life.
Manufacturing Appreciation Week is an annual event, co-hosted by the Technical College System of Georgia and the Georgia Department of Economic Development and brings attention to the tremendous contribution manufacturing makes in Georgia’s economic growth. According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development, more than 9,000 manufacturing facilities exixt in Georgia. These businesses provide 396,339 jobs, generate more than $23.1 million in wages for Georgia’s citizens, and contribute more than $100 billion to the state’s economy each year.
Please follow @dawsonchabergram on Instagram and @dawsoncountychamber on Facebook to learn more about local manufacturing firms as they are spotlighted during Manufacturing Appreciation Week.
The Dawson County Chamber of Commerce represents more than 490 members in the North Georgia region. The organization exists to fulfill the mission of “cultivating a successful economic environment and a desirable quality of life for our businesses and community.” Located just north of the intersection of Georgia 400 and Highway 53, the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce and Office of Tourism Development provides a Welcome Center and visitor, business, and economic development information to visitors, local citizens, and businesses. For additional information about Georgia’s Manufacturing Appreciation week, please visit http://www.georgiamaw.org/.
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
DADC Accepts Executive Director’s Resignation
News September 28, 2017
The Development Authority of Dawson County accepted Charlie Auvermann’s resignation this week.
DAWSONVILLE, Ga.—Meeting in executive session Tuesday, the Development Authority of Dawson County voted to accept the resignation of Executive Director Charlie Auvermann and Office Administrator Mary Simmons.
Fetch Your News broke the news of their resignations last Friday. The resignation came one day after the Dawson County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a FY 2018 budget that did not include funding the Authority. Auvermann and Simmons’ salaries were paid out of the Development Authority’s budget which was previously funded by county taxpayers.
According to the Authority website, Auvermann helped to install multiple Dawson County-based projects with a capital investment of $125 million.
He currently serves as Chairman of the Joint Development Authority for Dawson, Lumpkin and White counties and as adjunct professor at the University of North Georgia’s Mike Cottrell College of Business since 2005.
He also sits on the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission where he was selected as the 2014 Appointed Official of the Year and is currently Chair of the GMRC 13 County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Committee.
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
Development Authority Executive Director Resigns
News September 22, 2017
Charlie Auvermann
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Charlie Auverman has resigned his position as Executive Director of the Development Authority of Dawson County effective immediately.
As Executive Director, Auvermann was paid out of the Development Authority’s budget which was funded by county taxpayers until last year when the Dawson County Board of Commissioners voted to cut off funding for the organization.
Resigning along with Auvermann is Office Administrator Mary Simmons.
According to the Authority website, Auvermann helped to install multiple Dawson County-based projects with a capital investment of $125 million.
He currently serves as Chairman of the Joint Development Authority for Dawson, Lumpkin and White counties and as adjunct professor at the University of North Georgia’s Mike Cottrell College of Business since 2005. He sits on the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission where he was selected as the 2014 Appointed Official of the Year and is the 2016 Chair of the GMRC 13 County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Committee.
Fetch Your News will have more details as they become available.
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
Dawson Sales Tax Revenue Soars to Record High
News July 10, 2017
Charlie Auvermann
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Many Dawson County businesses enjoyed a record-breaking month in May, generating $1.2 million in sales tax revenue that will help pay for operation of county government and the school district.
A press release issued by the Development Authority of Dawson County indicated that May sales tax revenue was 11.5 percent ahead of the same month in 2016.
“May was an extremely good month for Dawson County businesses. We hope it is a sign of the start of a very good summer,” said Charlie Auvermann, executive director of the Development Authority of Dawson County.
Dawson County has become the main shopping destination for the northern GA 400 corridor. The result is an increase in sales tax revenue paid to the county, the school system and the city.
Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) revenue was also up by 9% for 2017.
“These are the critical sources of operating and construction revenue for our county,” Auvermann said. “The higher these collections are the less pressure there is on our elected officials to have to raise personal property taxes.”
Sales tax revenue is a fast source of funding for the county since there is only a few weeks delay in getting the funds from the state. With property tax, the county doesn’t collect the funds until the end of each year.
Dawson County is at a 60/40 ratio for tax revenue. That is considered a very healthy situation. According to Department of Community Affairs approximately 60 percent of Dawson County taxes come from a combination of sales and service fee-related activity.
Auvermann noted, “When you compare that to Pickens County, they are considered a property tax county. Dawson is considered an economically-driven county. That gives our elected officials more options rather than just raising the taxes on everyone’s homes.”
The board of directors for the authority is working closely with their staff to insure the tax ratio stays in balance over time. “It has taken years of work to achieve what we see today,” Dr. Sherry Weeks, chairman of the authority, board reminded. “It will take extended vision, commitment and a long-term investment to maintain
There also was good news on the job front where county unemployment fell to just 3.9 percent, one of the lowest rates in Georgia.
Dawson County Economy is Booming in 2017
News May 19, 2017
Charlie Auvermann
DAWSONVILLE Ga. – The economic doldrums of the past 10 years appear to be over in Dawson County.
Charlie Auvermann, executive director of the Development Authority of Dawson County, says the 400 corridor is bustling with new business development, jobs are available for anyone who wants to work and sales tax revenue has experienced a dramatic uptick during the first quarter of 2017
The most recent figures show the unemployment has dropped to just 4 percent, the lowest level since the recession began in 2007.
The strong need for workers, particularly in both the retail and construction sectors has driven the unemployment rate down dramatically.
“With all of the new businesses opening in Dawson County and commercial and residential construction returning, the number of job openings has exploded,” he added.
Basic sales tax revenue is up almost 9 percent for the first quarter, which is typically the slowest quarter of the year because it comes right after the Christmas holiday.
“These numbers suggest we are a very vibrant economy,” Auvermann said in a press release this week.
March LOST/SPLOST collections alone are up 8.35 percent over March 2016. The combined collection was $1.14 million in March. February saw an increase of 8.4% and January was 9.47% better than last year. The March collections were the highest since 2009 and the second highest in the last decade.
The total LOST/SPLOST tax collections for the first three months of 2017 were just over $3.05 million and that does not include the education local option sales tax revenue which is reported separately.
“These LOST and SPLOST increases are important for our county,” Auvermann said. “The LOST funds help pay county salaries, keep the lights on and pay for a host of services provided to our citizens. The SPLOST funds help build roads, bridges and new buildings.”
The Authority has done studies that indicate most of the SPLOST and LOST taxes collected are from shoppers who live outside the county. At the same time, with all the new stores opening in Dawson County, local shoppers can spend their dollars at home instead of traveling to Hall and Forsyth counties.
Auvermann said as stores and businesses continue to be attracted to Dawson County the economy will continue to be robust.