Walden replaces Jason Power on City Council
News January 9, 2020
DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. – The Dawsonville City Council started the New Year by welcoming its newest member, John Walden, to the Monday meeting. Walden replaces former Post 3 Councilman Jason Power who did not run for reelection.
Council unanimously approved Sachinkumar Patel’s has petitioned to annex into the city limits of Dawsonville 5 Acres located at 60 Hwy 136 East and to rezone from County Zoning of Residential Exurban/Agricultural to City Zoning of Highway Business.
A motion by Councilman Caleb Phillips to postpone a decision on the Fall Leaf Residential, LLC request to rezone 25.7 acres on Hwy.53 East across from City Hall, from Restricted Industrial to Multi Family Residential and one acre at the same location from Restricted Industrial to Central Business District was unanimously approved until a called meeting Jan. 14 at 4 p.m. Fall Leaf Residential withdrew its appeal of a Planning Commission decision to deny a request for a variance to the minimum lot width from 28 to 20 feet.
Council then held a first reading of an ordinance to provide a method of adopting and enacting rules and regulations concerning conduct and activities at all City Public Parks and facilities and penalties for violations of the ordinance.
City Attorney Dana Miles provided a review of a proposed Gravel Road Development Ordinance that he said, “Allows a different option for a potential development of mid- to large size lots that we don’t have in the downtown area.”
Under the Consent Agenda, Council approved:
Minutes of the work session and regular meeting of Dec. 6;
Minute of the executive session of Dec. 6, 2019;
Renewal of the IT service contract for 2020;
Amendment to the agreement for construction of Farmer’s Market;
Bid selection of Perimeter Road sidewalk construction.
Former Councilman Jason Power was honored for his eight years’ service on city council.
Sara Beacham was selected Employer of the month, quarter and year.
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
City Council to wrap up year-end business Monday
News December 11, 2019
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — The Dawsonville City Council will have some year-end business to take care of when it meets in a combined work session and regular meeting Monday at 5:30 p.m. in the G.L. Gilleland Council Chambers.
John Walden will take the oath of office as the new Post 3 council member, replacing Jason Power who did not run for reelection. Council is expected to approve $1,100 for newly-elected official training for Walden which will take place at UGA Hotel and Conference Center in Athens in March.
Under the Consent Agenda Council will approve:
Staff appointments of Bob Bolz (City Manager), Beverly Bannister (City Clerk) and Tracy Smith (Deputy City Clerk);
Renewal of professional services for City Attorney, Auditor, Engineer, Municipal Court Judge, Testing of Wastewater, Geologist, Repair-Installation Water-Sewer Infrastructure, Airport Consultant Engineer Services and Engineer;
Appointment of mayor and council board designations and authorize payment of one meeting per month if attended;
A budget amendment in the amount of $6,115 to bring City Hall into compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act;
GEFA loan modification with an increase in the amount of forgiveness the city was to receive from $112,200.77 to $134,640.92. The loan was utilized to finance the 2017 water meter replacement program;
The appointment of Alexa Serrano to fill the unexpired term of Ken Goines on the Planning Commission through Dec. 31, 2021.
There will also be a public hearing to hear a request by Sachinkumar Patel to annex into the city limits a portion of five acres located at 60 Hwy. 136 East.
Dawsonville Councilman Mark French responds to ethics complaint: “I will fight it with every fiber of my being”
News December 11, 2019
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Dawsonville City Councilman Mark French said Tuesday he has obtained legal counsel to defend against a complaint that he violated the city’s Ethics Ordinance.
“I believe this is completely frivolous and I will fight it with every fiber of my being,” French said Tuesday in a phone interview with Fetch Your News. “I did not ask for anything improper. I asked the city manager to coordinate with the county attorney to draft a proper response to a citizen’s inquiry.”
The inquiry French referred to was an email sent from Steve Sanvi to City Manager Bob Bolz on Nov. 7 that asked, “How is residency (of an elected official) determined? If you own a home in the district elected and another outside the district, how is the primary residence determined?”
In a Nov. 7 email response to Sanvi, Bolz wrote, “I believe those are legal questions that are outside my expertise.”
Also, on Nov. 7, French emailed Bolz to request that he consult with legal to provide a response to Sanvi’s questions.
Sanvi, a resident of the City of Dawsonville, who – the city council points out in its complaint — is also French’s boss. He was attempting to determine if Councilman Jason Power lived outside the district he was elected to represent. Eleven days after Sanvi raised that question, Power announced his resignation, saying he is building a home outside his district that would be ready for occupancy soon.
The ethics complaint, which was signed by Councilmen Power, Stephen Tolson and Jacob Phillips was filed Nov. 25. It lists nine provisions of the Ethics Code French is alleged to have violated. Every alleged violation is stems from French’s attempt to have city government answer a citizen’s question.
The Ethics Board is empowered to dismiss the complaint if it is found to be unjust, frivolous, patently unfounded or fails to state facts sufficient to invoke the disciplinary jurisdiction of the city council.
Fetch Your News reached out to Dawsonville Mayor Mike Eason for comment Wednesday, but declined our request.
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
City Council set to backtrack on reduction in mayor’s pay
News February 3, 2019
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — In a complete reversal of its Dec. 2017 decision to slash the mayor’s pay, Dawsonville City Council members are now expected to vote for a substantial increase not only in the mayor’s pay, but for each council member when they meet Monday at 5:30 p.m. at city hall.
Councilman Mark French has been adamantly opposed to the pay raise since the idea surfaced during a public hearing on Jan. 7. Two weeks later, during the second public hearing, French said, “I would like to state my continued opposition to any increase for the mayor or any member of the council.”
In a phone interview with Fetch Your News the next day, French said, when the mayor’s pay was reduced, we were told the reason was the city had just hired – for the first time — a city manager who would take over many of the mayor’s responsibilities. “But now council is looking to increase the salary and no additional duties have been added,” he said.
If the increase is approved, it would nearly double the mayor’s pay to $1,000 per month plus $150 for a city council meeting and another $150 for each additional meeting pre-approved by city council. Council members’ pay would increase from $500 to $600 per month plus an additional $150 per city council meeting and $150 for an additional meeting per-approved by council. All that is in addition to approximately $20,000 in insurance benefits the mayor and council now receive.
A number of people have questioned why city council has backtracked on the issue.
Former Mayor James Grogan thinks he knows the answer.
Grogan has said the pay reduction was politically motivated. In 2016, Councilmen Jason Power and Caleb Phillips and former Councilwoman Angie Smith voted to oust Grogan from office for alleged violations of the city charter. Grogan went to court to get his job back, but lost.
He says when Phillips, Power and Smith got word he planned to run against then interim mayor Mike Eason in a special election they voted to reduce the pay to deter him. Grogan did run again, but was defeated by Eason.
In other action under the consent agenda Monday, council is expected to approve:
- The Get Your Glow On 5k Race scheduled for Mar. 8;
- A special event alcohol permit for Georgia Racing Hall of Fame for Mar. 2;
- Auditing services RFQ;
- Construction Management Services RFQ;
- Storm water Facility Management agreement;
- A motion to table the parking project at city hall.
Under New Business, council is expected to vote on:
- An amendment to the garbage service ordinance;
- Red Oak Sanitation contract;
- Calculation of service charge for garbage 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
Secrecy surrounds “mishandled funds” complaint
News March 5, 2018
City Manager Bob Bolz
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – One month after the City of Dawsonville filed a complaint with the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office regarding “mishandled funds” during former Mayor James Grogan’s administration, city officials have kept the details of that complaint a closely guarded secret.
Taxpayers have been kept in the dark regarding how their money was mishandled and how much money is involved.
City Manager Bob Bolz responded to Fetch Your News open records request (ORR) last week in an email that stated: “Because of certain information pertinent to the investigation revealed in the (complaint), that information was deemed confidential by our attorneys.”
The City’s failure to disclose details of the complaint has raised serious questions about the validity of the complaint and especially its timing, coming just weeks before the special election that will decide if Grogan is to regain his seat or be replaced for the next four years by interim Mayor Mike Eason. Advanced voting has begun and Election Day is March 20.
Former Mayor James Grogan
City Council members Angie Smith, Caleb Phillips and Jason Power voted last May to remove Grogan as mayor for alleged violations of the city code and policies. The decision was not popular with voters and may have cost Smith her seat on the Council. She was voted out of office in November.
Grogan has maintained from the beginning that he has done nothing wrong and the complaint of “mishandled funds” is politically motivated.
“It is a politically-motivated witch hunt,” Grogan said. “But I believe the voters will see it for what it is.”
In fact, Grogan doubts there is any investigation. “I believe they filed the complaint just to hurt me. It’s been almost a month since the complaint was filed and nobody from the sheriff’s office has questioned me.”
In making the motion to refer the issue to law enforcement, new City Councilman Stephen Tolson said, “I think in the interest of full transparency it would be a good idea to go ahead and hand over all those documents and any related documents of the prior investigations conducted.”
Yet one month later, the documents have not been turned over to the media or made available to the public. Election Day is Tuesday, March 20 and the voters will finally have a chance to decide who will lead the city forward.
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
Tolson, French join Dawsonville City Council
News December 19, 2017
From left, City Attorney Dana Miles, Stephen Tolson, Jason Power, Mayor Mike Eason, Caleb Phillips and Mark French
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – The Dawsonville City Council made major changes in both leadership and policy during the final meeting of 2017 Monday.
Two new city councilmen – Mark French and Stephen Tolson – took the oath of office, replacing Angie Smith and Mike Sosebee.
City Attorney Dana Miles congratulates Stephen Tolson (left) after he was sworn in.
Tolson is a retired U.S. Army Ranger with a master’s degree in healthcare administration. He currently manages a Cumming medical group. French earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from what is now the University of North Georgia. He has 20 years of experience in public service, having served 10 years in Lumpkin County’s finance department and 10 years as that county’s grants analyst.
Before the new councilmen were seated, Councilwoman Angie Smith and Councilmen Caleb Phillips and Jason Power approved changes to the city charter that will reduce the mayor’s pay from $2,000 to $600 a month, create voting districts and change the way city council members are elected at-large to election by district. Councilman Mike Sosebee voted against the changes.
Mark French (left) sworn in as new city councilman.
The new council voted unanimously to keep Power as Mayor Pro Tem.
Council also approved alcohol beverage licenses for Discount Package Store at 2131 Hwy. 9 and El Rio Mexican Café at 69 Hwy. 9 South.
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
UPDATE: James Grogan Issues Statement About His Plans to Run for Mayor in 2018
News October 31, 2017
James Grogan
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – James Grogan announced today that he is giving up his appeal to remain mayor of Dawsonville in order to save taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees and will, instead, run for mayor in a 2018 special election.
Grogan was voted out of office by City Council members Angie Smith, Caleb Phillips and Jason Power following a report presented to council on May 1 that outlined a number of alleged violations of city code by the mayor. Grogan’s attorney Steven Leibel appealed council’s action, but earlier this month, C. Andrew Fuller, Chief Judge for the Northeast Judicial District ruled the appeal was improperly filed.
Today (Oct. 31), Grogan issued the following statement:
“Obviously I am not pleased with the decision of the judge, however, it is very important to note the ruling did not side with the city council’s decision or their action. It was simply a technicality on a complicated issue that has never happened before in the state of Georgia. My heart is still in serving the citizens of Dawsonville and I believe ultimately it is their decision and not some random judge to decide.
“So instead of continuing the fight through the legal process and to prevent city council from spending any more of your tax payer funds frivolously on legal fees, I’m here to take the high road and say, let’s stop this now. Let’s put this back up to the voters.
“This morning I have stopped my appeal and I am announcing that I will rerun for Mayor in the special election in March and to serve you with all my heart. I have been serving you for many years and we have seen many great things happen in this city under my leadership. So, instead of three power hungry city council members and a random judge deciding the direction our city should take, and whether I should continue to serve you, I have decided to put the decision back where it belongs, with the citizens of Dawsonville.
“You and only you will decide whether I should be allowed to continue to be your leader. So please vote for James Grogan for Mayor in 2018.”
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
Mayor Grogan Calls Removal “A Witch Hunt” Councilwoman Smith Says It was Justified
News May 23, 2017
Mayor James Grogan
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – On May 22, Dawsonville City Council members Jason Power, Angie Smith and Caleb Phillips voted to remove Mayor James Grogan from office for alleged violations of the city charter, basing their decision on an investigation by attorney Abbott Hayes, who charged the city in excess of $6,000 for his work.
The mayor called the investigation a “witch hunt” and supporters labeled it a “political lynching.”
The allegations, as outlined in Hayes’ report, include:
Violation of the city charter by reducing the fee for several rezoning applications without council approval, changing an application for water and sewer from a business rate to a slightly less expensive residential rate without council approval; approving charitable donations to non-profit organizations; charging alcohol to his city-issued credit card and instructing an employee to use the city credit card to purchase alcohol.
Sources close to the city council and the mayor told Fetch Your News that even if the allegations are true, they “do not rise to the level of removal from office.”
During the May 22nd meeting, Mayor Grogan’s attorney Steven Leibel questioned Hayes and elicited the following information:
- No one other than the mayor was investigated;
- The application for water and sewer that was re-classified from business to residential was for a building that is less than 400 square feet that was never used for business, but only for storage of material;
- Donations to non-profit organizations was a practice carried forward from the Joe Lane Cox administration and when the city attorney pointed out it is not allowed under the Georgia Constitution, the practice stopped;
- The alcohol purchased was not for personal consumption. It was the same “moonshine” produced by the Dawsonville Moonshine Distillery, which is located in the city hall complex. It was purchased as a door prize intended to promote the City of Dawsonville.
The timing of the mayor’s removal raised suspicion among Grogan’s supporters who wondered if council had another motivation. Some of those have asked why council waited so long to investigate? After all, some of the allegations date all the way back to 2013 and were made highly public in 2015.
Fetch Your News wanted to know if the council’s actions were politically motivated so we contacted each of the three who voted to remove the mayor.
Councilwoman Angie Smith
Smith responded to our questions in an email. Phillips said only that he agreed with everything Smith said and Power did not respond at all.
Smith wrote, “We were acting in accordance with the authority given by our charter and it is clear to us that seeking justice is absolutely not a political lynching.”
She added, “Along with the annexations and in light of the difference in fees that were charged for other annexations, and not knowing how it came about, (Caleb Phillips) made a motion for the City Manager to hire Abbott Hayes to investigate who authorized the reduced fees and if there were any other misuse of fees in the city or misuse of city funds…Angie Smith seconded and the vote carried unanimously in favor. As you can see, our motion for an investigation never mentioned Mayor Grogan specifically.”
Asked if three city council members have the authority to override the vote of hundreds of citizens who elected the mayor, Smith said, “While the citizens of the City of Dawsonville did, in fact, elect Mr. Grogan to be Mayor, they did not elect him to violate our city charter and city ordinances. We, as city council members were also elected by the citizens of this city to uphold our charter and ordinances, as well as laws of our county, state, and nation.”
Leibel appealed the council’s action Wednesday in Superior Court of Dawson County and Mayor Grogan was returned to his position pending the outcome of that appeal.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at www.fetchyournews.com