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
John Walden sworn in as city council member
News December 18, 2019
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — John Walden was sworn in Monday as the newest member of the Dawsonville City Council. Walden has 20 years’ experience as a design and civil engineer. He ran unopposed to represent Post 3 and will take his seat on the council on Jan 6.
Council approved several issues under the consent agenda, including:
- Newly elected officials training in the amount of $1,100 for John Walden;
- 2020 staff appointments of Bob Bolz (City Manager), Beverly Bannister (City Clerk) and Tracy Smith (Deputy City Clerk);
- 2020 mayor and council board designations and compensation;
- A budget amendment in the amount of $6,115 to bring City Hall into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act;
- A GEFA loan modification with debt forgiveness that increases the amount of forgiveness the city will receive from $112,200.77 to $134,640.92. The loan was utilized to finance the 2017 water meter replacement program.
A number of professional services contracts were renewed under the consent agenda. But Councilman Mark French requested the contract with City Attorney Dana Miles be voted on separately.
Miles will be a witness in Friday’s Ethics Board hearing in which French is accused of having violated provisions of the city’s Ethics Ordinance. French voted against renewal of Miles’ contract but was outvoted 2-1.
Earlier in the meeting, French also made a motion to remove the executive session from the agenda, stating, “The mayor failed to notify me of what would be discussed. I asked a week ago and have heard nothing.”
In a phone conversation with Fetch Your News Wednesday, Mayor Mike Eason confirmed he did not tell French what would be discussed. “I did not,” he said. “I could have but we don’t always do that. If he would have asked me, I would have told him, but he didn’t ask.”
Council unanimously approved the appointment of Alexa Serrano to the Planning Commission.
A public hearing was held on the request by Sachinkumar Patel that a portion of the five acres located at 60 Hwy at Hwy. 136 be annexed into the city limits. There were no objections and the Board of Commissioners has signaled the city that it will have no objections.
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.
Eason reelected Mayor, ESPLOST wins voter approval
News November 5, 2019
Dawsonville, Ga. – Incumbent Dawsonville Mayor Michael M. Eason easily beat back a challenge from newcomer Durant Wright in Tuesday’s municipal election.
Eason, who was appointed mayor in 2017 then won a special election in March 2018, received 276 votes to Wright’s 118.
Wright is a young business entrepreneur who manages several family businesses, including convenience stores and storage facilities.
Another newcomer, John H. Walden, ran unopposed for Post 3 on the city council. Incumbent Post 1 City Councilman Caleb Phillips also ran unopposed.
Dawson County voters approved the $48 million Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax by a vote of 966 to 284.
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
Qualifying for November city elections has ended
News August 24, 2019
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Qualifying for the Nov. 5, 2019 elections in Dawson County has ended.
Based on information received from elections supervisors, the following candidates have filed election paperwork and have qualified to run for office.
The candidate for mayor (listed in alphabetical order) are:
Mayor
Mike Eason (I)
Durant Wright
City Council Post 1
Caleb Phillips (I)
City Council Post 3
John Walden
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.co
Qualifying for mayor, city council elections underway
News August 20, 2019
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Qualifying for municipal races in the Nov 5 general election started Monday and will continue through Aug. 22 at 4:30 p.m.
Dawsonville Mayor Mike Eason was one of the first-day qualifiers. Eason won a special election to finish out the term of former Mayor James Grogan.
Post 1 City Councilman Caleb Phillips also qualified to run for reelection. John Walden qualified in Post 3.
The qualifying fee for Mayor is $279. To qualify for City Council, the fee is $257.
Qualifying is being held at the Dawson County Elections and Registration Office, 6 Academy Ave.
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