County Millage Rate Hearing is Thursday
News August 9, 2017
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – The Dawson County Board of Commissioners will hold the first of three public hearings on the proposed FY 2018 budget and the millage rate Thursday at 4 p.m.
The board intends to leave the current millage rate of 8.138 unchanged, which would increase the 2017 property taxes it will levy this year by 4.45% over the rollback millage rate.
The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $250,000 is approximately $34.70 and the proposed tax increase for non-homestead property with a fair market value of $200,000 is approximately $27.76.
Additional public hearings are scheduled for Aug. 17 at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Citizens are invited to attend and comment.
Other items on Thursday’s agenda include a request by Director of Emergency Services Lanier Swafford for commissioners to consider accepting a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in the amount of $960,305. The county would be required to provide a match of $596,947.
The grant would help cover the cost of salary and benefits for personnel for three years. The other cost the county would incur would be for uniforms and gear (approximately $2,500.00 per employee per year).
The grant is for three years. At the end of the three years, the grant offers three options – employing agency assumes responsibility of the cost; apply for a hardship extension to the grant if local funding is limited; termination without penalty.
Director of Public Services David McKee will provide an update on the closure of Blacks Mill. The Georgia Department of Transportation declared the bridge unsafe for vehicular traffic and ordered it closed on July 18. McKee will ask the board to consider allowing his staff to continue working with GDOT on one of its bridge maintenance assistant programs.
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
Commissioners Welcome New Staff Attorney
News February 10, 2017
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — The Dawson County Board of Commissioners welcomed new staff attorney Monroe Lynn Frey III to the county at Thursday’s work session.
County Manager David Headley said Frey will be paid $85,000 a year to start and the salary could increase to $90,000 following a six-month probation period. Frey has expressed an interest in hiring a secretary or paralegal which could cost up to $50,000 annually.
Chip King of the Archer Company presented the results of a county employee classification and compensation study his company conducted. The study was first conducted in 2014 but only partially implemented.
The new study covered all 425 employees in 140 job classifications and compared the results to 10 north Georgia cities and counties.
Chairman Billy Thurmond noted that in the last six years, the county has lost more than 400 employees to the public sector or to neighboring cities or counties, costing taxpayers between $1 and $1.5 million.
King called called the county’s 100 percent turnover rate “unheard of.”
He recommended the county adopt and implement the plan to achieve internal equity and market place competitiveness.
David McKee provided a SPLOST VI update. The tax is expected to raise $46 million. The county’s share is 85 percent while the City of Dawsonville will receive 15 percent.
Thus far, the county has collected $9.1 million and spent $4.4 million.
Phase one projects completed include $2.3 million on road projects, $943,019 for a fire truck debt payoff and truck purchase and $707,590 for ambulance purchase.
Phase II projects planned include $5.7 million for road projects on Kelly Bridge, Tanner and Steve Tate, $1.5 million for design and build of the Public Works facility and $564,000 for sheriff’s vehicles.
Steve Fortmann, owner of Royston-based Palladin Wireless proposed a lease with Dawson County that would allow Palladin to place two antennas on the Courthouse in order to provide wireless internet service to customers who are either under served or experiencing unreliable and high cost internet service.
Palladin would pay the county $100 per month for the right to install the antennaes on the courthouse roof. The service would cost customers between $39.99 and $79.99 per month.
Emergency Services Director Lanier Swafford appeared before the board to request approval to partner with the Georgia Firefighter’s Burn Foundation, the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation and KARE for Kids to conduct “Boot Drive” fund raisers for each organization.
Swafford also requested approval to apply for the 2017 Georgia Trauma Commission Grant Program to assist local 911 zoned provider ambulance services to improve the level of trauma care they provide.
Board to Vote on Thompson Road Work
News October 18, 2017
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Public Works Director David McKee will ask the commissioners to approve $196,403 to pay for striping and related expenses for Thompson Road when the Dawson County Board of Commissioners meets in a voting session Thursday (Oct. 19) at 6 p.m.
Commissioners approved phase two of the SPLOST VI program in February. At that time the program included four road rehabilitation projects for Tanner Road, Kelly Bridge Road and Steve Tate with Thompson as an alternate. The original contract with CW Mathews was approved in May for the first three roads. In September, commissioners approved the alternate of Thompson Road. The cost that was approved at that time did not include expenditures for Thompson Road.
Public Works staff wants to use its standby striping contractor for the additional work and that requires approval by the commission. The total project cost will not exceed the original approved contracted budget and will include all striping and or expenses related to completion of the project.
In other business before the Board, Emergency Services Director Lanier Swafford will ask commissioners to approve a clinical contract with North Georgia Technical College to allow EMT and Paramedic students enrolled at the college to engage in clinical opportunities with Dawson County Emergency Services.
North Georgia Tech is only one of two technical colleges in northeast Georgia that conducts a paramedic program. DCES has previously had a clinical contract with the school. This opportunity allows for the student to experience field opportunities while in school and allows for DCES to evaluate students and possibly recruit future employees.
Swafford will also seek Board approval to apply for the 2017-2018 Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) application. The county has received the 50/50 grant which supports EMA activities such as mitigation, preparation and response to emergency situations. They also cover a portion of the cost for Swift Reach (Reverse 911 System), weather siren maintenance, and radar subscription for the EOC. This year the base award formula for the grant was modified and Dawson will receive increase $7,784 in the 2017-2018 budget year.
The Board is also expected to vote on a recommendation to approve the 2017 Dawson County Emergency Services Inspection, Plan Review, and Prevention Fee updates.
The Dawson County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution and ordinance adopting the Dawson County Fire Safety and Prevention Ordinance in 2005 that included fees to be imposed by the Dawson County Fire Marshal’s Office and the fee schedule has not been updated since.
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
Commission Will Have to Amend 2017 Budget to Implement Employee Pay Raise
News March 24, 2017
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Dawson County Chief Financial Officer Vickie Neikirk told the Board of Commissioners during Thursday’s work session that implementation of the salary study approved earlier this month would require an increase in the 2017 budget of $374,441.
The salary study calls for a 2% cost of living allowance (COLA) for all employees, placement into range with a moderate progression and a payroll effective date of April 8, 2017.
Fleet Services Director Shannon Harben recommended the Board amend the current Take Home and Vehicle Policy to eliminate future verbal agreements or special conditions. Those verbal agreements currently in effect would still be honored.
Harben also requested Board approval to dispose of surplus items to be sold with the proceeds to be put in a vehicle replacement fund per current policy.
Public Works Director David McKee presented commissioners with a request to issue a purchase order to Bobcat of Atlanta for a Bobcat Excevator in the amount of $64,876.48 through a cooperative agreement with National Joint Powers Alliance (NJPA).
Emergency Services Chief Lanier Swafford asked the Board to approve a contract with Lux Mitigation and Planning Corp., the most responsibe, responsible bidder, in the amount if $18,000 for preparation of the Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Commission Chairman Billy Thurmond read a presentation declaring April as LifeLink National Donate Life Month.
The Board is considering the appointment of the following to the Long Range Planning Committee: Gary Pichon (Chairman), Ronnie Adkins, Teri Tragresser, Jane Graves, Hugh Stowers, Jo Brewer, Tim Costley, Mandy Power and Dick Scharf.
Work sessions are held every two weeks for the purpose of allowing commissioners to discuss and debate issues that can be voted on during the regular sessions which are also held every two weeks.
Commissioners Consider Initiating Debt Collection, Write-Off Policy
News January 27, 2017
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Finance Director Vickie Neikirk presented a compelling argument for why the Dawson County Board of Commissioners should implement a Debt Collection and Write-Off policy during Thursday’s work session.
Neikirk pointed out the current balance of accounts receivable that would be eligible for collection for emergency services ambulance billing is $1,018,947. That debt was accrued over approximately 10 years. The average amount collected by a collection agency is approximately 10 percent.
Emergency Services Director Lanier Swafford recommended commissioners approve Professional Recovery Services (PRS) for the job of collecting accounts receivable. Swafford said PRS is a family-owned, Durham, N.C.-based company.
“I feel very confident in making that recommendation to you even though they are about 5 percent higher than the other qualified bidder,” Swafford said. “They are very customer friendly and they are licensed to collect in all 50 states.” If someone moves out of state while owing the county money for services provided, PRS can still attempt to collect the debt.
Public Works Director David McKee presented a letter from the Georgia Department of Transportation, requesting a Letter of Roundabout Support at the intersection of SR 136 and Bailey Waters/Keith Evans intersection. GDOT also provided the county with previous crash data and the geometry of SR 136 that, it said, drives the need for the round-a-bout.
“There have been a lot of serious accidents at that intersection,” McKee pointed out. The letter of support doesn’t necessarily mean that a roundabout would be built there only that the state will take some action to make it safer. McKee pointed out that since SR 136 is a state highway, GDOT will likely take some action with or without county support.
McKee also presented an assessment of the fee situation at county’s transfer station.
The station operates six days a week from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and commercial scales were purchased and installed on site. The current fee schedule has been in place since March 2013.
Eagle Point Landfill has increased its tipping fees by five percent. Current fees are $5-$22 lower than surrounding transfer stations and landfills for bulk garbage and .50 to $1 lower on bagged garbage.
Mckee said staff has reviewed all fee options and recommends bulk garbage rate be increased to $44 per ton. Staff recommends a minimum fee of $5 per load weighed. Bagged garbage rates stay as is at .50/bag with a 10 bag limit. Any garbage over 10 bags shall be weighed.
Thurmond, Gaines Take Place on Board of Commissioners
News January 13, 2017
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — The Dawson County Board of Commissioners welcomed two newcomers to the first meeting of the new year Thursday. New Commission Chairman Billy Thurmond presided over the work session and special called meetings and Chris Gaines took his seat as the new commissioner representing District 2.
First order of business during the work session was for the new Board to consider a request by Public Defender Brad Morris to renew an intergovernmental agreement with Hall County to share the cost of two employees in the Public Defender’s office equally. The contract has been in place since 2005. The expense required to fund the IGA ($70,059.13) has been requested and approved in the 2017 budget.
Morris also presented a request that the county renew a contract with the State of Georgia to fund the cost for one attorney and one administrative assistant as State employees in the Georgia Public Defender’s Council.
The contract covers the two employees’ salaries and cost of employment as set forth in Attachment B to the State Contract, and a 5 percent management fee ($180,186.32).:
Next, Emergency Services Director Lanier Swafford presented a request for his department to apply for a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant (SAFER). The grant program was established to assist local fire departments with staffing and deployment capabilities in order to respond to emergencies safely and meet National Standards.
The grant is 100% covered for the cost of salary and benefits for two years.The only cost the county would incur would be the cost of uniforms and gear (approximately $2,000.00 per employee per year). At the end of the two years, the grant offers three options – employing agency assumes responsibility of the cost; apply for a hardship extension to the grant if local funding is limited; termination without penalty.
After two years, the cost for 6 employees would be $231,702 plus benefits. The cost for nine employees would be $347,553.
Commissioners will appoint a vice chairman at the next regular meeting and is expected to renew the contract with Danielle Yarbrough.
During the special called meeting that followed immediately after the conclusion of the work session, commissioners appointed new members to the county’s Planning Commission.
Commissioner Sharon Fausett appointed Jason Hamby to the commission with Haynes Johnson to serve as alternate.
Commissioner Gaines appointed John Maloney with Jeff Looper to serve as alternate.
Commissioner Jim Hamby appointed Tim Bennett with Joan Gibbs to serve as alternate.
Commissioner Julie Nix appointed Neil Hornsey with Mike Miller to serve as alternate.
Chairman Thurmond appointed John Dooley but has not named an alternate. All appointees terms will run concurrently with the commissioner who appointed them.
Fire Station 8: A Public/Private Partnership That Save Lives
News November 4, 2016
DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. — In the rugged mountain terrain near the Dawson and Pickens county lines, the roads are steep, narrow and winding. Prior to 2009 it took first responders 30 minutes to reach emergencies. But thanks to a vision, strong fundraising effort, community dedication and the cooperation of elected officials and fire departments Dawson County Fire Station 8 opened and reduced response time to just eight minutes —a life-saving difference!
County resources were stretched thin back then, but residents of an isolated area known as the Wildcat community recognized the need for a fire station and they took it upon themselves to acquire the property, raise the funds to build it, equip it and train volunteer firefighters.
“We started to explore the idea with John Edwards and talked to Lanier Swafford and Billy Thurmond along with Pickens County Commissioner Rob Jones,” said Clayton Preble, one of the originators of the idea. “I give them credit for recognizing how important this was.”
The first step was to find a location and since Dawson County already had a 45,000-gallon water tank on property leased from a landowner in Texas, that seemed to be the right spot. Preble contacted him and explained what they wanted to do.
“After about five minutes, I felt like I was talking to an old friend,” he said. “He thought it was a great idea and leased it to us for $1 a year. In exchange, we promised to keep the grass cut and provide security.”
Next came raising the $90,000 it would cost to build the fire station. Jones told them he could come up with about half that amount and the group set out to raise the rest through community donations. The key selling points, Preble said, were improved fire service and a lower Insurance Service Office (ISO) rating, which would in turn reduce insurance costs for homeowners.
“Raising money was the easiest part,” Preble said. “People really recognized the value of it and were willing to invest. They have already gotten their investment back since the ISO rating dropped from 9 to 5.”
Thurmond and Swafford said they could provide the equipment that would be needed.
From concept to build out took about three years. “So now we had the station and the equipment but no firefighters,” Preble said.
Wildcat is made up of several communities, including Tate, Sassafras Estates and Burnt Mountain. John Tarantini began canvassing the communities in search of volunteers and quickly identified 14 volunteer firefighters.
“They all went through a volunteer firefighter training conducted by Dawson County,” said Tarantini, who has also made sure volunteers stay current on their qualifications. “We’ve gone from being a volunteer firefighting support group to a medical first responder,” Tarantini said.
Since the station was completed, they have responded to about 140 calls with an average response time of 5-10 minutes, a major improvement.
Preble said it could not have been accomplished without the help of area residents, county commissioners like Rob Jones and Dawson County’s Mike Berg or Thurmond and Swafford and Pickens County EMA Director Bob Howard.
There are many rural communities like Wildcat in north Georgia without immediate access to emergency services. Fire Station 8 is just one example how a vision, community involvement and support from local officials can save lives.
Variance for “Clothing Optional” Resort Approved
News October 21, 2016
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Nothing brings concerned citizens to a Board of Commissioners meeting quite like a rezoning request by the owner of a “clothing-optional resort” to expand the facility.
When Jeff Wasserman, owner of Paradise Valley Resort, appeared before Dawson County commissioners Thursday to ask for approval to grow his facility by 5.946 acres, 22 RV sites, 38 tent sites and six cabins, every one of the 161 seats in the meeting room was filled. Thirty-nine people stood against the back wall and many more stood outside in the lobby. In fact, Emergency Services Director Lanier Swafford stood at the door to count out the final 39 to ensure the room did not exceed its 200 capacity. Outside the government building, it looked a lot like a Donald Trump a rally as the line stretched all the way around the corner of Dawson County’s Government Building.
Considering the issue, the crowd was very well behaved. The only outburst came at the end as the audience, almost all Paradise Valley supporters, loudly cheered the Board’s 3-1 approval of the request. Only Commissioner James Swafford voted against it.
Chairman Mike Berg wisely moved the issue to the top of the agenda. After the vote, the crowd shrunk to about two dozen as most everyone headed for the exit.
Six people spoke on the issue, three in favor and three opposed. Wasserman said he has attempted to be a good neighbor and keep the facility enclosed and private so as not to offend his neighbors.
Jim Hildreath, said, those who live or vacation at Paradise are a good group of people. “They are not what people have been led to believe.” Hildreath said there are doctors, lawyers, carpenters and many military veterans at the resort.
Nancy Cofield, who owns property adjacent to the resort saw things differently. She said she felt like the shepherd David going against Goliath and added, “I have nothing bad to say about them as long as they stay on their property.”
She complained that living next door to the facility kept her from enjoying her property. “I have grandchildren and I can’t use my property the way I would like because we can’t go outside without seeing a naked man.”
In the final analysis, the Board accepted the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and approved the variance.
BOC to consider new lights for Rock Creek Park
News September 9, 2016
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. –The Dawson County Board of Commissioners listened to a presentation by Parks and Recreation Director Lisa Henson Thursday requesting new lights for the soccer fields at Rock Creek Park.
Henson said the only lights at the park now are on the track and parking lot. The work would include installation of 10 galvanized steel poles, lighting, service panel and warranty. The cost would be $396 770 for LED outdoor lighting option plus a 10% contingency of $36,070. The work could be completed by the end of the year and would be paid from the voter-approved SPLOST VI.
Emergency Services Director Lanier Swafford asked commissioners to consider an amended fee schedule for ambulance services, something that hasn’t been done in 10 years. The amended rate would set the fees for basic life-saving non-emergency transportation at $350, basic life-saving emergency transportation at $400, advanced non-life saving emergency at $350, advanced level 1 emergency at $500, advanced level 2 emergency at $675 and mileage at $13 per mile.
Swafford also requested a renewal of the county’s contract with Chestatee Regional HospitaI for the purpose of clinical learning opportunities for students and employees of Dawson County Emergency Services.
Cameron Burt presented a contract with North Georgia Network (NGN) to provide backup internet services at the Dawson County Government Center and asked commissioners to consider approval at a cost of $6,000 per year.
The contract, Burt said, would allow for a true backup internet system and the NGN circuit would be used for future offsite data backup transmission. The size of the circuit is larger than current infrastructure and will allow transmission of data to the cloud for offsite storage and replication. This will give the County the redundancy that it has needed for disaster recovery. Furthermore, this will allow IT to provision certain data traffic at the Government Center and Sheriff’s Office for the use of large amounts of data that needs to be transferred to other facilities and agencies. NGN will be installing a 1GB circuit for a one-time charge of $100. This fee is at a greatly reduced rate compared to original terms.
These items are expected to be voted on at the regular meeting Sept. 22.
Dawson County Ends Ambulance Service Contract
News June 23, 2016
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Dawson County is terminating its contract with AMB, the county’s ambulance service provider, due to poor performance.
Dawson County Emergency Services Director Lanier Swafford cited multiple problems with AMB during his presentation at Thursday’s County Commission work session.
The county contracted with NRG in 2014 and the company merged with AMB in 2015. Since then the collection rate has plummeted to 39 per cent, services and fees have declined, the company failed to turn in documentation that resulted in Medicaid being suspended, statements have not been sent out on time, reports have been incorrect and customer service is lacking.
“After 24 months, enough is enough,” Swafford told commissioners. He expects to have the new provider in place by Sept. 1.
When the previous ambulance service, EMS Consultants, had the contract in 2013, collections totaled $528,374.45. In 2014. the first year with NRG, collections fell to $440,300.84. In 2015 there was a slight rebound to $498,464.33. Although ambulance service revenue has been projected at $990,000 in the budget, the company has collected just $152,465.76 in the first quarter of this year.
After receiving bids from six vendors, a 5-person committee reviewed the bid and recommended the county contract with the the most responsive and responsible bidder, previous vendor EMS Consultants.
Lanier Swafford Receives Georgia Fire Chief Certification
News April 15, 2016
SAVANNAH – On Tuesday, April 12, 2016, Dawson County’s Chief Lanier Swafford joined 14 fellow chiefs as one of the first certified by the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs (GAFC) during the association’s 2016 Spring Executive Training Session in Savannah.
In its first year, the program is divided into three types of certifications: Georgia Volunteer Fire Chief Certification, Georgia Chief Fire Officer Certification and Georgia Fire Chief Certification.
“We developed this program to ensure that the fire departments in the state of Georgia have qualified, credentialed, and professional leaders and managers overseeing their departments and personnel,” said 1st Vice President of GAFC Dwayne Jamison.
Certification applicants self-apply and must meet four pre-requisites including holding a Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council (GFSTC) State Certification in at least one of the current
Fire Service Certifications and serving as a minimum of a Battalion Chief or Division Supervisor. Applicants were also assessed on a point system reflective of their years of service, higher education achievement, level of fire office certifications, recognition for additional credentials, and the completion of the Chief Fire Officer Level 8 hour classes.