State lawmakers Gooch, Williams and Raffensperger are featured speakers at Dawson Co. GOP meeting
News April 18, 2018
Sen. Steve Gooch
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — State Senator Steve Gooch (R-Dahlonega) was the featured speaker at the Dawson County Republican Party meeting Tuesday at The Bowen Center for the Arts.
The event drew many office holders and political candidates like gubernatorial candidate Sen. Mike Williams (R-Cumming), State Rep. Brad Raffensperger (R-Johns Creek), chairwoman of the Dawson County Board of Education and candidate for Secretary of State Karen Armstrong, , and her opponent Joe Stapp.
Dawsonville Mayor Mike Eason, former County Commission Chairman Mike Berg, County Commissioner Sharon Fausett and Tim Satterfield, who will replace Jimmy Hamby on the Board of Commissioners in January, were also in attendance.
Gooch said, “This was one of the most successful sessions in the eight years I’ve been in the General Assembly. We passed the first income tax cut in Georgia history.” The tax was cut by one-quarter of a percent this year and will be cut by one-half percent next year.
Sen. Mike Williams
He cited fully funding Quality Based Education (QBE) for the first time since it was passed in 1985, the distracted driving bill that makes it illegal for a driver to touch their cell phone and increased funding for school safety as accomplishments during the recent session of the General Assembly.
Williams was the first elected official in Georgia to publicly endorse Donald Trump for president. Like Trump, Williams is primarily self-funding his campaign. “We’re relying on the people who know me best to donate five, 10 or 20 dollars to help carry us across the finish line,” he said. “That is important because when I reach the governor’s office, who am I going to be beholden to? It’s not the big lobbyists. It’s the people of Georgia.”
Raffensperger is a structural engineer and licensed general contractor. “I own two manufacturing plants in Georgia, and I have worked on construction projects all over the United States,” he said. “I have seen first hand how some states make it easy to do business and some states make it hard. As your next secretary of state, my job is to make it easy to do business in the state of Georgia.”
State Rep. Brad Raffensperger
Raffensperger, a former Johns Creek city councilman, said he is the only person running for secretary of state who has a 100 percent voting record from the Faith and Freedom Coalition.
“Look back on my legislative and city council voting record and you will find I’ve always tried to protect the small business owner, taxpayers, life and the second amendment,” Raffensperger stated.
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
From left, Tim Satterfield, Mike Berg, Sen. Mike Williams and Sen. Steve Gooch.
Five qualify for May 22 General Primary election
Election 2018 March 5, 2018
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — It’s qualifying week for the May 22 General Primary Election. Tim Satterfield and Scott Allen qualified Monday in the District 3 Board of Commissioners race. In District 1, the only candidate who qualified was Sharon Fausett.
In the Board of Education races, Karen Armstrong and Joe Stapp qualified to run in District 3.
Commissioners approve addition of a $100,000 emergency contingency to the general fund budget
News April 19, 2019
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – By the narrowest of margins, Dawson County commissioners voted Thursday to add $100,000 contingency to the general fund budget that County Manager David Headley will have the authority to spend in case of an emergency without receiving Board authorization.
Prior to the vote, Dist. 2 Commissioner Chris Gaines asked for three stipulations: The expenditure would require dual signatures from CFO Vickie Neikirk and Headley, a maximum amount of $25,000 for each emergency expenditure with an aggregate amount of $100,000 annually and the expenditure be included in the public record at the next Board of Commissioners meeting.
Chairman Billy Thurmond, Dist. 3 Commissioner Tim Satterfield and Gaines voted to approve the contingency.
But Dist. 4 Commissioner Julie Hughes-Nix and Dist 1 Commissioner Sharon Fausett, who wanted Headley on a shorter leash, voted no.
Nix reminded commissioners that the money they spend is not theirs, but belongs to taxpayers and that commissioners should maintain a tighter control on spending.
“I would really like to know up front what it is,” she said. “I’m really guided by the fact that the money belongs to our citizens and we need to be more accountable.”
In other decisions, commissioners voted to approve a Landbridge Development, LLC request to rezone property located between Krystal and the movie theater just off Hwy. 400 from Commercial Highway Business to Residential Multi Family for the purpose of building five apartment buildings with 12 rental units each.
Commissioners unanimously approved Amber Popphan’s request for a variance to the Land Use Resolution that will allow her to build a mobile home on property of less than five acres that was given to her by her father.
The Board also approved a request by Planning Director Jameson Kinley to hire an Alcohol Licensing administrative assistant at a rate of $15.84 per hour.
Two weeks ago, the county received a low bid from CT Darnell to execute a design-build contract for Fire Station 9. However, no contract was awarded and since then, the county discovered it could save as much as $75,000 by entering into negotiations with Darnell. Commissioners unanimously agreed to allow the negotiation to proceed.
The Board also voted 4-0 to approve a local share commitment letter for Legacy Link.
Thurmond read a proclamation to celebrate Arbor Day on April 26. The event this year will be celebrated by the Dawson County Tree Preservation Committee and Keep Dawson County Beautiful planting a tree on April 26th and encouraging others to plant trees across the county.
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 overturns setback variance approval
News February 17, 2018
Commissioner Jimmy Hamby
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – In a rare occurrence Thursday, the Dawson County Board of Commissioners reversed a decision by Planning and Development Director Jason Streetman to grant a setback variance for a convenience store located at the intersection of Hwy. 53 and War Hill Park Road.
Business owner Dipikaben Patel requested a 10-foot front setback variance along Hwy. 53 and a five-foot side variance along War Hill Road to allow the construction of a gas tank canopy. Streetman granted the variance, but several area residents spoke in opposition to the variance at the appeal during Thursday’s meeting and Commissioners Jimmy Hamby, Julie Nix and Sharon Fausett voted to deny it.
Hamby questioned why the owner couldn’t extend a canopy closer to the store rather than the right of way. An engineer speaking on behalf of the owner said it would be impractical since it would limit available parking space.
Speaking in opposition to the variance, Brandon Bennett said, “We do not need to have a traffic burden added to this dangerous intersection.” Bennett said the only way into the parcel is off Hwy. 53 and the only way out is onto War Hill Park Road. “We do not need a tractor trailer (carrying fuel) having to turn around at War Hill when the federal government won’t even let a fuel truck come down War Hill Road to fuel a helicopter for the Rangers.”
Also, commissioners approved a request by Brodie Allred, speaking on behalf of Norkot Financial, Inc. to rezone 46.73 acres on Moss Road from Residential Agriculture (RA) to Residential Sub-Rural (RSR) for a 30-lot single-family residential community. The vote was 3-1 with Fausett opposed.
The board took no action on several requests by residents of the Gold Creek community to have their property annexed into the city of Dawsonville, leaving the decision in the hands of the city, which is scheduled to hear the requests during the March meeting.
Commissioners unanimously approved a contract with SEI, Inc. to design the Blacks Mill Bridge replacement at a cost of $33,700 and the appointment of Angelia Brown to the Avita Community Partners.
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
Property owners seek creation of water authority
News December 15, 2017
Phil Anderson asks commissioners to support creation of Big Canoe Water & Sewer Authority.
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – A group of Big Canoe property owners are asking the Dawson County Board of Commissioners to support their effort to create the Big Canoe Water and Sewer Authority in order to purchase the assets of community’s water system.
Phil Anderson, president of Big Canoe Property Owners, told commissioners during Thursday’s work session that Big Canoe Utilities, has announced plans to sell the “state-of-the-art” system.
“There is a long-term interest of Big Canoe for those assets to be acquired by a public water and sewer authority that is eligible for grants and loans and able to issue tax-free revenue bonds,” Anderson said.
Responding to a question from Commissioner Chris Gaines, Anderson said his group is not asking for any funding by Dawson County, but is simply asking commissioners to endorse enabling legislation to present to House Speaker David Ralston during the next General Assembly that would create the Big Canoe Water and Sewer Authority.
Anderson said Pickens County has already endorsed its effort. Support from both counties is needed because a portion of Big Canoe lies within each county.
The problem, Anderson said, is, “The existing distribution system is old. It is aging and needs major capital improvements. We need a cost-effective way in which to make those improvements. If Big Canoe utilities were to sell to a private utility, those capital improvements would be on the backs of the property owners and it would be very, very expensive. Whereas, if we can acquire the assets as Big Creek Water and Sewer Authority, the authority would be eligible for grants and loans and be able to issue tax-free bonds in a much more cost-effective way.”
Commissioner Sharon Fausett asked if the quality and quantity of the water is a problem.
Anderson said the water coming from Blackwell Creek, which supplies the system, is “very high quality” and the quantity is sufficient to meet the community’s anticipated needs.
“It’s just the aging distribution system that is a serious problem,” he said.
Commissioners will meet once more before breaking for the holidays and could vote on the issue at that meeting.
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
County Employees Health Insurance Cost Increases
News June 2, 2017
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – The Dawson County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to increase by five percent the amount county employees will contribute to their own health insurance plan with Northwest Benefit Corporation.
In the past, the county has paid 85 percent of the cost while employees paid the remaining 15 percent. The plan approved Thursday calls for an 80-20 split.
Commissioners said it was a very difficult decision, but as Commissioner Sharon Fausett put it, “The cost of health insurance is out of control. We need to be fiscally responsible. I don’t want employees to think we take them lightly because we don’t. I appreciate what you do but we have some very difficult decisions to make.”
Commissioner Jimmy Hamby said, “I do understand the cost coming to the county as well as the employees. But we can’t go to the taxpayers every time we need to increase something in the county.”
Commissioner Chris Gaines said, “Experts say the average split is 75-25 so we’re still well beyond what some surrounding counties are doing both in the public and private sector.”
The total cost to the county is just over $3.7 million, an increase of about $527,386 over last year.
Commissioners voted unanimously to allow Ross & Associates to proceed with an update of the 2009 Methodology Report for the Impact Fee implementation. The county contracted with Ross & Associates to create the report in 2002. It was updated in 2006 and again in 2009. The fees were collected through building permits and construction orders. However, impact fees have not been imposed since then.
Once the update is completed, it will come back to the board for final approval.
Commissioners also agreed to accept a $2,063 grant that will allow Director of Treatment Services for the Northeastern Judicial Circuit Debbie Mott to purchase computers, monitors, scanners, printers iPads and laptops for her office. There is no county match required. Georgia Accountability Court Funding Committee was created in 2012 and has provided local courts with critical funding necessary to support the growth of accountability courts in Georgia to reduce the prison population.
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
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.
County, Sheriff Spar Over Budget Request
News September 20, 2017
Chairman Billy Thurmond
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Dawson County Sheriff Jeff Johnson and the Board of Commissioners butted heads over the sheriff’s budget request during a called meeting Tuesday afternoon.
Johnson says he cannot provide the services required of his office on the $7.3 million budget commissioners have proposed. He requested $8.1 million. But commissioners say Johnson’s predecessor, Billy Carlisle who retired last year, provided those same services on a budget of only $6.8 million. They say the half million dollar increase they have proposed plus a significant pay raise for all county employees, including the sheriff’s office and another $300,000 for capital expenditures, is all the taxpayers can afford.
Sheriff Jeff Johnson
Commissioners will consider the arguments made by Johnson and his attorney, Joey Homans, until Thursday when the final budget is set to be adopted.
In initiating the discussion, Chairman Billy Thurmond said, “It is our goal to help you meet your needs. By no means do we want to run your department. We have no idea how to run your department. That takes money and we’re looking for every means and every way to generate the revenue.”
Commissioner Chris Gaines echoed that sentiment, saying, “I want the very best Sheriff’s Office this county can afford.”
Commissioner Chris Gaines
It is worth noting that the sheriff’s budgeting process is unlike any in state government. Commissioners control the budget, but sheriffs are constitutional officers, elected by the citizens. Their budgets cannot be cut unless the sheriff agrees. If push comes to shove, the sheriff can take his appeal through the court system.
Johnson may have been setting the stage for that when he said, “If you look at our budget, just the line items, take away the salaries and benefits, our budget was reduced. Our overall budget was reduced. That’s where we’re at. We come into this process short on staff, short on uniforms, short on equipment and short on a long laundry list of items.”
Both sides would like to avoid litigation because taxpayers would be forced to pay the legal fees of both the commission and the sheriff’s office, which could cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Commissioner Sharon Fausett
Commissioner Sharon Fausett opened the door to future opportunities for the sheriff’s office to achieve some increases, saying, “This budget isn’t written in stone but we have to start somewhere.” She indicated that she might be open to future adjustments in the budget if revenue rose above expectations and the need was warranted.
“But I don’t want to get below the 15 percent contingency fund,” she said. “I don’t want to raise property taxes and I don’t want to borrow money. I want us to be fiscally responsible.”
Commissioners questioned why the sheriff chose to make purchases outside the county’s purchasing department where discounts and other efficiencies are available. They say that is a duplication of services that costs taxpayers more money.
Johnson explained that for big ticket purchases, in excess of $100,000, he does use the purchasing department but added, “I’m accountable to the voters of Dawson County for how I spend my money and why I choose certain contractors. But often times, the lowest bid will get you just that, the lowest quality. He cited two examples of contractors the county selected in the past that he felt failed to do live up to their contract.
Commissioners have argued in the past that the Sheriff’s Offices in Lumpkin and White counties serve a larger population but have a smaller budget than what is being proposed for Dawson, a county with a population of about 23,000.
For example, the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office budget is $6.6 million and its population is 29,966 while the budget for White County Sheriff Neal Walden is only $5.4 million for a population of 28,000.
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