August 5th Mayor and Council Meeting Notes

Tuesday, August 6th, 2024

The Dalton Mayor and Council met on Monday, August 5th for their first scheduled meeting of the month. The meeting agenda included multiple action items and also the first reading of an ordinance to revise Chapter 6 of the City's Code of Ordinances governing alcoholic beverage licenses. Study and review of the City's alcoholic beverage sales ordinance began with a Mayor and Council work session in March. This study began after city leaders learned that the City's ordinance was in violation of Georgia state law.

Monday night's agenda can be reviewed by clicking here. You can click here to watch the meeting in its entirety.

Alcoholic Beverage Ordinance 1st Reading - The first reading of the proposed Ordinance 24-27 to revise Dalton's alcoholic beverage ordinance featured an extensive discussion of the suggested changes. Earlier this year, it was determined that Dalton was in violation of Georgia law by allowing businesses to serve alcohol later than 2:00 AM.  The new ordinance corrects that provision, and the draft reviewed on August 5th calls for businesses serving alcohol to stop serving at 2:00 AM. There was some discussion of the possibility of instead changing the time to stop serving to 1:30 AM, with patrons allowed to finish their beverages until 2:00 AM when they would need to leave the premises.

The new ordinance would allow for a "phase in" period with many of the new rules not taking effect until January 1st if they are voted into effect by the Council at a future meeting. Those changes would include, but not be limited to, requiring businesses selling alcohol (except for bona fide restaurants) to use ID scanners, have video cameras at public points of entry. Those changes are intended to better ensure that underage patrons are not allowed to purchase alcohol. Other changes include updating certain definitions in the ordinance to be in accordance with state law.

"This (ordinance) has gone through many edits, but one of the things that we’re focusing on is safety," Mayor Annalee Sams said during the discussion. "We also have to make changes to our ordinance to comply with state law. I think it’s helpful if the community understands that some of these (changes) are not up for debate (but are required by state law)."

Mayor Sams also requested a town hall-style public information meeting that would allow business owners and the general public to get a chance to review the proposed changes to the ordinance before it would be considered with a second reading and a vote. The date, time, and location of that meeting will be announced when it is set. 

A summary of the changes first proposed in March can be viewed by clicking here, and the changes outlined August 5th can be viewed by clicking here. The August 5th draft of Ordinance 24-27 can be read in its entirety by clicking here. 

You can watch the entire first reading discussion of Ordinance 24-27 on the City's YouTube channel by clicking here. 

First readings of rezoning ordinances - Monday's agenda included the first reading of Ordinances 24-21, 24-22, 24-23, 24-24, 24-25, and 24-26 that would rezone several tracts of land in the City of Dalton at the request of various property owners. The Council will act on these rezoning requests when these ordinances have a second reading at a future meeting. You can watch this portion of the meeting by clicking here. 

During Monday's meeting, the Mayor and Council voted to: 

• Approve Ordinance 24-17 to annex the property at 1236 Frazier Drive into the City of Dalton - The annexation request was first heard at the Council's July 15th meeting. The Council voted 4-0 to approve the annexation. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 
• Approve the rezoning of a property on New Doris Street to R-5 Rural Residential - The property had been zoned M-2 heavy manufacturing. The request was first heard at the Council's July 15th meeting. The Council voted 4-0 to approve the rezoning. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 
• Approve the rezoning of a property on Main Street to R-7 High Density Residential - The property had been zoned R-3 medium density residential. The request was first heard at the Council's July 15th meeting. The Council voted 4-0 to approve the rezoning. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 
• Approve the rezoning of a property at 204 E. Matilda Street to R-7 High Density Residential - The property had been zoned M-2 heavy manufacturing. The request was first heard at the Council's July 15th meeting. The Council voted 4-0 to approve the rezoning. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 
• Approve a change order for the LMIG asphault resurfacing contract for Tibbs Road - The change order in the amount of $52,607.52 is needed to repair failing subgrade on Tibbs Road to extend the life span of the asphault in the problem areas. The overall project remains within budget with the change order. The Council voted 4-0 to approve the change order. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 
• Approve a traffic control change (3-Way Stop) at the Ryman Ridge Road/Ridgeview Drive intersection - The completion of a new phase of the Ryman Ridge subdivision has created a change in the traffic patterns of the neighborhood and created a need for a three-way stop sign at the intersection. To view the change request, click here, and to view a diagram of the new design for the intersection, click here. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 
• Approve the opioid settlement with Kroger - The City of Dalton has participated in the National Opioid Settlement, and a new settlement has been reached with Kroger. The State of Georgia gave the City the option to opt in to this settlement. Thus far, settlement funds have been used for various purposes including funding of drug addiction treatment in Whitfield County and also the funding of a human trafficking prevention training conference. The Council voted 4-0 to approve the Kroger settlement. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 

The next Mayor and Council meeting will be held on Monday, August 19th at 6:00 PM in the City Hall Council Chamber. The meeting will be preceded by a meeting of the City Administration and Finance Committee at 5:00 PM.