November 18th Mayor and Council Meeting Notes

Tuesday, November 19th, 2024

The Dalton Mayor and Council met on Monday night for their second meeting of the month. The meeting was highlighted by the first hearing for the proposed 2025 City budget as well as the ratification of a new City of Dalton logo. 

CLICK HERE to watch Monday night's meeting

Monday night's meeting opened with a mayoral proclamation for "Small Business Saturday" which this year falls on November 30th. For the 15th year, retailers nationwide are reminding holiday shoppers to remember small businesses when they embark on their Christmas or holiday shopping blitz after Thanksgiving. In her proclamation, Mayor Sams encouraged the people of Dalton to support the community's small businesses by shopping for holiday gifts at locally owned shops on that day. While accepting the proclamation, Downtown Dalton Development Director Candace Eaton reminded the Council meeting that the annual "Gratefull" Thanksgiving meal will be on Monday afternoon, November 25th on Hamilton Street next to Burr Park. She also announced that the annual Downtown Dalton Christmas Tree Lighting will be Friday, November 29th at 6:00 pm at Burr Park with kids' crafts starting at 5:30 pm and a "Polar Express" trolley for children. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 

Caption: Mayor Annalee Sams (right) presents a proclamation to Candace Eaton, Director of the Downtown Dalton Development Authority

The Mayor and Council then heard Chief Financial Officer Cindy Jackson's presentation on the proposed 2025 budget for the City's General Fund, Special Revenue Fund, Debt Service Fund, and Capital Projects Fund. City staff has been working with the Finance Department and elected officials over the course of the past several months to prepare the proposed budget as presented Monday night. The proposed balanced budget projects revenues of $30.3 million, a 5% increase over 2024's revenues. The budget projects a 7% increase in property taxes in 2025. Monday's presentation was the first hearing for the budget. Councilmember Steve Farrow asked for the City's staff to study a possible budget proposal without such an increase in revenues next year. The Mayor and Council can vote to adopt a budget at a future meeting. To watch Cindy Jackson's full presentation on the budget, click here. 

Also at Monday night's meeting, the Council voted to: 

• Approve a real estate purchase for a stormwater drainage easement at 626 Glenwood Avenue - The purchase of a 20-foot permanent easement and temporary construction easement is part of a stormwater management project that will reduce flooding concerns along Glenwood Avenue. The fair market purchase price for the easement is $9,400. Click here to view the purchase agreement. The Council voted 4-0 to approve the purchase. Mayor Sams typically only votes in the event of a tie. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 
• Approve a real estate purchase for a stormwater drainage easement at 308 East Matilda Street - The purchase of a 20-foot permanent easement and temporary construction easement is part of a stormwater management project that will reduce flooding concerns along Glenwood Avenue. The fair market purchase price for the easement is $9,600. Click here to view the purchase agreement. The Council voted 4-0 to approve the purchase. Mayor Sams typically only votes in the event of a tie. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 
• Approve a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Carter Hope Center for addiction treatment services - The City of Dalton has received funding as part of the National Opioids Settlement which can be used for certain purposes including addiction recovery treatment. The City of Dalton is entering an agreement with the Carter Hope Center to provide Narcotics Anonymous and other programs to address and treat drug addiction. The $24,000 annual contract will be paid for using Opiods Settlement funding. The Council voted 4-0 to approve the MOU. To view the MOU, click here. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 
• Approve a contract for design and construction of a roof extension for the Burr Park stage - The Friends of Burr Park have requested that the roof over the stage at Burr Park be extended to also cover the area behind the stage wall. Bands and performers often store equipment in this area and it currently is not protected from the weather. The roof extension would also better protect key infrastructure for the stage itself. The contract bid from Leonard Brothers Construction was the only bid for design and construction services for the project and costs $38,300. $13,300 will be paid for from the City's Public Works Department budget for the park, and the remaining $25,000 will be paid for by funds donated by the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia. To view the contract, click here. The Council voted 4-0 to approve the contract. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 
• Approve a resolution for the City to join the Georgia Interlocal Risk Management Agency (GIRMA) and participate in GIRMA funds - The State of Georgia has passed an unfunded mandate requiring municipalities such as the City of Dalton to provide insurance coverages for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) for all public safety employees, effective January 1st, 2025. The cost is $25,496. To view the resolution, click here. The Council voted 4-0 to approve the contract proposal. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 
• Adopt a new logo and branding for the City of Dalton - The City's staff and leadership have been studying adoption of a new logo and branding for the City of Dalton and recently engaged the Decatur, Georgia-based Confluence design firm to design a new logo concept. Assistant City Administrator Todd Pangle presented the finished product to the Mayor and Council on Monday night. You can read much more about the design, which evokes Dalton's history as the Carpet Capital of the World by forming the letter "D" in the negative space created by interwoven carpet fibers, by clicking here. You can review the full design presentation by clicking here. The Council voted 4-0 to approve the design. The logo and branding will begin to be seen around Dalton early in 2025. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 

The Mayor and Council also held the first reading of Oridnance 24-34, which would abandon public interest in Gravely Street and Erwin Street and close these streets to public transportation. Gravely Street was planned but never constructed and instead is an undeveloped tract. A property owner wants to sell a house that was built in the right of way for the undeveloped road. To read the ordinance, click here. The Council can act on this ordinance at a future meeting. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 

The meeting closed with an executive session to discuss real estate matters and possible litigation. Meetings in executive session are not open to the public. 

Click "Play" in the window below to watch Monday night's meeting.