September 16th Mayor and Council Meeting Notes

Tuesday, September 17th, 2024

The Dalton City Council met on Monday night for its second scheduled meeting of the month. Councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem Tyree Goodlett presided over Monday night's meeting as Mayor Annalee Sams was out of town on vacation. Councilmember Dennis Mock was also out of town and unable to attend. However, a quorum was achieved with the presence of Councilmembers Steve Farrow and Nicky Lama. 

Monday night's meeting agenda was relatively light, but did include a number of action items for the Council including rezoning requests and approval of measures that will make way for more stormwater management work and lighting repairs at the airport. To watch video of the full meeting on the City of Dalton's YouTube channel, click here. 

The Council voted to approve two alcoholic beverage license applications. The Council voted 3-0 to approve a pouring beer and wine license for the Kulture Cigar Lounge, LLC at 314 S. Pentz Street. The Council also voted 3-0 to approve a package beer license for the King Smoke Shop at 208 East Walnut Avenue. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 

On Monday night, the Council voted to: 

• Deny Ordinance 24-30, a rezoning request for a parcel of land at 709 McAfee Street - This was the second reading of the rezoning request that would have rezoned the tract from high density residential (R-7) to general commercial (C-2). Both planning staff and the Planning Commission had recommended denying the request. The first reading for the request was part of the September 3rd Mayor and Council meeting. The request was being made to build a convenience store on the property, and the planning commission felt that was not consistent with the surrounding area. The Council voted 3-0 to deny the request. You can click here to watch this portion of the meeting. 
• Approve Ordinance 24-31, a rezoning request for a parcel of land at 509-511 N. Hamilton Street and 107 Waterworks Street - This was the second meeting of the request to rezone the tract of land from medium density single family residential (R-3) to high density residential (R-7). Planning staff and the Planning Commission had recommended approval of the request. The first reading for the request was part of the September 3rd Mayor and Council meeting. The request was being made to bring the current use of the properties into compliance with the zoning ordinance because there are already duplexes built on the land. The Council voted 3-0 to approve the request. You can click here to watch this portion of the meeting. 
• Approve a temporary construction easement for stormwater management construction work - The construction easement at 620 McFarland Avenue will make way for construction of Phase 3 of the Walnut North Drainage Improvements Project. The easement will expire after the work is completed, a period of time that is expected to last approximately twenty-four (24) months. You can click here to view the easement documents. The Council voted 3-0 to approve the easement. You can click here to watch this portion of the meeting. 
• Approve a traffic control change for Brookwood Drive - The Council voted 3-0 to prohibit on-street parking on the east side of Brookwood Drive adjacent to Brookwood Park. The measure is intended to ease congestion of the road due to parked cars which is making access for emergency vehicles difficult or  impossible and access for residents difficult. Visitors to the park and residents will still be able to park along the west side of the street and also in the designated on-street parking along Lakeshore Drive West and Lakemont Drive. The request was made by residents and also the Dalton Police Department and the  change was reviewed and recommended by the Public Works Committee. You can click here to view the request and a map of the area. You can click here to watch this portion of the meeting. 
• Approve the tentative allocation of federal funds and local matching funds for lighting and electrical rehabilitation at the Dalton Municipal Airport - The project will replace and update aging electrical infrastructure at the airport including replacing all runway and taxiway lights with LEDs, replacing the rotating beacon, replacing wind-cones, and replacing the Precision Approach Path Indicators (PAPIs) and all associated wiring. The funding for the project includes a 90 percent grant from the 2021 federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The grant will pay $1,175,000 with a 5 percent match from both the State of Georgia and City of Dalton of $65,278 each. The Council voted 3-0 to approve the allocation of funds and local matching funds. You can click here and here to review letters from GDOT and the Dalton Municipal Airport regarding the project. You can click here to watch this portion of the meeting.
• Approve the purchase of real estate parcel 12-200-10-016 near N. Glenwood Avenue for a stormwater project - The small tract of land lies between two commercial properties along Glenwood Avenue. It is one of the off-right of way parcels within the construction limits for the Glenwood Avenue Drainage Improvement Project. Part of that work is replacing a drainage pipe with a larger pipe that will be aligned across this parcel. The property owners agreed to a purchase price of $45,000. You can click here and here to read the purchase agreements. You can click here to watch this portion of the meeting. 
• Issue a certificate of approval for the issuance of revenue bonds by the Dalton Housing Authority for SP Mountain Woods, LLC - SP Mountain Woods, LLC applied to the Housing Authority for financing assistance for renovations of a multifamily housing rental development. The bonds are not to exceed $11.5 million. Neither the City of Dalton nor the Housing Authority will have any liability for the debt. However, federal regulations require the City of Dalton to approve the bonds because the City is the government unit having jurisdiction over the area and the unit on behalf of which the bonds are issued. You can click here to review the certificate and you can click here to watch this portion of the meeting. 
• Approve a contract with Busker Communications for low voltage/networking cables at the John Davis Recreation Center - Busker Communications' bid of $180,000 for a contract to perform the installation of CAT6A network cable for WiFi, cameras, and network devices at the center was scored the highest of four responses to a project RFP. The funding source is the 2020 SPLOST project budget for the John Davis Recreation Center renovations. You can click here to review the contract and click here to review contract documents. The Council voted 3-0 to approve the contract. You can click here to watch this portion of the meeting. 

The Mayor and Council's next meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 7th at 6:00 pm in the Council Chamber at City Hall. 

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