October 21st Mayor and Council Meeting Notes

Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024

The Dalton Mayor and Council celebrated Dalton State's latest national championship on Monday night during their second scheduled meeting of the month. The recognition for the Roadrunner men's golf team headlined the evening's agenda which also included action by the Council on several zoning ordinances. 

CLICK HERE to watch Monday night's meeting on YouTube

Dalton State College's men's golf team won the 2024 NAIA National Championship in May at the Dalton Golf and Country Club, capping off a dominant season in which the Roadrunners won 8 tournaments and beat 131 teams, including posting a 73-3 mark against Top 25 competition. 4 members of the team posted individual team championships. The golf team boasted 5 players earning NAIA All-Americans and also Brock Hoover became the first Roadrunner athlete to earn 1st Team Academic All-American honors. Dalton State won the Southern States Athletic Conference Championship. Jack Whaley was named the SSAC Player of the Year and Coach Ben Rickett was the SSAC Coach of the Year. Those accomplishments and more were lauded by Mayor Annalee Sams on Monday night as she read a proclamation declaring Monday, October 21st as "Dalton State College Men's Golf Day" in Dalton. 

Caption: Members of the 2024 NAIA National Championship Golf Team from Dalton State College pose with DSC President John Fuchko and Mayor Sams during Monday night's meeting

"Thank you guys for being here, and we're excited to get to celebrate you all," Mayor Sams told the Roadrunners. "Now the bar's really high, so you've got to keep doing well, but I don't think that will be a problem," she continued, noting that the Roadrunners have already won two tournaments in their follow-up 2024-25 campaign.

You can click here to watch the Dalton State College recognition from Monday's meeting. 

Next, Tourism Director Margaret Thigpen addressed the Council to update them on new tourism data from the year 2023 that was recently released by Governor Kemp's office.  Thigpen told the Mayor and Council that the economic impact of tourism statewide increased more than 9 percent in 2023, with $43.6 billion in visitor spending. In Whitfield County, visitor spending amounted to $167.3 million which was a 2.9 percent increase over 2022. 

"What that does for us as residents within Whitfield County is it allows us (each) to pay $394 less in local and state taxes and $1,265 less in federal taxes," Thigpen told the Council. 

To watch Thigpen's report, click here. 

Also during Monday night's meeting, the Mayor and Council voted to: 

• Reject an amendment to the Unified Zoning Ordinance of Whitfield County - This was the second reading of Ordinance 24-28 which would have changed the definition of "junk vehicles" in the UZO. The current definition includes exceptions to the law prohibiting "junk vehicles" remaining on property within the City, and the amendment would have added an additional exception that would allow such vehicles and vehicle parts to contained within a carport, shed, or accessory structure or any such vehicle located in R-5, SA, or GA-zoned districts that are hidden by a six-foot tall fence with 90 percent visual blockage. The change had been recommended by the Planning Commission, but City staff had concerns because under the current code this is not allowed within the City of Dalton. Councilmember Steve Farrow made a motion to deny the amendment which was seconded by Councilmember Tyree Goodlett, and the Council voted 4-0 to deny the amendment. To read the proposed and rejected amendment, click here. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 
• Approve Ordinance 24-32 to rezone a tract of land on Waring Road - The request by Crow Road Holdings was to rezone a 1.00 acre tract of land from Heavy Manufacturing (M-2) to Rural Residential (R-5). Planning staff and the Planning Commission both recommended the zoning change. The Council voted 4-0 to approve the request. You can click here to read Ordinance 24-32, and click here to review a memo from the Planning Commission summarizing the review of the request. The staff analysis can be read by clicking here, and the zoning map of the site can be found by clicking here. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 
• Reject Ordinance 24-33 to rezone a tract of land at 801 Cumberland Drive - The request by Cody Spend and Appalachian Builders, Inc. was to rezone the 0.25 acre tract from Medium Density Single Family Residential (R-3) to Rural Residential (R-5). Planning staff had recommended denying the request and the Planning Commission voted unanimously to deny it because the R-5 zone would have allowed uses that were in conflict with the surrounding area. Councilmember Dennis Mock made a motion to deny and Councilmember Tyree Goodlett seconded. The Council voted 4-0 to deny the request to rezone the parcel. You can click here to read Ordinance 24-33, and click here to review a memo from the Planning Commission summarizing the review of the request. The staff analysis can be read by clicking here and the zoning map of the site can be found by clicking here. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 
• Approve renewal of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) agreement with Aetna Resources - The City's EAP was renewed for a term beginning 1/1/2025 and running through 12/31/2027 for a payment of $1.94 per employee per month, or $10,000 annually. The Council voted 4-0 to approve the extension. You can click here to read the plan summary. To watch this portion of the meeting click here. 
• Approve a lease agreement for property from Norfolk Southern to beautify a downtown gateway - The lease grants the City of Dalton use of a small property at the southeast corner of the intersection of Hamilton Street and Hawthorne Street. The property is owned by Norfolk Southern railroad. The purpose of leasing the land is to beautify the lot with grading and landscaping to make the Hamilton Street approach to the downtown Dalton district more aesthetically pleasing. The lease amount is $300 per year with a one-time $500 administration fee. To review the lease, click here. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 

The next meeting of the Mayor and Council is scheduled for Monday, November 4th. 

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