City Staff Updates Mayor And Council On Busy 2025
Thursday, December 11th, 2025
2025 has been a productive year in the City of Dalton. As the final days of the year are winding down, City staff recently presented year-end updates to the Mayor and Council regarding a number of capital projects underway around Dalton. The projects range from quality of life projects such as new recreation facilities to critical infrastructure projects such as stormwater management and road resurfacing work. City Administrator Andrew Parker and other staff presented the update during a work session on December 1st.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO OF THE DECEMBER 1st WORK SESSION
Parker told the Council that the City has been working on the execution of just more than $50 million in capital projects over the three-year period from 2023 through 2025. Parker said that the majority of the spending on these projects was made possible by grant funding, SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) dollars, and bonded capital. Parker told the Council that the City has obtained $8 million in grant funding in particular during that time period from state and federal government sources, with at least one major grant application still in process.
Caption: A recent photo shows the progress of construction at the John Davis Recreation Center
JOHN DAVIS RECREATION CENTER
The renovation and reconstruction of the John Davis Recreation Center on Civic Drive is the largest and most likely the most anticipated project on the City's plate. The 2020 SPLOST project includes the construction of a new gym with seating for more than 370 spectators, new multi-purpose spaces, renovation of the existing administrative office areas, and a new pool access building with new bathroom and locker facilities.
"One of the really exciting features of this project," Parker said, "is we were able to incorporate a climbing wall, something that Dalton really doesn't have in its public Parks and Rec (system). This has a belay system that up to three (climbers) can go in there and climb up the wall, and there's different levels of difficulty... so it's a really exciting feature. It'll have a safety area down below it."
Parker showed the Council pictures of some of the construction of the new facility and its amenities. Parker described a new large entry atrium that will provide access to all areas of the facility.
"We really see this as kind of a Mack Gaston Community Center on the north end of town," Parker continued. "We're really excited about the potential that this project brings."
Work on the project is now approximately 70 percent after a number of delays caused by supply chain issues as well as weather delays among other issues. Completion of the project is now expected in March 2026.
MILL LINE PHASE TWO
The Mill Line Trail has become one of Dalton's most popular amenities. The next phase of the trail will connect the Paul Belk Honorary Trailhead on Chattanooga Avenue with Burr Park downtown via new trail infrastructure as well as existing pathways and on-street accommodations.
Caption: A bridge spanning Mill Creek on the Mill Line Trail
Funding for the project comes from the 2024 SPLOST. Projects from the 2024 SPLOST are considered "pay-go", meaning that money is not being bonded up front and projects instead are being executed after enough funds are collected for project budgets.
"We're right at one year of collections," Parker said. "So what we're trying to do is any projects that require design, we're trying to get the design completed so that we're ready to start construction... so that we can get these projects delivered much more quickly and efficiently (once funds are collected)."
The Mill Line extension is currently still in the design phase with local engineering consulting firm Consor. The trail will include approximately two miles of new trail, bringing the path along Coronet Drive and across Mill Creek and into the Mount Rachel Park area. From there, the path will connect with the existing greenway near Crown Mill Village and then continue with sidewalk and on-street accommodations through Five Points and along Hamilton Street.
"The trail layout was actually informed by our Mill Line stakeholders committee, a group of local cyclists and trail enthusiasts that met for several months and helped us," Parker said. "We looked at about eight different alternatives, and this was the alternative that garnered the most support with the citizen stakeholder committee."
The design work has been made more complicated due to the presence of wetland areas that require coordination with the US Army Corps of Engineers as well as the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. There are also right of way and easement considerations which designers and surveyors are studying. Design work is expected to be complete by April 2026 and the City expects to put the project out for bids from contractors in May. Construction is estimated to begin in August 2026.
PICKLEBALL COMPLEX
If you've driven past Civic Drive lately, you've probably noticed that the John Davis Center isn't the only construction taking place there. There's also an active construction scene on the other half of the rec campus to build a new complex for pickleball. The project is being funded through bonded capital. It will included 15 courts with lighting, including 3 covered courts, as well as a covered seating area and a picnic area. The complex will also have four shade structures for seating areas. The facility will have an office facility and a concessions area with restrooms.
Work on the complex is currently approximately 80 percent complete, with substantial completion expected by the end of the month. The only sticking point is that workers won't be able to apply the acrylic finish for the courts until the spring after weather delays put the project behind schedule.
"Mother Nature just has not been cooperating," said Steve Roberts, Dalton's Parks and Recreation Director. "We had 15 inches of rain up until November, and then obviously November's been a pretty wet month in its own right. So, we are running about a month behind on this project. The problem with that is once we go to doing the acrylic finish on the courts, we have to have so many days of weather that is above 40 (degrees) and rising. So, probably we're looking at everything being done on that except for the acrylic finish on the courts, and we will be the first thing that (the contractor works on) in the spring."
The courts will be playable, however, even before the acrylic finish is applied. The lines will be painted and the nets will be in place. Roberts said that the DPRD just wants to make sure that the acrylic work is done correctly to prevent future problems.
"I don't want to push that and have a bad finish because that finish is our base layer for the rest of time," he said. "We can see down at some of our tennis courts (where) that acrylic finis is not really good, and we have a lot of problems with just being able to have drainage and cracks showing up in that surface."
AL ROLLINS PARK IMPROVEMENTS
Design work has been completed on a package of improvements to the ball fields at Al Rollins Park. The project will be funded by bonded capital, and includes work to re-grade the ball fields and install new drainage infrastructure in and around the playing fields. There will be a new building with ADA-compliant restrooms, as well as renovations to the existing restrooms. There will also be construction of new batting cages.
"The number one problem that we have (at Al Rollins Park) is there's so much water that gets on those fields, and if it rains, it becomes unplayable. In about an hour of rain, you're done for the day. So, hopefully, if we get the right drainage, most of the water would be caught before it ever gets on the fields," Roberts said. "We have fought to try to keep these grass fields (instead of converting them to artificial turf)... this is our local Little League park. And there's a big difference between that and say, Heritage Point (which) is our tournament park. It gets (heavy) play every weekend, it gets hammered. I really fought hard to try to keep (the Al Rollins fields) grass so that at the end of the day, the special memories that park has had for so many years will be there. It's just going to be an upgrade that will make the best dirt and grass fields in northwest Georgia... turf is great when it rains, but that's about the only time it's great. It's hot every other time."
The project will be put out for bids later in December, and the work is expected to take most of 2026. The DPRD expects to be able to accommodate Little League games at Heritage Point Park while construction proceeds.
HERITAGE POINT PARK IMPROVEMENTS
The package of improvements at Heritage Point Park is being funded through the 2024 SPLOST. The City is also hopeful to receive a grant from the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program (GOSP) to fund parts of the project. The scope of work includes studying ways to connect the baseball and softball complex to the east with the soccer complex to the west with a pedestrian bridge and a possible roadway bridge spanning Mill Creek. The project also includes, in part, replacement of the field lighting with LEDs, construction of new batting cages and new bathrooms, and also the creation of shade structures for the softball complex.
The timeline for the project will be dependent on grant application process for the GOSP grant, but DPRD planners expect to know where they stand with the grant application next spring.
Work to replace the softball infields at Heritage Point with artificial turf was completed in March 2025 and the project was a complete success. Heritage Point Park hosts a large number of regional tournaments, and before the turf replacement, those tournaments were often hampered by rain delays. The new turf infields eliminated that problem.
"The only tournament we had actually get rained out this year was the second tournament we had up there, and it was just because we were trying to protect the (outfield) grass from where it was just newly constructed, but not the turf," Roberts told the Council. "The turf has been great, and we haven't had to cancel anything, so it has been a very uninterrupted summer of baseball softball up there and I think they more than paid for themselves."
HAIG MILL LAKE PARK TRAIL PAVING
Work is underway to create a paved trail around the lake at Haig Mill Lake Park. Portions of the existing nature trail around the lake will be paved as part of this project, while other sections will be left in their natural state. Workers are currently clearing some areas to make way for the new trail sections.
"Some sections of (the trail) will be constructed where the existing trail is, and then some sections will actually be new, so users that prefer the nature trail can continue to use the nature trail. (People) that would need an ADA-type accommodation (such as) a mother pushing a stroller, a father pushing a stroller, those type things, they will be able to use the path," Parker said. "It's about a little over three miles around the lake. We're actually completing that project in-house through Public Works, and they actually started the project very recently, actually started some timber clearing to be able to get the paving equipment in."
PENTZ & TYLER STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS
Public Works Director Chad Townsend presented updates on several projects his department has managed this year, both completed projects and those that are ongoing.
The streetscape work on Pentz Street and Cuyler Street was completed in August, completing the 20-year old downtown master plan. The work was funded by $2 million in grant funding from the Improving Neighborhood Outcomes federal grant program as well as $6.8 million from the general fund.
"The project aimed to complete the 20-year old master plan and addressed storm drainage issues, relocated unsightly aerial utilities underground, and updated sidewalk and curb and gutter elements to provide an ADA-compliant corridor that would match the remainder of downtown," Townsend said.
WALNUT NORTH DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS
The four-phase Walnut North Drainage Improvements project began in 2022 with work to construct a stormwater management feature in the West Hill Cemetery. Work on the final phase of the project is set to wrap up later this month. The work on all phases was funded by $4.8 million in bonded capital.
"This project stemmed from multiple reports of structural flooding and property degradation downstream from the West Hill Cemetery," Townsend explained. "The project consisted of the installation of a regenerative storm water system and retention pond (in the cemetery), roughly 500 linear feet of storm water bypass by 600 linear feet of pipe lining, and a stream bank stabilization project to provide approximately 24 parcels of flood reduction downstream."
Townsend noted that the stormwater feature in the cemetery, known as a regenerative stormwater conveyance, is the first of its kind to be built in Georgia. The project won the American Public Works Association's Georgia Chapter Project of the Year Award.
PRATER ALLEY DETENTION POND
Another stormwater management project completed in 2025 is the Prater Alley Detention Pond adjacent to City Hall at the intersection of Waugh Street and Thornton Avenue. The new pond is a scenic feature, but it was built to provide flood relief downstream from Prater Alley. The $1.2 million project was funded by the 2015 SPLOST and bonded capital. Work was completed in September 2024.
Caption: The Prater Alley Detention Pond
"TRENCHLESS" PIPE LINING PROJECT
Over time, corrugated metal drainage and sewer pipes can rust and fail, which can lead to erosion and sinkholes. The Dalton Public Works Department has been working with a contractor to spray-line City pipes using equipment that can be run remotely inside of pipes to reinforce and repair them and does not require digging down to replace pipes. The City of Dalton has completed three packages of pipe lining projects in recent years, including two pipe lining projects of more than 5,000 linear feet of pipe in 2025.
"The Level 1A project (was) aimed at repairing outdated or failing infrastructure under roads that, if they failed, would cause major concern for emergency response or vehicle traffic," Townsend said.
TEMPLE BETH-EL MEMORIAL PARK STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROJECT
The trustees of the Temple Beth-El synagogue on Valley Drive donated the property to the City in 2024 to make way for the creation of a memorial park honoring Dalton's Jewish community. The synagogue, which had not been used in many years and had fallen into disrepair, was razed this summer after several distinctive architectural elements were removed for preservation. Those elements will be incorporated into the new park which is scheduled to be built next year. The park will include a central pool which will double as a stormwater management feature which will reduce flooding concerns downstream from the site. The budget for the project is $1.5 million which is being funded from bonded capital.
The Public Works Department received bids for the project in November and the anticipated start of construction will be in February 2026.
"(With the design) we did the best we could to kind of reflect the entrance that used to be there to the temple, as well as the menorahs that we pulled off the front, we will reinstall to try and mirror that image as best as possible," Townsend said.
GLENWOOD AVENUE STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT
The stormwater management project on Glenwood Avenue was initiated in response to roadway and structural flooding issues along Glenwood that have caused significant economic impact with business losses. The project budge of $1.8 million is being funded from the 2015 and 2020 SPLOST measures. The design work for the project is 90% complete, and the Public Works Department anticipates putting the project out for bids in spring 2026.
NORTH THORNTON SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT
North Thornton Avenue is a heavily traveled pedestrian corridor despite the lack of a sidewalk connection between Tyler Street and Bryan Street. The project to create a sidewalk connection to bridge that gap was started in 2007, and ultimately was included in the 2020 SPLOST package approved by voters. The $1.75 million budget for the project is being funded through SPLOST funds. It calls for more than 3,300 feet of new sidewalk to be installed. The plans are 90% complete, but require approval by the CSX railroad which controls land adjacent to the project. The process of putting the project out for bids and construction is contingent upon CSX approval.
Kathryn Sellers spoke during the meeting to speak about the preservation of the tree canopy that covers Thornton Avenue in the area where the sidewalk will be built.
"We're very attuned to that (concern) and we're working in the design to try to minimize any disturbance to those trees," Parker said. "We're very aware of that."
EAST MORRIS CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT
Similar to the North Thornton project, the East Morris Street Corridor Improvements Project was also a SPLOST project initiated in response to heavy pedestrian traffic along Morris Street in areas where there are no sidewalks. The first phase of the project will include the installation of one mile of sidewalk and corridor improvements. It will be funded by $2 million in grant funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission and $2 million in funding from the 2024 SPLOST.
This project is still in the planning stages, and the Public Works Department plans to retain an engineering consultant to develop a master plan for the corridor, and then create a phased plan to execute the master plan. Planning and permitting work will take most of 2026, and planners hope to award a construction contract in January 2027. Completion of the project would be expected in January 2028.
ASPHALT RESURFACING PROJECT
Townsend continued his presentation with an update on the 2025 Annual Asphalt Resurfacing Program. The contract budget of $1,688,363 was funded from the 2024 SPLOST as well as GDOT LMIG & LRA grant funds and the Whitfield County Service Delivery Agreement. The 2025 project is approximately 25% complete, with a total of 2.63 centerline miles of roadway scheduled to be resurfaced. The 2024 SPLOST, LMIG, and Whitfield County SDA will yield a $2.2 million pacing budget annually through 2028.
UNDERWOOD STREET BRIDGE REPLACEMENT
Townsend concluded his presentation with an update on plans to replace the Underwood Street bridge spanning Mill Creek. A 2022 evaluation of the bridge by the Georgia Department of Transportation found that repairs were necessary, and an analysis found that repair work would cost nearly $2 million and only yield guarantees of 10 more years of service. Replacement of the bridge will cost approximately $4 million which will be funded from the 2024 SPLOST. The new bridge will have at least a 50-year life span. The project will be put out for bids in spring 2026.
DALTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT HANGAR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
The Dalton Municipal Airport has received several federal and state grants in recent years for improvement projects. The $4.5 million project to construct three new hangar facilities was funded by a state grant that only required a 25% match in local funding. The project is nearly complete, with work set to conclude this month. The new facilities, an 86' x 120' community hangar, a 62' x 60' box hangar, and a 10-bay T-hangar, will provide new revenue for the airport.
"These hangars will bring in about $150,000 in additional revenue for the airport, which is obviously very good for the operating budget of the airport so we can remain in the black and not be using tax dollars to actually run the operations of the airport," said Andrew Wiersma, Dalton Municipal Airport Manager. "Additionally, you've got fuel sales that will occur, and you've got a lot of ad valorem tax revenue. Each one of these aircraft will be paying ad valorem tax, both to the county and the City... so the economic impact is very significant."
"We have not built hangars at the airport since 2007. So, this is very significant for the airport," Wiersma continued. "Hangar revenue is very stable. So, when you have times of economic uncertainty, people may stop flying as much, so your fuel sales may go down, but they still need to house their aircraft in hangars. So that keeps your stable revenue coming in, which keeps the airport operational all the time."
TAXIWAY REHABILITATION PROJECT
Another state grant is funding 75% of the $1.7 million Taxiway Rehabilitation Project, which includes crack repairs and a new 2 inch pavement overlay of the taxiways at the airport. The project includes addition of fillets on two ends and also construction of a new taxiway connector at Taxiway C at the airport. Work is expected to be completed on December 28th, 2025.
LIGHTING AND ELECTRICAL REHABILITATION PROJECT
Finally, the Dalton Municipal Airport has secured a $1.2 million federal grant to fund the lion's share of a project to upgrade the airport's lighting and electrical systems. The grant required only a $63,609 local match in funding. The work will include work to remove and replace runway and taxiway lighting fixtures and wiring and replace them with LED lighting. The work will also remove and replace PAPI lighting, the windcone and segmented circle, and the beacon light. Work is expected to start in March 2026.
CONCLUSION
Councilmember Steve Farrow spoke after all of the project updates and praised City staff for being able to deliver all of the various projects at a relatively low cost for local taxpayers thanks to securing grant funds, SPLOST funding, and also efficient use of resources.
"I realize that we made a maximum use of federal monies, state monies, SPLOST money. And of course, the staff is to be commended for a lot of the grants that we obtained to do that. But in addition to that, a lot of it was funded by a bond that, you know, we fund out of our regular budget. So when you think of the fact that we, in addition to operating this City and paying this bond back that we got several years ago, we managed to do all that, and then when I got my tax bill this last week... (the) portion of the taxpayers part that they're paying for the City (taxes) was a fifth of what they're paying for their school taxes," Farrow said. "I think our staff really needs to be commended for making all that happen. And I really appreciate it on behalf of the council, but also on behalf of the taxpayers."
The Mayor and Council recently set the millage rate for 2025 property taxes for the City at the rollback rate, extending a streak of either holding property tax rates steady or cutting them for 21 out of the last 22 years.
"We've been busy," said Mayor Annalee Sams. "Just to recap, since 2023, $50 million in capital projects... we're very fortunate that (during) none of those times were taxes increased."
"I think we've been wildly successful in delivering on these projects. And I think the question for us to now contemplate is what's next," Mayor Sams continued. "We've gotten caught up on so many things, so much of maintenance needs and we've just had a lot of projects come to fruition now that we can look ahead at what's next."
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