June 30th Mayor and Council Meeting Notes

Tuesday, July 1st, 2025

The Dalton Mayor and Council met on Monday night in a meeting that was originally scheduled for July 7th. Instead, the meeting was rescheduled a week earlier due to the July 4th holiday. The meeting's agenda was lengthy, with the most notable items involving setting the rollback millage rate for 2024's property taxes as well as certifying an estimate for the 2025 rollback millage rate. 

CLICK HERE TO WATCH MONDAY NIGHT'S MEETING

The Council voted to set the City’s final millage rate for 2024 property taxes at the rollback rate of 1.527 mills. That’s a decrease from the 2023 millage rate of 1.936 mills and will amount to a $197,607 decrease in property tax collections compared to 2023. The Council voted 4-0 to approve the final millage rate, with Councilmember Dennis Mock joining the meeting online via Zoom. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 

The vote to set the 2024 millage rate ordinarily would have taken place last fall, but was delayed due to controversy regarding property tax assessments in Whitfield County. Last year, many property owners in Dalton and Whitfield County were concerned when they received their tax assessment notices. Many property owners saw the assessed value of their property increase, and in some cases decrease, substantially when compared with 2023 values. Due to concerns over the accuracy of the tax digest, the Whitfield County Superior Court issued a temporary tax collection order which allowed more time for assessors to set the final tax digest. During that time, taxing authorities like the City of Dalton were allowed to use 2023’s property tax values, increased by ten percent, as the basis for setting a millage rate and mailing temporary tax bills. 

Caption: CIty Councilmember Nicky Lama (left) listens to a presentation with Mayor Annalee Sams during Monday night's meeting of the Mayor and Council 

In recent weeks, the Whitfield County Board of Assessors issued the final tax digest for 2024 which required the taxing authorities to set their final millage rates. In the case of City of Dalton, the rollback millage rate of 1.527 mills was set to offset increases in the overall tax digest caused by reassessment. The City’s Finance Department estimates that this tax levy will decrease property tax collections by $197,607 compared to 2023. However, even though the millage rate amounts to a small tax decrease, some property owners may see their final bills go up compared to 2023. Because the City can only use the tax digest as a whole to calculate the rollback millage rate, including commercial and industrial properties as well as residential properties, some property owners whose assessments went up may see an increase in their bill. Property owners whose final bills were lower than the temporary tax bills mailed last year will be issued refunds.

Separate from the process for 2024’s property taxes, the vote to certify an estimated rollback rate for 2025’s property taxes was made in accordance with a new state law. The law, which was passed earlier this year, directs local governments to certify an estimate for the rollback millage rate at least 15 days before annual property assessment notices are mailed out so the rollback estimate could be included on the notice. In the past, property assessments were sent out with the previous year’s millage rates included which often caused confusion. Under the new law, property owners can estimate their 2025 tax bill using a more accurate millage rate. This rate is only an estimate and the City Council will vote to set the final 2025 millage rate later this year. The Council voted 4-0 to certify the estimated rollback rate. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 

The Council also heard the first reading of Ordinance 25-19 which would amend Chapter 6 of Dalton's Code of Ordinances, dealing with alcoholic beverages. The ordinance would add subsection 6-113 captioned "package stores" and would place a limit on the number of package beer, wine, and liquor store licenses in the City based on the City's population. This measure was drafted following research by City staff to study how other peer communities in Georgia handle their package alcohol licenses followign a request by members of Dalton's business community. To read the ordinance, click here. Because this was only the first reading of the ordinance, no action was taken. Ordinance 25-19 will be considered for a vote at a future meeting. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 

The Council also heard the first reading of a pair of rezoning ordinances. The first, Ordinance 25-16, would rezone tracts of land on Trammel Street and Jones Street from neighborhood commercial (C-1) to rural residential (R-5). The petitioner Sebastian Arroqui requested the zoning change in order to build duplexes on the properties. The Dalton-Whitfield Planning Commission and staff recommended approval of the change. To read the summary of the commission meeting, click here. To read the staff analysis, click here. To read the ordinance, click here. Because this was the first reading of the ordinance, no action was taken. The ordinance will be considered for a vote at a future meeting. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 

The second rezoning ordinance, Ordinance 25-17, would rezone a tract of land at 501 N. Hamilton Street from high density residential (R-7) to general commercial (C-2). The request from the petitioner Octavio Perez is being made to allow for the creation of a convenience store on the property. The property was originally zoned C-2 and had been used as a commercial property for many years, but was changed in recent years to R-7. The Dalton-Whitfield Planning Commission and staff recommended approval of the change. To read the summary of the commission meeting, click here. To read the staff analysis, click here. To read the ordinance, click here. Because this was the first reading of the ordinance, no action was taken. The ordinance will be considered for a vote at a future meeting. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 

The Council also voted to: 

• Approve two alcoholic beverage license applications - The first license application was made by GG Dalton Holdings, LLC doing business as the Courtyard Dalton hotel at 785 College Drive for a pouring beer, wine, and liquor (hotel) license. The second application was made by KC and Brothers, LLC doing business as the Dalton Food Mart at 1002 Underwood Street for a package beer, wine (retail store) license. Both applications were approved by a 4-0 vote of the Council. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 
• Approve a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Dalton Serenity Club for use of National Opioid Settlement Funds - The City of Dalton is receiving funds from the National Opioid Settlement, and those funds can only be used for certain purposes. In 2024, the City entered into a MOU with the Dalton Serenity Club in support of their ongoing Narcotics Anonymous and other opioid recovery programs for a period of one year. This new MOU extends that agreement and provides $13,000 from the settlement funds for that purpose. To read the MOU, click here. The Council voted 4-0 to approve the MOU. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 
• Approve a Memorandum of Undestanding (MOU) with the Carter Hope Center for use of National Opioid Settlement Funds - SSimilar to the previous item, the City of Dalton has an agreement with the Carter Hope Center to provide opioid recovery and treatment services using the City's National Opioid Settlement funds. The new MOU extends that agreement for another year, and provides $24,000 in funding. To read the MOU, click here. The Council voted 4-0 to approve the MOU. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 
• Approve Resolution 25-09 creating a moratorium on the opening of certain businesses - The resolution creates a six-month moratorium on the approval of certain types of new regulated businesses in the City, including vape shops, adult entertainment establishments, event centers, extended stay hotels, stores operating coin operated amusement machines, massage parlors, and pawn broker businesses. The City is currently analyzing its code of ordinances and considering possible regulation changes that would affect those types of businesses and this moratorium period will allow the City to complete that work. Existing businesses of these types would be allowed to continue operation so long as their licenses do not lapse. To read the resolution, click here. The Council voted 4-0 to approve the moratorium. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 
• Approve Resolution 25-11 to adopt the 2025-26 CDBG Annual Action Plan - The City of Dalton is required to adopt a five-year consolidated plan for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The City of Dalton has been designated as an "entitlement community" and receives direct funding from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to fund the CDBG. Adoption of the annual action plan is part of the consolidated plan. This year, the City is receiving $312,286. The CDBG office held a competitive bid process to receive CDBG funding for the 2025-26 plan year. The CDBG annual action plan calls for funding of the Latin American Association's wellness program for Latino families, the Northwest Georgia Family Crisis Center, the Dalton Housing Authority HVAC replacement project for nine units, and residential rehabilitation for eligible home repairs. To read the annual action plan, click here. The Council voted 4-0 to approve the action plan. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 
• Approve "No Parking" traffic control changes to portions of Trammel Street, Clark Street, and W. Hawthorne Street - The request was made after the Public Works Department received complaints from residents at the Housing Authority property that on-street parking was creating road hazards. Trammel Street will have no on-street parking on both sides of the road between Waugh Street and Clark Street. Clark Street will have no on-street parking on both sides of the road from the Hawthorne Street intersection to a point 220 feet west of the Trammell Street intersection. W. Hawthorne Street will have no on-street parking on both sides of the road between Clark Street and Marble Street. To view diagrams of the changes, click here and here. The Council voted 4-0 to approve the changes. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 
• Approve the purchase of easements at 616 N. Elm Street for the Glenwood Avenue Stormwater Improvements Project - The purchase of a temporary construction easement and a permanent construction easement for $2,500 is being made to allow for the installation of new drainage infrastructure. The funding for the easements comes from the 2015 SPLOST. To view the purchase agreement, click here, and to view the drainage easement click here. The Council voted 4-0 to approve the purchases. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 
• Approve the application for funding from the Georgia Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for the East Morris Corridor Improvement Project - The City has been presented an opportunity to apply for grant funding from the ARC, and the Public Works Department has submitted a pre-application to secure $2 million in funding to supplement the 2024 SPLOST project to improve the sidewalks along E. Morris Street and improve connectivity between 5th Avenue and Walnut Avenue and allow the project to be doubled in terms of scope. To review the information from the ARC, click here. The Council voted 4-0 to ratify the application. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 
• Approve Change Order #3 for the Hangar Development Project at the Dalton Municipal Airport - Due to a change in the project engineering partner, this change order was needed to fund final construction drawings for the final foundation plans. The cost is $3,225 which comes from the project's budget. To read the change order, click here. The Council voted 4-0 to approve the change order. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 
• Approve the release and settlement agreement with Northwest Georgia Paving for the fencing project at the heriate Point Soccer Complex - After the completion of the project, Dalton Parks and Recreation Department staff found that the fencing was beginning to lean and an inspection showed that the fencing had not been installed properly according to specifications. After conflict resolution, the contractor agreed to perform corrective work which has already gotten underway.  To review the settlement agreement, click here. The Council voted 4-0 to approve the agreement. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 
• Approve a contract for code enforcement reporting software - The City of Dalton's code enforcement unit uses case management software to track their case load and help manage and track code violations. The current software does not meet the Code Enforcement Unit's needs and supervisor Dan Lewallen asked the City Council to allow the agreement for that current software to sunset after it expires in November and in its place to approve a contract with Sages Networks, Inc. for new software that better serves the City's needs. The one-time migration fee of $6,667 is payable in July to have the software ready to change over in November, after which it will cost $4,000 yearly. The funding source is the General Fund budget. To view the contract, click here. The Council voted 4-0 to approve the contract. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here. 
• Re-Appoint Judy Holly to the Library Board - The Library Board oversees the operation of the Dalton-Whitfield Public Library. Judy Jolly currently serves on the board and has agreed to serve another three-year term to expire on June 30th, 2028. The Council voted 4-0 to approve the appointment. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here.

At the outset of Monday night's meeting, the Mayor and Council heard comments from the public. Two community members rose to speak to the Council. The first, Jim Black, told the Mayor and Council that he is an avid bicyclist and he has been yelled and and cursed at by motorists while using local roadways for bicycle riding. He asked the Council to consider notifying the public to share the road, and also asked the Council to consider the creation of bicycle lanes on roadways wherever possible. The second person to speak was A.K. Demirhat, the owner of Cafe Ostro in downtown Dalton. Mr. Demirhat told the Council that his business and other downtown businesses are having trouble getting deliveries due to parking areas being blocked. He asked the Council to consider solutions to the problem. To watch the public comment portion of the meeting, click here. 

The next meeting of the Mayor and Council will be on Monday, July 21st at 6:00 pm in the Raymond A. Elrod Council Chambers. 

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