May 5th Mayor and Council Meeting Notes
Wednesday, May 7th, 2025
The Dalton Mayor and Council met on Monday night for their first session of May. The agenda was highlighted by a special recognition for a state champion runner from the Dalton Parks and Recreation Department's (DPRD) Track and Field program. For Jordyn Davis, it was her second time being honored as a state champ by a Dalton mayor.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO OF MONDAY NIGHT'S MEETING
Mayor Annalee Sams presented a certificate of recognition to Jordyn Davis at the opening of Monday night's meeting. Davis recently won the 100 and 200 meter state championships at the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association's (GRPA) state meet. Davis adds those two titles to the three state championships she won in 2023 in the 8-and-under division in the 100 and 200 meters as well as the long jump. She is the only runner from the Dalton Parks and Rec team to win an individual state title. Click here to read Davis' certificate of recognition.
Caption: State champion runner Jordyn Davis poses with Mayor Annalee Sams after being presented with a certificate of recognition in honor of her accomplishments
DPRD director Steve Roberts noted that Davis was not the only Dalton athlete to excel at the GRPA state meet. Nine members of Dalton's team earned podium positions at the meet, including three state runners-up.
To watch this portion of the meeting, click here.
Tourism director Margaret Thigpen presented a report to the Mayor and Council, noting that local tourism is growing and impacting the local economy. She reported that tourism has made an economic impact of $1.1 million on the local economy for the month of April. Thigpen also reported that year to date, the impact of tourism in Dalton and Whitfield County is outpacing last year's numbers with more than 20,000 visitors so far and more than 3,200 room nights in local hotels. Hotel-motel tax collections have also increased over 2024's numbers. Thigpen noted that the week of May 4th-10th is National Tourism Week, and invited members of the Mayor and Council to a celebration Thursday at the Crown Mill at 4:30 pm to learn more about the local tourism industry. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here.
City Administrator Andrew Parker also updated the Mayor and Council on the progress of the John Davis Recreation Center renovations, particularly the progress on getting the swimming pool there open for the summer. in order to open the pool before the rest of the complex is ready to be opened to the public, the electrical system had to be changed where power could run to the new pool building without passing through the rest of the complex's electrical layout. Parker praised the Dalton Public Works Department for their work to lay new power and data conduits. To watch Parker's update on the project, click here.
The Mayor and Council held the second reading of Ordinance 25-09 to amend the City Charter. The ordinance amends Article 1 by granting the Dalton Municipal Airport the ability to enter into lease agreements or contracts that last longer than five years, which is the current limitation on such agreements imposed by the City Charter. This change will allow the airport to enter into ground lease agreements for the construction of hangars by private individuals. The amendment grants the airport the ability to enter into lease agreements or contracts for terms not to exceed 35 years. You can click here to read the ordinance. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here.
The Mayor and Council also held the first reading of Ordinance 25-12, to rezone a tract of land at 1213 Hair Street from medium density single family residential (R-3) to transitional residential (R-6). The land owner, Roberto Silva, is requesting the change to convert the residence on the property into a duplex by adding a firewall in the middle of the structure. There is already an existing duplex at the site. The Dalton-Whitfield Planning Commission and staff both recommended approval of the rezoning request. To read the staff analysis, click here. To read the summary of the Planning Commission meeting, click here. To read Ordinance 25-12, click here. Because this was the first reading of the ordinance, no action was taken. The Mayor and Council can consider a vote on the ordinance at a future meeting. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here.
The Mayor and Council also voted to:
- Approve a floor maintenance contract for City Hall - The contract is an extension of an existing agreement with Apex Group (formerly known as Spectra) for floor and carpet maintenance at City Hall. The 2025-26 extension of the contract will cost $5,449.16 to be paid from the building maintenance budget. To review the contract, click here. The Council voted 4-0 to approve the contract. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here.
- Approve a construction contract for the Dalton Pickleball Complex - The Dalton Pickleball Complex will be built on the campus of the John Davis Recreation Center at James Brown Park. Integrated Builders, LLC was the low bidder for the project, at a contract cost of $2,206,042 which includes a $60,000 contingency fund. The contract will be paid from 2021 bonded capital. The Dalton Pickleball Complex will include a 15-court complex including three courts which are covered by a metal roof. To review the contract, click here. The Council voted 4-0 to award the construction contract to Integrated Builders, LLC. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here.
- Approve a professional services agreement for materials testing on the Dalton Pickleball Complex - As part of the Dalton Pickleball Complex construction, Geo-Hydro Engineers will perform materials testing to include sub-grade evaluations and field density testing, observation of reinforcing steel, concrete testing, structural steel testing, masonry testing, and project administration as well as miscellaneous consultation. The contract cost is not to exceed $17,160 which will be paid from 2021 bonded capital. To review the contract, click here. The Council voted 4-0 to approve the agreement. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here.
- Approve a project order for the Dalton Municipal Airport's electrical rehab project - The Dalton Municipal Airport has contracted with the Kimley-Horn and Associates engineering firm for services related to various projects. Project Order #4 is for design and build phase services on the project to update the airport's electrical systems and lighting. The contract cost is $40,008.65, 90 percent of which will be reimbursed by a federal grant. To review the project order, click here. The Council voted 4-0 to approve the project order. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here.
- Approve a project order for the Dalton Municipal Airport's taxiway rehab project - Project Order #5 with Kimley-Horn and Associates is for design and build phase services related to the airport's taxiway pavement rehabilitation project. The cost of the contract is $65,644.11, 90 percent of which will be reimbursed by a federal grant. To review the project order, click here. The Council voted 4-0 to approve the project order. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here.
- Approve a change order on the John Davis Recreation Center Renovation project - The renovation project at the John Davis Recreation Center on Civic Drive is proceeding. The City's IT Department has identified three locations in the new building that will require additional wiring for data line drops. They address a blind spot in the security camera setup that will cover a drop box for nightly money deposits, an alarm panel connection, and a location where an additional TV will be mounted. The change order will add $1,639.19 to the project budget which will be covered by SPLOST funds which are funding the renovation. To review the change order, click here. The Council voted 4-0 to approve the change order. To watch this portion of the meeting, click here.
The next meeting of the Mayor and Council will be held on Monday, May 19th at 6:00 pm in the City Hall Council Chamber.
Click "Play" in the window below to watch Monday night's meeting.
