During Monday night’s meeting, Dalton Mayor Annalee Sams read aloud a thank you card from the family of the late Jim Middleton, thanking the city for the recent naming of the Jim Middleton Fields at Heritage Point Park in his honor
On Monday night, the Dalton mayor and council met for their second session of June. The meeting agenda had included the second readings of ordinances which would amend Dalton’s alcoholic beverage code and the fire prevention code, but the council voted to table those measures to allow staff more time to work on requested changes. Those ordinances will be taken up again at a future meeting.
City Administrator Andrew Parker requested that the mayor and council consider tabling the second reading of Ordinance 26-12, a measure to amend the city’s alcohol code. The council heard the first reading of the ordinance at their meeting on June 1st. During the work session, the council had several questions and requested edits to the ordinance and Mr. Parker said that city staff was continuing their work on the matter. Among other changes in the proposed ordinance, the new code further defines the requirements for a business to be considered as a restaurant for an alcohol license. It also adds rules for the serving of alcohol at businesses identified as event centers. The ordinance also amends the conditions that can disqualify an applicant for alcoholic beverage license in Dalton. The council voted 3-0 to table the ordinance (Councilmember Steve Farrow was not present and Mayor Annalee Sams typically only votes in the event of a tie).
Similarly, Mr. Parker also requested that the second reading of Ordinance 26-13 also be tabled. The ordinance, which would update portions of the city’s fire prevention code, is tied to the alcohol ordinance because both deal with the same legal definition for event centers which would be modified if the update to the alcohol ordinance is approved. The council voted 3-0 to table the measure which can be considered at a future meeting of the mayor and council.
The council did approve Ordinance 26-13 on Monday night after it received a second reading. The ordinance updates the city’s rules on Coin Operated Amusement Machines (COAM) to bring it into accordance with current state laws and also to add licensing requirements for businesses. It also limits the amount of COAMs a business can operate to six machines. The ordinance specifies that gambling devices and places of gambling are prohibited. The council voted 3-0 to approve.
The council also voted to:
Approve Ordinance 26-07 to amend the city’s cemetery code – The ordinance updates the city’s rules for the West Hill Cemetery by removing any ambiguities about what items are permissible to leave at gravesites. The ordinance was brought up for a first reading at the June 1st meeting. The council voted 3-0 to approve.
Approve Ordinance 26-08 for the de-annexation of property from the City of Dalton – The de-annexation request of Aaron Gray and M.C.W., Inc. removes a 0.3 acre parcel located at 2209 Chattanooga Road from the City. The measure received a first reading on June 1st. The parcel is surrounded by unincorporated county property that is also owned by Mr. Gray, who is planning to develop the land as an R.V. park. The property owner first wants to bring the property into uniformity in terms of the jurisdiction. Whitfield County already voted to accept the property. The Dalton-Whitfield Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend approval of the request. The council voted 3-0 to approve.
Approve Ordinance 26-09 for the rezoning of property – The ordinance rezones a tract of land on Dozier Street from medium density single family residential (R-3) to rural residential (R-5). Property owner John S. Suttles is requesting the rezoning so that he can build a duplex on the property. The measure received a first reading on June 1st. The Dalton-Whitfield Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend approval of the request. The council voted 3-0 to approve.
Table Ordinance 26-10 for the rezoning of property – The ordinance, which received a first reading June 1st, would rezone a tract of land at 525 and 527 S. Tibbs Road from general commercial (C-2) to a general commercial (C-2) condition conforming with the Dalton Gateway Corridor Overlay District. The property was annexed into the City of Dalton in 2008 with the condition that if the property was developed, the driveway for the adjoining Steak N’ Shake business would be closed and the entrance to the subject properties would be moved north to line up with the entrance to the Food City parking lot. Given the development in the area over the 18 years since annexation, that is no longer practical. The request by property owner Debo’s Diner Investments, LLC. was made to allow the property to continue using the Steak N’ Shake driveway which would be converted to a right turn only condition, and to allow for the creation of a second driveway further north. The Dalton-Whitfield Planning and Zoning Commission has voted to recommend approval of the request. However, city staff still needs more information from the Georgia Department of Transportation about the traffic control changes and Parker requested that that council table the measure for a future meeting. The council voted 3-0 to table it.
Approve Ordinance 26-11 for the rezoning of property – The ordinance rezones a tract of land at 1402 N. Thornton Avenue from neighborhood commercial (C-1) to general commercial (C-2). The request by Love Funeral Home would allow the construction of a crematory on the site. The Dalton-Whitfield Planning and Zoning Commission has voted to recommend approval of the request. The council voted 3-0 to approve.
Approve a resolution to apply for and accept grant funds for corridor improvements – Resolution 26-17 authorizes the Public Works Department to apply for a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) in the amount of $2 million with a 100% local match for funding of the South Thornton Avenue Corridor Improvements Project. The project includes the installation of needed sidewalk infrastructure along a portion of South Thornton Avenue where currently pedestrians must walk next to the roadway without a sidewalk. The council voted 3-0 to approve.
Approve a change to the Temple Beth El Memorial Park project – Due to unforeseen circumstances concerning the construction of a retaining wall at the project site, a change in the type of retaining wall is needed. The original plan called for a standard gravity wall, but soil conditions at the site instead require a mechanically stabilized retaining wall. The change will cost $67,200 which will be paid from the project budget. The change order also extends the completion date by 61 calendar days. The council voted 3-0 to approve.
The Council went into an executive session to discuss personnel matters at the end of Monday night’s meeting. Afterwards, no further action was taken. Mayor Sams announced that city offices will be closed on Friday, July 3, to allow city staff to celebrate the Independence Day holiday. The mayor and council meeting that would have taken place on July 6, has been cancelled. Instead, the council will meet again next Monday, June 22, at 6 p.m. in the Raymond A. Elrod Council Chambers at City Hall.
Mayor Sams also announced that City Councilmember Tyree Goodlett has been asked to serve on the Georgia Municipal Association’s Municipal Training Board as the District 1 representative. She congratulated Goodlett for the honor.