Dallas approves Helping Hands relocation for downtown redevelopment project

The Paulding County Board of Commissioners convened on March 25, 2025, to discuss significant developments regarding the Helping Hands facility and a new water supply contract with the city of Dallas.

A key agenda item was the relocation of the Helping Hands organization, which provides charitable services to the local community. The county plans to assign the Helping Hands lease to the city of Dallas, allowing for the development of the South Johnson Street parking lot. This move is part of an intergovernmental agreement approved in February, which facilitates the temporary relocation of Helping Hands for two years while Dallas undertakes downtown redevelopment projects.

Commissioner Phillips noted that the previous agreement included a provision requiring Dallas to transfer certain water customers back to the county. This provision has been removed and will be addressed in a separate item concerning the new water supply contract.

The water supply contract, which has been under negotiation since the previous agreement expired in April 2024, is set to last for 30 years. Under the proposed terms, Dallas would purchase water from Paulding County at a wholesale rate of $4.73 per 1,000 gallons, with a monthly cap of 22.5 million gallons. Additionally, Dallas will return retail water service customers outside its service area back to the county.

Discussions are ongoing regarding whether the Dallas Water Service Area will remain fixed for the duration of the contract or be subject to renegotiation at regular intervals. The commissioners are working to finalize these details to ensure a stable water supply for both communities.

The meeting underscored the collaborative efforts between Paulding County and the city of Dallas to enhance local services and infrastructure, with further discussions anticipated in upcoming sessions.