[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6171474,"mediaKeyId","5394046-46199b298183d1168f74b1a5dabbd4ee","parentId",5394046,"title","Commissioners fund courthouse accessibility work and ratify equipment purchases under SPLOST","audioSeconds",222,"startMs",2712000,"endMs",2934000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5394046-46199b298183d1168f74b1a5dabbd4ee&start=2712&end=2934","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5394046-46199b298183d1168f74b1a5dabbd4ee/thumbnail_2712000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6171474/Whitfield-County/Georgia/Commissioners-fund-courthouse-accessibility-work-and-ratify-equipment-purchases-under-SPLOST","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6171474-17c43d6d7d46df8130df9e5381e674ca/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137072&Signature=EI-utisKgK0KgsgkbDrUmHw3DPexKZ042LuIGsXb7kkBnS2Igjxm4jW8kW-O9zo48o6J5O6vs9INETzo7XnHK3xo0qOKeHow8NbG6obm7ymNthBdWOrDQr4pzUD0r4SWqMOHrM5-bZmM-PGdHrbt0LY18s9MpXqrj6frgdjRGPAdIp7TSjfAjLL-saEUe8rEqFVX0JK0AbUkwZLSfK1f8mV42zi9PwkfejCr5CyZLPJZns4vZmPdHqwChFeUEM6pZ0H-fQYPnsL70eFXpvNcG6NZpphww2vJ1SqbsOYg1uNgifrT79zSDdoBpcaOoC9U3MucERY9nO1pIR9SQlTMew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-07-15T11:13:42Z","article","At the July 14 meeting, Whitfield County commissioners approved several capital and equipment expenditures funded through SPLOST and other county budgets.
The board approved funding from the 2020 SPLOST for a permanent ADA-compliant ramp at the courthouse; staff said the county had been using a temporary ramp while complying with federal accessibility requirements and would now install a permanent concrete and steel ramp. The transcript did not provide a clear dollar amount for the ramp in the public remarks; staff said SPLOST funds would cover the work.
The board also approved payment for elevator repairs and modifications, authorizing a county payment of roughly $34,000 for the latest invoice. Commissioners recorded the vote as 3–0–1 (one abstention) on the elevator payment.
Separately, commissioners ratified acquisition of replacement Motorola radios (2024 SPLOST) for the county's emergency services. Staff said buying the radios now and taking advantage of a 0 percent interest deferred-payment arrangement avoided price increases and saved approximately $3,400,000 in projected costs; the county will not have to pay until the next July under the financing arrangement.
Commissioners also approved a temporary contract arrangement to continue transit reimbursement flows through Cherokee County while the state transitions to a third-party mechanism after September.
Ending: The board committed SPLOST funds to permanent courthouse accessibility work, approved elevator repairs and ratified the radio purchase financing; staff will proceed with project contracts and return with schedule and budget details as required.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BOC Meeting - July 14 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Whitfield County commissioners approved funding for a permanent courthouse ADA ramp from 2020 SPLOST funds and ratified purchases including replacement radios and an elevator repair invoice; the board also approved transit reimbursement contract arrangements to maintain service reimbursement.","taxTitle","Whitfield County, Georgia","taxId",4303,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6171479,"Whitfield County rejects outside bids, will build Mount Vernon roundabout in-house",115,2763000,2878000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5394046-46199b298183d1168f74b1a5dabbd4ee&start=2763&end=2878","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5394046-46199b298183d1168f74b1a5dabbd4ee/thumbnail_2763000.jpg","/articles/6171479/Whitfield-County/Georgia/Whitfield-County-rejects-outside-bids-will-build-Mount-Vernon-roundabout-in-house","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6171479-e61327bea2a339ff7a31472966f5d385/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137072&Signature=ZXQ4xN5aSw4CgZrXPc1ws-FdniZgDohXmQTn9lbG5fhRDOuJQX88lXVUisOvfGIMQpzkwR0o-Q4DXQjauJ7hj4tsMKnOkFALBfWeXmqsn73JwXDlAyvSZtO0xcUlmzpV5GmHJ7H2ntfrE-YplXPuAP59~R9pAVqOJBrj77KWyJNRTA9g7LRY1EDb8UnxJRlkKbffjOMhg3zUa9pm9ksR9n9H4WWhQxiObRgxcUSYbYJ91R6TaJmsgu83Qhfxk-BqyofSrO2Majp8bM7OZbR3Xg6j231eUTxVuKBlkJiaQgXjsN0WunaJEWm60HaPQMAzqZmws-Q4I-~YFb~yXatYMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Whitfield County commissioners voted 4–0 on July 14 to reject outside contractor bids for a roundabout at Mount Vernon Road and Houston Valley and instead authorized in-house construction not to exceed $350,000.
The motion, made by Commissioner Robbins and seconded by Commissioner Jones, followed staff comments that the county has design plans, right-of-way acquisitions and quotes in hand and that in-house work could be quicker and less expensive than the low bid.
Commissioners and staff said the intersection has a history of accidents and that completing the roundabout will improve safety for the west side of the county. The board recorded the motion and approved the in-house cap unanimously.
Ending: Construction will proceed under county management at the $350,000 cap; staff will coordinate procurement and scheduling and return with updates as the project advances.","Commissioners voted July 14 to reject outside bids for the Mount Vernon Road/Houston Valley roundabout and approved an in-house construction plan capped at $350,000 to speed completion of a dangerous intersection project.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6171484,"Whitfield County approves five grant applications, seeks ARC funding for West Industrial safety project",187,2492000,2679000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5394046-46199b298183d1168f74b1a5dabbd4ee&start=2492&end=2679","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5394046-46199b298183d1168f74b1a5dabbd4ee/thumbnail_2492000.jpg","/articles/6171484/Whitfield-County/Georgia/Whitfield-County-approves-five-grant-applications-seeks-ARC-funding-for-West-Industrial-safety-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6171484-291510555a365aac833a6f2a66a2b470/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137072&Signature=RT21aVRNIaxZWZxjZvvsarjx4hyqRVA36fzh-U9fng6KSatgJJwfb-g9faLXhfDotV1STtp88lfGT-6KLUb36LUR29XtpaFvPvq4xVNM~w3bEpgT-Mel692FoPYsHRymwqJYUzo8zQARmH-fhyErzcziZa3cGeNKAd5a5i78-G-FOSQhRe9aY37Z0HHNibamHSUg2nRCVpEHCNoffmVDpeZ0xmsJdGfNzFYYMKCTthQ~u488JbKxqOxUpVNVbYRFvQDS0RIO2ajVFHooRMiLd7IKyN3Lg5ZOLQbFhh03NDJl-vM-UQkYaItmpXHlB1q5qei8A0w0NDTnkOLWVy5g6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its July 14 meeting, the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners approved a package of five grant applications and acceptances that county staff said will fund road-safety and criminal-justice diversion programs.
The county unanimously approved applying for an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant to help pay for an intersection and safety project on West Industrial Boulevard / South Dixie; county staff described the project as a roughly $4.2 million undertaking and said ARC funding would cover roughly half if awarded. \"We already have that in our SPLOST, so we can make our SPLOST dollars go further if we can get the ARC to help fund roughly half of it, of the 4,200,000.0,\" the county said in the meeting record.
The commissioners voted 4–0 to accept the slate of grants, which also included:
- A juvenile delinquency diversion grant the county has received in previous years; officials said it provides funding to divert youth from detention.
- A drug-court grant to support the county's drug court program and its participants.
- A mental-health court grant the county expects to operate in cooperation with neighboring Murray County to help with match requirements.
- An accepted Safer Streets award the county previously applied for; staff said the study and potential improvements are focused on Reed Road and the nearby four-way intersection.
A motion to consider the five grants as a package was made by Commissioner Robbins and passed 4–0. County staff told commissioners that matches and SPLOST allocations are in the county plan and that the projects will proceed whether or not every grant is awarded.
Ending: The ARC application, if successful, would reduce the county's SPLOST-funded share of the West Industrial safety project; the other awards will extend existing diversion and court programs into the next fiscal year starting July 1.","The county approved a package of five grant applications and acceptances July 14, including an Appalachian Regional Commission safety grant application for a West Industrial Boulevard project and awards for youth diversion, drug court, mental-health court and a Safer Streets study.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6171489,"Whitfield County reassessment draws public outcry; assessors cite state rules",1092,1078000,2170000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5394046-46199b298183d1168f74b1a5dabbd4ee&start=1078&end=2170","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5394046-46199b298183d1168f74b1a5dabbd4ee/thumbnail_1078000.jpg","/articles/6171489/Whitfield-County/Georgia/Whitfield-County-reassessment-draws-public-outcry-assessors-cite-state-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6171489-132541186f68cf026a68e9500c56eaf5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137072&Signature=gEOS0v46sJs6tsBpCHNHg1sId0wHMNx2SqkLM9kbnVfepowsbdiTruw843k2X3KcfYzUBaTzHMjYd7NYqLQhJLdFkeqiG4KLrFcRXBTxqwTQsEibIUzFqexB2jC~hs6yVOH3OI9HjWwbt-oejYKGeXiOIu5sDH0C7xIJ6eMi1ZVTBC7WRgpHsoHEPA2fXJcTGHqJpD5bTxFLJOsR-wOuOV~PfbyOAwDdDJ0T6PE4O75umfb4IkO2CCfI4y8AOsYth0oX-QkRJ-KEzbTafQtl8B~Sty855NDC3-Mg8zkbJzSEFMdtfe8~mt8EfMCSFO4Pi7t~kjFDoJzNuV0T0tN8ow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the July 14 Whitfield County Board of Commissioners meeting, former Dalton mayor David Pennington and several residents urged the county to reconsider an amended 2024 property digest that they said shifts large tax burdens onto homeowners and small local businesses.
\"This will be when you add the 2 together, by far, the largest tax increase mostly falling on homeowners and small local businesses in this county's history,\" David Pennington said during public comment.
Board of Assessors member John Maynor defended the reassessment and described the office's use of the statutory mass-appraisal process under Title 48 and Georgia Department of Revenue guidance. Maynor cited the digest's statistical measures and argued the amended 2024 digest moved the county into an acceptable sales-ratio range.
\"This current board of assessors has presented a board that is uniform and is accurate within the methodology that's prescribed to us by the Department of Revenue,\" Maynor said, and asked elected officials to \"stop interfering with the work of the Board of Assessors.\"
Why it matters: speakers said reassessment outcomes could create immediate tax-bill increases for homeowners and businesses, trigger a surge in appeals and impose recurring costs on school funding and state reimbursements.
Maynor gave examples of impacts and numbers he said were in the assessor materials: a roughly 43% average increase in assessed values for residential parcels, a 2024 amended digest sales-ratio reported at 39.48 percent, a statutory fine of $5 per parcel if a digest remains out of tolerance, and an estimated annual loss to state QBE school funding of roughly $5 million to $10 million tied to an undervalued digest. He also said appeals costs could push the assessor's budget up by about $100,000.
During public comment, residents described specific examples they said showed uneven assessments, asked whether assessors inspect properties in person, and urged more transparency and communication from the Board of Assessors and the commissioners. Kathy Holmes urged the commissioners to ensure the assessor's office can recruit and pay for a highly qualified lead assessor.
Commissioners did not vote on the reassessment at the meeting. Commissioners said they were available to assist the Board of Assessors on recruitment and communication; the county administrator said the commissioners would support an external, nationwide search if the assessor's office requests it. No formal change to millage or county action on the digest was taken at the July 14 meeting.
Ending: Several speakers warned of practical consequences if taxes rise sharply, including unaffordability for renters and homeowners; commissioners and staff said they would continue to review the assessor materials, meet with the Board of Assessors as needed and that the appeal process remains available to taxpayers.
","At the July 14 Whitfield County Board of Commissioners meeting residents sharply criticized the Board of Tax Assessors' amended 2024 reassessment and its effect on homeowners and small businesses; a Board of Assessors member defended the methodology and cited Georgia law and Department of Revenue standards.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners fund courthouse accessibility work and ratify equipment purchases under SPLOST

Whitfield County rejects outside bids, will build Mount Vernon roundabout in-house

Whitfield County approves five grant applications, seeks ARC funding for West Industrial safety project

Whitfield County reassessment draws public outcry; assessors cite state rules