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Resident urges reinstatement of Prater's Mill historic-site protections, says repeal lacked notice
Summary
Catherine Sellers criticized the county for repealing the local historic-site ordinance affecting Prater's Mill, saying the June 9 repeal lacked public notice and was not recorded in minutes; she urged the board to involve the Historic Preservation Commission and the State Historic Preservation Office and asked for a board response.
During the Nov. 10 public-comment period, Dalton resident Catherine Sellers urged the board to reinstate the county’s local historic-site ordinance that previously protected Prater's Mill and Rocky Face Ridge.
Sellers said the ordinance’s repeal on June 9 was not publicly announced, not included in published minutes, and that the State Historic Preservation Office may not have been notified. "The repeal on June 9 was not made public ahead of time and was not reported publicly afterwards," she said, and added that the minutes do not reflect the repeal vote. Sellers asked commissioners to respond at the meeting and to consider reinstating the local designation.
Sellers described the role of the Whitfield County Historic Preservation Commission (distinct from the historical society and Prater's Mill Foundation) as an advisory body that provides expertise on history, architecture, repair and interpretive signage. She urged the board to include the commission in planning for Prater's Mill and other county historic assets and to ensure subsurface archaeological surveys precede ground disturbance.
Chair declined to allow additional public-comment time at that moment but said the board received her message and would review the minutes. "We're we're out of time for your public comment. But we did receive your message and we'll definitely look at the minutes," the chair said.
Why it matters: Sellers asserts potential procedural flaws in the repeal of a local preservation ordinance and warns that lack of notice or missing minutes may affect the ordinance's validity and local preservation protections. The issue raises questions about public notice, commission consultation and compliance with historic-preservation procedures.
What’s next: The board acknowledged the comment and said it would check the minutes; Sellers requested a commissioner response and reinstatement of protections, but the meeting adjourned before a formal board reply or action.
