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Whitfield County commissioners approve multiple rezoning requests, contracts and grants
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Summary
At its Nov. 13 meeting the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners approved multiple rezoning and annexation requests, awarded a $159,000 engineering contract for Prater's Mill, accepted a $41,960 juvenile delinquency grant and approved equipment purchases including a $87,283 mass spectrometer.
The Whitfield County Board of Commissioners approved a series of routine land-use actions, contracts and grant acceptances at its Nov. 13 regular meeting in Dalton.
The board voted unanimously to approve several planning commission rezoning recommendations, including a rezoning for BGR03, LLC (12-244-03-048) from Rural Residential (R-5) to Heavy Manufacturing (M-2) and approvals for parcels tied to Robert Brooks, Matrix Entertainment Group and Bryan Spence. Commissioner Barry W. Robbins moved the rezoning motions and Commissioner Greg Jones seconded; each motion passed 3-0.
In a separate contract action, the board approved a fixed-fee $159,000 agreement with engineering firm Gresham Smith for work at the Prater's Mill historic site. Commissioner John Thomas moved to enter the contract and Commissioner Greg Jones seconded. County minutes state the fee will be covered by a state ARPA-funded grant previously accepted by the board; the county attorney reviewed the contract before approval.
The board also approved a bid of $87,283.35 from 908devices for an MX908 handheld mass spectrometer and accessories, including a three-year warranty. Funding for the purchase was split: $75,000 from a COPS grant and $12,283.35 from the Sheriff's Forfeiture Fund. The purchase was approved on a 3-0 vote after a motion by Commissioner Greg Jones and a second from Commissioner John Thomas.
On the grant front, commissioners voted to accept the FY2024 Delinquency Prevention Grant for Juvenile Court in the amount of $41,960. The grant is intended to fund implementation of SFP 7-17 for youth who are first-time offenders, diverted from juvenile justice, or charged with a CHINS offense; no county match is required. Commissioner John Thomas moved acceptance and Commissioner Barry W. Robbins seconded; approved 3-0.
The board authorized submission of an application to the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission for the 2024 Congregate Meal Grant (deadline Dec. 4, 2023). The minutes note the grant would reimburse the county on a per-meal contract basis if awarded, with the performance period beginning July 1, 2024; annual renewals for years two through four would be contingent on available funds and past performance.
Also on the consent-style docket, the board approved the September financial statement presented by Chief Financial Officer Debbie Godfrey, registered no land-use classification objection for multiple annexation requests tied to Hamilton Medical Center, and approved a de-annexation of parcel 13-025-11-000 from the City of Dalton to unincorporated Whitfield County. Motions for these items were recorded as passing 3-0.
Votes at a glance: - Agenda amendment to add four items — approved 3-0 (mover: Commissioner Barry W. Robbins; seconder: Commissioner Greg Jones). - Minutes approval (Oct. 9, Oct. 16, Oct. 23) — approved 3-0. - Financial statement (September) — approved 3-0 (presented by CFO Debbie Godfrey). - Multiple rezoning approvals (BGR03, Robert Brooks, Matrix Entertainment Group, Bryan Spence) — each approved 3-0. - Gresham Smith engineering contract for Prater's Mill ($159,000) — approved 3-0. - 908devices MX908 mass spectrometer ($87,283.35; $75,000 COPS grant + $12,283.35 forfeiture funds) — approved 3-0. - NWGRC congregate meal grant application authorization — approved 3-0. - Juvenile Court FY2024 Delinquency Prevention Grant ($41,960) — accepted 3-0. - De-annexation and annexation items with City of Dalton — approved 3-0.
The meeting minutes record no extended debate on these items; most were handled as routine motions and passed unanimously by the commissioners recorded as voting (Commissioners Robbins, Thomas and Jones). The minutes show Chairman Jevin Jensen presided and recognized several county employees and first responders but do not record additional dissenting views or conditions attached to the approvals.
The board entered executive session for real estate matters with legal and administrative staff present and reconvened before adjourning. The minutes record no public action resulting from the executive session.