Whitfield County commissioners approve zoning changes, park land purchase, vehicle and equipment contracts and grant award; postpone road-closure decision
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Summary
At the June 10 meeting the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners adopted zoning text amendments, approved purchase of 4.36 acres for a park expansion, ratified several public-works and sheriff vehicle contracts, accepted a $432,090 Drug Court grant, and postponed a proposed closure of Beulah Drive after neighbors objected.
Whitfield County commissioners met June 10 and approved a package of zoning text amendments, several equipment and vehicle purchases, a property acquisition for park expansion, and a state grant to support Drug Court operations, while postponing a decision on a proposed road closure after neighbors objected.
The board, chaired by Jevin Jensen, voted 3-0 (Jevin Jensen, Chair; John Thomas, Commissioner; Barry W. Robbins, Vice-Chair) to adopt an amendment to Chapter 15 (Subdivision Regulations) that removes a lot-size exception for family members in the GA zoning district and clarifies family easement exemptions in GA and SA districts. Commissioners also approved multiple text changes to the Unified Zoning Ordinance, including a requirement for preliminary site plans for C-1A zoning requests, a reference to the Georgia Cemetery Act, revised parking standards, term limits for Board of Zoning Appeals members, a revised Storm Water Management Plan review fee, and additions to the permitted use table allowing M-1 and M-2 districts for certain uses.
The board approved purchasing 4.36 acres at 1595 Mt. Vernon Road in Rocky Face for $111,180 to expand Westside/Miracle Field Park. The county will use fund balance for the purchase and reimburse that amount with 2024 SPLOST collections beginning October 2024.
Commissioners authorized a resolution approving the plan of finance for revenue bonds to be issued by the Dalton Whitfield County Joint Development Authority for the benefit of Hamilton Health Care System, Inc.; the board noted explicitly that the financing creates no financial obligation for Whitfield County. The board also ratified an emergency wingwall repair on Antioch Road at a cost of $68,500 and approved routine purchases and contract renewals including a three-year Microsoft licensing agreement (annual cost $95,665.09), a second-half Motorola payment for EMA services ($58,974.68, with TACN to cover part beginning July 1, 2024), and a 2024 Ford Bronco for the Engineering Department ($30,565).
Public Works purchases ratified with 2020 SPLOST funds include a lowboy tractor ($185,051.26 from MHC Chattanooga), a hydro excavator ($270,412.84 from Tracto Equipment Company), and a trench roller ($47,800). The board said purchases were ratified because rental costs were high and the equipment improves productivity.
The board accepted a CJCC state grant for Drug Court operations totaling $432,090 with a county match of $76,251 (July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025); officials said the county match is already met through payroll. The Sheriff’s Office awarded a $179,421.30 contract to West Chatham Warning Devices to outfit 17 Durango vehicles and declared a list of older vehicles surplus to be auctioned via GovDeals.
Several rezoning requests — including a 46.368-acre parcel at 265 SW Carbondale Road to be rezoned from C-2 to M-2 — and several appointments and reappointments to planning bodies were approved. The board also registered no land-use classification objection to two city annexations (City of Dalton parcel 12-179-02-052 and City of Tunnel Hill parcel 11-324-27-000).
The meeting included a public hearing on a petition to close and abandon a portion of Beulah Drive; neighbors, represented in public comment by Tracy Ward and Brittany Duveigh, opposed the proposed closure on the grounds that an adjoining resident uses the road daily and a school bus route serves the area. Following the hearing, the board later postponed action on the closure petition.
The board held an executive session for personnel matters and then adjourned. No formal personnel actions were recorded in the public minutes.
Votes at a glance (selected): • Approve agenda change removing agenda item #15 — Passed 3-0. • Approve May 13, 2024 meeting minutes — Passed 3-0. • Adopt Chapter 15 Subdivision Regulations amendment — Passed 3-0. • Approve Unified Zoning Ordinance text amendments — Passed 3-0. • Purchase 4.36 acres at 1595 Mt. Vernon Rd for park expansion — Passed 3-0. • Approve TEFRA resolution for Hamilton Health revenue bonds (no county obligation) — Passed 3-0. • Accept CJCC Drug Court grant $432,090 (county match $76,251) — Passed 3-0. • Award Sheriff vehicle equipment bid to West Chatham Warning Devices $179,421.30 — Passed 3-0. • Ratify Antioch Road wingwall emergency repair $68,500 — Passed 3-0. • Ratify purchase of public works equipment (lowboy, hydro excavator, trench roller) using SPLOST funds — Passed 3-0.
The board is scheduled for regular business meetings per its calendar; several items acted on at this session are administrative or procurement in nature and will move to implementation by county departments.