Whitfield County commissioners deny large rezoning request, approve lighting, roofs, grants and appointments

The Whitfield County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 14 denied a developer's request to rezone 42.7 acres on South Dixie Highway and approved a package of purchases, grants and appointments aimed at maintaining county facilities and moving capital projects forward.

Commissioners voted 3-0 to deny West Brow Developments’ request to rezone the parcel at 4486 S. Dixie Hwy (Parcel 13‑190‑30‑000) from General Commercial (C‑2) to Medium‑Density Single‑Family Residential (R‑3). The denial followed public comment opposing the rezoning and was made by Commissioner Barry W. Robbins and seconded by Commissioner John Thomas.

In other land‑use business the board approved a set of smaller rezoning requests recommended by the Planning Commission, including parcels at 1428 Cleo Way (Robert Keck Jr.), Roosevelt Drive (Appalachian Builders) and multiple residential conversions and agricultural designations. One rezoning at 1185 Mt. Vernon Road (Angela Langley, 26.96 acres) was approved with a condition barring commercial swine operations on the property.

The board approved several capital and operational items: a Musco Sports Lighting LLC QuickFit upgrade for Edwards Park (fields 1–8 plus four parking‑lot fixtures) at $892,000 using SPLOST 2024 funds; a $106,796 contract with Caliber Construction LLC to replace roofs at Fire Stations 7–10; and replacement of four Public Works trucks at a total price of $207,480 (four 2024 Ford F‑150 Crew Cabs at $51,870 each), plus one additional Buildings & Grounds F‑150 at $48,650 on state contract pricing. Commissioners approved surplusing the replaced vehicles for auction.

County officials also approved administrative and records actions. The board authorized an additional $39,945 in ARPA funding to complete deed digitization with vendor Kofile (total paid to vendor $567,990; Clerk's Authority reimbursement to date $103,929; net county cost $464,061). Officials accepted a GEMA State and Local Cybersecurity Grant award of $57,704.40 with a $6,411.60 local match to reimburse previously purchased IT hardware.

The board approved grant applications including the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) — up to $25,527 for the county and no match — and the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program grant for projects in Domestic Violence Court and Juvenile Court (grant period Jan.–Dec. 2025). The board also ratified participation in the Georgia EPD Scrap Tire Abatement Reimbursement (STAR) Program, which provides up to $3,371 in reimbursement for about 2,400 passenger tires.

Appointments included John Fuchko to the Highland Rivers Governing Board (term to June 30, 2027) and Tom Minor IV and Greg Bowman to the Board of Tax Assessors (Minor through Oct. 13, 2030; Bowman to complete a term ending June 30, 2029). Commissioners also authorized early distribution of 2024 SPLOST funds to the cities of Tunnel Hill and Varnell and the Town of Cohutta.

CFO Debbie Godfrey reported August financials: LOST collections for August were $1,275,433 (.1% below budget), YTD LOST $10,168,986 (.1% above prior year), TAVT for August $483,416, YTD actual revenues $29,078,238 versus projected $28,536,035 (+$542,203), YTD expenditures $41,464,200 versus projected $40,942,849 (+$521,351), and an August 31 ending fund balance of $22,379,356. The financial statement was approved 3-0.

During public comment, Daryl Long urged the board to follow the county zoning ordinance. The meeting adjourned unanimously. The board noted that 2025 budget meetings will be held in November and are open to the public.

What happens next: Approved contracts and grants will move to implementation by the respective departments (Public Works, Parks & Recreation, Fire Department, IT and the Clerk of Superior Court); the denied rezoning may be subject to any appeal process available to the applicant.