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Whitfield County commissioners approve budget amendments, equipment purchases and multiple rezonings
Summary
At its April 14 meeting the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners adopted 2024 year-end budget amendments, approved several equipment purchases (including 138 Toughbooks and 14 portable radios), ratified grants, appointed an animal shelter director and approved multiple rezoning requests; most actions passed unanimously 3-0.
The Whitfield County Board of Commissioners on April 14 approved a package of budget amendments, equipment purchases, grants and rezonings, and appointed a new animal shelter director.
The board adopted 2024 year-end budget amendments that increased General Fund revenue by $703,000 and General Fund expenditures by $1,368,000, approving the measure on a 3-0 vote by Commissioners Jones, Thomas and Robbins. Chief Finance Officer Debbie Godfrey presented the February 2025 financial statement showing year‑to‑date actual revenues of $6,908,157 and a February 28 ending fund balance of $31,702,155.
Commissioners authorized equipment and technology purchases including a $391,506 purchase of 138 Panasonic Toughbooks for the Sheriff’s Office (paid from 2020 SPLOST) and $95,487.28 for 14 Motorola portable radios for school resource officers (funded by 2024 SPLOST). The board also approved payment of an Otis Elevator invoice for $49,078.75 for repairs to the Wells Fargo leased office space and awarded a $20,894 contract to Odin Integrated Technologies to replace non‑NDAA‑compliant cameras at the Tax Commissioner’s Office. All motions passed 3-0.
The board ratified acceptance of a $50,000 Appalachian Regional Commission READY grant to fund leadership and management training (no local match) and ratified a Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) FY2025 award of $79,328 with a $26,443 local match to support the Conasauga Domestic Violence Court.
In personnel actions, the board appointed Whitney Dunn as Director of the Whitfield County Animal Shelter. Commissioners also approved county contracts and leases, including a $96,549 contract for the University of Georgia County Extension Office for the July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026 fiscal year, and renewed a lease for the Rocky Face Ridge house.
On planning matters, the board approved several planning commission recommendations: rezoning of a 12.7‑acre Riverstone Construction LLC property on Cleveland Highway from High Density Residential (R‑7) to Zero Lot Line Residential (R‑4); rezoning of 7.8 acres owned by Greyson Renz from General Agriculture (GA) to Suburban Agriculture (SA); and rezoning of 2.53 acres for Kayla Mathis from Low Density Single Family Residential (R‑2) to Rural Residential (R‑5). The board denied a request by Ryan Beavers Construction to rezone 5.54 acres on Fondel Lane from Rural Residential (R‑5) to High Density Residential (R‑7). Each planning motion recorded a 3-0 vote.
Other administrative approvals included declaring multiple Public Works vehicles and equipment surplus for auction, purchasing a utility tractor for Parks & Recreation for $37,450 from 2024 SPLOST, and renewing a hay-field lease covering approximately 70 acres at Rocky Face Ridge with an annual payment of $350.
The meeting record shows all formal motions were moved and seconded on the record and carried by votes listing Commissioners Jones, Thomas and Robbins as voting in agreement (3-0). The board adjourned after a public comment period in which residents raised concerns about property assessment notices and were directed to the Tax Assessors Office to file appeals.
