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Sheriff’s Office will fund school-safety purchases from drug-seizure funds; county approves opioid and ICMA grant applications
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Summary
The board approved shifting drug-seizure fund lines to cover school-safety purchases and authorized county applications for the Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust and ICMA Economic Mobility grants; public commenters raised traffic and rezoning concerns.
The Whitfield County Board of Commissioners on June 9 approved budget-line increases enabling the Sheriff's Office to use drug-seizure funds to pay for school-safety equipment and related support, and the board authorized county agencies to apply for opioid-abatement and economic-mobility grants.
Minutes record the board approved increases to the Sheriff's Office drug-seizure fund lines: Capital (State) increased by $38,000; Small Equipment increased by $32,000; Operating Expense increased by $20,000; and Small Equipment (Federal) increased by $10,000. The minutes state the office intends "to eliminate the cost to taxpayers" by using this funding stream; commissioners voted 4-0 to adopt the adjustments. The minutes do not identify a named individual as the speaker for that exact sentence; the item is recorded under the Sheriff's Office agenda heading.
Commissioners also approved accepting an application to the Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust on behalf of the Conasauga Addiction Recovery Center (CCARC) and the Conasauga Accountability Courts. The county previously received a one-year award to fund a counselor at CCARC; the new application seeks funding for that position for an additional year or possibly two, and the accountability courts may request funding for drug testing or operational support. The motion passed 4-0 and minutes state there is no required local match; applications are due mid-June.
County Administration received approval to apply for the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Economic Mobility & Opportunity Special Assistants Program, which would provide up to $250,000 for a full-time special assistant's salary over 30 months plus approximately $50,000 for travel and community-program expenses. The host government must cover benefits and office set-up; applications were due May 30 and selections expected by the end of June.
During the public-comment period, several residents spoke: Janet Lovelady opposed the Westbrow Development rezoning citing traffic and safety concerns; Daryl Long urged hiring staff who care about the county; Margaret Wolf asked whether the Board of Assessors membership might be changed; Deborah Gordon raised assorted questions; and Lisa Adams criticized recent rezoning decisions. The board later met in executive session to discuss personnel matters and then adjourned.
Next steps recorded in the minutes: staff may proceed with grant submissions for CCARC and ICMA, the Sheriff's Office will implement the approved seizure-fund line changes for school safety purchases, and the clerk filed certified minutes on July 14, 2025.