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Votes at a glance: Dalton council certifies election, approves settlements, easements, contracts and grants
Summary
At its March 16 meeting the Dalton City mayor and council certified special election results, swore in Julie Locke, and approved multiple resolutions, easements, contract amendments and grant acceptances; the meeting also included a first reading of a $130 million utilities bond ordinance.
The City of Dalton mayor and council took the following formal actions March 16, 2026 (summary based on motions and voice votes recorded in the meeting transcript):
- Motion to add supplemental agenda items 15 and 16 (certify special election results and oath of office for Julie Locke): approved by voice vote.
- Resolution 2607 — Certification of special election results: motion made and approved; mayor declared certification official.
- Oath of office for Julie Locke, Council member Ward 2: Judge Morris administered the oath; Locke was sworn in and introduced; she noted she would recuse from most votes that evening.
- Ordinance 26-02 — Ban on new standalone vape and tobacco stores: approved on second reading (see separate article). The ordinance defines covered stores (25% revenue or floor space thresholds or 500 sq ft), excludes cigar bars and gas stations, and provides grandfathering with several conditions that would terminate that status.
- Resolution 2606 — Participation in opioid settlement: council authorized participation and empowered the city administrator/CFO to execute documents to opt in to receive settlement funds for opioid-mitigation purposes.
- Resolution 2608 — Permanent 20-foot easement to provide access to a cemetery owned by Mountain Ridge Baptist Church: council authorized the mayor to execute required easement documents.
- Landlord consent for assignment of easement at Raisin Way (Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon → The Towers LLC): council consented to assignment of the previously approved easement.
- Agreement with Blackthorn House LLC / Charles Whitener: council approved an agreement under which Blackthorn would design and construct a public roadway (subject to GDOT approval), relocate Dalton Utilities access and build a trailhead on city property at the developer’s expense; the city will assist with GDOT access break applications.
- MOA with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Underwood Street bridge replacement and removal: council approved the MOA; staff estimated construction at 8–10 months and said no temporary structure would be erected during replacement.
- GRPA Boost Grant acceptance — $35,000 for Parks & Recreation after-school and summer-camp programming: approved; funds are reimbursement-based and require no local match.
- Kimley-Horn Amendment No.1 to IPO#3 (Dalton hangar project): approved for $68,950.28 to cover construction administration and inspection services, to be paid from remaining GDOT grant funds.
- Kimley-Horn IPO#8 (approach light system rehab at Dalton Airport): approved for design/construction phase services ($224,002.84) under a $1.2 million grant; city’s share expected as part of a 75/25 grant structure.
- Professional services renewal — Bion Security LLC (IT): approval of a one-year renewal not to exceed $80,000 per year from FY2026 IT operating budget.
- FY2025 Budget Amendment No.6: approved as a final true-up; nearly $45,000 additional hotel/motel tax revenue noted; no net increase in overall revenue/expenditures indicated in the discussion.
- First reading — Ordinance 26-05 (combined utilities revenue bond series 2026, principal $130,000,000): presented and discussed; no action (requires two readings).
All motions recorded in the transcript were approved by voice vote; the meeting concluded with an announcement that the April 6 meeting was rescheduled to March 30, 2026 and with a reception to welcome Council member Julie Locke.
