By: Vince Lennon
Trenton, GA – Despite admitting to existing delays on millage schedules, a proposed intergovernmental agreement on joint animal control and a junk nuisance ordinance; Dade County Commissioners either tabled or decided not to vote on any of the above topics in their regularly scheduled work shop and subsequent board meeting Thursday night.
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Instead, commissioners unanimously approved a grant eligible $16,723 purchase of two Motorola N70XE communications radios for emergency management, an estimated $50,000 in emergency culvert repairs in Wildwood, as well as a $162,187 computer module upgrade with current IT provider Tyler Technologies.
In the latter case, County Executive Don Townsend says the move is needed with last month’s contract cessation with Gov OS, the county’s previous business licensing provider and for short term remittance rentals, which came under constant fire from local businesses.
“We’re not dealing with it anymore,” sighed Townsend, characterizing the company’s customer service as abysmal and that he and fellow commissioners grew tired of the growing list of complaints for the company’s shortcomings.
After a demo of three potential software candidates, Dade County EMA Director Alex Case gave the board his “vote of approval” for the Tyler Technologies enhancement, highlighting the program’s ability to cross reference information that would streamline the construction licensing process as well as facility asset management and inventory, which Case says the county currently doesn’t have.
Townsend said dropping the $62,000 Gov OS contract in lieu of the Tyler Technology deal realizes an approximate $25,000 savings, garnering a far greater value yield for the taxpayer.
Commissioner Philip Hartline inquired whether the software change would require the hiring of additional employees for system monitoring, Townsend said the Tyler upgrade should actually lessen demands on human resources.
In other board action, Patty Murphy was reappointed as the county safety commissioner.
County Executive Don Townsend updated commissioners on the RFP process for the soon to be built Dade Election Commission building on Georgia Avenue, saying one of seven potential contractors who was bidding for the project was disqualified from further consideration.
Of the existing construction bids, which range from $2.9 to $3.4 million dollars, Townsend says five of the building’s candidates hail from neighboring Chattanooga, one locally from Dade County and another from Canton, Georgia.
Townsend says they not only want to research the contractors but also their proposed subcontractors involved for related plumbing, electrical and HVAC work.
Proposed public hearings for Dade’s 2025 millage rate are tentatively set for August 13th and August 20th. The commission admits they’re a month behind their normal millage schedule, blaming the General Assembly’s recent passage of HB 583 for the delay.