Trenton, GA – The Dade County Tax Assessor’s Office will soon be tabulating property valuations “in the cloud”, as Dade County Commissioners approve the purchase of a new, mobile assessment system and license during their workshop session. It was one of a number of SPLOST related acquisitions later voted upon and approved during Thursday night’s regularly scheduled meeting of the Dade County Board of Commissioners.
Dade County’s Chief Appraiser Paula Duvall says the initial outlay of $12,309 will digitally streamline field work directly to a computer program in real time, saving considerable labor related expenses from the county’s lone field agent. Duvall expects the annual $3,580 maintenance and support fees for the program will be quickly offset by greater productivity realized.
Unrelated to the mobile assessment purchase, Duvall says her goal to have annual tax assessments mailed to citizens out by May 9th is now in peril and unlikely.
Duvall says much of the uncertainty is borne from the Georgia Legislature and HB 92, signed into law just last month by Governor Brian Kemp.
HB 92 allowed local tax authorities to rescind their decision to opt out by April 30, 2025 and by March 1st for the next 3 successive tax years until 2029.
Duvall says the new HB 92 stipulations are very much in line to Dade County’s current homestead for property owners, but her advice for the board was to take no action, and keep the current home rule tax plan.
In addition to the tech upgrade for the tax office, commissioners also approved a $21,150 camera surveillance system for the transfer station.
County Executive Don Townsend says a verbal altercation over the weekend prompts the need for better signage and security at the station.
On the topic of the transfer station site, District 3 Commissioner Bob Woods updated the board on the status of TDAC, or the Trenton-Dade Animal Center.
Woods says that is how the soon to be constructed, joint effort facility between the city and county is now being referred to by the task force.
Woods says former Georgia State Senator Jeff Mullis has dedicated the first $1,000 donation to TDAC once the facility’s 501 C3 tax exemption status is achieved. Woods says the application is still in the draft phase, but says the number of citizens asking how they can help or volunteer for the cause underscores the community’s interest in greater animal welfare.
In other expenditure news, Reeves Heating & Air of Trenton won the bid to replace the HVAC system at Dade’s Family & Children Services building at a cost of $33,566. The measure was promptly approved by the commission despite a question from Commissioner Philip Hartline on the type of refrigerant to be used by the new compressor system.
Chairman Townsend says the 10 ton unit serving DFACS was the oldest still operational in the county, with the unit finally giving out for good last week after months of tinkering to keep it working.
In personnel appointments, Cliff Auman was chosen to fulfill the remaining term of Tim Fowler on The Dade Water & Sewer Authority Board.
New Home Volunteer Fire Department Chief Dennis Kelley has announced his resignation. Chairman Don Townsend says Kelley has accepted another job in the Knoxville,Tennessee area and that Davis Volunteer Fire Chief Mark Gibson will serve as the interim chief for New Home.
Regarding county fire service, Dade County Commissioner and Medical Director Dr. Bill Pullen is suggesting a revision to the recently approved contract with Dade County’s seven volunteer fire departments and county government. Pullen says the question of legal liability for on-scene first responders needs to be adequately addressed, noting more than half of all fire calls entail a medical condition. County Attorney Robin Rogers hopes to have an acceptable draft addendum for the fire services contract in the next few weeks.
Dade County Commissioner Melissa Bradford had environmentalism in mind, as she suggested a voluntary glass recycling program, hosted by Overlooked Materials.
Bradford says citizens who want to participate in recycling glass wares can do so with a nominal fee, and then drop off their recyclable glass at a site in the transfer station. The glass is ground into reusable materials ranging from cements to exterior mulch.
Commissioner Bradford also announced Dade County’s annual tire amnesty day will be a month later than usual. This year’s event is slated for June 14th, from 9am until early afternoon at the transfer station.
By: Vince Lennon