After a tense discussion and 3-2 vote during July’s meeting of the Dade County Board of Commissioners; three resolutions regarding the long-discussed property on Sells Lane have been passed, and the Dade County Commission will take over rights to the property.
Each of the five commissioners weighed in heavily during the discussions of Resolution R-40-22, the Approval of the Assignment, Assumption, and Release Agreement with GEFA and the Dade County Water and Sewer Authority. Commissioner Hartline started and ended the discussion with points relating to the commissioners having denied a 3% raise to government employees, yet agreeing to “hopes and dreams” of a future lake or reservoir. Commissioner Lowery spoke extensively that he felt the Commission had not done “due diligence” in the time since the Water Authority proposed the takeover of the Sells Lane property. Commissioner Bradford stated that she had been on the fence, but had been listening to what the people in her district wanted regarding new opportunities for recreation in the county. Commissioner Goff continued his stance that Dade County, along with the rest of America, has a clean water issue that we have to be working toward fixing before it’s too late.
Resolutions R-40-22 as stated above, R-41-22 (Approval of the Intergovernmental Agreement with Dade County Water and Sewer Authority regarding the purchase, ownership, and management of the Sells Lane property tract), and R-42-22 (Approval of a quitclaim deed from Dade County Water and Sewer Authority regarding the purchase, ownership, and management of the Sells Lane property tract) were voted on in the Unfinished Business section of the regular meeting. Each received a 3-2 vote for passing; with Commissioners Bradford and Goff voting yes, Commissioners Hartline and Lowery voting no, and Executive Rumley being the deciding vote of yes.
Also on the agenda, was the call for a ballot referendum to impose a 1% Transportation Special Local Option Sales Tax (T-SPLOST). The T-SPLOST vote will be placed on the ballot for the November 8th election. Details on how the T-SPLOST is drawn up are available on the County website under.
A press release discussing the 5-year history, and advertising the 1st and 2nd public hearings concerning the new Millage Rate can be expected on July 13th.
Other items on this month’s agenda included;
- Appointment of member to the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission Board to fulfill the unexpired term of Mr. Peter Cervelli: A new member was not appointed; Executive Rumley stated there have been three individuals who have expressed interest in the role–will be done before August meeting.
- Appointment of member to the Industrial Development Authority to replace Mr. Evan Stone; as Stone has taken a full-time position with the County, Adam Austin has taken his place as member of the Industrial Development Authority
- Fire Chiefs’ Association was approved for the purchase of Multi-gas Detectors for New Salem, Trenton, New Home, and Davis Volunteer Fire Departments using SPLOST funds
- Three pursuit vehicles were approved for the Dade County Sheriff’s Office, not to exceed an expenditure of $50,000 after considering accessories needed for the vehicle
- ARPA expenditures were approved for the following:
- Imaging & indexing of deed records and grantor/grantee index books from 1849-1997
- Upgrading administration equipment to Microsoft Dynamics SL Financial Software
- Updates on the following projects:
- Historic Courthouse Restoration Project
- Town Creek Trail by Scenic Dade Development Company
You can watch Thursday’s proceedings below:
by Orey Yates
