DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Lumpkin County Manager Stan Kelley outlined some of the possibilities of a road maintenance and improvement tax city and county officials are considering during Tuesday’s work session.

City and county officials held a joint meeting last week to discuss placing the tax on the March Primary ballot. The tax is similar to a special purpose local option sales tax in that each time a sale is made in Lumpkin County up to one cent per dollar is placed in a fund dedicated solely to improving roads, sidewalks, bridges, trails and culverts in the city and county.

Kelley estimated the tax — collected over a five-year period — could generate $15 million and he recommended a 20 percent split with the City of Dahlonega.

The city would have to agree to that split then both the city and county would sign an intergovernmental agreement and establish a priority list of road projects before going to the voters.

One project that tops the list for both is the intersection of Oak Grove Road and Highway 19. It has been in need of safety measures for years, but the Georgia Department of Transportation has not placed it on its project list.

Public Works Director Larry Reiter estimated that project alone would cost about $4 million. Road paving projects could cost another $6 million.

Other issues discussed at Tuesday’s work session included:

• An amendment to the county’s hotel-motel tax ordinance that allows filers to remit taxes on a quarterly basis rather than monthly if the filer also remits quarterly sales taxes to the state. The proposed revision to the ordinance also addresses the civil penalties to make the language more streamlined and addresses the criminal penalties to bring the county ordinance in line with state law;
• A resolution to update 9-1-1 charges on telephone services and wireless enhanced services to $1.50 per month and prepaid wireless services to $1.50 per retail transaction;
• Renewal of the agreement with Mobile Communications for phone and radio service that covers all parts and labor (excluding batteries and antennas) and has been in place for several years. Staff says the company has provided excellent service and 24/7 priority response;
• Agreement to lease J.B. Jones Preschool building on Mechanicsville Road to Ninth District Opportunity (NDO) to operate its Head Start Program from Oct. 1, 2018 through Sept. 30, 2019 at no charge as an in-kind contribution valued at $152,900. NDO is a private non-profit organization required to match 20 percent of its federal funding with cash or in-kind contribution;
• The appointment of Chairman Chris Dockery as the voting delegate to the Legislative Leadership Conference.
• Rebidding a lease contract with Mark Robinson for operation of the county transfer station;
• Acceptance of the SAFER grant that will allow the county’s emergency services to staff two more fire station and add a fourth ambulance;
• Special event permit for the Hemlock Fest scheduled Nov. 2 through Nov. 4;
• Alcohol beverage license and tasting room for Red, Wine and Blue Vineyard at 400 Blueberry Hill.

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