Signet apartment complex proposal goes back to City Council Monday
News February 28, 2021
DAHLONEGA, Ga. – City Council is expected to vote Monday on Signet Real Estate Group’s request to rezone 10 acres at 258 Hawkins Street from R1 to Planned Unit Development to construct a 92-unit apartment complex primarily for the college community.
The meeting is set for 6 p.m. in City Hall, 465 Riley Road.
Dahlonega residents packed the City Council meeting, on Nov. 16, to express their concerns regarding the development which is across the street from Dahlonega Baptist Church. Those concerns include traffic, impact on infrastructure, impact on natural resources and noise/behavior of residents.
Signet faces an uphill battle since the Planning Commission, Planning Director and the City Manager have all recommend denial.
Finance Director Melody Marlowe, will present a budget amendment for Council consideration.
The original FY2021 budget was approved by Council on last September. Several capital projects were budgeted in FY2020 but not completed at year-end. Staff has recommended approval of the amendment in order to bring forward budget balances for those capital projects already in progress.
Marlowe will also present the January Financial Report. Property tax collections through Dec. 31 reflect that 96.8 percent of 2020 taxes budgeted have been collected to date. Sales tax collections have increased, and year-to-date amounts are 15.2 percent more than last fiscal year. The change in the state law related to taxation of internet sales has more than offset the decline in revenue anticipated from the Pandemic.
Other issues Council will consider include:
- An amendment to Columbarium pricing that could potentially generate an additional $36,400 in revenue;
- A bid by Turnipseed Engineering in an amount not to exceed $56,000 to provide engineering and construction administration services on the Barlow Lift Station Upgrade Project which is currently planned for FY2022;
- A request by Public Works Director and City Engineer Mark Buchanan to hire a full time Solid Waste Supervisor who currently works on a half-time basis, sharing the remainder of his employment in Capital Projects administration;
- Buchanan will initiate a discussion regarding the designation of 11 South Meaders parking spaces as Metered Parking to increase turnover and provide additional parking opportunities for downtown visitors and shoppers;
- A bid by Colditz Trucking, Inc. in the amount of $101,363.52 to provide asphalt and resurfacing of city streets identified as Local Maintenance Improvement Grant Project #2021-001; 13. Asphalt Leveling and Resurfacing of City Streets in Dahlonega, Ga In House Project for 2021;
- A bid by Colditz Trucking to provide asphalt and resurfacing of city streets in Dahlonega identified as Asphalt Leveling and Resurfacing of City Streets In Dahlonega, Ga In House Project for 2021, #2021-002 at an estimated cost of between $200,000 and $220,000.
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Dahlonega City Council meeting Monday
News April 17, 2020
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — Utility billing late fees and disconnection of services will be an important topic for discussion when the Dahlonega City Council meets in and combined work session and called meeting Monday (April 20) at 4 p.m. at City Hall.
Financial Director Melody Marlow reports that calls and emails have increased from customers requesting extension of due dates for paying utility bills because of inability to pay related to the Coronavirus Pandemic.
Council will review requirements of the Water and Sewer Rates Ordinance and determine if action is warranted to temporarily suspend late fees and disconnection of service. In the past, a penalty of 10% or a minimum amount of $2 was added each month to any delinquent utility bill that has not been paid by the tenth of each month. Any utility bill delinquent on the 20th of the month has, in the past, resulted in service being discontinued, and a service charge of $75. added to the bill.
Since Council’s adoption of the emergency declaration in March, there have been no service disconnections or penalty charges for non-payment of utility bills.
On average, the city collects $7,800 a month in utility penalties and fees each month. The 10 percent penalty charged on the 10th of the month averages $3,800. The $75 fee charged on the 20th of the month averages $4,000.
Council may temporarily suspend the requirements to charge penalties and disconnect services for non-payment. Any grace period would apply to all residential and commercial customers.
Staff recommends a temporary two-month suspension suspend charging late fees or disconnecting service because of inability to pay utility bills for two months starting in April.
Council also will review a request for approval by the University of North Georgia to install an exterior sign on property owned by the City of Dahlonega at Barlow Road. If approved, UNG will bear all capital and maintenance costs for the new sign and the sign will be up lighted from an external source.
Due to recommendations by the CDC during the Coronavirus crisis, this meeting will be conducted via teleconference. To join the meeting, go to https://dahlonega.gov/category/news/
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com