Mhm.
» Mhm.
» For the invocation and the pledge.
Let us pray.
Our most kind and gracious heavenly
father, we just thank you for who you
are and what you do for us here in
Whitfield County. Dear heavenly father,
we also thank you for the fact that
America is celebrating its 250th
anniversary.
And through all those years we have
experienced turmoil internally,
externally, we fought wars. Dear
heavenly father, we just pray a special
blessing for all those soldiers,
sailors, airmen, and Marines
who are fighting
at home and abroad. Dear heavenly
father, keep our country safe.
But thank you that we can celebrate 250
years
of uh
of existence with your help. Dear
heavenly father, go with us and guide us
as we deliberate tonight.
And watch over us and protect us. And
thank you for this country we live in.
Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.
>> Amen.
>> I pledge allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America,
and to the republic for which it stands,
one nation under God, indivisible, with
liberty and justice for all.
Let the record reflect that we have
three commissioners present. Chairman
Jensen is actually on the telephone,
and I think by
» And I think our bylaws permit uh him to
uh attend virtually.
And uh
a quorum is met.
Next uh is the approval of the agenda.
It was sent out earlier.
>> I make motion to approve uh with the
exclusion of number eight. Uh the
employee of the month is not here
tonight, so we'll
>> Okay.
>> do that next month.
» Do I have a second?
>> Second.
>> Any questions?
Discussion?
All in favor signify by saying I.
>> I.
>> Let the reflect Let the record reflect
that was a 3-0 vote.
The consent agenda items
are standard that we have looked at.
We need now the approval of the minutes
for the May 11th meeting.
Those were sent out. So moved.
>> Second.
>> We have a motion and a second.
Any discussion?
All in favor signify by saying I.
>> I.
>> Or raise your hand.
Let the record reflect that that was a
3-0 vote.
» Okay, the chairman's report.
Uh Commissioner John Thomas has a
re-election or has won the primary of
re-election. I'm not sure if you have a
November opponent or not.
And it says Commissioner-elect Philip
King. Congratulations on winning that
primary.
However, Commissioner-elect won't happen
until the general election in November.
But congratulations on the primary. And
I'm not sure that you have an opponent
in November, either.
Early voting started today here at the
courthouse.
Election day is June the 16th. We want
to bring that to everyone's attention.
Also, we're still having I understand uh
Washington is having a little difficult
with their
July 4th
celebration, but here in Whitfield
County, we are not.
And uh
>> But we don't have a cage match.
>> We what?
>> We don't have a cage match.
>> Well, that's true, too.
>> Not yet.
okay.
Um
But I But I um
celebrations will begin on June 30th
with the opening of the uh time capsule
right out here in the uh
lawn.
And then um the Liberty Tree planting at
Rocky Face will be July 1st.
The county celebration at the
fairgrounds will be July 2nd.
And then there's going to be downtown
county parade on Friday,
July 3rd.
And then of course at 6:30 that night,
there'll be Pops in in the park concert
at Burr Park.
And the Saturday
celebration will be at the fairgrounds
beginning at 2:30.
Mr. Civic, any other
comments about that?
>> I I would just make note of the fact
that our headlining act, Grand Funk
Railroad, will be appearing on Thursday,
July 2nd at the fairgrounds.
And I would also emphasize that if
you're over the age of 40, you need to
attend these events because you won't be
around for the tricentennial, so
I'm or you'll be there in a walker.
» Okay, uh
commissioners' reports.
Uh Commissioner Jones.
>> Uh nothing this month.
>> Okay.
Commissioner Thomas.
>> No.
>> Okay, I can report that uh there was a
library board meeting
uh
2 weeks ago and uh
construction has begun on the
improvements to the library.
That's doing well. Uh we do have a
incident that we're reviewing the
financials for construction cost. And
so, we'll be uh looking at that over the
next month so we can get a grasp and how
to handle that potential shortfall.
Mr. Civic.
>> No further report.
» Finance.
» So, this is the finance report for
April.
We
collected $5.1 million
year-to-date in sales tax or lost.
We've collected
$1.9 million dollars vehicle tax or TAVT
through April. And our year-to-date
revenue collected has been 15.6 million.
And our year-to-date expenses are 21.6
million, again through April
year-to-date.
As I said, our total revenue
year-to-date
was 15.6 million and we had projected at
this point to have collected 15.7
million.
And the total collections through April
of last year, which compares the two,
was 13.4 million.
And total expenditures through April
30th are 21.7 million
and our budgeted expenditures were 22.2
million. And again, those expenditures
same time last year
were 19 million.
So, through April our revenues are
$119,000
less than what we've budgeted for
and our expenditures are $515,000
less than what we budgeted for. So, this
creates a surplus of 396,000
at this point.
And in our SPLOST 2024 revenues or
collections, we've
collected 38.9 million with actual
expenditures of 28.2.
This doesn't include the encumbrances of
roughly 5.8 million that we will be
expending in the next little bit.
» Where are you going, Barry?
>> I'll go right there.
>> [laughter]
» Listen, I've not driven this thing
before, okay?
Are there any questions on the finance?
>> I make a [clears throat] motion to
approve.
>> We have a motion by Commissioner Jones.
>> I'll second.
>> Second by Commissioner Thomas. Any other
discussions, comments, or questions?
All in favor, signify by raising your
hand.
Let the record reflect that that's a 3-0
vote
and passes.
» Back up one.
>> Yeah.
>> Okay.
>> There we go.
>> There you go.
» Okay, um
public comment.
This is where we welcome anybody who has
any questions, comments,
concerns of any agenda item, any agenda
item,
come forth, please, and state your case.
» Has to be something on the agenda?
>> Yes, it does.
>> And there'll be another
comment
>> at the end.
for anything.
>> Any [clears throat] comment about any
item on the agenda?
Okay.
Moving on.
Uh the Dalton
Whitfield Solid Waste Management
Authority expansion
and the um
that's to expand the landfill
and I have been given a letter to read
into the minutes, please.
In my official capacity as vice chairman
of Whitfield County Board of
Commissioners, I have reviewed the
approved solid waste management plan
dated September 2018
adopted by Whitfield County and the
cities of Cohutta, Dalton, Tunnel Hill,
and Varnell, Georgia, and I have
determined that the proposed horizontal
and vertical expansion
of Dalton Whitfield Solid Waste
Management Authority Phase 6 MSW
Landfill Permit Number 155-047DSL
located at 4189
Old Dixie Road, Old Dixie Highway,
Dalton, Georgia 30721 Parcels
1315701000,
1315702000,
1316702000,
and 1316706000,
and being expanded on the same property
and adjacent properties, Parcels
13-16704000, and 1316806000,
1316805000,
1316807000,
and 1316802000,
in Whitfield County is consistent with
that plan.
Furthermore, having consulted with the
county zoning administrator, I confirm
the proposed facility expansion complies
with local zoning.
And that letter will be sent to the
solid waste authority.
Is that a correct statement?
>> EPD yes.
» [clears throat]
» I can ask if they have any comment.
Do you Dick, do you have any comment
like to add?
This is a formality that we did to
approve this.
>> Yeah, this is the third public meeting
that's been held on the proposed
expansion of the landfill, which
you know, projections show the space in
the landfill now will last to about
2035. So,
meeting first meeting was back in 2024
to discuss that need to expand the
landfill to go
give capacity beyond 2035.
There was another meeting in January
2025 that was about um
choosing to get that extra capacity by
remaining on site and and finding
parcels adjacent to the existing
landfill as opposed to looking elsewhere
within the county.
And that normally would have been done
at that stage, but in the 2025
legislative session
state law changed a bit that said we had
to come back and get a letter
of the form that you just read that sort
of states what exactly what parcels will
be impacted by an expansion.
Exactly what what the county's going
after is a landfill expansion.
That this meets local solid waste
management plan and it
complies with local zoning. So, that's
you know, we're here to meet all those
kind of new
aspects that are in the state law. We've
kind of done everything before, but it
got kind of re-packaged in a
>> Do it in
>> state law change that was in the 2025
legislative session.
» Yeah, it's not clear, but we're not
>> ask for a
motion.
>> Motion.
>> Motion's made by Commissioner Jones.
Seconded by Commissioner Thomas.
>> [clears throat]
>> Discussion.
All in favor signify by saying raising
your hand.
Let it show the record
passed on a 3-0 vote. And thank you,
gentlemen, for coming and clarifying.
» Okay.
Next item is engineering
construction contract award for Westside
Park Community Center.
>> Yes, this is for the community center
that we're that we just broke ground
for.
>> Okay, and
So, we are going to require motion on
this construction.
>> Yeah.
>> And um
>> Award the contract.
it to Moment
Construction.
And um it's for $10,848,373.
And it will be funded through the 2024
SPLOST.
So, do I have a motion?
>> Motion.
by Commissioner Jones, second by
Commissioner Thomas. Any other
discussion? Questions?
All in favor signify by saying
raising your hand.
Let the record reflect that it passed on
3-0 vote.
And then um
there's a phase two
of that a
Oh, phase two of design contract for
Reed Road and Rushton Road.
Okay.
Motion.
>> I make a motion.
>> Motion by Commissioner Jones, second by
Commissioner Thomas.
Any other further discussion? All in
favor signify by raising your hand.
Let the record reflect that it passed on
a 3-0 vote.
The um
Item 13 is grant applications.
We have uh
juvenile court
grant application for children in need
services,
commonly referred to as CHINS,
and that uh is for $40,000,
and there is no required match.
Okay?
I have a motion to accept this. Motion
by Commissioner Thomas, second by
Commissioner Jones.
Any other discussion?
All in favor signify by raising your
hand.
Let the record reflect that it passed on
a 3-0 vote.
The uh
Byrne Justice Assistance Grant, JAG,
is for um
$28,000,
923, and there is no match required. We
like grants with no matches,
and it's for a period of up to 48
months.
Do I have a Motion by Commissioner
Thomas,
second by Commissioner Jones. Any other
further discussion? All in favor signify
by raising your hand.
Let the record reflect it passed on a
3-0 vote.
Next we have uh
Oh, hit This is to remedy the flooding
issue that uh was reached out by the by
the Appalachian Regional Commission,
and it's for a maximum funding grant of
up to $2 million.
Um
» If we get it.
>> I'm sorry.
>> If we get it.
This is to uh request
to approve the application itself.
Do I have a motion to submit that
application? We've got a motion by
Commissioner Jones,
a second by Commissioner Thomas.
All in favor signify by raising your
hand.
Let the record reflect that it passed on
a 3-0 vote.
Uh
next is the animal shelter
Department of Agriculture grant animal
shelter sterilization program.
Um
We are asking for 20 funding up to
$25,000
to spay and neuter
pets primarily
for This is really peop-
adults who are irresponsible.
Anyway,
This is This is all for that. We got to
do this, you know, but Yeah.
We need to apply for this grant.
And there's a motion by Commissioner
Jones to do so, a second by Commissioner
Thomas.
All in favor signify by raising your
hand.
Let the record reflect that it passed on
a
3-0 vote.
Next we have the
fire department wishes to continue the
partnership with Northwest Georgia
the North Georgia Northwestern Technical
College
and enter in a a a memo- enter into a
memorandum agreement
for the term of 2026.
The Whitfield County Fire Department
will continue to provide certified
instructors and GNT C will provide
campus space and equipment to ensure the
effective learning environment.
And um
I am asking for a motion to approve the
MOA with GN
GNT C as presented.
Motion by Commissioner Thomas, second by
Commissioner Jones. And uh
this is
where we last year gave the fire truck.
Georgia
Northwestern
>> No, that wasn't that was that was a
separate matter, but but this this is
the the program that we won an award for
last year from ACCG and and Georgia
Trend Magazine.
>> Good. Thank you very much for
clarifying.
All in favor signify by raising your
hand.
Let the record reflect that it passed on
a 3-0 vote.
Next is the Sheriff's Office
for the purchase
a drug seizure budget line increase.
Sheriff Office office seeks to increase
an operational line in the Whitfield
County Sheriff's Office budget, which
will allow the agency to spend drug
seizure funds for law enforcement
purposes.
And um
we have a motion We need a motion to
approve the increase
of the Sheriff's Office drug seizure by
$50,000.
>> So moved.
>> We have a motion by Commissioner Thomas,
a second by Commissioner Jones.
Any other further discussion, questions,
comments? Let
No.
All approve
by raising your hand. And uh let the
record reflect that it passed on a 3-0
vote.
Um
Public Works is requesting approval to
purchase a Clark S3 S30LP.
This will replace the 1989
M E Heister.
The motion is to approve. It will be
asked to approve the purchase of one
Clark S30LP
Heister
for $42,291
on SPLOST 24.
I guess that's the one question I had.
Will it be paid for out of SPLOST?
Motion by Commissioner Jones.
Second by Commissioner Thomas.
Uh any other discussion?
All in favor signify by raising your
hand.
Let the record reflect that it passed on
a 3-0 vote.
Next is a de-annexation request
for a Varnell partial 1118802000.
There is no land use objection for this
partial for the de-annexation
coming back into the county out of
Varnell.
Is there a motion?
by Commissioner Thomas.
Second by Commissioner Jones.
All in favor
signify by the lifting of hand.
Let the record reflect that it passed on
a 3-0 vote.
Now we have an annexation request in
Varnell
and there is no land use objection for
partial for this partial.
Is there a motion to annex?
Motion by Commissioner Jones.
Second by Commissioner Thomas.
Any other discussion?
All in favor signify by the raising of
the hand.
Let the record reflect that it passed on
a 3-0 vote.
Now we have rezoning and uh gentlemen,
I'll
take these uh separately only because
the second one, Shazman Ali,
has
as the requestor
has requested a denial. Okay? That's a
denial. The first one is from Mr.
Rodriguez to rezone from C-2 to
rural
uh rural residential R-5.
The Planning Commission voted 5-0 5-0 to
approve.
Commissioner Jones makes the recommend
makes a motion to approve that
rezoning.
>> I'll second.
>> Second by Commissioner Thomas.
All in favor signify with a raised hand.
Let the record reflect that
it uh passed on a 3-0 vote.
And for Shazman Ali to re
as he has requested a denial,
we need a motion.
>> I'll make a motion.
>> Commissioner Mike
Commissioner Jones, second.
by Commissioner Thomas.
All in favor signify by raising a hand.
Let the record reflect it passed on a
3-0 vote.
Now, this is the part of the uh
public uh meeting
that is for public comment.
And we have pasted posted the rules. You
see them on the screen.
And um
so if you wish to make a public comment
and hearing to these
outline,
please come to the mic, state your name
and address for the record.
» Hello, I'm Marsha Whitener. Um the
co-founder one of the co-founders of the
Whitfield County Avenue of Flags.
I would like to say that we are
celebrating Flag Day on June 14th. Our
flags go out on June 12th. Um that's on
a Friday morning and we retrieve them on
Tuesday afternoon at 4:30. We meet at
7:00. Um oh, and I thank the sheriff's
office for always having um
inmates there to help us push these
buggies.
When we started in 1991 during Desert
Storm, actually we started during Desert
Shield when Mike Babb was the chairman
of the county commissioners.
And we had tons of patriotic everyday
citizens to help.
Nowadays, we may have five to six.
And so,
I would invite each of you to come and
serve.
And each of you back here to come and
serve, put the flags out, help bring
them in
on the following Tuesday.
Anybody can do it.
And I see several of you here that have
helped in the past. And um and then
we'll put them up for the 4th of July.
Don't have those dates exactly, but I
appreciate your time and hope to see
some of you there. 7:00 on the 12th,
4:00 on the 16th.
>> Right.
>> Thank you.
>> Thanks for that announcement.
» Hello. I'm Carmen Schuler, and my
address is 728 West Tyler Street in
Dalton.
And I'm here with a group of concerned
citizens today. Uh we're concerned about
data center strategic planning in
Whitfield County.
Uh we do understand what the bond issue
was about. There was some confusion in
the community about that vote, as you
know, and maybe some vagueness in the in
the paper. I know they made their best
effort to cover it, but but people were
confused.
But that's not why I'm standing here.
with some questions
that I feel like that we need answered
um before further development, including
environmental and public health impact
studies
um that could be used along with best
practices
uh from national industrial guidelines.
I'm [snorts] not sure we're doing all
that or have done that. So, in order for
you and future commissioners to be sure
that you are making the best decisions
for us,
we're asking for a 2-year planning
moratorium on accepting any future
applications
and making any future
um development approvals until those
strategic plans can be developed based
on research, study, and best practices
across the country. I know you can do
that for us. Thank you.
» Hi, I'm Kathy Cott. Um my address is
5015 Cohutta Heights, Cohutta, Georgia,
30710.
And um I am also in agreement that we
need to have a moratorium until we have
more information. And I also would like
to ask and encourage the commission the
commissioners here to um
to make a greater effort to inform the
public. Uh there's just a lot I'm a
running for a uh state house seat and
I'm in touch with a a lot of uh
residents all over
uh Whitfield and Murray counties and I
can tell you
uh we have the PFAS issue. Everyone's
fully aware of how catastrophic that is.
And then over in Murray County the issue
with their bio waste, what a big mess
that turned out to be. I think and then
now this the data center's just coming
on the heels, right? And I feel like uh
one of thing that would really help us
is to have a an educational series, some
more transparency.
The public really needs to understand.
We're hearing about other communities
who have non-disclosure agreements about
financing and things like this and we
just want to be more informed and
understand and just move a little bit
slower. These, you know, these things
are
financed by billionaires, we know.
They're coming into our communities and
using our resources should benefit us
and protect us. I know that AI and all
these things are a freight train that's
coming through here, but it doesn't have
to be devastating and we don't have to
be taken advantage of just because we're
a rural community
who for the most part, you know, stays
at home and keeps to their self, but we
all want our our land. We want to be
good stewards and we want your help with
that. So, that's what I have to say
today.
» I'm Dennis Mack, 1907 Cameron Drive here
in Dalton. Um, I'm coming as a citizen,
as a city council member and I just have
a suggestion. I've thought about this a
long time. I know you guys have dealt
with this in the past, but um, the tax
assessor's office
is kind of in a shamble right now and uh
I'd like to see you guys go out and hire
whatever it takes to get a team in here
to get that corrected. Our digest is so
far out of line. We We in the city don't
know where our money's coming from or
how much we're getting. We can't project
budgets well and I'm sure you guys can't
either based on the current digest and
it's not fair.
And if you could hire somebody, a team
from another county that's doing well
with it, temporarily or whatever it
takes to get it done, I'd like to see
you move in that direction because I
think it would help
your revenue flow, it'd help our revenue
flow and we may actually have more money
that's
we're missing because because the
assessments are not correct. So, uh I
think that the community will get behind
you spending some money to fix that. Um
it would certainly help us all.
And um
that's my wish.
Thanks.
» My name is James Worth. Been here every
meeting last few of them. Y'all know
what we've been going through in
Carbondale with the Essentia issue.
Uh last time I was here I asked for a
cease and desist order. At this moment,
I'd like to know what the board has any
intention of giving us any protection on
that end from all these odors and others
issues. Does the board have anything
going on to give us any relief down
there?
That's the question I have to recognize
last
meeting for a cease and desist. So, has
that been tabled? Has that been ignored?
Uh do we have anything going on?
Does the board have anything going on
for our protection?
And that's a direct question.
I have more to speak of, but I'd like to
know what we're doing there because I've
been requesting it, requesting it, and
stonewalled.
Outside of that, we know it stinks. It's
been acknowledged.
There's been an issue, it's been
acknowledged. There've been people
brought brought down, it's been
acknowledged.
The JDA refused to act, you all refused
to act. I've asked for you to act as an
overseer of the JDA.
We get no solution, we get nothing but
runaround.
I've been told, "Oh, they're trying
this. They're going to try that." What
are they trying? Nothing, don't know.
When? Don't know. Don't know doesn't
change the fact that we're still getting
polluted down there.
Now, this AIS section, we have the EPD
uh air permits going on for the data
centers.
You know, this is something coming. It's
Some of this stuff is very slow to get
out. Seems like after it's all uh aired
for 30 days is when we hear about it.
And then it's too late to say anything.
The transparency is lacking if at all.
You know, nobody here knows what's going
on till it's over. And then we're stuck
with it. We ain't stuck yet cuz the EPD
has not verified these
uh generators yet. There's 81.4 megawatt
generators, 380
uh 480-V three-phase generators. They
run at uh 75 gallons per hour
on a 70% load. This is 6,000 gallons of
diesel in our air. This is 3 mi from
Essentia that's stinking us up already.
And now we want 6,000 gallons of diesel
fumes in the air.
6,000 gallons of diesel fuel
burns for these 80 generators.
Did anybody think this through when you
approved them to come down there? Is
this approved to come down and pollute
our air more?
This what's going on. This isn't a joke.
It's not something that's just taken
lightly. At this moment, I truly believe
we have intentional negligence going on
in in the county.
If not willful misconduct.
And that's what I'm accusing and that's
what I've been asking for a solution and
give us a remedy.
Give us our air back. Let us breathe and
have fun with our kids in the yard. You
may live on the north end of town. We
live on the south end. And we're
polluted, we're gagging, and we're
stifled, and we're getting ignored.
Now, who's going to help? Who's going to
take care and protect the citizens of
Whitfield County.
Who's going to stand up?
Anybody?
I'm listening. I'm asking. I've
requested.
The next one's not going to be pretty.
At this moment, we have Dalton Utilities
involved. I have spoke with the
administrator, Andrew. We have him
involved. Now, this is all the way down
to JDA, Carl Campbell, who's refused to
act.
Y'all refused to act.
And we're all getting poisoned.
You can look at me and say what you
want, think what you want, but I'm here
representing Whitfield County, and
that's what y'all are supposed to be
doing, is representing Whitfield County.
Not individual concerns, not
billion-dollar bonds, the citizens, our
health, our 876 children at Valley Point
that had to breathe this crap all year.
Yeah.
We're still breathing it. Up to
yesterday, still documented breathing
stink.
And now you're bringing in 6,000 gallons
of diesel fumes when these generators
fire off. Is that approved? Is that Is that something that y'all think is
right?
Yeah, 6,000 gallons of diesel fuel per
hour.
Same location as I sent you with the
stink there.
The same one that's causing Dalton
Utility issues with sewer overflows in
the Swamp Creek area now.
This stuff is snowballing. It's
snowballing.
And I'm being polite. I'm trying to
refrain from what I feel,
but it's snowballing, and there's no
action being done.
>> Thank you for your comment. Your time is
up.
>> Thank you.
» [applause]
>> Thank you.
» Any other comments?
Any other?
comments?
» That was really a question that I'm I'm
with him. Why don't we have an answer to
any question?
>> I'm I'm fighting with you.
>> Oh, it's ain't over. We're talking about
a half a billion dollars
Willful misconduct is not a very nice
thing to do to the citizens
[clears throat]
>> Do I have a motion to adjourn since
there are apparently no other questions?
>> It's your turn to talk.
>> Go.
I'm sorry.
>> It's your turn to talk. He asked you a
question.
>> I have a motion to adjourn by
Commissioner Jones, second by
Commissioner Thomas.
Meeting is adjourned.