[1:59] Mhm.
[3:54] » Mhm.
[4:54] » For the invocation and the pledge.
[4:58] Let us pray.
[5:02] Our most kind and gracious heavenly
[5:03] father, we just thank you for who you
[5:05] are and what you do for us here in
[5:06] Whitfield County. Dear heavenly father,
[5:08] we also thank you for the fact that
[5:10] America is celebrating its 250th
[5:12] anniversary.
[5:14] And through all those years we have
[5:16] experienced turmoil internally,
[5:18] externally, we fought wars. Dear
[5:19] heavenly father, we just pray a special
[5:21] blessing for all those soldiers,
[5:23] sailors, airmen, and Marines
[5:26] who are fighting
[5:27] at home and abroad. Dear heavenly
[5:28] father, keep our country safe.
[5:31] But thank you that we can celebrate 250
[5:34] years
[5:35] of uh
[5:36] of existence with your help. Dear
[5:38] heavenly father, go with us and guide us
[5:41] as we deliberate tonight.
[5:44] And watch over us and protect us. And
[5:46] thank you for this country we live in.
[5:48] Jesus' name I pray.
[5:50] Amen.
[5:51] >> Amen.
[5:52] >> I pledge allegiance to the flag
[5:55] of the United States of America,
[5:57] and to the republic for which it stands,
[6:00] one nation under God, indivisible, with
[6:03] liberty and justice for all.
[6:14] Let the record reflect that we have
[6:15] three commissioners present. Chairman
[6:18] Jensen is actually on the telephone,
[6:21] and I think by
[6:26] » And I think our bylaws permit uh him to
[6:29] uh attend virtually.
[6:32] And uh
[6:33] a quorum is met.
[6:37] Next uh is the approval of the agenda.
[6:41] It was sent out earlier.
[6:44] >> I make motion to approve uh with the
[6:47] exclusion of number eight. Uh the
[6:50] employee of the month is not here
[6:51] tonight, so we'll
[6:52] >> Okay.
[6:52] >> do that next month.
[6:56] » Do I have a second?
[6:57] >> Second.
[6:59] >> Any questions?
[7:02] Discussion?
[7:04] All in favor signify by saying I.
[7:06] >> I.
[7:07] >> Let the reflect Let the record reflect
[7:08] that was a 3-0 vote.
[7:12] The consent agenda items
[7:14] are standard that we have looked at.
[7:17] We need now the approval of the minutes
[7:20] for the May 11th meeting.
[7:23] Those were sent out. So moved.
[7:25] >> Second.
[7:26] >> We have a motion and a second.
[7:29] Any discussion?
[7:32] All in favor signify by saying I.
[7:34] >> I.
[7:34] >> Or raise your hand.
[7:36] Let the record reflect that that was a
[7:38] 3-0 vote.
[7:54] » Okay, the chairman's report.
[7:58] Uh Commissioner John Thomas has a
[8:00] re-election or has won the primary of
[8:03] re-election. I'm not sure if you have a
[8:05] November opponent or not.
[8:07] And it says Commissioner-elect Philip
[8:10] King. Congratulations on winning that
[8:12] primary.
[8:14] However, Commissioner-elect won't happen
[8:16] until the general election in November.
[8:19] But congratulations on the primary. And
[8:21] I'm not sure that you have an opponent
[8:22] in November, either.
[8:27] Early voting started today here at the
[8:29] courthouse.
[8:31] Election day is June the 16th. We want
[8:34] to bring that to everyone's attention.
[8:37] Also, we're still having I understand uh
[8:42] Washington is having a little difficult
[8:44] with their
[8:45] July 4th
[8:47] celebration, but here in Whitfield
[8:49] County, we are not.
[8:51] And uh
[8:53] >> But we don't have a cage match.
[8:54] >> We what?
[8:55] >> We don't have a cage match.
[8:56] >> Well, that's true, too.
[8:59] >> Not yet.
[8:59] okay.
[9:02] Um
[9:05] But I But I um
[9:06] celebrations will begin on June 30th
[9:09] with the opening of the uh time capsule
[9:11] right out here in the uh
[9:14] lawn.
[9:16] And then um the Liberty Tree planting at
[9:18] Rocky Face will be July 1st.
[9:21] The county celebration at the
[9:23] fairgrounds will be July 2nd.
[9:27] And then there's going to be downtown
[9:29] county parade on Friday,
[9:31] July 3rd.
[9:33] And then of course at 6:30 that night,
[9:35] there'll be Pops in in the park concert
[9:38] at Burr Park.
[9:40] And the Saturday
[9:41] celebration will be at the fairgrounds
[9:44] beginning at 2:30.
[9:48] Mr. Civic, any other
[9:50] comments about that?
[9:51] >> I I would just make note of the fact
[9:53] that our headlining act, Grand Funk
[9:56] Railroad, will be appearing on Thursday,
[9:58] July 2nd at the fairgrounds.
[10:00] And I would also emphasize that if
[10:03] you're over the age of 40, you need to
[10:05] attend these events because you won't be
[10:07] around for the tricentennial, so
[10:10] I'm or you'll be there in a walker.
[10:17] » Okay, uh
[10:18] commissioners' reports.
[10:20] Uh Commissioner Jones.
[10:21] >> Uh nothing this month.
[10:23] >> Okay.
[10:24] Commissioner Thomas.
[10:25] >> No.
[10:27] >> Okay, I can report that uh there was a
[10:30] library board meeting
[10:32] uh
[10:33] 2 weeks ago and uh
[10:36] construction has begun on the
[10:38] improvements to the library.
[10:40] That's doing well. Uh we do have a
[10:43] incident that we're reviewing the
[10:45] financials for construction cost. And
[10:48] so, we'll be uh looking at that over the
[10:50] next month so we can get a grasp and how
[10:53] to handle that potential shortfall.
[11:01] Mr. Civic.
[11:02] >> No further report.
[11:07] » Finance.
[11:15] » So, this is the finance report for
[11:17] April.
[11:18] We
[11:20] collected $5.1 million
[11:23] year-to-date in sales tax or lost.
[11:27] We've collected
[11:29] $1.9 million dollars vehicle tax or TAVT
[11:34] through April. And our year-to-date
[11:36] revenue collected has been 15.6 million.
[11:40] And our year-to-date expenses are 21.6
[11:43] million, again through April
[11:45] year-to-date.
[11:50] As I said, our total revenue
[11:53] year-to-date
[11:55] was 15.6 million and we had projected at
[11:59] this point to have collected 15.7
[12:01] million.
[12:03] And the total collections through April
[12:05] of last year, which compares the two,
[12:08] was 13.4 million.
[12:14] And total expenditures through April
[12:16] 30th are 21.7 million
[12:20] and our budgeted expenditures were 22.2
[12:24] million. And again, those expenditures
[12:27] same time last year
[12:29] were 19 million.
[12:35] So, through April our revenues are
[12:38] $119,000
[12:39] less than what we've budgeted for
[12:42] and our expenditures are $515,000
[12:46] less than what we budgeted for. So, this
[12:49] creates a surplus of 396,000
[12:53] at this point.
[12:58] And in our SPLOST 2024 revenues or
[13:02] collections, we've
[13:04] collected 38.9 million with actual
[13:07] expenditures of 28.2.
[13:11] This doesn't include the encumbrances of
[13:13] roughly 5.8 million that we will be
[13:17] expending in the next little bit.
[13:34] » Where are you going, Barry?
[13:35] >> I'll go right there.
[13:37] >> [laughter]
[13:39] » Listen, I've not driven this thing
[13:40] before, okay?
[13:44] Are there any questions on the finance?
[13:47] >> I make a [clears throat] motion to
[13:48] approve.
[13:50] >> We have a motion by Commissioner Jones.
[13:53] >> I'll second.
[13:56] >> Second by Commissioner Thomas. Any other
[13:58] discussions, comments, or questions?
[14:01] All in favor, signify by raising your
[14:02] hand.
[14:04] Let the record reflect that that's a 3-0
[14:06] vote
[14:07] and passes.
[14:20] » Back up one.
[14:21] >> Yeah.
[14:22] >> Okay.
[14:23] >> There we go.
[14:23] >> There you go.
[14:26] » Okay, um
[14:28] public comment.
[14:30] This is where we welcome anybody who has
[14:33] any questions, comments,
[14:35] concerns of any agenda item, any agenda
[14:39] item,
[14:41] come forth, please, and state your case.
[14:47] » Has to be something on the agenda?
[14:48] >> Yes, it does.
[14:49] >> And there'll be another
[14:51] comment
[14:52] >> at the end.
[14:52] for anything.
[14:55] >> Any [clears throat] comment about any
[14:56] item on the agenda?
[15:00] Okay.
[15:03] Moving on.
[15:04] Uh the Dalton
[15:06] Whitfield Solid Waste Management
[15:09] Authority expansion
[15:11] and the um
[15:14] that's to expand the landfill
[15:17] and I have been given a letter to read
[15:23] into the minutes, please.
[15:25] In my official capacity as vice chairman
[15:28] of Whitfield County Board of
[15:29] Commissioners, I have reviewed the
[15:31] approved solid waste management plan
[15:34] dated September 2018
[15:37] adopted by Whitfield County and the
[15:39] cities of Cohutta, Dalton, Tunnel Hill,
[15:42] and Varnell, Georgia, and I have
[15:44] determined that the proposed horizontal
[15:47] and vertical expansion
[15:49] of Dalton Whitfield Solid Waste
[15:52] Management Authority Phase 6 MSW
[15:55] Landfill Permit Number 155-047DSL
[16:00] located at 4189
[16:03] Old Dixie Road, Old Dixie Highway,
[16:06] Dalton, Georgia 30721 Parcels
[16:09] 1315701000,
[16:12] 1315702000,
[16:15] 1316702000,
[16:18] and 1316706000,
[16:22] and being expanded on the same property
[16:24] and adjacent properties, Parcels
[16:26] 13-16704000, and 1316806000,
[16:35] 1316805000,
[16:38] 1316807000,
[16:41] and 1316802000,
[16:44] in Whitfield County is consistent with
[16:46] that plan.
[16:48] Furthermore, having consulted with the
[16:50] county zoning administrator, I confirm
[16:53] the proposed facility expansion complies
[16:57] with local zoning.
[16:59] And that letter will be sent to the
[17:02] solid waste authority.
[17:04] Is that a correct statement?
[17:05] >> EPD yes.
[17:10] » [clears throat]
[17:13] » I can ask if they have any comment.
[17:15] Do you Dick, do you have any comment
[17:17] like to add?
[17:19] This is a formality that we did to
[17:20] approve this.
[17:22] >> Yeah, this is the third public meeting
[17:24] that's been held on the proposed
[17:26] expansion of the landfill, which
[17:29] you know, projections show the space in
[17:31] the landfill now will last to about
[17:32] 2035. So,
[17:37] meeting first meeting was back in 2024
[17:39] to discuss that need to expand the
[17:40] landfill to go
[17:42] give capacity beyond 2035.
[17:45] There was another meeting in January
[17:47] 2025 that was about um
[17:51] choosing to get that extra capacity by
[17:53] remaining on site and and finding
[17:55] parcels adjacent to the existing
[17:57] landfill as opposed to looking elsewhere
[17:59] within the county.
[18:01] And that normally would have been done
[18:03] at that stage, but in the 2025
[18:05] legislative session
[18:08] state law changed a bit that said we had
[18:09] to come back and get a letter
[18:11] of the form that you just read that sort
[18:13] of states what exactly what parcels will
[18:15] be impacted by an expansion.
[18:18] Exactly what what the county's going
[18:20] after is a landfill expansion.
[18:22] That this meets local solid waste
[18:25] management plan and it
[18:27] complies with local zoning. So, that's
[18:29] you know, we're here to meet all those
[18:30] kind of new
[18:32] aspects that are in the state law. We've
[18:34] kind of done everything before, but it
[18:35] got kind of re-packaged in a
[18:38] >> Do it in
[18:38] >> state law change that was in the 2025
[18:40] legislative session.
[18:43] » Yeah, it's not clear, but we're not
[18:45] >> ask for a
[18:46] motion.
[18:47] >> Motion.
[18:47] >> Motion's made by Commissioner Jones.
[18:52] Seconded by Commissioner Thomas.
[18:55] >> [clears throat]
[18:56] >> Discussion.
[18:57] All in favor signify by saying raising
[19:00] your hand.
[19:02] Let it show the record
[19:04] passed on a 3-0 vote. And thank you,
[19:06] gentlemen, for coming and clarifying.
[19:15] » Okay.
[19:17] Next item is engineering
[19:25] construction contract award for Westside
[19:30] Park Community Center.
[19:33] >> Yes, this is for the community center
[19:34] that we're that we just broke ground
[19:36] for.
[19:37] >> Okay, and
[19:46] So, we are going to require motion on
[19:48] this construction.
[19:50] >> Yeah.
[19:50] >> And um
[19:51] >> Award the contract.
[19:52] it to Moment
[19:55] Construction.
[19:56] And um it's for $10,848,373.
[20:02] And it will be funded through the 2024
[20:05] SPLOST.
[20:07] So, do I have a motion?
[20:09] >> Motion.
[20:09] by Commissioner Jones, second by
[20:12] Commissioner Thomas. Any other
[20:14] discussion? Questions?
[20:16] All in favor signify by saying
[20:19] raising your hand.
[20:21] Let the record reflect that it passed on
[20:23] 3-0 vote.
[20:25] And then um
[20:26] there's a phase two
[20:29] of that a
[20:30] Oh, phase two of design contract for
[20:33] Reed Road and Rushton Road.
[20:41] Okay.
[20:43] Motion.
[20:43] >> I make a motion.
[20:44] >> Motion by Commissioner Jones, second by
[20:47] Commissioner Thomas.
[20:49] Any other further discussion? All in
[20:51] favor signify by raising your hand.
[20:54] Let the record reflect that it passed on
[20:55] a 3-0 vote.
[21:02] The um
[21:04] Item 13 is grant applications.
[21:07] We have uh
[21:08] juvenile court
[21:10] grant application for children in need
[21:14] services,
[21:15] commonly referred to as CHINS,
[21:18] and that uh is for $40,000,
[21:22] and there is no required match.
[21:25] Okay?
[21:27] I have a motion to accept this. Motion
[21:30] by Commissioner Thomas, second by
[21:32] Commissioner Jones.
[21:34] Any other discussion?
[21:36] All in favor signify by raising your
[21:37] hand.
[21:39] Let the record reflect that it passed on
[21:40] a 3-0 vote.
[21:42] The uh
[21:44] Byrne Justice Assistance Grant, JAG,
[21:48] is for um
[21:50] $28,000,
[21:53] 923, and there is no match required. We
[21:57] like grants with no matches,
[21:59] and it's for a period of up to 48
[22:01] months.
[22:04] Do I have a Motion by Commissioner
[22:05] Thomas,
[22:07] second by Commissioner Jones. Any other
[22:09] further discussion? All in favor signify
[22:12] by raising your hand.
[22:14] Let the record reflect it passed on a
[22:16] 3-0 vote.
[22:21] Next we have uh
[22:23] Oh, hit This is to remedy the flooding
[22:25] issue that uh was reached out by the by
[22:28] the Appalachian Regional Commission,
[22:31] and it's for a maximum funding grant of
[22:34] up to $2 million.
[22:36] Um
[22:40] » If we get it.
[22:41] >> I'm sorry.
[22:42] >> If we get it.
[22:44] This is to uh request
[22:46] to approve the application itself.
[22:49] Do I have a motion to submit that
[22:51] application? We've got a motion by
[22:53] Commissioner Jones,
[22:54] a second by Commissioner Thomas.
[22:57] All in favor signify by raising your
[22:59] hand.
[23:00] Let the record reflect that it passed on
[23:02] a 3-0 vote.
[23:07] Uh
[23:08] next is the animal shelter
[23:11] Department of Agriculture grant animal
[23:14] shelter sterilization program.
[23:17] Um
[23:19] We are asking for 20 funding up to
[23:22] $25,000
[23:24] to spay and neuter
[23:26] pets primarily
[23:28] for This is really peop-
[23:32] adults who are irresponsible.
[23:35] Anyway,
[23:37] This is This is all for that. We got to
[23:38] do this, you know, but Yeah.
[23:41] We need to apply for this grant.
[23:43] And there's a motion by Commissioner
[23:44] Jones to do so, a second by Commissioner
[23:47] Thomas.
[23:49] All in favor signify by raising your
[23:51] hand.
[23:52] Let the record reflect that it passed on
[23:54] a
[23:55] 3-0 vote.
[23:57] Next we have the
[23:59] fire department wishes to continue the
[24:01] partnership with Northwest Georgia
[24:04] the North Georgia Northwestern Technical
[24:06] College
[24:08] and enter in a a a memo- enter into a
[24:11] memorandum agreement
[24:13] for the term of 2026.
[24:16] The Whitfield County Fire Department
[24:18] will continue to provide certified
[24:20] instructors and GNT C will provide
[24:23] campus space and equipment to ensure the
[24:26] effective learning environment.
[24:29] And um
[24:30] I am asking for a motion to approve the
[24:33] MOA with GN
[24:35] GNT C as presented.
[24:37] Motion by Commissioner Thomas, second by
[24:40] Commissioner Jones. And uh
[24:42] this is
[24:44] where we last year gave the fire truck.
[24:47] Georgia
[24:49] Northwestern
[24:49] >> No, that wasn't that was that was a
[24:51] separate matter, but but this this is
[24:53] the the program that we won an award for
[24:56] last year from ACCG and and Georgia
[24:58] Trend Magazine.
[24:59] >> Good. Thank you very much for
[25:00] clarifying.
[25:02] All in favor signify by raising your
[25:03] hand.
[25:05] Let the record reflect that it passed on
[25:07] a 3-0 vote.
[25:10] Next is the Sheriff's Office
[25:12] for the purchase
[25:15] a drug seizure budget line increase.
[25:25] Sheriff Office office seeks to increase
[25:27] an operational line in the Whitfield
[25:29] County Sheriff's Office budget, which
[25:32] will allow the agency to spend drug
[25:34] seizure funds for law enforcement
[25:36] purposes.
[25:38] And um
[25:39] we have a motion We need a motion to
[25:42] approve the increase
[25:43] of the Sheriff's Office drug seizure by
[25:46] $50,000.
[25:49] >> So moved.
[25:50] >> We have a motion by Commissioner Thomas,
[25:52] a second by Commissioner Jones.
[25:56] Any other further discussion, questions,
[25:59] comments? Let
[26:02] No.
[26:05] All approve
[26:06] by raising your hand. And uh let the
[26:09] record reflect that it passed on a 3-0
[26:11] vote.
[26:13] Um
[26:15] Public Works is requesting approval to
[26:17] purchase a Clark S3 S30LP.
[26:22] This will replace the 1989
[26:25] M E Heister.
[26:27] The motion is to approve. It will be
[26:29] asked to approve the purchase of one
[26:32] Clark S30LP
[26:34] Heister
[26:35] for $42,291
[26:38] on SPLOST 24.
[26:42] I guess that's the one question I had.
[26:43] Will it be paid for out of SPLOST?
[26:48] Motion by Commissioner Jones.
[26:51] Second by Commissioner Thomas.
[26:54] Uh any other discussion?
[26:56] All in favor signify by raising your
[26:58] hand.
[26:59] Let the record reflect that it passed on
[27:01] a 3-0 vote.
[27:03] Next is a de-annexation request
[27:06] for a Varnell partial 1118802000.
[27:13] There is no land use objection for this
[27:16] partial for the de-annexation
[27:19] coming back into the county out of
[27:21] Varnell.
[27:23] Is there a motion?
[27:25] by Commissioner Thomas.
[27:29] Second by Commissioner Jones.
[27:32] All in favor
[27:33] signify by the lifting of hand.
[27:36] Let the record reflect that it passed on
[27:38] a 3-0 vote.
[27:41] Now we have an annexation request in
[27:43] Varnell
[27:44] and there is no land use objection for
[27:47] partial for this partial.
[27:53] Is there a motion to annex?
[27:58] Motion by Commissioner Jones.
[28:02] Second by Commissioner Thomas.
[28:05] Any other discussion?
[28:09] All in favor signify by the raising of
[28:11] the hand.
[28:13] Let the record reflect that it passed on
[28:15] a 3-0 vote.
[28:18] Now we have rezoning and uh gentlemen,
[28:21] I'll
[28:22] take these uh separately only because
[28:25] the second one, Shazman Ali,
[28:28] has
[28:29] as the requestor
[28:31] has requested a denial. Okay? That's a
[28:35] denial. The first one is from Mr.
[28:37] Rodriguez to rezone from C-2 to
[28:40] rural
[28:41] uh rural residential R-5.
[28:44] The Planning Commission voted 5-0 5-0 to
[28:48] approve.
[28:51] Commissioner Jones makes the recommend
[28:53] makes a motion to approve that
[28:55] rezoning.
[28:57] >> I'll second.
[28:58] >> Second by Commissioner Thomas.
[29:00] All in favor signify with a raised hand.
[29:03] Let the record reflect that
[29:05] it uh passed on a 3-0 vote.
[29:08] And for Shazman Ali to re
[29:12] as he has requested a denial,
[29:15] we need a motion.
[29:16] >> I'll make a motion.
[29:17] >> Commissioner Mike
[29:18] Commissioner Jones, second.
[29:20] by Commissioner Thomas.
[29:23] All in favor signify by raising a hand.
[29:26] Let the record reflect it passed on a
[29:27] 3-0 vote.
[29:30] Now, this is the part of the uh
[29:32] public uh meeting
[29:36] that is for public comment.
[29:41] And we have pasted posted the rules. You
[29:45] see them on the screen.
[29:47] And um
[29:48] so if you wish to make a public comment
[29:51] and hearing to these
[29:53] outline,
[29:55] please come to the mic, state your name
[29:58] and address for the record.
[30:05] » Hello, I'm Marsha Whitener. Um the
[30:08] co-founder one of the co-founders of the
[30:10] Whitfield County Avenue of Flags.
[30:13] I would like to say that we are
[30:15] celebrating Flag Day on June 14th. Our
[30:18] flags go out on June 12th. Um that's on
[30:22] a Friday morning and we retrieve them on
[30:25] Tuesday afternoon at 4:30. We meet at
[30:28] 7:00. Um oh, and I thank the sheriff's
[30:30] office for always having um
[30:33] inmates there to help us push these
[30:35] buggies.
[30:36] When we started in 1991 during Desert
[30:39] Storm, actually we started during Desert
[30:41] Shield when Mike Babb was the chairman
[30:43] of the county commissioners.
[30:45] And we had tons of patriotic everyday
[30:50] citizens to help.
[30:53] Nowadays, we may have five to six.
[30:56] And so,
[30:58] I would invite each of you to come and
[31:00] serve.
[31:02] And each of you back here to come and
[31:04] serve, put the flags out, help bring
[31:06] them in
[31:08] on the following Tuesday.
[31:10] Anybody can do it.
[31:12] And I see several of you here that have
[31:14] helped in the past. And um and then
[31:17] we'll put them up for the 4th of July.
[31:19] Don't have those dates exactly, but I
[31:21] appreciate your time and hope to see
[31:24] some of you there. 7:00 on the 12th,
[31:27] 4:00 on the 16th.
[31:30] >> Right.
[31:31] >> Thank you.
[31:32] >> Thanks for that announcement.
[31:41] » Hello. I'm Carmen Schuler, and my
[31:44] address is 728 West Tyler Street in
[31:47] Dalton.
[31:48] And I'm here with a group of concerned
[31:51] citizens today. Uh we're concerned about
[31:54] data center strategic planning in
[31:57] Whitfield County.
[31:59] Uh we do understand what the bond issue
[32:01] was about. There was some confusion in
[32:03] the community about that vote, as you
[32:05] know, and maybe some vagueness in the in
[32:08] the paper. I know they made their best
[32:10] effort to cover it, but but people were
[32:12] confused.
[32:14] But that's not why I'm standing here.
[32:15] with some questions
[32:18] that I feel like that we need answered
[32:20] um before further development, including
[32:25] environmental and public health impact
[32:28] studies
[32:29] um that could be used along with best
[32:32] practices
[32:34] uh from national industrial guidelines.
[32:38] I'm [snorts] not sure we're doing all
[32:39] that or have done that. So, in order for
[32:42] you and future commissioners to be sure
[32:45] that you are making the best decisions
[32:47] for us,
[32:49] we're asking for a 2-year planning
[32:52] moratorium on accepting any future
[32:55] applications
[32:57] and making any future
[33:00] um development approvals until those
[33:04] strategic plans can be developed based
[33:08] on research, study, and best practices
[33:11] across the country. I know you can do
[33:13] that for us. Thank you.
[33:20] » Hi, I'm Kathy Cott. Um my address is
[33:23] 5015 Cohutta Heights, Cohutta, Georgia,
[33:26] 30710.
[33:28] And um I am also in agreement that we
[33:31] need to have a moratorium until we have
[33:33] more information. And I also would like
[33:36] to ask and encourage the commission the
[33:40] commissioners here to um
[33:43] to make a greater effort to inform the
[33:45] public. Uh there's just a lot I'm a
[33:49] running for a uh state house seat and
[33:52] I'm in touch with a a lot of uh
[33:54] residents all over
[33:56] uh Whitfield and Murray counties and I
[33:58] can tell you
[34:00] uh we have the PFAS issue. Everyone's
[34:03] fully aware of how catastrophic that is.
[34:06] And then over in Murray County the issue
[34:09] with their bio waste, what a big mess
[34:11] that turned out to be. I think and then
[34:14] now this the data center's just coming
[34:16] on the heels, right? And I feel like uh
[34:19] one of thing that would really help us
[34:20] is to have a an educational series, some
[34:24] more transparency.
[34:26] The public really needs to understand.
[34:28] We're hearing about other communities
[34:30] who have non-disclosure agreements about
[34:32] financing and things like this and we
[34:35] just want to be more informed and
[34:37] understand and just move a little bit
[34:39] slower. These, you know, these things
[34:41] are
[34:43] financed by billionaires, we know.
[34:46] They're coming into our communities and
[34:48] using our resources should benefit us
[34:51] and protect us. I know that AI and all
[34:54] these things are a freight train that's
[34:56] coming through here, but it doesn't have
[34:58] to be devastating and we don't have to
[35:00] be taken advantage of just because we're
[35:03] a rural community
[35:05] who for the most part, you know, stays
[35:07] at home and keeps to their self, but we
[35:09] all want our our land. We want to be
[35:12] good stewards and we want your help with
[35:14] that. So, that's what I have to say
[35:15] today.
[35:24] » I'm Dennis Mack, 1907 Cameron Drive here
[35:27] in Dalton. Um, I'm coming as a citizen,
[35:31] as a city council member and I just have
[35:34] a suggestion. I've thought about this a
[35:36] long time. I know you guys have dealt
[35:38] with this in the past, but um, the tax
[35:41] assessor's office
[35:43] is kind of in a shamble right now and uh
[35:46] I'd like to see you guys go out and hire
[35:48] whatever it takes to get a team in here
[35:52] to get that corrected. Our digest is so
[35:54] far out of line. We We in the city don't
[35:56] know where our money's coming from or
[35:58] how much we're getting. We can't project
[36:00] budgets well and I'm sure you guys can't
[36:02] either based on the current digest and
[36:06] it's not fair.
[36:08] And if you could hire somebody, a team
[36:10] from another county that's doing well
[36:12] with it, temporarily or whatever it
[36:15] takes to get it done, I'd like to see
[36:16] you move in that direction because I
[36:19] think it would help
[36:21] your revenue flow, it'd help our revenue
[36:23] flow and we may actually have more money
[36:25] that's
[36:27] we're missing because because the
[36:29] assessments are not correct. So, uh I
[36:32] think that the community will get behind
[36:34] you spending some money to fix that. Um
[36:38] it would certainly help us all.
[36:40] And um
[36:41] that's my wish.
[36:43] Thanks.
[36:58] » My name is James Worth. Been here every
[37:01] meeting last few of them. Y'all know
[37:03] what we've been going through in
[37:04] Carbondale with the Essentia issue.
[37:08] Uh last time I was here I asked for a
[37:10] cease and desist order. At this moment,
[37:13] I'd like to know what the board has any
[37:15] intention of giving us any protection on
[37:18] that end from all these odors and others
[37:21] issues. Does the board have anything
[37:23] going on to give us any relief down
[37:25] there?
[37:27] That's the question I have to recognize
[37:29] last
[37:30] meeting for a cease and desist. So, has
[37:33] that been tabled? Has that been ignored?
[37:36] Uh do we have anything going on?
[37:39] Does the board have anything going on
[37:41] for our protection?
[37:44] And that's a direct question.
[37:47] I have more to speak of, but I'd like to
[37:49] know what we're doing there because I've
[37:51] been requesting it, requesting it, and
[37:54] stonewalled.
[37:56] Outside of that, we know it stinks. It's
[37:58] been acknowledged.
[38:00] There's been an issue, it's been
[38:01] acknowledged. There've been people
[38:02] brought brought down, it's been
[38:03] acknowledged.
[38:05] The JDA refused to act, you all refused
[38:08] to act. I've asked for you to act as an
[38:11] overseer of the JDA.
[38:13] We get no solution, we get nothing but
[38:16] runaround.
[38:17] I've been told, "Oh, they're trying
[38:18] this. They're going to try that." What
[38:20] are they trying? Nothing, don't know.
[38:22] When? Don't know. Don't know doesn't
[38:24] change the fact that we're still getting
[38:26] polluted down there.
[38:27] Now, this AIS section, we have the EPD
[38:31] uh air permits going on for the data
[38:34] centers.
[38:35] You know, this is something coming. It's
[38:37] Some of this stuff is very slow to get
[38:39] out. Seems like after it's all uh aired
[38:42] for 30 days is when we hear about it.
[38:44] And then it's too late to say anything.
[38:46] The transparency is lacking if at all.
[38:49] You know, nobody here knows what's going
[38:51] on till it's over. And then we're stuck
[38:53] with it. We ain't stuck yet cuz the EPD
[38:55] has not verified these
[38:57] uh generators yet. There's 81.4 megawatt
[39:01] generators, 380
[39:03] uh 480-V three-phase generators. They
[39:06] run at uh 75 gallons per hour
[39:10] on a 70% load. This is 6,000 gallons of
[39:15] diesel in our air. This is 3 mi from
[39:18] Essentia that's stinking us up already.
[39:20] And now we want 6,000 gallons of diesel
[39:23] fumes in the air.
[39:25] 6,000 gallons of diesel fuel
[39:28] burns for these 80 generators.
[39:31] Did anybody think this through when you
[39:33] approved them to come down there? Is
[39:35] this approved to come down and pollute
[39:37] our air more?
[39:39] This what's going on. This isn't a joke.
[39:41] It's not something that's just taken
[39:43] lightly. At this moment, I truly believe
[39:46] we have intentional negligence going on
[39:48] in in the county.
[39:50] If not willful misconduct.
[39:53] And that's what I'm accusing and that's
[39:55] what I've been asking for a solution and
[39:57] give us a remedy.
[39:59] Give us our air back. Let us breathe and
[40:01] have fun with our kids in the yard. You
[40:04] may live on the north end of town. We
[40:05] live on the south end. And we're
[40:07] polluted, we're gagging, and we're
[40:09] stifled, and we're getting ignored.
[40:12] Now, who's going to help? Who's going to
[40:14] take care and protect the citizens of
[40:16] Whitfield County.
[40:17] Who's going to stand up?
[40:20] Anybody?
[40:24] I'm listening. I'm asking. I've
[40:27] requested.
[40:29] The next one's not going to be pretty.
[40:31] At this moment, we have Dalton Utilities
[40:33] involved. I have spoke with the
[40:36] administrator, Andrew. We have him
[40:38] involved. Now, this is all the way down
[40:41] to JDA, Carl Campbell, who's refused to
[40:44] act.
[40:46] Y'all refused to act.
[40:48] And we're all getting poisoned.
[40:55] You can look at me and say what you
[40:57] want, think what you want, but I'm here
[40:59] representing Whitfield County, and
[41:01] that's what y'all are supposed to be
[41:02] doing, is representing Whitfield County.
[41:06] Not individual concerns, not
[41:08] billion-dollar bonds, the citizens, our
[41:12] health, our 876 children at Valley Point
[41:15] that had to breathe this crap all year.
[41:18] Yeah.
[41:19] We're still breathing it. Up to
[41:21] yesterday, still documented breathing
[41:23] stink.
[41:24] And now you're bringing in 6,000 gallons
[41:27] of diesel fumes when these generators
[41:29] fire off. Is that approved? Is that Is that something that y'all think is
[41:34] right?
[41:36] Yeah, 6,000 gallons of diesel fuel per
[41:39] hour.
[41:41] Same location as I sent you with the
[41:44] stink there.
[41:46] The same one that's causing Dalton
[41:48] Utility issues with sewer overflows in
[41:50] the Swamp Creek area now.
[41:53] This stuff is snowballing. It's
[41:55] snowballing.
[41:56] And I'm being polite. I'm trying to
[41:58] refrain from what I feel,
[42:00] but it's snowballing, and there's no
[42:02] action being done.
[42:05] >> Thank you for your comment. Your time is
[42:06] up.
[42:06] >> Thank you.
[42:12] » [applause]
[42:13] >> Thank you.
[42:24] » Any other comments?
[42:30] Any other?
[42:36] comments?
[42:40] » That was really a question that I'm I'm
[42:42] with him. Why don't we have an answer to
[42:43] any question?
[42:45] >> I'm I'm fighting with you.
[42:47] >> Oh, it's ain't over. We're talking about
[42:49] a half a billion dollars
[42:53] Willful misconduct is not a very nice
[42:56] thing to do to the citizens
[42:58] [clears throat]
[42:59] >> Do I have a motion to adjourn since
[43:01] there are apparently no other questions?
[43:03] >> It's your turn to talk.
[43:04] >> Go.
[43:05] I'm sorry.
[43:06] >> It's your turn to talk. He asked you a
[43:07] question.
[43:08] >> I have a motion to adjourn by
[43:10] Commissioner Jones, second by
[43:12] Commissioner Thomas.
[43:15] Meeting is adjourned.