[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.

BOC Meeting 6-8-2026

Transcript