County Discusses SPLOST Purchases, Historic Courthouse Use, Construction Projects, Budget

By LYDIA BERGLAR
News Editor

The August meeting of the Dade County Board of Commissioners consisted of a long workshop session and a short regular meeting. Ted Rumley (county executive) was absent due to a family medical appointment.

The meeting began with recognition of Purple Heart Day on August 7 and the introduction of two new proclamations: National Senior Citizens Day on August 21 and National Service Dog Month in September.

Paula Stallings asked the commission to add National Senior Citizens Day to the county’s proclamations, and she’s organizing events at the Dade County Senior Center on the 21, beginning at 9 a.m. and open to all who wish to join.

The commission appointed Sharon Moore to the Dade County Public Library Board of Trustees and Joseph Chambers (jail captain) to the Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Addictive Diseases board for Region One.

The commission then discussed and later approved multiple Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) expenditures.

First, the Dade County Sheriff’s Office requested a total of $256,605.72 for three vehicles: two Ford Explorer Interceptors and one Ford F-150. This amount includes equipment like cameras, laptops, and radios.

Second, Public Works requested a total of $325,997.64 for three vehicles: two Ford F-250s and one Kenworth dump truck.

Third, the commission selected the cheapest of three bids for new flooring at the senior center, totaling $27,496.63.

Per last month’s report from Alex Case (Emergency Management Agency director), the commission reviewed requests for proposals for a new generator and automatic transfer switch. Don Townsend (CFO and county clerk) explained that they budgeted $150,000 from ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds two years ago, but the lower RFP came in below that at $125,165.

Sergeant Chad Payne (public information officer) gave a presentation about the sheriff office’s drones. Nearly everything he shared was included in the Sentinel’s Dec. 27, 2023, article about the drones, so revisit that article for more information.

He reported that in the last five months, the drones have been deployed 13 times, assisted in four apprehensions and one search and rescue, and aided six other agencies/counties (including the United States Marshals Service and Lookout Mountain Drug Task Force).

Payne explained, “This isn’t something that a lot of agencies have around here, so the sheriff is very willing to lend our assistance to these other agencies.”

Payne listed several situations where the drones have been helpful, including showing a video of a pursuit and apprehension in Marion County on behalf of the South Pittsburg Police Department. He thanked the commission for the ongoing support of the sheriff’s office.

The commission then discussed and later approved rental and lease agreements for use of the historic courthouse. Entities like the Alliance for Dade, Industrial Development Authority, and Trenton-Dade County Historic Preservation Commission fall under the lease category, while groups wishing to use the space for an event fall under the rental agreement.

Phillip Hartline (District Two commissioner) asked if rental fees for the lease agreement have been established. Townsend said these haven’t been discussed by the commission yet, but the IDA has agreed to pay rent and conversations with the Alliance have mentioned a $1,200 monthly fee. The rental agreement, however, does outline fee information.

Robert Goff (District three commissioner) gave quick updates on both the elections office building and train depot renovation projects. Finalized building plans for the elections office have not yet been received. At last month’s meeting, Hartline asked for an official budget number to be presented this month, but no number was reported this month.

The Sentinel submitted an Open Records Request about both of these projects in mid-July. In response to the request for the most recent iteration of the elections building budget (even if the basement addition is not accounted for in such a document), Townsend reported that he was not aware of such a budget document.

Then, regarding the depot, Goff noted that $285,545 has been spent thus far on the renovation. Subtracting the $79,190.40 received from the insurance claim, the current net expense is $206,355. However, the county plans to sell the current public defender’s building (once the move to the depot is complete), thereby offsetting another portion of the cost. The tax assessor’s website lists the building’s current value at $54,900, meaning the net expense could decrease to $151,455.

In the Open Records Request, the Sentinel asked for the train depot renovation starting budget, but Townsend was not aware of a budget document for this.

Moving on to an amendment to the Subdivision Essential Services Ordinance, this was the commission’s first reading of the proposed change. Hartline explained that the only change is the addition of: “Any residence or other structure on a subdivided lot connecting to a public effluent sewer line shall have its own tank, pump, and alarm.” This is intended to clear up questions of jurisdiction/responsibility when sewer issues occur.

Townsend noted the millage rate schedule:

• First Public Hearing: August 15 at 11 a.m.
• Second Public Hearing: August 15 at 6 p.m.
• Third Public Hearing: August 22 at 4 p.m.
• Special Called Meeting to Adopt the Millage Rate: August 22 at 4:30 p.m.

See upcoming issues of the Sentinel for details about the millage rate.

Lamar Lowery (District One commissioner) reported that the 911 calls for July totaled 3,692:

• EMS: 238
• Fire & Rescue: 458
• Law Enforcement: 2,996

He also noted that within the next two weeks, Trenton Telephone Company will be ready to accept applications for internet service in Wildwood, which is long-awaited news for Wildwood residents.

Melissa Bradford (District Four commissioner) reported that she is talking with someone who might be able to pick up glass and computer parts from the Dade County Transfer Station. Explaining that nothing is final and there may be fees involved, she added that she is hopeful this will work out.

During the monthly financials, Townsend noted that at $340,060, the General Fund is quite low (compared to $791,739 at July’s meeting, $1,159,846 in June, and $1,376,589 in May). He explained several revenues that came in below the anticipated amounts and why. He then explained that the county will need to use a Tax Anticipation Note (TAN) to make payroll until property tax payments come in. The TAN must be repaid in full by Dec. 31, 2024. Townsend said, “We’ve done it many, many times in the past.”

He then tied this to millage rates. “That goes back to setting your millage rate so that you take the growth…If we roll it back 100 percent every year, and I would love to do that…when you don’t, you will be short. I can guarantee you—ask any CFO in Georgia—you’ll be short that year.”