Council to hear feedback on island annexations

Published 11:23 pm Saturday, November 25, 2006

The Dalton City Council will have quite a bit on its plate Monday night after last week’s scheduled meeting was postponed.

At 4:30 p.m. a public hearing will be held at City Hall to get feedback on the city’s plan to annex 32 more “islands” into the city from the county.

The “islands” are properties such as Propex Fabrics and the new Brooker Ford on Shugart Road, which are considered part of the county but are surrounded by the city. The 32 properties are believed to be the last remaining “islands” in the county.

In the regular meeting at 5:45 p.m., the council is expected to adopt the city’s 2007 operating budget, which includes a 5 percent raise for city employees.

Council members will also hear a recommendation by the public works committee to install traffic light cameras at four intersections in Dalton. Those intersections include the North Bypass at Shugart Road, Walnut Avenue at Glenwood Avenue, Walnut Avenue at Airport Road and Thornton Avenue at Waugh Street.

The council approved installing cameras in August.

Council members will be asked to approve an amendment to the city’s alcoholic beverage sales code to allow the sale of alcohol in restaurants on Sundays.

Dalton voters approved the sale of alcohol in restaurants on Sunday during the Nov. 7 election.

In other business:

• A first reading will be heard on a change to a city ordinance that allows for an increase in the city’s occupational tax rate. City Council members approved drafting the ordinance in October.

• Council members will hear a first reading on an ordinance for the possible closing of Duane Street, which is located between North Hamilton Street and Tinsley Street.

“It is a street closing request from Shaw Industries for Duane Street,” said Butch Sanders, city administrator. “Shaw has the need to close it for parking and manufacturing purposes.”

• Council members must officially approve the vote totals for the Nov. 7 Sunday alcohol sales referendum.

• Council members will consider the appointment of Chip Edwards, a resident of the historic Murray Hill Subdivision, to the Historic Preservation Commission to fill the 3-year unexpired term of Leslie Waycaster. Waycaster resigned for personal reasons, effective at the end of the year. City Council members have said they would like to see someone from the Murray Hill area and someone from the soon-to-be historic McCarty Subdivision on the preservation commission. Council members will also discuss filling a second position, soon to be vacated by Charlotte Seay.

• Council members will vote on four traffic projects. One includes making Ford Street to Henderson Street to Water Street one way. On Crescent Street from Southland Drive to Highland Drive and on Glenwood Drive from Glenwood Avenue to Springdale Road would also become one way.