Whitfield County commissioners approve door-to-door solicitation ordinance, contracts and rezoning; reallocate $110,186 in ARPA funds
March 01, 2026 | Whitfield County, Georgia
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The Whitfield County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 10 approved a second-reading ordinance restricting door-to-door solicitation, ratified a $1,557,354 contract for Praters Mill southern site improvements, reallocated $110,186.17 in unused ARPA funds to two eligible projects, and approved several rezoning requests during its regular business meeting at the Courthouse meeting room in Dalton.
The ordinance to add Article III to Chapter 10 of the Whitfield County Code of Ordinances passed on a second reading and will take effect Jan. 1, 2026. The motion to adopt the ordinance was made by Commissioner Robby Staten and seconded by Commissioner Greg Jones and recorded as approved 4-0.
Chief Finance Officer Debbie Godfrey presented the September 2025 financial statement before the board voted to accept it. The report showed local option sales tax (LOST) receipts for September of $1,248,146 (6.1% below the budgeted $1,329,167) and year-to-date LOST of $11,458,531 (0.68% higher than the prior year). September title ad valorem tax (TAVT) collections were $499,912. YTD actual revenues of $31,520,210 exceeded projected revenues by $2,081,711 (7.07%), while YTD actual expenditures of $47,040,232 were $95,579 (0.20%) above projections. The board approved the financial statement 4-0.
The board ratified a $1,557,354 contract with Proper Construction Group, LLC for improvements to the southern site of Praters Mill. Commissioner John Thomas moved the ratification; Commissioner Barry W. Robbins seconded. The project is funded by the Georgia Improving Neighborhood Outcomes grant.
On ARPA funds, the board approved a reallocation of $110,186.17 in unused funds from three completed projects to two other eligible projects: Riverbend sewer/water and Summit Trail. The minutes record that the reallocation was made under U.S. Treasury guidance allowing reuse of obligated funds if the final project cost is less than the legally obligated amount reported to Treasury as of Dec. 31, 2024. Commissioner Robby Staten moved the reallocation and Commissioner Greg Jones seconded; the motion was approved 4-0.
The board also renewed a service agreement with Motorola for $124,770.73 to maintain compliance with TACN for emergency communications. The renewal passed on a 4-0 vote after a motion by Commissioner John Thomas and a second from Commissioner Greg Jones.
On land-use matters, the board approved several planning commission recommendations: Greater Dalton Habitat for Humanity’s rezoning request at 104 Elrod Drive (C-2 to R-4, 2.39 acres); a rezoning for 1479 Lafayette Road (R-2 to R-5, 0.62 acres); Suburban Agriculture rezoning for two parcels owned by Casey John McClure (22.15 acres); and a rezoning for Jesse W. Kell (GA to R-5, 1.29 acres). The board denied a request by Loretta Harrison to rezone a 10.46-acre parcel from R-5 to SA for a special use. Each planning action was recorded as approved (or denied, in Harrison’s case) by a 4-0 vote.
The board approved a memorandum of understanding between the Whitfield County Fire Department and Georgia Northwestern Technical College to allow county instructors to teach approved classes at GNTC and enable employees to earn college credit toward an associate degree.
The Sheriff's Office was authorized to purchase vehicle equipment for 11 Ford trucks from low bidder West Chatham Warning Devices for $139,408; that procurement was approved 4-0.
During public comment, Kathryn Sellers addressed the board regarding the repeal of the Historical Commission ordinance. The minutes record her comment but do not record a formal board response.
Votes at a glance: the minutes record the following motions as approved 4-0 (yes votes recorded for Commissioners Robby Staten, John Thomas, Barry W. Robbins and Greg Jones unless otherwise noted): approval of the meeting agenda; approval of Oct. 13 meeting minutes; acceptance of the September financial statement; adoption of the door-to-door solicitation ordinance (effective Jan. 1, 2026); ratification of the $1,557,354 Praters Mill contract; ARPA reallocation of $110,186.17 to Riverbend sewer/water and Summit Trail; Motorola service agreement renewal for $124,770.73; multiple rezoning approvals and one denial as noted; approval of the GNTC MOU; and the $139,408 vehicle equipment purchase for the Sheriff's Office.
The meeting adjourned by unanimous consent. The minutes are signed by Chairman Jevin Jensen and County Clerk Blanca Cardona (signature date on file: Dec. 8, 2025).
The ordinance to add Article III to Chapter 10 of the Whitfield County Code of Ordinances passed on a second reading and will take effect Jan. 1, 2026. The motion to adopt the ordinance was made by Commissioner Robby Staten and seconded by Commissioner Greg Jones and recorded as approved 4-0.
Chief Finance Officer Debbie Godfrey presented the September 2025 financial statement before the board voted to accept it. The report showed local option sales tax (LOST) receipts for September of $1,248,146 (6.1% below the budgeted $1,329,167) and year-to-date LOST of $11,458,531 (0.68% higher than the prior year). September title ad valorem tax (TAVT) collections were $499,912. YTD actual revenues of $31,520,210 exceeded projected revenues by $2,081,711 (7.07%), while YTD actual expenditures of $47,040,232 were $95,579 (0.20%) above projections. The board approved the financial statement 4-0.
The board ratified a $1,557,354 contract with Proper Construction Group, LLC for improvements to the southern site of Praters Mill. Commissioner John Thomas moved the ratification; Commissioner Barry W. Robbins seconded. The project is funded by the Georgia Improving Neighborhood Outcomes grant.
On ARPA funds, the board approved a reallocation of $110,186.17 in unused funds from three completed projects to two other eligible projects: Riverbend sewer/water and Summit Trail. The minutes record that the reallocation was made under U.S. Treasury guidance allowing reuse of obligated funds if the final project cost is less than the legally obligated amount reported to Treasury as of Dec. 31, 2024. Commissioner Robby Staten moved the reallocation and Commissioner Greg Jones seconded; the motion was approved 4-0.
The board also renewed a service agreement with Motorola for $124,770.73 to maintain compliance with TACN for emergency communications. The renewal passed on a 4-0 vote after a motion by Commissioner John Thomas and a second from Commissioner Greg Jones.
On land-use matters, the board approved several planning commission recommendations: Greater Dalton Habitat for Humanity’s rezoning request at 104 Elrod Drive (C-2 to R-4, 2.39 acres); a rezoning for 1479 Lafayette Road (R-2 to R-5, 0.62 acres); Suburban Agriculture rezoning for two parcels owned by Casey John McClure (22.15 acres); and a rezoning for Jesse W. Kell (GA to R-5, 1.29 acres). The board denied a request by Loretta Harrison to rezone a 10.46-acre parcel from R-5 to SA for a special use. Each planning action was recorded as approved (or denied, in Harrison’s case) by a 4-0 vote.
The board approved a memorandum of understanding between the Whitfield County Fire Department and Georgia Northwestern Technical College to allow county instructors to teach approved classes at GNTC and enable employees to earn college credit toward an associate degree.
The Sheriff's Office was authorized to purchase vehicle equipment for 11 Ford trucks from low bidder West Chatham Warning Devices for $139,408; that procurement was approved 4-0.
During public comment, Kathryn Sellers addressed the board regarding the repeal of the Historical Commission ordinance. The minutes record her comment but do not record a formal board response.
Votes at a glance: the minutes record the following motions as approved 4-0 (yes votes recorded for Commissioners Robby Staten, John Thomas, Barry W. Robbins and Greg Jones unless otherwise noted): approval of the meeting agenda; approval of Oct. 13 meeting minutes; acceptance of the September financial statement; adoption of the door-to-door solicitation ordinance (effective Jan. 1, 2026); ratification of the $1,557,354 Praters Mill contract; ARPA reallocation of $110,186.17 to Riverbend sewer/water and Summit Trail; Motorola service agreement renewal for $124,770.73; multiple rezoning approvals and one denial as noted; approval of the GNTC MOU; and the $139,408 vehicle equipment purchase for the Sheriff's Office.
The meeting adjourned by unanimous consent. The minutes are signed by Chairman Jevin Jensen and County Clerk Blanca Cardona (signature date on file: Dec. 8, 2025).
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