Published: April 21, 2008 11:31 pm      

Rec bill waiting for Perdue's approval

A bill that would allow the city of Dalton and other local governments to hold referendums on whether to end taxes that are dedicated to recreation is on Gov. Sonny Perdue’s desk awaiting his signature, Dalton’s city attorney said Monday.

One mill of Dalton property taxes currently goes to recreation. If voters decided that the city should stop dedicating the 1 mill for recreation, the City Council would have the ability to set the recreation commission’s budget, just as it does for other city departments.

Mayor David Pennington has said the recreation department received an additional $120,000 this year from the 1 mill just from property reassessments.

City attorney Steve Farrow said the bill has been on Perdue’s desk since April 14 and he has 40 days to veto or sign it. The city most likely would have the referendum in November, Farrow said.

In other action, the City Council:

• Approved a $76,500 grant for a feasibility study to establish a multi-jurisdictional stormwater agency for the Conasauga River Watershed. Some matching funds are required.

• Placed on first reading an ordinance change regarding municipal probation officers. Farrow said the change would add a provision stating that all municipal probation officers must complete a state probation orientation program.

• Agreed to a $60,010 contract with the Georgia Department of Transportation, with the city paying 85 percent of the materials costs, for paving parts of 10 city streets. The streets are Covie Drive beginning at Mack Street and ending at Ross Drive; Hambersham Way beginning at Fairington Drive and ending at the cul-de-sac; Hackney Drive beginning at Dug Gap Road and ending at Fairington Drive; Jameston Court beginning at Underwood Road and ending at the cul-de-sac; Line Street beginning at Ludie Street and ending at May Street; Moore Street beginning at Mountain View Street and ending at Liddell Street; Point North Place beginning at Chattanooga Avenue and ending at the cul-de-sac; Starr Drive beginning at Broadrick Drive and ending at Olympic Drive; West Tyler Street beginning at Boundary Street and ending at Clark Street; and West Boundary Street beginning at Clark Street and ending at Cascade Drive.