Amicalola Scenic Byway project in second stage
Business, News October 17, 2021DAWSONVILLE, GA. – The Amicalola Scenic Byway project was presented at the October 7, 2021 Dawson County Commissioners meeting.
Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Mandy Power, announced that Dawson, Gilmer and Pickens counties will all have a part in the new scenic byway that will run through all three counties.
Power read the definition of a Georgia scenic byway and stated that it is “any designated highway, street, road, or route which significantly features certain intrinsic qualities that should be protected or enhanced,” according to the Georgia Department of Transportation.
Power continued with some of the benefits that a scenic byway could have.
She said among other benefits, it can bring connectivity to the counties and their shared heritage, broaden the travel experience to increase tourist visitation, educate community residents and bring recognition to local natural resources and cultural assets and ultimately enhance tourism spending.
The scenic byway’s prosed map would begin in Dawsonville.
“It starts in downtown Dawsonville at the Hall of fame and it goes through some of the most beautiful parts of Dawson County and we are actually getting the benefit of having it named after one of our landmarks as the Amicalola [Falls] Scenic Byway,” Power said.
She listed some points of interest that have been noted so far for the scenic byway: Historic Downtown Dawsonville; Dawson County Historic Courthouse; Historical Churches; Amicalola State Park; Len Foote Hike Inn; Fausett Farms Sunflowers; Georgia Racing Hall of Fame; Pool Room and Burt’s Pumpkin Farm.
Power announced that they do have the Georgia Department of Transportation approval, so they are now in the second step with is the application stage.
She said that once the application will hopefully be approved, there will be signage along the route, the route will be listed on all the tourism websites and the route will be listed on state and national byway websites.
Power estimated that it may be six months until the Amicalola Scenic Byway is officially unveiled.
City council discusses COVID-19 vaccine incentive
News September 22, 2021
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – The Dawsonville City Council met Monday evening, Sept. 20, and discussed several topics on the agenda, including a possible vaccine incentive for city employees.
Dawsonville City Manager, Bob Bolz, spoke on the proposed vaccine incentive for city employees to get their COVID-19 vaccinations.
He said that they already have approved for workers to be able to get vaccinated during a workday without penalty.
This means that employees are allowed to leave to get vaccinated and would still be paid for the hours missed.
“Each week I sit in with the GMA virtual conference about COVID. They are pushing herd immunity, herd immunity and the quickest way to get there is encouraging vaccinations,” Bolz said.
Currently, the city doesn’t ask for proof of vaccination but that ideally, the proposed incentive would incentivize individuals who are vaccinated to show documentation and those who are not to go get vaccinated.
The incentive would pay individuals $250 for receiving the vaccine and would pay those who have already received the vaccine if they are willing to show proof.
“If you look, Canton is doing a $500 per employee, Hall County is doing $500 per employee. If all 21 people [for Dawson County] got vaccinated, it would be a $5,250 expense of which $2,100 would be reimbursed from ARPA money. They are willing to pay $100 of incentive money so, it would be $3,150 to the city,” Bolz said.
He continued that he thought it was something that could be easily covered by the city and that this is simply an effort to get people vaccinated.
The council opted to vote on this matter at the upcoming meeting on Oct. 4.
City tables Allen Street Properties annexation request
News July 24, 2021
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – The Dawsonville City Council voted 3-0, with Councilman William Illg, absent, to table the Allen Street Properties, LLC and B&K Turner Family LLP petition to annex into the city limits of Dawsonville during Monday’s regular meeting.
The annexation request was the subject of an objection filed by the county in December. The county cited increased traffic and increased infrastructure demands without the benefit of impact fees as the reason for its objection but the county withdrew its objection on May.
The Council could have approved the annexation Tuesday, however, an error in the parcel number listed in the legal advertisement led to a request by the applicant for a postponement until October. The County will have to re-advertise the annexation request.
Council held the first reading of an ordinance to amend its Code of Ordinances regarding fire and protection to align with the county code.
Council voted 3-0 to approve a resolution to accept funding in the amount of $1,212,174, open a bank account and execute documents related to the American Rescue Plan Act. The City has received $606,087.
Council also approved acceptance of Georgia Municipal Association Safety Grant in the amount of $6,000. The City’s purchases will include reflective vests and rain gear, safe grip gloves, flashlights and headlamps, table carts, blue card certification training, flagger training and temperature kiosks.
Following an executive session, Council approved a settlement with former employee Ms. Copeland that involves a cash payment, change of separation from the City from termination to resignation in lieu of termination, an agreement that the City will not contest Ms. Copeland’s application for unemployment insurance benefits.