City audit firm: “Everything looks good on a material basis”

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – The Dawsonville City Council had a full agenda Monday that included 25 action items and the appointment of first-term Councilman Stephen Tolson as mayor pro tem.

Bryan St. Pierre of the accounting firm of Alexander, Almand and Bangs presented the 2017-18 audit. “Everything looks good on a material basis,” Pierre said. The city’s assets have increased by about $1.67 million. “Cash flow is up $358,000 and restricted cash is up $447,000,” he added.

During the first public hearing, council unanimously approved a change to the PUD site plan for Fall Leaf Residential on a 32.6 acre site located at 2364 Perimeter Road. No one spoke in opposition to the change.

Council also voted unanimously to replace the city’s existing zoning ordinance for the purpose of regulating the location, height, bulk, number of stories, size of buildings and structures and other characteristics.

Red Oak Sanitation submitted the lowest, most responsive bid for trash collection in the city. Residents will now pay $10 per household per month with pickup once a week. There will be an additional fee of $2.50 per month for removal of yard debris. Council voted 4-0 to accept the Red Oak Sanitation bid.

Council also unanimously approved:

• An ordinance to amend the city’s occupation tax;
• A reduction in the annexation rezoning fee for KK Turner Estate;
• A request to annex 11.407 acres on Allen Street into the city limits by Michael Turner and Miles Montgomery;
• A letter requesting NGN officials to attend a future council meeting to discuss the water tower agreement;
• Acceptance of a local maintenance improvement grant (LMIG) to improve 805 feet of Main Street from Hwy. 53 to the park entrance. The amount has been budgeted and the work is expected to be done in Mach or April;
• A personal leave transfer contribution policy for full-time city employees to donate leave time to another full-time employee facing personal or family medical emergency.

Council has had to approve several contract amendments on the work at Main Street Park, delaying the project. To speed the project along, council voted 2-1, with Mark French opposed, to allow the city manager to approve adjustments with a ceiling cap of $100,000 without a vote by council.  Councilman Caleb Phillips recused himself from the vote.

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