By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support local journalism.
BOC to vote on land swap May 23
Placeholder Image

The Dawson County Board of Commissioners are expected to vote on a land swap agreement with the Etowah Water & Sewer Authority at its next voting session.

The next voting session will be May 23 at 6 p.m. in the Dawson County Government Center Assembly room. The session is being postponed from its normal date of May 16.

At the Board of Commissioners work session Thursday, May 9, County Manager Cindy Campbell recommended the county approve swapping 50 acres owned by EWSA for 33 acres owned by the Townley's for the use of soccer fields and other park and recreation activities.

Because the county has a leasehold on the property owned by EWSA, any decisions regarding selling land has to be jointly approved by both the county and EWSA, according to Brooke Anderson, general manager at EWSA.

The property is recommended to be used for soccer fields for the parks and recreation department. Soccer is the fastest growing sport in the county, Lisa Henson, director of Dawson County Parks and Recreation department.

The Townley tract is located beside Rock Creek Park on Highway 9. Because of its proximity to Rock Creek Park and the lay of the land it is more favorable to build soccer fields on it than the 50 acre EWSA tract.

The cost per soccer field as estimated by Athletic Construction Inc., is $321,300 per field on Townley Tract whereas it would cost $1,606,500 per field on the EWSA tract.

But even if the board approves the swap agreement, Chairman Mike Berg said there was not room in the budget any time soon for new soccer fields.

Having the land would at least allow the parks and recreation department the ability to apply for grants, Henson said.

Also at the work session, County Attorney Joey Homans asked the commissioners to approve a $60,000 settlement with Dollar General. The county courthouse sits where Dollar General was before it was condemned in 2008.

The county has already awarded $45,000 to Dollar General. Homans requested an additional $15,000 to reach the settlement agreement of $60,000.

Homans also asked commissioners to approve the Etowah Valley Sporting Clay Park sound study.

"Now obviously if its accepted that does not end our monitoring," Homans said.

Homans recommended the board monitor the sound at the park for at least six months.

The Board is scheduled to vote on these items at its May 23 meeting.