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DNR says no to citys trail request
EAFM Screen shot 2015 04 15 at 9.47.04 AM
Denied

An application from the City of Dawsonville asking for $100,000 in grant funds from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources has been denied.

Mayor James Grogan read a letter from DNR to council members at their regularly scheduled meeting April 6.

This is to advise you that a request for Georgias Recreational Trail Program grant was not approved, Grogan said. DNR received 87 applications requesting approximately $9 million unfortunately (it) did not afford us the opportunity to fund all applications received.

Grogan said he expected the citys application to be rated higher.

There were a lot of questions about how they rated our application, Grogan said. We thought wed get top points, but we got 10 points out of 30 on a couple things like disabled people being able to use the trail.

The city had requested grant funds for its 18-acre Main Street Park, located behind city hall, which will include greenspace, an amphitheater and walking trail around the property.

Even though we have money from SPLOST for the park, we still want to help alleviate the cost for the taxpayer, Grogan said during a March 16 meeting.

Any extra will also let us improve and expand the park even more, he said.

The city voted in July 2014 to give its downtown development authority approval to sign a $550,000 loan for the 18-acre parcel. Georgia Racing Hall of Fame President Gordon Pirkle serves as the authoritys chair, and Seanie Zapppendorf as secretary/treasurer. The city plans to lease back the property from the authority.

There is another round of funding in the fall and well re-apply, Grogan said.

In other city business:

More than $19,000 in repairs are needed to air conditioning units at city hall. The city received an invoice from Setpoint HVAC, of Dahlonega, for $19,095, but the work had not been bid out. Council Member Mike Sosebee made a motion to require two additional bids on the project, which was seconded by Angie Smith;

Council members unanimously approved zoning map changes adding 29 acres owned by Georgia and Pam Power. The amended zoning map also includes a corrected boundary line for Calvary Baptist Church, which adds 2 acres to the city; and

Reappointed Ken Breeden and Steve Sanvi to the citys planning commission.