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April 6, 2010

Cleanup begins before new cemetery rules are in place

Charles Oliver Dalton Daily Citizen

DALTON — Families have until May 14 to remove any items in Dalton’s West Hill Cemetery that violate cemetery rules, but public works director Benny Dunn said many people have already started cleaning up.

“They’ve all been very cooperative. We’ve had people calling and asking what they need to do,” Dunn said.

The City Council voted 2-0 Monday night to approve a resolution outlining policies for the care and upkeep of West Hill Cemetery. Mayor David Pennington was absent and when acting as mayor pro tem, Mayor pro tem Dick Lowrey votes only in the event of a tie.

The resolution details policies on matters such as installation of benches, fences and monuments, as well as the placement of floral arrangements, trees and shrubs. It also calls on the city sexton, Darrell Ballew, to enforce the rules.

Lowrey said there’s very little new in the resolution. He said it really just calls for enforcing the rules that are already on the books.

At a meeting in February, several residents complained that several grave sites were out of compliance with the current code, which bars fences, sidewalks, benches or other enclosures unless constructed by the city.

Lowrey said he appreciated how cooperative people have been and urged them to make sure they collect any personal items or memorabilia they wish to keep before the city starts enforcing the rules.

People with questions about the new rules should call the public works department at (706) 278-7077.

In other business, council members voted 2-0 to:

• Lease the Dalton freight depot to the Dalton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) for five years for $1 a year plus maintenance costs. The CVB will, in turn, sublet space to the Downtown Dalton Development Authority.

• Approve a budget amendment that, among other things, will provide $61,095 to the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center for roof repairs, new wall coverings for the banquet room and new kitchen items.

The council also heard an update on several transportation projects being funded by the  Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST). Dunn said the Georgia Department has taken over both the roundabout planned for Dug Gap Battle Road at College Drive and improvements to the intersection of the North Dalton Bypass and Cleveland Highway. He said GDOT will fund the construction of both projects and SPLOST money will be used only for engineering and design and right of way purchases. He said work on both projects could begin next year.

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