DPS Seeking Individuals Who Work In Gender-specific, Non-traditional Roles

Dalton Public Schools is looking for individuals who work in gender-specific, non-traditional roles (a male working in culinary arts, a female welder or engineer, a female firefighter, a male child care worker, etc.) to serve as role models for their students. Dalton Public Schools would like to promote the success of these individuals and, with their permission, tell their stories. If you or someone you know might be interested in participating please contact Larry Murkerson whose contact information is below.

Contact Information:

Larry P. Murkerson, Ed.D.

Assistant Director of School Support

Dalton Public Schools

Larry.Murkerson@dalton.k12.ga.us

(706)-876-4040

Entrepreneur Resource Rally

 

You are invited to an Entrepreneur Resource Rally on October 26, 2012 at Dalton State College from 9:00 AM- 1:00 PM.  Please see the following invitation for details.

 

 

Archway Executive Committee Seeks to Further UGA-Generated Plans on Lakeshore Park and Treadmill Lake and Considers Long-Term Storm Water Management Plan

Over the past year, UGA College of Environment and Design Masters student Rachel Johnson worked closely with the Dalton-Whitfield community to develop extensive plans for the redesign of a Lakeshore Park, a community park located near an elementary school; Threadmill Lake, a former lake with a breached dam that could serve a storm water function; and the neighboring community.  Rachel presented her work to the Dalton-Whitfield Archway Executive Committee in September, sparking energetic dialogue and a request for more information on the project from local leaders.  On Wednesday, October 10, Dalton State College professor John Lugthart and Dalton Utilities Senior Vice President of Watershed Services Mark Marlowe spoke to the Executive Committee about the feasibility of the Lakeshore Park and Threadmill Lake plans. 
 
City Manager Ty Ross reported that the Dalton Parks and Recreation Department (DP&R), who is responsible for the oversight and management of Lakeshore Park, has informally divided the plans for the park into three Phases:  Phase I focuses on revitalizing a soccer field; Phase II focuses on adding new tennis courts; and Phase III focuses on the wetlands and the lake in the south end of the park.  Phases I and II are incorporated into DP&R’s capital improvement wish list over the next five years because they can be economic drivers (bring in sporting events, etc.).  Phase III’s completion will likely depend on outside funding.  All projects will be a stretch in this current economic environment. 

Professor Lugthart, who was responsible for convening the citizen group that informed Rachel’s renderings of Lakeshore Park, noted that there is a grant opportunity with the Conasauga River Alliance for some improvements on the south end of Lakeshore Park.  He said that $10,000 to $40,000 is available in grant funding if the community can secure a 1 to 1 match with local funders.  He further noted that the grant will require at least five community partners, which he believes have already been identified through the Archway process.      

Mark Marlowe spoke to the Executive Committee about the community’s long-term storm water management plans and the importance of Threadmill Lake to those plans.  Mr. Marlowe shared that in 2008, the City of Dalton gave Dalton Utilities responsibility for managing storm water.  He noted that fifty plus years of development without adequate storm water management has resulted in significant property damage and water quality issues.  Mr. Marlowe shared that the Threadmill Lake area represents one of two areas in the community that needs the most work.  He explained that Threadmill Lake previously served as an informal storm water facility; however, several years ago the government told the home owners’ association (HOA) that owns the lake that they either had to breach the dam or pay millions of dollars to improve it.  The HOA destroyed the dam at a $50k expense and, consequently, the area does not have an adequate storm water facility.  Mr. Marlowe asked Rachel Johnson to draw some concepts to demonstrate how the restored lake could serve the dual purpose of serving as a storm water management facility and valuable community amenity.  He noted that it will take at least $2.5 million to return the lake to functionality, but the long-term consequences of not restoring the lake into a watershed will be much more costly.  

As a result of Mr. Marlowe’s presentation, the Executive Committee acknowledged that the community will ultimately have to address its storm water management issues.  Without adequate storm water management, water quality goes down which results in higher water bills for property owners.  In addition, significant property damage will continue to occur with each major storm.  Currently, there is no mechanism for paying for significant storm water management in the community.  The Executive Committee agreed to consider this issue further in the future.

You can view the final plans for Lakeshore Park and Threadmill Lake at the following links:

Lakeshore Park Final Plans

Lakeshore Park Phasing Plan

Threadmill Lake Final Plans

Threadmill Lake Trail Connections

Archway Executive Committee hosts Housing Authority and Learns About GICH

On Wednesday, October 10, the Dalton-Whitfield Archway Partnership Executive Committee hosted the Housing Authority of the City of Dalton (HACD) at its monthly meeting.  Scott Painter, Executive Director of the Dalton Housing Authority, explained that the HACD is a local community housing authority whose mission is to provide quality and affordable housing to low income families and over time bolster them into home ownership.  Mr. Painter shared that the HACD currently operates 565 units, 350 of which need to be demolished and reconstructed.  He shared that the HACD got a new board in 2010 and, with the help of Ed Goodwin and Associates and Pennrose Properties, developed a new strategic plan in 2011.  The new plan focuses on redeveloping affordable housing in Dalton with new and modern neighborhoods.  The transformation plan has two phases.  Phase one focuses on building 72 new apartments for the senior residents in the community and phase two focuses on building housing units for families in the community.  The HACD’s strategy is to begin new housing construction in 2014 and to develop and implement a home ownership program in the future.  The project will cost about $10 million.  Funds for this project will be provided through a mix of city funding, bonds, private financing and equity, project based vouchers provided by HUD, and potential tax credits.

Mark Straub, Development Manager for Pennrose Properties, describes the HACD's transformational plan.

To supplement their local efforts, the HACD is leading an effort for the community to participate in the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing (GICH) program.  GICH, a partnership formed between the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA), the University of Georgia and select communities, provides participating communities with technical assistance and resources to support community housing.  Communities that are selected to participate in GICH commit to a three year training program.  In 2005 through 2008, Whitfield County participated and graduated from the GICH program.  However, since 2008, local leadership and boards have changed and HACD believes it is in Dalton-Whitfield’s best interest to go through the GICH program again.  GICH will make its initial site visit to the Dalton-Whitfield community on October 29, 2012, from 10:30 to 11:30 am at City Hall.