Dalton, Whitfield combine department for sake of savings

DALTON, Ga. — Whitfield County Commissioner Mike Cowan says he’d like to see Dalton and Whitfield County combine their governments, but the merger of one department each is a start.

“When you live in a county that’s geographically the size of Whitfield and you continue to grow until you’re basically one community, it just makes sense to have a unified government,” Mr. Cowan said.

He said the savings by eliminating duplicated services could be returned to the taxpayers.

County commissioners unanimously approved a resolution Monday to combine the county’s building and zoning department with the building and zoning division of Dalton.

The county would maintain oversight of the department, providing the same services.

Dalton Mayor David Pennington said city officials have pushed for the merger for about eight months, and he was confident the City Council will approve the plan.

Last year, Dalton entered an agreement for the county do all road paving work, and the city trimmed more than two dozen Public Works positions through early retirements and layoffs.

Mr. Pennington said any employee cuts or related decisions under the new plan would be made by the director of the combined department.

It will take work to combine the city and county ordinances and resolve conflicts in terminology and other issues, said Alan Parrish, Dalton’s codes enforcement officer, but he’s in favor of the move.

“I think it’s a good idea to have everything in one house,” Mr. Parrish said Tuesday.

County Administrator Bob McLeod said fees collected by the two current offices are significantly less than the operating cost, so the merger should save money.

Mr. McLeod said the plan is to house unified department in the county building on Burleyson Drive.