DALTON, Ga. -- Dalton is the latest city feeling the burn of high gas prices this year, up nearly $1 a gallon over what budget planners had calculated.

During its regular meeting Monday evening, City Council members approved an additional $100,000 to cover fuel costs for the Public Works Department, which handles fuel purchases for most of the city departments.

Dalton Financial Director Cindy Jackson told council members fuel costs budgeted last November for the 2011 budget were estimated at $2.52 per gallon. The initial budget was for $250,000 for the entire year.

But gas prices rose early this year and have remained above $3 a gallon for most of the year, sometimes nearly reaching $4 a gallon.

Before the vote to approve the additional money, Mayor David Pennington said that, in the future, it might be a good idea to check prices again in December or at the beginning of the year to make needed adjustments if gas prices rose in the interim.

In other business of the evening, council members approved a contract with DemoCycle to demolish the manufacturing building located at 900 S. Hamilton St.

Mohawk Industries donated the property, valued at $496,000 and the size of about one city block, to the city earlier this year. The city plans to use the area as part of its plan to increase green space around the city.

The property contains a large building that will be demolished free of charge by DemoCycle, a Canton, Ga.-based business. Under the contract, DemoCycle will salvage and recycle anything of value from the building, keeping the revenue.

Contact staff writer Mariann Martin at mmartin@timesfreepress.com or 706-980-5824.