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DALTON, Ga. - Sworn in Monday evening, Gary D. Crews is the newest face on the Dalton City Council.
He fills the unexpired term of Charlie Bethel, who resigned in March to run for the Georgia state Senate. Ward 4, the district Mr. Crews now serves, spans the city.
He joins a relatively new slate of aldermen in a city that has run a surplus in funding while other municipalities have struggled.
"Our council has done a really good job with the budget," said Mr. Crews, who is a Realtor and the manager of a local medical practice. "We are in a very good position to actually be able to do things in the community."
The council, led by Mayor David Pennington, has set an aggressive agenda to attract business as well as young professional residents. The mayor said Monday that he thinks Mr. Crews is the ideal candidate to share their vision.
"Without a doubt, he's someone I'm happy with. He's a business person; he's been very involved in the community," Mr. Pennington said. "He's going to do a very good job for the community."
Mr. Pennington, along with Aldermen George Sadosuk and Denise Wood, was elected in January 2008. Alderman Dick Lowery was elected in January 2005. Mr. Crews' term is for 31/2 years.
In other business, the council voted to accept $63,000 to resurface nine streets. That funding comes from the Georgia Department of Transportation.
The money will allow the city to resurface portions of Brittany Place, Virgil Drive, Mazda Street, Conway Street, Lavert Drive, Loveman Lane, Greenbush Place, Walston Street and Broadrick Drive.
The council also heard from two residents concerned about preliminary plans to reshape the look of Crawford Street. A resident and a shop owner each spoke against changing parking and adding a median.
"We already have a problem with parking there," said shop owner Sonia Shuler. "Adding parallel parking there will come at the expense of businesses."
No plans have been formalized, Mr. Pennington said. A future public hearing will allow resident comment on the streetscaping proposal, he said.
"There will be a full hearing, and that will allow the citizens to shape what that area will look like," Mr. Pennington said.
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