Downtown Dalton, Ga. Staff Photo by Dan Henry/Chattanooga Times Free PressDALTON, Ga. – A consolidated government should bring a unified vision to spur economic growth in Dalton and Whitfield County, according to charter commission members.
“We need to create a government that is looking to grow this area; we need a single vision for the future,” said Tangela Johnson during their weekly meeting Wednesday afternoon.
After several weeks of hearing from department heads and counties that already have consolidated, the 15-member charter commission spent most of Wednesday’s meeting discussing what their overall goals should be.
Economic development, saving costs and providing increased services have been the three things most frequently discussed by the commission since they began meeting in June.
Most of the discussion when talking to department heads has focused on cost savings for governments struggling with tight budgets.
But Wednesday’s discussion shifted the focus slightly. Other members agreed with Johnson, who is vice chairman of the committee.
“It is our responsibility to have a broader vision of what is good for this community longer term,” Phil Neff said. “We’ve ridden the horse of the carpet industry for too long.”
The Dalton area struggles with one of the highest unemployment rates in the state, now at 12.6 percent.
Developing an economic base other than the carpet industry is key and must be the long-term goal of the commission, Johnson said. She noted that Chattanooga and Cleveland, Tenn., have spurred economic development recently, but Dalton has not.
“I’m very passionate about this,” said Johnson, who said she grew up in a cotton mill town.
Elyese Cochran, who heads up the Dalton-Whitfield County Joint Development Authority, has said a consolidated government would help attract businesses to the area.
In the next few weeks, commission members will hear from the recreation departments, public works and utility companies that provide services in the city and county.
They will also meet with Floyd County and Rome, Ga., officials, who have considered consolidation but never voted on the issue.