Gainesville's mayor responds to county remarks

GAINESVILLE - Gainesville's mayor responded to comments from Hall County commissioners concerning water rates at Tuesday night's city council meeting.

Mayor Danny Dunagan said there will be a new rate differential study next fiscal year and he called on the county to pay their share for it, something he said they have not done. And as for water rates..."Each study showed a rate differential greater than two times the city rate and the city has never charged what the study suggested," Dunagan added. County Commissioner Craig Lutz said he expected to use the open records act to get city information about water rates.

"We have nothing to hide and will be more than glad to answer any of their concerns," Dunagan said.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Mayor Dunagan said that the city is working with the State Department of Transportation to get a traffic light at Highway 365 at Howard Road.The intersection is in the city and it's the site of a fatality a week ago.Dunagan thanked city officials for working behind the scenes.

"Rather than making political rhetoric in an election year through statements and letters as the county is attempting," he said.

Last Week Hall Commission Chairman Tom Oliver called for a letter to the DOT commissioner calling for a traffic light. The Mayor said city officials met with the DOT Monday.

PIT BULL OWNERS PLEASED

Pit Bull dog owners opposed to a ban on the dogs in Gainesville told City Council they were pleased that the city has no plans to ban the breed. Joanna Falber from Gwinnett County said the dogs are not at fault.

"The issue is not the breed," Falber said. "The issue is the people behind a breed of dogs, possibly."

City Attorney James 'Bubba' Palmar said he concluded the city cannot exclude a specific dog breed.

At the last council meeting Jean Brannon of Gainesville appeared asking what steps were needed to abolish the breed in the city after her grand child was attacked by a pit bull in another city; that same week a pit bull bit a child who was trying to protect her pet cat on McEver Road.