Mike Babb

DALTON, Ga. — Whitfield commissioners are weighing a $1 million contribution for a sewer line to the Interstate 75 interchange in Tunnel Hill.

Commission Chairman Mike Babb said the Tunnel Hill/Varnell exit is the only interchange in Whitfield County without sewer access and a county contribution will be a long-term investment.

“I don’t think we’ll ever get the money back from tap-on fees for that million dollars, but as businesses develop there will be taxes off that,” he said. “We need to change our thought process and look at this an incentive program as opposed to a contribution.”

Commissioners unanimously voted Monday night to delay a decision until the board can get more information from Dalton Utilities and learn if Tunnel Hill will contribute to the project.

Dalton Utilities officials have said the $3.1 million sewer line would extend from the Mill Creek sewer substation north to the interchange in Tunnel Hill. Commissioner Randy Waskul said it’s important to add sewer lines to the east side of the interchange, which is less developed than the side closer to downtown Tunnel Hill.

Commissioners said the sewer line would be able to handle wastewater from commercial and residential developments but not industrial waste.

In other business:

n Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution to merge the county’s building inspection and zoning offices with Dalton’s into one county-supervised department. County Administrator Bob McLeod said the merger will be a methodical process. Commissioner Harold Brooker suggested a June 30 deadline for the merger’s completion.

n Commissioners honored community activist and volunteer Margaret Ball with the 2008 Whitfield County Community Service award.