Hotels and motels located outside of cities in Bartow County are facing new penalties for failing to timely pay the county lodging tax. Amendments were made to the county lodging tax ordinance during the Bartow County Commissioner’s meeting Wednesday morning.
The biggest change, according to county administrator Peter Olson, is that the county can now legally file a lien against the property for uncollected taxes rather than file a lawsuit. He said there are two hotels or motels in the county that are consistently behind in tax payments.
The revised ordinance outlines other penalties like adding an additional $5 or 5 percent, whichever is greater if the lateness is under 30 days and allows for the same amount to be charged every 30 days up to $25 or 25 percent. Interest is also charged.
The county can also revoke a business tax certificate, among other penalties.
The commissioner approved water storage agreement with the state, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the City of Cartersville. The stats acting as a liaison for contracting with the corps, according to Commissioner Steve Taylor.
Officials state the agreement allows the county and city to draw out water from Lake Allatoona for drinking water. Each draws out approximately 7 million gallons daily and approved limit is 37 million of gallons daily. Taylor stressed the county isn’t paying for water but paying for the storage of it.
He also approved $472,000 annual contract for water tank maintenance with America Maintenance. Officials said there are 17 tanks that hold 25 million gallons of water, which is about three days of water. The tanks are to be inspected inside and out.
The commissioner also approved a low bid of $723,784 from Greenway Clearing and Grading to replace leaky PVC water pipes in residential areas and install fire hydrants in areas that need fire safety.
Three zoning measures previously recommended for approval by the Bartow County Planning Commission. That include rezoning two pieces of land from agricultural to residential so a manufactured house could be put on both land parcels. The separate cases were requested so young people to have a home on family land.
The other zoning issues was removing the mining designation from the Chemical Products land. That was easily approved with Taylor saying he talked to those buying the property and understands they have no interest in mining. The change makes the Iight industrial zoning designation consistent across all parts of the land.
Melody Dareing is a freelance writer for publications in the U.S, Canada, the UK and Germany. She is a former news director of Adelphia Channel 4 and WBHF Radio. She is on Facebook,X,YouTube, content on Substack, and has a podcast on Rumble.