10 Things To Know From Cherokee Commission Meeting

CANTON, GA — The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved a purchase agreement for a facility on Lamar Haley Parkway that will give the Office of Elections and Voter Registration the space resources to comply with Senate Bill 202.

The new facility provides increased viewing areas, increased parking capability and increased storage. The county analyzed the expansion of existing facilities, construction of a new facility and purchase of an established facility as options. The most cost-effective solution to serve the needs of the Elections Office was to purchase the 3.15-acre parcel with the established 14-638-square-foot building for $1.575 million.

The purchase is an unfunded mandate in Senate Bill 202, which was passed in the last session of the Georgia General Assembly.

“The space that elections is in now is clearly inadequate,” said Chairman Harry Johnston. “The site that was offered to them wasn’t big enough for the storage needs so they moved their offices over there and the former elections office is being used for storage. They really need the equipment in the same location as the people because they are constantly having to work on those machines in preparation for elections. They also need more space since more people are wanting to watch the counting of votes.”

District 3 Commissioner Benny Carter made the motion to approve the purchase agreement and corresponding budget amendment, which was seconded by District 1 Commissioner Steve West. The vote was unanimous.

During the Aug. 3 meeting, the Board of Commissioners also:

• Approved, 4-1, a request from Grand Communities to rezone 26.184 acres along Cumming Highway from General Agricultural to R-20 Single-Family Residential. West made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Ragsdale. Weatherby dissented.
• Approved, 5-0, sending a letter to the city of Woodstock citing no objection to the half-acre annexation on Neese Road adjacent to the existing city water tank property. Johnston made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Weatherby.
• Approved, 5-0, a three-year agreement with AmeriGas to supply propane for the CATS fleet in an amount not to exceed $125,000. Carter made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Ragsdale.
• Approved, 5-0, the purchase of two 2021 Ford Explorers from Brannen Motor Company, fully equipped for $103,127. The vote also included a corresponding budget amendment. Weatherby made the motion to approve, which was seconded by West.
• Approved, 5-0, an agreement with Latimer Construction Company to complete renovations to Fire Station 20. The total amount is $64,050. Carter made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Ragsdale.
• Approved, 5-0, an agreement with Georgia Fire and Rescue Supply as the fire hose supplier with fixed pricing for purchases up to $55,000 for the next three years. Weatherby made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Ragsdale.
• Approved, 5-0, a resolution and adoption agreements with Voya Financial to update the county’s benefit plan. Weatherby made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Carter.
• Approved, 5-0, adoption of the corrected millage rates for the Cherokee County School District, as adoption by the BOE on June 17 as follows: School Board M&O at 18.20 mills and bond at 1.25 mills for a total of 19.45 mills. Carter made the motion to approve, which was seconded by West.
• Approved, 5-0, a one-year agreement with Georgia Mass Appraisal Solutions and Services to allow the tax appraiser to have the ability to have back-up staffing support as necessary for an estimated not-to-exceed value of $17,500. West made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Weatherby.