The Holly Springs City Council will take its annual retreat to the nearby city of Ball Ground later this month to discuss several issues.
During the Saturday, April 23 retreat, council members plan to discuss the Town Center Project, as well as community development issues and court services.
Though they are retreats for the purpose of discussion between council members and city staff, city council retreat sessions are public meetings. Retreat sessions will be held at the Cherokee County Regional Airport Terminal Conference Room on the 2nd Floor at 1350 Bishop Road in Ball Ground.
Roswell City Council will discuss the 100-day plan again this week
Roswell’s 100-day plan is at the forefront of the minds of many city residents and the city’s new mayor Kurt Wilson.
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According to the city council meeting agenda for Monday, April 11, city leaders will be discussing the plan once again during the council meeting.
The meeting takes place at Roswell City Hall at 7 p.m. Monday.
Clarke County residents will get new voter precinct cards
As a result of the re-districting/re-apportionment required by law, every registered voter in the county will soon be mailed a new precinct card showing their voting districts.
You can also have instant access to your new precinct card through My Voter Page at https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/. Just download or print.
Cherokee County one step closer to new park
A new park in Hickory Flat is closer to fruition following a Cherokee County Board of Commissioners vote to authorize a purchase agreement for 40.7 acres on East Cherokee Drive.
The Board approved, 4-0, the purchase for $3.2 million. District 2 Commissioner Richard Weatherby made the motion and District 3 Commissioner Benny Carter seconded. District 4 Commissioner Corey Ragsdale was out of town and unable to connect telephonically due to technical difficulties.
“I’m excited and thrilled that Hickory Flat is getting a park that is so badly needed in this area,” said Commissioner Richard Weatherby, who represents the area. “Because of the huge influx of residents in my district, that area in particular, this is a badly needed facility. I am thrilled we were able to reach agreeable terms with the property owners, and I’m appreciative of our Board, our county manager and the parks staff for all of their hard work.”
The planning process for this park will be similar to the process followed for the Southwest Cherokee Parks and Trails Plan and the Northeast Cherokee Parks Master Plan. Recreation and Parks Director Jay Worley told Commissioners during the April 5 work session that the planning process could start as early as this summer.
The planning process includes hiring a consultant with expertise in master planning, engineering and landscape architecture. Much like the previous parks plans, the county Recreation and Parks team, along with the consultant, will engage the public for their wish lists and input for the Hickory Flat park. Once the planning process is complete and funding sources for construction have been identified, construction can begin. While an official timeline has not been set, county officials believe construction could start in about two years.
The Commission also:
- Proclaimed April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Cherokee County. Michelle Meek from The Children’s Haven and Brooke Ford from the Department of Family and Children’s Services were in attendance to accept the proclamation from Chairman Johnston.
- Announced the SPLOST 2024 Kick-Off Meeting with the Board of Commissioners, Mayors and City Councils April 20 at 6 p.m. in the Etowah Room of the Cherokee County Administrative Building. The meeting is open to the public.
- Approved, 4-0, reappointing Raymond Gunnin and Dennis Conway to six-year terms on the Cherokee County Board of Assessors. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
- Postponed, 4-0, a resolution to support city of Woodstock and Cherokee County cooperation on growth and development and committing to support the Land Use Plan in the Arnold Mill Road corridor. Chairman Johnston made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
- Approved, 4-0, the minutes from the March 15 work session, executive session and regular meeting. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
- Approved, 4-0, granting Manor Restoration LLC’s request to withdraw its application without prejudice. The company is seeking to rezone 16.67 acres from R-40 Single-Family Residential to General Commercial and RM-16 Multi-Family Residential at 2403, 2431 and 2385 Ball Ground Highway, as well as three concurrent variances to building setbacks and buffers. District 1 Commissioner Steve West made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby. Commissioner West added that he had spoken with the applicant who is looking to change the intended use on the property, which will require a new application.
- Approved, 4-0, a request from Law and Development Company to develop a climate-controlled self-storage facility on 3.32 acres at 664 East Rope Mill Lane with conditions as recommended by the Planning Commission. One condition was modified related to hours of operation being limited to 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. That modification was made by Commissioner Carter to keep it in line with a neighboring self-storage facility that was recently approved. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner West.
- Approved, 4-0, sending a letter to the city of Ball Ground related to a 54-acre annexation on Roberts Lake Road and Gazaway Lane with no objections but with a note that the BOC would prefer the development be not as dense. Chairman Johnston made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
- Approved, 4-0, sending a letter to the city of Woodstock related to a 14-acre annexation request for 109 townhomes at Hames Road and Highway 92 suggesting they reconfigure the eastern portion by reducing units as necessary to avoid the retaining walls along that eastern and southern and part of the northern boundaries of the eastern section. The letter will address staff concerns including review of stormwater hydrology and coordination of an upcoming county road improvement project. Commissioner West made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
- Approved, 4-0, the consent agenda, which included: calling for a public hearing on April 19 to consider allowing motorized golf carts on approved streets in Governors Preserve; surplussing obsolete furniture on behalf of Planning and Zoning; an alcohol license residents waiver request for TWP1 USA, LLC; ratifying a state grant application for $127,418 to establish a Family Treatment Court; a funding source change of $1,684,262 for the purchase of five ambulances from SPLOST 2018 funds to ARPA funds and $441,525 budgeted in ARPA funds for the Charlie Ferguson Community Center to be switched to SPLOST 2018 funds; an agreement with Fast Break Healthy Vending for vending machine services at various Cherokee Recreation and Parks locations; authorizing a budget amendment in the amount of $27,127 in insurance proceeds and the purchase of a Toyota from low-bidder Cherokee County Toyota in the same amount on behalf of the Sheriff’s Office; acceptance of the permanent conservation easement for Courtyards at Hickory Flat Conservation Design Community; transferring property for necessary roadway right of way required for construction of Technology Ridge Parkway from a county-owned parcel; and renewal with UME/Gerber (current carrier) for employee medical stop loss insurance coverage. Commissioner West made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
- Approved, 4-0, an intergovernmental agreement with the city of Waleska to conduct elections. Commissioner West made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter. The agreement states that if the city election is held with a federal, state or county election, the city will bear no cost. If the city has its own election, but is run by the county, the city will pay full costs related to the election.
- Approved, 4-0, an intergovernmental agreement with the city of Holly Springs to conduct elections. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner West. The IGA with Holly Springs has the same stipulations as the Waleska agreement.
- Approved, 4-0, an intergovernmental agreement with the city of Canton to conduction elections. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter. The IGA with Canton is the same as the agreements with Waleska and Holly Springs.
- Approved, 4-0, adopting a resolution to update the Indigent Burial Cremation Assistance Program policy. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
- Approved, 4-0, a proposal from Southeastern Engineering, Inc. to perform design engineering for the Woodstock Road at Kellogg Creek Drainage Improvement Project under the annual engineering contract in the amount of $40,000. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
- Approved, 4-0, purchasing two, new 14-passenger transit vans from ABC Bus, Inc. for $254,990 using FTA grant and SPLOST funds. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
- Approved, 4-0, an amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Jericho Design Group LLC for design services at the Cherokee County Public Works Complex. The scope of work on the project has increased based on issues found, as well as at county request. The cost is $18,578. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner West.
- Approved, 4-0, an amendment to the Construction Services Agreement with Pencor LLC for the Cherokee County Public Works Complex in the amount of $439,818.66 and to extend the term from May 30, 2022 to July 1, 2022. The increase and extension are based on issues found while remodeling the former Georgia Power building, as well as a change in scope at county request based on needs for the Public Works department operations. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
- Approved, 4-0, the purchase of the advanced Unified Endpoint Management software solution in the amount of $99,704, which was the lowest priced proposal. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner West.
- Approved, 4-0, the purchase of four Chevrolet Tahoes at a not-to-exceed price of $179,841 for Cherokee Fire & Emergency Services using SPLOST funds. Commissioner West made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
- Approved, 4-0, a standard construction services agreement with Summit Construction & Development LLC for the construction of a new walking track of the Hunkey Mauldin Sports Complex at Kenney Askew Park. The cost is $463,565 with a 10 percent county-controlled contingency of $46,000. The project is being paid for by the Pilgrim’s grant received in 2020 and SPLOST 2018 funds designated for Recreation and Parks. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
- Approved, 4-0, an agreement with T&T Commercial Services LLC to replace the HVAC equipment at multiple Cherokee County building locations. The total cost is $377,606. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
- Approved, 4-0, updating the Animal Control Ordinance regarding retention of unclaimed animals increasing the stray hold timeframe from three days to five days/120 hours. Commissioner West made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
- Approved, 4-0, ratifying an administrative order signed by the Superior Court judges setting Cherokee County Juvenile Court judges’ compensation effective April 5. The new order clarifies that going forward, when elected officials and judges in other classes of court have an increase, Juvenile Court also will be included. Georgia law provides that Juvenile Court judge salary is set by Superior Court and approved by the Board of Commissioners. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner West.
Columbia County Board of Education meets Monday
The Board of Education will meet in Regular Session April 12, 2022, at 5:30 p.m. at the Columbia County Board of Education Office, 4781 Hereford Farm Road, in Evans.
This board meeting will be open to the public, and will be live streamed for public viewing. Beginning at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 12, interested individuals may view the meeting at http://bit.ly/ccsdlive.
A full meeting agenda is available at www.ccboe.net. Questions or comments may be directed to the Board of Education by calling 706-541-2723 ext. 5202 or by emailing contactus@ccboe.net.
In The Know: While much attention is given to national politics and the workings of Congress and the White House, local government meetings are where the decisions that impact your daily life are made. City Council, County Commission, School Board Meetings, and Town Halls are where your elected leaders discuss and decide the issues that most effect your family and your community. These meetings are open to the public.
Each week, The Georgia Sun highlights some of the meetings and local government actions you need to know about in your community to keep you informed and to make sure you know what decisions your elected officials are considering and how your tax dollars are being spent.
