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Communications Division

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CANTON, GA (July 23, 2021) – Following three public hearings, the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners set the fiscal year 2022 millage rate at a total rate slightly lower than the current tax rate.

The Board unanimously approved setting the BOC-controlled total millage rate at 8.938 mills, down from the current total millage rate of 8.965. That total rate includes maintenance and operations at 5.212 mills, fire fund at 3.292 mills and parks bond at 0.434 mills.

The vote also included adoption of the Board of Education-approved millage rate of 19.45 mills – the law requires that the Board of Commissioners adopt the rate set by an affirmative vote of the Board of Education.

District 3 Commissioner Benny Carter made the motion to approve, which was seconded by District 1 Commissioner Steve West.

One mill is equal to $1 per $1,000 of assessed value.  With no change in assessed value, a homeowner of a primary home with the average assessed value of $303,600 with the standard homestead exemption would expect to see a $3.28 reduction in its overall Board of Commissioners-controlled property tax.  Cherokee’s “floating” homestead exemption partly protects homeowners from increased taxes resulting from higher assessed values. 

The total rate set at 8.938 mills remains the third lowest of the property tax rates of the 11 Atlanta Regional Commission counties. The only lower two are Fayette County at 8.013 mills and Forsyth County at 7.896 mills. The ARC counties have off-setting sales taxes, either a Homestead Option Sales Tax or a Local Option Sales Tax, in place to supplement their tax rates. Cherokee County currently has neither. With a one-cent HOST, Cherokee’s total tax rate would be less than 5 mills. 

Resident John Long was the only speaker at the July 6 and 11 a.m. July 20 public hearings. He commended the Board and county management on a “great job” on keeping taxes low and shared that his two community groups are in “100 percent support of our Board of Commissioners and the county.”

No one spoke at the 6 p.m. public hearing held July 20.

NEW JUSTICE CENTER PARKING DECK

The Board also approved an agreement for pre-construction services to expand the parking deck at the Frank C. Mills Justice Center that would be open to public. The planned parking deck is expected to bring 550 parking spaces. The Board approved, 5-0, the agreement with Gilbane Building Company for $28,140 for the pre-construction services (also known as part 1 of the process). Commissioner Carter made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Commissioner West.

During the pre-construction period, the architect and the general contractor work together to complete drawings and other pre-construction tasks. That part is expected to be completed in November.

Staff will bring back a construction services agreement for the Board to consider later this year.

The Board of Commissioners also:

  • Approved, 4-0-1, the meeting minutes from the July 6 work session, executive session and regular meeting. District 2 Commissioner Richard Weatherby made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter. Commissioner West abstained.
  • Held a public hearing on the abandonment of an unnamed alley on Marietta Highway just outside the city limits of Canton. No one spoke. Commissioner Carter made the motion to approve, which was seconded by District 4 Commissioner Corey Ragsdale. The vote to approve abandoning the alley was 5-0.
  • Held a public hearing on a request to modify zoning conditions from a 1985 case related to property at 5234 Holly Springs Parkway. The property owner is requesting to encroach in the buffer 6 feet to install a storage shed. The property owner was the only one to speak. Commissioner Carter made the motion to approve allowing the request to modify the buffer, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby. The vote was 5-0.
  • Held a public hearing on amendments to the zoning ordinance related to accessory uses and structures. The proposed amendment includes amending the ordinance definition of barn, guest quarters, animal quarters, front lot line, dwelling unit and building height, amending the zoning ordinance requirements with respect to the location, size, height, lot coverage and incidental uses of accessory uses and structures, amending the ordinance requirements related to fences and adding additional sections from which an administrative variance may be granted. Tammy Dorsten spoke, posing questions about dwelling units for aging parents. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion to approve the amendments, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter. The vote was 5-0.
  • Approved, 5-0, a request by Shamie Ramroop to rezone 3.55 acres on Curtis Road from AG (General Agricultural) to R-40 single-family residential to R-40. Planning Commission recommended approval with an added condition of a maximum of two lots. Commissioner West made the motion to approve the recommendation from Planning Commission, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
  • Approved, 5-0, sending a letter to the city of Holly Springs related to an annexation of 1.21 acres on McArthur Drive, citing concerns brought forth by staff. Chairman Harry Johnston made the motion to send the letter, which was seconded by Commissioner Ragsdale.
  • Approved, 5-0, sending a letter to the city of Ball Ground related to the annexation of 334 acres for up to 30 lots and a family compound. The annexation request does not include any rezoning. Commissioner West made the motion to send the letter citing no objections to the request as long as it’s developed as it’s current described. Commissioner Weatherby seconded the motion.
  • Approved, 5-0, sending a letter to the city of Ball Ground related to the annexation of 39.98 acres on Ball Ground Highway just south of the intersection with Howell Bridge Road. The applicant also is asking Ball Ground to rezone the property from R-80 to TND for 69 single family detached homes and 170 town homes. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion to send the letter to the city citing concerns raised by staff. The motion was seconded by Commissioner West.
  • Approved, 5-0, under the consent agenda, accepting all public rights of way, roadways and appurtenant drainage structures in the Creek View Manor subdivision. Commissioner Carter made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Commissioner West.
  • Approved, 5-0, accepting the annual aging subgrant contract in the amount of $826,876 for the 2022 fiscal year to support senior services. The annual funding provides $498,646 in federal funds, $269,985 in state funds and $58,245 in county funds. This is the annual subgrant contract from the Atlanta Regional Commission and does not include the CARES Act or Family First Act funds passed through the ARC. Commissioner Carter made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Commissioner Ragsdale.
  • Approved, 5-0, the construction agreement with Reeves Young LLC for the construction of the LB Ahrens Recreation Center at Cherokee Veterans Park. The contract amount is $10.46 million, as well as an additional county-controlled contingency of $1.58 million. Commissioner West made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
  • Approved, 5-0, an agreement with TSW for the Northeast Cherokee Parks Master Plans, which will result in master plans for three different parks parcels including the 102-acre parcel for the future E.W. and Edith Cochran Park, the 532-acre parcel on Yellow Creek Road along the Etowah River and the 23-acre parcel on Ball Ground Road at the Etowah River. The cost of the plans is $59,500. Commissioner West made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
  • Approved, 5-0, the purchase of networking equipment for the Public Works Complex renovation in the amount of $43,344.75 from low-bidder Insight Public Sector. Commissioner Carter made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Commissioner Ragsdale.
  • Approved, 5-0, the first amendment with Legacy Commissary Services to extend the length of the commissary agreement at the Adult Detention Center for one additional for an estimated commission of $325,000. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
  • Added to the agenda a land purchase, following executive session. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion to approve a purchase agreement for 20.5 acres at the corner of Union Hill Road and East Cherokee Drive for parkland. The cost is $3.25 million. The motion was seconded by Chairman Johnston. The vote was 3-2, with Commissioner Carter and Commissioner Ragsdale dissenting.
  • Approved, 5-0, withdrawing the Board’s request for arbitration related to a city of Canton annexation on Old Doss Drive. The county previously started the dispute resolution process with the Department of Community Affairs. Since then, the applicant has withdrawn its application from the city of Canton, and the Canton City Council has accepted it. DCA requires an official withdrawal request to close out the case. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Ragsdale.

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