The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved the 2022 Annual Action Plan for nearly $2 million in federal funds for the local Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

District 3 Commissioner Benny Carter made the motion to approve, which was seconded by District 1 Commissioner Steve West. The vote was 4-0. District 4 Commissioner Corey Ragsdale participated during the work session and public hearing and planning and zoning portions of the meeting telephonically due to illness.

Cherokee County was awarded $1.176 million in CDBG program grant funds and $531,600 in Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME) funds, and the approved action plan identifies specific projects seeking funding. The CDBG program allows funding for nonprofits and public facilities to better serve the community.

While the CDBG funding is an annual allotment to be distributed in the community, this is the first time Cherokee County has been awarded HOME program funds.

Community Services Agency Director Bryan Reynolds said historically, the county has not been able to qualify for the program, but Cherokee County now qualifies.

A portion of the HOME funding will be used to fund the acquisition of lots for Habitat for Humanity to construct affordable housing. HOME funding will also be used to administer a tenant-based rental assistance program utilizing the existing relationship with MUST Ministries.

CDBG program funds will be allocated to the Anna Crawford Children’s Center ($99,118) and the Children’s Haven ($50,000) for facility improvements. About $97,000 is allocated for Goshen Valley for minor rehabilitation at the Goshen Valley Boys Ranch facility. Nearly $500,000 will be used by the county for the county’s minor/emergency home repair program through Habitat for Humanity, the Pea Ridge Community Center Initiative (Phase II) and public facility improvements to the Senior Center. Non-profit agencies with allocated funding in the action plan include Bethesda Community Clinic, Malon D. Mimms Boys & Girls Club, Goodwill of North Georgia, MUST Ministries and the YMCA.

During the July 5 meeting, the Board also:

· Approved, 5-0, the minutes from the June 21 regular meeting, work session and executive session and the minutes from the June 22 Special Called Meeting. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by District 2 Commissioner Richard Weatherby.

· Held a public hearing on the 2022 millage rate. One person spoke. No action was taken. The next public hearings are July 19 at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. The Board is expected to adopt the millage rate during the 6 p.m. meeting.

· Held a public hearing regarding Jack and Emily Riddle’s request to rezone 3.69 acres on Stover Road from R-80 to R-40. No one spoke. The Board approved the request with a 5-0 vote. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.

· Denied, 5-0, Dalakhani LLC’s request to rezone 3.136 acres at 3037 and 3039 Highway 92 from R-40 to General Commercial, as well as a concurrent variance to eliminate the deceleration lane on Old Alabama Road/Old Highway 92. The applicant was seeking to build a convenience store with gas pumps. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion to deny due to the request not fitting the character of the area based on the Southwest Cherokee Small Area Plan. Commissioner West seconded the motion.

· Approved, 5-0, New Victoria Baptist Church’s request to rezone 10.92 acres at 6659 Bells Ferry Road from R-40 to General Commercial to erect a digital church sign. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby. In a separate 5-0 vote, the Board approved the church’s request for a special use permit to operate a free after school program intended for Boston Elementary School students. The church is adjacent to the school. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.

· Tabled, 5-0, an application from Rocky’s Lake Estate for a special use permit for a special events facility and to allow non-scheduled chartered passenger air transportation. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion to table, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter. The item will be on the Aug. 2 agenda.

· Tabled, 5-0, Blake’s House of Independence request to modify zoning conditions. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion to table, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter. The item will be on the July 19 agenda.

· Approved, 4-0, under the consent agenda: surplus of miscellaneous, outdated small office equipment and furniture no longer in use by the Probate Court; acceptance of a federal subgrant from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council in the amount of $94,715 and a budget amendment in the amount of $17,759 on behalf of the Felony Drug Court; acceptance of a subgrant agreement in the amount of $180,883 on behalf of Juvenile Court to provide the multi-systemic treatment program to eligible participants; acceptance of an ARPA grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission in the amount of $80,917 and a budget amendment in the amount

of $9,623 on behalf of Senior Services; call for a public hearing to be held July 19 at 6 p.m. to consider a request by Brandon Green to establish a legacy lot at 1727 Lower Bethany Road, Canton; call for a public hearing to be held July 19 at 6 p.m. to consider a request for a master plan amendment to the BridgeMill PUD Master Plan for the BridgeMill Community Association; and the first amendment to the agreement with Practical Design Partners for utility test holes on the Mountain Park Road Drainage Project in the amount of $14,170. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.

· Approved, 4-0, a professional services agreement with Pond and Company to assist in the performance of public engagement and development analysis services for the Comprehensive Plan Update totaling $59,680. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner West.

· Approved, 4-0, a professional services agreement with Indoff Incorporated to purchase office furniture for the new Elections Building at 193 Lamar Haley Parkway. The cost is $156,704. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.

· Approved, 4-0, an engine overhaul by Peach State Truck Centers for Fire & Emergency Services. The engine overhaul on a 2007 Spartan Fire Apparatus cost is $29,946.81. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner West.

· Approved, 4-0, the purchase of a Dodge 5500 Rescue Truck from Williams Fire Apparatus and an Isuzu box truck from Bellamy Strickland for Fire & Emergency Services. The costs are $199,800 and $63,312, respectively. The approval also includes a corresponding budget amendment. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.

· Approved, 4-0, the purchase of Holmatro extrication tools and Paratech stabilization tools from Georgia Fire & Rescue Supply in the amount of $85,539. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner West.

· Approved, 4-0, the purchase of the Lexipol policy and procedures platform for Fire & Emergency Services in the amount of $43,762.70 for year one, with the option to auto-renew for years two through five. The total spend is $146,260.10 over five years. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.

· Approved, 4-0, purchasing of a technical solution as requested by the county’s cybersecurity insurance to meet the underwriting requirements for the one-time purchase of $782,762.86 through the lowest priced response, Cambridge Computer Services, Inc. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.

· Approved, 4-0, the purchase of a Clark Forklift from Material Handling Inc. for Public Works. The cost is $33,979. Commissioner West made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.