Eight local nonprofits are a step closer to receiving a bolstering of funds following an affirmative vote by the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners.

The Board unanimously approved awarding more than $2.8 million to local nonprofits as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. The county issued a Request for Proposals and received 29 project requests from 13 nonprofit agencies. The requests totaled $20.3 million.

District 3 Commissioner Benny Carter made the motion to approve awarding the nearly $3 million at the Sept. 20 meeting, which was seconded by District 1 Commissioner Steve West.

This initial disbursement is nearly half of the $6 million in ARPA funds allocated for homelessness and community support services.

Proposals were required to be for capital projects from $25,000 to $1 million, and many submissions included requests for items considered repairs and maintenance, which would not qualify as a capital project.

The successful proposals include $700,000 to the Goshen Valley Foundation for the purchase of a medical building; $588,600 to Bethesda Medical to transition to a hybrid clinic; $500,000 to the Canton Housing Authority for the demolition and abatement of old buildings; $379,980 to Goodwill of North Georgia to purchase welding and forklift training simulators; $330,812 to Heritage Presbyterian Church for construction of a portico, ADA accessibility and security monitoring at their food pantry; $160,072 to Next Step Ministries to purchase a bus for wheelchair access for three; $110,000 to the YMCA to

repurpose tennis courts for other activities; and $78,000 to the Boys & Girls Club for controlled door access, smoke detectors and occupancy sensors.

The next step for the nonprofits to receive the allocated funds is to enter into memorandums of understanding, which will require approval by the Board of Commissioners.

During the Sept. 20, the Board also:

· Presented a proclamation for Fire Prevention Week, which is Oct. 9-15, 2022.

· Approved, 5-0, the 2023 Board of Commissioners meeting schedule, which has been slightly modified due to federal holidays. The January meetings will be changed to Jan. 10 and Jan. 24. The July 4 meeting will be cancelled. The remaining meetings will be held on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Chairman Harry Johnston made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.

· Postponed, 5-0, a settlement agreement with Scenic Summit Partners. The County received changes late in the day Sept. 20, and needed some additional time to review. Commissioner West made the motion, which was seconded by District 2 Commissioner Richard Weatherby.

· Approved, 5-0, after adding the item to the agenda, a 40-day moratorium on applications for warehouse facilities, like self-storage, outdoor storage and RV storage, while staff reviews ordinances. Warehouse facilities that are secondary to the overall business are exempt from the moratorium. Commissioner West made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.

· Approved, 5-0, the minutes from the work session, executive session and regular meeting from Sept. 6. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by District 4 Commissioner Corey Ragsdale.

· Held a public hearing for modification of zoning conditions for Boardwalk Storage-Killian’s LLC and Boardwalk Storage-Univeter Road, LLC. One person spoke. The item was postponed with a 5-0 vote. Commissioner West made the motion to postpone, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.

· Held a public hearing regarding a request to rezone 34.632 acres from Agriculture to Agriculture with conditions for a pilot project for development of a minor/rural subdivision with five lots. Commissioner West made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby. The applicant was the only person to speak. A condition was added that the owner could not ask the county to take over the private streets for 10 years.

· Held a public hearing on the 2023 budget. One person spoke. A vote will be taken at the Oct. 4 meeting.

· Held a public hearing related to modification of zoning conditions for Scenic Summit Partners LLLP. Several people spoke with many requesting a roundabout at East Cherokee Drive and Little Shoals Drive. The Board postponed the vote until the Oct. 4 meeting. Commissioner West made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.

· Approved, 5-0, with two separate votes two special use permits (SUP) requested by Rocky’s Lake Estate for a special event facility and non-scheduled chartered passenger air transportation at 2700 Cox Road. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion to approve the SUP for the special event facility and 12 conditions, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter. Commissioner

Weatherby made the motion to approve the SUP for the non-scheduled chartered passenger air transportation with 14 conditions, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.

· Approved, 5-0, Southwyck Homes’ request to rezone 70.23 acres at 747 Arnold Mill Road from Agriculture to R-40 for a single-family residential development with 57 homes. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Ragsdale.

· Approved, 5-0, the consent agenda, including: calling for a public hearing for St. Agnes Foundation of North Georgia Angel House, Inc. on Oct. 18 related to removal of zoning conditions; a facility use agreement with 112 Events for the drive-through holiday lights event at Veterans Park; acceptance of a permanent conservation easement revision for 197.97 acres for the Soleil at Belmont Conservation Design Community; a waiver of conflict between Cherokee County and Jarrard & Davis, Forsyth County, Fulton County and the city of Milton related to a rezoning case for a development known as the Puckett assemblage project; surplus of miscellaneous office furniture and equipment for the Clerk of Courts; surplus of an obsolete Ricoh copier/scanner on behalf of Fleet Services; a lease extension amendment with Canon Business Solutions for the county’s multifunction copiers totaling $119,325; and the renewal of the maintenance agreement for the LogVault system from the sole source provider TIBCO in the amount of $36,185 from IT Capital. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner West.

· Approved, 5-0, the proposal from Travelers for the FY23 insurance coverage for property/casualty and liability insurance. The total premium amount is $1.8 million. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Ragsdale.

· Approved, 5-0, a professional services agreement with Woodstock-based Piedmont Real Estate Group for real estate brokerage services. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.

· Approved, 5-0, a right-of-way negotiations fee schedule with Atlas Technical Consultants for the Trickum Road at Ga. 92 intersection improvement project. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.

· Postponed with a 5-0 vote a development agreement with Mark Sixbilt Homes, Inc. to provide for roadway improvements on East Cherokee Drive in concert with the subdivision by Chatham Homes on property currently owned by Scenic Summit Partners. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.

· Approved, 5-0, amendment one to the construction services agreement with Pencor Construction for additional services for the Charlie Ferguson Community Center. The cost is $318,899. The project is being paid for with Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax and Community Development Block Grant funds. Commissioner West made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.

· Approved, 5-0, the second amendment to the agreement with Keck & Wood, Inc. to prepare concept drawings for the proposed improvements identified in the Old Highway 5 Corridor Traffic Study. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Ragsdale.

· Approved, 5-0, a standard construction agreement with Abuck, Inc. for an addition to Fire Station No. 32, located at Lower Birmingham Road and Sugar Pike Road. The construction includes adding sleeping quarters and PPE storage. The bays will remain at this time. The cost is

$1.8 million with a county-controlled contingency of $185,150. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.

· Approved, 5-0, a purchase agreement with the Cherokee County School District totaling $600,000 for property on Hunt Road for a park that is part of the Southwest Cherokee Parks and Trails Plan, as well as the Old Tippens School property. The purchase is being made with SPLOST funds. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter

· Approved, 5-0, the purchase of one used Ford F-150 for the Sheriff’s Office and a budget transfer of $44,885 for the cost of the vehicle. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Ragsdale.