(OCT. 6, 2023) -- The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved the 2024 Budget Tuesday night, which provides for county operations and capital projects from Oct. 1, 2023-Sept. 30, 2024.

A public hearing was held Sept. 19. No one spoke.

The overall $396 million budget is up from $375 million from the previous fiscal year and includes operating funds at $288 million and capital funds at $107 million. The operating fund, also known as the general fund, is funded mainly by property taxes, motor vehicle taxes (TAVT), Insurance Premium Tax, licenses and permits, and other items. The capital funds budget is funded by Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax and impact fees.

Nearly 80 percent of the total proposed increase in the general fund is due to inmate medical costs ($2.7 million), court appointed attorney costs ($659,000), computer equipment ($280,000), vehicle maintenance ($255,000), maintenance for the Motorola system for public safety ($232,000) and general supplies ($181,000).

The proposed budget accounts for using $7.3 million from general fund reserves, forecasted to leave $56.6 million at the end of the fiscal year. The proposed fire fund budget accounts for using $410,250 in fire fund reserves, leaving about $10.1 million in the reserve fund at the end of the fiscal year.

District 2 Commissioner Richard Weatherby made the motion to approve the budget, which was seconded by District 3 Commissioner Benny Carter. District 1 Commissioner Steve West was absent due to illness.

At the Oct. 3 meeting, the Board of Commissioners also:

• Proclaimed Oct. 8-14 as Fire Prevention Week in Cherokee County
• Heard Sheriff Frank Reynolds present the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office quarterly awards, which included the retirement of Major Daniel Higgins and promotion of Olen Boughner from captain to major.
• Proclaimed October as Community Planning Month.
• Heard Brantley Day, Community Development Agency Director, and Margaret Stallings, Planning and Zoning Director, present the 2023 Georgia Planning Association Awards recognizing Cherokee County and the city of Waleska for awards received from the Georgia Planning Association.
• Approved, 4-0, a resolution urging Gov. Brian Kemp and the Georgia General Assembly to continue efforts to improve mental health services for the citizens of Georgia. District 4 Commissioner Corey Ragsdale made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 4-0, the Sept. 19 work session, executive session and regular meeting minutes. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Ragsdale.
• Held a public hearing on proposed amendments to Chapter 6 – Alcoholic Beverages of the Code of Ordinances. No one spoke. Changes include consumption revisions related to brewpubs, breweries, farm wineries, ancillary package and distilleries. The update also amends the temporary permit for special events in parking lots of licensed establishments. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Held a public hearing on proposed amendments to Chapter 42 of the Code of Ordinances, related to alcohol consumption at county recreation and parks venues. No one spoke. The changes allow for beer, wine and distilled spirits to be served at events at Victory Hall at the L.B. Ahrens Recreation Center and the Union Hill Community Center. The person hosting the function must have a confirmed reservation with Cherokee Recreation & Parks, must obtain a special event permit and hire a licensed caterer or bar service to serve any alcohol. Commissioner Carter made the motion to approve the amendments, which was seconded by Commissioner Ragsdale.
• Approved, 4-0, Tim Perkins’ request to rezone 5.197 acres from Agriculture to General Commercial at 301 Perkins Lane and a special use permit for a non-climate-controlled storage facility. The applicant is planning an outdoor storage area on the property. Mr. Perkins and his family members own all property surrounding the proposed storage area. The Board approved the rezoning and special use permit, along with several variances related to visual screening, setbacks and driveway spacing reduction. The approval vote added a condition tying the variance approvals to the business license for the storage area, and if the Perkins family sells any of the adjoining property, the variances become null and void. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Ragsdale.
• Tabled, 4-0, JL Metal LLCs appeal of a Zoning Board of Appeals case regarding a buffer between Heavy Industrial and Agriculture. The applicant is seeking to reduce the buffer from 200 feet to 100 feet for a recycling facility. ZBA denied the variance request in June. The BOC agreed to allow the buffer reduction. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion to table, which was seconded by Commissioner Ragsdale.
• Approved, 4-0, notifying the city of Woodstock that the county does not object to the annexation of 0.95 acres on Highway 92. The property is within the growth boundary agreement. Additional parking for a Northside Hospital medical office building is planned for the property. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Declined, with a 4-0, hearing an appeal of an Administrative Variance decision. The zoning manager approved an administrative variance to reduce side building setbacks from 50 feet to 45 feet for the property owner to build a home at 171 Hawks Club Drive in the Hawks Ridge subdivision. An adjoining property owner was requesting the appeal of the 10 percent reduction of the side setback. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 4-0, the consent agenda, which included amendment three to the agreement with T&T Uniforms, extending the existing contract by one year and allowing an average 4.2 percent price increase for firefighter uniforms; a Memorandum of Understanding with the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency for the county’s grants manager to apply for and manage grants in the state’s portal on behalf of the county; the surplus of several computers, monitors and miscellaneous items from the Information Technology Services Department; amendment one to the Stell Road Drainage Improvement Project Design Services Agreement with Calco Engineering, LLC in the amount of $23,300 to add roadway design for a right-turn lane from Ga. 92 to Ridge Mill Court; and setting a public hearing for Oct. 17 regarding the abandonment of a portion of James Dupree Lane. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 4-0, an extension of the current email protection solutions agreement as required by the county’s cybersecurity insurance carrier. The amount is not to exceed $55,566 and is included in the FY2024 budget. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
• Approved, 4-0, the alternate tree preservation and replacement plan for Hunter Trail LLC. The item was tabled from the Sept. 19 meeting. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 4-0, an addendum in the amount of $65,500 to the Professional Services Agreement with Sedgwick Claims Management Services Inc. to provide continued Workers’ Compensation Third Party Administration for FY2024. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Ragsdale.
• Approved, 4-0, a Professional Services Agreement with Comfort Keepers, Senior Helpers, Caring Senior Services and ComForCare of Cobb County for respite and personal care for Senior Services at a fixed rate of $35 per hour. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Ragsdale. The service paid for through grants Senior Services has received.
• Approved, 4-0, a Professional Services Agreement with Cedartown Electric, LLC for courtroom power source upgraded at the Justice Center. The total amount is $30,580.51. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
• Approved, 4-0, the CATS FY2024 5310 Department of Human Services contract and ratify the Chairman’s signature. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 4-0, acceptance of FTA 5311 Rural Assistance Program from the Georgia Department of Transportation contract for FY2024 in the amount of $526,000 consisting of 50 percent federal operating funds totaling $263,000 and a county match of $263,000. The contract also includes Capital Funds totaling $21,420, with 80 percent matching federal funds, 10 percent state funds and 10 percent county funds. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 4-0, a settlement agreement with Hazel Creek Properties LCC. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
• Approved, 4-0, an employee retirement agreement. The item was added to the agenda following executive session. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Ragsdale.