(DEC. 8, 2023) -- The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners completed appointments to the Department of Behavioral Health board, heard several zoning requests and approved a construction agreement for the new probation office in Canton, among many other topics earlier this week.

During the Dec. 5 meeting, the Board:

• Approved, 5-0, adjusting petition requirements for speed hump request on Victoria Road. There are just over 100 homes on Victoria Road with several hundred homes on side streets off Victoria Road, and the petition would require 70 percent of the more than 800 residents’ signatures. The Board agreed to adjust the requirements to 80 percent of signatures of the homes on Victoria Road and 50 percent of the residents on the side streets. Chairman Harry Johnston made the motion, which was seconded by District 1 Commissioner Steve West.
• Approved, 5-0, reappointing Diane Minick to the Limestone Valley Resource Conservation Development County for a two-year term. One vacancy remains on the board. Chairman Johnston made the motion, which was seconded by District 3 Commissioner Benny Carter.
• Approved, 5-0, appointing Chris Reed, to the Department of Behavioral Health Development Disabilities Council for a three-year term. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by District 2 Commissioner Richard Weatherby.
• Approved, 4-0-1, the minutes from the Nov. 21 work session, executive session and regular meeting. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by District 4 Commissioner Corey Ragsdale. Commissioner Carter abstained, as he was absent from the Nov. 21 meeting due to illness.
• Held a public hearing on Cooper Patrick Flood’s request to modify a 2009 condition for property at Wes Walker Memorial Drive. The applicant was the only one to speak. The request is to modify the condition that indicates all detention must be underground unless approved by the Cherokee County Airport Authority. District 1 Commissioner Steve West made the motion to deny the request, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby. There was concern about the above-ground water attracting birds and other wildlife near the airport, and the applicant indicated to board members that denial of the request would not deter the project. The vote to deny was 5-0.
• Approved, 5-0, Bradshaw Holdings LLC’s request to withdraw its application to rezone 1 acre from General Commercial to Light Industrial without prejudice. The Planning Commission recommended denial of the application. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
• Approved, 5-0, Cooper Patrick Flood’s request for a special use permit for a non-climate controlled storage facility on 100 acres at 710 Wes Walker Memorial Drive with the condition that the permit is limited to the area plan east of the stream depicted on the survey that transects the property near its midsection. Commissioner West made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 5-0, Greg Bankston’s request to rezone 19.56 acres from R-40 to Neighborhood Commercial for a golf driving range at 11001 East Cherokee Drive. Commissioner West made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
• Approved, 5-0, Kevin Williams’ request for a special use permit for a special events facility at 4563 Hickory Flat Highway with a condition that the permit is not transferrable and that the gate on Pinyan Lane remain locked. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 5-0, notifying the city of Woodstock that the county does not object to an annexation request at 544 and 570 Wagon Trail. The intent of the applicant is to rezone the properties totaling about 6 acres from R-80 to R-2. The use will remain residential. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 5-0, notifying the city of Woodstock that the county does not object to an annexation request at 105 Neese Farm Drive. The intent is to rezone the property from Agriculture to Civic with no changes in the current use as a tow lot. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 5-0, the consent agenda, which included: acceptance of a state grant totaling $48,320, and a corresponding budget amendment totaling $42,522, on behalf of the Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement surveillance work for the Accountability Courts; surplus of obsolete traffic equipment from the Sheriff’s Office; surplus of obsolete office furniture from the Clerk of Court’s Office; renewal of a no-cost participant agreement with Peachtree Recovery Services to act as agent for claims against third-party insurance companies for damage to county property; amendment one to the project grant agreement with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for the Long Swamp Creek Recreation Area and authorization of the Chairman’s signature – there is no cost associated; amendment two to the agreement with Bennett Fire Products, Inc. for firefighting boots at $536 per pair; final acceptance of all public rights of way, roadways and appurtenant drainage structures in the Tranquil Gardens subdivision; and acceptance of an additional portion of Earl Nelson Lane in as-is condition for county maintenance. Commissioner West made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 5-0, amendment two to the construction agreement with Ohmshiv Construction LLC for the Union Hill Road at Lower Union Hill Road to include construction of the Bates Drive Sidewalk Project. The cost is $112,784. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 5-0, a contract with Kucera International, Inc. to provide countywide aerial orthoimagery for the GIS department. The cost is $46,500. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
• Approved, 5-0, a construction services agreement with Ward Humphrey, Inc. for the renovation of the new Probation Office to be located at 400 E. Main Street. The total cost is $1.9 million with a county-controlled contingency of $197,128.70. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 5-0, an intergovernmental agreement with the city of Woodstock for the MACH Alert Fire Station alerting system. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
• Approved, 5-0, a request that the local delegation introduce legislation during the 2024 General Assembly adopting an act to amend the compensation for the Sheriff, Tax Commissioner, Clerk of Superior Court, State Court Judge, Chief Magistrate Judge, Probate Judge, Solicitor and Coroner for Cherokee County to ensure all legal requirements for setting the salaries are met. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Ragsdale.
• Approved, 5-0, calling for a public hearing for a lottery to be conducted for package stores selling distilled spirits. The lottery is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 16 at 3 p.m. to provide selection order by retail district for applications submitted for package stores selling distilled spirits. Part of the motion included announcing potential finalists including Yogi 1921 LLC in District 1; Hickory Flat Hospitality LLC in District 3; Pragnesh Patel and Yogeshkumar Patel in District 4; Jaspal Singh Banti and Yesha Patel in District 5; and VMC LLC in District 6. All applications that have been submitted require a waiver or variance related to either distance from a residence or the requirement that owner(s) be a Cherokee County resident. Those requests will be heard Jan. 2. The advertisement for the lottery is out of an abundance of caution to allow for the proper 30-day notification; however, if applications are not deemed compliant, the county may not hold the lottery on Jan. 16. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.