PRESS RELEASE

Cherokee County (Feb. 9, 2024) -- The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners took action Tuesday night on a packed-full agenda that includes traffic signal installation at a busy Bells Ferry Road intersection, a turn-lane extension to alleviate traffic congestion, a resolution asking the General Assembly to place a referendum for a Homestead Option Sales Tax (HOST) on the November ballot and a resolution to increase the hotel/motel tax in unincorporated Cherokee County.

Traffic signal for Steels Bridge Road and Bells Ferry Road, turn-lane extension at Bells Ferry Road and Towne Lake Parkway approved

The Board approved two items to aid traffic flow and safety improvements to sections of Bells Ferry Road. As part of the consent agenda, an amendment to an existing agreement with Keck & Wood, Inc. was approved, 4-0, to perform professional engineering services for traffic signal installation at Bells Ferry Road and Steels Bridge Road. County Manager Geoff Morton told the Board that a traffic warrant study had been performed and showed a need for signalization at the intersection. Engineering and installation of the signal is expected to be completed in six to eight months. The cost for the engineering portion of the project is $22,650.

The Board also approved extending the right-turn lane from Bells Ferry Road to Towne Lake Parkway ahead of the Georgia Department of Transportation’s planned widening of Bell Ferry Road, which is slated for delay due to rising construction costs. The Board approved, 4-0, an amendment to an existing construction agreement with Baldwin Paving to extend the right-turn lane to help improve traffic flow during peak hours. The cost to extend the turn lane is $181,575.30. District 2 Commissioner Richard Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by District 3 Commissioner Benny Carter. District 4 Commissioner Corey Ragsdale was absent for medical reasons. 

Hotel/Motel Tax resolution moving to local Delegation

A resolution to increase the hotel/motel excise tax for unincorporated Cherokee County from 6 percent to 8 percent is moving to the local Legislative Delegation for consideration. The Board of Commissioners approved, 4-0, transmitting the resolution requesting that the Delegation create local legislation for adoption by the Georgia General Assembly. District 1 Commissioner Steve West made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.

If approved by the General Assembly as local legislation, the change brings Cherokee County in line with other jurisdictions like Woodstock, Canton, Alpharetta, Roswell, Cobb County and Bartow County, all of which are at 8 percent.

The hotel/motel tax partially funds the Northside Cherokee Conference Center at the Bluffs and also is utilized by the Chamber of Commerce and Office of Economic Development. The intention of increasing the hotel/motel tax in unincorporated Cherokee County, which is paid by visitors staying in local hotels, motels and short-term rentals, is to further support these organizations and add others like History Cherokee, as well as fund a wayfinding signs project, beautification projects on interstates or key intersections, and possibly provide additional funding for recreation and parks operations. Increasing the rate from 6 percent to 8 percent is expected to bring in an additional $200,000 a year. In 2023, revenue from the hotel/motel tax was $644,215.

HOST slated for November ballot, if approved by General Assembly

The Board approved, 4-0, a resolution asking the General Assembly to put a referendum on the ballot in November to ask voters for a 1 percent Homestead Local Option Sales Tax to offset the county M&O portion of property tax bills and help fund transportation improvements. Commissioner West made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.

The request comes after a series of town hall meetings where Chairman Harry Johnston presented several options: a HOST, a LOST (Local Option Sales Tax), a T-SPLOST (Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) or none of the above. Cherokee County is one of three counties in Georgia without a sales tax to offset property taxes – Cobb and Gwinnett are the other two.

Over the course of the seven meetings, 89 residents preferred HOST, 24 preferred T-SPLOST, eight said they wanted the county to keep the sales tax as it is, five wanted a HOST/T-SPLOST combination, and one voted for the LOST.

A HOST would offset property taxes for homesteaded properties. According to the Tax Assessor’s Office, 59,926 of 110,148 taxable properties currently have the homestead exemption. The assessor’s office is unable to determine how many of the remaining would qualify for the exemption, but residents who own their home and use it as their primary residence are eligible to file for the exemption. Applications are due to the Tax Assessor’s Office prior to April 1 every year. County leadership projects that a HOST will fully eliminate the county M&O property tax for homeowners with the homestead exemption, reduce the county M&O property tax by about 39 percent for other types of property and provide an increase of almost 25 percent in the county’s average annual road improvement budget.

During the Feb. 6 meeting, the Board also:

• Recognized Coroner Sally Sims for National Coroner Appreciation Week. The Board issued a proclamation Jan. 16, but Sims could not attend. The Board wanted to recognize Coroner Sims and her team publicly for their work.
• Approved, 4-0, meeting minutes from the Jan. 16 work session, regular session and executive session, and the Jan. 25-26 special called meeting (annual planning retreat). Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Tabled, 4-0, Next Step Ministries request to modify zoning conditions to allow for a larger facility. The case is expected to be heard at the March 5 meeting. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner West.
• Tabled, 4-0, AOA Properties’ request to rezone 42.59 acres at 7716 Cumming Highway from Agriculture, R-80 and R-20 to Office/Institutional for a church. The applicant is meeting with neighbors of the property. The case is expected to be heard at the Feb. 20 meeting. Commissioner West made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
• Tabled, 4-0, Robert Kriz’s request for a Special Use Permit for a climate-controlled self-storage facility at Wade Green Road and Highway 92, with an entrance off Wade Green Road. The applicant also is requesting a variance to eliminate a required decel lane and a required 30-foot buffer from Wade Green Road and including the driveway on the east side of the building showed on the Oct. 3, 2023 concept plan. Commissioner West made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter. The case is expected to be heard at the Feb. 20 meeting.
• Approved, 4-0, notifying the city of Woodstock that the county does not object to a 6.1-acre annexation that is requested to be rezoned from R-40 to R-4, but is asking the city to consider a less dense zoning classification that is more in line with the city’s Future Land Use Plan. The area is within the Growth Boundary Agreement. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
• Approved, 4-0, the consent agenda, which included: reallocation of CDBG funds and submission of a corresponding update of the 2022 CDBG Annual Action Plan to HUD; a resolution to waive the alcohol license residency requirement for Juan Fernando Mata, Mata Family LLC dba Tequila Mexican Restaurant; donation of 323 square feet of right of way and 2,252 square feet of temporary construction easement from county-owned property at 155 Towne Lake Parkway for construction of the Towne Lake Parkway widening project by the city of Woodstock; a resolution to change the name of a portion of an existing public roadway from West Pine Ridge Drive to Buice Avenue; a resolution accepting a donation from Great American Greens Inc. for material and labor to install a putting green at Fire Station #32 at no cost to the county; updating and renewing the Statewide Mutual Aid Agreement for local jurisdictions, as required by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security every four years; authorizing EMA to apply for federal grant funds in order to complete the required 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan; amendment one to the Atlanta Regional Commission contract with Senior Services to provide additional state funds in the amount of $77,394.82 (new contract value $1.3 million); renewing the Probation Service agreement to allow the Public Services Agency to provide probation services for State Court for five years; renewing the Probation Services agreement to allow the Public Services Agency to provide probation services to Magistrate Court for five years; amendment three to the agreement with American Engineers, Inc. for the Dupree Road and King Arthur Drive Drainage Improvements project design to include additional intersection modifications design and revised drainage design for the intersection of Dupree Road and Village Green Avenue in the amount of $15,250; and calling for a public hearing on March 19 to consider text amendments to Article 18 – Amendments and Zoning Procedures of the Cherokee County Zoning Ordinance. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner West.
• Approved, 4-0, the award of a professional services agreement for the Woodstock Trailhead and Spur Trail Project to the highest scoring proposals, Axis Infrastructure, LLC in the amount of $391,925. This is a joint project with the city and county, with the county designing the project and the city building it. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
• Approved, 4-0, the renewal of the annual service and maintenance agreement with Motorola Solutions for E 9-1-1’s VESTA system. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner West.
• Approved, 4-0, a standard construction services agreement to low-bidder Stryker Contracting in the amount of $35,809 with a 20 percent county-controlled contingency to construct a turnout gear room at Fire Station 20. New stations are built with turnout gear rooms as a way to mitigate bringing carcinogens into the living quarters. Cherokee Fire & Emergency Services is working to retrofit older stations to include turnout gear rooms. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 4-0, an agreement with Page Relocation, LLC for the secure transportation of the county’s election equipment during the 2024 election cycle. The total cost is $92,254. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 4-0, an agreement with Indoff, LLC for the purchase of office furniture for the new Probation Services Office at 400 E. Main St. The cost is $130,568 and is being paid for with ARPA funds. Commissioner West made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
• Approved, 4-0, the purchase of one new or used 2023/2024 Ford Explorer at a price of not to exceed $47,000 for the General Services Agency. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner West.
• Approved, 4-0, the purchase of a software platform agreement with Peregrine for the Sheriff’s Office for the initial cost of $100,000 with subsequent costs of $218,750 annually for the next four years. The total cost is $975,000. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner West.
• Approved, 4-0, a professional services agreement with Rindt., Inc. for landfill compliance monitoring at the Blalock Road Landfill in the amount not to exceed $166,564. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
• Approved, 4-0, a resolution to establish and set fees for Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services to provide Fire and EMS support at special community events. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 4-0, minor modifications and corrections to the Cherokee County Procurement Ordinance that changes the DBE liaison from the Public Works Agency Director to the Community Development Agency Director. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner West.
• Approved, 4-0, a new standard contract form for minor construction, trades, and repairs for the Procurement Department. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 4-0, an agreement with HESCO for repairs to the Aquatic Center HVAC – Poolpak system in the amount of $94,996. SPLOST funds are being used to pay for the project. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
• Approved, 4-0, a settlement agreement between Hazel Creek Properties LLC and Cherokee County of a parcel located at 3202 Hickory Flat Hwy., from R-40 to OI and NC with conditions. Commissioner West made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter. The public hearing was held Nov. 21. After approving the settlement agreement, the Board approved, 4-0, rezoning the property from R-40 to OI and NC with 13 conditions that include a list of more than 20 prohibited uses, lighting requirements, limitation of hours of operation, deliveries and garbage pickup to 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., prohibition of loud speakers, a buffer that must be created and approved prior to the issue of a Land Disturbance Permit and maintained through construction, architectural design requirements of a residential look, a floor ratio limit, no access onto Brick Mill Road, GDOT approval of an entrance on Highway 140, a landscape strip and four-rail wooden fence on all street frontage, the limitation of one new building, parking plan approval requirements and a notation that the owner must comply with all state and local rules and regulations. Commissioner West made the motion to approve the rezoning with conditions, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Following executive session, the Board added an item to call for a public hearing for a board-initiated rezoning of a 14.26-acre parcel from R-80 Estate Residential to LI (Light Industrial) at 3953 Ball Ground Highway. Commissioner West made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.