(MARCH 7, 2024) -- Cherokee E 9-1-1 is moving to a more reliable network as existing infrastructure is nearing the end of its life.

The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved a $1.7 million, five-year agreement with Emergency Services IP Network (ESInet) at the request of E 9-1-1.

“Emergency services infrastructure is critical to serving our citizens,” said E 9-1-1 Director Shane Bonebrake. “All 9-1-1 phones currently are on antiquated copper lines installed more than 20 years ago. While office phones were upgraded to voice over IP (VOIP) in 2016, the 9-1-1 lines were not.”

In addition to the lines, the supporting equipment is near the end of its life, and the parts are no longer produced.

Next Generation 9-1-1 (also known as ESInet) is a digital internet protocol-based system that will replace the existing analog infrastructure. Currently, Alpharetta, Fulton County and Forsyth County, and all E 9-1-1 systems in Tennessee use ESInet.

The Board of Commissioners heard a presentation on a possible move to ESInet during its annual planning retreat in January.

Next Generation 9-1-1 includes phone redundancy, increasing resiliency and survivability in natural and manmade disaster scenarios with capacity to support more than twice the 911 busy hour for the entire U.S. Additionally, it uses geospatial location, improving a callers’ location based on their cell phone device instead of using triangulation of cell towers. The majority of 9-1-1 calls are made from mobile devices – in 2023, nearly 85 percent of emergency incoming calls were from wireless phones. About, 8,600 calls were from landlines, and about 6,500 were from VOIP lines.

The enhanced service has the capability to allow callers to send photos, videos, livestream and true text to 9-1-1.

During the planning retreat, Radio Technology Director Jason Jenkins told Commissioners about the three companies that provided quotes with AT&T being the lowest. Additionally, the other two providers would be utilizing the AT&T network.  

District 2 Commissioner Richard Weatherby made the motion to approve the agreement, which was seconded by District 3 Commissioner Benny Carter. The vote was 5-0.

During the March 5 meeting, the Board also:

• Approved, 5-0, delegating Commissioner Carter as a delegate to ACCG regarding the Georgia Opioid Settlement. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by District 4 Commissioner Corey Ragsdale.
• Approved, 5-0, a resolution in support of all actions the Board of Elections undertakes to ensure protection against election fraud and in support of efforts in the Georgia Legislature to eliminate the use of QR codes on ballots. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 5-0, the minutes from the Feb. 20 work session, executive session and regular meeting. District 1 Commissioner Steve West made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
• Held a public hearing to consider Cumming Highway Storage’s request to modify a 2019 zoning condition that limits the property to Neighborhood Commercial uses with no automotive sales or services allowed. The applicant seeks to modify that condition to allow additional indoor storage structures at the existing Flex Storage location. No one spoke at the public hearing. Commissioner West made the motion to approve the request, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby. The vote was 5-0.
• Held a public hearing related to Charline Cambron’s request to modify 2006 zoning conditions on nearly 37 acres on Little Ridge Road. The property was rezoned from R-40 to R-20 in 2006 for a conservation subdivision. The applicant’s request included removing all of the zoning conditions to develop a five-lot minor subdivision with 5- to 10-acre lots. One person spoke during the public hearing to clarify that the proposed project was not high density residential and after hearing the request was for five large-lot homes, the speaker indicated no opposition. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion to remove condition seven, which dictated homes must be 2,000 square feet for $200,000; to keep conditions one through six if the property is R-20 for a major subdivision; and to eliminate conditions one through six and that setbacks must comply with Agriculture zoning standards if a minor subdivision is developed under R-20. Commissioner Carter seconded the motion, which was approved 5-0.
• Approved, 5-0, allowing Next Step Ministries, Inc. to withdraw its application without prejudice. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 5-0, Mack Development Group LLC’s request to rezone 3.92 acres at 4195 Hickory Flat Hwy. from R-40 to Office/Institutional for a medical office building. Planning Commission recommended approval with a condition that there be no access to Bart Manous Road. Additionally, the applicant is requesting a reduction of the 30-foot buffer to 17 feet. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion to approve the rezoning request and variance request with Planning Commissions’ recommended conditions, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 5-0, Miller Landscape, Inc.’s request to rezone 9.1 acres at 1630 and 1640 Barnes Road from R-40 to General Commercial for a landscaping services company. The request also includes a Special Use Permit for a specialty trade contracting business (pool installation) and a concurrent variance to reduce the driveway intersection spacing from 250 feet to 185 feet. The proposed development is a high-end office building with landscape equipment storage screened in the rear of the building at the corner of Barnes Road and Arnold Mill Road. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion to approve the rezoning, Special Use Permit and concurrent variance request, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 5-0, the consent agenda, which included: the Cherokee County Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program for the county to be in compliance with the Federal Transit Agency regulations; ratification of the Chairman’s signature on amendment one to the CATS FY2024 Department of Human Services contract; amendment one to the design services agreement with Arcadis US., Inc. for additional environmental services for the I-575 at Towne Lake Parkway Interchange Improvement Project in the amount of $14,882.19; a resolution to waive the alcohol license residency requirement for Townlake 6511, Inc.; a resolution to waive the alcohol license residency requirement for Amazing Express Market, LLC.; a resolution to waive the alcohol license residency requirement for Siaram, LLC, dba Hampton Inn, for a retail beer and wine license; and a resolution to waive the alcohol license residency requirement for Sixes Road Shell, Inc. Commissioner West made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
• Denied, 5-0, a resolution allowing motorized carts on approved streets in the Crabapple Falls subdivision. The request has been postponed twice to give the applicant the opportunity to present a petition with a majority of residents in support. Commissioner Weatherby, in whose district the neighborhood lies, said he could not support the resolution because only 14 percent of the neighborhood participated in the petition. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 5-0, amendment one to the construction agreement with Bartow Paving Company, Inc. for the Hames Road Improvement Project to include the paving of the current gravel parking lot in the Hobgood Park baseball parking lot at the request of the Recreation and Parks Department. The cost is $120,586. Bartow Paving is concluding work on the Hames Road project and is mobilized in the area. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
• Approved, 5-0, a design services agreement with Pond & Company for preparation of the Safe Streets and Roads for All Action Plan in the amount of $562,180.10. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 5-0, a request from the IT Department to upgrade timekeeping software in the amount of $45,300. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 5-0, a request from the IT Department to renew the license agreement for the county’s firewall. The cost is $43,196.45. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
• Approved, 5-0, a request from Fire & Emergency Services for an agreement with Automated Collections Services, Inc. for soft collections for EMS ambulance billing at a collection rate of 15 percent for a two-year period. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 5-0, a request from the Sheriff’s Office to purchase and upfit two Harley Davison Road King motorcycles through low-bidder, Mountain Creek Harley Davison, in the total amount of $42,657.24. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
• Approved, 5-0, a request from Court Administration for a mediation coordinator position and supplies for a mediation program that began in-house in February. Previously the program was handled by the ninth district and the county has been paying for the outsourced service. Court Administrator Jody Overcash told Commissioners during the work session that the measure brings the service in-house, allowing for better service. The request also includes a corresponding budget amendment in the amount of $100,202. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.