Communications Division

Image of empty BOC meeting room with blue overlay that reads Meeting Highlights

Highlights from the June 17 Board of Commissioners meeting

(JUNE 20, 2025) -- Cherokee County is partnering with the Georgia Department of Resources and Bartow County to preserve thousands of acres in northwest Cherokee and Bartow County.

Several years ago, the property owners of the Pine Log Wildlife Management Area opted to not continue its lease with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Since then, DNR has been working with the property owner to purchase most of the property to continue the WMA.

A Wildlife Management Area is a designated area to preserve wildlife and its habitat.

Bartow County has committed to providing $5 million to close the gap of what the DNR cannot meet to the purchase the property. Chairman Harry Johnston asked the Board of Commissioners to commit $1 million to $3 million.

District 3 Commissioner Benny Carter made the motion to commit $2 million to the purchase of the property contingent on an intergovernmental agreement to be considered at a later date by the Board of Commissioners. District 2 Commissioner Richard Weatherby seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved.

The entire property encompasses over 12,000 acres with about 2,500 acres located in Cherokee County. It is located near the Lake Arrowhead Community in the northwest portion of the county.

“This is a critical part of our area and critical greenspace that we need to do what we can to preserve,” Carter said.

Also at the June 17 meeting, the Board of Commissioners:

Made a public congratulations to Recreation and Parks Natural Resources Division Director Adam Fussell and Principal Planner Dana Spayde who were recently named to the Chamber of Commerce’s Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals to watch.
Announced the special election on Aug. 26 for Senate District 21 and Board of Commissioners District 1.
Approved, 4-0, advertising 5.307 as the general fund (Maintenance & Operations) millage rate. This is the highest rate the Board can considers for final adoption. Millage rate public hearings will be held in July and August with adoption in August. District 4 Commissioner Corey Ragsdale made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
Approved, 3-0-1, the minutes from the special called meeting on May 23, 2025. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter. Commissioner Ragsdale abstained.
Approved, 3-0-1, the minutes from the June 3 work session, executive session, and regular meeting. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter. Chairman Johnston abstained.
Held a public hearing to consider approval of allowing motorized carts in the Lovinggood Landing subdivision. Several people from the Lovingood Landing subdivision spoke in favor. The Board approved, 4-0, allowing motorized carts under the ordinance, which allows residents in an approved motorized carts district to fill out the registration application. An approved application will receive a registration sticker good for one year, three years or five years, whichever the applicant applies for. For information, visit https://www.cherokeecountyga.gov/dsc/Motorized-Cart-Registration. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Ragsdale.
Held a public hearing regarding the abandonment of a portion of Morris Road. Several people spoke to clear up confusion about access to properties and exactly where the abandonment would be. The Board approved, 4-0, abandoning the portion of the roadway. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
Held a public hearing about proposed updates to the noise ordinance regarding the use of fireworks near equine facilities. The 2025 Legislature passed a bill that allows local jurisdictions to regulate fireworks near equine facilities. The ordinance amendment prohibits fireworks to be used within 200 yards of an equine facility. Several people from the equestrian community spoke in favor of implementing the amendment and illustrated for Commissioners how fireworks can cause danger to horses and their caretakers. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter. The vote was 4-0. The ordinance amendment takes effect July 1, 2025.
Held a public hearing to increase the hotel/motel tax from 6 percent to 8 percent. One person spoke. The 2025 Legislature approved local legislation allowing the increase, which requires local action to enact. Hotel motel tax is paid for by people who stay in local hotels and motels and is used for tourism initiatives. Recipients of Cherokee County hotel motel tax include the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce, the Cherokee Office of Economic Development, and History Cherokee. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter. The vote was 4-0.
Held a public hearing on a text amendment to the zoning ordinance regarding gas station and car wash uses. No one spoke. In April, Commissioner Ragsdale asked for a moratorium to be placed on the uses to revisit the zoning ordinance due to the influx of car washes and gas stations in his district. County staff opted to request the moratorium for the full county, as other districts are experiencing the same issue. The Board approved the staff proposed changes, which now requires a special use permit for new automated car wash facilities and gas stations in General Commercial zoning. It also adds design requirements related to canopy color. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter. The vote was 4-0.
Approved, 4-0, informing the city of Ball Ground that the county does not object to a proposed annexation of 4.58 acres for 20 detached zero lot-line residential homes at 9923 Ball Ground Highway, but is notifying the city of several staff concerns. Concerns the BOC is asking the City Council to address are: the fact that the proposed project does not have a 35-foot undisturbed buffer adjacent to agricultural zoned property; a deceleration lane is recommended; GDOT needs to be consulted on the requirements for any ingress/egress easements along Ball Ground Highway; the proposed project should line up with the business entrance across the street; streets are required to be a minimum width of 20 feet for Cherokee Fire & Emergency Services to adequately serve the subdivision; there must be sufficient radius for fire service within the development; and the stormwater management area must be relocated as it’s currently shown in the buffer area. Chairman Johnston made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
Heard from Planning Manager Thomas Trawick that an advertisement has been placed in the county’s legal organ providing at least 30 days’ notice of a lottery to be conducted on July 15, at 3 p.m., to provide selection order by retail district for applications submitted for package stores selling distilled spirits. No vote was required.
Approved, 4-0, the consent agenda, which included: a request from Court Services for a budget amendment totaling $474,677 to reallocate federal ARPA funds from the Judicial Council of Georgia for the last seven months of calendar year 2025; a request from CATS to apply for Georgia Transit Trust Funds through the Atlanta-region Transit Link Authority for funding totaling $1 million for the local match for the new CATS facility; and a request from Recreation and Parks to renew a lease agreement with Stingrays, Inc. for use of swim lanes at the Aquatic Center. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
Approved, 4-0, a request from the IT Department for renewal of Endpoint Detection and Response Solution. The cost is $202,142.96. Funding is allocated in IT’s 2025 budget. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
Approved, 4-0, a request from Human Resources to enter into a services agreement with PES Benefits for employee benefits enrollment, education and administration at an annual cost of $94,823.80 for year one (including set up) and $84,079.90 for each subsequent year. The cost is included in Human Resources annual budget. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
Approved, 4-0, a request from Fleet Management to purchase a 20,000-pound capacity hydraulic vehicle lift from Steril-Koni USA, Inc. The cost is $51,740.78 and is being paid for with SPLOST funds. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
Approved, 4-0, a request from the District Attorney to purchase two 2025 Nissan Altimas from Gwinnett Place Nissan at a not-to-exceed price point of $60,329. Funding comes from the District Attorney’s 2025 annual budget. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
Approved, 4-0, a request from the Sheriff’s Office to purchase a vehicle for the Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad in the amount of $42,002, including a budget amendment in the same amount. The cost is being paid for with insurance recovery and forfeiture funds. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
Approved, 4-0, a request from the Sheriff’s Office to use Opioid Settlement Funds for the purchase of a training module from the Z-School through the University of North Georgia. The cost is $175,500. The module offers effective strategies and practical techniques for addressing Opioid Use Disorder. The individual cost is $450 per deputy, and the Sheriff’s Office intends to train all 390 sworn officers. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
Approved, 4-0, a request from CATS to accept FTA 5311 Rural Assistance Program contract from the Georgia Department of Transportation for FY2026. The amount is $526,000. The approval also includes authorization for the Chairman to execute the document. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
Approved, 4-0, a request from Property Management for a services agreement with Georgia Green Grounds Care, LLC for landscape maintenance services for multiple county facilities. The annual cost is $343,805 and funding is allocated in Property Management’s departmental budget. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
Approved, 4-0, an agreement with the city of Ball Ground for the Cherokee County and municipalities Comprehensive Safety Action Plan. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Ragsdale.
Approved, 4-0, an update to the agreement with the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce for allocation of funds to align with the increase in hotel motel tax percentage. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
Approved, 4-0, a resolution to provide locality pay and other benefits authorized under House Bill 85 for the compensation of Superior Court judges for Cherokee County and to provide for a temporary freeze for such elected official salaries connected to the Superior Court judges per HB 85. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
Approved, 4-0, a request from the SPLOST/Roadway Department for approval of multiple professional service agreements for on-call traffic engineering design services for a variety of roadway improvement projects from Gresham Smith, Keck & Wood, and Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc. The not-to-exceed amount is $500,000 per year, per awarded agreement. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Ragsdale.
Approved, 4-0, amendment one to the intergovernmental agreement with the city of Canton to provide resurfacing and road repairs for various roads. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Ragsdale.