[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6627463,"mediaKeyId","2727622-41228a7c7b1b1a73a6729ab201cc392a","parentId",2727622,"title","Council approves consent agenda, minutes and year-end budget amendment; lists key ordinance and contract actions","audioSeconds",2190,"startMs",3600000,"endMs",5790000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2727622-41228a7c7b1b1a73a6729ab201cc392a&start=3600&end=5790","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2727622-41228a7c7b1b1a73a6729ab201cc392a/thumbnail_3600000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6627463/Canton-City/Cherokee-County/Georgia/Council-approves-consent-agenda-minutes-and-year-end-budget-amendment-lists-key-ordinance-and-contract-actions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6627463-94102f00e53420e20531f5fa473a5792/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171387&Signature=Zpamr5nx7QqtWPN6SR3~4wm6oAJpp9DHvwvM4O8Qcm6o2Cujm~08H-LdnjkV4yetypzIRnZ5na4yKQStQ627yksF~RgPZHbdksqin02~PqNoDhkKjz7VX3ye7vfrnttDb~OEksdS5j9rQvG2TxcWQoazOrVpn2rx7U79OYBwV5we9am-FJRRJyutO0Wp1fiPz-G3wPrKIvpGqb1ngbE5JKDDc6waSYP0NHrTFUIkuYaOzN~Sm3jH6F3VucXOX1FyZP~8gvE4AQwu1cAJQwOLMF3bhXbWY7XQh0dfdBRGq4MTvWeAfN-vOQ52k~eZVb1GBhzIhvNwELIegWKFOaEcSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Canton","date","2025-03-21T12:09:33.783Z","article","At its March 20 meeting, the Canton City Council approved routine minutes, a consent agenda of administrative items and a year-end budget amendment required for the city's annual report to the state.

The council approved the draft minutes from a joint meeting with the Downtown Development Authority on Feb. 26 and the council minutes from March 6. It then approved the consent agenda, which included the following actions (as read into the record):

- Resolution of intent to create the Cherokee Regional Land Bank (Item A)
- Change Order No. 1 to J.S. Heron Company for the Canton Water Treatment Plant raw-water intake improvement project, $32,509.73 (Item B)
- Award of the water treatment plant filter media replacement project to W. L. Griffin Company, LLC, $186,922.34 (Item C)
- Renewal of a task-order professional engineering services agreement with Practical Design Partners (Item D; amount not specified in the meeting record)
- Street acceptances for city maintenance: Great Sky Pod 6B Phase 2; Great Sky Pod 6B Phase 3; Town Mill Pod Phase 2 (Items E'G)
- Memorandum of understanding with the Cherokee County Board of Tax Assessors to implement procedural property tax changes outlined in HB581 (Item H)

Council members voted to approve the consent agenda and minutes without additional discussion; the mayor announced \"All members voted for the motion.\" Council then approved a year-end budget amendment so staff could file the city's annual report with the state by March 31. Finance staff explained that recent accounting standards require certain lease costs to be booked differently, producing large book variances that the amendment addresses.

Other procedural items: the council received informational staff briefings about an upcoming case (MPA 2500/Two-one) and resurfacing and high-friction-surface proposals; these items were discussed but not voted into contract form at the meeting.

Ending: The council took the routine approvals needed to keep projects moving and approved a budget amendment to finalize the city's year-end filing; staff said more detailed contract awards and resurfacing details would come back at future meetings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Canton GA City Council March 20 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Canton City Council approved minutes, a multi-item consent agenda including a land-bank resolution and water-plant contracts, and a year-end budget amendment; the council also voted to deny a requested zoning amendment for Riverstone Pad I (see separate coverage).","taxTitle","Canton City, Cherokee County, Georgia","taxId",52745,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6627468,"Canton Cultural Arts Commission seeks council backing for two sculptures at Wolluska Street underpass",484,262000,746000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2727622-41228a7c7b1b1a73a6729ab201cc392a&start=262&end=746","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2727622-41228a7c7b1b1a73a6729ab201cc392a/thumbnail_262000.jpg","/articles/6627468/Canton-City/Cherokee-County/Georgia/Canton-Cultural-Arts-Commission-seeks-council-backing-for-two-sculptures-at-Wolluska-Street-underpass","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6627468-5cb78673b8f2e44fa51d649ac83651b8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171387&Signature=datXngxNQd82S2bU-Zb33MKD1gwqgdmjPptb9Gr2Du7~8n2-3Vs~95Bs1wzorX7XpgotXkZGJfHwo4Tg0-v2r4e4Lx6FMU0JpnPQjiSA6FlnIwejxWWbFSsl-OHLxEzJsSXsyF18FlpmDoj122IhgGm4dPxu2RzoiX5s0ISDA9B17kcsGttItOJ-90Vw6t2lwwi4XUMMBa6AzMnT0W-YzSS7nhx2n226USjcYLueFCiRpeOPehpXnWPU3kGxZTODEl2FSHla3my~y1MgxalpiINkxw57nt9r8WwJa0OFMOkXnTv3UphdmPziYfMYwEo1YELfXf1EB8APwyoPrIIVlQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Canton Cultural Arts Commission asked the City Council to endorse a public-art concept for the Wolluska Street underpass that would place two complementary sculptures in pads on either side of the trail connection between Etowah Park and a new trail extension.

\"Art is an activator of an area,\" Jamie Foreman, chair of the Canton Cultural Arts Commission, told council. Foreman said the commission considered underpasses owned by other agencies (including a nearby GDOT-owned underpass) and chose a city-owned underpass on Wolluska Street so the city could control siting and maintenance.

The commission presented renderings and said the concept emphasizes \"movement and connection\" and that the two sculptures should relate to one another and to the trail experience. Foreman outlined budget considerations for the project: pad installation (estimated at about $1,000 to $3,000), artwork including artist stipends and materials (a broad planning range of $20,000 to $50,000 for two sculptures), and maintenance and lighting costs that may affect materials selection.

Foreman said next steps, if council supports the concept and location, would include issuing a call to artists, assembling a selection committee with stakeholder representation and developing more detailed cost estimates. The commission does not select final artwork; a separate selection committee would make that decision.

Council members expressed support. The mayor said he had recently walked the trail and called the underpass a \"great opportunity.\" No formal vote was requested; the commission asked for council input and backing to proceed to a call for artists and budgeting work.

Ending: The council welcomed the concept and encouraged the commission and staff to return with a draft call to artists and tighter cost and maintenance plans for council consideration.","The Canton Cultural Arts Commission proposed placing two linked sculptures flanking the Wolluska Street underpass to connect Etowah Park with a new trail extension; the commission asked council to confirm location and concept so it can issue a call to artists and begin budgeting (~$20,000–$50,000 for artwork plus $1,000–$3,000 for pads).",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6627473,"Schneider Electric presents Canton facilities upgrades, solar rollout; city to own rooftop arrays",768,757000,1525000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2727622-41228a7c7b1b1a73a6729ab201cc392a&start=757&end=1525","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2727622-41228a7c7b1b1a73a6729ab201cc392a/thumbnail_757000.jpg","/articles/6627473/Canton-City/Cherokee-County/Georgia/Schneider-Electric-presents-Canton-facilities-upgrades-solar-rollout-city-to-own-rooftop-arrays","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6627473-6943d1ca33c069efa9ea9edb62a8ec95/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171387&Signature=RGDVy7MDkrM6B32csu3NxFNHJdvpPOsZCL~fDeVLfRQuD~TA2w~IoTEFjFw~ZR3V5t84yptZKYDvsS~ElCM1tzeYDOnhd11FRjEqGYDkyIx8MhlYmX5I27T~bczsYkM5F4rvmXXWwrJLHPob6EMXy5QxjM8A7Sk2F0~ywIG40XjBgS7LFRQ7PvIUH0F73AdG~Iocme5OQcHfDCtHtye162F1BkuiIHl4qFCF0QUojIJGO9naW0ZzPdDPE6vfAhGHIAxxkaqZtkvQ3Xg5eAw59bKxfkhL5plnPNrc6k92ZBXc7~8JFqjYTxuOFikTAPetDf6prargYvizS1jwa9npqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Schneider Electric representative updated the Canton City Council on a multi-year sustainability and historic preservation initiative that replaced HVAC equipment, repaired roofs and installed demonstration solar features, and said the city will own soon-to-be-installed rooftop solar arrays.

\"We projected that there will be a $75,000 a year annual reduction in your energy and operational costs,\" said Jen Miller of Schneider Electric, describing modeling tied to the recently completed work on City Hall and the public safety complex. Miller said the projected savings amount to a roughly 32% decrease in energy use at the facilities touched and about $2 million over 20 years; she added Schneider will track and report actual performance once the final construction phase is complete.

Schneider and staff showed before-and-after photos of replaced mechanical units, reworked ductwork and a new roof on the historic City Hall building. Miller also described demonstration installations that are already in use: a solar \"tree\" at Etowah River Park that powers a concession stand and provides public charging, and a solar picnic table at Heritage Park.

On rooftop solar for City Hall, Miller said procurement for materials had been the schedule bottleneck and that installation should be complete by May. She told council the city will own the solar arrays; it is not a power-purchase agreement. When asked about warranties and service life, Miller said the new City Hall roof carries a 20-year warranty and panel projections were modeled on a 20-year conservative production life (she said panels frequently last 20 to 30 years). On ongoing maintenance, Miller said cleaning was a primary city responsibility but Schneider can offer annual maintenance services under contract.

Council members asked about panel life, warranty coverage, and whether maintenance would be done by the city or the contractor; Miller and staff said those details would be coordinated with city operations as part of the handoff.

Ending: Councilmembers praised the installations already visible in parks and asked staff to return with operating reports when the rooftop arrays begin producing to validate the projected savings.","Schneider Electric updated council on HVAC and roof replacements, demonstration solar installations and upcoming rooftop arrays; contractor projected roughly $75,000 in annual energy savings for the city and estimated a 20-year window of panel life and a 20-year roof warranty.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6627477,"Canton council denies request to lift age restriction at Riverstone Pad I, 4-2",1255,3708000,4963000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2727622-41228a7c7b1b1a73a6729ab201cc392a&start=3708&end=4963","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2727622-41228a7c7b1b1a73a6729ab201cc392a/thumbnail_3708000.jpg","/articles/6627477/Canton-City/Cherokee-County/Georgia/Canton-council-denies-request-to-lift-age-restriction-at-Riverstone-Pad-I-4-2","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6627477-e154a74121752750c745539426549a51/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171387&Signature=bGYYGtFKzr7oKC3QBFRvL9AshTUSIocEGcSOSV25xywf-91C8l2VZehL0VGiYP7DA3tOPxuvEWR5i8kJkYaNieeDOdd-fmwerhyc9IsV7LJZS4164~9y1lDXuN8W1jLgE5jlKZKm1SHxL6B9x~Si3lPpWSC14bNTAuSHV~woZNGTNMWvbrpctvS6mwZqG0K2SwtwabPByHVGXxopzcVqqroWLfsmS9Nlwcvdebx9wKYuTMxyf0P1QSnof6~tsaGtpMe5Ij-ch6AtGhgaUWqtX2KuL0qnKQUnFd7bSjkfQKeI2~ZXAj1xlZ4hSO0mF-H3RABtSuR7ir1a~ZEUF7rSMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Canton City Council voted 4-2 to deny a request to change conditions on a previously approved master plan amendment and conditional-use permit (CUP) for Pad I of the Riverstone development that would have removed a senior-age restriction.

City planning staff introduced the application, saying the applicant wanted to remove the age restriction and retain the previously approved total of 251 rental units. The applicant also has sought, separately, a letter of support for Georgia's low income housing tax credit (LIHTC) program and a possible $500,000 loan commitment to improve competitive scoring for LIHTC — items staff said would be discussed at a later meeting.

Councilmember Tolan, speaking in favor of lifting the age restriction, cited market evidence of strong demand for rental housing. \"I implore my fellow members to consider voting in favor of the shift from senior to family tonight ... the result will offer lower-income residents in our city a place to live for the next 30 years,\" he said.

Opponents and other council members raised concerns about prior commitments and the city's earlier agreement to consider a loan tied to senior, age-restricted housing. Council discussion noted the loan offer that had been discussed previously was framed around an age-restricted senior project and that affordability needs for seniors remain high.

After motion and second to deny the zoning change, council conducted a roll call and the motion carried by a 4-2 margin. The vote means the parcel remains subject to its prior zoning conditions, which limit the development to age-restricted multifamily units rather than family-targeted units tied to LIHTC scoring.

Ending: Council members acknowledged the complexity of balancing senior-specific affordable housing needs against broader affordable-family housing goals and said the matter of LIHTC support and any city loan would be discussed in future meetings.
","Council voted to deny a requested amendment that would have removed the senior-age restriction for a previously approved multifamily project in Riverstone's Pad I; council discussion focused on low-income housing tax credits, municipal loan incentive points and housing need for both seniors and families.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6627481,"Canton study finds expanding existing water plant to 8 MGD feasible but urges quick action",1297,1748000,3045000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2727622-41228a7c7b1b1a73a6729ab201cc392a&start=1748&end=3045","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2727622-41228a7c7b1b1a73a6729ab201cc392a/thumbnail_1748000.jpg","/articles/6627481/Canton-City/Cherokee-County/Georgia/Canton-study-finds-expanding-existing-water-plant-to-8-MGD-feasible-but-urges-quick-action","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6627481-fba1cb22911e77e14c026b4f79462b7e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171387&Signature=jiop6BTSxgu1dY561EcXqwGje2GtGJse4JSLxQEmuenn5XzXSQPH60huW2~3ILV-X~kOTMSXCMYtzHlVODGdC4x72gZnnxjYPcyr-OyscuduiTKM3K36KZYAvAXmoxlbFGJLHl59yRYu4G9~eI5M4BmmAknnYmcFtzGpGIGPC~jUIJ7hh4K-mt69NT8feCi4tXPXNK2or6vioFuoJ1m6izoKA17ej~AIAJzgQ1LJRAlCLuiHZt7plfNA2ON24iGeyVIONEN3EsmKmrJ9e2b9ZGf61LUOW0L-WQ85KFBRqS17byh9Uwu4T7aoefpQRIE5NSqACgQN3ttsLMLXBuBTLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A consultant told the Canton City Council that increasing capacity at the city’s existing water treatment plant from 5.45 million gallons per day (MGD) to roughly 8 MGD is feasible, but the city must act quickly because peak demand is approaching the plant’s permitted limit.

Rob Vaccaro, senior project manager with Black & Veatch, said the firm’s feasibility study found the plant’s filters and several hydraulic elements are current bottlenecks and that the city could face permit violations if demand continues to rise. \"We're projecting that the peak daily demand will exceed the permitted capacity in 2027,\" Vaccaro said.

The study outlined two principal options. A rehabilitation and upgrade of the existing plant — adding raw-water piping, a new rapid-mix box, a third flocculation basin, plate settlers in the sedimentation process, conversions to add filter capacity and other building and pump improvements — carried an opinion of probable construction cost of about $36 million. A parallel package plant that would add roughly 2 MGD of additional capacity and operate alongside the existing plant was estimated at just over $30 million. By contrast, Black & Veatch provided a high-level estimate of about $15 per gallon to build a brand-new 8 MGD greenfield plant, or roughly $120 million.

Vaccaro described the existing facility, located at 150 Bobby Bishop Drive beside the Etowah River, as well-maintained but aged: \"That building in the background there, it's very old. The roof leaks. The plumbing is in bad condition. Electrically, it's inside the building. It's not to code.\" He also told the council the plant has produced good water quality despite the facility condition.

Black & Veatch presented a construction schedule of roughly 24 to 30 months for the upgrade concepts, with potential to shorten that timeline if the city uses a construction manager at risk procurement. The firm recommended additional preliminary engineering and a possible yield study tied to reservoir withdrawals if the city pursues new-site options.

Council members asked about the relative long-term benefits of a new greenfield plant versus upgrading the existing facility. Vaccaro said a new plant could better accommodate future treatment needs and emerging contaminants but would require more permitting time and likely take longer to deliver — a critical consideration given the 2027 pressure point.

The presentation also noted near-term improvements already under way at the plant, including work to the raw-water intake and additional pumps that are intended to buy the city some time.

The council did not take action on funding at the meeting; members indicated they would continue discussions with staff and study the options.

Ending: Black & Veatch advised the council to accelerate planning and funding decisions so construction can begin with minimal risk of exceeding the plant's permit threshold. The council said it would continue to work with staff on next steps and return to the issue at future meetings.","Consultants told Canton City Council a 2024 feasibility study shows the old treatment plant can be upgraded to about 8 million gallons per day (MGD), but peak demand could exceed the city's current 5.45 MGD permit as soon as 2027; options range from a $30–$36 million upgrade to a new greenfield plant estimated at roughly $120 million.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves consent agenda, minutes and year-end budget amendment; lists key ordinance and contract actions

Canton Cultural Arts Commission seeks council backing for two sculptures at Wolluska Street underpass

Schneider Electric presents Canton facilities upgrades, solar rollout; city to own rooftop arrays

Canton council denies request to lift age restriction at Riverstone Pad I, 4-2

Canton study finds expanding existing water plant to 8 MGD feasible but urges quick action