[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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],{"_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",6479043,"mediaKeyId","5707318-838c14150c41bfebc6acdfc0a2c8f745","parentId",5707318,"title","Consent items, grants and county contracts reviewed at work session; staff presented details","audioSeconds",313,"startMs",1242780,"endMs",1556000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5707318-838c14150c41bfebc6acdfc0a2c8f745&start=1242&end=1556","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5707318-838c14150c41bfebc6acdfc0a2c8f745/thumbnail_1242780.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6479043/Cherokee-County/Georgia/Consent-items-grants-and-county-contracts-reviewed-at-work-session-staff-presented-details","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479043-1579fe2786d09bfb96f005ff4cb4a574/orig.mp4?Expires=1770536490&Signature=GLzYhTmjGBQH0XhJU1i0-W5dE2sqFbPOZT34UoLhQTQ8kdX1Gbt9del105IjlLZcKI-F5T9RyaNDjyOii7T8r3esGWrjYWh7YTovIfm6mk780BfwGCmNXdO8RMac8pZx-zUrN1ZBQHion6Hl-5Ao8dVdGkUdlwe8VIZqLL3RZ8mhhsJw0lKyYbFnw83S-41VyF1iPYLminDqRvEiHE6Fg4cirljQ-~8DK4wTE~nKesDsST6PKjqRs9QebEfSQdbraMDHM0FOjSHAjc8uQwWqJCElz4P7IsRF337QL4gu38hwy6qsOacU~i5sncVQcQs0TcZj2O9PNWByDlzcCOPVJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cherokee ","date","2025-09-02T15:00:00Z","article","Cherokee County staff summarized consent agenda items and operational contracts at the Sept. 2 work session. The transcript records presentations of the items but does not record final votes on each consent item within the provided excerpt.

Hazard mitigation planning grant: Emergency Management staff asked the board to accept a subrecipient agreement passed through the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA) for $51,755 to prepare the five‑year countywide hazard mitigation plan for the period Jan. 2027–Jan. 2032. Staff said 75% of the grant funds would pay plan preparation and the remaining portion would cover administrative costs; the required 25% local match would be met with budgeted personnel expenses and require no additional cash outlay.

Surplus and equipment disposition: The Sheriff's Office and Emergency Management requested authority to surplus obsolete equipment, including radios and office chairs, respectively, and to dispose of them as appropriate per county policy.

Waters Lake subdivision private streets: County engineering staff presented a petition from the Waters Lake homeowners association requesting conditional acceptance of private subdivision streets for county maintenance. The subdivision (started 2005, final plat Feb. 2006) includes a roadway constructed across a lake/dam. County rules generally require that roadways across dams remain privately maintained; the HOA provided a Schnabel Engineering dam evaluation and completed recommended maintenance items. Staff said conditional approval would require a waiver of the rule and that the county would work with the HOA to execute a right‑of‑way deed before formal acceptance. Staff cautioned that accepting roadways over dams can create future county dam maintenance obligations.

3000 Hunt Road lease for park caretaker: Recreation and Parks staff presented a proposed short‑term lease of an existing house at 3000 Hunt Road (future Woodworth Park site) to a county employee to serve as caretaker. The house would remain until park or recreation center construction begins later in the SPLOST 2024 program; the caretaker would be responsible for upkeep and utilities and residency would be contingent on continued county employment and subject to vacating when construction begins.

Other operational items summarized during the meeting included procurement and contract items presented elsewhere in the agenda: Fire and EMS records system procurement (ESO) to replace a ZOLL product; road resurfacing intergovernmental agreement amendments with the cities of Canton and Woodstock to add mileage to county resurfacing contracts and allow city reimbursement; a change order for Allatoona Pass drainage improvements due to unforeseen utility conflicts; a change order for intersection stabilization work on Damascus Road at Upper Bethany; a banquet chair purchase for the conference center; and discussion of a proposed cell tower lease at Klein Park that would grant the tower company a lease area, access easement and multi‑term renewal options with a cited initial monthly rent of $13.75 (noted in staff remarks). For several of these items staff indicated funding sources or that the costs are budgeted in FY2026. The transcript records the presentations; final board votes on these consent or operational items are not shown in the provided excerpt.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cherokee - Board of Commissioners Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","Cherokee County staff summarized consent agenda items and operational contracts at the Sept. 2 work session, including a $51,755 GEMA hazard mitigation planning grant and a petition to conditionally accept Waters Lake subdivision streets for county maintenance.","taxTitle","Cherokee County, Georgia","taxId",12793,"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},6479053,"Commissioners set resolution to place 1% transportation sales‑tax referendum on Nov. 4 ballot",148,3761510,3910000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5707318-838c14150c41bfebc6acdfc0a2c8f745&start=3761&end=3910","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5707318-838c14150c41bfebc6acdfc0a2c8f745/thumbnail_3761510.jpg","/articles/6479053/Cherokee-County/Georgia/Commissioners-set-resolution-to-place-1-transportation-salestax-referendum-on-Nov-4-ballot","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479053-1fdaac69c317eb1f8c0c2a3898f8fd4e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770536490&Signature=ESuwtcAqUQq~R35BAsDacM3AZ4rFnaSY4SgVu0AnAyleIbsf3n7mR~bECu1ZIeIo-d0ZpFv6ZDteRhn9WDuehPc8l6AlNcp90mQofUwaNNMeaFuw6-tNIHiMr7fkJBvgDMrCG9jbz~w-EB21yzSZS8uoGx3QbqFTLqBdYLZcNDSR~WPLIjtS~~O5LKZ1oibuQR4e1CEAgundOWeY05NbH2RaSh7vdBFjb36vPMSl7ky2LSg2o8EnwWjwK2HsgDVYrz8CHOGAReYTd9-SHUTVS-9VXqDfk21yrnYmKqP8v0OsAL5uDMhMThGvfJsxll-flxv6pIEXuIDTtDHTQCAdLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cherokee County commissioners reviewed a draft intergovernmental agreement and a resolution to place a 1% transportation special purpose local option sales tax on the Nov. 4 ballot.

County staff said the proposed tax, if approved by voters, would levy a 1% sales and use tax across the special district (Cherokee County and the seven participating municipalities) for a period not to exceed six years and would fund transportation projects including roads, bridges and related infrastructure. Staff presented an estimate that the tax could raise approximately $445.15 million over six years under a 2% receipts growth assumption; staff also presented the draft allocation percentages among the county and cities based on projected 2027 population distribution.

Under the IGA as presented, the county's share is shown as just under 62% of receipts. City shares presented in the draft IGA include Canton (about 13.65%), Woodstock (about 14.75%), Holly Springs (7.75%), Ball Ground (about 1.2%), Welleska (about 0.38%) and Nelson (about 0.35%). The IGA was described as approved by all the county's cities and would govern how proceeds are allocated if voters approve the tax.

County staff said the next step, if the board approves the resolution, is to transmit it to the Cherokee County elections office so the question can be placed on the Nov. 4 ballot; staff noted a filing deadline with elections of Friday, Sept. 5. The ballot question included in staff materials would be a simple yes/no question seeking authorization to impose the 1% tax in the special district for up to six years and enumerating the participating municipalities.

Commissioners thanked staff for finishing the IGA and noted the timeline is short; the transcript records discussion and a staff presentation but does not record a final vote on the resolution during the Sept. 2 work session. Staff urged commissioners and cities to coordinate outreach and noted the tax proceeds would be separately allocated to county and municipal projects per the IGA.

","Cherokee County commissioners reviewed a draft intergovernmental agreement and a resolution to put a 1% transportation special purpose local option sales tax on the Nov. 4 ballot.",{"_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},6479058,"Cherokee County outlines $2026 budget, proposes medical plan changes and 3% COLA",3677,28740,3706000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5707318-838c14150c41bfebc6acdfc0a2c8f745&start=28&end=3706","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5707318-838c14150c41bfebc6acdfc0a2c8f745/thumbnail_28740.jpg","/articles/6479058/Cherokee-County/Georgia/Cherokee-County-outlines-2026-budget-proposes-medical-plan-changes-and-3-COLA","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479058-954d6e676901af1a939591abda0f5642/orig.mp4?Expires=1770536490&Signature=AAxNa8NTnPPDuqHT4QG3loabd4Q3mo-AVEOn7n4HvUKoQcHdfSnmgmKwbgprmi3dycnyW8JJkGTDOq6EG9858L5b1f1QMZ1tppnvOj3dktqLX5RrckZvehe13uQOLp69uo7FF3Qkel~OGPW6VYJ0ZX6JAIBaAY8kxG6Hvl47nrLsjD6GelARZofKMputtUn5iycDSi8BG5ytH7g5LQhCMN5KaRlf8u8KGbSWKNZ6Soic8RF6xkfStNqsWjg1vyvu8YEkDUO3AqpSYFnHrNG27Oatx4xwW5boQXq~iWPG0pWqcggNOlEObbUQwTgVhBCjqN~-n1TqsUDRb-7Y2geqhQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cherokee County officials reviewed the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget at a Sept. 2 work session, with CFO Jimmy Marcus saying countywide expenditures are projected to rise by about $20.5 million (4.91%). The budget presentation included a 3% cost‑of‑living adjustment for employees, a proposed 10% increase in employee medical premiums and plan design changes county staff say will narrow an insurer's $3 million forecasted medical cost increase by about $2.37 million.

County officials say the proposed budget matters because it sets projected service levels, capital work and tax‑supported spending for the coming year. The administration portrayed the plan as balanced but noted one contingent area — medical claims — could require additional fund balance or other budget actions if insurer projections materialize.

Marcus told commissioners the county expects a roughly 5.38% increase in general fund revenues compared with 2025, driven primarily by property tax growth (about $6.9 million of the increase). Countywide capital and operating highlights presented include a total projected spend of roughly $101.7 million next fiscal year, $19.6 million of added operating funds (about a 6.19% operating increase), and $879,000 in added capital spending. Personnel increases account for about 54% of the total expenditure increase, Marcus said.

On benefits, Marcus and benefits staff described a package of medical plan design changes intended to control rising prescription and specialty drug spending. Proposed changes in the draft plan include: raising individual/family deductibles from $750/$2,250 to $1,000/$3,000; adding a separate prescription out‑of‑pocket maximum ($1,000 individual, $2,000 family); increasing mail‑order cost for a 90‑day supply from $50 to $95; raising specialty drug copays from $200 to $300; and increasing primary care, specialist and urgent care copays (to $40 and $50 respectively). The county would also increase employee premium contributions by 10% beginning Jan. 1, 2026, and staff said the plan changes would move the employer/employee cost split to about 81% employer / 19% employee.

County staff said the plan‑change package would reduce the insurer's projected $3 million cost increase by approximately $2.37 million; if the insurer's higher forecast proves accurate, county staff said the remaining shortfall would be roughly $600,000 and would need to come from fund balance or other offsets. Commissioners pressed for clarity on the modeling; staff referenced prior claims experience and consultant IOA projections, noting that a small number of high‑cost individual claimants drive much of the pharmacy and specialty drug expense. Marcus and staff also noted the county could steer elective procedures toward a bundled provider program (referred to in the discussion as \"Lanner\") to lower plan costs if employees elect that option.

Other budget details presented: a $56.14 million projected ending general fund balance (about 3.8 months of operating reserves); planned use of SPLOST receipts ($19 million noted from 2018 SPLOST for a courthouse parking deck and $7.5 million increase in 2024 SPLOST spending, including city pass‑through payments); planned impact fee usage of roughly $3 million for fire and parks capital; and departmental highlights that show the top 10 departments account for about 89% of the general fund increase. Key calendar dates cited by staff: a public hearing on the budget Sept. 16 and adoption scheduled Oct. 7.

The CFO and the county manager told commissioners staff can revise line items before final adoption; they cautioned most revenues are now fixed and many expenditures are contractual or otherwise difficult to change. No final budget adoption vote is recorded in the work‑session transcript; budget adoption was presented as an action item for future meetings.

Commissioners asked detailed questions about how many plan members reached out‑of‑pocket maximums in recent plan years and how those claims affect projections. Staff cited 2024 plan experience showing several dozen members reached prescription‑only out‑of‑pocket maximums and roughly three hundred individuals reached deductible/out‑of‑pocket thresholds; staff said actuarial projections extrapolate those patterns forward with higher assumed medical and drug costs for 2026.

County staff and the CFO said they would update materials and can include or exclude particular assumptions before the formal public hearing.

A routine motion at the end of the work session to adjourn into executive session was carried; the transcript records no final vote on the FY2026 budget during the work session.

","Cherokee County officials reviewed the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget at a Sept. 2 work session, with CFO Jimmy Marcus saying countywide expenditures are projected to rise by about $20.5 million (4.91%).",{"_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},6479048,"Community Development Agency details roads, permits and stormwater workload in annual report",1613,4280080,5894000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5707318-838c14150c41bfebc6acdfc0a2c8f745&start=4280&end=5894","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5707318-838c14150c41bfebc6acdfc0a2c8f745/thumbnail_4280080.jpg","/articles/6479048/Cherokee-County/Georgia/Community-Development-Agency-details-roads-permits-and-stormwater-workload-in-annual-report","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479048-e61b444cd63b9a0df6e679dfc6ed7e31/orig.mp4?Expires=1770536490&Signature=SJ5OaCySLmLOMdN8gfDInJAhWnzeBVbov6vGDRx-LWJAIzdyv4Jkt16AsPcZA1zg4zf0OPgFg6LzCgMnkNLYUFJc8ngYog32kFFNtsz1QUTonoeySf~oHCiUCqCANpZB8B-AX3gWYZVYZ-YuF0jGOQmlrR8dABqyg0v05~iEvf~Vzncr-GDwjXLXPGjqjCcL0qpBnlOgczYQkoiG04nU0iHDI3p83eSoMwcgVusbUydeE21iZF5ZXymKlNpUi-FzlC~XHiJskqIAJuZFxEfDRnEFf24Z2T6blTbXG8~9nMHlVsBVJ15V9lEnKVmA-wlJnOGViqoH59OzGDhhYLqKhg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Community Development Agency Director Brantley Day presented the agency's annual report at the Sept. 2 Cherokee County work session, outlining staffing, permit and inspection volumes, active transportation projects and stormwater responsibilities.

Day said the agency comprises eight departments with about 125 total staff (51 at The Bluffs campus and 74 at Public Works). He noted the Building Department conducted about 43,000 inspections in 2024 and had completed roughly 22,000 inspections by July 1, and staff reported about 457 single‑family residential permits at the midyear point. Day described record private‑development plan review volumes and active construction inspection workloads.

On transportation, Day reported roughly 19 active county transportation projects under construction, representing more than 43 miles of roadway currently being improved; the agency's work program value was presented at about $377 million, with roughly $110 million coming from external funding sources including federal, state and private contributions. Day called out major projects under way or planned: Highway 92/Trickham intersection improvements, Trickham Road resurfacing and widening work, the Ball Ground bypass (design and federal design funding noted), I‑575 at Town Lake Parkway interchange work and Highway 140 at Batesville improvements.

Public Works maintains nearly 1,300 miles of county roads (unincorporated), Day said, and he noted GDOT maintains about 119 miles of state routes inside the county. Stormwater staff were credited with overseeing more than 44,000 drainage structures in the unincorporated county; Day said the team had inspected approximately 2,700 structures by July 1 to meet permit inspection requirements.

Day highlighted internal staffing additions and operational improvements: a county receptionist position added at The Bluffs, a new traffic operations hire and a bucket truck to expedite signal work, and changes to enforcement and planning commission membership. He also discussed SPLOST project delivery, joint resurfacing cooperation with cities and private‑development inspection coordination.

Commissioners thanked Day and agency staff for responsiveness and customer service; the transcript records no formal vote on the annual report. Day said a printed annual report will be posted on the county website and a refreshed full report will be issued in January aligned with the county retreat.

","Community Development Agency director Brantley Day presented an annual report highlighting about 125 agency staff, robust permit and inspection volumes, active transportation projects and a $377 million work program with roughly $110 million in external funding","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Consent items, grants and county contracts reviewed at work session; staff presented details

Commissioners set resolution to place 1% transportation sales‑tax referendum on Nov. 4 ballot

Cherokee County outlines $2026 budget, proposes medical plan changes and 3% COLA

Community Development Agency details roads, permits and stormwater workload in annual report