The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved the consent agenda and a slate of county-manager items, including loans, purchases, contracts and professional services, by unanimous votes.

Key approvals and authorizations (action summaries):

- Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank (GTIB) loan acceptance: Authorized a $2,000,000 budget amendment to accept a GTIB loan for Technology Ridge Parkway and Airport Road Spur project.

- Conference center budget adjustment: Reduced a hotel/motel transfer to the conference center fund by $25,000 and will use conference center reserves for a data-cost sharing agreement with the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce.

- Sheriff's Office armored vehicle: Approved a $399,839 use of reserves to purchase an armored BearCat for the SWAT team using funds collected from school zone speed cameras.

- Surplus and hearings: Approved surplus of 400 banquet chairs (conference center) and scheduled multiple public hearings for November 18, 2025, to consider ordinance amendments covering roadside animal sales (Chapter 10 Article II Sec. 10-57), alcoholic beverage offenses involving minors (Chapter 6 Sec. 6-23), tobacco/e-cigarette retailer suspension language (Chapter 38 Sec. 308-207), updates to roads restricted for through trucks, and monument sign requirements (added to the consent agenda).

- GTIB/other transportation and SPLOST projects: Awarded construction of the State Route 140 at Springer Road traffic signal to American Lighting and Signalization, LLC ($247,102), and approved a $42,000 task order to Calco Engineering for design of Lakeside Drive and Holly Springs Parkway intersection improvements (funded by developer contribution and SPLOST).

- Public safety equipment and vehicles: Approved Sedgwick Claims Management Services for workers' compensation third-party administration ($69,489 annual contract), purchase of a 360-degree tactical camera kit for the Sheriff's Office ($29,295), and procurement and full upfitting of 15 Ford Police Interceptor vehicles for a total of $875,936.85 (SPLOST-funded).

- Fire and EMS: Approved purchase of Holmatro extrication tools ($45,608), a three-year maintenance agreement with Stryker for stretchers and related devices (annual cost $135,113.40), and an intergovernmental training agreement with the City of Woodstock to allow city personnel to attend county recruit classes (13 Woodstock recruits joining 17 county recruits in a joint class).

- Recreation and facilities: Approved resurfacing of courts at the Cherokee Tennis Center (Crystal Line / Matchpoint Tennis, $94,000) and purchase of 200 banquet chairs for the conference center ($41,566.77).

- Justice Center design services: Approved a professional services agreement with Goodwin Mills and Kaywood (GMC) for program and schematic design verification for a four-story Justice Center expansion (not to exceed $550,000); the project is SPLOST-funded.

- Fire stations and Buffington Elementary repurpose: Approved a design-build agreement with Spratlin Construction (prime) and Croft and Associates (design consultant) for replacement Fire Station 5, replacement Fire Station 29 and repurposing of the former Buffington Elementary School building. Contract value for design and construction was reported as $17,457,853 with a total project budget (including demolition, abatement, testing, FF&E and contingency) of $20,000,000. The board was told Spratlin is working on other local fire projects and anticipates opening a local office to support county projects.

Most items were budgeted in FY2026 operating or SPLOST budgets or covered by dedicated funding sources. The board discussed a few items briefly (notably vehicle pricing and the length of time to obtain signal poles for a traffic signal project) but voted to approve each recommendation without amendment.

Votes

All consent agenda items and county manager items listed above were approved by unanimous votes recorded at the meeting.