Cherokee County commissioners approve appointments, contracts, budgets and multiple procurement actions in March 18 meeting

The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners on March 18 handled a full agenda of county business, approving appointments, a veterans support letter, routine minutes, a seven‑item consent agenda and 19 County Manager items that included multiple contracts, grants and equipment purchases.

The meeting opened with a motion to ratify the closure of the board's executive session and the board amended the agenda to add an item under commission business to provide a letter of support for a veterans grant application. Commissioner Carter moved and Commissioner West seconded that the agenda be amended; the motion carried unanimously.

Appointments, letters and minutes

- The board appointed Chief Chad Davis to the Northwest Georgia Region 1 Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council to fill a term ending June 30, 2025 and to serve the 2025–2028 term. Motion by Chair (moved by the Chair) and seconded by Commissioner West; motion carried unanimously.

- The board approved a request by the Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Program for a letter of support for an emergency shelter grant (ESG) application; motion by Commissioner Wetherby, second by Commissioner Carter; approved unanimously.

- The minutes for March 4 (work session, executive session and regular meeting) were approved following a motion by Commissioner Carter and a second by Commissioner West.

Consent agenda

The board approved the consent agenda (seven items) in a single motion. Consent items summarized by the County Manager included:

1) Adoption of an ADA transition plan for Recreation and Parks (required for national accreditation). 2) A resolution to waive an alcohol license residency requirement for FS92, LLC for a proposed restaurant. 3) Surplus of a roll of artificial turf for Senior Services. 4) Acceptance of a supplemental DUI Court award of $28,138 and associated budget amendment. 5) Acceptance of a supplemental Treatment Accountability Court award of $5,652 and associated budget amendment. 6) Final acceptance of public rights of way, roadways and drainage in the Haley Station subdivision. 7) Final acceptance of public rights of way, roadways and drainage structures on Owl Creek Parkway.

County Manager agenda: key approvals and contracts

The board approved 19 separate items from the County Manager; highlights follow with funding notes where provided in the meeting record.

- Aviation auditing agreement: Approved an agreement with Aviation Capital Partners, LLC (doing business as Specialized Tax Recovery) to audit aircraft valuation and uncover untaxed or misreported aircraft. Initial term review of the last five years is estimated at $253,062; total agreement not to exceed $350,000. The firm is to be paid from recovered taxes, with no upfront costs to the county. The board also approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Cherokee County School System to share costs for the service on a 30% (county)/70% (school) basis; the county's FY cost was estimated at about $75,918 and the school's share about $177,143 for the current year.

- House Bill 581 procedural MOU: The board approved a memorandum of understanding with the Board of Tax Assessors to implement procedural property tax changes identified in House Bill 581, including timelines for digest inflation estimates and rollback millage rate submissions.

- Firefighter physicals: Approved agreement with Frontline Mobile Health PLLC for annual and new hire firefighting physicals at an estimated $220,000 per fiscal year (NFPA‑compliant physicals; vendor holds flat pricing for first three years with a 5% increase in years 4–5).

- E‑911 radio upgrade: Approved sole‑source purchase of Motorola roof‑mounted radio antenna equipment under Georgia state contract for $44,644.48 to integrate existing 911 radio systems.

- IT and cybersecurity purchases: Approved network switch replacements for the Bluffs Public Safety and Justice Center ($51,187.35), and security cameras for IT network closets (total project cost cited at $34,213.80). Funding sources cited included FLAS funds and IT annual budgets.

- 94 North Street (former Art Center) renovations: Approved a construction manager at‑risk guaranteed maximum price (GMP) with Hogan Construction Group, LLC of $6,000,636.10 for the renovation and re‑use of a historic building as court services space. Project allowances and a county control contingency were included. Funding cited: 45% ARPA, 55% SPLOST. The board also approved related architectural services amendments totaling $54,505.

- Katz administration building site work: Approved a construction services agreement with Place Services, Inc. for site work at the Katz (CATS) administration building in the amount of $849,000 plus a county‑controlled contingency of $85,000. Funding: 80% Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and 20% SPLOST; county local match ~$169,800.

- Public works, fleet and facilities: Approved right‑of‑way mowing services with Ed Castro Landscaping (Mariani Enterprises) at a not‑to‑exceed annual cost of $85,357.50; Recreation and Parks purchase of a used ADA 12‑passenger bus ($70,000, SPLOST funds); multiple vehicle purchases for the Marshals Office and animal control (Chevrolet Tahoe $59,245; Ford Explorer $46,470; two 2025 F‑150 pickup trucks plus equipment totaling $123,381.20); approval of a Carrier HVAC commercial maintenance plan for the Justice Center ($64,742).

- Recreation management system: Approved a professional services agreement with Auto Solutions, Inc. for a recreation management platform at a not‑to‑exceed annual amount of $123,834.81 (vendor‑hosted system; implementation scheduled with full deployment by August 5, 2025).

- Senior Center bus canopy: Approved a construction agreement with Ward Humphrey, Inc. in the amount of $250,000 for a bus parking canopy funded by CDBG.

Board adjourned after approving all items; no contested votes were recorded on these items during the meeting.