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Public commenters urge county to monitor state tax bills; resident asks board to consider deer‑feeding ban
Summary
At the Feb. 3 meeting Thomas Weaver urged the board to track competing state proposals he said could overhaul property and income taxes and to coordinate with the county’s legislative delegation; resident Joe Olleus asked the board to pursue an ordinance to ban feeding deer on private property after describing nuisance impacts at his home.
Two members of the public used the Feb. 3 comment period to raise statewide and local policy concerns.
Thomas Weaver, who identified himself and his Cherokee County address, urged the commission to monitor multiple bills pending at the state capitol he said could affect local revenue. Weaver said competing proposals in the state legislature were advocating for elimination of ad valorem property taxes or elimination of income taxes, and he stated that "Senate Bill 382 passed the senate" and could require government units to adopt a sales‑tax model (which he referenced as "FLOST"). Weaver asked the board to work with the county manager and the legislative delegation to protect local fiscal interests.
Later, Joe Olleus said he has seen up to a dozen deer in his backyard and asked the board to consider a local ordinance banning feeding of deer on private property. Olleus cited nuisance and wildlife‑health concerns and provided a sample ordinance used by another community. Commissioners and staff responded that feeding wild animals on private property is often legal but that where it creates a nuisance in dense zoning contexts the county could consider regulatory options. Commissioner Ragsdale said he has received the documentation Olleus provided and that staff and the county attorney will review it; he cautioned that a comprehensive ordinance would require time and legal review.
The board took no formal action on either topic during the meeting beyond acknowledging the comments and assigning staff follow‑up where appropriate.
