Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Projects Spending topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cherokee County work session outlines SPLOST projects, a $1M transit grant and contract renewals
Summary
Staff summarized multiple consent‑agenda items and project amendments including environmental and design amendments for the Bells Ferry trail and Ball Ground Bypass, a $1 million Georgia Transit Trust Fund allocation for Katz, and a renewal/amendment of the inmate medical services contract with a projected annual cost range; items were placed on the consent agenda or discussed for public hearings.
During the March 17 work session county staff walked commissioners through several consent‑agenda and capital project items intended for later action.
Transportation and SPLOST items included a Phase 2 environmental site assessment for the Bells Ferry multiuse trail ($121,874.49), a final design amendment for the East Cherokee Drive and Ranchwood Trail intersection ($165,000), and a large preliminary‑engineering amendment for the Ball Ground Bypass ($1,865,211.35) covering environmental studies, preliminary design, right‑of‑way planning and geotechnical work. Staff said some projects are eligible for federal and state funding, and that about 80% federal support was envisioned for parts of the Ball Ground Bypass work.
Staff reported Katz received a $1,000,000 Georgia Transit Trust Fund allocation through the Atlanta Region Transit Link Authority, which the county will use as part of the local match for a new Katz facility and for a budget amendment. Recreation & Parks staff recommended adoption of an updated athletic field and facility use policy, with fee changes delegated to the Recreation & Parks Advisory Board.
The sheriff’s office asked to surplus and transfer a 2019 Dodge Charger to Haralson County. Staff also presented Amendment 2 to the inmate medical services agreement (First Class Healthcare Cherokee LLC) to exercise option year 4 and apply a contractually prescribed 3% annual increase; the contract’s range of annual compensation was reported as $6.54M–$8.31M depending on inmate population.
Multiple zoning and text‑amendment items were set for public hearing dates (April and May) as part of routine agenda scheduling. Several commissioners asked clarifying questions about funding sources and program details; staff indicated budgeted funds or grant matches for the projects where relevant.
