Cherokee Commission: Redistricting, Community Center, Animals

CANTON, GA — Portions of Districts 1 and 2 may be represented by a different commissioner should the Georgia General Assembly approve the suggested changes by the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners.

Chairman Harry Johnston said during the Nov. 2 work session that to ensure equitable representation, the northernmost districts of Cherokee County need to be realigned. District 1 needs to be reduced by 2,587 residents, and District 2 needs to be reduced by 1,820 residents, based on the 2020 Census. District 3 needs to grow by 4,107 residents, and District 4 needs to reduce by only 66 residents.

Currently, the Univeter and Teasley precincts are divided, and Johnston said adjusting those precincts could solve the issue.

“Our districts have to be adjusted to balance the population. Each district has to be approximately 25 percent of the population. One option would be to move the portion of the Univeter Precinct currently in District 2 to District 1 – then move the portion of the Teasley Precinct currently in District 1 over to District 3,” Johnston said. “This accomplishes getting within a quarter percent deviation and eliminates the split precincts in regard to Board of Commissioners seats.”

During the regular meeting, District 3 Commissioner Benny Carter made the motion to make the recommendation to the reapportionment committee, which was seconded by District 2 Commissioner Richard Weatherby. The vote was 5-0.

The suggestion will be made to the Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office, which will pass it to the Georgia General Assembly to vote.

Renovation of old fire station will make building a community center

The Board approved, 5-0, a Construction Services Agreement with Pencor LLC for renovation to the old Fire Station No. 9 in North Canton. The facility, once renovated, will become the Charlie Ferguson Community Center. Ferguson was the original Chairman of the North Canton Volunteer Fire Association, which was housed in that building. Once completed, the new community center will serve the residents of North Canton and the Pea Ridge Community and will be owned by the nonprofit, Charlie Ferguson Community Center LLC. The cost for the work is $685,215 with a county-controlled contingency of $100,000. The majority of the funding is coming from Community Development Block Grant funding. West made the motion to approve the agreement, which was seconded by Weatherby.

At the meeting, Commissioners also:

• Tabled, 5-0, following a public hearing, during which one person spoke, a revision to Article 5 – Accessory Structures & Exterior Materials. The revision includes provisions making barns in Agricultural zoning exempt from the exterior materials requirement, clarifying provisions for eating and cooking, an exception for side and rear setbacks that are less than 10 feet, adding content that clarifies when there are more than one accessory structures and the combined footprint cannot be larger than the principal structure. District 1 Commissioner Steve West made the motion to table until the Nov. 16 meeting, which was seconded by Weatherby. West wanted a chance to review with staff portions of the revisions related to structures in Agricultural zoning.
• Denied, 5-0, a Special Use Permit request for animal and pet services for a property at 2714
  Sugar Pike Road, as well as a concurrent variance to allow up to 24 months from the date of the BOC approval to begin operation/construction of the special use. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the SUP but had no recommendation on the condition. Weatherby made the motion to deny the SUP, along with the concurrent variance, and Carter seconded the motion.
• Approved, 5-0, under the consent agenda, a budget amendment in the amount of $9,425 from Progressive Insurance for damages to an Animal Control truck, due to a vehicle accident caused by another party; a budget amendment of $150,000 to accept State OneGeorgia Equity Grant funds from the Department of Community Affairs on behalf of the Cherokee County School District for construction of an agriculture building at Creekview High School; a request for designation of private streets within the Concord subdivision; acting as the fiscal agent on behalf of the Cherokee County School District in applying for and receiving the Law Enforcement and First Responder Supplemental Grant for School Resource Officers from the state’s American Rescue Plan Act funds; the surplus of nine old consoles from the E 9-1-1 backup center; and authorizing the District Attorney’s Office to apply for a no-match federal grant in the amount of $5,000 from the National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators and the Office for Victims of Crime to help fund public awareness activities for National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. Carter made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Ragsdale.

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