CHEROKEE COUNTY GA: Board highlights - Sept. 7, 2021 meeting

By Press release submission

Sep 12, 2021

Cherokee County GA issued the following announcement on Sept. 9.

The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners took a step to make it easier for renters experiencing financial difficulty due to COVID-19 to receive funds. The U.S. Treasury set forth qualification parameters for applicants to get assistance, however, it recently began allowing local governments to permit self-attestation forms for verification.

Falecia Stewart, vice president of housing at MUST Ministries, gave an update presentation on the Emergency Rental Assistance Program during the work session Sept. 7. Earlier this year, the Board of Commissioners contracted with MUST Ministries to administer the Emergency Rental Assistance Program. She told Commissioners that out of the $4.5 million allocated to MUST Ministries for emergency rental assistance, about $1.025 million has been dispersed to Cherokee County residents. Out of the 567 applications received, 51 have been reviewed, approved and are awaiting payment processing, 259 have been completed and payment processed, 122 were incomplete and 135 were denied.

Stewart said one of the main reasons applications are denied is because the applicant cannot document the hardship.

“With these funds you have to substantiate the financial loss that has occurred as a result of the pandemic,” Stewart said. “We’ve had a number of individuals who have not had the capacity to provide their COVID hardship.”

The U.S. Treasury recently updated its guidelines to help applicants with the burden of proof, allowing the County to provide a self-attestation form for applicants.

“I think MUST is working hard. They have brought in staff to help administer this program to push this rental assistance out to the people, keep people in their homes and get landlords paid,” said Chairman Harry Johnston. “Yet, the progress is slow partly because it’s hard to prove your financial hardship was due to COVID. The Treasury has given us the green light to let people self-attest to that, and it looks like it could allow a large portion of the one-third of the applicants who are being denied to be approved and allow them to avoid becoming homeless.”

District 3 Commissioner Benny Carter made the motion to approve the addendum to the Memorandum of Understanding with MUST Ministries, which was seconded by District 4 Commissioner Corey Ragsdale. District 2 Commissioner Richard Weatherby was absent.

Residents can apply for ERAP funding by visiting www.mustministries.com/cherokee-co. Additionally, MUST representatives will be at the Goodwill Career Center on Highway 92 in Woodstock Friday, Sept. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. taking applications in person. The event is open to only Cherokee County residents.

In other business, Commissioners:

Heard from Lynne Saunders of Encompass Ministries about plans for a transitional shelter for women and children. Partnering with other nonprofits in the area, including the Homeless Veterans organization, Cherokee FOCUS, MUST Ministries, and others, they would use the former Tippens Elementary School. Saunders, who said the plan was aggressive, told Commissioners they’d be asking the county for $250,000 in 2021, $7.25 million in 2022 and an additional $2 million in 2023. Chairman Johnston said the numbers were higher than he had been expecting and the county is still awaiting guidance from the Treasury on how the American Rescue Plan Act funds can be spent.
Heard a presentation from Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Marquis regarding the 2022 budget. He told Commissioners that the proposed 2022 budget is $335.9 million, up $14.1 million. The majority of the increase is tied to Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax expenditures and how projects are lining up. He told Commissioners that while the 2021 budget expected to use reserves, that wasn’t necessary this year. The County has the opportunity to pay off the Series A RRDA bonds using reserves in 2022 with a one-time payment of $2.18 million, which saves about $406,000. The remaining Series B bond cannot be paid off early and matures in 2022 with a $450,000 remaining principal and $26,100 remaining interest. During the regular board meeting, Commissioner West made a motion to direct finance staff to build in paying off the Series A bond in the 2022 budget, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter. The vote was 4-0.
Approved, 4-0, a request to hear an appeal of a Zoning Board of Appeals decision from Lake Arrowhead Communities, LLC. Commissioner West made the motion to approve the request, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
Approved, 4-0, the minutes from the Aug. 17 work session, regular meeting and executive session. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
Approved, 4-0, the Short-Term Rental ordinance. Commissioners held a public hearing prior to the vote. Four people spoke, voicing their views including an Airbnb owner in other states who was concerned that some parts were overreaching. The other three posed questions to the Board about the ordinance and some indicated they thought the penalties should be higher. Chairman Johnson indicated the county is bound by state law and cannot have ordinance violation fines of more than $1,000. Commissioner Carter made the motion to approve the ordinance and indicated the Board could revisit the fines at a later date if necessary. Commissioner West seconded the motion.
Approved, 4-0, an amendment to the Hotel/Motel Tax ordinance that indicates short-term rentals are subject to the Hotel/Motel Tax ordinance. A public hearing was held before the vote and no one spoke. Commissioner Carter made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Commissioner Ragsdale.
Approved, 4-0, the 2021 Capital Improvement Element/Short Term Work Program Annual Report that must be submitted to the Department of Community Affairs. A public hearing was held prior to the vote, and no one spoke. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
Approved, 4-0, updates to the Open Burn Ordinance that reflects the changes in state law. A public hearing was held and no one spoke. Commissioner West made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
Approved, 4-0, a request to rezone 2.39 acres at 187 White Road from General Agriculture to General Commercial for commercial uses. Commissioner Carter made the motion to approve the request with conditions identified by the Planning Commission, which was seconded by Commissioner Ragsdale.
Denied, 4-0, a request for a Special Use Permit at 901 Sparks Lane for a wedding and special event venue. Commissioner West made the motion to deny, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
Approved, 4-0, a request to rezone 3.75 acres at 458 Douglas Ridge Lane from R-40 single-family residential to General Agriculture and concurrent conditions for a communications tower. Commissioner West made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
Approved, 4-0, a request to rezone 2.378 acres at 2006 Eagle Drive from Neighborhood Commercial to General Commercial for a limited-service restaurant. Conditions include pointing a speaker toward Eagle Drive and away from neighboring homes. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion to approve the request and related conditions, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
Approved, 4-0, accepting Spectrum Land Resource’s request to withdraw without prejudice its application for a modification of zoning conditions. The motion was made by Commissioner West and seconded by Commissioner Carter.
Approved, 4-0, sending a letter to the city of Canton indicating no objections to a proposed annexation for 2 acres at 1530 Elmwood Street by the Cherokee County School District as part of the property to replace Cherokee High School. Commissioner West made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
Approved, 4-0, under the consent agenda surplus of equipment to area law enforcement agencies or disposed of by the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office. Commissioner West made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Commissioner Ragsdale.
Approved, 4-0, awarding a standard construction agreement for the intersection improvement project to include a roundabout at Holbrook Campground Road at Birmingham Road to low-bidder Bartow Paving Company, Inc. in the amount of $1,258,714.60. Commissioner West made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
Approved, 4-0, reallocating unassigned Community Development Block Grant funds in the amount of $150,000 to MUST Ministries for its food pantry response to the pandemic. Commissioner Carter made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Commissioner Ragsdale.
Approved, 4-0, a contract for liability insurance to the lowest priced proposer, Traveler’s Insurance. The cost is $1,746,334 for fiscal year 2022. The coverage provides auto, property, public officials, employment and law enforcement practices, inland marine, hull and EMS professional liability. The cost is less than fiscal year 2021. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
Approved, 4-0, a contract for providing excess worker’s compensation insurance to Safety National Casualty Corporation in the amount of $247,140 and a contract providing insurance brokerage services to AJ Gallagher Risk Management Services in the amount of $10,000. Commissioner Carter made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Commissioner Ragsdale.
Approved, 4-0, ordering equipment to outfit 10 new Ford Explorers for the Sheriff’s Office patrol unit from West Chatham Warning Devices for $137,285. Commissioner West made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
Approved, 4-0, purchasing a Massey Ferguson tractor mower from Atlantic & Southern Equipment for Public Works for $138,093.68. The total out-of-pocket cost for the county is $68,093.68, as the county will be trading in current equipment for a $70,000 credit. Commissioner West made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
Approved, 4-0, an agreement with Nichols, Cauley, & Associates, LLC for auditing services not to exceed $174,000 over three years. Commissioner Carter made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Commissioner Ragsdale.
Approved, 4-0, an agreement with T&T Uniforms to extend the length of the current agreement for one additional year with a 4 percent average price increase for fire uniforms. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
Approved, 4-0, a professional services agreement with Place Services for renovation design services for Fire Station 20 on Bells Ferry Road near Hobgood Park for $20,000 using SPLOST funds and for Fire Station 32 on Sugar Pike Road in the amount of $30,000 using Impact Administration Fees. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
Approved, 4-0, a fiscal year 2021 spend of $3,991.84 and a fiscal year 2022 spend of $47,902.02 for cybersecurity services as required by cybersecurity insurance. Commissioner Carter made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Commissioner Ragsdale.
Approved, 4-0, ratifying a memorandum of understanding with Grid Properties related to the annexation and rezoning pending in the city of Canton for Pole Cat Mountain Winery Resort. Commissioner Carter made the motion to ratify the MOU, and Commissioner Ragsdale seconded.