Public Hearing on Cherokee's 2011 Budget Tonight

Topping the meeting tonight is a public hearing on this year's budget, which must be approved by February.

Residents won't see a tax increase, but the county will have to dip into reserves and use various other creative financing to get through another difficult economic year, County Manager Jerry Cooper said .

Cooper said that when the budgeting process started last year, there was a $6 million deficit. He told each county agency it would have to cut 8 percent from its budget.

A little under $900,000 will have to come from reserves for the general fund, Cooper said.

The county will use about $3.2 million from one-time revenue sources. The county will sell some land for approximately $1.5 million and take $1.7 million from the retirement fund. Cooper said that tapping the retirement fund won't affect any employees and that there is a $3.8 million credit now.

The agenda for the meeting is as follows:

Cherokee County Board of Commissioners

JANUARY 18, 2011  REGULAR MEETING     6:00 P.M. 

CALL TO ORDER         CHAIRMAN 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

“Veterans of U.S. military service may proudly salute the flag while not in uniform based on a change in the governing law on 25 July 2007” 

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Lori Pesta, President of Cherokee Republican Women, will read a Resolution to honor President Reagan’s 100th birthday on February 6  

The Board of Commissioners and Mr. Cooper extend their sincere thanks and appreciation for the smooth functioning and professionalism of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), and in particular the diligence of our Roads and Bridges Dept. to make our streets safe 

AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA 

PUBLIC COMMENT 

APPROVAL OF WORK SESSION MINUTES January 4, 2011  

APPROVAL OF REGULAR MEETING MINUTES FROM January 4, 2011 

PUBLIC HEARINGS 

(1) To consider adoption of 2011 Budget 

(2) To consider repealing Section 6-106 entitled “Dangerous Weapons  Prohibited” of Article II entitled “Alcohol Beverage Tax and Regulation” of  Division III entitled “On-Premises Consumption” of Chapter 6 entitled  “Alcoholic Beverages” in its entirety  

SUMMARY OF ZONING CASES HEARD ON JANUARY 4 

CASE NUMBER    : 11-01-002

APPLICANT    : Steve Turner

ZONING CHANGE   : R-80 to AG

LOCATION      : 600 Old Mill Road, Ball Ground

MAP & PARCEL NUMBER  : 03N16-062 and 063

ACRES     : 10.74

PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT  : Rural Residential

COMMISSION DISTRICT  : Post 1

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT MAP : Suburban Growth

PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:  APPROVAL 

CASE NUMBER    : 11-01-003

APPLICANT    : B.T. Associates, Inc.

ZONING CHANGE   : AG & R-80 to GC

LOCATION      : Highway 20

MAP & PARCEL NUMBER  : 03N23-144 and 03N23A-047A

ACRES     : .4.43

PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT  : Commercial – Tractor Supply

COMMISSION DISTRICT  : Post 1

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT MAP : Community Village/Suburban Growth 

PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS:

• 1. Maximum parking should be 4 spaces per 1,000 square feet of building space.
  2. Access road to be completed according to Engineering recommendations.

      COMMISSION BUSINESS 

      CHAIRMAN      L.B. AHRENS 

      A. Appointment of Ashley Holcomb to the Development Authority of Cherokee County to replace Larry Lusk  

      B. Re-Appointment of Marshall Day, Skip Spears and Harold Swindell to the Development Authority of Cherokee County 

      C. Appointment of Mark Goddard (Cobb EMC) and David Pitts (GA Power) to the Cobb-Cherokee Joint Development Authority and the   re-appointment of Steven Woodruff as Cherokee County’s representatives-terms are 6 years   

      D. Appointment of Billy Hayes to the Region 1 EMS Council to replace   Dr. Jill Mabley and as recommended by Chief Dan West  

      E. Appointment of ACCG Legislative Coordinator … Commissioner Karen   Bosch 

      COMMISSION POST 1    HARRY B. JOHNSTON 

      F. Possible change to Alcoholic Beverage Ordinance to permit serving of   wine at special events in the Historical Society Museum in the Historic   Courthouse  

      VICE CHAIR/COMMISSION POST 2  JIM HUBBARD 

      COMMISSION POST 3    KAREN BOSCH 

      COMMISSION POST 4    JASON NELMS 
 
CONSENT AGENDA 

1. Request approval to surplus old IT equipment. 
 
COUNTY MANAGER  

2. Modify Retirement-Medical Resolution to change ending period from  January 31 to June 1 for employees to qualify for payment of medical  premiums   
 
COUNTY ATTORNEY 
 
ADJOURN