Friday, April 12, 2013
The city would pay the county from its general fund the equavilent of the millage rate charged to residents in unincorporated Cherokee County.
Despite the majority of the Canton City Council opposing consolidating fire services with Cherokee County, leaders with the county government are still not ready to give up on striking a deal. Cherokee County Manager Jerry Cooper on Friday released two documents, a proposed ordinance and a proposed agreement, that spell out what consolidating means for both sides. The proposal calls for the county to construct a new fire station near the Laurel Canyon and Great Sky neighborhoods along Highway 140 and another near Commerce Boulevard and Highway 140, which would be near the replacement Northside Hospital-Cherokee facility. The county would then transfer its staffing and equipment from Station 9 to the new station near the two neighborhoods…
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
71 percent of the more than 700 voters in Canton opposed the $6 million bond that would have seen the city construct three new fire stations.
The Canton City Council will have to start at square one to solve the contentious issue of fire services for the city after voters overwhelmingly rejected a bond that would have paid for the construction of three new city fire stations. Of the 731 votes cast early and on Election Day, 518 ballots, or 70.86 percent, were marked against the measure. There are 11,683 registered voters in Canton, which translates to a turnout of 6.3 percent. The low turnout drew criticism from those on both sides of the referendum issue. "I'm sorry we didn't get a better turnout," said Councilman John Beresford, who was in support of the bond. "We would have if people understood the issue better. We didn't have a grassroots bunch of cronies like the mayor did …
All results are unofficial until certified by the Secretary of State's office.
LATEST ELECTION RETURNS (8:30 p.m.) TOTAL VOTES: 731 Just over 700 votes have been tallied in today's fire bond referendum, and so far, the results are not promising for those wanting to see three new city fire stations. According to the Georgia Secretary of State's website, 70.86 percent of voters have opoosed the up to $6 million bond, with all of the six precincts involved officially reporting their vote totals. If the referendum passes, the city will take up up to $6 million in bonds to pay for the construction of fire stations at Laurel Canyon, Canton Marketplace, and The Bluffs and renovate the downtown fire station. The new fire stations will improve insurance rates for homes and businesses in Canton and decrease response times. …
Monday, March 18, 2013
Voting will take place on Tuesday, March 19 to determine whether or not the city issues up to $6 million in bonds to improve city fire services.
After months of debate, argument, vitriol, and controversy on both sides of the fire bond referendum issue, the matter will finally go before the voters on Tuesday. This referendum will be different from other city-wide referendums for more reasons than the intense amount of rhetoric generated by those supporting and opposing the measure, which would see the city spend up to $6 million in bond money to build three new city fire stations. Unlike previous city referendums, voters on Tuesday will not be directed to City Hall en masse to cast their ballots on the issue. According to Mayor Gene Hobgood, people wishing to vote on the fire bond referendum should report to the polling place they reported to in November when they voted in the …
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
We want to hear your thoughts on next week's referendum and why you're voting to approve or reject the $6 million bond.
With the referendum on whether or not the City of Canton should take out up to $6 million in bonds to pay for the construction of three new fire stations just a week away, the controversy over the measure hasn't let up. There have been articles, blog posts and comments in support or in opposition to the March 19 measure, with those in favor of the measure saying the reduced response times and better ISO rating would be a boon to the city, while those in opposition question whether it would be a better idea to consolidate fire services with Cherokee County. Canton's City Council is also taking sides on the issue. Councilmen Hooky Huffman and Bob Rush have publicly supported the measure; the two councilmen held a town hall meeting earlier …
Friday, March 8, 2013
The Canton City Council looked at ways to enforce retention pond quality standards and expressed concern that the city's bond referendum may fail because of "misleading" information.
CORRECTION: As pointed out by Jeff Brown, Councilman Beresford is searching for those responsible for the post card campaign against the fire bond, and not Brown himself. Brown is not affiliated with the senders of the post cards. ORIGINAL ARTICLE: The Canton City Council heavily discussed one issue that wasn't apparent yesterday morning and continued the discussion of a very controversial measure during their regular meeting Thursday evening. A simple zoning condition amendment on two properties in the 490 block of Hospital Road served as a springboard for a lengthy talk on the city's retention ponds. According to Ken Patton, Director of Community Development, the fixed properties are a 16-unit apartment complex that have been purchased …
Thursday, March 7, 2013
The city council will move forward with its plans to re-create the Canton Economic Development Office during tonight's meeting.
The Canton City Council will discuss several aspects of the city's resurrected economic development office, including funding and the Economic Development Coordinator's job description, during their Thursday meeting. In order to fund this new office, money from the Downtown Development budget is being transferred to the new "Economic Development Administration." Some $38,000 will be saved by transferring downtown development functions to the new office and eliminating funding for unnecessary programs. Additionally, the council will discuss the job description for the new Economic Development Coordinator. This position will include the functions performed by former Main Street Director Ginger Garrard, but will expand the overall vision …
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Councilmen Bob Rush and Hooky Huffman received a cool reception from the gathering of citizens.
Two Canton city councilmen attempted to make their case for the March 19 fire bond referendum, but were met with stiff opposition from the assembled citizens. Hooky Huffman and Bob Rush called the town hall meeting at the Fairways of Canton golf club in order to dispel rumors and inaccurate facts that were swirling around the bond, namely that the pro-bond council members had not done their due dilligence in regards to costs of the project. Huffman showed the crowd a 2008 "Horizon 2030" study he was a part of, and said that the three stations that would be built if the fire bond passes are the same three stations proposed in 2008. Huffman said that if the bond referedum is passed, the three stations could be built at a cost of $6 million …
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Councilman Hooky Huffman will host the event at the Laurel Canyon golf club.
A Canton City Council member will be at a town hall meeting to discuss the implications of the March 19 fire bond referendum and what a yes or no vote means for Canton's neighborhoods. Councilman Hooky Huffman will appear at the Fairways of Canton golf club off Laurel Canyon Pkwy. on Monday, March 4 to earn support from the populace in the Laurel Canyon, Great Sky, Summer Walk, Town Mill, and River Green areas. The fire bond referendum, if passed, would see the city issue up to $6 million in bonds to pay for the construction of three new City of Canton fire stations. The stations would be constructed at Laurel Canyon, the Canton Marketplace, and the Bluffs Parkway area. Controversy has been high with the referendum, with those in support …
Saturday, March 2, 2013
How will you vote in the Mar. 19 election?
W in Canton
10:44 pm on Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Can we please get the entire document that the County submitted? I would love to see the consolidation as the other day when Woodstock requested both of the Ladder trucks from Canton the County had to move their fire engines into the City to cover the citizens since there are not enough people to run the ladders and the engines, unlike the County who have a fire engine and ladder truck fully … more ›