Cherokee County Board of Commissioners Approves Fiscal Year 2022 Budget The $340.3 million approved budget includes 5% cost-of-living increases for public safety employees and 4% cost-of-living increases for other county employees, completing a two-year plan to catch pay level up with surrounding jurisdictions. New positions include nine for the Sheriff’s Office, six for EMS, three for Court Administration, two for IT, two for the Tax Commissioner’s Office, 13 for the Fire Department, one for Juvenile Court, one for the Coroner’s Office, one for Senior Services, one for Property Management, one for Recreation & Parks, and one for the District Attorney’s Office. The budget also includes a one-time $2.1 million payment for early payoff of the 2007 Series A bonds that leads to a $400,000 savings for the county.
Cherokee County Board of Commissioners Approves Fiscal Year 2022 Budget The $340.3 million approved budget includes 5% cost-of-living increases for public safety employees and 4% cost-of-living increases for other county employees, completing a two-year plan to catch pay level up with surrounding jurisdictions. New positions include nine for the Sheriff’s Office, six for EMS, three for Court Administration, two for IT, two for the Tax Commissioner’s Office, 13 for the Fire Department, one for Juvenile Court, one for the Coroner’s Office, one for Senior Services, one for Property Management, one for Recreation & Parks, and one for the District Attorney’s Office. The budget also includes a one-time $2.1 million payment for early payoff of the 2007 Series A bonds that leads to a $400,000 savings for the county.
Your Input Is Needed for Cherokee County’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan Due to continued population growth, Cherokee County is updating its Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) to assess how transportation demands have shifted across the region. The CTP will identify infrastructure improvement investments that meet the long-term needs of the county. Public feedback will provide a framework to ensure local transportation expectations are aligned with the prioritization of projects. An online survey has launched to allow those who live, work, or travel in Cherokee County to weigh in on priorities. The survey is available at CherokeeMoves.com or SurveyMonkey.com/r/CJQLZNG.
Bonebrake Named E 9-1-1 Director Shane Bonebrake, who recently retired from Woodstock Police, has been named Cherokee County’s new E 9-1-1 director. Bonebrake’s public service background spans more than 30 years. He has served as the director of EMS Services for Six Flags White Water, narcotics and vice officer for New Orleans Police, chief international flight medic for Worldwide Transport Services, Rockdale County firefighter/paramedic, Rockdale County 911 dispatcher, Cherokee County firefighter/paramedic, U.S. Army soldier (field, flight, and ER medic), and several roles with Woodstock Police.According to Cherokee County Public Services Agency Director Dana Martin, Bonebrake’s experience “has given him the understanding and appreciation for the important work our E 9-1-1 communication officers do every day.”Cherokee County E 9-1-1 is the call center hub that dispatches all emergency calls for the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, Cherokee Fire & Emergency Services, Cherokee Marshal’s Office, Woodstock Police, Woodstock Fire & Rescue, Canton Police, Ball Ground Police, and Holly Springs Police.
Canton Police Unite Community at Inaugural Multicultural Festival Last month, the Canton Police Department and the United Pentecostal Church invited the community to the first Multicultural Festival at Etowah River Park. The free event celebrated diversity and multiculturalism through music, dress, food, games, and entertainment from different cultures.The idea for a multicultural event originated last year when Canton Police assisted with the collection and delivery of the Hurricane Relief Drive (for those in need in Honduras and Nicaragua) and a food drive to support MUST Ministries. During those collection drives, police officers witnessed different cultures and races collaborating to help others. The department developed relationships with diverse groups of people from the Canton community and wanted to build on those connections. They partnered with United Pentecostal Church to conceptualize how to continue to reach out to others, and the multicultural event was born.The goal of the Festival was to encourage unity by bringing together diverse groups of people who coexist in Canton while promoting cultural awareness, overcoming stereotypes, and discouraging racism.
Cherokee County 2021 Early Voting Times and Locations Three Locations Open October 12-29 Elections Warehouse, 400 E. Main Street, Canton Elections Office (temporarily moved to Northside Hospital Cherokee Conference Center), 1130 Bluffs Parkway, Canton South Cherokee Annex, 7545 Main Street, Building 200, Woodstock Tuesday-Friday, October 12-15 (voting hours 8:30am-5:00pm)Saturday, October 16 (voting hours 9:00am-5:00pm)Monday-Friday, October 18-22 (voting hours 8:30am-5:00pm)Saturday, October 23 (voting hours 9:00am-5:00pm)Monday-Friday, October 25-29 (voting hours 8:30am-7:00pm)Three Additional Locations Open October 23-29 Ball Ground Public Library, 435 Old Canton Road, Ball Ground Hickory Flat Public Library, 2740 East Cherokee Drive, Canton Rose Creek Public Library, 4476 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock Saturday, October 23 (voting hours 9:00am-5:00pm)Monday-Friday, October 25-29 (voting hours 8:30am-7:00pm)If you miss early voting, you will need to go to your regular polling place on election day. For more information on your polling place, please visit MVP.SOS.Ga.gov.
City of Canton Special Project Updates Downtown Tree Lighting ReplacementThe City has replaced all the decorative tree lights in downtown as part of a new maintenance agreement with a private vendor. The agreement covers the monthly maintenance to keep Canton’s downtown streetscape sparkling, including new types of lights. Check out the new waterfall lights on W. Main Street.Window Replacement at 151 Elizabeth StreetAs part of an efficiency project, the City removed a number of stained glass windows at the 151 Elizabeth Street Complex (Public Safety and Municipal Court) and replaced them with custom energy-efficient windows. The older windows were given to the former building occupant, First Baptist Church of Canton.Automated Meter Reading ProjectThe City’s utility department is working on a project to convert readings to an automated platform. Requests for qualifications were turned in during the summer, and a smaller pool of firms were asked to move forward with full proposals, which were due by the end of September.Old Ball Ground Sewer Expansion and Etowah River Trail ConnectionWork continues on the sewer and trail project that will connect Heritage Park and Boling Park on the north and west sides of the Etowah River. Much of the new sewer line has been installed, and new sod has been planted in portions of Heritage Park.More project update information can be found at CantonGa.gov.
CCSD Announcements School Board Announces 2021-22 Student DelegatesFor the past 11 years, an outstanding senior student from each high school has been selected as a student delegate to serve for one year to give input and feedback to the School Board and to the superintendent of schools and his senior staff. The advisor role, which includes the opportunity to sit on the dais with the School Board, is rotated among the district’s high schools. This year’s student advisor is Jason Adkins of Woodstock HS. This innovative engagement program earned the School Board the Georgia School Boards Association’s 2020 Leading Edge Award.Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower congratulates the School Board Student Delegates for the 2021-22 School Year. Front row (L-R): Elyse Robbins, Sequoyah HS; Lillie Cate Ergle, Cherokee HS; Emily Collins, Etowah HS. Back row (L-R): Ty Hubert, Creekview HS; Brian Bradley, River Ridge HS; and Jason Adkins, Woodstock HS. “Tools for School” Campaign Benefits CCSD FamiliesRepresentatives from Publix Supermarkets recently donated $63,540 in Publix gift cards to CCSD to help families in need. The gift cards are the result of the annual “Tools for School” community outreach fundraiser conducted by Publix, with the proceeds from each store going back to the local community. Customers at nine Cherokee County stores donated funds to support the effort. CCSD social workers will use the cards to assist families that are in economic crisis.(L-R) Dr. Debra Murdock, CCSD chief operations officer; Dr. Brian V. Hightower, superintendent of schools; Bryan Jewell, Publix district manager; and Russell Putnam, Publix assistant store manager.CCSD Police Department Earns State recognitionThe Joint Review Committee of the State of Georgia Law Enforcement Certification Program recently renewed the CCSD Police Department’s status as a Certified Agency, a designation the Department first achieved in 2006. This is the highest level of State accreditation that local law enforcement agencies can earn, and it is rare for school police departments to complete the required rigorous review. CCSD’s Department, which is led by Chief Buster Cushing, is one of only five school police departments in Georgia to hold this certification.Special Education Leader Earns National Board CertificationExecutive Director Charlette Green has earned the Board-Certified Specialist in Child Language designation from the American Board of Child Language and Language Disorders. The honor recognizes her expertise in child language and language disorders as well as her significant contributions to the field. The national organization is dedicated to “promoting high-quality services by speech-language pathologists to children and adolescents ages birth through 21 years whose language learning may be characterized as typical, at-risk, or atypical.”Indian Knoll ES Earns Global RecognitionMicrosoft has selected Indian Knoll ES as a 2021-22 Microsoft Showcase School in honor of its successful integration of educational technology in the classroom to benefit students and teachers. Indian Knoll earned this global recognition for its dedication to effectively using technology for teaching and learning. Only 38 schools were selected as Showcase Schools, and Indian Knoll is the only school in Georgia named to the list. This honor will provide Indian Knoll with access to additional Microsoft resources and support, along with the opportunity to share innovative best practices with other top schools.
Inaugural Red, White & Blue BBQ Competition Veteran organizations of Cherokee County are hosting an inaugural Red, White & Blue BBQ competition on October 29-30 at the American Legion Post 45 (160 McClure Street, Canton). This Georgia BBQ Association (GBA) sanctioned competitive cook-off event will offer two classes of competitors: professionals (GBA members) and amateurs. The professional division will compete for trophies and cash prizes totaling $10,000, while amateurs will compete for non-cash awards and People’s Choice honors.“We are looking to host this event every year around Veterans Day,” said John Bruss, event committee member from VFW Post 5262 in Canton. “Cherokee County has over 15,000 veterans and more than eight veteran service organizations, and we are very proud to be part of the larger Cherokee County community.”The Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Program and Veteran Suicide Awareness, which is part of the Cherokee County Suicide Prevention Coalition, are the two charities that will benefit from this year’s event. Tickets for Saturday, October 30 ($5 per person over the age of 5), will include five BBQ tastings as part of the People’s Choice award. In addition to the BBQ competition and tastings, attendees will enjoy live music, a classic car show, a veteran-owned business craft fair, a children’s costume contest and trick-or-treating, and raffles.Professional BBQ entries will be reviewed by a panel of GBA sanctioned judges, and amateur BBQ entries will be reviewed by a combination of guest judges and attendee votes.If you would like to enter the competition, please contact Jim Lindenmayer, service officer for Post 45, for an application (678-983-7590 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or visit BBQGa.org. Family Life is a proud sponsor of this event. If you or your company would also like to become a sponsor, please contact Jim Lindenmayer, Betty Lewis (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), or Dale Walz (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
Hickory Flat Gym To Be Renovated The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners recently approved $1.5 million in funding to renovate the historic Hickory Flat gym. The unanimous vote also included a county-controlled contingency of $160,000. After entering into a 50-year agreement with the Cherokee County School District in 2018, the County surveyed the public to learn the most desired use of the facility. In response to the survey, the County engaged KRH Architects to evaluate the building and recommend renovations that would meet the needs of the community. Under the approved construction agreement, the building will retain its historic feel while becoming a community center for the Hickory Flat area. Renovations will include structural improvements to the roof and floor; new utility services; American Disabilities Act improvements for building access, restrooms, and stage access; new HVAC; new cementitious board and batten siding and insulation; signage; and landscaping. When complete, the facility will accommodate Cherokee Recreation & Parks options such as basketball, fitness programs, senior programs, summer camps, and special events.
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