Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation

The Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag was led by Mayor Pro Tem Tolan

and an invocation was given by Mr. Darrell Rice.

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Pro Tem Tolan.

Members Present:

Mayor Pro Tem Shawn Tolan

Councilmember Farris Yawn

Councilmember Sandy McGrew

Councilmember Dwayne Waterman

Councilmember Bryan Roach

Councilmember Travis Johnson

Mr. Nathan Ingram, Assistant City Manager

Mr. Bobby Dyer, City Attorney

Mr. Marty Ferrell, Police Chief

Mr. Tyler Peoples, Planning Tech

Mr. Ken Patton, Housing Initiatives Director

Mr. Steve Green, Zoning Administrator

Ms. Bethany Watson, City Engineer

Mr. Ryan Luckett, Finance Director

Mr. Mike Morgan, Information Technology Director

Ms. Annie Fortner, City Clerk

Absent:

Mayor Bill Grant

Mr. Billy Peppers, City Manager

Consideration to Approve Agenda

Assistant City Manager requested that New Business Item 11A be removed and

placed on the September 18th agenda as the staff representative of that item was

unable to attend the meeting. Councilmember Yawn made a motion to approve

the agenda as amended. Councilmember Waterman seconded the motion, and it

was approved unanimously.

Guests and Visitors

None

Consideration to Approve Minutes

Council Meeting Draft Minutes - August 21, 2025

Minutes - Council Meeting - August 21, 2025

Attachments:

Councilmember McGrew made a motion to approve the minutes.

Councilmember Yawn seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

Informational Items

Information Only - Case RZON2503-001 - Request to Rezone Property at 100

Cherokee Street from R-20 (Single Family Residential) to CBD (Central

Business District) - Zoning Administrator Steve Green

RZON2503-001 Documentation

Attachments:

Zoning Administrator Steve Green noted that the applicant has requested a

rezoning to operate a restaurant on the subject property. There are also two

concurrent variance requests. The first variance request seeks to use gravel as

the parking surface. The second variance request seeks to encroach into the

required stream buffer. A public hearing will be held at the first Council meeting

in October.

Information Only - Cases MP2508-001 and CUP2508-001 - Request for

Master Plan and Conditional Use Permit at Longview Street and Dr. John T.

Pettit Street - Zoning Administrator Steve Green

MP2508-001 & CUP2508-001 Documentation

Attachments:

Mr. Green noted that the Conditional Use Permit number provided in the agenda

and packet was incorrect. The correct case number is CUP2508-002. Mr. Green

discussed that a Master Plan for this property was approved in 2021, however this

is a new developer asking for a new Master Plan request. The proposed

development also contains a section of townhomes which then requires a

Conditional Use Permit. Mr. Green stated the proposed development contains

143 living units made up of single family detached, duplexes, and townhomes.

Due to the number of proposed units, two means of ingress/egress will be

required. A public hearing will be held at the first Council meeting in October.

Review of July Financial Report - Finance Director Ryan Luckett

July Financials

Attachments:

Finance Director Ryan Luckett highlighted fiscal activity in the City’s major fund

sources for the month of July.

Other Announcements

None

Ten Minute Public Input

Mr. Thomas Weaver discussed concern with artificial intelligence and the

possibility of misuse of the IaaS software platform as well as other ethical and

legal issues.

Consent Agenda

Approval of Amendments to the Unified Development Code Land Use Table -

Planning Tech Tyler Peoples

UDC Land Use Table

Attachments:

Approval of Proposed Text Amendments to the Unified Development Code

Regarding Design Guidelines and Standards - Planning Tech Tyler Peoples

UDC Amendment - Design Guidelines & Standards

Attachments:

Approval of Proposed Text Amendment to the City of Canton Code of

Ordinances Regarding Expiration of Certificates of Appropriateness -

Planning Tech Tyler Peoples

COA Ordinance Amendment

Attachments:

Approval of Request to Amend Approved Master Sign Plan for Northside

Hospital Cherokee - Zoning Administrator Steve Green

NSHC Master Sign Plan Amendments

Attachments:

Councilmember Yawn made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda.

Councilmember Waterman seconded the motion, and it was approved

unanimously.

10.

Old Business

Discussion and Possible Action to Approve the Articles of Incorporation and

the ByLaws for the Canton Community Land Trust - Housing Initiatives

Director Ken Patton

Canton Community Land Trust

Attachments:

Housing Initiatives Director Ken Patton stated that in July of this year, Council

approved staff to move forward with the creation of the Canton Community Land

Trust. Since that time staff have been working with the City Attorney to create

the Articles of Incorporation and establish bylaws. City Attorney Bobby Dyer

noted that the bylaws are preliminary and can be amended. The Articles of

Incorporation need to be filed with the state and that would be the first step.

Council and staff discussed options as to how board members would be

appointed, qualifications and/or requirements for board members, terms,

training, and staff recommendations. After discussion, Councilmember Yawn

made a motion to table this item until the next Council meeting. Councilmember

Johnson seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously. Mr. Patton

stated he would reach out to Council to see what information they would like to

see included in the bylaws.

Discussion and Possible Action on Intergovernmental Agreement between

the City of Canton and the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office for the

Intelligence as a Service (IaaS) Software Platforms - Police Chief Marty

Ferrell

IaaS Software

Attachments:

Councilmembers asked about how the software is monitored, audits, necessary

equipment, access, and retention of information. Police Chief Marty Ferrell

discussed how the software can be used to generate reports to determine high

crime zones, assist in the apprehension of criminals, and bring justice to those

victims of crimes. Chief Ferrell explained that the Cherokee County Sheriff’s

Office runs the data and spoke about the importance of having centralized

records. Chief Ferrell also discussed the checks and balances policies used to

verify no misuse of information and how audits are completed. No additional

equipment is needed for the Canton Police Department and it is hoped that all

municipalities within Cherokee County will also enter Intergovernmental

Agreements for this software. Councilmember Johnson made a motion to

approve the Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Canton and the

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office for the Intelligence as a Service (IaaS) Software

Platforms. Councilmember Yawn seconded the motion, and it was approved

unanimously.

Discussion and Possible Action on the Award of the Canton Creek Pedestrian

Bridge & Sidewalk Improvement Project to Excellere Construction, LLC in the

Amount of $1,034,700 - City Engineer Bethany Watson

Canton Creek Pedestrian Bridge & Sidewalk Project

Attachments:

City Engineer Bethany Watson stated she had done some additional research on

the selected firm and received excellent feedback. Councilmember Roach made

a motion to approve the award of the Canton Creek Pedestrian Bridge and

Sidewalk Improvement Project to Excellere Construction, LLC in the amount of

$1,034,700. Councilmember Waterman seconded the motion, and it was

approved unanimously. Councilmember Johnson was absent during the vote.

11.

New Business

Discussion of Proposed New Ordinance under Chapter 42 - Public Safety to

Codify the Mandatory Use of The (Brycer) Compliance Engine - Fire Marshal

Jay Kula

TCE Ordinance

Attachments:

This item was removed from the agenda.

Discussion of Street Acceptance for City Maintenance for Streets in Preserve

at Canyon Ridge Phase 1 - City Engineer Bethany Watson

Street Acceptance - Preserve at Canyon Ridge Phase 1

Attachments:

Ms. Watson stated the streets in the Preserve at Canyon Ridge Phase 1 have met

the requirements of the Unified Development Code and are now ready to be

accepted by the City for maintenance.

Discussion of Resolution to Authorize the Issuance of a Revenue Bond for

the Renovation and Rehabilitation of the Downtown Fire Station - Assistant

City Manager Nathan Ingram

Resolution Authorizing Debt Issuance

Attachments:

Mr. Ingram discussed the joint project between the City of Canton, Cherokee

County, and the Downtown Development Authority to renovate the downtown fire

station which will then be leased to the Cherokee County Fire Department for

their use. In order to complete these renovations, the City will look to issue debt

funding via the Canton Building Authority. Mr. Ingram stated that at the

September 18th Council meeting, the City’s Financial Advisors (Davenport & Co.)

will make a presentation to Council regarding this funding. Staff will then

request a vote from Council following that presentation. Councilmember Roach

asked about ownership of the property. Mr. Ingram stated that the City (through

the Downtown Development Authority) currently owns the property and will enter

into an Intergovernmental Agreement for the lease of the property after

renovations. Mr. Ingram noted that a transfer from the Downtown Development

Authority to the Canton Building Authority will need to take place.

12.

13.

14.

15.

City Manager's Report

None

Council Introduced Items

None

Mayor's Report

None

Adjourn

Councilmember Waterman made a motion to adjourn. Councilmember Yawn

seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

_______________________________________

Bill Grant, Mayor

Attest:

_______________________________________

Annie Fortner, City Clerk

_______________________________________

Dates Minutes Approved by Council