Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation

The Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag was led by Mayor Grant and an

invocation was given by Mr. Darrell Rice.

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Grant.

Members Present:

Mayor Bill Grant

Mayor Pro Tem Shawn Tolan

Councilmember Farris Yawn

Councilmember Sandy McGrew

Councilmember Dwayne Waterman

Councilmember Bryan Roach

Councilmember Travis Johnson

Mr. Billy Peppers, City Manager

Mr. Nathan Ingram, Assistant City Manager

Mr. Jeff Rusbridge, City Attorney

Mr. Marty Ferrell, Police Chief

Mr. Kevin Turner, Community Development Director

Mr. Tyler Peoples, Planning Tech

Ms. Mary Baker, Community Development Intern

Mr. Ken Patton, Housing Initiatives Director

Mr. Steve Green, Zoning Administrator

Ms. Bethany Watson, City Engineer

Mr. Ryan Luckett, Finance Director

Ms. Lauren Johnson, Communications Manager

Mr. Jacky Cheng, Digital Content Specialist

Mr. Mike Morgan, Information Technology Director

Absent:

None

Consideration to Approve Agenda

City Manager Billy Peppers requested to add an item to Old Business for the

discussion and possible action on an Amicus Brief with the litigation with the

City of Milton as well as add an Executive Session to discuss litigation.

Councilmember Waterman made a motion to approve the agenda as amended.

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

Guests and Visitors

Canton Tourism Board Presentation

Digital Content Specialist Jacky Cheng reviewed the website, social media, and

newsletter growth of Explore Canton. Mr. Cheng also discussed the City’s events

and business impacts. Ms. Dana Cox, Chair of the Canton Tourism Board, spoke

about upcoming projects such as billboards, kiosks, website improvements, and

more.

Consideration to Approve Minutes

Council Meeting Draft Minutes - June 5, 2025

Minutes - Council Meeting - June 5, 2025

Attachments:

Mayor Pro Tem Tolan made a motion to approve the minutes. Councilmember

Johnson seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

Informational Items

Review of April Financial Report - Finance Director Ryan Luckett

April Financial Report

Attachments:

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

sources for the month of April.

Information Only - Amendments to the City of Canton Official Zoning Map -

Planning Tech Tyler Peoples

Zoning Map Amendments

Attachments:

Planning Tech Tyler Peoples stated that within the last few months, staff has

discovered several properties on the Official Zoning Map in which their current

zoning is either incorrect or incompatible with the Unified Development Code.

Staff has researched the zoning history of these properties and have determined

the appropriate zoning categories by which these properties should instead be

designated. Mr. Peoples noted some properties have already been updated by

the GIS department; however, Mayor and City Council approval is necessary to

amend the Official Zoning Map.

Other Announcements

None

Ten Minute Public Input

Mr. Thomas Weaver discussed federal and state legislation going into effect and

urged Council to be good stewards of the City’s budget.

Consent Agenda

None

10.

Old Business

Discussion and Possible Action on Case ZCA2504-001 - Request to

Eliminate Zoning Conditions on the Property Located at the End of Joe Green

Lane - Zoning Administrator Steve Green

ZCA2504-001 Documentation

Attachments:

Zoning Administrator Steve Green provided the case summary and noted at the

public hearing at the last Council meeting two citizens spoke in support of the

application. No other comments have been received. Councilmember McGrew

asked about Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU), accessory structures, and buffers.

Mr. Green stated one ADU is allowed, a barn or storage unit would be considered

an accessory structure which would require a permit, and a 50-foot buffer is

required along the property line abutting Cherokee County property.

Councilmember McGrew asked if a 50-foot buffer could be placed around the

entire property. Mr. Green stated that it could be added as a condition.

Councilmember Yawn asked if a condition could be placed to allow for only one

home on the property. City Attorney Jeff Rusbridge stated yes. Councilmember

Johnson made a motion to approve case ZCA2504-001 with the condition of only

one home and ADU. Councilmember McGrew seconded the motion. Council

discussed the buffer around the property. Councilmember Johnson amended his

motion to also include a 50-foot buffer around the property. Councilmember

McGrew seconded the amended motion, and it was approved unanimously.

Discussion and Possible Action to Approve the Canton Housing Team

Recommendation to Create a Canton Community Land Trust - Housing

Initiatives Director Ken Patton

Canton Community Land Trust

Attachments:

Housing Initiatives Director Ken Patton reviewed the information provided at the

June Council meeting regarding the Community Land Trust. Mr. Patton noted

that the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws would need to be approved by the

Council as well as the appointment of the Board members. Board members

would receive training. Following discussion between Council and staff, it was

clarified that the request was to determine whether to move forward with the

creation of the Community Land Trust. Mr. Patton reiterated that the Articles of

Incorporation, Bylaws, etc. would come before Council for formal adoption.

Mayor Pro Tem Tolan made a motion to approve the Canton Housing Team

recommendation to create the Canton Community Land Trust. Councilmember

Johnson seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

Discussion and Possible Action on Public Safety Renovations - Police Chief

Marty Ferrell

Public Safety Building Renovations

Attachments:

Mayor Grant confirmed the funds for this project would come from Impact Fees

and SPLOST. Councilmember Yawn made a motion to approve the Public

Safety renovations. Councilmember Roach seconded the motion, and it was

approved unanimously.

Discussion and Possible Action on the Award of the Ridge Pine Elevated

Tank and Booster Pump Station Project to Phoenix Fabricators & Erectors,

LLC in the Amount of $13,237,000 - City Engineer Bethany Watson

Ridge Pine Tank & Booster Pump

Attachments:

City Engineer Bethany Watson reviewed the project schedule and noted that the

construction would be in conjunction with the South Canton Park.

Councilmember Waterman made a motion to approve the award of the Ridge

Pine Elevated Tank and Booster Pump Station Project to Phoenix Fabricators &

Erectors, LLC in the amount of $13,237,000. Councilmember Yawn seconded the

motion, and it was approved unanimously.

Update on West Main Street Pedestrian Bridge Concepts - City Engineer

Bethany Watson

West Main Street Pedestrian Bridge Concepts

Attachments:

Ms. Watson stated the pedestrian bridge would connect downtown Canton to The

Mill on Etowah. Ms. Watson reviewed the four proposed concepts and costs.

Staff recommends concept #2 as it is the least impactful and more attractive. Ms.

Watson discussed what crossings are allowed over the railroad. Ms. Watson

noted the funding source for this project would be Impact Fees and SPLOST and

is Tax Allocation District eligible.

Discussion and Possible Action on the Tax Allocation District

Intergovernmental Agreement with Cherokee County - Assistant City Manager

Nathan Ingram

Tax Allocation District IGA

Attachments:

Assistant City Manager Nathan Ingram stated that the City and Cherokee County

have been working toward an Intergovernmental Agreement regarding the

collection and uses of ad valorem property taxes levied within the Tax Allocation

District (TAD) #1 - Downtown and Etowah River Corridor (TAD). The provided

agreement establishes the tax allocation increment base as of December 31, 2022.

Mr. Ingram stated that this will permit the City to use City and County portions of

the ad valorem tax collected within the TAD for public infrastructure projects

within the TAD. Councilmember Waterman made a motion made a motion to

approve the Tax Allocation District Intergovernmental Agreement with Cherokee

County. Councilmember Johnson seconded the motion, and it was approved

unanimously. Councilmember Yawn was absent during the vote.

Discussion and Possible Action on an Intergovernmental Agreement between

the City, Downtown Development Authority, and Cherokee County for the

Development and Construction of a New County Annex and Mixed-Use

Project along North Street - Assistant City Manager Nathan Ingram

IGA for North Street Project

Attachments:

Mr. Ingram discussed that the proposed Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA)

represents and memorializes a roadmap that the City, Downtown Development

Authority, and Cherokee County will use as we move toward realizing a project

that will become a County government annex and mixed-use development that

will include retail, commercial, residential, parking deck with 800+ spaces, and a

possible hotel development along North Street. This IGA encompasses the

collective vision and direction of the various stakeholders and is the product of

many discussions between those parties. Mr. Ingram noted this IGA enumerates

the various responsibilities that each party will have which includes: 1) Providing

for the County to engage their own Architectural/Engineering on the Annex

building; 2) Allows for a single Architect/Engineer to provide civil and site

engineering services for the project as a whole; 3) Allows for one Construction

Manager at Risk to oversee the whole project, creating efficiencies that all parties

can realize; 4) Embodies the goals and direction from the recently completed

concept plan administered by Goodwyn Mills Cawood; 5) Identifies the funding

mechanisms and responsibilities for each party. Mr. Ingram noted the Downtown

Development Authority has already ratified the agreement. Mr. Ingram requested

that should Council approve the agreement, that it be contingent upon the

County approving the TAD Agreement and the North Street Agreement. Council

and staff discussed being able to control the growth and development of

downtown, the amount the County will be contributing to the project, and the

City owning the property vs. private developer owning the property. Mayor Pro

Tem Tolan made a motion to approve the Intergovernmental Agreement between

the City, Downtown Development Authority, and Cherokee County for the

development and construction of a new County annex and mixed-use project

along North Street contingent upon Cherokee County approving the Tax

Allocation District Intergovernmental Agreement and North Street

Intergovernmental Agreement. Councilmember Waterman seconded the motion.

The motion passed with all Councilmembers present voting for the motion

except Councilmember Roach. Councilmember Roach voted against the motion.

Councilmember Johnson was absent for the vote.

Item 10H - Discussion and Possible Action on an Amicus Brief with the Litigation

with the City of Milton:

Mr. Peppers spoke about the previously approved resolution for this litigation.

Mr. Peppers stated that the Supreme Court had decided to hear the case and the

City of Milton has requested that all the parties that participated in the original

Amicus Brief refile a resolution. Councilmember Yawn made a motion to

approve the resolution for the Amicus Brief as presented. Councilmember

Waterman seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

11.

New Business

Presentation of the Fiscal Year 2026 Proposed Budget and Fee Schedule -

Finance Director Ryan Luckett

FY 2026 Proposed Budget & Fee Schedule

Attachments:

Mr. Peppers stated that he has provided a copy of the Budget In Brief

Memorandum to all of Council. Mr. Peppers noted the proposed budget is based

upon a property tax cut of 5.25 mills. This will allow the City to forego a public

hearing on the millage rate due to the cut. Finance Director Ryan Luckett

highlighted the City’s funds, history of tax collections, budget changes, and

proposed Capital Improvements. Mr. Luckett stated the next steps will be to hold

a public hearing on July 17th and possible adoption on August 7th.

Discussion and Possible Action on Emergency Pump Replacement for Ridge

Pine Booster Station in the Amount of $65,685.71 - City Engineer Bethany

Watson

Ridge Pine Emergency Pump Replacement

Attachments:

Ms. Watson stated the Ridge Pine Booster Station has a pump in disrepair. Due

to the pump being obsolete, the City is unable to repair the pump and it will

need to be replaced immediately to mitigate service disruption in our water

service area. Ms. Watson noted that due to this being an emergency item, a

pump has already been ordered. Councilmember Johnson made a motion to

approve the emergency pump replacement for Ridge Pine Booster Station in the

amount of $65,685.71. Councilmember Waterman seconded the motion, and it

was approved unanimously.

Discussion of the Cherokee County Local Emergency Operations Plan -

Assistant City Manager Nathan Ingram

Local Emergency Operations Plan

Attachments:

Mr. Ingram discussed that the Cherokee County Emergency Management Agency

has started the process of updating the Cherokee County Local Emergency

Operations Plan (LEOP), which is due to expire later this year. The LEOP will

supersede the plan currently in place which was adopted in August 2021. In

conjunction with approving the renewal of the LEOP, the County has also asked

for each municipality within Cherokee County to review and approve a

Continuity of Government (COG) Resolution. The original resolution along with

an updated draft have been included within the Council’s agenda packet. Mr.

Ingram noted that at Council's July 17th meeting staff will ask that both the LEOP

and the revised COG be considered for approval.

Discussion of Proposed Cell Tower Site - Assistant City Manager Nathan

Ingram

Cell Tower

Attachments:

Mr. Ingram stated that GulfSouth Towers, LLC (GST) has approached the City

about installing a cell tower at the Lake Canton boat/canoe launch site. Mr.

Ingram discussed the proposed lease terms, agreements, and payments. Mr.

Ingram noted that City management has a number of concerns regarding the

proposal. Council had no interest in moving forward with the cell tower.

Discussion of Resolution to Authorize Check Signers for the City of Canton

Bank Accounts - Assistant City Manager Nathan Ingram

Authorized Check Signers

Attachments:

Mr. Ingram discussed that the City would like to request to add the Finance

Director, Ryan Luckett, as one of the City's check signers. Currently the signers

are: Teresa Fitts, Nathan Ingram, Annie Fortner, Donna Bell, and Jon Warrix.

Action will be requested at the next Council meeting.

12.

City Manager's Report

Mr. Peppers provided an update on Cherokee County’s plan for a Transportation

Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST). Mr. Peppers stated a list of

potential projects to include in the TSPLOST will be presented to Council. Mr.

Peppers discussed digital licenses and noted the Police Department will soon

have the technology they need for them. Lastly, Mr. Peppers discussed the

upcoming Independence Day activities within the City.

13.

14.

15.

Council Introduced Items

None

Mayor's Report

None

Adjourn

Councilmember Waterman made a motion to adjourn to Executive Session to

discuss litigation. Councilmember Yawn seconded the motion, and it was

approved unanimously.