Commission To Consider Resolution On Grand Jury Recommendations

The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners will meet today to consider approving a resolution in response to recommendation by the Cherokee County grand jury regarding the Ball Ground Recycling controversy.

The commission will meet today at 3 p.m. for its work session and will hold its regular meeting at 6 p.m. Both meetings will be held at the Cherokee County administration building in Canton. 

The county in 2006 created the Resource Recovery Development Authority and backed up to $18 million in bonds to relocate Ball Ground Recycling from property on Blalock Road onto property on Highway 5 just south of Ball Ground. The company, owned and operated by Jimmy Bobo, stopped making payments on the loan and the county was forced to step in and make payments.

Ball Ground Recycling in May filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and the company has since been removed from the property. The county has filed a petition to get the bankruptcy stay removed in an effort to recoup the costs owed to the government. 

The grand jury earlier this year began investigating the business deal, which has left taxpayers on the hook for current and future payments. Some of the 13 recommendations include conducting a forensic audit on financial operations surrounding Ball Ground Recycling and expanding membership of the RRDA to include citizens who are not county commission members.

Commissioners will also consider a resolution to define its policies regarding the proposed Homestead Option Sales Tax referendum. Voters on Nov. 6 will consider imposing a one percent sales tax, which would be used by the county government to roll back property taxes on qualified properties.

Open the attached PDFs to find out what else is on the commission's agenda.