Friday, April 19, 2013
The Board of Commissioners gave an additional $169,000 to McClendon & Associates to complete its forensic audit on the failed venture.
An already cash-strapped Cherokee County had to cough up an additional $169,000 to allow a Newnan-based accounting firm to complete its forensic audit of the failed Ball Ground Recycling venture. The county Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved modifying its agreement with McClendon & Associates to change the not-to-exceed cap to $269,000 for the firm to complete its work. The board also approved an additional request for lead accountant Rhonda McClendon to retain Newnan attorney George Rosenzweig to ensure she's on the right track in her investigation. The attorney requested an amount not to exceed $50,000 for his services, which includes a $25,000 retainer. County Attorney Angela Davis said McClendon informed her the additional $…
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
The County Commission will meet jointly with the Resource Recovery Development Authority to discuss Ball Ground Recycling.
An update to the county's efforts to find an operator for the failed Ball Ground Recycling deal will be heard in a joint meeting today by the Cherokee County Commission and Resource Recovery Development Authority. The meeting will start at 4 p.m. at the Cherokee County administration building. Both boards will also discuss potential candidates and site visits and review the broker/referral agreement. The commission during its 3 p.m. work session will also review the fiscal year 2012 audit and comprehensive annual financial report. During its regular meeting at 6 p.m., the board will consider three requests to rezone property. Stonetrust Investors, Inc. is asking the county to rezone 4 acres at 3171 Cumming Highway just east of Canton …
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Cherokee County Commissioners held a joint meeting with the Resource Recovery Development Authority to hear an update on the failed Ball Ground Recycling venture.
After a little more than a year of assuming financial responsibility of the failed Ball Ground Recycling venture, Cherokee County still has no solid commitment from any prospective companies to to take over operations. Cherokee County Commissioners held a joint meeting with the Resource Recovery Development Authority to update each other and the public on the county's efforts to secure a deal for a company to take over a majority of the debt taxpayers are on the hook for. Commissioner Harry Johnston said the county doesn't "have an offer on the table we are weighting at this moment," but it has to be steadfast in keeping the facility and its equipment in top shape. The three new members of the RRDA — Troy Welker, Jeff Duncan and Tom Ware…
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
The Cherokee County Commission will vote on a request to rezone property on Cumming Highway from residential to commercial, which has been recommended for denial by the planning commission.
A request to rezone property for commercial uses in a primarily residential corridor will be considered by the Cherokee County Commission during its meeting today. The meeting will start at 6 p.m., but will be preceded by a 3 p.m. work session. Both meetings will be held at the county administration building in Canton. Stonetrust Investors, Inc. is asking the county to rezone 4 acres at 3171 Cumming Highway just east of Canton from R-80 residential to general commercial. The applicant would like to utilize the property for office/service uses. The Cherokee County Planning Commission has recommended denial of the request. The commission and the Resource Recovery Development Authority will hold a called meeting at 4 p.m. to hear the latest …
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Another Cherokee County grand jury has voted to investigate the Ball Ground Recycling deal and the Cherokee Office of Economic Development's purchase of 53 acres owned by BGR's manager Jimmy Bobo.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Another Cherokee County grand jury has voted to investigate the Ball Ground Recycling deal and the Cherokee Office of Economic Development's purchase of 53 acres owned by BGR's manager Jimmy Bobo.
Another grand jury has chosen to continue investigating a failed recycling facility deal that has the county taxpayers on the hook for millions of dollars. A Cherokee County grand jury earlier this week in its January 2013 presentments voted to continue investigating the Cherokee County Resource Recovery Development Authority's decision to back up to $18 million in bonds in relation to the Ball Ground Recycling project. It also voted to investigate the Cherokee Office of Economic Development's purchase of 53 acres off Highway 92 at James Dupree Road. The land is the future home of the CoED's Cherokee 75 Business Park, which is under construction. County Commission Chair Buzz Ahrens noted "this was totally expected." "The newly seated …
Friday, January 11, 2013
The dismissal now allows Cherokee County to add the failed company to the list of defenders its suing in Cherokee County Superior Court. However, the company allegedly has no assets.
A United States bankruptcy court has dismissed the bankruptcy protection of a failed recycling venture Cherokee County is picking up the tab for. Judge Margaret Murphy, of the United States Bankruptcy Court Northern District of Georgia Atlanta Division, signed the order dismissing Ball Ground Recycling from Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Jan. 3. Cherokee County Attorney Angela Davis said dismissal was brought forth since the company allegedly has no assets and "therefore there was not an ability to develop a payment plan for the benefit of creditors." Davis said the bankruptcy dismissal now allows the county to add the company to its civil suit as a defendant. District 1 Commissioner Harry Johnston also noted this dismissal now means the …
Thursday, January 10, 2013
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners responded to a Cherokee County grand jury's recommendations and findings on the failed Ball Ground Recycling business.
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners struck back at recommendations and findings issued last month by a Cherokee County grand jury that had harsh words for how the county handled the Ball Ground Recycling deal. The board on Tuesday approved a resolution in response to the grand jury's findings which were issued in December. The grand jury in its presentments and findings for the September 2012 term recommended several actions for the commissioners to take, including disciplining all county employees responsible for the collapse. The findings also state the grand jury found no similar entity undertaken by a development authority; the county did not use a free resource offered by the Association County Commissioners of Georgia; and …
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners will review and draft a reply to a Cherokee County grand jury's latest findings on the failed Ball Ground Recycling venture.
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners will review a draft letter in response to the latest findings by a Cherokee County grand jury on how the county is handling the Ball Ground Recycling failure during its meeting later today. Commissioners will meet at 3 p.m. for its work session and will hold its regular meeting at 6 p.m. The meetings will take place at the county administrative building in Canton. The grand jury in its presentments and findings for the September 2012 term recommended several actions for the commissioners to take, including disciplining all county employees responsible for the collapse. The county commission in 2006 created the Resource Recovery Development Authority and backed bonds up to $18 million to relocate…
Monday, December 24, 2012
Cherokee County's District 2 Commissioner Jim Hubbard provided Patch with some insight into his eight-year career in the public eye.
Cherokee County District 2 Commissioner Jim Hubbard, 67, will retire from eight years serving southeastern Cherokee County on Dec. 31. Hubbard grew up in Decatur and moved to Hickory Flat in 1963 where he still lives with wife Peggy. Hubbard is an Eagle Scout and served in Vietnam between 1966 and 1968 while in the United States Army. He is the founding member of the Hickory Flat Volunteer Fire Department and has been a member of Hickory Flat United Methodist Church since 1963. He's also the treasurer of the Cherokee SALT/TRIAD, which he's also the founding member, and is the founding member of the Hickory Flat Township Committee. Other organizations Hubbard has been involved in are Cherokee Outdoor YMCA, Bethesda Community Clinic, Anna …
