County Commission Releases $414,000 in ARPA Funds

The Cherokee County Commission approved $404,000 of American Rescue Plan money to the Cherokee Communications District for equipment upgrades for the E-9-1-1 Center. Shawn Rogers, EMA Director, told the Commission Monday the Radio part of the communications was past end of life and there was no support. The phone part of the system was past end of life for it since 2019. He said only one other computer for backup was available to use in the event of a major problem at the center. He said he had already pulled equipment from the backup site.

The Commission approved $10,000 for the County Forestry Department for a metal building to do maintenance on their equipment. Now they have to perform maintenance on the equipment in the open but when it is raining that is difficult.

New County Positions were approved by the Commission for the Revenue Commissioner’s Office. The new positions are Depuity Revenue Commissioner, Revenue Commission Clerk I and Revenue Commission Clerk II. Also approved were Chief Mapper, Chief Appraiser, Chief of Collections, and Chief of Motor Vehicles. These positions will have to be approved by the Legislature with a Local Bill. It is expected to be approved during the current Legislative Session. Commission Chairman Burgess said it is expected this should be in effect by June 1.

A job for housekeeping was posted for the Administration Building at a Pay Grade 2 step 1.  Beverly Daniel and John Roberts were reappointed the Cherokee County Commission Communications District.

The Commission set the mileage rate reimbursement for employees using their vehicles for county business to 65.5 cents per mile to mirror the State reimbursement rate.  Tammy Jones and Bill Warren reappointed to the Cherokee County Industrial Board for 6 year terms.

The next meeting of the Cherokee County Commission will be February 27th at 5PM in the Commission Chambers of the Admin Building.