2025 Cherokee County Annual Report

CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME

Cherokee County is the most desirable place to live in our great state . Our geography and climate are gorgeous . Our location is perfect, close but not too close to Atlanta . Our schools are excellent and our public safety services are world-class Yet the overall tax rates controlled by the Board of Commissioners are among the state’s lowest .

Notable achievements in 2025 include completion of the 25-year transformation of our fire service from mostly volunteer to one of the nation’s finest fully professional departments Our ambulance service is perennially rated best in our region

The accreditation held by the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office places it in the top one-tenth of one percent in the nation . Our E 9-1-1 team has been named Georgia’s Call Center of the Year and is poised to be the first in Georgia to implement Next Generation 9-1-1

Our Parks and Recreation program was again named best among large counties in Georgia .

The new T-SPLOST approved by our voters will usher in a dramatic new era of road improvements . And we’ve held an initial meeting of a new “County Council” to improve county-wide growth management and overall city-county cooperation .

Most of all, we have great people living here, people who understand that we are better together!

Atlanta Regional Commission, 2025 est Growth from 2024–2025

Cherokee Tax Assessor’s Office, 2025

299,460 $105,400 2.4% $525,000

U . S . Census Bureau, 2023

All data presented in this document reflects the 2025 fiscal year— October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025 .

94 North Street, Canton

The renovation and addition of 94 North Street, a noteworthy former church building, and more recently home to the Cherokee Arts Center, will support the current and future needs of three departments: Indigent Defense, Accountability Courts and Drug Testing—all important components of the judicial system that serve Cherokee County With a construction budget of $6 6 million and a total project budget of approximately $7. 2 million, re-tasking the former church building for courts use versus providing the same space in the proposed Justice Center Building Addition/Renovation is saving the County almost $1 million, while restoring an important building . The project is SPLOST funded; however, the SPLOST funds were supplemented by a little over $3 million of ARPA funds, further reducing the cost to county taxpayers . The project was substantially complete in December (2025) with occupancy anticipated in the first quarter of 2026 .

CHEROKEE COUNTY

CAPITAL

Led by General Services Agency Director K. Scott Gordon,

Justice Center Expansion

At the start of fiscal year 2025, the General Services Agency completed the planning and conceptual design phase for the next phase of growth at the Frank C Mills Justice Center (circa 1994) located at 90 North Street, Canton . This work addresses the need for improvements, including selected interior renovations, building system replacements, and a new, multistory addition These improvements were identified in a recent Justice Center Space Needs Assessment update, which reflects one-on-one interviews with courthouse stakeholders and incorporates local and national data provided by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) .

The Justice Center expansion is a key component of the broader North Street Gateway Development, a significant mixed-use project led by the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) of Canton

The approximately 6-acre project site is bounded by Brown Street, North Street, and the east facades of the existing courthouse and its parking deck . Current structures within the project area include the Cherokee North Apartment complex, the law office of Bray and Johnson, and the land between them, along with existing courthouse components like the east entry drive, sally port, utility entrances, and generator

The DDA’s scope for the North Street Gateway Development is comprehensive It includes mixed-use buildings (retail, office, and residential), full streetscape

enhancements, a new roundabout at the intersection of East Main, Brown, and North Streets, and essential utility and infrastructure upgrades . Critically, the DDA will construct an 800+ space multilevel parking deck, which will provide the estimated 600 spaces required to support the Justice Center expansion .

Working with an architect and a construction manager at risk, construction for both the Justice Center Expansion and the North Street Gateway parking deck could commence as early as spring/ summer 2026 This timeline is subsequent to the completion of the schematic design and cost models . These models are necessary to determine how much of the full program can be delivered initially using available Tier I SPLOST funds and what will be addressed in future phases

Station 16

In late 2025, Cherokee County, in partnership with the City of Canton, ratified an intergovernmental agreement to collaboratively renovate the former U S Post Office Building, constructed in the 1920s . In the 1970s, this building was repurposed as Canton City Hall and will now be transformed into a two-bay, two-story fire station (No . 16) to serve downtown Canton and the surrounding community

Given the building’s historic significance and prime location in downtown Canton, the project scope includes substantial restoration efforts . Facade and roof

PROJECTS

AIA, NCARB, LEEDap and Capital Projects Manager Kirk T. Edwards, AIA

additions made over the years will be removed to restore the building’s exterior to its original 1920s design Interior elements such as windows, door frames, and light and plumbing fixtures will be reused, while the former post office lobby will be revamped as the fire station’s public lobby, reflecting the 1920s interior aesthetic Construction for the renovation is scheduled to commence in early 2026, with a completion target of early 2027

The estimated construction budget for the renovation is $5 9 million funded through City of Canton Fire Impact Fees . The project does not use property taxes from either entity

Stations 5 and 29 Design Build

In late 2025, the General Services Agency in partnership with Fire & Emergency Services obtained Board approval to commission a

design-build team to provide design and construction services for a 2-story, 3-bay fire station prototype . This prototype will serve as the foundation for two replacement fire stations: Station 5 located at 10378 E Cherokee Drive and Station 29 at 3451 Cumming Highway . The scope of work also encompasses the redesign and repurposing of the former Buffington Elementary School’s main building for use by CCFES Fire and Life Safety Education, which is situated at the Station 29 site . Additionally, plans for a future fire safety education village are in development for this location .

The two-story fire station design represents a significant innovation for CCFES, as the department has historically utilized one-story designs . However, due to rising property costs and constraints at many proposed replacement sites, a two-story design is now essential This

The historic Canton Post Office facility (pictured above) aims to preserve its historical elements as it is transformed into Station 16 .

smaller footprint will not only yield overall construction cost savings in project components such as site development but will also offer relief from the significantly higher post-pandemic construction costs Site construction is scheduled to begin in early 2026, with a targeted completion date for both replacement stations and the renovation of the former elementary school by late 2027 The total project budget for all three initiatives is $20 million, which includes a county-controlled contingency and will be funded through SPLOST 2024

Conceptual Rendering of Station 29

COMMISSION DISTRICT 1

T-SPLOST

Key County Projects

Thank you, Cherokee County voters, for approving the 1% T-SPLOST on the Nov 4, 2025 ballot with a 60% passage rate . Cherokee County’s sales tax rate will change from 6% to 7% on April 1, 2026 The Georgia Department of Revenue will issue the first T-SPLOST check to Cherokee County in mid-May 2026 . Over the six-year T-SPLOST collection period, Cherokee County transportation will be infused with an estimated $275 million with cities sharing an estimated $169 million The breakdown of city funding was determined by population and was agreed upon by county and city leadership .

Key county projects for T-SPLOST include, but are not limited to, the overview shown in this document

• Ball Ground Bypass

• Old Highway 5 at East Cherokee Drive (northern intersection)

• SR 140 at Darby Road/Land Road

• Old Highway 5 at Fate Conn Road

COMMISSION DISTRICT 2

• SR 140 from East Cherokee Drive to Charles Cox Road

• Arnold Mill Road at Mountain Road

• Sugar Pike Road at Lower Birmingham Road

• Arnold Mill Road at Barnes Road/North Arnold Mill Road

COMMISSION DISTRICT 3

• Holly Springs Parkway/Old Highway 5 Phase I from Sixes Road to East Cherokee Drive

• Butterworth Road Phase I (from SR 20 to Bells Ferry Road)

• Butterworth Road Phase II (from Old Highway 5 to Bells Ferry Road)

• Bells Ferry Road at Gold Mill Ridge

COMMISSION DISTRICT 4

• Holly Springs Parkway/Old Highway 5 Phase II from East Cherokee Drive to Ridgewalk Parkway (partially in District 3)

• I-575 Interchange at Towne Lake Parkway

• Towne Lake Multi-Use Path (in phases) from Towne Lake Hills West to Bells Ferry Road

• Bascomb Carmel Road at Dupree Road and Lovejoy Lane

Construction/Completed Projects

Bells Ferry Road Widening

Bells Ferry Road north of Commerce Drive to North Victoria Road is a heavily congested, two-lane facility with substandard horizontal and vertical geometry issues . Cherokee County has partnered with GDOT to make substantial improvements to the corridor, including installing 4, 12-foot travel lanes, raised medians, sidepaths and intersection operational improvements .

State Funded Construction Cost: $36 .5 million

County Funded ROW Cost: $18 . 3 million

Status: Under construction . Completion is expected in 2028 .

Bells Ferry Road Bridge Replacement

CHEROKEE COUNTY

SPLOST

Ball Ground Highway at Howell Bridge Road Roundabout

The intersection of Ball Ground Highway and Howell Bridge is currently controlled by a 4-way stop and is experiencing both safety and congestion issues . This roundabout project will help to address both problems at this intersection as well as serve as the first phase of the overall Ball Ground Bypass project Partially funded by a $500,000 GDOT LMIG grant .

Construction Cost: $3 . 2 million

Status: Under construction

Batesville Road at Sugar Pike Road Roundabout

This project replaces a substandard, narrow bridge over Little River/ Lake Allatoona The bridge construction will occur to the west of the existing bridge, providing a wider, two-lane bridge at a higher elevation The existing bridge will remain until the new bridge is completed

State Funded Construction Cost: $24 4 million

County Funded ROW Cost: $2 2 million

Status: Under construction . Completion is expected in 2027.

Sugar Pike Road and Batesville Road are rural, local roadways located in the eastern portion of Cherokee County, near the Fulton County line The current intersection is controlled by a 4-way stop and lacks capacity, as well as adequate sightdistance on several approaches The proposed roundabout project will help to address both issues at this intersection .

Construction Cost: $1 .03 million

Status: Under construction

SR 140 at Stringer Road Traffic Signal

Cherokee County is signalizing the intersection of SR 140 and Stringer Road, which will address concerns with sight distance along SR 140 near this intersection The project will tie in to a nearby sidewalk project under construction on Stringer Road

Construction Cost: $247,000

Status: Construction agreement awarded on Oct 21 . Construction expected to be complete in early 2026 .

ROADWAY PROJECTS

Led by Director Patrick Bradshaw

Projects in Design or Right-of-Way Acquisition

I-575 at Towne Lake Parkway Interchange Upgrade

Improvements to the congested I-575 at Towne Lake Parkway interchange include increasing capacity at the I-575 southbound off ramp, eastbound left-turn lanes at the I-575 northbound ramp, as well as adding auxiliary lanes in both the east and west bound direction of Towne Lake Parkway west of I-575 The intersection at Woodstock Parkway and Towne Lake Parkway will also be improved

Construction Cost: $9 7 million (eligible for up to 80% federal funding)

Status: In design Right of way to begin in late FY 2026; project to be under construction in FY 2028 .

Airport Drive Relocation

(Technology Ridge Parkway Phases IV and V)

This project will realign Airport Road to the west on county-owned land Once completed, the nearby runway will be extended, which will support longer distance corporate flights from the Cherokee County Regional Airport and activate nearby sites for economic development This project is supported by a Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank construction loan

Construction Cost: $15 5 million

Status: Right-of-way acquisition is ongoing; project to be under construction in Q1/2026

SR 140 at Univeter Road Intersection Improvements

This project will install additional left turn lanes on SR 140 onto Univeter Road, along with widening SR 140 to accommodate two through lanes in both directions through the intersection This project was selected for funding by the Atlanta Regional Commission through a region-wide competitive project call

Construction Cost: $6 9 million (eligible for up to 80% federal funding)

Status: Right-of-way acquisition is ongoing; construction expected to begin in early FY 2027

Ball Ground Bypass

This project involves the construction of a two-lane roadway on a new location from the intersection of Canton Highway/Highway

5 at Howell Bridge Road to SR 372 (Ball Ground Road), near the intersection of Flatbottom Road, south of Ball Ground This project will connect traffic from SR 372 (Ball Ground Road) to I-575 at the Howell Bridge Road interchange .

ROW: $5 .07 million

Utilities: $2 .6 million

Construction: $34 4 million

Status: TBD

Photo Information 1. Ball Ground Highway at Howell Bridge Road Roundabout

Batesville Road at Sugar Pike Road Roundabout*

Bells Ferry Road Bridge Replacement*

I-575 at Towne Lake Parkway Interchange Upgrade

Credit: Steven Ruble

Community Development Agency

BUILDING INSPECTIONS & DEVELOPMENT SERVICE CENTER

Led by Director Brantley Day Paul Laney, Director (Building) and Shannon Griffith, Manager (DSC)

STORMWATER

Led by Ben Morgan, County Engineer

Led by Director Brett Buchanan

PLANNING & ZONING PUBLIC WORKS

Led

FLEET HIGHLIGHTS

All 10 technicians hold a minimum of two ASE

In total, the fleet department boasts 94 ASE certifications.

Of the 94 certifications, two have achieved the status of Master Technician.

All 10 technicians have a combined total of 500+ additional hours of training through the Ford STARS XP program.

Three technicians hold 22 Emergency Vehicle Technician certifications.

Led by Director Matt Williams

Assisted with planning and implementation of capital projects

2,388 Work Orders completed through the help desk

Security enhancements with access control and security camera installations

Fire Panel upgrades at multiple locations

Site improvements to improve ADA accessibility at multiple locations

Site lighting retrofits and upgrades

Bluffs meeting room enhancements, lobby improvements and break room renovations

Judges’ chambers renovations at the Justice Center

Law Library relocation to Historic Courthouse

Backflow protection replace/repair at multiple locations

New floor covering and painting at multiple locations

Building HVAC controls at Public Works

CMANS site improvements

Led by Chief Information Officer Michael Haines

Moved backups to the cloud to increase security and redundancy

Increased bandwidth at 20 locations for same or reduced costs

Migrated the county to a new Voice over Internet Protocol provider for added security

10,463,000

Malicious Emails Blocked

Information Technology maintains an aggressive update/patch/replace strategy with all hardware and software focusing on staying secure and keeping data out of hacker’s hands.

Led by Chuck Dinkins, CFO

Led by XXXXXXX

Jimmy Marquis served as the CFO throughout FY2025 and retired in November 2025 after 7 years of service to Cherokee County Chuck Dinkins joined Cherokee County in November 2025 as the new CFO

This is where Exciting Information will be Placed as a caption to the photo above. There may be more than one photo.

The Community Development Block Grant program has been a catalyst in adding a much needed canopy to the Cherokee County Senior Center (above), as well as structures for the Goshen Valley Hope House and Habitat for Humanity projects

MILLAGE RATE HISTORY

TAXES PER CAPITA

Fulton $760.83

Cherokee $776.54

Fayette $996.33

Douglas $1,104.43

Clayton $1,155.38

Forsyth $1,155.80

Cobb $1,159.80

Gwinnett $1,165.44

Henry $1,203.17

Rockdale $1,239.18

DEBT PER CAPITA

Douglas $12.52

Cherokee $118.69

Henry $139.00

Clayton $175.53

Fayette $551.37

Cobb $657.15

Gwinnett $798.05

Rockdale $1,025.00

Fulton $1,131.19

Forsyth $1,392.00

EXPENDITURES PER CAPITA

Cherokee $1,073.27

Fulton $1,113.55

Fayette $1,205.07

Douglas $1,279.29

Gwinnett $1,335.11

Henry $1,404.46

Cobb $1,414.15

Forsyth $1.451.34

Rockdale $1,516.94

Clayton $1,581.42

Cherokee Sheriff’s Office

Led by Sheriff Frank Reynolds

“Dedicated to serving with integrity, protecting with compassion, and preserving a safe and secure environment while keeping the trust and confidence of our community ”

— Mission of the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office

KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY DEPLOYMENT— DRONE DOCKING STATIONS

Installed the first of six drone docking stations at the Special Operations (Spec Ops) building. This marks a major step forward in leveraging drone technology for rapid response, surveillance, and tactical operations.

REAL TIME INTELLIGENCE CENTER (RTIC)— CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY

Broke ground on the Sheriff’s Office’s state-of-the-art Real Time Intelligence Center (RTIC). Once completed in the first quarter of 2026, the RTIC will significantly enhance crime prevention and response capabilities through real-time data integration and analytics.

EXPANSION OF MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE –SECOND CO-RESPONSE TEAM ADDED:

Launched a second Co-Response Team, reinforcing the Sheriff’s Office’s dedication to providing compassionate, community-based responses to mental health crises in partnership with behavioral health professionals.

Successfully received reaccreditation from the American Correctional Association (ACA), earning a perfect score during the audit— an outstanding recognition of continued commitment to excellence in corrections and facility operations.

The function of the Coroner’s Office is to determine cause, manner, and circumstance of death under the Georgia Death Investigation Act.

The Coroner is required to investigate when a person dies:

· as a result of violence

· by suicide or casualty

· suddenly, when in apparent good health

· when unattended by a physician

· in any suspicious or unusual manner, with particular attention to those persons 17 years of age and under

· after birth but before seven years of age, if the death is unexpected or unexplained

· as a result of an execution carried out pursuant to the death penalty

· when an inmate of a state hospital or a state, county, or city penal institution

· after having been admitted to a hospital in an unconscious state and without regaining consciousness within 24 hours of admission

Autopsies are not mandatory to determine the cause of death except in situations where death cannot be reasonably explained, or the death is a child under the age of seven.

The Coroner’s Office is part of the judicial system and has the power to issue subpoenas. The Coroner’s Office may conduct court in the form of an inquest to help determine the cause of death, and the outcome may be used for criminal procedures. The coroner is often called upon as a witness in criminal court.

County Coroner

Led by Coroner Sally Sims

These numbers are based on cases worked by the Coroner’s office. In Cherokee County not all deaths are investigated by the Coroner’s Office.

Sally Sims is the elected Coroner of Cherokee County, beginning her first term in 2021. She has more than 30 years of experience in nursing and is a Certified Medicolegal Death Investigator.

Fire & Emergency Services

Led by Fire Chief Eddie Robinson

Average Response Time 5:57

Sparky, part of the Safe Kids Cherokee County team, greets schoolchildren . 10:35

DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS

Response Time in the 90th Percentile (EMS)

Response Time in the 90th Percentile (Fire) 11:21

528 Full-Time Positions

490 Sworn Firefighters

202 Licensed Paramedics 205 Advanced EMTs 71 EMT—Intermediates

187,156

ISO Public Protection Classification Qualified Training Hours Recorded

25 Staffed Stations

3 Unstaffed Stations

Recruit class 2024-03 graduated in August 2025 . In FY25, 41 recruits graduated with Advanced EMT and Firefighter 2 certification .

1,706 False Alarms

7,917 Calls for Service

222 Structure Fires

35,699

TOTAL INCIDENT RESPONSES

438 Non-Dwelling Fires

692 Technical Rescue/ Haz-Mat Incidents

24,724 EMS Incidents

COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION

6,878 Total Inspections Conducted Total Plan Review Activities

255,120

3,112 People Reached with Outreach Campaigns

Public Services Agency

Led by Chief Marshal Dana Martin

ANIMAL SHELTER

Led by Director Renae Goggans

PROBATION SERVICES

Led by Director Emili Roman

1,571 New Active Probation Cases

67,772

Community Service Hours Completed by Probationers

57,541 Contacts on Probationer Cases

1,191.75 Staff Training Hours

1,232.55 Probation Hours

20 Staff Positions (Grew by 2 Positions)

Established partnership with the Department of Community Supervision, and two Probation Officers were accepted into the DCS POST Academy.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Led by Director Daniel Westbrook

This is where Exciting Information will be Placed as a caption to the photo above. There may be more than one photo.

In 2025, EMA Director Daniel Westbrook and Deputy Director Rebecah Logan achieved Professional Manager certification— the highest certification available to EMA professionals in Georgia .

Led by Director

63 Employees Actively Participating in Training Activities

234 Hours Average per Employee

91 Public Education Events with 11,573 citizen contacts

One of only 7 independent 9-1-1 centers in Georgia that has CALEA accreditation .

RADIO TECHNOLOGY

Led by Director Jason Jenkins Dispatch Consoles 21

Maintained 99.99% system uptime across all core infrastructure components

Completed a full audit of radio IDs and talkgroup assignments for improved system efficiency.

Implemented enhanced encryption and updated firmware on all mission-critical subscriber units .

Provided technical training and support to dispatch and field personnel .

Continued partnerships with regional agencies for interoperability planning and shared resource coordination .

Managed multiple public safety projects to include the E 9-1-1/ATT ESI Net emergency phone network project and CCFES Mach Alert fire station alerting project

CHEROKEE MARSHAL’S OFFICE

Received CALEA re-accreditation in FY2025

**This figure includes firmware updates, codeplug changes, feature enhancements, and new unit activations to maintain consistent system performance and interoperability.

SENIOR SERVICES

Led by Director Stacy Jones

Led by Director Bryan Reynolds

Long Swamp Creek Recreation Area opened May 2025

Awarded District 5 Agency of the Year by the Georgia Recreation and Park Association

Migrated to The Otto App, a new website and registration platform.

Awarded History

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Cherokee’s 2025 Historic Site Award for Long Swamp Creek Recreation Area

RECREATION & PARKS

Led by Director Jay Worley

18K

@PlayCherokee 21K

@CherokeeCounty AquaticCenter

39K Followers

2,784

@PlayCherokee 868

@CherokeeCounty AquaticCenter

3,652 Followers

Cherokee Youth Girls Flag Football program won a national award (NACPRO) and state award (GRPA) for outstanding program.

Community Services Agency

Mission:

Make Cherokee County a better place to live, work and play through high-quality parks and recreation programs, public transportation, recycling opportunities, senior services and other human services in partnership with our community

Vision:

We envision Cherokee County as metro Atlanta’s best place to live, work and play We will build a strong community through excellent services that will meet the needs of our people and our environment

RECYCLING SERVICES

Led by Manager Troy Brazie

THE NORTHSIDE CHEROKEE

CONFERENCE CENTER AT THE BLUFFS

Operated by EventMark LLC

CHEROKEE AREA TRANSIT SERVICE

Led by Director Greg Powell

Empower Riders

Senior Citizen Riders

Get the App!

Download in the App Store or Google Play Store.

Schedule trips

See where your bus is now

Economic Development

Led by President Heath Tippens

The Canton Corporate Park (above) is a 50-acre master-planned light industrial park targeting corporate headquarters and advanced manufacturers. The park boasts easy access to both I-575 and I-75.

A comprehensive Business Retention and Expansion Strategy to strengthen long-term economic growth has been finalized.

Initiated construction on 2 new development projects aimed at attracting high-growth industries

For more information, please visit: https://cherokeega .org/about

Supported 74 businesses through the Startup Cherokee Initiative, fostering local entrepreneurship.

$65M

Over $65 million in capital investment through business expansions has been secured.

Fresh Start Cherokee has been rebranded to Startup Cherokee, introducing cutting-edge tools and programming to empower small businesses

The COED websites have been redesigned to enhance visibility and engagement with internal stakeholders and external audiences .

533,285

Led by Director Erika Neldner

Love Where You Live flourished in FY2025 resulting in 12 residents featured . All residents were nominated by members of the community The first Community Giveback in November 2024 resulted in $1,467 donated each to Stand Up for Seniors and Never Alone Community Food Pantry. Learn more at lwyl.cherokeecountyga.gov

In October 2024, Director Erika Neldner (right) presented alongside Chatham County Communications Director Catherine Glasby (center) and Warner Robins City Administrator James Drinkard (left) at the ACCG GMA Annual Communicators Conference. The panel presented and discussed developing a communication plan for county and city government entities

Human Resources Department

Led by Director Kathy Lambert

SATISFACTION SURVEY RESULTS

Treated Courteously and Professionally

Service Provided in a Timely Manner

Questions Answered/ Problem Solved

Feel the HR Representative is Knowledgeable Excellent

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Benefits Enrollment

Assistance with Healthcare Claims

Retirement Transition with Pension Benefits and Medical Coverage

Employee Performance Appraisal Process

Personal Finance

Wellness Programs

DEPARTMENT

2 Team Members are PSCA

2 Team Members are GLGPA Certified Human Resources Managers

Director is Certified Local Government Manager — Carl Vinson Institute at UGA

VOTER EDUCATION PROGRAM TRAINING

Voter Education Program

• 10 Presentations (March to June)

• 6 Sessions with Tour of the Elections Office

• 4 Sessions Outside the Elections Office

• 225 People Participated

High School Voter Registration Drive

• 104 students became registered voters

Senior Centers and Assisted Living Communities

Engaged with the leadership of four centers/communities to provide resources for distribution to ensure proper voter registration and processing of absentee ballot applications.

Election Connection Newsletter

Two quarterly issues published

Representatives from twelve counties—Cobb, Forsyth, Gordon, Gwinnett, Habersham, Henry, Liberty, Lumpkin, Union, Walton, and White

State Election Board Member and Investigators

Secretary of State Staff Members

Sequoyah Regional Library System

Leadership Team

Poll Workers

Cherokee County Citizens

Cherokee County Elections Office

Led by Director Anne Dover

DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS

217,634

Registered Voters in Cherokee County

840

Poll Workers

Trained in Cherokee County

2025 ELECTION TURNOUT

Led by Denise Mastroserio, Tax Commissioner

3,971

$23.9 B Digest Total 40% Value

119,956 Assessment Notices Mailed

27,785 Site Visits

16,475 Active Personal Property Accounts

DEPARTMENTAL OPERATIONS

1,730 Board of Equalization Cases Heard

Tax Assessor

Led by Steve Swindell, Chief Appraiser

7,210 Exemptions Granted

114,820 Total Real Property Parcels

3,443 Appeals Processed

Clerk of Courts

Led by Clerk of Courts Patty Baker

Superior Court Cases

Magistrate Court Cases

Probate Court

Probate Court Judge Keith Wood

Juvenile Court

Chesley Cantrell serves as the Clerk of Juvenile Court

District Attorney

Led by Susan K. Treadaway, District Attorney

100%+

Closure Rate (Exceeds 100%)

Chief ADA Katie Gropper and DA

Susan K. Treadaway with GROC award.

• During its annual conference, the Georgia Retailers Organized Crime Alliance (GROC) recognized the DA’s Office for leadership in combating organized retail crime.

This is where Exciting Information will be Placed as a caption to the photo above. There may be more than one photo.

• ADA Rachel Murphy received the GROC Prosecutor of the Year award, and ADA David Bailey, ADA Megan Hertel and Sr. Inv. Dan Combs were honored with excellence awards from the Canton Optimist Club and Canton Moose Club.

PURSUING JUSTICE IN FELONY & JUVENILE CASES

Throughout the year, the District Attorney’s Office presented trials to the four Superior Court judges in the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit. By year’s end, the Circuit held 49 jury trials and 3 bench trials.

4,703 Victims Assisted 52 Superior Court Trials

Victim advocates in the District Attorney’s Office provide support and guidance to individuals victimized by crime. A team of 10 advocates assisted 4,703 crime victims, 9.5% of whom were children.

More than 52% of new cases originated with the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, followed by Woodstock Police (21%), Canton Police (13%), and Holly Springs Police (6%). The remaining cases were investigated by Ball Ground Police, school police, and other agencies.

1,467

626 Juvenile Court Cases

1,473 felony cases opened felony cases closed

The District Attorney’s Office closed more felony cases than were opened, including crimes involving persons, drugs, property, and other felonies. In addition, the office handled 626 cases in juvenile court, 857 probation revocations, and 84 non-felony matters.

FELONY & JUVENILE COURT CASES OPENED FOR PROSECUTION

DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS

The Victim-Witness Advocacy Division is comprised of four dedicated advocates who have professionally served 1,971 crime victims, providing a total of 19,167 distinct service contacts.

The Solicitor-General actively supports three accountability court programs: Judge Jordan’s DUI Court, Judge Morris’ Veterans Treatment Court, and Judge Wallace’s Treatment Accountability Court. These programs have proven successful in rehabilitating offenders and reducing recidivism rates.

AWARD-WINNING STAFF

Assistant Solicitor-General Marsha Terry

2024 Assistant Solicitor-General of the Year at the Canton Moose Lodge’s Emergency Services Banquet

Investigator Kaemmerle Zimmerman

2024 Investigator of the Year at the Canton Moose Lodge’s Emergency Services Banquet

Senior Victim/Witness Advocate Rebekah Allen Smith

2025 Prosecuting Attorney’s Council Victim Advocate of the Year

MISDEMEANOR CASES RECEIVED FOR PROSECUTION

Solicitor-General

Led by Todd Hayes, Solicitor-General

94%

Closure Rate

(4,328 Cases)

Deputy Chief Assistant SolicitorGeneral Kryss Roch received two awards of excellence in 2025.

• Georgia Association of Solicitors-General Assistant Solicitor-General of the Year

• Optimist Club Respect for Law Award recipient for consistent excellence across two decades of prosecution

Cherokee County Judges

SUPERIOR COURT

PROBATE COURT

JUVENILE COURT

Richard

Presiding Juvenile Court Judge

STATE COURT MAGISTRATE COURT

Judicial Highlights 2025 Fiscal Year

INTERPRETER SERVICES

Both the Cherokee County Superior Court and Juvenile Court received the Clearance Rate Excellence Award, recognizing courts that meet or exceed a 100% case clearance rate 2025 marks the third straight year that Juvenile Court has received this award .

1,741 Spanish Hours

MEDIATION

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program

Launched in April 2024, the ADR program is utilized by all courts and is self-funded through filing fees. Of the 2,065 cases referred to mediation, 1,913 were completed by the end of September, with 74% successfully settled.

Accountability Courts

Interpreter Services

The demand for interpreter services continues to rise. In FY25, interpreters were provided for 21 different languages and dialects, assisting in 1,910 hearings for a total of 2,006 interpretation hours, at a cost of $104,815.31.

In August, the courts opened a newly constructed courtroom dedicated to civil jury and non-jury cases, expanding capacity and improving access to justice. MEDIATION RESULTS

Both the DUI Court and the Veterans Court were designated as Model Courts—a distinction awarded to programs that exceed Georgia’s Accountability Court Standards through exceptional performance in certification and peer review processes. Only a select number of courts in the state hold this designation.

New Courtroom Opening