During its work session Tuesday, the Forsyth County commission gave final approval to an agreement with the city of Cumming exchanging $5.3 million of its 1-cent sales tax revenue for parking deck construction. In return, $4 million of county funds will go toward municipal park improvements. The governments will also exchange each dollar of sales tax revenue equally through the end of the collection program June 30. The county likely will pay the $4 million from its general fund, which could possibly be reimbursed later through park bond funding.Also during its work session, the commission:• Approved using an extra $76,000 from the information systems and technology department budget to expand and upgrade the data storage system. The department originally budgeted $100,000, but rapidly growing electronic storage in the county necessitated more funding for the purchase.• Awarded engineering services for Brookwood and Caney road sidewalks to Wolverton & Associates for nearly $50,000. The total project cost is estimated at $419,000, funded through 1-cent sales tax revenue.• Initiated the process to change the alcohol code to allow microbreweries to obtain licenses. The unified development code states such businesses can only be located in heavy industrial zoning districts with a conditional use permit. The alcohol code change will require two public hearings before the board can vote on adoption.• Directed staff to begin a county-initiated side yard variance for a Res-4 development by Sharp Residential. The variance would allow for larger homes on the 38-acre site on Gilbert Road, according to the original rezoning in 2006.• Updated the county’s list of recognized alcohol license compliance training providers to include Cumming-based Operation 21, owned by Brian DeBlois, who formerly worked for the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. The list of vendors is recommended to those who obtain alcohol licenses in the county or those who receive penalties for violations of the code.Note: All votes were 4-0, with Commissioner Todd Levent absent, unless otherwise noted.
During its work session Tuesday, the Forsyth County commission gave final approval to an agreement with the city of Cumming exchanging $5.3 million of its 1-cent sales tax revenue for parking deck construction. In return, $4 million of county funds will go toward municipal park improvements. The governments will also exchange each dollar of sales tax revenue equally through the end of the collection program June 30. The county likely will pay the $4 million from its general fund, which could possibly be reimbursed later through park bond funding.Also during its work session, the commission:• Approved using an extra $76,000 from the information systems and technology department budget to expand and upgrade the data storage system. The department originally budgeted $100,000, but rapidly growing electronic storage in the county necessitated more funding for the purchase.• Awarded engineering services for Brookwood and Caney road sidewalks to Wolverton & Associates for nearly $50,000. The total project cost is estimated at $419,000, funded through 1-cent sales tax revenue.• Initiated the process to change the alcohol code to allow microbreweries to obtain licenses. The unified development code states such businesses can only be located in heavy industrial zoning districts with a conditional use permit. The alcohol code change will require two public hearings before the board can vote on adoption.• Directed staff to begin a county-initiated side yard variance for a Res-4 development by Sharp Residential. The variance would allow for larger homes on the 38-acre site on Gilbert Road, according to the original rezoning in 2006.• Updated the county’s list of recognized alcohol license compliance training providers to include Cumming-based Operation 21, owned by Brian DeBlois, who formerly worked for the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. The list of vendors is recommended to those who obtain alcohol licenses in the county or those who receive penalties for violations of the code.Note: All votes were 4-0, with Commissioner Todd Levent absent, unless otherwise noted.