Canton Notes

Here are a couple of updates regarding Holly Springs' most exciting projects.Town CenterAs scheduled, work continues at Holly Springs Town Center. While you can't see vertical construction yet, the project team has been hard at work completing site work and underlying infrastructure. Dirt is moving, retaining walls are going in, pipe crews are comi...

 "You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout; I'm telling you why"— Santa Claus is coming to Ball Ground! Though still a few weeks away, the City of Ball Ground is getting ready for the 8th Annual March of the Toys Parade for Toys for Tots to be held at 7:00pm on December 2, in downtown Ball Ground. This parade is one of the...

 My tenure as a public servant officially began more than eight years ago when I was elected to serve as city councilman for Ward 2. Much has changed during that time, and like the rest of Cherokee County and the region, Canton has seen a lot of growth. In fact, Georgia's population increased almost 11% over the past decade — it's the 12th fas...

 At its annual conference in August, the Georgia Downtown Association recognized City of Canton with an Award of Excellence in the category of Best Adaptive Reuse for The Mill on Etowah. This stunning adaptive reuse development, which once housed a 120-year-old cotton mill, is nestled on 35 acres along the banks of Canton's Etowah River. The M...

 Every community is unique and has a story to tell. Having a brand that accurately represents its competitive strengths is just what Holly Springs needs right now. The City of Holly Springs is excited to announce that it will be partnering with the Carl Vinson Institute of Government (CVIOG) at the University of Georgia to undergo a community ...

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Ball Ground Historical Society. The past 10 years have been filled with many lifelong residents of Ball Ground and Cherokee County recounting memories of the area. Though some members have since passed away, the stories they shared will live on. The Ball Ground Historical Society is the brainchi...

Canton is past the midway point for completing the Water Pollution Control Plant at Boling Park, which will increase daily sewage treatment capacity by 3 million gallons, allowing for further development and better sustainability practices. The Old Ball Ground Sewer Line Expansion Phase 2 and Westward Etowah River Trail Connection Project are expec...

 Canton's city manager, city clerk, city council members, and I recently attended the Georgia Municipal annual conference in Savannah. It was my eighth time going to this gathering, which is attended by elected officials and staff members from all of Georgia's 537 cities. The conference provides several days of accredited training on a variety...

Although sometimes tough to see when driving by, the Town Center Project construction team has been hard at work this summer, prepping underlying infrastructure that is critical to support vertical construction. This initial phase of the project encompasses clearing, grading, excavation, earthwork, building retaining walls, and installing various u...

Completed earlier this spring by professional artist Madison Beaulieu, the blossoms on the new wildflower mural at North and Lee Streets in downtown Canton instantly became a free gathering spot of connectivity and accessibility to art for everyone – outside the walls of a museum or gallery. Providing opportunities to encounter art and to engage wi...

What do you know about the place where you live? Do you know how or when it came into existence? The older people get, the more they seem to appreciate history, especially the history of the city they call home. This month, I celebrate my 37th anniversary serving as Ball Ground's city clerk. In those 37 years, I have learned a lot about this great ...

American sportscaster and writer Al Bernstein said, "Spring being a hard act to follow, God created June." This month follows the spring storms as the gateway to summer, and June also heralds another great season of community events and exciting developments in the "Coolest Small Town in America." To be honest, it is difficult to know where to star...

The construction of the Holly Springs Town Center is the culmination of years of work and thoughtful planning. One of the most critical elements of that process was the project's design. The City had a strong vision for a Town Center that would not only become an exciting new destination for residents and visitors, but would also remain true to the...

Last month's "Canton Notes" column covered three myths about school zone cameras. To continue to confront misinformation about these traffic-control devices, here are three more myths circulating about the school zone speed cameras.Myth No. 1: The police are not involved.The statute requires a police officer to review each citation to ensure that i...

Springtime is an especially happy time for those who love to play in the dirt, and if there is anyone who loves to play in the dirt, it's the members of the Ball Ground Garden Club (Anetsa-Ga-Da). Members have been busy getting ready for the 6th Annual Plant Sale and Festival on May 21, which will be held at the Ball Ground Botanical Garden, 215 Va...

 Given the misinformation being spread about these cameras and the legal process tied to them, it is a good time to review what the law is — and what it is not. Myth No. 1: You can only get a ticket if the lights are flashing.Not in the City of Canton. The area designated as a school zone is a school zone for the entire school day. The flashin...

Commemorating and studying the often overlooked role of women in American history first began as a week of national celebration in 1982. Since 1987, March has been designated Women's History Month, which is a time to honor and acknowledge the historic, societal, and cultural contributions of women in the U.S. The 2022 Women's History Month theme "P...

 Ball Ground is off to a great start this year. In January, we welcomed two new council members, Dennis Nelson and Kristine Rogers, and Mayor A. R. (Rick) Roberts, III, is back for another term. Vicki Benefield was sworn in as council member last November to fill the unexpired term of Frank Homiller. Even though Benefield, Rogers, and Nelson h...

Another new year is well underway in the Coolest Small Town in America, and it's off to a great start. I am honored and excited to announce the City of Canton has received the 2022 Visionary City Award from the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) and Georgia Trend magazine. The award recognizes cities that have exhibited success in planning and for...

The team at the City of Canton has all eyes on projects that benefit the community in 2022. As we welcome the new year, here are some of the things we're most excited about.Sandy McGrew, Ward 1"In 2021, City Council formed an Environmental & Sustainability Board. I'm eager to help build the purpose and process of this board and its goals. I hop...