Milton City Council Builds Bridges with Cherokee Commission

By Doug Nurse Tuesday, February 20, 2007, 04:42 PM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Milton City Council is traipsing up to Canton today to call on the Cherokee County Commission at its regular meeting ideally to build bridges for future discussions.

“It’s just a friendly introduction,” said Council member Julie Zahner Bailey. “We’re interested in developing a positive, collaborative relationship.”

Some council members are concerned about possible spillover effect of projects in Cherokee County into the city of Milton, such as Ruby Forest, a large multi-use development in Cherokee County that could end up sending hundreds of vehicles into Milton each day.

The need for cross-border comraderie was made plain in November when Zahner Bailey approached the Forsyth County Commission about postponing a decision on a Development of Regional Impact on the border with Milton. The commissioners said they were sympathetic to the city’s concerns, but approved the project anyway.

There isn’t any particular agenda for today’s meeting between the two governing bodies, Bailey said. City leaders met with Fulton County Board of Education officials last week, and city staff is working on setting up meetings with elected officials with Forsyth County and Johns Creek.
“We’re all in this together,” said Council member Tina D’Aversa Williams. “We should all try to listen to each othter. We can learn a lot.”