Roadmap for Success

Transportation Master Plan

A major initiative of the city this year is the Transportation Master Plan. Using community input, this plan will assist in forming decisions for upcoming transportation projects including roadway design and expansion, pedestrian enhancements and other mobile opportunities. A final presentation of the plan will be provided during a January City Council meeting.

State Route 140 Improvements

The city is working with engineering consultants on improvement plans from state Route 140 at the intersection of Marietta Highway and Riverstone Parkway up to Mary Lane and, additionally, at the intersection of state Route 140 and Reinhardt College Parkway. These projects are funded through a partnership between the city of Canton and Georgia Department of Transportation.

Water Pollution Control Plant

In January 2021, Canton successfully secured $65 million in financing for the expansion of its Water Pollution Control Plant, which will allow for a complete upgrade of the existing systems and structures as well as an expansion of treatment limits from 4 million to 7 million gallons daily. To date, the expansion of the city’s sewer plant continues to be on time and on budget. Canton expects to provide biological treatment processes to expand capacity by summer 2023, with the final project completion in late 2024.

Canton Police Records Management System

Residents, businesses and visitors need access to the Canton infrastructural network to succeed in their goals. Transportation, power supply, gas availability, water and sewer, and digital connectivity are part of building a great network for success.

Canton Police Department has a new software system through Central Square that will provide more efficiencies in police operations. It will take a period of months to convert the data and roll out the operation, but thanks to the hard work of the police department research team, this system will be in place very soon. Additionally, new Panasonic Tough Books were purchased for the department. The funding for the software was from Police Impact Fees charged on new developments in the city, and the new laptops were funded through the special-purpose local-option sales tax.

The expansion of the Water Pollution Control Plant is underway, with completion set for late 2024.

City-County Collaborative Efforts

A city-county project aimed at providing better road connectivity cleared several hurdles recently. The Technology Ridge Parkway project will realign the Heard Road and Fate Conn intersection in north Canton. Phase I recently was approved by the state, and the county started construction. In this phase, a new roadway will be built between Bluffs Parkway and Fate Conn, just north of Park Village. The final project will include road improvements to the Cherokee County Airport.

Teasley Middle School Intersection

The construction of new turn lanes and a traffic signal at Hickory Log Creek Drive and Reservoir Drive near Teasley Middle School is almost complete. A delay in the scheduling of concrete pushed the curbing portion of the project beyond the start of school. The turn lanes have been installed and utilities have been relocated. The mast arms and signal equipment are the remaining portion of the project to be completed.

Pedestrian Bridge Grant

The city’s grant application, seeking more than $600,000 in matching funds from the Appalachian Regional Commission for a potential pedestrian bridge on the Etowah River, recently was approved. Canton’s Economic Development and Tourism Manager Angie Busby worked tirelessly to submit all the documents and credentials for the project. Once constructed, the bridge will connect the trail segment, currently under construction, between Heritage and Boling Parks with The Mill on Etowah. As a second phase to the project, the city would provide for the creation of river access for canoes, kayaks and tubes at The Mill side of the bridge.

Serving Ethically, Responsibly and Efficiently

BY LAUREN JOHNSON

When the city of Canton created its Roadmap for Success and adopted it in 2021, it was a plan to guide the city for the next 10 years of work. Now, at a little more than two years in, the city has accomplished more than 70% of the goals and projects the Roadmap set forth. This was possible because of the excellence in leadership from the mayor, council, city staff, boards and commissions.

Celebrating City Services

“Municipal government is the level of government closest to the people,” City Manager Billy Peppers said. “Our city government is nonpartisan, so it is built on people with ideas, and not party platforms. The services of your city government impact your daily life: police, fire, water, sewer, parks, streets, development, code compliance, recreation, sanitation and community events.”

Canton will celebrate Georgia Cities Week, sponsored by the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA), April 23-29, with a variety of events to recognize the leadership and services the city provides to the community.

“The city of Canton works diligently to maintain the highest possible quality of services to our citizens,” Mayor Bill Grant said. “In celebration of Georgia Cities Week, we will share the ways we continue to move Canton forward.”

City Council, staff and citizen boards will foster civic participation and serve ethically, transparently, responsibly and efficiently.