The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at Canton City Hall.
The city council will consider approving an ordinance to create the separate fire district within the city boundaries.
The district would provide the funds necessary for the city to shore up its fire protection and services for residents.
The proposal would include the city reducing its 6.88 millage rate by 2.88 mills and then implement a citywide fire district tax of 3.129 mills, the same rate the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners sets for its unincorporated residents as well as residents in Ball Ground, Holly Springs, Waleska and Nelson citizens who reside in Cherokee.
During its previous meeting, the council asked City Manager Scott Wood to work with Council members John Beresford and Jack Goodwin to come up with a five-year plan outlining the city’s fire services need, which would be considered at a future meeting.
Beresford said Wednesday preliminary plans include building a new fire station in 2013 on land the city already owns in the Laurel Canyon neighborhood and building another fire station along Commerce Boulevard in 2014.
The councilman said the stations are expected to cost around $800,000, and the council could discuss funding options tonight.
Beresford said the city fire district tax would be applicable to all residents, including citizens age 62 and older who currently benefit from the city’s senior homestead exemption.
“Seniors are going to have to take some of the taxes for this district one way or another,” he said.
The proposed citywide fire tax is an alternative to the city consolidating its fire department with the Cherokee County government.
Beresford said that while the tax is not good news for seniors, “we feel (the fire department) will be better controlled by the citizens of Canton versus the county.”
Mayor Gene Hobgood, who has pushed for the city to consider consolidation, said the council most likely will hear from many residents who oppose the creation of the district.
The council will also consider amending its ordinance to allow restaurant establishments to change its food-to-alcohol ratio from 60-40 to 50-50.
The change would allow for the city’s central business district to have a ration of 40-60.
The council will also:
* Consider approval of an ordinance to delete prohibition of knives in city parks;
* Consider a lease agreement for the Hickory Log Creek Reservoir launch site;
* Consider approval to lease the vacant lot at the corner of East Main and Church streets;
* Discuss and consider approval of a contract for water and waste water operations;
* Consider approval to seek design services for creating a master plan at Heritage Park;
* Discuss a possible resolution on the upcoming transportation sales tax referendum; and
* Hear an update on the proposed Etowah River Park and the city’s defined benefits plan.
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