The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners unanimously appointed Geoff Morton as the next Cherokee County manager. Geoff has served the county in various roles from engineering to community development since 2001. The Council for Quality Growth applauds Geoff’s new appointment and looks forward to continuing to work with him and Cherokee County.
County Manager Jerry Cooper retired on May 31, 2021 and Morton began his tenure on June 1, 2021. The county manager serves as a key advisor to the Board of Commissioners and manages at the corporate level in the execution of the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners’ strategic plan. Additionally, the county manager provides guidance and assistance to the senior leadership team in the execution of department and division business plans and programs.
Biography
Geoffrey Morton began his career with Cherokee County in December 2001 as Capital Projects/Roadway SPLOST Manager. Geoff was promoted to County Engineer in 2003 and oversaw the operations of the Cherokee County Engineering Department as well as the Roadway SPLOST Program. During a 2011 County staff reorganization, Geoff assumed the title of Public Works Agency Director/County Engineer and managed operations of the County’s Engineering Department, Stormwater Department, Roadway SPLOST Program, CATS Transportation Program, Roads & Bridges Department, Fleet Services Division, Property Maintenance Division and Recycling Program.
In 2018 Geoff’s title changed to Community Development Agency Director where he manages the operations of the Engineering Department, Stormwater Department, Roadway SPLOST Program, Public Works Department (formerly Roads & Bridges), Planning & Zoning Department, Building & Development Services Department and the Development Services Center.
Projects delivered during Geoff’s tenure as Roadway SPLOST Program management include:
- Eagle Drive widening
- Sixes Road widening
- Northside Cherokee Boulevard extension
- East Cherokee Drive at Holly Springs Parkway Intersection improvement
- East Cherokee Drive at Gaddis Road Roundabout project
- East Cherokee Drive at Union Hill Road Intersection improvement
- Arnold Mill Road at Mill Creek Drive Intersection improvement
- Howell Bridge Road over Sharp Mountain Creek Bridge replacement
Prior to coming to Cherokee County Geoff served as City Engineer and Public Works Director for the City of Woodstock from 1996 through 2001. In that capacity he managed the Engineering Department, Planning Department, GIS Department, Building Department, Parks & Recreation Department, Street Department, Water Department and Wastewater Treatment Plant operations for the City.
Geoff graduated from Lafayette College in Easton, PA in 1986. After college he worked in the private sector as a consulting engineer in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Georgia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Geoff has been a resident of Cherokee County since 1996. He currently resides in downtown Woodstock with his wife of 30 years – Lisa Morton. Geoff has two grown daughters; Jessica (Smith) and Hayley. He is an active member of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Woodstock and president of his neighborhood homeowners association.