Cherokee County Board of Commissioners Chair L.B. “Buzz” Ahrens said the county is poised to move ahead in several key areas during his recent State of the County address.

Ahrens said officials will work to strengthen the county’s economic base and provide more employment opportunities in 2016, while continuing to beef up government financial reserves. He also said the county will work to foster the creation of lifelong communities.

Additionally, Ahrens touted such economic and government move-aheads as the Northside Hospital-Cherokee replacement campus set to open in Canton in 2017 and the debut of the Sheriff Roger Garrison Law Enforcement and Cherokee County Fire and EMS training centers.