CANTON — The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved a request to rezone property during its meeting on Tuesday.

The commission approved a request from RaceTrac Petroleum, Inc., to rezone 7.33 acres along Cumming Highway just east of Old Doss Drive.

Portions of the property are zoned general commercial and the company is seeking to rezone 4.64 acres of the 7.33 now designated for residential to general commercial.

The company plans to build a convenience store along with gas sales at the location.

During its work session, the commission also discussed how it could educate the public on the upcoming Homestead Option Sales Tax referendum, or HOST.

The 1 percent sales tax would be used to increase the homestead exemptions to qualified properties both in unincorporated Cherokee County and in its cities, which reduces the amount of property taxes paid.

The HOST does not roll back property taxes for the fire district or school property taxes.

County leaders had said roughly $30 million in tax revenues should generate per year, which could be applied to approximately 49,000 residential properties receiving the $5,000 homestead exemption.

Georgia law allows local counties to use up to 20 percent of HOST proceeds towards capital, which would leave the county with 80 percent, or roughly $24 million, to increase homestead exemptions.

The commission also:

* Issued a proclamation saying Tuesday was Youth Sports Champions Day in the county and recognized the six-year-old Hobgood Heat and the eight-year-old East Cherokee Bulls all-star teams, which won the 2012 Georgia Dizzy Dean State Championship; the 10 and under Twin Creeks Twisters fast-pitch softball all-star team for winning the Georgia ASA State Championship; and the 13 and under Hobgood Fury travel baseball team, which won the 2012 Grand Slam World Series;

* Approved reappointing Marion Wilson to the Board of Tax Assessors for another six-year term;

* Accepted $3,336.30 in insurance recovery money and a budget amendment to increase the Fire Fund 270 by that same amount;

* Approved submitting eight roads in need of resurfacing to the Georgia Department of Transportation for funding under the 2013 Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant;

* Approved accepting a new, no-match needed DUI grant $4,895 and increase the fiscal year 2012 Grant Fund Revenue and Expenditures by the same amount;

* Approved the Community Development Block Grant funds in the amount of $280,574 to be distributed to MUST Ministries for $150,000, the Cherokee Senior County Center for $95,574 and to county staff to reimburse for services for 35,000; and

* Approved sending a letter stating the county has no objection to a proposal in Holly Springs to annex four properties along Hiram Way near Holly Springs Parkway.