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Lawrenceville
dedicates new city hall
as memorial to events of last Sept. 11
By Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com
SEPT. 10, 2002 -- People will easily remember for years the date
of the Open House and dedication of the new Lawrenceville City Hall.
The event will be Wednesday, the anniversary of the September 11
tragedy of last year.
The ceremony for the city's new $8.3 million, four-story, 64,800-square
foot City Hall Open House begins Wednesday at 10 a. m. After the
welcome by Mayor Bartow Jenkins, the Rev. W.C. Corley will give
the invocation, followed by the presentation of the colors by the
Sheriff's Department, the National Anthem by the Central Gwinnett
High Band, and the pledge of allegiance. After recognition of guests,
Rep. Renee Unterman will give an address, followed by a dedication
of a plaque in remembrance of last September 11's tragedy.
Mayor Jenkins says that the City picked September 11 for dedicating
the new City Hall in memory of the events of last year. "We
selected this date to show that our country stands ready to build
on and keep this democracy going. We will dedicate this building
in memory of all those who died and who lost loved ones in the tragedy
across our country last September 11. We're proud of this new building,
but also we are proud of the way our country responded and continues
to respond."
He adds, "What I loved best about the new building is that
it is paid for, and will last us for years to come."
Bill Dunn, project manager for the firm of E&C Integration
Services Inc. of Lawrenceville, who designed and supervised construction
of the new City Hall, says that the design is of "traditional
courthouse style, with red brick and architectural stone and columns
on the front. It's designed for functionality, with all the city
offices in one building."
The City has already occupied the Hall, moving in on August 5.
A walk through the new structure leaves you with one impression:
it's much, much spacious than the old facility, and built with growth
of the city in mind. In fact, the City at present only occupies
three of the four stories, with the top story for expansion.
From the Nash and South Clayton Streets, you enter onto the main
floor, the second. Besides offices for payment of utility bills,
there is also customer service (with drive-up windows), and offices
for the mayor and council members. In the previous facility, only
the mayor had a private office. Now the council members have their
own office and desk. The Council auditorium, with nearly 200 seats,
is at the rear of the building.
The first floor, accessible off a large side street parking lot,
houses the municipal court and, its offices, plus meter readers
and break room. On the third floor is computer services, city engineer
and other functions.
Police facilities are not housed in the City Hall. You may remember
that the Police Department is located down Clayton Street in the
former Ford auto dealer location.
Bob Baroni, longtime city manager, beams as he shows you around
the building. He says: "Now everyone in the building has more
room to move around, and do their work more efficiently. And we
think it could serve the city for the city for the next 50 years."
The City of Lawrenceville joins many other Gwinnett cities as it
upgrades its City Hall. We'll easily remember the day it was dedicated,
the first anniversary of September 11.
SPECIAL
ANNOUNCEMENT
50th anniversary of Gwinnett County Fair begins Thursday
On September 12, 2002, the Gwinnett County Fair will open its doors
for the 50th year. To celebrate this half-century anniversary, admission
for the night will be only 50 cents per person.
Over the years, the fair has grown tremendously. In 1952, 10 acres
of land was purchased for the fairgrounds. Today, the area consists
of approximately 90 acres---and it takes that much acreage to host
the largest traveling carnival in the world, Amusements of America,
that set up the rides, games and booths.
Normal admission is $5 and covers basic maintenance and operation
expenses of the fairgrounds. The money is also used for additional
construction projects. A portion of the admission price helps to
pay the premiums that are awarded to those competing in the livestock
shows.
To thank Gwinnettians for their patronage over the years and to
celebrate this long-standing tradition, admission on the first night
of the fair reflects the amount that was paid the very first day
the fair opened in 1953. Raid your change jar and join the fun for
only 50 cents per person on Thursday, September 12.
For more information, call 770-963-6522.
55-WORD
SHORT STORY
Election
Day
Good, the line's short. I won't be late.
Hmmm, there are a few more than I thought.
Oh, I remember, from that commercial.
What's this one? I don't know these people!
Pick the incumbents. They're okay, I guess.
Next time, I'll know more.
"Sir, if you're finished, it goes in here, that end first.
Thanks!"
-- Stephen Hatcher, Suwanee
FEEDBACK:
9/10: Sign him up as
disgusted in Gwinnett
Editor, the Forum:
I want to share my thoughts to feedback:
When I moved to Gwinnett 11 years ago this week, it was a wonderful
place to live. Since then it has gotten trashed and I can't wait
to move out.
Now with all the deforestation it looks more like Arizona than
Georgia. I'm tired of breathing brown air. Yes we have lots of new
businesses...that is if you count check cashing places, pawn shops,
warehouses, and nail salons.
Yes, some people have gotten rich by selling out the county, mainly
the developers. Not to mention all those people in the pockets of
the
developers...the planners, the councilpersons, and the transportation
department.
In Gwinnett, Transportation Planning is a euphemism for more roads.
What's it going to be like in 2025 when 1.25million people put their
cars on I-85 in the morning to go to work. With the shoddy construction
that the zoning people allow, most of our subdivisions will be ghettos
within 10 years. It seems the county planners prefer a transient
population
with all the apartments and extended-stay motels that blanket the
area.
Watch out you folks out in Suwanee, Sugarloaf, and Sugar Hill.
If your area's not trashed already, its just around the corner.
Sign me, "Disgusted in Gwinnett."
-- Phillip Jones, Lilburn, Ga.
Hold on, Philip: One thing to remember: the warehouses beat
most of us to Gwinnett. That's how the growth got started! ---eeb.
9/10: Get a dog and
get on with your life!
Editor, the Forum:
About losing weight and getting a dog: Losing weight requires a
lifetime change of eating habits. Unless you are prepared to do
so, don't
bother. I speak from experience!! Or that's the way I feel.
Having a dog will make you feel good about yourself whether you
lose or gain! I'm a 100 percent dog person so you're barking up
the wrong tree! Get the dog and get on with life; it's too short
as it is!!!!
As I remember, you and your wife would not qualify for the overweight
poster children!
Gosh, just thought of something. I think I'd be more worried about
eye sight than pounds!! Can you read this?
I enjoy the Gwinnett Forum!
-- Kathy Gestar, Snellville
9/10: Gigantic clearance
set Saturday at Library sale
Visit the biggest half-priced clearance and moving sale ever at
the Gwinnett county public Library Used Book Store in Snellville
at 2180 Fountain Square, Snellville on Saturday, September 14 from
9 a.m. until noon.
All items are priced at 50 percent off or more previously discounted
prices. Customers should bring their own bags or boxes to take home
gigantic savings!
The Fountain Square Book Store will be closing after the sale.
For information about our new store at Discover Mills visit the
Web site at www.gwinnettpl.org,
visit a library branch or call 770-978-5154.
THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY:
What it takes to get
ahead
"Getting ahead in a difficult profession requires avid faith
in yourself. That is why some people with mediocre talent, but with
great inner drive, go much further than people with vastly superior
talent."
---Actress Sophia Loren
ABOUT
OUR SPONSORS
The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com
to you at no cost to readers. Today's sponsor is W.H.
Ferguson & Sons. Inc., located in Suwanee. It is the
largest wholesale gasoline distributor for Shell and Texaco in North
Georgia, operating or serving 38 convenience stores. President of
the firm is Scott Ferguson.
For a list of other sponsors of this forum, go to: http://www.gwinnettforum.com/about/sponsors.htm.
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YOUR FEEDBACK
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