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TODAY'S ISSUE
Suwanee greets new year with repair, improvement projects
By Lynne Bohlman DeWilde
Special to GwinnettForum.com

JAN. 7, 2005 -- As we turn the calendar page to a new year, the City of Suwanee is in the process of or about to begin several repair and improvement projects. These projects will help make an attractive piece of open space ready for public use, enhance the City's water service capabilities, and improve many of Suwanee's roadways.

Work is underway at the city-owned Hewell property just off Suwanee Dam Road to bring the Sims Lake Dam in line with current Georgia Safe Dams standards. While the dam is structurally safe and there is no concern that the dam might fail, the City has an obligation and public responsibility to meet the state¹s requirements.

Suwanee purchased the 61-acre Hewell property, considered the jewel of the City's award-winning Open Space Initiative, in January 2003; the City was aware at the time that repairs to the dam would be required, and that was factored into the purchase price.

Repairs, undertaken by Powder Springs-based Willow Construction, will include removing trees from the dam, installing an internal drainage system, flattening the face of the dam by adding earth fill downstream of the existing lake, and replacing unsuitable floodplain soils with good structural material. These repairs are scheduled to be completed by next fall. More information about these repairs is available on the City of Suwanee website, http://www.suwanee.com.

Also this year, Suwanee will create a master plan for use of the Hewell property, which will not be opened to the public until after dam repairs and the master plan have been completed.

As part of efforts to improve and expand its water service, the City of Suwanee will install a new 150,000-gallon water tank in the spring. Although most Suwanee residents receive water service through the Gwinnett County Department of Public Utilities, the City serves about 260 water customers. The new tank will allow the City to offer service to an additional 120 future customers in a new Richport Properties subdivision off Stonecypher Road.

Caldwell Tanks, Inc. of Knoxville will fabricate the tank at its Newnan plant and assemble it on site in historic Old Town, adjacent to the City¹s current 60,000-gallon tank, which was constructed in the mid-1950s. The old tank will be dismantled once the new tank is up and functioning.

The new tank, which will stand 60 feet taller than the current one, will allow the City to significantly increase its water storage capacity.

Last year, the City installed a new well pump. In addition to the pump and tank, Suwanee will improve the fire protection its system provides by upgrading its connection to Gwinnett County¹s water system.

In January and February, the City will be working with a contractor to patch and pave several roads as part of its 2004-05 road maintenance plan. Almost $200,000 will be spent to patch and install one-inch asphalt overlays on the following roads:

Aldenham Way ............................Lansfaire Crossing
Azalea Chase Drive .....................Main Street
Barony Cove ...............................Rocky Peak Court
Barony Drive ...............................Rosewood View Drive
Briar Point ...................................Suwanee Creek Road
Colony Point ...............................Swiftwater Park Drive
Fieldcrest Court ..........................Tench Road
Grand Teton Parkway .................Vista Point Lane
Landover Crossing

ELLIOTT BRACK
Sandy Springs effort could spawn similar change here
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com

JAN. 7, 2005 -- What happens concerning whether Sandy Springs becomes a city could have an impact in Gwinnett, and the rest of Georgia.

For years, some in the Sandy Springs area, the upper-level residential area between Buckhead toward Roswell, have wanted to become a city of their own instead of being merely a part of unincorporated Fulton County. In the past, this effort toward incorporation has been thwarted, some say by the influence of the City of Atlanta. The reasoning goes that the City of Atlanta could lose some $10 million in sales tax revenue that is collected in Fulton County, which has to share some of the revenue with the City of Atlanta. The upshot is that the incorporation of Sandy Springs has been blocked by the Legislature, which was dominated by Democrats.

Now with the Republicans in control of the Legislature, Sandy Spring becoming a city of its own is more of a possibility.

Yet it isn't just the Legislature that must decide this. Granted, current laws in Georgia halt incorporation within three miles of another city. However, the Legislature could remove that barrier.

The residents of the affected area must go to the polls and make the determination themselves that they want to be a city. But we don¹t know this for sure. For the most part, over the years Sandy Springs residents have tended to vote Republican. And you remember that many Republicans want less government rather than more government.

Would these Republican-leaning Sandy Springians vote to put another level of government into place? While some civic leaders of Sandy Springs may want it, what will the individual residents of the area say? It makes you wonder.

As to how this affects Gwinnett? If the Legislature approves a measure allowing people within three miles of a city to skirt the ban on incorporation, that might make people in Peachtree Corners want to start their own incorporation efforts. Up until now, it's been assumed that Peachtree Corners was too close (by current law) to Norcross to incorporate. But if Sandy Springs gets a reprieve, why not Peachtree Corners...or Mountain Park's area in Gwinnett...or Hamilton Mill?

Gwinnett already has more cities (15) than any county in Georgia. And granted, each of these communities has its own distinctive flavor, customs and heritage. However, there is a certain distinction that a community gets when it incorporates, and starts managing its own affairs. It could be far more costly, of course, than being part of unincorporated Gwinnett County.

The entire issue could ride on ego. After all, if someone wants to be the person in charge, the mayor or council person, and there is no city, what¹s a prospective politico to do? Forming a city government could give rise to more politicians. Some would say that is not necessarily a good move. Those wanting office will like the idea.

All this signals that start of the whacky season of "Legislative Politics" is among us. Batten down the hatches, bring in the chickens and be alert. When the Legislature starts meeting, anything can happen. The only difference is that it¹ll be a different list of characters (Republicans) manipulating the affair this year.

Incorporating a city might not be as bad as what could come out of the proceedings any time the Legislature convenes. Be warned. And stay alert.

The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Today's featured sponsor is Gwinnett Community Bank of Duluth, Member, FDIC. Tom Martin heads this bank, which operates out of its facilities on Buford Highway, near the intersection of Rogers Bridge and Old Peachtree Road. It also has a Suwanee location at 3463 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road in Suwanee. The phone number for the Suwanee branch is 770-497-5252. Look for a new location in Snellville soon. The web site is http://www.gwinnettcommunitybank.com/defaultx.html.

Most Gwinnett residents will probably be astonished to learn that the new county administrator will be getting 10 weeks vacation each year, and that it can be accumulated if not used. If any government official can actually take 10 weeks off per year, then that official is probably not needed. What this means is that a 'pay for vacation' policy is just another way to give an 'off the books' salary increase. Witness the former administrator getting a check for $221,000 for 61 weeks of unused vacation time.

Of course I do not blame the employee for taking advantage of a policy like this when available. Why is it that government employees always get to accumulate vacation and sick leave, a policy that is rarely evident in the private sector?

There are probably a lot more bizarre policies like this, we just don't know where to look to find them.

-- Jim Nelems, Norcross

In a recent issue, you raised a question: "If you were heading for Athens today, and the toll road was open, would you spend that $8?"

My answer is simple, and very direct. NO, I would not!

-- Roy McCreary, Dacula

Enjoyed your comments on Georgia Highway 316 in the Forum. I drove that highway for five years, usually five days a week, as many do who commute to Athens. And I definitely would have switched to U.S. Highway 29 to avoid paying $8 round trip. It will be an interesting discussion to follow on this highway and it being a possible toll road.

The Gwinnett County Public Library will close the Slightly Read Bookstore located at Discover Mills on January 7, 2005. The store sold used library books and media that were no longer in demand by customers at the library. The Discover Mills library store was open Thursdays of each week.

The library has contracted with Better World Books to handle the sale of the library's materials which are no longer in demand. Better World Books was established in 2002 and specializes in online sales of books from college libraries, public libraries and thrift book stores.

Better World Books is already posting the library's used materials for sale on at the following sites:

* Amazon, www.amazon.com;
* Half.com, www.half.com;
* Abebooks, www.abebooks.com;
* Better World Books, www.betterworldbooks.com; and
* Alibris, www.alibris.com.

The websites are user friendly, available 24 hours per day and allow customers to search by title, author, ISBN, or genre. Shipping dates and fees vary by online vendor.

Library officials said that outsourcing the online sale of used materials frees up staff to spend more time assisting customers who visit any of the library¹s 12 branches. Customers may visit any library branch Monday Thursday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Visit the library's web site 24 hours per day at www.gwinnettpl.org.

New County Commission Chairman Charles Banister will present the State of the County Address on January 26 at 11:30 at the Atlanta Marriott Gwinnett Place. The event is presented by the Gwinnett Chamber and the Council for Quality Growth.

Sponsors are Gwinnett Medical Center, BellSouth Shared Web Hosting, Jordan Jones and Goulding, Inc. and Richardson Housing Group.

General Membership Meetings are held once a month providing an opportunity for Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce members to stay abreast of important issues in Gwinnett, network with other business professionals, and have an opportunity to hear renowned speakers from all types of industries. Advanced registration is required by January 21, 2005.

Learn family ancestry at Bethesda Center Jan. 21

Learn how to uncover your family ancestry by attending a free session on Friday, January 21, at 1 p.m. at the Bethesda Senior Center in Lawrenceville.

The Personal Computer (PC) User Group of the SeniorNet Learning Center of Gwinnett is offering the "Finding and Proving Your Ancestry" class to all Gwinnett County residents who wish to find out more about their family¹s history. Speakers for this event will be Clay Coburn and Ed Sterrett. Admission is free. (Mac users are also invited, since this is basically an Internet initiative.)

SeniorNet Computer Learning Center has been helping seniors learn a vast array of computer software programs specifically designed for adults aged 50 and older. Classes are taught at a comfortable pace for both the beginner and experienced computer user in a setting where both teachers and students are older adults. Classes offered by SeniorNet can be viewed online at www.seniornet.org/usa/gwinnett.

The Bethesda Senior Center is located at Bethesda Park, 225 Bethesda Church Road in Lawrenceville. For more information on SeniorNet, call (770) 564-4699. Sponsored by SeniorNet Computer Learning Center and Gwinnett County Parks & Recreation.

"For the pure laughs and the sheer delight of reading very light and nonsensical adventure, Janet Evanovich's Ten Big Ones really fills the bill. Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum's acquaintances, her work mates, and especially her exquisitely dysfunctional family are the creation of one of America's most celebrated and award-winning writers. I have read Evanovich's previous nine Plum novels and have to say that she has had me rolling with hysterics since One for the Money back in '94.

"My next read will be getting back to Clinton's life story. I've been struggling through it since my wife got it for me, in September, for my birthday. Nothing that's very funny in that one. Scary? Yes. Funny? No."

ENCYCLOPEDIA TIDBIT
1/7: Andrew College once completely destroyed by fire

Andrew College, founded in 1854, is located in Cuthbert in southwest Georgia. Originally called Andrew Female College, it became the second college in the nation to confer graduate degrees upon women. Affiliated today with the United Methodist Church, Andrew College was named for Bishop James Osgood Andrew, who was instrumental in the founding of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

Andrew College experienced a crippling blow in April 1892, when all of its buildings were destroyed in a fire. The citizens of Cuthbert and Randolph County met the day after the fire to pledge money to rebuild the school. By the following September the school was ready to reopen.

Dumas Malone, the eminent Thomas Jefferson historian and biographer, spent two years (1914-16) at the institution teaching Greek and religion. During this time the academy classes were dropped, as was the word "Female" from the college title. In 1917 Andrew became a two-year college.

Most of the approximately 400 men and women enrolled at the college are from Georgia, Florida, and Alabama, with international students making up 10 percent of the student body in 2004. As a two-year liberal arts college, Andrew prepares its students to attend four-year institutions. More than 90 percent of the students who attend Andrew College transfer to four-year colleges and universities.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Humankind, being what it is, will be about to noodle it out OK

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