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TODAY'S
ISSUE
County
benefits from visit to fast-growing Fairfax County, VA
By Demming Bass
Vice President, Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce
Special to GwinnettForum.com
OCT. 13, 2006 -- For three days recently in Fairfax County, Va.,
a who's who of Gwinnett leaders met with their counterparts in a
free flowing exchange of ideas, dreams and visions for a more prosperous
and successful Gwinnett. That was the goal of the Gwinnett Chamber's
inaugural Strategic Leadership Visit.
Bass |
Among the top lessons learned were:
- Gwinnett is fortunate to have more control over local road projects.
Fairfax has to rely on the state for construction and maintenance
of roads. This loss of control has led to the congestion crisis.
SPLOSTs are critical for Gwinnett's future success, not just for
roads but for education, as well.
- Multi-modal transportation is a must for Gwinnett. Neither roads
alone nor transit alone are going to ease congestion. While we
are 15 years away from an insufficiency of open land, longer commute
times may make heavy rail something to look at now. Fairfax's
Virginia Railway Express (VRE) is very helpful to them.
- People like a sense of place. That is what higher-density live-work-play
communities provide. The idea of a metropolitan area with one
urban center is not the standard any more. Reston Town Center
shows people looking for a new downtown closer to home. This can
be a great opportunity for Southern Gwinnett and our three CIDs
to make themselves more beneficial to our people.
- When there is no more open land left, Gwinnett will have to
build vertically. This is the history of all cities. Gwinnett
should take advantage of this and develop community centers with
high-quality restaurants, entertainment destinations, public spaces
and parks, and community activities.
- Fairfax's Thomas Jefferson School of Science and Technology
is something to be emulated. Stressing science, math and technology
education to our children will help create the highly-skilled
workforce we'll need to keep high-paying jobs here in Gwinnett
long-term.
- Fairfax Public Schools have been very successful using incentives
(signing bonuses, discounts on rent and no interest loans for
housing) to attract some of their brightest teachers in a very
competitive environment.
- Diversity is seen as a competitive advantage in Fairfax. This
area made a decision long ago to embrace it and make it work.
- Lack of affordable housing is one of Fairfax's biggest challenges.
They struggle to find qualified workers for education, public
safety, healthcare and more.
- Fairfax has a very structured, well-funded, aggressive and targeted
economic development program. The entire community benefits from
an enhanced economic development program that attracts high-paying
jobs and highly skilled workers.
- A strong retention program for existing industry in Fairfax
is proactive and helps keep those companies from relocating.
- Arts are a key component to a high quality of life and a tremendous
economic development tool.
Former Fairfax Mayor and leading arts advocate John Mason challenged
our Gwinnett group with the question, "What can we do together
that we couldn't do alone?"
That's the purpose of the Strategic Leadership Visit, Partnership
Gwinnett, and most of the Gwinnett Chamber's initiatives - to achieve
greatness together as a community. And that's a greatness that cannot
be achieved by our own individual efforts.
ELLIOTT
BRACK
Continuing E-SPLOST best way to help build
more schools
By
Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com
OCT. 13, 2006 -- The best feature of the legislation allowing counties
and schools boards to fund projects through a one cent sales tax
is the sunsetting provision.
Brack |
That limits each Special Purpose Local Optional Sales TAX (SPLOST)
program to five years' duration. Sales tax may only be collected
for the specific items for which the voters approved for this period.
Should a county or school board want to fund additional items through
another SPLOST, they must again get approval from the voters.
Therefore, it's up to county and school officials to be diligent
in overseeing each SPLOST project, or else they would face the wrath
of voters in a future referendum on a proposed SPLOST.
Gwinnett County has had an exemplary record in shepherding construction
through both the county and school SPLOST projects. For the Education
SPLOST, Gwinnett citizens have approved two programs, one in the
period from 1997 to 2002, and a second which runs from 2002 through
2007. Altogether, these two programs have been of major importance
to building schools. Gwinnett would have faced monumental increases
in bonds to build the schools without the E-SPLOST. Let's look at
what has been accomplished through these programs.
E-SPLOST I: A total of 947 classrooms were built, in seven new
schools and 25 additions at existing schools. Altogether, the one
cent sales tax brought in $530 million for these programs.
E-SPLOST II: In this current program, it's anticipated to fund
2,125 classrooms in 17 new schools, and two replacement schools.
A total of 150 more classrooms will be built than promised, through
efficient use of sales tax monies. Additional work was done at 28
existing schools, and four more schools are now underway. Land has
also been purchased for 25 future school sites through this program.
Altogether, some $995 million is expected to be raised through E-SPOST
II.
Now the Gwinnett School Board is asking voters to fund E-SPLOST
III through 2012. It's expected that $1.1 billion will be collected
through continuing the one cent sales tax for school infrastructure
in the five year building program. After all, by 2011, the Gwinnett
School population will jump from today's 151,000 students to at
least 175,000 students.
Included in this new plan are 37 new schools to be built through
2014. While the E-SPLOST III won't fund all these new schools, it's
the best way Gwinnett County can support its expanding school needs.
Gwinnett residents can be proud of the way its schools are being
constructed, in that they cost less than schools in adjacent counties.
This has come about through constant monitoring of the contractors,
utilizing proven building plans and architects, accepting innovations
in building and ensuring that each dollar is well spent.
Georgia's Legislature, in its wisdom, has given counties and schools
the ability to levy sales tax for specific programs over a limited
number of years to fund massive road, building and school projects.
Utilizing these programs through sales tax allows people visiting
our county to make retail purchases a partner in funding our massive
infrastructure needs. A total of 155 of the 159 county schools systems
have approved E-SPLOST programs, while all 21 of the city school
systems use this method for financing long-range needs.
Come November 7, we urge Gwinnett voters to continue to approve
E-SPLOST III. It's by far the best way we can assure having additional
monies to help meet the continuing educational needs of Gwinnett.
ABOUT
OUR SPONSORS
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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. The Duluth
office number is 770-476-2775. There is also a Suwanee location
at 3463 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road in Suwanee. The phone number
for the Suwanee branch is 770-497-5252. The web site is http://www.gwinnettcommunitybank.com.
FEEDBACK
10/13:
Another way to view Korean manufacturing
Another great cartoon from Bill McLemore:
FEEDBACK
10/13:
New writer wants Republicans in control of next Congress
Editor, the Forum:
Republicans should control Congress after the election. As a country,
we are a traditional society and the Democrats are against everything
that the traditionalists support. Traditionalists want less government
bureaucracy and intrusion in the functions of our society that was
built on traditional values.
George Washington said that a free people that continue to give
to the government will eventually not be free. "Freedom weakens
the political ties and thus necessitates the tightening of the moral
ties in order to preserve society. And moral conduct depends largely
on religious faith, which is natural to man."
With the increased secularism of the courts and referral of laws
from outside the framework of the Constitution, international law
will be the yoke that destroys the freedom that only we are given
from above.
With the Democrats we will throw away our liberties along with
responsibility as a free society. With that people will continue
to seek what they can get from the government in lieu of what they
can contribute as a moral citizen.
-- Robert Askew, Lawrenceville
Dear Robert: Good to have your first letter to
us. Some Democrats who are very much traditionalists will take
exception with you. And where did you get the idea that secularism
was outside the frame of the courts? Is that not what we wanted,
since we are not formed as a religious country? --eeb
Seeks to call Republican
voters in numbers to the polls
Editor, the Forum:
Republicans will not stay home November 7 because the far left
wing of the Democratic Party would have control of our lives and
our government.
For example, Charlie Rangel promises to repeal the tax laws. He
speaks to a different crowd in my opinion. Leading up to November
7- Republicans must keep one thing in mind: the media is announcing
that we are going to stay home November 7. Some are saying "Christian"
Republicans will not vote November 7 because of the corruption as
though we run from our country when she needs us most.
Republican candidates and those who speak for the party must get
across Rangel's threats and display the policies Democrats promise
to change if they take control of the House and Senate. Rangel is
using fear to motivate the masses.
Hillary Clinton asks the Democrats on the Senate floor to wear
their anger "as a badge of honor" Anger at what? The Democrats
want to hold me accountable for Mark Foley? They want to use Bob
Woodward's book of gossip about things we already knew to minimize
the fact there have been no attacks on American soil since 9/11?
Woodward's publisher told him "get it out before the election."
Republicans do not run from saving America!
We will vote for what we believe and no one in the media or Democratic
Party will keep us from the polls. Rep. Rangel believes we somehow
can't look around the world to understand the opportunities here
in America for citizens and immigrants. No other country is like
ours. Republicans have to vote! We do not want the left wing of
the Democratic Party in charge of our lives. All you have to do
is look how the Democrats treated Joe Lieberman. They are not interested
in working with anyone outside their elite clique.
-- Patsy Robertson, Loganville
Dear Ms. Robertson: Thanks for your letter to
energize Republicans. It might even energize Democrats. From the
letter, you wonder if you have ever met a Democrat who was doing
a good job! --eeb
UPCOMING
Suwanee
seeking input on proposed transportation plan
The City of Suwanee is seeking feedback on preliminary ideas and
proposed projects to enhance the City's alternative transportation
system. Citizens are invited to an alternative transportation open
house from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, October 26, at North Gwinnett High
School.
Preliminary plans created by Street Smarts will be on display,
City staff members will be available to answer questions, and citizens
will have an opportunity to offer comments and feedback. Street
Smarts of Duluth is developing a new alternative transportation
master plan for Suwanee, which is expected to be completed by the
end of the year.
Fairground to host
plethora of pugs on Oct. 28
If it's called a herd of cattle, a gaggle of geese and a flock
of seagulls, then is it called a plethora of pugs? That's what Pugfest
attendees will see on Saturday, October 28 (no rain date), as approximately
1,500 people and 700 pugs descend on the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds,
from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., for the Southeast Pug Rescue and Adoption's
(SEPRA) biggest fundraiser of the year, raising funds for rescued
pug and pug mixes alike.
Pugfest costs $5 per adult and $2.50 for children under 12 (no
charge for pugs) and exists for two reasons: fun and fundraising.
Although Pugfest welcomes all pugs under 35 pounds and over four
months old, with current rabies shots, no adoptions or pug sales
will be allowed at Pugfest. For a complete list and contact information,
please visit SEPRA‚s website at www.rescuepug.com.
Pugfest also features vendors with items for purchase for both
the pugs and pug owners. For $25 per pet, SEPRA will insert microchip
ID's under the dog's skin and register them so that if they are
ever lost, their owners can be found.
NOTABLE
Gwinnett
contract offers wi-fi eventually within county
Gwinnett County government will be an "anchor tenant"
in a new wireless-access network planned eventually to cover the
entire county. "It will operate just like a home wireless network
using the same technology but on a much bigger scale," said
Director of Support Services Connie Hinson.
The network, using 802.11 technology, will be installed and maintained
by an outside vendor and users will subscribe to the service, similar
to cell phone or cable TV services. Phase One will cover the City
of Lawrenceville.
"This will allow any subscriber with a WiFi-enabled laptop
to connect to the Internet from anywhere within range of the network,"
according to Barry Puckett, the County's Information Technology
manager. Examples of County workers who would use it include meter
readers, building inspectors, police, firefighters and emergency
medical technicians.
Gwinnett is one of six communities to receive grants from the state
under a $4.0 million Wireless Communications Georgia program managed
by the Georgia Technology Authority. The others are Augusta, Decatur,
Dublin, Milledgeville/Baldwin County, and Thomasville. Gwinnett
will get $750,000 in grant funds initially and must pay a 25-percent
match to be split with participating cities.
The goals of the program are to promote economic development, expand
educational opportunities, and improve government services.
Snellville resident
new vice president of AGL Resources
Dallas |
Atlanta Gas Light, a subsidiary of AGL Resources Inc. (NYSE: ATG),
announces that Wendell Dallas, Jr., has been promoted to vice president
and general manager. Dallas has served as general manager of Atlanta
Gas Light since April 2005.
In his new role, Dallas will be responsible for the day-to-day operations
of the Georgia utility that delivers natural gas to 1.5 million
customers across the state.
Dallas has more than 15 years of operations, management and engineering
experience in the natural gas industry. Dallas joined Atlanta Gas
Light in 2000 and served as a service area manager in Macon and
region manager for Southeast Georgia in Savannah. He was previously
with El Paso Energy in Macon.
He is currently a member of the 2006 Class of Leadership Georgia
and is a 2004 graduate of Leadership Savannah. He is also a member
of Auburn University's Engineering Alumni Council. Earlier this
year, he was appointed by Gov. Sonny Perdue to serve on Georgia's
Workforce Investment Board.
Dallas, 38, grew up in Opelika, Ala. and earned a degree in mechanical
engineering from Auburn University. He lives in Snellville, with
his wife and three children.
Gwinnett cancer victim
addresses HSMAI trade group
Berkoski, Shapiro and Patton |
A 20-year-old cancer survivor was the superstar at the recent 10th
Annual Chinese Auction hosted by the Georgia Chapter of Hospitality
Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI.) The chapter
donated a portion of the proceeds to CURE Childhood Cancer, dedicated
to conquering childhood cancer through research, education and support
of patients and their families. From left are David Berkoski, HSMAI
president; Alaina Shapiro, keynote speaker, who is a Gwinnett resident
studying at Georgia State University, and cancer survivor; and John
Patton, event chairperson. Miss Shapiro spoke about her cancer diagnosis
at the age of 12 and her seven year triumph over the disease. (Photo
from Northlight Photography Inc.)
.
RECOMMENDED
- An invitation: What
Web sites, books or restaurants have you enjoyed? Send us your
best recent visit to a restaurant or most recent book you have
read along with a short paragraph as to why you liked it, plus
what book you plan to read next. --eeb
GEORGIA
TIDBIT
Nine Lower
Creek Indians become tourists in 1734 London
General James Oglethorpe returned
to England from Georgia in June 1734 with goodwill ambassadors
in the persons of Yamacraw Chief Tomochichi, Senauki, his wife,
their nephew, Toonahowi, and six other Lower Creek tribesmen. The
Indians were regarded as celebrities, feted by the Trustees of the
colony, interviewed by the king and queen, entertained by the archbishop
of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace, and made available to meet the
public.
All but two of them posed with a large number of Trustees at the
Georgia office for the painter William Verelst. One of the absent
Indians died of smallpox, despite the ministrations of the eminent
physician Sir Hans Sloane, and was buried by his grieving comrades
in the burial plot of St. John's in Westminster. After performing
their social obligations, the Indians became tourists, visiting
the Tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral, Oglethorpe's Westbrook
Manor, and Egmont's Charlton House, and enjoying a variety of plays,
from Shakespearean dramas to comic farces.
THOUGHT
OF THE DAY
Finds unusual source
as cause of the immigration problem
"The real problem is not immigration, but rather the welfare
state magnet."
-- Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), via Marshall Miller, Lilburn
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