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EPD water discharge permit validates eight-year planning
By Jim Scarbrough
Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources
Special to GwinnettForum.com

NOV. 10, 2006 -- The Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources has a strong history of "planning its work and working its plan." When the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) issued a permit on November 6 allowing Gwinnett to discharge highly treated wastewater, it confirmed our long-standing plan.

Our Water and Sewer Master Plan, published in 1998, established infrastructure needs for the County through 2050. Its foundation was - and remains - a state-of-the-art water reclamation plant at the intersection of Interstates-85 and 985, now known as the F. Wayne Hill Water Resources Plant. Under the plan, it would return 20 million gallons per day (mgd) of water to the Chattahoochee River near Holcomb Bridge Road and another 40 mgd of water to Lake Lanier. The plan was designed to accommodate growth in Gwinnett until sometime between 2013 and 2019.

The permit confirms our original plan and allows us to move forward continuing to work that plan. It is a major event that is significant for Gwinnett County's economic growth. This decision not only confirms our plan, but it also supports the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District's (MNGWPD) Water Conservation and Water Supply Plan that calls for returning water to the lake for use by water providers downstream from Buford Dam.

This decision will assure a sustainable water supply, will augment flows in the Chattahoochee River and Apalachicola Basin, and contributes to the recreational value of the lake. Because water supply, environmental protection, and recreation are all part of our quality of life in Gwinnett, this permit is an excellent example of sustainable resource management.

The Legislature created the MNGWPD to ensure exactly this result. In the 1990s, some metropolitan area local governments had not made wastewater capacity planning a high priority and were under sewer moratoriums by the state EPD. By creating the water-planning district, the state mandated wastewater, water supply, and watershed protection planning to avoid a future crisis.

This secure future does not come without costs however. One condition of the permit is watershed protection. The County must take steps to prevent degradation of Gwinnett's streams by new development. We must make watershed improvements such as stream bank restoration, installing additional best management practices, protecting stream buffers, etc. There are about 130 miles of streams in Gwinnett County that do not meet the fecal coliform standard. We must work towards bringing these streams back into compliance, an expensive and complicated process.

Stormwater Utility service fees and water and sewer service fees will provide for watershed protection and expansion of the water and sewer system to serve the needs of Gwinnett County residents.

In the meantime, we are updating our Water and Sewer Master Plan to continue to "plan our work and work our plan" to provide necessary services for our citizens.

Recent race illustrates better way needed in picking judges
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com

NOV. 10, 2006 -- "Well, have you have enough of the mudslinging between the campaigns of the two people seeking to win a term on the Supreme Court?'"

The race between Incumbent Supreme Court Judge Carol Hunstein and challenger Mike Wiggins was ugly, real ugly, on both sides. Some will say that Hunstein had to fight back as she did because Wiggins introduced false negative attacks on her records.

Whatever the reasons, the real loser in this campaign was out-of-state interests who sought to buy a seat on the Court. We're glad that interest lost. But the state lost, too, for the voters had to endure the horrible campaign advertisements. It just showed how wrong it is for Georgia to require judges to get to the bench by election.

"Oh, but I don't want to give up the right to elect judges," you might say. Truth is, a majority of the judges in Georgia first come to the bench through being appointed. And once there, most of them are virtually automatically re-elected, and most seldom face opposition. Most people will tell you that Georgia "elects" judges, and while true, most still come to the bench first by appointment.

Yet from time to time judges have opposition. And though today the races are "non partisan," it's amazing the way one political party will support Judge A, and the other party members will send campaign contributions to Judge B in contested races. We really have candidates who are virtually stealth "non partisan" candidates, wink, wink. "We know which to support," don't you know?

There's a better way, practiced in many states. It is somewhat similar to the way Federal judges come to the bench: through a qualification committee selection of several candidates for appointment.

Granted, even such a process can become political. Former Gov. Ernie Vandiver was once asked, "Governor, who are you going to appoint to the bench?" His reply: "I'm gonna appoint the best qualified friend I've got."

Back in the mid 1960s, a committee of about 100 Georgians, this writer included, studied the Georgia judicial process. This group was called together through efforts of the State Bar of Georgia, and the American Judicature Society, seeking grassroot support on better methods to select judges.

By the time it was over, this committee reported back, calling for the so-called "Missouri Plan" for picking judges in Georgia. Its report said:

Unfortunately, the plan fizzled in Georgia. Yet many observers realize Georgia needs a better method of selecting judges.

Then in 1988, a lawsuit brought by civil rights activists maintained there was racial bias in the selection of judges in Georgia. The upshot was a negotiated settlement between Gov. Zell Miller, Attorney General Michael Bowers and the civil rights community. The plan would have halted the direct election of judges, and reverted to something similar to the Missouri Plan. "A Landmark Agreement," said an AJC headline in 1992.

U.S. District Judge Avant Edenfield, in reviewing the plan, said that the governor and attorney general had overstepped their bounds in negotiating the settlement, and he scuttled the agreement.

First, the person who negotiated the settlement between the state and the civil rights advocates was Senior Federal Judge Anthony Alaimo, who sat alongside Judge Edenfield on the U.S. District Court for the Southern Division of Georgia.

Secondly, Judge Edenfield himself was a speaker, if not a member himself, of that 1966 Commission studying this very question.

Many political campaigns seem to be conducted at progressively lower and lower levels. Unless Georgia laws are changed, we'll see more of these low-dwelling campaigns in picking judges in the future.

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Election Day was good for Americans who embrace the mainstream values that have been under attack in recent years. Voters are bringing checks and balances back to our political system.

Voters in South Dakota derailed the Religious Right's strategy for overturning Roe v. Wade by rejecting the nation's most extreme anti-choice law, and Missouri voters embraced a stem-cell initiative. Voters in Oregon rejected limits on government's ability to raise money for public services. Voters in six states passed increases in the minimum wage.

Hopefully, the White House or Republican leaders will no longer be able to operate as a one-party government without accountability.

Polls show that a lot of "progressive" policies are actually very mainstream-majorities of Americans oppose overturning Roe v. Wade and support stronger environmental protection, a federal increase in the minimum wage, guaranteed health insurance for all, and effective diplomacy as the best way to ensure peace.

I enjoyed reading about Frank Sinkwich in the recent (November 7) Gwinnett Forum, but I feel I need to add one small item to the story.

David (Red) Baron, a friend of my grandfather, was a star halfback at Georgia Tech, where he played football for William Alexander in the 1920s. During the course of one season, Baron broke his jaw, but finished out the season. The story that Red Baron played football with a broken jaw actually made the annuals of Ripley's 'Believe It or Not" many years ago. (Barron, I understand, later lived in Gwinnett and coached football at Dacula. Barron Field, the Dacula football stadium, is named him.)

I don't recall how it came about, but Baron talked with Sinkwich about his experience playing with a broken jaw and encouraged Frank to do so.

I just had to point out that even a great UGA story like the one about Frank Sinkwich was influenced by a Georgia Tech Alumnus!

The Southeastern Railway Museum will be hosting a premier viewing of a newly released movie titled My Christmas Soldier. Based upon a true story, a small Georgia town struggles with the rationing and sacrifices of America at war. Christmas is no exception as 11-year old Gordy and his sister Priscilla sense a fear in the train station where they await their father's homecoming. Propaganda posters and tense adult talk drive home the evil of the enemy.

When a train loaded with German POW's arrives in the station, Gordy's curiosity is stronger than his fear. He dares to approach the prison train and makes contact with a young German soldier names Hans. Through the courage to trust and the song Silent Night, friends and foes learn the true meaning of Peace on Earth, Goodwill Towards Men, and hearts are forever changed". Based on true events.

This film was partially filmed at the Southeastern Railway Museum. Public premiere showing are on November 17th at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. It is free to the public

Southeastern Railway Museum is at 3595 Peachtree Road, Duluth, about a mile North of Pleasant Hill Road.

Gwinnett County will begin construction soon on a new park near Peachtree Ridge High School. The first phase of construction will cover 65 of the park's nearly 155 acres.

Facilities will include a football field with a lighted track and four baseball/softball fields, one of which will be designed for special-needs children. There will also be a special-needs playground similar to the county's award-winning Unity Place playground at Bay Creek Park.

The special-needs ball field will have a rubberized surface over an asphalt base with larger dugouts to accommodate wheel chairs, walkers, etc. Different colors of rubberized materials will mark infield and outfield areas. There will also be a small soccer overlay on the outfield, according to the county's Community Services Director Phil Hoskins.

The playground is designed for easy access and use by all children and to encourage interaction between children. It includes swings, slides, panels and a shade structure.

There will also be at the park restroom and concession buildings, an open play area and a paved multi-purpose trail almost two miles long. The site will also be graded for the future addition of two soccer fields.

The Board of Regents Committee on Real Estate and Facilities has approved a ground lease and rental agreement for a new parking deck at Georgia Gwinnett College. Construction on the parking deck is scheduled to begin in January, 2007.

In April 2006, the Board approved a parking fee of $100 per semester for full-time and $50 per semester for part-time GGC students. The fee provides funding for the deck which will include 750 parking spaces. This is the first of two parking decks planned for the campus.

Currently in the design phase, construction is scheduled to begin in January 2007 and will be completed in early 2008. The Facility Group, located in Smyrna has been assigned as the construction project manager

GGC's Vice President for Business and Finance Eddie Beauchamp, says: "Each day there are 500 cars parking on property that doesn't belong to us. This parking deck will help to alleviate that situation and will provide convenient access to college facilities."

The site of the old Mountain Park pool will soon be transformed into a teen-oriented passive park under a contract awarded Tuesday by the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners. The old pool was demolished after the opening of the new Mountain Park Aquatic Center.

New facilities will include a small skate park, a sand volleyball court, an irrigated lawn for free play, a playground with climbing boulders and swings, a small picnic shelter and restrooms. A drinking fountain, bike rack, picnic tables and landscaping are also included in the million-dollar contract awarded to low bidder Lewallen Construction.

The state's Land and Water Conservation Fund will contribute $100,000 to the effort through the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The remainder of the funding will come from the 2005 SPLOST program.

Chuck Paul, president of A Closer Look of Norcross, a mystery shopping company is returning as a director of the Mystery Shopping Providers Association. Paul is a veteran of the hospitality industry, with more than 30 years of experience. Paul has been involved in the MSPA since its inception in 1997. Elected by the membership, the MSPA North America board consists of 13 directors, four of whom are annually elected officers - president, vice president, treasurer and secretary. Directors serve three-year terms. The board also includes the president of MSPA Europe. The new board takes office immediately.

Five construction projects approved by the Gwinnett Board of Commissioners for about $6.3 million on Tuesday will build two improved intersections, new sidewalks on Oak Road and Garner Road, and a school safety project at Magill Elementary School, according to Gwinnett DOT Director Brian Allen.

Baldwin Paving Company of Marietta will begin work soon on realigning the intersection of Old Norcross and Boggs Roads. The nearly $1.8 million project will increase sight distance and extend turn lanes to improve vehicle and pedestrian safety at the busy intersection. Funding comes from the 2001 SPLOST program.

The intersection of Grayson Parkway (Georgia Highway 84) and Bennett Road near the new Grayson Library will get turn lanes and a traffic signal. New sidewalks, curbs and gutters will be built, plus turn lanes into Windsor Place. The City of Grayson is paying for decorative poles and mast arms. Pittman Construction Company won the $800,000 project.

Right and left turn lanes will be added on Brushy Fork Road at the entrance to Magill Elementary School. The low bidder was ISC, Inc. for just over $658,000.

New sidewalks on Oak Road will extend from Dogwood Road to Gwin Oaks Drive, providing continuous sidewalk from Five Forks Trickum Road to Gwin Oaks Elementary School. CMES, Inc. was low bidder at about $740,000.

The Garner Road project will add a right turn lane from Garner Road to Five Forks Trickum Road. New sidewalks on Garner Road will run from Miller Road to Five Forks Trickum and on Miller Road from Garner to Hambrick Drive at the Haralson Hills subdivision entrance. The nearly $2.3 million project went to low bidder ISC, Inc.

Ordained as a Presbyterian minister, Thornwell Jacobs (1877-1956) is best known as the re-founder and president of Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, where he originated the Crypt of Civilization time capsule. He was born on February 15, 1877, in Clinton, S.C., at the Thornwell Orphanage, which was founded by his father, the Rev. William Plumer Jacobs.

The young Jacobs learned the printing trade at an early age. He earned a B.A. and M.A. from Presbyterian College, also founded by his father, and graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey in 1899. After serving briefly in a Presbyterian pastorate in Morganton, N.C., Jacobs began to broaden institutional support for the Thornwell Orphanage.

Jacobs came to Atlanta in 1909 to raise funds for Agnes Scott College in Decatur. Subsequently he sought to establish a southern Presbyterian classical college for white men in Atlanta. His plan was to re-found Oglethorpe University, which had been chartered in 1835 near Milledgeville. His grandfather, Ferdinand Jacobs, had served on the faculty of the old institution and had told his grandson about Oglethorpe, which had shut down during the Civil War.

In 1911 Jacobs established the Westminster Magazine, a religious publication that promoted the re-founding of Oglethorpe University. In 1913 he incorporated Oglethorpe University, while launching a four-year campaign to raise funds in Presbyterian churches throughout the South. An Atlanta campaign in 1913, led by civic leader Ivan Allen Sr., bolstered Jacobs's efforts.

In 1916 Jacobs opened the doors of Oglethorpe University at its present location on Peachtree Road north of the city. He never realized affiliation for the school from the Southern Presbyterian General Assembly. It objected to Jacobs's partnership with the Silver Lake Park Company, which donated land for the campus. Jacobs and the Silver Lake Park Company thus spearheaded suburban development on the Peachtree Road frontier as water, power, paved roads, and trolley service extended into the area.

As president of Oglethorpe University from 1915 to 1943 Jacobs was known nationally as a maverick promoter and innovator. He achieved an extraordinary record of awarding honorary doctorates, whose recipients included Bernard Baruch, Amelia Earhart, William Randolph Hearst, Walter Lippman, and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Perhaps Georgia's foremost millenarian, Jacobs in 1940 sealed the Crypt of Civilization, a time capsule not to be opened until A.D. 8113. In 1943 Jacobs resigned his presidency over a controversy concerning the ill-fated Oglethorpe Medical School. He later published an autobiography, Step Down, Dr. Jacobs: The Autobiography of an Autocrat (1945). He died in Atlanta on August 4, 1956, and is buried in Clinton, S.C.

"I've learned that history is not what happened, but what people report that happened."

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