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TODAY'S
ISSUE
Work
underway on Gwinnett County's Unified Plan for 2030
By Steve Logan
Planning Director
Gwinnett Department of Planning and Development
Special to GwinnettForum.com
LAWRENCEVILLE, Sept. 19, 2006 -- Where will Gwinnett be in 25 years,
and what challenges will the County face? That is the question the
Gwinnett County 2030 Unified Plan will address over the next year.
Logan |
Designed to aid and direct Gwinnett County in future planning,
the Unified Plan will be used as a guide for future land use and
community development decisions in Gwinnett through the year 2030.
Work on the Unified Plan began in February 2006, and is designed
to address challenges and concerns related to Gwinnett County's
growth, housing needs, diversity, capital investment, land use,
redevelopment, transportation, waterways, forested areas, air quality
and water supply.
The Gwinnett County 2030 Unified Plan is the central document and
integrates two traditionally separate plans: the Comprehensive Plan
and the Consolidated Plan.
Typically the Comprehensive Plan, required by the Georgia Department
of Community Affairs, focuses on land use and development issues.
The Consolidated Plan, required by the U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development, addresses community development, housing
and homeless needs. Both of these plans rely on the same basic data
and both establish long-range policy direction for the County.
The Unified Plan will guide future land use and community development
decisions in the County through 2030, and will address housing and
homeless needs for the period 2008 through 2012. This single document
will simultaneously provide the basis for capital investment and
land use decisions while allowing the County to continue to receive
federal funds from the United States Department of Housing and Urban
Development.
The Comprehensive Transportation Plan, while coordinated with the
Unified Plan, will be a stand-alone document and will focus on the
transportation network needed to serve current and future development.
The Comprehensive Transportation Plan becomes the reference providing
for the county's transportation funding priorities. A summary of
the Comprehensive Transportation Plan will become the "transportation
element" of the Comprehensive Plan.
This planning process will address these challenges and concerns
by creating and evaluating alternative scenarios of the future.
These will be very different from each other. Evaluating the impacts
of each scenario and predicting how they meet various goals will
enable us to identify the most desirable, yet achievable, future
for Gwinnett County.
A Planning Advisory Committee, representing a range of community
interests, has been put into place to guide this effort. This 23-member
group will provide input, act as a sounding board on the Plan's
progress throughout its development, and solicit ideas from the
organizations with which they are affiliated.
Standing in Gwinnett 30 years ago, many people could have not imagined
the County's growth. That is what we are asking the Planning Advisory
Committee to do to help us prepare for the future.
Focus groups and public information meetings are other key elements
that will be used to help develop the Plan. Scenario-building exercises
will be explored and tested to help predict and evaluate future
challenges, and public meetings will be held across the County to
provide residents an opportunity to review and provide input on
the Plan.
Completion of the final version of the Unified Plan is expected
in June 2007, with a goal to have the Plan adopted by the Gwinnett
County Board of Commissioners in early 2008.
To find out more information and follow progress on the Gwinnett
2030 Unified Plan, visit www.gwinnettunifiedplan.com
and you will directly connected to the web page.
ELLIOTT
BRACK
Bloggers rise up fast, tell state they don't
like new tags
By
Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com
SEPT. 19, 2006 -- It wasn't just me. In realizing this, I also
recognized how new forces can affect us these days.
Brack |
What hit me negatively was the design, but mostly the color, of
the new Georgia vehicle license plate. As unveiled by the Department
of Revenue last week, it featured basically a dramatic change from
the previous white background. It was mostly blue, with a few new
features, and an elimination of the "Georgia on my mind"
and downplaying the Georgia peach theme.
Thinking little more about it, I then learned that reaction to
others in Georgia was mostly negative, too. In short, instead of
promoting the new plate, the Georgia Department of Revenue started
backing off the new design, saying it was merely an idea, a concept,
and not the final design.
What caused all this? The internet. Bloggers registered their disapproval
of the design in great numbers, causing the Department, and to some
extent the governor, a little embarrassment.
Proposed new tag (Photo courtesy of Atlanta Journal-Constitution) |
Even the newspapers of the state did not react as fast as the bloggers
on the internet did. The bloggers got to it immediately, registering
their dislike of this new tag design..
Given the immediacy of the reaction, you have to give it some credence.
Few could charge that this was some sort of orchestrated campaign,
given the spontaneous nature of the blogs.
It reminds me of what the historian Thomas Carlyle who wrote in
1839: "(Edmund) Burke said that there were three estates in
Parliament; but, in the Reporters' Gallery yonder, there sat a Fourth
Estate more important far than them all." The three estates
Burke was referring to were those of the French States-General:
the church, the nobility and the commoners, although in practice
the latter were usually represented by the middle class bourgeoisie,
we are told.
So since that time, the media havw been generally known as the
Fourth Estate, an independent and often unorganized group, which
speaks not with a common voice, but with a voice that often reflects
the choices of the people.
Now in the modern computer age comes a new development that is
not tied to trained and organized journalists. Instead, the bloggers
of the world can be anyone with a computer, who though not organized,
speaks independently. When many of the bloggers are coming out with
similar opinions on a topic, this makes for a powerful new development.
We might call this the "Fifth Estate." This new Estate
may become much more powerful than any of the other four when there
is a commonality of thought on any given subject.
Smart politicians are beginning to pay attention to this "Fifth
Estate" to monitor public sentiment. The key aspect of this
new Estate is that it represents a wide scope of opinion when independent
bloggers collectively target a subject. It swells up, rushing past
other perhaps more important subjects, to carve out its own niche
in the arena of public opinion.
This "Fifth Estate" is an interesting development. Governor
Dr. Perdue and his Revenue Department found out how powerful this
new element of society has become.
Thank you, bloggers, for speaking out and getting bureaucrats to
re-consider the design of the new Georgia license plate
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FEEDBACK
It's
past time for accountability from the nation's leaders
Editor, the Forum:
I read Mr. Jerry Gonzalez' article on Governor Perdue (Forum,
Sept. 15) and loved it! I wanted to expand a couple of points.
Regarding 9/11 and the tragic events of that day, Republicans have
consistently politicized this from almost the moment it happened.
They are also the first to accuse any who oppose their policies
on homeland security or defense spending of doing the same. Max
Cleland was one of the first victims of this shameless and self
serving rhetoric. Mr. Cleland lost three limbs in Vietnam and was
somehow portrayed as unpatriotic.
The other point Mr. Gonzalez made was regarding the entry of the
terrorists into the country who perpetrated 9/11. Not only were
they all here legally, but many were on the terror watch list of
the CIA and State Department. Both these agencies supposedly felt
it was unimportant to let INS and Customs have access to these lists.
The only person who was arrested after 9-11 who had anything to
do with the attacks was a former Egyptian military officer during
the assassination of Anwar Sadat. Ali Mohamed was expelled from
the Egyptian military for being a radical Muslim fundamentalist.
He apparently let it be known that Sadat "got what he deserved."
Later he worked for the CIA in Hamburg and was dismissed quickly
when it was discovered that he was a double agent. He was placed
on the CIA and State Department's terror watch list as well. Nothing
was again sent to INS or Customs. He subsequently moved to the United
States, obtained a student visa, married a U.S. citizen and became
a citizen himself.
He joined the US Army and while stationed at Ft. Bragg began sending
Special Forces training tactics and documents to Afghanistan for
the Mujahadeen. While a US soldier, he took personal leave to Afghanistan
and helped train Mujahadeen soldiers. He became acquainted with
Osama bin Laden and was already a friend of Aiman Al-Zawahiri when
they were both in Egypt during the late 70's and 80's. Later he
was employed by the FBI working in counter terrorism. His knowledge
obtained from our own military and government while on the terror
watch list was crucial in setting up the terror cells in the U.S.
who perpetrated 9-11 as well as helping the Mujahadeen defeat the
Soviets in Afghanistan.
The point I'm making is that the very same politicians who now
claim to be the ones to make us safe are the same who turned a blind
eye to global terrorism since the early 1970's when terrorism became
the method of choice for violent dissidence and independence movements.
Both parties are guilty as are the airline industries who continually
debated over who would pay for increased security but never took
any action. Today it is you and I who pay the bill, with both taxes
and the lives of our nation's youth who courageously serve in the
armed forces.
This information was in a National Geographic story recently on
television. CNN also helped break the story. Google "Al-Qaeda's
spy in the US" and you too can find much information on Ali
Mohamed.
Governor Perdue is simply playing with your fears now and I would
look closely at the pork attached to any bill before claiming it
did anything except to line the pockets of those who are pushing
it. It is well past time for accountability of our leaders.
-- Roger Hagen, Lilburn
Feels Gonzalez article
was nothing but smoke and mirrors
Editor, the Forum:
Mr. Gonzalez (Forum,
Sept. 15) writes "to crack down on the use of fraudulent
documents to obtain state identification. Governor Perdue touted
this as an effort to combat illegal immigration, identity theft
and support homeland security" to have
access to a Georgia Driver's License.
In the next paragraph, he writes that undocumented immigrants do
not have access to a Georgia Driver's License.
The Governor's proposal is about the use of fraudulent documents
to obtain said license. Is he saying that we should allow undocumented
immigrants to obtain drivers license? What's it going to be, Mr.
Gonzalez? Talk about smoke and mirrors.
-- Larry Partain, Norcross
UPCOMING
Chamber
to hear talk on strategy of "The Long War"
Guest speaker at the September 27 general membership meeting of
the Gwinnett Chamber will be Rear Admiral Robert T. Moeller. He
will be discussing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and providing
insight into what is commonly referred to as "The Long War."
The admiral is director of Strategy, Plans and Policy (J5), of the
U.S. Central Command.
Rear Admiral Moeller will touch on many of the issues in the Middle
East, including the progress the Coalition has made in Afghanistan,
the way ahead in Iraq and the humanitarian operations being conducted
in the Horn of Africa.
The meeting will be held at 11:30 a.m. at the 1818 Club atop the
Gwinnett Chamber building.
Cost is $45 for Chamber members and $55 for non-Chamber members.
Registration deadline is September 25. To RSVP, email Laurie McKenzie
at laurie@gwinnettchamber.org.
NOTABLE
Fourth
annual Taste of Norcross High scheduled for Oct. 13
Norcross High School will host its fourth annual "A Taste
of Norcross High" on Friday, October 13, 2006. Proceeds from
the event benefit all participating booster clubs and the PTSA.
Highlights of the evening include delicious food selections from
28 local restaurants, a Silent Auction featuring over 600 items
and one-of-a-kind decorative plates designed by NHS student artists.
The event begins at 6:00 p.m. in the commons area.
NHS Activities Director, Mike Emery, says: "The greatest benefit
of the Taste of Norcross is that it is a community event. It brings
students, teachers, parents with and without Norcross kids, alumni
students and parents and the business community, together with a
common goal. All of the food is donated from the great restaurants
in our area and all of the silent auction items are donated as well.
What that means is that the event is 100 percent profit for our
booster clubs.
Off-site parking will be available at Christ the King Lutheran
Church. Shuttle services are provided courtesy of The Forum, Peachtree
Corners Baptist Church and American Coach Lines of Atlanta.
Tickets are available for $10 and will be sold by booster club
members. A limited number of tickets will be available in the front
office of the school. Tickets will not be sold at the door.
For more information, please click on the PTSA link on the NHS
website at www.norcrosshigh.org.
Norcross High School is located at 5300 Spalding Drive, 770/448-3674.
GGC names Lori Buckheister
development officer
Lori M. Buckheister has been named director of development at Georgia
Gwinnett College. Buckheister, former director of major gifts for
the College of Charleston in Charleston, S.C., will assist in the
administration of GGC's Foundation and lead in the creation and
implementation of the college's strategic development plan.
Buckheister |
GGC Foundation Chair Glenn White adds, "This is a community-supported
college and we're going to need the community's financial support.
The community helped create GGC, and we need its support now and
in the years to come."
Prior to her work in Charleston, Buckheister was the director of
development for Reynolds House, Museum of American Art at Wake Forest
University in Winston-Salem, N.C. She began her career in university
advancement at Wake Forest as the director of gift stewardship.
During her career, she has been a critical participant in campaigns
that have totaled more than $500 million.
A native of N.C., she graduated from Meredith College in Raleigh
with a bachelor of science in business administration. She also
holds a master of art in religion from Wake Forest University. Ms.
Buckheister and husband, Davis, reside in Buford.
North Gwinnett co-op benefits from Jackson EMC grant
The North Gwinnett Cooperative will use a $5,000 grant from the
Jackson EMC Foundation to assist senior citizens with prescription
medicine costs.
In addition to providing emergency assistance with food, utilities,
rent, clothing, school supplies and other necessary household items,
the cooperative also helps with non-narcotic prescription drug assistance.
Many of its clients are elderly and on a fixed income. Since 2004,
the cooperative's expenditures for prescription medication have
increased 300%.
Foundation funds come from the members of Jackson EMC, who contribute
an average 50 cents a month by rounding up their monthly electric
bills to the next dollar amount through Operation Round Up. More
than 90 percent of Jackson EMC's members participate in the program,
and have to date put nearly $757,400 back into their communities
through Foundation grants to 68 organizations and 19 individuals.
.
RECOMMENDED
Likes the feeling of Website for his new hometown
of Talmo
Editor, the Forum:
I really like Talmo's new website because:
- It's the "Jewel of Jackson County;"
- It has a number of fascinating historical photos;
- It features a page with well-organized links to all the fascinating
things to see and do in Jackson County;
- It includes a good list of all the businesses and institutions
I occasionally need to call;
- It contains the City's Land Use Plan, which isn't even available
on the Jackson County website;
- It provides good contact info for the Mayor and City Council
And it's my hometown, Check it out at : www.Talmo-GA.com
-- Dave Rouselle, Talmo
- 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
Early efforts
sought new state of Trans-Oconee within Georgia
"Trans-Oconee
Republic" is the name used by later historians to describe
the short-lived independent state established by Elijah Clarke west
of the Oconee River in 1794 in present-day portions of Greene, Morgan,
Putnam, and Baldwin counties. Clarke and his followers erected as
many as six fortified settlements, wrote a constitution, and elected
their own officials. But after a few months, pressure from the federal
government forced the governor to take action, and Clarke's independent
state came to an end.
Clarke |
In February 1794 Clarke resigned from the Georgia militia after
two decades of distinguished service. Around that same time he received
a French commission as a major general and decided to use the remnants
of his army to seize Indian lands west of the Oconee in May of that
year. The Creeks did not resist, and the independent state quickly
took shape. With promises of land to those who would join the venture,
Clarke hoped to fill Creek lands with settlers before the state
and federal government had time to react. No more than a few hundred
Georgians crossed the river with him.
President George Washington believed that Clarke's scheme was detrimental
to relations with both the Indians and the Spanish. In accordance
with Washington's policy of neutrality, his administration pressured
Governor George Mathews to put an end to the affair and threatened
federal military intervention otherwise.
After a month of indecision, the governor was spurred into action
by the "spirited exertions" of Judge George Walton, one
of Georgia's signers of the Declaration of Independence and a staunch
Federalist.
With Walton's eloquence and reputation on his side, Governor Mathews
felt confident enough to send the militia against the illegal settlements.
As 1,200 militiamen under Generals Jared Irwin and John Twiggs marched
to the Oconee in late September, 1794, Clarke vowed to defend his
independent state with his life. However, when Irwin offered full
amnesty to those who would peacefully return east of the river,
Clarke and virtually all of his men surrendered and went back to
their homes. Thus Georgia peacefully ended a tense standoff and
avoided a clash with the federal government.
THOUGHT
OF THE DAY
Can't we all lament:
Where does the time go?
"I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want
to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to
read, and all the friends I want to see."
-- John Burroughs, via Roy McCreary, Dacula.
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is an online community commentary for exploring pragmatic and sensible
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