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County adopts mandatory solid waste
plan for all residents
By
Heather Sawyer
Special to GwinnettForum.com
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga., Dec. 18, 2007 -- Gwinnett County Commissioners
have amended the county's litter control ordinance and approved
a draft new solid waste management plan. "We can do a better
job of recycling and controlling both the litter and the trash in
our communities," says District 2 Commissioner Bert Nasuti,
who championed both the ordinance revisions and the proposed solid
waste plan.
State law requires reviews of local solid waste collection and
disposal procedures every 10 years. The proposed changes will affect
most homeowners in Gwinnett County. District 1 Commissioner Lorraine
Green says: "The present collection system is inefficient and
results in excessive truck traffic, air and noise pollution. I believe
the changes in the proposed solid waste plan address those problems
and will improve the quality of life in our communities."
A 50-member citizen advisory board conducted a 16-month study and
took input from more than 5,000 citizens. Together with a team of
nationally-recognized experts, Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful, Inc.
prepared Gwinnett's 260-page draft plan, the subject of a December
10 public meeting and available on the County's website at www.gwinnettcounty.com.
The County will now divide its 437 square miles into no more than
eight districts and award an exclusive contract to a single provider
in each district based on competitive bids. No provider will be
allowed to serve more than three districts. All homeowners will
now have weekly pickups of solid waste, recyclables and yard waste.
The plan will not affect waste collection within Gwinnett cities.
Gwinnett County and the cities of Berkeley Lake, Dacula, Duluth,
Grayson, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Norcross, Snellville, Sugar Hill
and Suwanee reviewed and evaluated their current solid waste collection,
recyclables and disposal systems and identified areas for improvement.
Based on these findings and citizen input, they helped develop the
plan's goals and actions to meet current and future needs.
District 4 Commissioner Kevin Kenerly says: "The study estimated
that some 20,000 households have chosen to have no trash collection
at all. That has led to an increase in illegal dumping and pollution
throughout the county."
Gwinnett produced 1.2 million tons of trash in 2005 according to
the study, with 98 percent of it from residences and 35 percent
of it recyclable. District 3 Commissioner Mike Beaudreau says: "Our
residents are asking us for a better recycling program and it makes
good sense for us to provide it. Our present system of solid waste
collection and disposal served us well in the past but it's increasingly
inefficient and ineffective today." Increasing the number of
recyclables collected from seven to 35 will provide needed materials
for Georgia industries and improve the environment.
Board Chairman Charles Bannister said, "State law requires
counties and participating municipalities to work toward a 23-percent
waste stream reduction per person by 2017 and to ensure adequate
capability and capacity to deal with solid waste effectively."
Following approval by the Board of Commissioners on last week, the
draft solid waste plan now goes to the Atlanta Regional Commission
and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for their approvals.
Changes to the litter ordinance bring Gwinnett law in line with
a state law that went into effect in July 2006 adopting consistent
definitions of litter and establishing uniform penalties. Commercial
property owners in overlay districts will now be required to empty
and maintain litter receptacles on public right-of-way adjacent
to their property. Also under the revised ordinance, cigarette butts
are now expressly termed "litter."
More on transit poll, garbage hauling and
Buford champions
By
Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
DEC. 18, 2007 -- Three items for you to consider today.
Brack |
NO SURPRISE: The recent poll done by the Gwinnett Village
CID concerning transportation in Gwinnett surprised many in the
way Gwinnettians perceived transportation. The poll showed that
a growing number of people favor some form of public transportation
in the county.
Yet that poll should not have been such a surprise, for three reasons.
First, back in 1990 when the second MARTA vote was taken in Gwinnett,
43 percent of the people living in the Norcross to Buford corridor
favored MARTA. With the increased problems with highway traffic,
more people are leaning this way.
Then too, many of the 350,000 people who have moved to Gwinnett
since 1990 have come from areas with much more developed public
transportation. They had no problem wanting some form of public
transit here.
And finally, there are more and more people in Gwinnett without
their own automobiles. They must rely on some form of either public
transit, or friends, to get them around. They have no problem with
having a wider use public transit in the county.
Therefore, it's not a question of when so much as it is a question
of "How" such a system should be funded. The next few
months (hopefully) should see forming of task forces that will recommend
directions the county should take in providing this new infrastructure.
After all, people are tiring of having to fight across lanes of
highways, always in danger of being rammed by either someone not
paying attention (read "on the cell phone"), or half crazed
on drugs or alcohol! Better public transit, even if phased in by
districts, would be a great help!
* * * * *
ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT moment came in Gwinnett last week when
the county commissioners took steps toward a more efficient system
of garbage hauling,
In effect, this current system is somewhat of a run-away system,
with the garbage hauling companies at cut-throat competition with
one another. Under the current regulations, firms can virtually
pick-up garbage wherever they find customers. The long-term effect
of this system means several companies were picking up in any one
area.
The cities of the county have pretty much solved this problem,
franchising a single solid waste company within their boundaries.
No so the county.
The new regulations would limit the areas in which firms could
compete. And these firms would not even have to sign up customers,
but would be paid by the county through a solid waste fee on their
tax bill. This service, of course, will be based on which firm bids
the lowest.
It's a move in the right direction, and long overdue. Hats off
to the county on this move!
* * * * *
 CONGRATULATIONS,
also, to Buford High School, which wrapped up a tremendously successful
football season by winning the Class AA state championship. They
won 15 straight games without a loss this year! And they won their
the last two playoff games by a combined 90-0 score. This is the
Wolves' fourth title in seven years. That's quite an accomplishment.
Buford has won state titles in football five times, in 1978 and
2001 (Class A) and 2002-2003, and this year, 2007 in Class AA. They're
maintaining quite a football tradition in Buford!
 The
public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com
to you at no cost to readers. Georgia Campus-Philadelphia College
of Osteopathic Medicine (GA-PCOM), Georgia's newest medical
college, is in its third year. Students who began the program in
2005 are now in area medical centers and doctors' offices under
the tutelage of faculty-appointed physicians. The evening certificate
and master's degree biomedical sciences programs continues to attract
talented graduate students. The medical degree program combines
the course load of medical school with added emphasis on the relationship
between the body's structure and its function. More than 330 students
are enrolled in the osteopathic physician and bio-med programs.
GA-PCOM, at 625 Old Peachtree Road, Suwanee, recruits and educates
medical students from Georgia and the surrounding states and encourages
them to remain in the region thereby helping improve access to healthcare
in medically underserved areas. Call 678-225-7532 for additional
information or go online to: GA-PCOM.
With continued work,
Gwinnett could become "Gwinnopoly"
Editor, the Forum:
I tend to be very suspicious of polls commissioned by organizations
that have a vested interest in the outcome. I'm not surprised the
Gwinnett Village CID didn't ask if people would be willing to pay
the construction costs for 10 miles of MARTA. If the MARTA extension
has that much economic benefit to the CIDs, let them pay for it.
Second, if the garbage plan makes that much sense, let's get UPS,
FedEx, DHL and USPS together and pick one for the only county parcel
delivery service. Or how about Comcast, DirectTV, Dish and ATT so
we only have one TV provider. We could do that for plumbers, electricians,
lawn services, etc. Then we could change our name to Gwinnopoly
County.
-- Patrick Malone, Snellville
Dear Pat: Ah, extending a chain of thought does
bring you a lot of fun, eh? I know you are pleased that when the
county infrastructure was being set up, the county did not form
its own waste collection system, but allowed private companies
to haul away our trash. Had a county garbage hauling been formed,
they could have privatized it now. But this way, Gwinnett didn't
have to take that step. They were years ahead of other governments
in this field.--eeb
Duluth
pre-Yule show on Dec. 23 features Radio Disney
The fun is at the Duluth Festival Center located in Downtown Duluth
on the Town Green Sunday, December 23. Coco, Kari-Oke and the Radio
Disney Street Team will get you pumped during a pre show-party from
noon until 2 p.m. Then Keke Palmer and Drew Seeley will rock the
stage. There will also be tons of interactive booths for families
and friends, all with free admission.
You are invited to bring in the holidays with a rockin' Jingle
Jam concert brought to you by Radio Disney AM 590 and the City of
Duluth!
New Year's Eve celebration
on historic Courthouse Square
Visit historic downtown Lawrenceville on December 31 for its annual
family- friendly New Year's Eve celebration. Beginning at 7 p.m.,
the downtown square comes alive with music venues! Children's activities
include puppetry and magic shows, giant slides, space walks, wagon
hay rides, face painting, and special characters. Come browse the
downtown shops and dine in Lawrenceville's restaurants along with
the event's variety food court for a complete and guaranteed fun
and eventful experience.
Free parking/shuttle is provided from the Gwinnett Justice and Administration
Center. Limited parking is available in the new Lawrenceville deck
on Crogan Street.
Walton
EMC customers get $3 million in December bill credit
Walton Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) customer-owners will
notice a credit on their December bill -- their part of $3 million
in capital credits Walton EMC is returning this year. Walton EMC
customer-owners receive refunds because Walton EMC is a cooperative,
owned by those it serves.
Consumers who were Walton EMC customer-owners in 1983, 1984 and/or
2006 will receive a credit-a total of 90,456 refunds. This is a
combination of first-in, first-out and last-in, first-out disbursement,
and it is designed so that a majority of customer-owners can take
advantage of the refund.
Capital credits are the customer-owners portion of money left over
(margins) once all expenses are paid. Walton EMC holds margins as
a reserve to retire debt, build equity and to prepare for emergencies.
Once sufficient reserves are accrued, additional money is returned
to the customer-owners as capital credits.
Most customer-owners will see the credit as a line item on their
December bills; in a few cases, a check may be sent. Checks over
$15 written to those no longer on Walton EMC lines will be sent
via mail.
Suwanee resident begins
job as new DOT area engineer
Georgia Department of Transportation District Engineer Russell
McMurry announces that Hiral Patel of Suwanee is the new area engineer
for Dawson, Forsyth and Hall Counties. She assumed her new duties
earlier this month.
Patel began her career with the Georgia Department of Transportation
in 1995 as a transportation engineer. She has spent her entire career
in construction. She has managed projects including road widening,
bridge construction, and ATMS or Automated Traffic Management Systems
projects. In 2004, she became responsible for all Construction projects
on the Interstates and State Routes in Hall, Forsyth and Dawson
counties, and supervises 55 employees. She is responsible for the
construction and maintenance of over 300 centerline miles of State
Routes and Interstates in her area.
Patel is a graduate of Gujarat University, India, with a Bachelor
of Science degree in structural design. She and her husband, Prashant,
are the proud parents of three children.
GGC wins approval to
establish campus Golden Key chapter
Georgia Gwinnett College has won approval from the International
Leadership Council and Board of Directors of the Golden Key International
Honor Society for the provisional chartering of the first honor
society chapter on campus. Members of the Council and Board of Directors
will visit GGC for a breakfast and campus tour today to discuss
the details of the honor society's establishment.
Although official final chartering is contingent upon accreditation,
the Council approved GGC's request for provisional status in order
to provide membership to students who meet the Golden Key and institutional
selection criteria for sophomores, juniors and seniors.
Jim Fatzinger, associate vice president for student affairs, says:
"I appreciate all who have worked together to make this happen.
This is another 'first' to be celebrated by the GGC community and
our students."
County moves to change
road water relocation work
Gwinnett County has taken steps toward making road construction
projects flow a little more smoothly. Since major road projects
usually involve relocating underground water and sewer pipes, the
County has determined that the road contractor, not the Gwinnett
Water Department, should be responsible for scheduling and performing
that work.
The new procedures will be tested on two intersections along Lawrenceville
Highway (U.S. Highway 29) at its intersections with Beaver Ruin
Road and Pleasant Hill Road.
Lynn Smarr, Gwinnett's director of Water Resources, said, "It
just makes sense to have all subcontractors on a project working
under the same general contractor. We believe this new process will
improve efficiency and scheduling and allow road improvements to
move more quickly."
- 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
New York
architect has major impact on Savannah buildings
The architect John Norris designed major public buildings and private
residences in Savannah between 1846 and 1860. Skilled in a variety
of mid-19th-century revival styles, Norris became the city's most
important architect by the 1850s.
Born in 1804, John S. Norris began his career in his native New
York City as a mason, progressed to a builder, and later identified
himself as an architect in the New York City directory. In 1839
Norris sailed to Wilmington, N.C., where he supervised the construction
of St. James Episcopal Church (1839), designed by the Philadelphia
architect Thomas U. Walter. In 1843 Norris was appointed architect
and superintendent of the Wilmington Custom House, his first major
commission.
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Savannah
Custom House
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While working on the custom house in Wilmington, Norris received
the commission to design the Savannah Custom House (1848-52)---an
austere Greek revival style building with a monumental portico.
His work on the Custom House led to other commissions in Savannah.
He designed in the Greek revival style the Andrew Low House (1849)
and the massive Abrahams Home for Indigent Females (1858). Norris
designed his best-known house for Charles Green in the Gothic revival
style. The Green-Meldrim House (1853), which is among the earliest
Gothic revival houses in the state, is distinguished by its cast-iron
porch and oriel windows.
Norris also designed towers to aid maritime navigation on shoals
in the Savannah River and on Cockspur Island---(1848-49). Among
his last projects in the city were two brick Italianate-style warehouses
built on the bluffs above the river. These warehouses are known
as John Stoddard's Lower Range---(1858-59) and Upper Range (1859).
In 1860, with the prospect of civil war, Norris returned to his
family in New York City. Six years later, he moved to a farm at
Blauvelt, in Rockland County, N.Y., where he remained until his
death in 1876.
Reason takes ordinary
approach, but not ignorance!
"Reason obeys itself, and ignorance submits to whatever is
dictated to it."
-- Author and Revolutionary Activist Thomas Paine (1739-1809),
via Marshall Miller, Lilburn.
Send your thoughts, 55-word short stories, pet peeves
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is an online community commentary for exploring pragmatic and sensible
social, political and economic approaches to improve life in Gwinnett
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