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SNELLVILLE – What would make T.W. Briscoe Park better?

City leaders will be looking for your answers to that question at two public meetings as part of Phase III of the T.W. Briscoe Park Master Plan update.

Nearly $4 million was set aside in 2014 Special Local Option Sales Tax funds for renovations, possibly including a multipurpose building.

"A new multipurpose building would give us better ability to provide more diverse programming, better meeting and activity rooms and better offices for efficiency," said Parks and Recreation Director Lisa Platt. "It's about being able to offer more options to visitors to the park. It opens a lot of options we haven't been able to provide."

The first meeting is from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 15 at the park office at the park, 2500 Sawyer Parkway. The second meeting is from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sept. 19 at City Hall, 2342 Oak Road.

This would be the fourth round of SPLOST improvements at the park. The first three – dubbed Phase I, IIa and IIb – started in 2008 and included additional restrooms, additional sidewalks, a multipurpose field, parking lot improvements and a softball complex.

The meeting is open to the public. Citizen input will help determine the needs of the community which will shape the future use of the park.

For more information call the parks office at 770-985-3535.

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SNELLVILLE – The post office will move from its Oak Road location to the former SunTrust building at 2440 Wisteria Drive after the city and the U.S. Postal Service inked a deal Tuesday, in what is being called a "major win" for the city's eagerly anticipated Towne Center project.

"This is a historic day for the City of Snellville," Mayor Barbara Bender said. "We have been working on this deal for at least five years and saw it as a major piece in our goal of creating a Towne Center where residents can live, work, learn and play and making Snellville a destination for visitors. The city would like to thank the USPS for its help in making the Towne Center project a place we can all be proud of."

Mayor and Council approved the purchase of the vacant SunTrust building on Wisteria Drive at a called meeting in May. City leaders feel the access and parking around this building offers a significantly safer situation than the difficult parking and traffic pattern around the existing post office building. Negotiations also highlighted the fact the current post office contains a lot of unneeded space since mail delivery functions have moved to a new facility in Centerville.

Based on this new commitment by USPS, the city has reengaged with a committed developer to finish a development agreement to create the Towne Center on the block between Oak Road, Wisteria Drive, North Road and Clower Street. The Towne Center will provide the city's downtown with residential, educational, commercial and recreational properties surrounding a city market and new Elizabeth Williams Library already greenlighted following a signed agreement with the county last year.

The Towne Center will spur growth in the surrounding areas of the city, as outlined in the recently revised comprehensive plan.

"This is a major win for the Towne Center project," said Economic Development Director Eric Van Otteren. "The post office was one of the last major pieces of property the city needed to acquire to make this dream a reality. Through fruitful discussions with the USPS, we were able to strike a deal which will make room for more quality growth in the Towne Center for decades to come."

The city, through the Downtown Development Authority, purchased the former bank building in June. The post office will be located on the planned Towne Center greenway which will provide a pleasant walking and biking opportunity for Towne Center residents and visitors. City officials anticipate construction to begin on the greenway in early 2020.

The USPS now has 90 days to complete a review of the project which will include a public meeting, the date of which is to be determined. The project will go out to bid in October, according to a project timeline.

For more information and updates on the Towne Center project visit www.snellville.org/the-towne-center-snellville.

SNELLVILLE – For the fifth straight year, the city's millage rate will remain the same in 2019.

The proposed millage rate of 4.588 mills represents the city's commitment for providing quality services while maintaining affordable millage rates for residents. In 2010, the millage rate was 5.9 mills.

"Each year, as the City of Snellville grows, city officials work to control the ever-increasing cost of services in order to maintain a stable millage rate," City Manager Butch Sanders said. "The Mayor and Council believes it is their duty to keep taxes stable while offering better services for residents."

To meet such a goal, the city has to spend conservatively and look for creative ways to save money such as leveraging state grant funds to add to Snellville's street resurfacing efforts and using new technology within the city's departments to operate more efficiently, Sanders said.

The rate was approved after three public hearings, the last of which was July 8.

New tax digest growth equaled $18.7 million. Just four years ago, new growth only accounted for $8.6 million.

The Mayor and Council approved an annual budget of $12.6 million last month.

SNELLVILLE – The Georgia Department of Transportation is in the beginning stages of project development for the widening of Scenic Highway from Highway 78 to Sugarloaf Parkway and is looking for input on how the project will affect environmental, economic and social concerns in the area.

There is no immediate timeline for this project.

The design for the project is being developed at the same time as an Environmental Analysis and a review of environmental laws and regulations. And now GDOT needs residents' help.

"In particular, GDOT would appreciate your assistance in identifying low-income and minority neighborhoods," a GDOT letter to the city reads. "This would also include help in identifying neighborhood leaders and minority groups or associations located throughout the affected communities within the project's area of potential effect. We would like to be certain that these communities are recognized and given the opportunity to fully participate and provide meaningful input in the project development process."

Residents who have concerns about the project and its potential impact can contact Public Information Officer Brian Arrington at barrington@snellville.org.

SNELLVILLE – In a true example of governments cooperating for the good of the people, Gwinnett County road crews were on Skyland Drive cleaning debris from the roadway Friday.

The cleanup effort was the result of Mayor Pro Tem Dave Emanuel reaching out to Snellville Public Works Director Gaye Johnson to see what could be done about keeping the roadway near South Gwinnett High School litter free. Because Skyland is a county-maintained road, Johnson called Gwinnett County, which promptly responded, sending the road crew.

"It is great to see Gwinnett County respond to Snellville's request when called upon," Emanuel said. "This is a true example of two entities working together to better serve our residents. We greatly appreciate their help. This is how government is supposed to work."

Emanuel recently began a cleanup effort called Snellville Clean and Proud, modeled after the popular Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful program. The city has adopted a one-mile stretch of Oak Road. Citizens and city officials join together to clean that portion of the road. A cleanup day is being scheduled for July.

If you would like to be a part of Snellville Clean and Proud, contact Emanuel at demanuel@snellville.org.

The City of Snellville has tentatively adopted a 2019 millage rate which will require an increase in
property taxes 4.63% percent.
All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearing on this tax increase to be held at Snellville City
Hall, 2342 Oak Road, Snellville, GA 30078 on Thursday, June 27, 2019 at 11:30 a.m.
Times and places of additional public hearings on this tax increase are at Snellville City Hall on Thursday,
June 27, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. and Monday, July 8, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.
This tentative increase will result in a millage rate of 4.588 mills, an increase of 0.203 mills over the
rollback rate, but no actual millage rate increase from last year. Without this tentative tax increase, the
millage rate would be no more than the rollback rate 4.385 mills. The proposed tax increase for a home
with fair market value of $200,000 is approximately $16.24 and the proposed tax increase for non-
homestead property (Commercial) with a fair market value of $550,000 is approximately $44.66.

SNELLVILLE – The Georgia Department of Transportation will host an educational public information open house concerning the Highway 78-124 intersection May 20.

The event is open to the public and will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. First Baptist Church Snellville, 2400 Main St E.

The event is titled "Educational Public Information Open House: Maneuvering Through the New Displaced Left Turns."

This project is currently under construction with the first phase opening in spring 2019 and full completion by the end of 2019. It will reconfigure the intersection by adding a two-legged displaced left turn (DLT) with dual left-turn lanes offset from the through lanes on the east and west legs of Highway 78. A dedicated right-turn lane is being provided for southbound Highway 124 (toward Lithonia) for vehicles heading west on Highway 78 (toward Stone Mountain).

There are also improvements to Henry Clower Boulevard that will allow the road to serve as a bypass for vehicles traveling northbound on Highway 124 (toward Lawrenceville) and eastbound and westbound on Highway 78 (toward Loganville and Stone Mountain, respectively). Vehicles must use Henry Clower Boulevard to access eastbound or westbound Highway 78 from northbound Highway 124.

The purpose of this Educational Public Information Open House is to provide the public with an opportunity to learn how to navigate the new DLT intersection and ask questions of the state's project team.

There will be no formal presentation. Visual aids including diagrams will be on display at this meeting.

The meeting site is accessible to people with disabilities. Accommodations for people with disabilities can be arranged with advance notice by calling Project Manager Kimberly Kimbrough at 404-631-1528.

Snellville Days 2019 Event Schedule

THE EVENT IS RAIN OR SHINE!

Snellville Days officials have released the final entertainment schedule for the city's largest festival, May 4 and 5.

Snellville Days will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 4 and 12 to 5 p.m. May 5. The event is at T.W. Briscoe Park, located at 2500 Sawyer Parkway. Parking and admission is free. There is a free shuttle to the park from the parking lot of First Baptist Church Snellville, 2400 Main St. East, on Saturday only.

There will be more than 200 craft, food, sponsor and civic vendors, kids' activities and continuous live entertainment both days. Other event highlights include a classic and custom car exhibit, performances from groups from eight local elementary, middle and high schools, and classes by the Master Gardeners of the Community Garden @ Snellville.

Presenting sponsors for the event are: 94.9 The Bull, News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB, 640 WGST Talk Radio, the Air National Guard, Stone Mountain Volkswagen, 104.7 The FISH

Silver sponsors are: AT&T, Delta Community Credit Union, E R Snell, Walton EMC, State Farm, First Baptist Church of Snellville

For more information visit www.snellvilledays.org.

SNELLVILLE – Moody's Investors Service has assigned a Aa2 rating to the city's proposed $4 million Taxable Revenue Bonds for the Cobblestone Project as part of the city's Towne Center project.

In connection with the Snellville Downtown Development Authority's issuance of revenue bonds for the purchase of the Cobblestone Office Park, located at Oak Road and Clower Street, the city was obliged to seek an updated bond rating from Moody's Investors Service. The Moody's review resulted in a very strong financial rating of Aa2.

The Aa2 issuer rating reflects the city's moderately-sized, but growing, tax base, very strong reserve and cash positions and manageable long-term liabilities, according to a Moody's press release. The general obligation limited tax revenue bonds are rated on parity with the issuer rating because of the city's full faith and credit pledge to repay the bond's debt service.

Factors that could lead to an upgrade in the near future are a tax base expansion and strengthened wealth levels.

The Towne Center project will transform a block of Snellville's downtown into a livable and walkable downtown district. A governmental agreement with Gwinnett County has been approved to build a new library, relocating the Elizabeth Williams branch to the Towne Center. The city is also planning to build a city market on the Towne Center site.

SNELLVILLE – City officials are cracking down on those who distribute unsolicited advertising materials.

The Mayor and Council approved a measure Monday that makes it illegal to distribute such advertising materials in an effort to keep area streets free of accumulating debris.

Unsolicited advertising material "means any printed or written matter, any sample or device, dodger, circular, leaflet, pamphlet, paper, booklet, donation bag or any other printed matter or literature which is not delivered by the United States Postal Service," according to the ordinance.

The ordinance also states advertising materials can no longer be placed on private property in such a manner that it can be blown, carried away by the elements, or deposited on any public place including streets, road right-of-ways or adjoining private premises. It also states no materials can be attached to a mailbox in violation of federal law and no materials may be delivered by leaving the material on the ground unprotected or in plastic bags.

Finally, it is now illegal for anyone to put unsolicited advertising material in or on any vehicle unless the occupant of the vehicle is willing to accept the advertising.

Violators can be fined up to $1,000, city officials said.