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SNELLVILLE - Mayor Barbara Bender said the city's police department is "the best police department in the state" Monday.

So when Snellville Police Department Chief Roy Whitehead had to name the winners of the annual SPD awards at Monday's council meeting, he said he had tough choices to make.

"Each of them deserve an award," Whitehead said.

However, Whitehead was able to pair the list of winners to 11.

Here they are:

Not pictured are Lt. Rob Pendleton – Citizens Police Academy and Sgt. Philip Poole - Explorers.

SNELLVILLE – Council approved a five-year update of the Livable Centers Initiative Monday, which outlines key strategies and a work program for the Towne Center area.

The LCI is a grant program funded by the Atlanta Regional Commission to incentivize cities to re-envision part of their communities as vibrant, walkable places that offer increased mobility options, encourage healthy lifestyles and provide improved access to jobs and services. Snellville joined the LCI program in 2003 with a plan for the Towne Center area and last updated the plan in 2013.

The LCI update was developed along with the Snellville 2040 Comprehensive Plan which was approved by council last month. Community members provided input through stakeholder interviews, the Comprehensive Plan Community Task Force, a booth at the Snellville Farmers' Market and Public Safety Night, an online survey, street engagement and an open house. This update included information from an existing conditions assessment, a market analysis and a transportation analysis, among other components.

The Towne Center at Snellville includes .78 square miles of land centered on City Hall at the crossroads of Main Street (US 78) and Scenic Highway (SR 124).

Several goals of the update were included in the report. These goals were: to improve connections within and around downtown; to foster a unique and memorable neighborhood environment; attract and sustain local businesses and non-profits; to create a mix of housing so a diverse group of neighbors can call the Towne Center home; to integrate educational and family-friendly activities; and to build strong relationships with thoughtful development partners.

To learn more about the LCI update, or view the complete document, visit 2040 Comprehensive Plan.

SNELLVILLE – After a brief hiatus, the Snellville Arts Commission is back with a new focus.

Created in 2012, the Snellville Arts Commission was designed to increase art awareness in the community. SAC had created murals, held cultural events and organized, led by Nedra Bailey, the very successful ongoing exhibit space for local artists in the City Hall Community Room. However, the "new" SAC will now be more of an advisory commission as opposed to one charged with staging various events.

Mayor and Council approved a resolution Feb. 25 redefining the commission's role, the first order of business will be to get a new SAC Board, the second, to have that group seek the best vendor to create a Community/Public Art Master Plan.

"SAC shall prepare, maintain and update a public art master plan which identifies locations for public art in the city and identifies other potential uses of art and needed cultural-related resources," the resolution reads.

Appointed by Mayor and Council, the city is seeking six new SAC members who will serve four-year terms (with the exception of three initial members who will only serve a two-year term so the membership terms will be staggered). Three initial members will be appointed to Posts 1-3 and serve for four years and three initial members will be appointed to Posts 4-6 which will be the two year terms. A seventh member – whether it is the mayor or a councilmember - will be appointed annually by the Mayor and Council. The Mayor and Council believe this new direction will increase public input and better direct the city's cultural efforts.

Under the new terms, SAC is not authorized to spend city money. Expenditures for art acquisition, performances, art programming, art education, fund raising and other purposes consistent with the promotion of public and performing art in Snellville will be recommended to Mayor and Council who will then appropriate the funds.

The resolution also created the Performing Arts and Acquisition Fund (PAAF), a separate, special revenue fund apart from the city's overall fund structure into which public art donations and funding are deposited, transferred and used for the acquisition, commissioning, performance, exhibition and conservation of public art as recommended by SAC and approved by Mayor and Council; the Snellville Community Foundation will be used for such donations and expenditures. Now all developers and those seeking significant development permits will be informed about the value the city places on public art and its role in the community, adding to the overall quality of life of Snellville citizens. Applicants shall be encouraged, but not required, to consider a donation to the PAAF. Ten percent of each donation, gift or contribution received by SAC will be designated and restricted to expenditures related to the routine maintenance, repair and cleaning of public art projects as this initiative is intended to be a long-term priority.

To apply for a position on SAC visit www.snellville.org/boards-commissions for an application.

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SNELLVILLE – Gwinnett County officials briefed local senior citizens about a food program to make its debut at T.W. Briscoe Park next month.

While next month's start date is not yet firm, the Snellville Satellite Congregate Senior Program will serve 40 seniors Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the Betty McMichael Room in T.W. Briscoe Park on Lenora Church Road. Administered by Gwinnett County Department of Community Services, Division of Health and Human Services, the project receives federal funding through the Atlanta Regional Commission. Grayson will also host a county-administered satellite food program.

"The Snellville Parks and Recreation Department is very pleased to be partnering with Gwinnett County to help execute the Snellville Satellite Congregate Senior Program," said Lisa A Platt, CPRP, Director of Snellville Parks and Recreation. "Our Senior Center and the programs we run are for more active adults and we do not provide any kind of meal program. By partnering with Gwinnett County, SPRD will be able to serve a section of our community that needs this assistance. SPRD, believes as Gwinnett County does, that we are here to serve our community and specifically our older adult community in mind, body and spirit. And this partnership allows us to serve our citizens in that capacity. We hope this is just the start of something that can grow and allow us to serve more who are in need now and in the future."

The creation of the program in Snellville arose following the popularity of the food service in nearby Centerville where there is a waiting list of 156-pre-screened clients. The congregate program encourages senior citizens to not only come to a specific location to eat, but also learn about nutrition and physical health.

To participate in the program, those over 60 must be evaluated to determine their need for the program. After determining their need, senior citizens will likely be placed on a waiting list before they can take part in the program.

The program is separate from the membership-based senior programming at Snellville's Senior Center next to City Hall.

For more information on the program call 678-377-4150.

Upcoming Parks and Recreation Events

Upcoming Senior Center Events

The council approved the city's 2040 Comprehensive Plan Feb. 11.

The Comprehensive Plan is a map of the city's future for the next 20 years and sets policy and direction and a five-year work program to accomplish these goals. Topic areas include land use, transportation, housing, economic development and quality of life issues.

Read the plan here - https://www.snellville.org/comprehensive-plan-maps

SNELLVILLE – Calling all high school students.

The Snellville Youth Commission will be hosting its second annual Youth Summit from 12 to 4 p.m. Feb. 23 at City Hall.

What's the event about?

"We want students to learn the importance of understanding what's going on in their communities, how people affect their communities on a daily basis, and the importance of using that knowledge to be proactive in improving those communities," said Youth Commission Coordinator Chris O'Donoghue. "Everyone needs a starting point before they take on any large task. We hope this is that starting point, a launching point really, to engage students and help them feel confident in leaving their positive marks on their schools, their communities, and even their government."

Created in 2016, the Snellville Youth Commission is designed to promote positive interaction between students and their community and give them a greater understanding of how government works.

The event will feature guest speaker Everton "EJ" Blair Jr. of the Gwinnett County Board of Education, food, games and prizes.

The event is open to all area students.

Applications to join the Snellville Youth Commission can be downloaded now at www.snellville.org/snellville-youth-commission and turned in to City Hall or via email, to youthcommssion@snellville.org for the next program year.

SNELLVILLE – The Georgia Municipal Association has given the city a Safety Grant check in the amount of $4,553 and a Liability Grant check in the amount of $8,926.07 toward the purchase of a defibrillator and accessories, a Strike Alert Lightning Detector and playground safety netting at T.W. Briscoe Park.

The GMA Safety and Liability Management Grant program was introduced in 2000 to provide a financial incentive to assist members in improving their employee safety and general public liability loss control efforts through training and the purchase of equipment or services.

"This program allows each city to stretch their budget dollars and provide a safer work environment for their employees," said Eileen Thomas, GMA marketing field manager.

Since the inception of the program, more than 130 cities have received grant money through the program. More than 500 grants have been approved, totaling nearly $1.5 million to fund items such as bulletproof vests, training videos, confined space entry equipment, reflective safety vests, fire department turnout gear and police department in-vehicle video systems. These grant funds have helped leverage the purchase of more than $2.6 million in this type of equipment and training.

The Safety and Liability Management Grant program is made available to members of GMA's property and liability insurance program (the Georgia Interlocal Risk Management Agency) and GMA's workers' compensation insurance.

Based in Atlanta, GMA is a voluntary, non-profit organization that provides legislative advocacy, educational, employee benefit and consulting services to its more than 500 member cities.

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The Snellville Farmers Market is now preparing for its 10th season by accepting applications from potential vendors. Local farmers as well as vendors who produce other food products will be considered.

The market is held on Saturday mornings, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 1 through Sept. 28.

The market takes place on the Towne Green in front of Snellville City Hall.

Market policies and a vendor application are available at www.snellvillefarmersmarket.com.