Latest News

SNELLVILLE – The city's new garbage collection company, Advanced Disposal, will start operation July 1.

In the meantime, residents will be asked to put their old garbage carts to the curb so the city's former hauler, Waste Pro, can pick up its containers. Letters will be attached to the new carts with more instructions.

Drop off sites used by garbage haulers are no longer accepting recyclables mixed with glass therefore there is no curbside pick up of glass. Residents may bring glass to the Snellville Recycling Center, located on Marigold Road next to Briscoe Park.

Residents will have a new 65-gallon trash cart and a new 18-gallon recycling bin.

Items to recycle in bins:

•Aluminum and steel food and beverage containers

•Aluminum baking tins

•#1, #2 and #3 plastic bottles and containers

•Cardboard boxes (broken down)

•Kraft paper (grocery and lunch bags)

•Cereal, shoe, tissue and other packaging boxes

•Soda, beer and other drink box cartons

•Paper towel and tissue paper cores

•All junk mail

•Newspaper and inserts

•Mixed paper (calendars, school and computer paper, envelopes, old greeting cards and other forms)

•Phone books, catalogs, paperback books and magazines

Please do not place these items in your recycling bin/cart:

•Aerosol cans

•Glass bottles and panes

•Styrofoam

•Batteries

•Paint containers

•Plastic grocery bags

•Yard waste construction debris

The same volume-based garbage procedures are still in place. Residents are not charged for basic service nor is there a separate line item on tax bills. Any extra garbage must be placed in the blue city bags. Blue city bags which have the current sanitation provider, Waste Pro's name on it, will continue to be collected at curbside by the new service provider, Latham Sanitation (Advanced Disposal). The existing bags with Waste Pro's name on the box will continue to be sold at Kroger, Publix, City Hall and Public Works until the inventory is depleted.

Sanitation carts must be at the curb no later than 7 a.m.

Residents are asked to place their garbage container on the opposite side of the driveway from the recycling container, if possible and not in front of a mailbox. Remember the lid should open facing the street. We appreciate you following the guidelines to make this service as efficient as possible.

Residents with questions or those who want a 65-gallon recycling cart can call Public Works from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday at 770-985-3527.

SNELLVILLE – The city revealed its new and improved website Friday.

Created by VC3, Inc., the site features much of the same reliable information as the previous site, with new functions such as video and more precise navigation for visitors.

The website is still located at www.snellville.org and will be updated on a continual basis to provide visitors with fresh content.

"We hope visitors to the new Snellville.org find it engaging and informative," said Public Information Officer Brian Arrington. "Be sure to check back at the site regularly for up-to-date information and events."

The City of Snellville has a job opening for a Park Maintenance Crew Lead. Information can be found on the Job Openings page.

SNELLVILLE – A standing room only crowd of about 250 citizens came to ask questions and offer their opinion of the city's Towne Center project.

Following decades of discussion, city officials said they are ready to move forward with the project which will create a vibrant, walkable downtown area with new retail, civic and residential developments.

"Tonight is not the first step," Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Bender told the crowd at Snellville United Methodist Church. "It is a baby step in a 30-year process. We have some opportunities before us and we want to hear from you about what you'd like to see downtown."

Over the course of the next two hours a panel of city officials explained the importance of creating a downtown destination, while residents asked how it would affect them.

Mayor Tom Witts said while he was on the campaign trail last year, a majority of questions residents asked were about the Towne Center and in the six months since he took office, the project has drawn renewed interest from developers who are eager to invest in the development. Witts said he and the council will make the Towne Center, a plan which has moved slowly for more than 10 years, a reality. He expects construction on the project to begin by November 2017.

"We are committed," Witts said. "We are going to build a Towne Center."

First, city officials must get the interested developers to invest in Snellville through a private-public partnership – the city provides the infrastructure and a bulk of the land, and developers build innovative properties that will attract business, residents and visitors.

Ideas raised by city officials and residents for the Towne Center included:

• A parking deck at the Nanston Building at Wisteria Drive and North Road.
• A community theater.
• Moving the post office on Oak Road to the first floor of City Hall.
• An upscale hotel.

Residents were asked to complete surveys asking them what they would like to see in the Towne Center as well. The results will be documented and included in future talks. If residents missed the meeting, the can fill the survey out at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TownHallMeeting0516

On Monday, May 23, 2016 the Mayor and City Council will hold a Public Hearing at 7:30 p.m. to give its citizens the opportunity to provide written and oral comments on the proposed Fiscal Year 2017 budget. All citizens are urged to attend this Public Hearing on May 23, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Snellville City Hall, located at 2342 Oak Road, Snellville Georgia.

The proposed budget is available for inspection at Snellville City Hall, 2342 Oak Road, Snellville, Georgia during regular business hours from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. or on the City website at www.snellville.org.

The Mayor and City Council will consider adoption of the Fiscal Year 2017 budget on Monday, June 13, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Snellville City Hall, 2342 Oak Road, Snellville, Georgia.

Melisa Arnold, City Clerk
City of Snellville

SNELLVILLE – The Snellville Farmers' Market will open for the seventh year June 4, kicking off a season event organizers say will be "better than ever."

The market will take place each Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. through Sept. 24.

Opening day will begin with the national anthem at 8:30 a.m., sung by Snellville's own Kriss Johnson, who is the reigning Ms. Senior Georgia.

The market is located on the Towne Green in front of City Hall, 2342 Oak Road.

"We are all excited by our renovated venue." said SFM Committee Chair Gretchen Schulz. "The new brick walls surrounding the market will give customers more security and a wonderful place to sit and have a bite to eat, or just enjoy a moment of respite from wandering the market. The availability of more electrical outlets and other amenities will make exhibiting even better for our vendors. Our new amenities even include water fountains for our canine visitors!"

Returning vendors will be providing fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables, plants and fresh flowers, BBQ, crafts, boiled peanuts, a wide variety of baked goods, jams, jellies, locally grown mushrooms, organic bath and body products and locally made honey.

The market will also be welcoming several new vendors who will bring baked goods, specialty ice cream, candy, milk, cheese, butter, coffee, pasture-raised pork, salad dressings, sauces, rubs and unique crafts.

Chick-fil-A will be selling chicken biscuits for the first two hours of the market and then switch to a lunch menu.

Throughout the season, there will also be special events like cooking demonstrations, music and community service booths. This season, city employees will be coming on different weeks, giving the community an opportunity to ask questions about city operations. The Snellville Police Department will be there opening day.

For more information visit www.snellvillefarmersmarket.com.

SNELLVILLE – The city awarded a two-year contract for commercial and residential sanitation and recycling services to Advanced Disposal Monday.

Waste Pro had been the previous hauler.

The city received four bids for a new two-year contract to begin on July 1. The companies submitting bids were Advanced Disposal, Republic Services, Waste Pro and Waste Management.

Advanced Disposal was the lowest responsive bidder.

Going with Advanced Disposal will result in a savings of a minimum of $100,000 per year versus using the other companies, city officials said.

During the last pick up in June, Waste Pro will pick up carts and recycling bins. Advanced will have someone place the new carts and bins the last couple of weeks in June but they aren't to be used until July.

All residents will be delivered one (1) 65-gallon garbage cart and one (1) 18-gallon recycling bin.

For any resident that would like a larger 65-gallon recycling cart rather than the 18 gallon bin call Public Works at 770-985-3527.

SNELLVILLE – Attorney Tadia D. Whitner was sworn in as associate judge Monday.

Whitner replaces Angela Duncan who was hired as a full-time Magistrate Judge in Gwinnett County.

"It's wonderful to be considered by (Mayor Tom Witts) and Chief Judge (Mark Layng)," Whitner said after being sworn in by Witts. "I am excited to serve the citizens of Snellville."

Whitner is a graduate of Howard University (B.A., Political Science, 1992) and Howard University School of Law (J.D., 1995). After admission to the Maryland Bar, Whitner received a direct commission as a First Lieutenant to the U.S. Air Force. She served as the Chief of Claims and Chief of Military Justice while stationed at RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom. After graduating as a Distinguished Graduate from the Air Force's Squadron Officers School, Whitner was stationed at the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals, the highest court of the Air Force. Whitner was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force as a Captain in 1999.

In 2000, Ms. Whitner joined the U.S. Virgin Islands Office of the Attorney General. She also joined the U.S. Virgin Islands Air National Guard, where she again served as the Judge Advocate General for both the U.S. Virgin Islands Air and Army National Guard.

After ten years of honorable service, Whitner separated from the military obtaining the rank of Major.

In 2004, after admission to the Florida Bar, Whitner relocated to Orlando where she was appointed to be an Assistant Attorney General by Florida's Attorney General Charlie Crist.

In 2005, Whitner gained admission to the Georgia Bar and in 2006 she began working as an Assistant Public Defender for the Office of the Public Defender in the Eastern Judicial Circuit. In 2011, Whitner co-founded the Porter and Whitner Law Group, LLC, a general practice law firm, in Norcross.

Whitner is a current and active member of the Gwinnett Bar Association, the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Gwinnett Chapter, and the Howard University Alumni Association.

She is a current board member with the Gwinnett Pearls of Service, a non-profit organization that provides college scholarships to Gwinnett County high school students. Whitner is licensed to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Georgia, in the state of Georgia and the state of Florida.

Whitner is married to Brian and they have two children, Zander, 11, and Jaide, 10

SNELLVILLE – City officials are looking for residents' input on the Towne Center project.

A Town Hall Meeting will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. May 17 at Snellville United Methodist Church, 2428 Main St. East, to collect ideas from residents regarding what they hope the downtown area to look like in years to come.

"When I campaigned last summer, one of the things I heard over and over was about building the Towne Center," said Mayor Tom Witts. "I'd like to have all the people who would like to talk about it in one place so we can come up with ideas that will benefit everyone."

It has been nearly five years since the proposed project to transform the city's downtown area into a walkable community with residential and commercial buildings was unveiled and city officials said now is the time to finalize plans.

For more information on the Towne Center visit www.snellville.org, click on "Economic Development," then "Towne Center."

SNELLVILLE – Construction on the Oak Road sidewalk project will begin Monday.

Road crews will place a sidewalk from Scenic Highway to Mountain View Road.

Contractor Multiplex, LLC will begin survey work this week and engineering firm Clark Patterson Lee will oversee construction for the city.

Work will begin from both the Mountain View Road and Scenic Highway ends and proceed toward the middle of the 4,800-foot project.

Oak Road is scheduled to remain open throughout the 120-day project, but city officials are asking all motorists to be alert and drive slowly for their safety and the safety of the workers.

Due to topography of the new sidewalk area, many loads of dirt will be required and it is anticipated Oak Road will often be flagged and reduced to sections of one-lane roadway where the work is taking place.

Construction during rush hour times will be avoided if at all possible.

Please contact City Manager Butch Sanders at 770-985-3516 with any questions.