Friday, May 24, 2013
Paul Bennett faces charges in connection with June 2012 deaths on Lake Lanier.
The man charged in connection with the boating deaths of two Gwinnett youths on Lake Lanier in 2012 is scheduled to be in court soon. Motions are scheduled to be heard June 4 in Hall County Superior Court in the case of Paul Bennett of Cumming. He faces charges in connection with the June deaths of Griffin and Jake Prince of Buford. No trial date is set, a spokesperson for the Hall County District Attorney's Office said Friday. Bennett was indicted for homicide and boating under the influence in connection with the boating collision on June 18, 2012, that killed the youths. The incident was part of a tragic summer on the lake that also included the watercraft-related death of Atlanta youth Kile Glover. The fatalities prompted a new state …
Thursday, May 23, 2013
The West Gwinnett Park Aquatic Center opens at noon on Saturday. County officials also have some tips for "safe swimming."
Another prime summer activity -- swimming -- will be available to Gwinnett residents beginning this weekend. County officials have announced that Gwinnett public pools will open on Saturday, May 25 with the exception of Brogden Pool in Buford which is closed for renovations. The county expects to have that pool open in the fall. The county has several pools that are located around the area. Of course, there also are private pools, as well as swimming areas at Lake Lanier. So the county website has some tips for safe swimming, courtesy of Gwinnett Fire. To find a Gwinnett pool near you, click here. Keep up with what's happening in your community - subscribe to the free Peachtree Corners Patch newsletter for news, announcements, events, …
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Peachtree Corners city leaders delayed deciding on two tax-related items but gave go-ahead on a Georgia DOT grant to be used for sidewalk improvement projects. And the mayor announces a new public information officer has been appointed for the city.
The Peachtree Corners City Council quickly worked through the two-page agenda at Tuesday night's meeting tabling a tax-related ordinance and an amendment to an intergovernmental agreement with Gwinnett County involving hotel/motel tax and approving four other items. "City Council is not ready to move forward with these two items," said City Manager Julian Jackson. "The attorneys for the city and county are still reviewing the documents." The City Council is expected to make a decision on the two related matters at the June 4 meeting. The City Council did decide on two action items for alcoholic beverage license applications for Life Time Fitness (formerly Racquet Club of the South) and Super Carniceria Jalisco, a new business located on …
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
The bridge will be closed June 7-10 as workers complete work on the diverging diamond interchange.
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Tuesday, May 21
Expect some traffic snarls around the Pleasant Hill Road overpass at Interstate 85 as workers complete work of the diverging diamond interchange in early June. Drivers will face detours on both sides of the bridge. The bridge is scheduled to be closed to all traffic from 9 p.m. Friday, June 7, until 5 a.m. Monday, June 10, according to the Gwinnett County Department of Transportation. Detour info from the Gwinnett DOT: During the weekend of construction, drivers and pedestrians should take Pleasant Hill Road to Satellite Boulevard to Steve Reynolds Boulevard to Shackleford Road to Pleasant Hill Road and the reverse as their detour. Gwinnett County Transportation staff will monitor traffic flow and signals in this area during the closure to…
Monday, May 20, 2013
Peachtree Corners city leaders have scheduled a meeting on May 28 to hear citizens input on solid waste service. An online survey is also available for citizens to provide input.
Peachtree Corners City Council members are preparing to talk trash at a public hearing on Tuesday, May 28 and you are cordially invited to join the conversation to make your views known. The Council is particularly interested in the citizens' opinion on changes in the County's current sanitation plan. Said Mayor Mike Mason: “Most people tell me they are generally pleased with the County's plan, but would like the pickup date changed, a larger recycling bin, more flexibility on yard waste pickup, or some other feature. That's what we want to hear. The goal is to provide the service the citizens want in the most cost effective manner.” The meeting, which is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at City Hall, will also kick off the request for …
The seven-member board will vote on several matters related to the city's recent land purchase.
The newly formed Downtown Development Authority will meet on Monday, May 20, 2013 at 11:30 a.m. at City Hall regarding several items involving the 20.6-acre tract of land across from The Forum which the city recently acquired. On the meeting agenda under Old Business: In New Business DDA to consider: Authorize submitting a rezoning application for the 20.6 acres of land located in the 5200 block of Peachtree Parkway (known as the DDA property) Authorize releasing and distributing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the acquistion and development of the DDA Property Approval of a Bond Resolution authorizing the issuance of a revenue bond and execution and delivery of an Intergovernmental Contract (contingency option) to refinance the real …
Saturday, May 18, 2013
The importance of early childhood education was the topic.
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Saturday, May 18
Some big names in the Republican Party are in Georgia this weekend for the GOP Convention that is taking place at the Classic Center in Athens. Scheduled speakers include Republican strategist Karl Rove and former U.S. Congressman Allen West. Gov. Nathan Deal and First Lady Sandra Deal spoke to GOP State Convention delegates about importance of early childhood education during breakfast Saturday. Business meetings were scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Georgia Rep. Bruce Williamson (R-Monroe) is in attendance and shared with Patch that First Lady and Governor Nathan Deal spoke to GOP State Convention Delegates about importance of early childhood education at breakfast Saturday morning. Business meetings at the center were scheduled to start at…
Gwinnett County Board of Education adopts $1.763 billion FY2014 budget and tentatively adopts 1.30 mills increase in tax millage rate.
After holding the line in the face of declining revenue in recent years, the Gwinnett County Board of Education anticipates having to raise the tax millage rate to fund the FY2014 budget. The school board adopted a FY2014 balanced budget totaling $1.76 billion, a decrease of $12.8 million or .7 percent from the FY2013 budget at its meeting Thursday (May 16) at the Instructional Support Center in Suwanee. The board also tentatively adopted an increase of 1.30 mills in the tax rate. Despite “a tremendous downturn in the economy we’ve been able to have the millage rate unchanged for some time,” Rick Cost, chief financial officer for Gwinnett County Public Schools, said. This increase includes .55 mills for maintenance and operations (General …
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Sentencing for Gary on a federal bribery charge now scheduled for Aug. 27. This is the third time it has been rescheduled.
The sentencing for Gwinnett developer Mark Gary has been delayed again until Aug 27. Gary, who pleaded guilty Oct. 1 in U.S. District Court in Atlanta to a federal bribery charge, had been scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Charles A. Pannell Jr. May 16. His sentencing had previously been continued from Jan. 3 to Feb. 28 to then to the May court date. Gary’s sentencing is now scheduled for 10 a.m. before Judge Pannell in Courtroom 2307 of the Richard B. Russell Federal Building in Atlanta. Gary, 39, a Duluth resident admitted to bribing former Gwinnett County commissioner Shirley Lasseter to obtain commission approval in 2009 of a controversial $4-million waste transfer station in which he had a personal stake. Lasseter …
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
The 2013 legislation lowers Georgia's BUI limit and adds safety regulations.
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Wednesday, May 15
It's official: As of Wednesday (May 15), a new Georgia law regarding the Boating Under the Influence legal limit and other boating safety regulations is in effect. According to a Lake Lanier website, state officials will attend information sessions at local marinas around the state Wednesday. The visits will culminate at Laurel Park in Hall County, where Gov. Nathan Deal will give an address at 2 p.m. The new regulations are contained in Senate Bill 136, which Deal signed into law in April. Portions of the bill are named for late Buford youths Griffin and Jake Prince, and late Atlanta youth Kile Glover. The youths were killed in boating or watercraft-related accidents on Lake Lanier in 2012. The legislation lowers the legal blood-alcohol …
Allan Peel
2:56 pm on Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Hmmm ... I did not realize that our 'city-lite' designation meant that we are now responsible for street (and sidewalk) maintenance and improvements. Do not seem to recall ANY discussion on this during the election campaign or city budget discussions. Am I confused, or is this another example of our city mayor and council taking on more than what is in our charter? more ›