UPCCA Hosts Meeting With State, County and City Leaders

The United Peachtree Corners Civic Association (UPCCA) brought in six of the state, county and city's top elected officials for a meeting that included a question and answer session.

Georgia State Senator David Shafer, Fran Millar, State Representative Tom Rice, Gwinnett Commissioner Lynette Howard, GCPS Board member Dr. Mary Kay Murphy and Peachtree Corners Mayor Mike Mason provided updates for the 40 or so who attended. The meeting was held at Christ the King Lutheran Church.

UPCCA president Scott Hilton introduced the panel and announced the upcoming "Peachtree Corners Night at the Gwinnett Braves" slated for June 7th.

Mayor Mason will have the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. The event will kick off the 3rd Annual Peachtree Corners Festival scheduled for June 8-9.

"I've been told it's not going to be 110 degrees this year," quipped Hilton, referring to last year's record-setting heat wave during the weekend festival.

Mason began by updating the recent news that the developer who was to purchase the 20.6 acres across from The Forum had backed out and that the city was exercising its back up contract to purchase the land.

"We are proceeding," said Mason. "We believe there is a higher and best use for the property." The city is expected to rezone it for a mixed-use development.

"Several developers already have expressed interest in buying it. We're forming a Downtown Development Authority who will send out RFPs to ask developers to bid on it."

Mason also urged anyone who had not yet filled out the on line Comprehensive Plan survey form, to do so by the end of the month (details can be found on the city's website, www.cityofpeachtreecorners.com)

Senator Shafer discussed this year's state budget. "We had to make some tough decisions, we had less money in the budget," he said of the state's $19.8 billion budget.

"But in the end we're better focused on service and delivering it more efficiently," he added.

Senator Millar provided an education update. "Fifty-seven percent of the state's budget goes to K-12 education and this year we added $2.6 million into the budget for a school nursing program."

"Requirements for Hope grants (not Hope scholarship) have been reduced from 3.0 to 2.0 which should make it easier for students who want to attend a trade school," he said.

Representative Rice provided information on how the state is addressing elder abuse. "Eighty-four percent of elder abuse is never reported," said Rice. "We've increased penalties for anyone caught physically or financially abusing the elderly."

"We also passed an ethics reform. Both the House and Senate agreed on a $75.00 spending limit."

Commissioner Howard reminded everyone of the open house on May 9, at Lucky Shoals Park at 6:15 p.m. "All five of the commissioners will be there, I'd like encourage as many from Peachtree Corners as possible to attend," she said.

Dr. Murphy, the school board member who represents the Peachtree Corners schools discussed the SPLOST funds that helped fund the new schools in the county. "In 1996 legislation approved and voters passed the 1 cent sales tax to benefit public education. With those funds we were able to build 46 new schools." There are now 132 Gwinnett County schools.

Regarding recent legislation: Murphy explained that a new HB (115) amends SB 84 which recognized school board members as being distinctive from other elected officials. The new bill allows school board members to be suspended or eliminated. "This recognizes that there is a higher calling of being a school board member," said Murphy.

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