Language as it appears on the ballot:

Shall a special one percent sales and use tax be continued in the special district of Gwinnett County for a period of time not to exceed 20 calendar quarters and for the raising of an estimated amount of $876,000,000, to be distributed among the Gwinnett County School District and the City of Buford School District for the purpose of funding the following projects: (i) for Gwinnett County School District: (A) developing sites for and constructing and equipping new schools, support facilities and athletic facilities; (B) making additions to, acquiring or renovating and equipping existing schools, support facilities and athletic facilities; (C) purchasing and refurbishing school buses and other support vehicles; (D) making existing lease/purchase payments with respect to the acquisition of new and existing schools and support facilities; (E) modernizing technology and making system-wide technology improvements in the Gwinnett School District, and (F) acquiring digital instructional materials, software, textbooks and library materials (collectively, the “Gwinnett Projects”), at a cost of approximately $858,900,000; and (ii) for the City of Buford School District: (A) acquiring new sites for the construction of new schools, support facilities and athletic facilities and the expansion of existing schools and support facilities; (B) developing sites for constructing and equipping new schools, support facilities and athletic facilities; (C) making additions to, acquiring or renovating, equipping and modernizing existing schools, support facilities and athletic facilities; (D) making existing or new lease/purchase payments or payments with respect to the acquisition of new and existing schools and support facilities along with buses and other transportation vehicles, textbooks, library books and other media; and (E) modernizing technology and making system-wide technology improvements, at a cost of approximately $17,100,000? If continuation of the tax is approved by the voters, such vote shall also constitute approval of the issuance of general obligation debt of the Gwinnett County School District in a principal amount not to exceed $275,000,000 for the purpose of funding all or a portion of the Gwinnett Projects.

More:
• GwinnettKidsCount.com
• Gwinnett County Public Schools
• Gwinnett County Voter News
• Check your voting status and review a sample ballot

• Video from WSBTV

Monday, July 4th
• Mall of Georgia Fabulous Fourth of July Celebration
• 4th of July at Lilburn City Park
• Gwinnett Braves Post-Game Fireworks
• Fantastic Fourth Celebration at Stone Mountain Park

For the uninitiated, the GIS database has a learning curve, but once you get the hang of it there’s a lot of beneficial information readily available. For the rest who might be familiar with the GIS be warned that it has been updated including the web address.

To get to the GIS:
Go to www.gwinnettcounty.com and select GIS Data Browser from the Popular Links pull down menu.
Or click here:
http://www.gwinnettcounty.com/portal/gwinnett/Departments/InformationTechnologyServices/GeographicInformationSystems/GISDataBrowser
Or click here:
http://gis.gwinnettcounty.com/OnPointWebsite/WebPages/Map/FundyViewer.aspx

Now, I’ve tried a number of different browsers with this particular application and have found that MSIE is about the only viable option. Additionally, you’ll have to allow popups.

It will be extremely helpful to you to have your parcel ID available to search for your property. Otherwise you might be in for a lengthy search. Your parcel ID is available on your property tax bill.

If you have your parcel ID number open the GIS app as described above then mouseover the “Searches” link found at the upper left under the GIS logo. Select “Parcel Search” from the drop down menu.

Once you have your property in focus click on the “i” button on the app’s toolbar. This will change your cursor to a crosshair (+). Now, click on your property. A popup window will appear with another drop down menu. Select “Septic tank parcels” from this list and you will be provided some dialogue along with a “Doc name” link. Click on this link and a PDF copy of your septic system will generate.

There are other handy bits of information from this same drop down menu such as “Land Parcels” which will generate data including purchase price, purchase date and property valuation.

The Georgia Water Stewardship Act signed by Governor Sonny Perdue went into effect June 2, 2010. The bill allows daily outdoor watering for purposes of planting, growing, managing, or maintaining ground cover, trees, shrubs, or other plants every day from 4:00pm – 10:00am as long as a shut-off nozzle is used.

All other outdoor water usage (e.g., washing cars, personal pressure washing) is to follow the watering schedule based on street address shown below:

Monday - Even addresses
Tuesday - Odd addresses
Wednesday - Even addresses
Thursday - Odd addresses
Friday - No other outdoor water usage is permitted
Saturday - Even addresses
Sunday - Odd addresses

Frequently asked questions about outdoor water use:
I heard I can water my yard every day. Is that true?
Yes. Citizens in Georgia can now water any day of the week, regardless of your address, between 4:00pm and 10:00am as long as a shut-off nozzle is used.

Can I also wash my car or pressure wash my house any day?
No. The new state law only relates to landscape uses—the odd/even schedule remains in place for all other outdoor uses.

Are parks included in the new schedule?
Sports fields and parks are exempt from the hourly restrictions. These areas may be watered any time or day.

If I put in new landscape, do I have to water between 4:00pm and 10:00am?
No. Newly installed landscape is also exempt from the hourly restrictions for the first 30 days following installation.

What about drip irrigation?
Drip irrigation is completely exempt from the outdoor rules. It may be used any time or day.

What exemptions exist to the new hourly restrictions?
• Commercial agriculture
• Alternative sources of water (grey water, rain water, condensate, etc.)
• Irrigation of food gardens
• Irrigation of newly installed or reseeded turf for the first 30 days following installation
• Drip irrigation or soaker hoses
• Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle
• Water from a private well
• Irrigation of plants for sale
• Irrigation of athletic fields, golf courses, or public recreational turf
• Installation and maintenance of irrigation systems
• Hydro seeding

Are professional pressure washers hired to wash my house subject to restrictions based on my address?
No. Commercial businesses are exempt from day of the week restrictions.

Can I have a charity car wash on any day regardless of the address?
No. Unfortunately, charity car washes, like at home car washes, are subject to the odd/even schedule. This is determined by the address of the facility hosting the car wash. Partnering with a professional car wash is exempt from the odd/even schedule due to the company’s professional exemption.

More:

• If you have any questions regarding Watering Restriction, e-mail dwrwaterbanquestions@gwinnettcounty.com or call 678-376-7100.

• For more information on exemptions and forms to submit violations, visit the Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources’ water conservation webpage through www.gwinnettcounty.com.

• Information about water conservation can be found on several websites, including www.gaepd.org, www.georgiadrought.org, and www.conservewatergeorgia.net.

• Lake Lanier information.

• Stone Mountain weather forecast.

I immediately called Gwinnett County Police at 770-513-5700 to report the incident. Officer Hall with GCPD arrived at my home within just a few minutes to take my statement. I provided him the postings from this website along with his mug shot and data. Officer Hall stated that there was a flyer of Michael Allen Buckner circulating around the precinct and that they were pursuing him. Officer Hall stated that anyone spotting him should call 9-1-1 immediately.

More:
• http://corinthhills.org/gwinnett/arrest-made-in-theft-by-deception-case/
• http://corinthhills.org/gwinnett/suspicious-person-alert/
• http://www.teacherninjas.com/2011/02/hes-at-it-again.html
• Mug shot

More:
• http://www.franktheatres.com/
• View movie schedule and purchase tickets online.

Stone Mountain Festival 6
1825 Rockbridge Rd.
Stone Mountain, GA 30087
Information: 770-469-6608
Movie Line: 770-469-6605

Copies of police reports are available in person at Police Headquarters located at 770 Hi-Hope Road in Lawrenceville from 8:00am to 4:30pm, Monday - Friday. There is a charge of $0.25 per page for incident reports and a flat $5 charge for accident reports. Copies may also be requested by mail to: Gwinnett County Police Department, Attn: Records, P.O. Box 602 Lawrenceville, GA 30046 (must include case number, name, $3 for incident reports or $5 for accident reports payable by cashier’s check to Gwinnett County Police, and self-addressed stamped envelope).

In addition, the department has many options for citizens to file and obtain a police report online. Citizens can access and purchase copies of vehicle collision reports 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at www.buycrash.com, an online service provided by the Police Department, Open Portal Solutions, and Georgia DOT.

Citizens may also file certain incidents (Theft by Taking, Entering Auto, Identity Fraud, Criminal Trespass, Criminal Damage, and Theft of Lost or Mislaid Property) without having to wait for an officer’s response using an online police reporting system. Residents will be able to print a temporary copy of the report immediately after submitting the report. The report will then be reviewed by police personnel and once approved, the filing person will receive an e-mail with a free copy of the report attached. The report will transfer into the department’s record management system and will be investigated the same as if the report had been filed by an officer.

• Gwinnett County Police Department: http://www.gwinnettcounty.com/portal/gwinnett/Departments/Police
• Gwinnett Online Police Reporting: http://www.gwinnettcounty.com/portal/gwinnett/Departments/Police/OnlineCitizenPoliceReporting
• Start a Report: http://www.gwinnettcounty.com/static/departments/police/online_crime_reporting/start-report.html

Parkview High School
998 Cole Drive
Lilburn, GA 30047-5422
770-921-2874

Source: CrimeMapping.com

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) imposes the ban to comply with Federal Clean Air Regulations.

Some open burning is still allowed with proper permits — fires for agricultural practices zoned RA-200/residential agricultural, a forestry service prescribed burn and bonfires for activities sponsored by educational, civic or religious groups.

www.gwinnettfiremarshal.com
678-518-4980

DATE: Wednesday, March 23, 2011
TIME: 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Stone Mountain Tennis Center
5525 Bermuda Road
Stone Mountain, GA 30087

(770) 979-5800
Fax (770) 979-0712

This morning, a man (caucasion, blonde, 40ish, well dressed) knocked on our door at 7:15 AM.  I live off Garner Rd., Mt Park area of Lilburn.  His story was that his son is sick with asthma and he needed money to buy his medicine because he left his wallet at church yesterday.  I did not give him money, and he drove off very quickly when my husband pulled up in our driveway after taking our son to school.  After I told my husband the story, he drove off looking for him and found him in the neighborhood behind us ( Beech Forest ?) off Garner , and he was approaching someone else’s door.  My husband pulled in behind him  and wrote his tag number down.  The man rushed toward my husband very nervously asking what he was doing, and my husband let him know that he would be calling the police and reporting his suspicious behavior.  He told my husband he was just looking for gas money and he rushed off in his car.

My husband did call the police.  He was driving a late model, dark blue, Jeep Cherokee 4×4. 

If someone meeting this description comes to your door, call 911 first, then follow up with the non-emergency number (770) 513-5700 if you can identify him.

Gwinnett County Police: http://www.gwinnettcounty.com/portal/gwinnett/Departments/Police
Gwinnett County Sheriff: http://www.gwinnettcountysheriff.com/

Bill Tunnell of Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates stated, “We’re making a strong case for why that stadium should not only remain a stadium, but actually be used as part of a redevelopment strategy there to revitalize the West Park Place area.”

More:
• CorinthHills.org - Stone Mountain Tennis Center article archives
• AJC - Olympic tennis stadium in Stone Mountain viable, study shows

5525 Bermuda Road
Stone Mountain, GA 30087
770.979.5800
Fax: 770.979.0712

Stedman had been heading a project called the Stone Mountain Athletic Recreational and Training (SMART) Center which would turn the empty Olympic facility into a destination tennis center. Adjacent properties would be used for sports recreation, training, retail, office and multifamily development. Transportation improvements were included the plan. Many of the developmental partners attended the meeting and left questioning the project’s status.

This is the second time Stedman has been fired by the Evermore CID. Stedman, who was originally hired in 2008, was fired at the end of that year by the CID’s former executive director, Brett Harrell. The board rehired Stedman in May 2009 during a meeting in which Harrell was fired.

More:
• Evermore CID story archives

Duncan Creek Park Gets Artificial Turf Field

(Lawrenceville, Ga., March 17, 2010) - Gwinnett commissioners on Tuesday awarded a construction contract for $835,000 to install an artificial turf multi-purpose field at Duncan Creek Park in northeast Gwinnett County. The project includes renovating the existing multi-purpose field and warm-up area (approximately 140,000 square feet) with the installation of artificial turf, including permanent striping for football and soccer, with corners for lacrosse.

Following the lead of a number of Atlanta area schools and parks that have converted sports fields to artificial turf, the County will save on annual field maintenance costs and provide an opportunity for these fields to be used year-round. Natural turf fields maintained by Gwinnett County typically require closure for full or partial re-sodding every summer due to the high use of the fields.

“With our current budget concerns, initiating this pilot program to convert two multi-purpose fields to artificial turf makes good economic sense,” said District 4 Commissioner Kevin Kenerly. “This will allow Gwinnett County time to evaluate the cost and playability of the new fields and consider extending the program to other parks.”

In addition to savings, new technologies provide for a much safer playing surface. Synthetic (artificial) turf fields are made of polyethylene fibers simulating grass stabilized with rubber pellets for cushioning. Underground drainage systems also increase the playability of fields after heavy rains.

The general contractor for the Duncan Creek Park project is East Tennessee Turf and Landscape and the turf supplier/installer is Deluxe Athletics of Marietta. Construction will begin in April with completion by mid-July. The multi-purpose field is one of two targeted in the County as a pilot project that was included in the 2010 Parks and Recreation Capital Budget funded by the 2005 SPLOST. Cemetery Field in Norcross will be the second field to get artificial sod.

• Original Gwinnett County press release

• Full text of the 2009-2010 Gwinnett County Special Purpose Grand Jury Presentment (PDF document)

Excerpts from the grand jury findings:
• From the presentment intrduction:
“…under oath, every single sitting County Commissioner testified that they had not reviewed any of the readily available documents prior to their testimony. This failure to prepare in even the most basic way for their appearance resulted in a lack of recall about most important facts of each transaction. It is the Grand Jury’s opinion that this failure to prepare for their appearance in any meaningful way is not only an insult to the Grand Jury but is consistent with the way in which decisions are made involving millions of taxpayer dollars.”

• Concerning the Lakes Parkway property transaction:
“First, it was a stunning revelation to the Grand Jury that no member of the county staff expressed any reservations about being involved in a real estate transaction where a sitting Senior Superior Court Judge is acting as the seller’s agent. If the Commissioners who testified are to be believed, it is inconceivable that this information was not disclosed prior to any vote to purchase. Leaving aside questions of fees and negotiating a land deal in a judge’s office in the courthouse, the sheer impropriety of this representation should have been a warning sign. Second, despite testimony to the contrary by County Commissioners,
they were presented with information regarding the cost of the pedestrian bridge prior to the vote to purchase. The evidence is clear on that fact. They weren’t paying attention.”

• Concerning Commissioner Lasseter’s role in the Lakes Parkway property transaction:
“Commissioner Shirley Lasseter testified about her recollection of the events which led up to this property acquisition. After observing her demeanor and hearing her testimony the Grand Jury specifically recommends the following:
1. That Commissioner Lasseter develop at least a basic understanding of the land acquisition process;
2. That Commissioner Lasseter become more engaged in issues which affect her district and the entire county;
3. That Commissioner Lasseter must understand her role as a policy maker and decision maker rather than relying on the county staff to do her work for her.”

• Concerning the Givens Road property transaction”
“Chairman Bannister stated that he decided to “take the lead” on this particular purchase because of “so many no votes” coming from Commissioner Mike Beaudreau. He stated that getting this land transaction passed was to get Mr. Beaudreau’s attention. To quote his testimony, “It was pure politics.” He testified that this purchase was an object lesson to Commissioner Beaudreau.”
“Kenerly stated he witnessed a heated discussion between Chairman Bannister and Commissioner Beaudreau and therefore he stated that he believed that Chairman Bannister was pushing the acquisition to “stick it to Mike”.”

• Regarding SPLOST funding:
“The Grand Jury has found that SPLOST funds have been used for a variety of purposes from land acquisitions outside the Parks Master Plan to settlement of litigation. The Grand Jury is of the opinion that these actions have placed the passage of future SPLOST votes in jeopardy. SPLOST funds should be used for clearly delineated purposes approved by the voters, not as a general pot of money to be used for various purposes based upon a commissioner’s desire.”

• From the presentment conclusion:
“Based upon the evidence gathered during the course of our investigation, the Grand Jury, as a group of citizens, has been increasingly concerned about the path that Gwinnett County government is on. We have seen decisions involving millions of dollars made with little or no information or for the most venal reasons.”

More details to be posted here…

More:
• AJC - Commissioner Kenerly indicted by Gwinnett grand jury
• Fox 5 Atlanta - Gwinnett Co. Commissioner Kevin Kenerly Indicted
• Kenerly news archive