Thank you Flowery Branch for electing me your City Councilman Post 2.
I have been entrusted by you to lead the City of Flowery Branch during a period of time that Flowery Branch hasn’t seen, probably, ever in its history – extreme growth.
We are experiencing an explosion of growth, of new residential, commercial, and industrial developments popping, up throughout the city. This rapid growth will be a great attribute to our community as long as the growth is controlled and dealt with responsibly.
UPDATED September 28, 2009
As you are aware, our growth has slowed, but the challenge to grow the city prosperly is still there. The growth will return and we will need to be ready when it comes back and I stll promise to do it responsibly.
Here are some areas that I will pursue while serving as your City Councilman:
1. COMMUNICATION
I believe there has been a breakdown of communication between the city government and the people they are serving. I am a servant of the citizens of Flowery Branch and it is my duty to keep you informed.
I will push to have all council meetings in the evenings. It is very difficult for working people, as I am, to make council meetings at 9:30 A.M. during the week. I have been to several meetings and after they are adjourned, sometimes at 11:00 A.M., a person still has to go to work and that can cost a half of a day of vacation or personal time.
I want to move the council meetings to 6:30 P.M., and if a citizen wanted to leave a half an hour early from work, by working through their lunch break or asking their boss if they can clock out a bit early, they would be able to attend city council meetings, that affect their lives, more often.
UPDATED September 28, 2009
I have tried and been out voted twice in the past two years to get our city concil meetings at night as most cities are. I will vote again this year to have them in the evenings an continue to until they are.
2. TRANSPORTATION
Allowing subdivisions, commercial retail, and industrial areas are easy as long as you have a buyer and a seller, and I believe in free enterprise. The tough problem is managing the traffic around the city. Traffic must flow freely and easily, around the city, to allow citizens the ability to rapidly get from, the interstate and major thoroughfares, to their homes during the workweek and while running errands around Flowery Branch.
There is a train track, which is extremely active, running parallel to Atlanta Highway with no bridge that goes over it. There are though, several crossings that back up quickly on both sides while a train is going by. How are the Flowery Branch Police supposed to get to an emergency situation if they are on opposite sides of the track, where the emergency is, while a train is passing?
We also have enormous growth around the I-985 corridor that has an underpass with limited space for roadway. With the Stonebridge Crossing shopping center, with Kohl’s, The Home Depot, Target and more, there will be a congestion of vehicles. Not to mention the hotel and other complexes that will be built in the very near future.
West of I-985, through downtown Flowery Branch, there needs to be a better route to get through downtown over to McEver Road to help stimulate growth and to that area of the city
East of I-985, down Spout Springs Road, there is the Prince of Peace Church, Sterling on the Lake, Spout Springs Elementary, a Hall County Library, and soon, the new middle and high school - there is a traffic nightmare on the horizon as the growth continues in this area of the city.
UPDATED September 28, 2009
With the slow down in the economy, growth has also slowed, but we need to continue to look forward at our transportation in the city and also have a 5 – 10 year plan for some of our aging roads in other parts of the city. We cannot have a wait and see approach on our transportation.
3. DEVELOPMENT / REDEVELOPMENT
With all the potential areas to build, as well as the possibility to redevelop areas of downtown or “Old Town”, the developers need to have the same vision as the city does to keep the old town feel while bringing in the businesses that will serve our needs as citizens and consumers.
Many people have lived in developments or been affected by developers and builders who only want to make a quick buck, sign over the property to the city or new owner, and move on to their next project. I will ensure that they stay until the job is complete or they will find it hard to get my support on future endeavors in Flowery Branch.
UPDATED September 28, 2009
I have supported and will continue to support our TAD (Tax Allocation District) to help redevelop areas of the city to bring business to our city and help promote a better quality of life for the citizens of Flowery Branch and our business owners.
4. SEWER SYSTEM
This is one of the most important infrastructures that we have and I know most people fail to realize what a growth killer this can be.
There are several factors that go into a sewer system that affect each and every citizen such as capacity and contract agreements with private and government entities.
We currently have a 1 million gallon capacity and it is all spoken for, or tied up in agreements. There are plans to double the sewer capacity, but contracts, with other government, does not necessarily mean we will get another 1 million gallons for the City of Flowery Branch and we are treating a significant amount at a lower price than it costs us to treat it - meaning - we are losing money.
UPDATED September 28, 2009
I have been able to be part of the Tide Water Cove project and securing the permit which has set the groundwork to increase our sewer capacity up to 2 million gallons in the future.
As more issue come up, I will add them to this list to keep you abreast of our needs to keep your taxes low and property values high.
UPDATED September 28, 2009
Millage Rate
I have voted against our millage rate twice because the majority of the council wasted your tax money and they felt the rate was low enough. I am on a mission to zero – I want you to keep your money.