Snellville City Council Recap: SPLOST, Honoring Former Mayor and Dam Problems

The Snellville City Council and Mayor Kelly Kautz met Monday (July 22) for its regular meeting and work session. 

In the meeting, Kautz presented a proclamation honoring former Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer for serving Snellville for eight years until 2011. Kautz particularly noted the great insight and vision the previous mayor gave for the new city hall, senior center and town green. 

She also declared March 10, his birthday, be known as Jerry Oberholtzer Day in the city of Snellville. 

Also discussed was the resolution authorizing the mayor to execute a contract for repairs on Lower Johnson Lake Dam, which was tabled until the council's next meeting Aug. 12.

This item is a reoccurring topic that concerns a broken pipe in the dam of a lake in the Summit Chase subdivision. The lake, which was drained in December 2011, has become an eyesore with dead animals and other hazards, and the homeowners association wants the city to pay for some of the costs since a road runs along top of the dam.

"We'd like to postpone this one more time," said Councilman Mike Sabbagh, adding that City Attorney Tony Powell advised the motion. 

Sabbagh explained during the work session that this time around, the item is proposing that repairs be done only to the pipe under the street connecting to Summit Chase. 

Powell mentioned during the session that a lawsuit has been filed against the city. 

John Fonda, the president of the homeowners association for Timberline, which is also effected by the lake, spoke before the council. 

"The property values of our community have been adversely affected by the unsightliness of the lake, the presence of caution tape and the posting of danger signs along the entire length of the dam," Fonda said. 

The lake is the property of the Summit Chase subdivision, so it is the homeowners' responsibility to clean it up, he added. Fonda brought a petition with more than a hundred signatures from Timberline residents backing up this claim. 

He also said the Timberline residents are willing to support the Summit Chase community through fundraising as long as the lake is restored to its original condition.

Other highlights from the evening:

• The seats for Mayor Pro Tem Tom Witts, Councilman Bobby Howard and Councilman Mike Sabbagh are up for election this year. 
• The intergovernmental agreement with Gwinnett County for the use and distribution of the 2013 SPLOST was approved.
  
• An announcement was made that the next city council meeting Aug. 12 will have former mayors and city employees present, in addition to cake, in celebration of the city's 90th birthday.
• Residents Ted Sokal and Judy Leavell gave a presentation on the Little Free Library, a way to connect with neighbors by letting them borrow books through a mailbox-like structure in their front yard.
• The contractor for a new generator at Snellville City Hall was approved.
• Tom Ewing of the Snellville Historical Society did his last presentation on the town's history before the council.