Local Teachers Honored, Abatement of Property Discussed During Council Meeting

Snellville City Council met on Oct. 8 for its first regular council meeting of the month.

Here are some of the highlights.

Work Session:

• City clerk Melissa Arnold and city manager Butch Sanders negotiated the cost of fitting City Hall and the Towne Green for WiFi from $8,000 down to $4,000. The cost reduction comes from the way the wireless is arranged.
• The state of the old police station was discussed, since it is still sitting empty after nearly two years. There was discussion to transfer it to the URA.
• The council also discussed the sculpture that will be on display at the new community garden. Initiated by the Arts commission, the sculpture will be a "whimsical" piece of folk art made from garden tools and fashioned to look like a scarecrow. A number of council members do not find the piece to be aesthetically pleasing, but others do. Despite hesitations, the council expressed complete confidence in John Duke and Deborah Kepes, two of the artists who will be over the design.
• The council and city planner Jon Davis talked about a few homes around town that are in foreclosure and not taken care of. One in particular, located at 1947 Emerson Lake Circle, may have an abatement ordered against it.
• The city is accepting bids for a Jet Vac truck, which sucks the sludge out of stopped-up storm drains. The truck can do in an hour or two what a crew could do in a day or two.

Public Council Meeting

• The Cub Scout Pack 568 led the Pledge to the Flag.
• The mayor honored Controller Jan Burke for receiving the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting.
• The mayor also recognized the 2012 Teachers of the Year.
• Tom Ewing presented "Sounds Bites" of local history, speaking this week about local churches. Did you know that First Baptist and Snellville United Methodist were both founded in the late 1800s?
• The council postponed the amendment to approve a wireless network for City Hall and the Town Green.
• The council approved the action on award of a bid for eleven stormwater projects.
• Councilman Dave Emanuel abstained from the vote on sculpture for the community garden because he does not consider the piece of art "sculpture." The measure passed 5-0. 
• Consideration and action on ordering abatement on property located at 1947 Emerson Lake Circle was approved 6-0.

Public Comments

• Kurt Schulz thanked the city for their work and support for the Farmers Market and the community garden.
• Jamie Dempsey came on behalf of the City of Grayson and the Downtown Development Authority and thanked the City of Snellville for their support of Grayson Blues and Brews.