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January 22, 2015 | johnscreekherald.com | 75,000 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 19, No. 4
Fulton rethinking Cauley Creek closing 2 water plant expansions on hold by EPD linked to closure By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com
Autrey Mill Nature Center reaching out Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Historic Preservation Center Executive Director Wade Chandler wants to make the park and center more appealing. Find out how, Page 40. HATCHER HURD/STAFF
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Two years ago, Fulton County severed its contract with Johns Creek’s Cauley Creek Water Reclamation, saying the county would save millions. Now, it doesn’t seem to be such a good idea. Fulton authorities and Cauley Creek Water Reclamation owner Ron Green have begun discussions about reopening the 40-acre facility that had provided reuse water for irrigation in Johns Creek until the county declined to renew the annual contract. Fulton is rethinking its position now that the Georgia Environmental Protection Division is holding up expansion
HAUSMANN
GREEN
plans for the Big Creek and Little Creek wastewater treatment plants. Why? Because of the repercussions of severing its ties with Cauley Creek. Severing those ties meant Fulton County had to honor irrigation contracts with some 25 commercial customers with potable water. This is in direct conflict with the EPD and Met-
See CLOSING, Page 6
New state school chief ready to work By CANDY WAYLOCK candy@appenmediagroup.com
Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education. Emerging as the primary election winner from a group of nine Republican candidates, Woods faced a strong Democratic candidate in Valerie WOODS Wilson before riding the Republican wave in the general election. As the state school superintendent, his goal is to open up lines of communication between his office – the Geor-
ATLANTA – Just days away from assuming his position as the state’s top school chief, Superintendent-elect Richard Woods shared his thoughts on education in Georgia and said he was eager to get to work. “It’s been a month and a half [since the election], and I feel like I’ve been riding in the backseat of someone else’s car. I finally get to take the wheel come Monday [Jan. 12] and see what the car can do,” said Woods, who spoke at a media forum Jan. 9 hosted by the
the
big game
calls for big
gia Department of Education (GDOE) – and top elected leaders after months of strained relationships. Wood’s predecessor, John Barge, rocked the education boat when he announced a run for governor halfway into his four-year term. That decision created tensions that lasted through the re-election of Gov. Nathan Deal, and stalled or slowed many initiatives championed by Barge. Woods said it is time now for a period of collaboration between the entities that control the direction of education in Georgia. “We’re in the process of repairing
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relationships and building new relationships again,” said Woods, a former teacher and small business owner from Tifton. “Since winning the election, I’ve reached out to the governor’s office, the members of the General Assembly and our educational partners throughout the state, and I think we’ve had some good dialogue.” Woods noted the “bridge” also has to be extended to everyone involved in education across the state, from school system superintendents and school boards to teachers, parents and stu-
See WOODS, Page 10
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