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October 15, 2014 | northfulton.com | 73,500 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 9, No. 41
Crooked Creek allowed to privatize its roads City votes to abandon streets By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@northfulton.com MILTON, Ga. – After several years – close to a decade for some – the residents of Crooked Creek have finally received permission to privatize their roads. The approval came Oct. 6 from the Milton City Council at their regular meeting. In a 6-0 vote, the council gave the approval to abandon the roads for the residents to take care of themselves. According to Public Works Director Carter Lucas, Crooked Creek is made up of 640 homes on 24 streets, with 6.67 miles of road, one of the largest neighborhoods in the area. In order for a road to be abandoned by a city, the road must be found to either have no public use or for public interest to be best served by the abandonment. Traffic studies commissioned by the city and the Crooked Creek Homeowners Association (HOA) found that traffic in the early peak times –
rush hour – is fairly light, with a few dozen trips made. The evening rush hour is different. The study found 323 vehicles traveling northbound on Creek Club Drive. Staff determined roughly 15 percent of all traffic passing through the neighborhood are commuters rather than residents. Lucas did have concerns about eliminating a cut-through for traffic, given how few options there are for vehicles going between Francis Road and Ga. 9. However, he said planned improvements to Ga. 9 in the near future, along with completed projects such as the Cogburn-FrancisHopewell roundabout will help mitigate any problems. “Any loss of these connections has an impact to the overall system,” Lucas said. “From a public works standpoint, we find it very difficult to support the loss of that connection.” For this reason, Lucas and his staff recommended against abandonment. Steve Tipton, president of the HOA, said the residents want to gate their neighborhood for several reasons –
See ROADS, Page 36
HATCHER HURD/STAFF
Drew Bowers draws out the very best from his students, says MHS Principal Ron Tesch.
Milton choral director honored for teaching excellence 1 of 4 Fulton educators recognized for teaching, leadership, excellence By HATCHER HURD hatcher@northfulton.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Milton High School choral director Drew Bowers is one of four specially chosen educators who in addition to the kudos of receiving the Atlanta Families’ Awards for Excellence in Education will receive a $7,500
prize. A parent of one of Bowers’ former students nominated him. But Bowers then had to survive the rigorous vetting procedures to qualify for the grant. He applied last spring by filling out a lengthy application, which included a project associated with his teaching specialty. The panelists looked at his students’ records of achievement to evaluate his success as a teacher. Then he was observed in class, followed by two panels – each with different members and on separate occasions – who quizzed him about
See BOWERS, Page 33