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Continued from Page 5 important, and the city works hard to balance minority and majority interests.

Mayor Jim Gilvin, however, expressed concerns that the lower number may negatively impact property owners.

“I’ve got to reconcile with myself that I can dictate to your neighbors who may be counting on that investment,” Gilvin said. “Because what you’re trying to do is make sure it’s what you want to remain in your neighborhood. Some of the people in your neighborhoods are counting on that to pay for a nursing home when they can no longer live independently. Those are huge investments to them, and I take that seriously.”

Tourism director recognized

Also at the meeting, the City Council recognized Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO Janet Rodgers for her contributions to the community, as well as her receipt of the Tim Kilgore Lifetime Achievement Award at the Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus’ state tourism conference in February.

Rodgers has held the post for more than 20 years, where she has promoted shopping, dining, entertainment and live music in the city. She also created the successful Taste of Alpharetta.

At its March 6 meeting, the Alpharetta City Council also heard a report on Mayfield Farm’s potential “Grow-A-Row” program, but members voiced cost concerns.

“There’s value in it, but we’re already investing a lot,” Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin said. “I’m concerned that the cost could become more than the benefit if we’re not very cautious in how we design those programs.”

Gilvin noted the city’s existing stake in the Old Rucker Farm. The program was once volunteer-led, Gilvin said, but since its inception, several Alpharetta staff members have begun managing the project.

Alpharetta City Administrator Chris Lagerbloom said there are nearly a dozen structures on the Mayfield property that should be demolished as soon as possible to prevent nuisance for nearby residents.

“Regardless of whether or not ‘Grow-A-Row’ moves forward, I think that parcel is a site that we own that we need to make a little safer than it might be today,” Lagerbloom said.

“She really is the backbone to a lot of the things that makes Alpharetta special and has been for a very long time,” Gilvin said. “She really is a special, unique person who loves to serve and embodies that mantra.”

Councilmembers also unanimously approved a conceptual site plan for Rucker Road Park, which will add parking, a restroom, benches, park pavilions, green space, walking paths and a park operations and maintenance area off the Rucker Road entrance.

The Recreation, Parks and Cultural Services Department said the project cost is $3 million, $378,070 of which has been spent.

Municipal elections

The City Council will discuss whether the city will run its own municipal elections this fall at a March 20 workshop.

City Administrator Chris Lagerbloom said the City of Johns Creek, which had also considered handling its own election, will remain under Fulton County operations due to the higher cost.

While Johns Creek had estimated the cost for roughly 18 polling locations, Lagerbloom said Alpharetta currently has 13 locations. He said city staff can estimate the cost for its current number of locations, as well as the cost for fewer, but more than one, at the workshop.

Lagerbloom said councilmembers have until March 27 to make their decision before Fulton County’s March 31 deadline.