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choice if they want to go for early voting. They’ll have plenty of days to do that.”

But Milton Mayor Peyton Jamison and others said three locations would be better.

“I like three,” Jamison said. “I think we went from a feasibility

Milton Municipal Elections

committee, and now we’re more operational. We need to do what’s going to make this the most successful.”

Considering the lack of consensus, the Milton City Council was expected to return to the issue at its April 17 work session.

In August 2021, Milton voters began petitioning their City Council to exit Fulton County elections. It sparked a years-long campaign that spread to other North Fulton cities. Alpharetta, Roswell and Johns Creek have since indicated they will stick with the county – at least for the 2023 election season. Milton is set to operate ballots on their own. Appen Media will continue to cover the story as the city works through logistics of operating an election.

If you have questions, thoughts or story ideas, send them to newsroom@appenmedia.com. Then check back here next week or go to appenmedia.com/municipal_elections.

Here’s a question from one of our readers: “Where is the paperwork that shows the cost comparisons published for all to read?”

Answer: The City of Milton is developing a webpage for its municipal elections, anticipated to go live in early summer. Staff say the page will not include cost comparisons between the city-run municipal election and what Fulton County would have charged for conducting the operation. According to Milton Communications Director Greg Botelho, the focus of the page is information specifically for voters, rather than explaining the election decision and process.

Appen Media reported that the City of Milton paid a subsidized cost of $84,671 to Fulton County to run its 2021 municipal general election and another $70,368 to conduct a runoff election in late November.

The Fulton County Commission decided in February it would no longer use a flat, per-registered-voter rate. Instead, it will charge cities a percentage of the total estimated cost the county anticipates to spend, meaning cities would likely pay more than they did in previous years.

“They’re so old that it takes a while to go through just because people have found other housing or they don’t respond or their address has changed,” Brown said.

At a March 27 Roswell City Council meeting, officials changed requirements for Grove Way to allow for redevelopment.

The adjusted plans will allow four story portions of Roswell Housing Authority buildings to exceed 100 feet in depth and all building lengths to exceed 300 feet.

“We also eliminated the requirement to spend about $200,000 on public art, because we thought it would be better spent on housing,” said Eric Schumacher, Roswell Housing Authority board member.

Schumacher said the group is still looking at public art for the property but wanted to remove the financial requirement.

Parrish said she wants to be “especially responsible with every dime,” and that involves prioritizing homes over anything else.

With the property rezoned for the major development, the housing authority must look to securing the funds from local and state sources. In the meantime, the property will remain vacant.

Gainesville Housing Authority Executive Director Beth Brown said the Roswell Police Department approached the group about potentially using the space to run drills.

“We agreed there would not be a problem with it, and it could be a win for us just having a greater police presence here on site,”

Another board member asked for advance notice to residents, so they can know when drills will be happening. Brown said the housing authority could give notice that drills would “happen occasionally.”

Board member Schumacher said the housing authority should also avoid any liability with the police, because the building has already been condemned for safety reasons.

“We want to make sure that’s accepted and it’s not a problem for insurance because this is like, a secondary use,” Schumacher said.

Finding the funds

The Roswell City Council approved $2 million in grant funding for the Roswell Housing Authority at an April 11 meeting, a step toward securing a 9 percent Low Income Housing Tax Credit worth $6 million.

To qualify for the credit the housing authority must show proof of financial support. The $2 million loan from the city proves some funding, but the group is looking at other options to fill the gap.

Parrish said she met with state representatives, including members of Sen. Raphael Warnock’s office to talk about using appropriation funds for the project. She said the office likely won’t provide an answer in time for the tax credit deadline in May.

The city had also explored using COVID-19 funds in the past, the board said, but the group is uncertain about the logistics of accessing the funds. Board members said it’s a “positive thing” in discussion.

The tax credit application is due by May 19, but the housing authority won’t know until November whether it has secured the funds.

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Lemonade Days

What: Begun in 1999, the first Lemonade Days was held as a relief effort for those families affected by the 1998 tornado that tragically destroyed entire Dunwoody neighborhoods. It has since grown into a five-day festival with something for everyone that has historically attracted more than 30,000 festival-goers. This year’s Lemonade Days will again feature full-scale carnival rides, food-and-beverage vendors, pony rides, a petting zoo and the Dunwoody Idol contest.

When: April 19 through 23, times vary

Where: Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody More info: dunwoodyga.gov

The Lone Bellow Trio With The Watson Twins

What: The Lone Bellow casts an indelible spell with finespun songs of hard truth and unexpected beauty, frequently delivered in hypnotic threepart harmony. For their new album, “Love Songs for Losers,” the trio departed from their previous model of working with top producers such as Aaron Dessner of The National and dreamed up a singular sound encompassing everything from arenaready rock anthems to the gorgeously sprawling Americana tunes the band refers to as “little redneck symphonies.” The Watson Twins join the trio on this tour.

When: Thursday, April 20, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs

Cost: $26.95-$144.25

More info: citysprings.com

Sandy Springs Farmers Market

What: Shop for fresh produce and artisan foods every Saturday morning until November 18, where more than 30 vendors set up shop around the City Green, many bringing their farm to your table. Other vendors offer artisan foods, and many participants offer pre-orders.

When: Saturday, April 22, 8:30 a.m.12:30 p.m.

Where: City Green, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs

More info: citysprings.com/ farmersmarket

A NIGHT WITH DADS: COMEDY SHOW

What: Stage Door Theatre and Dad’s Garage, a comedy improv theater, team up for an improv comedy show.

When: Saturday, April 22, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Stage Door Theatre, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody

Cost: $18.95-28.95

More info: stagedoortheatrega.org/ dads/

Hershey Felder As George Gershwin Alone

What: Hershey Felder’s exploration of George Gershwin’s short but extraordinary life has played to audiences worldwide for more than 3,000 performances from Los Angeles to South Korea, and spotlights Gershwin’s work as a master tunesmith whose work shaped a distinctly American style of music.

When: Saturday, April 22, 8 p.m.

Where: Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs

Cost: $48.50-$75.40

More info: citysprings.com

Dunwoody Food Truck Thursdays

What: Scheduled to run every Thursday through October, Dunwoody Food Truck Thursdays features a variety of food trucks and music.

When: Thursday, April 27, 5-8 p.m.

Where: Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody More info: facebook.com/ dunwoodyfoodtruckthursdays/

CITY GREEN LIVE: BETTER THAN EZRA

What: Playing as part of the City Green Live series, Better Than Ezra is an American alternative rock band based in New Orleans. Formed in 1988, the band has been playing continuously since then, and are best known for their 1993 multi-platinum album “Deluxe” and the 1995 single "Good,” which reached No. 1 on the Billboard chart.

When: Friday, April 28, 7:30 p.m.

Where: City Green, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs

Cost: $60-90

More info: sandyspringsga.gov

Smigglesfest

What: Join Pontoon for their second annual Smigglesfest at the original taproom in Sandy Springs. Smigglesfest is a day filled with beer releases, contests, music, food and more. "Smiggles" was originally coined by Pontoon Brewing in the spring of 2020 with the release of a Berliner Weisse called Rainbow Smiggles, a fruited sour with Skittle candy, Trix cereal, strawberry, pineapple and vanilla.

When: Saturday, April 29, 12-7 p.m.

Where: Pontoon Brewing, 8601 Dunwoody Place, Sandy Springs

More info: pontoonbrewing.com

MONARCHS & MARGARITAS

What: Join the Dunwoody Nature Center for a farm-to-table meal, live music from The Bourbon Brothers and a live auction under the stars. There will be unlimited signature margarita and a selection of beer and wine. This year, there will also be a curated tasting of tequila from Don Cosme. The Bourbon Brothers will perform the music, and there will be a gallery of artwork made by local artists. Proceeds allow the Dunwoody Nature Center to continue inspiring a love of nature and cultivating greater environmental awareness and stewardship.

When: Saturday, April 29, 6-9 p.m.

Where: Dunwoody Nature Center, 5343 Roberts Drive, Dunwoody Cost: Price varies

More info: dunwoodynature.org/ monarchs2023

‘AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY’ PRESENTED BY ACT3 PRODUCTIONS

What: A vanished father. A pill-popping mother. Three sisters harboring shady little secrets. When the large Weston family unexpectedly reunites after Dad disappears, their Oklahoman family homestead explodes in a maelstrom of repressed truths and unsettling secrets. Mix in Violet, the drugged-up, scathingly acidic matriarch, and you’ve got a Pulitzer Prize-winning play that exposes the dark side of the Midwestern American family.

When: Until April 30, days and times vary

Where: Act3 Productions, 6285 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs

Cost: Adults are $23.71, seniors are $19.40 and students are $19.40

More info: act3prod.org

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