See LOOP, Page 22
Roswell closes out year with big plans
Council OKs FY25 budget after pushback on parking, fee increases to programs
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga. — The Roswell City Council closed out 2024 with a bang, from signing off on a mixed-use developer to relocating a fire station.
At its last regular meeting of the year Dec. 9, which ran more than four hours, the council also passed its fiscal year 2025 budget. The new fiscal year begins Jan.1 for the first time. Up till now, the city operated on a July to June fiscal year.
Over the past two weeks, Roswell Chief Financial Officer Bill Godshall made a few edits, which included reducing the number of proposed staff cuts.
It’s unclear what departments are seeing the cut. The budget document does not provide an analysis of personnel and staffing levels, like it did in previous years.
“We feel this will continue to better align our services to meet obligations and to enhance efficiency in meeting those obligations,” Godshall said of the staffing level, adding that the fulltime staff being laid off will receive a special compensation package.
See PLANS, Page 16
AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
Mayor Kurt Wilson introduces the fiscal year 2025 budget in a prepared statement at the Dec. 9 City Council meeting.
Community rallies around staff sacked in Roswell FY25 budget
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga. — Since the City of Roswell laid off 16 full-time employees, the community is showing its support by way of donations.
Former City Councilwoman Nancy Diamond, who launched the “Stand by Roswell Workers This Season” GoFundMe account, said the fundraiser is a way to thank those who worked hard for the community. More than $10, 600 has been collected toward a goal of
$12,000, as of Dec. 17 at 10 a.m.
It’s also an effort to change the public narrative.
“This gave an impression that we are a community that I don’t think we are,” she said. “This gives us a chance to shift that narrative to … ‘We’re not heartless people two weeks before Christmas.’”
Former employees who spoke to Appen Media say the layoffs were effective immediately, on Dec. 10, following budget approval the night before.
See RALLY, Page 17
SPECIAL TO APPEN MEDIA
Sean Hamby is one of “the Roswell 16,” a group of former city employees laid off in December. Hamby had been with the city for 37 years.
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Manager admits stealing to catch up on rent
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Police investigated a report of a theft by an employee at a Canton Street restaurant Dec. 6.
Officers were dispatched to the restaurant where a woman told them a manager had stolen about $1,460 in November and December, according to an Alpharetta police report.
The woman said the manager had been fired that morning. She said the 28-year-old Roswell man had written a statement saying he had stolen the money.
The man allegedly told officers he had been borrowing the restaurant’s deposits since March after falling behind on rent. Until November, he had paid back the deposits before the restaurant noticed they were missing, he said.
The manager was unable to repay the money in November, he said.
Police obtained a warrant for the man, charging him with misdemeanor theft by taking, less than $1,500.
Jon Wilcox
Resident reports being held at knifepoint
ROSWELL, Ga. — Police are investigating an armed robbery after a 35-year-old Roswell man reported being held at knifepoint while waiting at the entrance to Roswell Creek Lane Dec. 9.
Officers said they were dispatched to the apartment complex around
8 a.m. in reference to a suspicious person call. After arriving, officers said a male wrapped in a blanket approached them.
Using translation services, officers said the man told them he had been robbed a knife point the prior evening.
The victim said he was waiting for his friends to get off work at Warsaw Road and Roswell Creek Lane around 12:30 a.m. when an unidentified suspect approached him and put a knife to his stomach area.
The victim said the suspect stole all his belongings, including his clothes, shoes, cellphone and cash, totaling around $900.
Officers said they transported the victim to headquarters for an interview before picking up clothes from his apartment and taking him back home.
The report indicates the investigation remains active.
Hayden Sumlin
Officers find nitrous containers during arrest
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A 22-yearold Augusta, Michigan, man was arrested on a driving under the influence charge Dec. 7.
Officers were dispatched to Mayfield Road at Bates Road about 7 p.m. after receiving reports that a reckless driver had struck a light pole, according to an Alpharetta police report. A Milton police officer also reported the vehicle failing to maintain its lane.
After stopping the vehicle, Alpharetta officers smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from the driver’s breath, according to the report.
The man stumbled and nearly fell after police asked him to step out, according to the report. His eyes were glassy, and his stare was blank.
The man denied drinking alcoholic beverages or taking drugs.
The man appeared unsteady on his feet during a field sobriety test, according to the report. A device for measuring alcohol in a person’s breath tested positive at 0.141 BAC.
Officers arrested the man on misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence, failure to maintain lane and duty upon striking a fixture.
A search of the man’s vehicle found nitrous oxide canisters, one of which was opened, on the floorboard.
Jon Wilcox
Officers respond to active burglary
ROSWELL, Ga. — Police arrested a 28-year-old Roswell man after officers caught him in a vacant apartment Dec. 15 off Wood Creek Trail.
Officers said a security guard at the Wood Creek apartments told dispatch he saw broken windows and movement inside a vacant apartment.
When officers arrived, they said the front door was locked and two rear windows were broken inward. After announcing themselves, officers said they were met with silence and secured a perimeter.
Officers said they apprehended the suspect attempting to escape through the rear patio door after breaching the front door. They said no one else was in the vacant apartment.
Later, the security guard said he called 911 after noticing the broken windows, totaling more than $650.
Officers said they transported the suspect to headquarters before securing warrants for second-degree criminal damage to property and trespassing.
The report did not include an explanation from the suspect.
Officers said the suspect was lodged at the North Fulton County Jail without incident.
— Hayden Sumlin
Flag-shaped lots could help preserve Alpharetta’s history
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta City Council members considered a code change that would allow the creation of flag-shaped lots to protect historical buildings.
Council members held a public hearing Dec. 16 on a proposed change to the Unified Development Code that would allow the creation of flag lots.
A flag lot is a parcel of land shaped like a flag with a thin flagpole shaped connection to the roadway.
Flag lots can incentivize the protection of history by allowing an owner to build a new structure behind a historic building, Community Development Director Kathi Cook said. The thinner, pole-shaped portion of a flag lot would maintain a new structure’s access to a roadway.
“It's another incentive to help them with the costs associated and the benefit
of keeping those communities,” Cook said.
Currently, there are at least 55 historic structures in Alpharetta, which has roots that extend into the mid-1800s.
Built in 1858, downtown tea parlor the Ginger Room is the city’s oldest house. The business touts a unique charm and operates as a rentable space for events.
Restoring and maintaining historic buildings can be expensive, Cook said. Flag lots could help owners offset those costs by providing enhanced use to historic properties while protecting the city’s history.
Property owners would need to submit applications to the city to make use of the flag lot provision, Cook said.
“It's good to always promote and protect but also allow these incentives in order to keep the historic structures,” Cook said. “It adds to the character of the community, and it tells the story for future generations to come.”
The Ginger Room, 61 Roswell St., is Alpharetta’s oldest house. Built in 1856 for local physician and postmaster Dr. Oliver Skeltonhe, the historic structure now serves as a rentable event space.
Veterans group collects bikes, toys for kids in need
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Members of Alpharetta’s American Legion Post 201, business owners and other community members donated toys and about 100 bicycles to children this holiday season.
For the third year, Post 201 gathered and provided gifts to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program, said DiAna Casale, American Legion financial assistant.
“It’s just so heartwarming that strangers are willing to give,” she said.
The bicycles were provided by a couple who are members of the post, Casale said. Each bike is an opportunity to bring magic to a child’s Christmas, she said.
“They may never have had a bike,” Casale said “It’s a great opportunity to give to those less fortunate.”
The post invites nonmembers to participate in the ongoing drive by dropping off new toys through Dec. 18 at the post, 201 Wills Road.
Casale said many veterans carry a unique sense of duty and service. Post 201 includes about 1,000 members, of which almost 800 are veterans.
“They are still sacrificing for the community,” she said. “They don’t think twice about giving. That’s just the way they are.”
— Jon Wilcox
STEVE NEESE/APPEN MEDIA
From left, Tommy Youngblood, American Legion Post 201 member; U.S. Marines Lance Cpl. Richardson and Cpl. Parades; and Ralph Jordan, Post 201 member; stand with bicycles to be donated to Toys for Tots on Dec. 12.
Council debates majority vote requirement
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Alpharetta City Council approved a resolution supporting the change of how members are voted into office at a Dec. 16 meeting.
The resolution would ask a local delegation of the General Assembly to change the city’s charter to require council members to obtain a majority of votes rather than a plurality to be elected into office.
All but one member of the City Council supported the resolution. Councilman Donald Mitchell opposed it.
Mayor Jim Gilvin and councilmen John Hipes, Douglas DeRito and Dan Merkel said a majority vote is necessary to accurately reflect the wishes of voters. Mitchell said a majority vote requirement is unnecessary and could be costly.
If no candidate won more than 50 percent of the vote, a run-off would be required, which the city would be required to pay for.
Most cities in North Metro Atlanta require a majority vote, City Administrator Chris Lagerbloom said. Mitchell said he opposed the resolution because a plurality requirement has been sufficient for Alpharetta since the 1800s. Run-offs, which he estimated would be common, would pose an undue burden to taxpayers.
“My vote is no,” Mitchell said. “All it’s going to do is add more money to the taxpayer to have run-off elections because you’re never going to get 51 percent when you don’t even have 35 percent of the people voting in any major election.”
A run-off election could cost up to $60,000, he said.
“Plurality has always worked for us and will work for us in the future,” he said.
Mitchell kept the Post 1 seat after beating Donna Murphy with a majority vote – 55.9% - in 2021.
Campaigning for a run-off also could cost candidates, allowing those with ample monetary resources to pull ahead of those with less funds, he said.
“Whoever gets the most money, that’s the one who is going to win because they’re the only one who is going to be able to afford a $50,000 or $60,000 election,” he said. “I think the poorest among us should be able to run for Council.”
Hipes disagreed, saying Alpharetta has changed since the time a plurality vote was first required. The city’s population, economy and interests
MEDIA
Councilman John Hipes explains why he thinks candidates should be required to win a majority of votes to be elected into office at a Dec. 16 meeting.
have grown dramatically since then.
Council members who must make decisions for Alpharetta’s now complex decisions should have the full backing of most voters to ensure a consensus from the electorate.
With a plurality, some candidates could be elected with as few as a hundred votes, he said.
“For this city, where we are, where we want to be, where we will be, it’s very important that when we sit down and take our oaths of office that we have the backing of the majority who took the time to cast their votes,” he said.
Hipes said he understood Mitchell’s criticism about the financial burden to the city, but disagreed about how campaigning costs might exclude some candidates. A majority vote would even the race for candidates challenging those already in office, he said.
“I happen to believe the opposite is true,” Hipes said. “I happen to believe … that plurality strongly favors the incumbent.”
Merkel agreed with Hipes, adding a plurality could allow an unqualified candidate to “fly by” with the support of relatively few voters.
A run-off would allow for additional debate and campaigning, giving voters a better idea about who was seeking office. He also said the resolution supporting a change is not an attempt by council members to stay in office because the Council imposes term limits.
“This isn’t a sleepy town anymore. This isn’t 1858,” he said. “Just because we’ve done it that way before doesn’t mean we’re doing it right.”
DeRito said a plurality could allow a candidate who does not have the best interests of the city to win.
“What’s scary about that is … we could literally be opening the door to a radical candidate who has different
Majority vote
Alpharetta is asking state lawmakers to change the city’s charter so that councilmembers must win their election with a majority, instead of a plurality. Here are the current officials and the election results that put them most recently in office.
Mayor Jim Gilvin – Majority win (uncontested race), November 2019
Post 1 Councilman Donald Mitchell – Majority win (55.9% with one other candidate), November 2021
Post 2 Councilman Brian Will – Plurality win (47.9% with two other candidates), November 2021
Post 3 Councilman Doug DeRito – Plurality win (46.1% with two other candidates), November 2021
Post 4 Councilman John Hipes – Majority win (uncontested race), November 2019
Post 6 Councilman Dan Merkel – Majority win (62.5% with two other candidates), November 2019
The city cancelled its 2023 elections after no other candidates qualified to run. This kept Gilvin, Hipes, Merkel in office and added Post 5 Councilman Fergel Brady who was the only candidate to qualify for the seat.
interests than what the general public of Alpharetta would have,” he said.
“And that’s a scary thought.”
Gilvin said Alpharetta’s considerable resources and complexity mean qualified candidates should be elected.
“The world has changed, and the City of Alpharetta has changed,” he said. “Our budget was $171 million this year. That’s not chump change.
That is not small town stuff. This is a complex organization.”
The decision to change also is about democracy, he said. A majority vote would prevent candidates from “gaming the system” and circumventing the will of voters, he said.
“In this world, the political chaos is just too much of a vulnerability to not require at least 50 percent plus one vote,” he said.
JON WILCOX/APPEN
Christmas at Midway Christmas Midway
December 24th
Christmas Eve
3:00 p.m. Children’s Pop-up Christmas Pageant
This family-friendly service invites children to help tell the story of the very first Christmas! Wear a costume or borrow one from the church.
5:00 p.m. Modern – Sanctuary
7:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m. & 11:00 p.m. Traditional – Chapel
Join us for one of these candlelight and communion services as we celebrate the birth of Christ.
| www.MidwayUMC.org
Tuesday, December 24
LAILA STAMER, founder, The Tulip Place
8 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | December 19, 2024
Dementia day care offers peace of mind to patients, families
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
MILTON, Ga. — Twice a week at the Bethwell Community Center, Laila Stamer and her team at The Tulip Place offer personalized care for those with dementia.
For members of The Tulip Place and their families who often care for them around the clock, Mondays and Wednesdays are special. The group meets from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Dementia is an umbrella term that describes a wide range of symptoms affecting people’s ability to perform everyday activities on their own. Common symptoms include behavior changes and a decline in memory.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, marked by symptoms that accelerate over time, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Members of The Tulip Place range in age from 63 to 98. It is rare for someone to develop dementia symptoms before age 65.
There were 10 members at the Wednesday, Dec. 11 session. Each group kicks off the same way. Members spend the first 30 minutes enjoying a cup of decaf coffee, laughing and trading stories and experiences.
Everyone in the group takes turns going around the table, introducing themselves and talking about why they love coming to the Bethwell Community Center.
Greg, a retired Air Force pilot who specialized in aerial refueling, spoke Dec. 11 about his time in the service and recounted the intensity of some of his experiences.
Dave, sitting to Greg’s left, also served in the armed forces. Ohio State Buckeyes football immediately became a conversation topic. The Tulip Place stays in the moment with its members.
“I think it’s a wonderful place for people who have the same thing,” Dave said. “These ladies are part of my family now.”
All aspects of care
What makes The Tulip Place so unique is Stamer and her staff. Tara Samples, activities and
THE TULIP PLACE/PROVIDED
From left, staff at The Tulip Place, Tara Samples, activities and engagement director; Genevieve Harrowing, activities coordinator and social media manager; and Laila Stamer, founder and program director, get ready to welcome members to its biweekly dementia day care program at Bethwell Community Center.
engagement director, works along with Genevieve Harrowing to support social, cognitive, physical, creative and musical activities throughout the day.
Staff ensures the group is fed lunch, often based on the Mediterranean diet, which is associated with bolstering cognitive function.
More importantly at The Tulip Place, staff makes sure members have a sense of belonging in the group, which sometimes does more for a person with dementia than anything else.
Stigma is hurdle for people living with dementia, but The Tulip Place fights it by holistically supporting families through monthly educational programming. Respect and dignity come first before all the laughing, chatting and fun can manifest.
Stamer said many spouses think they can handle full-time care before symptoms become too much to handle. The education helps them learn what to look for, who can help and that they’re not alone.
The Tulip Place’s dementia day care costs $150 per session, or $25 per hour. Medicare and Medicaid do not cover respite hours for individuals living with dementia, making affordability difficult for some.
Stamer said there’s a pilot program underway to explore future coverage. With a staff-to-member ratio of 4-to-1, it’s a great deal for those who can afford it.
When the group was asked what keeps them coming back every week and why they enjoy being together, everyone smiled. That answers the question.
Over the past six months, group members have gotten to know one another. They smile, shake hands and talk about whatever is in front of them, whether it be a football or a canvass.
The severity of dementia in the group is not entirely consistent. Spouses care for members, which means dropping them off twice a week with the team at The Tulip Place.
Stamer, founder and program director of The Tulip Place, said patients ask their spouses if they’re going to group almost every day. She said their spouses have a similar question, why can’t the program run five days a week?
After securing its license and permitting from the Georgia Community Health Department, The
See CARE, Page 9
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
The staff and members of The Tulip Place, a dementia day care program meeting twice a week at the Bethwell Community Center, take a break from coffee and conversations Dec. 11 to smile for a quick group picture. The program, founded and directed by Laila Stamer, meets every Monday and Wednesday for six hours, helping individuals with dementia and their families enjoy better lives.
Care:
Continued from Page 8
Tulip Place opened in May to serve interested families and patients.
Stamer and her staff are certified dementia practitioners with extensive experience providing care and a deep understanding of the disease.
Continuing family practice
Born and raised in the Netherlands, Stamer has a quarter century of experience helping families deal with dementia. Since her professor opened the firstever “dementia day center” at the University of Amsterdam in the late 1990s, Stamer’s passion for helping families struggling with dementia care has not wavered.
“This is a project that comes from the Netherlands, and I didn’t know if it was going to work here,” Stamer said, her accent and a warm smile sneaking through. “We started a little bit, but then COVID came … we just picked it back up again recently.”
Because she wasn’t sure if the program would take off in America, Stamer decided to start renting the community center off Hopewell Road from the City of Milton.
The building’s open layout and homey feel makes the perfect spot for a dementia day care.
Todd, one of The Tulip Place members, spent his Air Force career building hospitals across the globe for the military.
“What takes away from your life is when you don’t have this,” Todd said, gesturing to the men and women sitting around him. “Now, I can’t remember much over the past two months, but I think it really makes a difference.”
Several members are veterans. One is a former attorney for the Atlanta Braves. Lee, who just became a grandmother, is traveling to Denver soon.
If any member forgets one of their accomplishments, Stamer and her staff are there to remind them. It’s what makes The Tulip Place special.
The National Institute on Aging says scientists have made tremendous progress in better understanding Alzheimer’s disease, but they still do not know what causes it in most people.
The best guess is that the causes include a combination of age-related changes in the brain along with genetic and lifestyle factors.
After heading out, Todd said a lot more can be done to educate people about dementia.
He encourages young people with family members who have dementia to understand their risks.
With early education and maintenance of a healthy lifestyle, scientists and researchers have some ways to protect against dementia. While they can’t say for certain the changes work for everyone, researchers say managing weight and blood sugar while getting seven to eight hours of sleep goes a long way.
Stamer said she’d love to be open for more days. She said there needs to be more female members interested in joining the group. Right now, there are just three.
“What we do is great for the group, but it is mostly to have families be able to keep it going at home,” she said. “We take the pressure off for a little bit.”
For more information about the dementia day care program, visit thetulipplace.com.
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Roswell girls win close game against Johns Creek
By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga — Roswell girls basketball team improves to 3-1 in region (4-5 on the season) after a second half comeback against Johns Creek (now 2-8) Dec. 13. The final score of the matchup was 42-38.
Roswell head coach DJ Moore reflected on the Hornets’ season and the flow of the game against the Gladiators.
“We played a tough schedule at the beginning of the season, but it helped us grow and now we’re sitting 3-1 in region,” he said. “Tonight we gave them a lot of confidence early on and got in a dogfight, but I love how resilient our girls are. They found a way to make a difference at halftime and I was really proud of how hard they worked.”
The first quarter was an even matchup, the score tied at 11 points going into the second period. The Gladiators’ only players to make a field goal in the game, senior Savannah Jenkins and junior Grace Landeck, got to work quickly, putting up 11 and 23 points in the
Roswell senior guard Eve Buckley takes a free throw at Roswell High School Dec. 13. Buckley went eight-for-ten from the free-throw line against Johns Creek.
game, respectively. Landeck went three-for-four from deep and six-forsix from the free-throw line. Jenkins had a well-rounded game with nine rebounds, one assist and two steals.
Gladiators forward Emily Jackson also sunk four free throws, and key defensive plays by freshman Meredith Evans and senior Samy Chandler helped the Gladiators stay in the game.
Landeck, who was named player of the game by MaxPreps, hit backto-back 3-pointers in the second quarter, prompting a defensive adjustment from the Hornets that forced Landeck to go cold until the fourth quarter. Johns Creek ended the first half up five points on the Hornets.
Roswell senior guard Eve Buckley went eight-for-ten from the freethrow line, with eight second-half points that boosted the Hornets to an 11-5 run in the third quarter and maintained their lead into the fourth. Buckley tallied 14 total points, five rebounds, three assists and five steals in the win.
Roswell junior Alex Gonda came up with two big steals in the fourth quarter, crediting her team’s defense allowing her to be in the right place. Gonda notched 12 points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocks against Johns Creek.
“I’m glad we found our grit to get after it but definitely wasn’t our best game,” she said. “We had a great defensive effort tonight and that allowed us to pull ahead in the second half.”
Gladiators pull ahead of Hornets for region win
By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga — Johns Creek boys basketball team improved to 7-4 on the season after a win over Roswell (now 4-6) Dec. 13 at Roswell High School. The Gladiators won every stat except blocks, and the Hornets were not able to improve their shooting percentages enough to overcome an at one point 13-point lead. The final score was 70-58.
The Hornets started in a hole of 0-13 in the first quarter but then proceeded to go on a 7-2 run, improving the score to 7-15 by the beginning of the second. The next quarter saw the Hornets outscoring the Gladiators by six points, whittling Johns Creek’s lead down to two points.
Roswell senior guard Ryan Koch headlined the Hornets’ scoring effort with 22 points, nine rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block.
The Gladiators settled back into their lead in the second half, outscoring the Hornets by
Johns Creek junior guard Christian Cooper hits a step-back to create his shot at Roswell High School Dec. 13.
seven points in the third quarter.
Two steals and a block by Johns Creek helped to quiet the Hornets offensively in that time, and an eight
point third-quarter scoring surge by junior Ben Uhde propelled the Gladiators’ motor.
Johns Creek junior Tatum Holmes
went off for a game-high 25 points, eight rebounds and three steals. A three-level scorer, Holmes had three 3-pointers, several midrange makes and an alley-oop from junior guard Christian Cooper.
Cooper notched 18 points, two rebounds, five assists and two steals. Junior Anthony Poller was another member of the supporting cast with 10 points, four rebounds, three assists and the Gladiators’ only block of the game.
Johns Creek head coach Tanner Burnett discussed what went well for the Gladiators against Roswell.
“I think [the match] went how we wanted it to, we executed our game plan,” he said. “We were able to get out and run a little bit and that allowed us to see a few more go in the basket. Anytime you can go on the road and get a win in the region that’s always a good thing.”
Holmes agreed.
“Running out in transition made our win today,” he said. “Playing hard on defense, talking on defense were huge for us today.
ANNABELLE REITER/APPEN MEDIA
ANNABELLE REITER/APPEN MEDIA
Fulton district names schools taking transfers
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Fulton County Schools has identified 80 schools that can accept transfer students for the 2025-26 school year under the Change of School Assignment process.
The process, governed by School Board “Policy JBCD,” took effect in August. It allows student transfers for any reason. Previously, students had to file with a hardship or through options made available by state law.
Only schools with available space, defined as 95-percent enrollment or below stated capacity over a three-year
projection, are COSA-eligible.
The application deadline is Jan. 15 at 11:59 p.m.
Acceptance or denial decisions for COSA applications are expected to be emailed in late January. If the application is approved, parents must respond by the stated deadline to have their child enrolled at the new school in 2025-26.
For more information or to apply, visit https://www.fultonschools.org.
— Amber Perry
Accepting schools
Alpharetta High School Banneker High School
High School
Centennial High School
Chattahoochee High School
Autrey Mill Middle School
Camp Creek Middle School
Crabapple Middle School
Elkins Pointe Middle School
Haynes Bridge Middle School
Holcomb Bridge Middle School
Hopewell Middle School
McNair Middle School Paul
Sandtown Middle School
Sandy Springs Middle School
Taylor Road Middle School
Woodland Middle School
Alpharetta Elementary School
A. Philip Randolph Elementary School
Asa G. Hilliard Elementary School
Barnwell Elementary School
Bethune Elementary School
Birmingham Falls Elementary School
Brookview Elementary School
Campbell Elementary School
Cliftondale Elementary School
Cogburn Woods Elementary School
College Park Elementary School
Conley Hills Elementary School
Crabapple Crossing Elementary School
Creek View Elementary School
Dolvin Elementary School
Dunwoody Springs Elementary School
Esther Jackson Elementary School
Evoline C. West Elementary School
Feldwood Elementary School
Findley Oaks Elementary School
Gullatt Elementary School
Hamilton E. Holmes Elementary School
Hapeville Elementary School
Heards Ferry Elementary School
Hembree Springs Elementary School
Heritage Elementary School
High Point Elementary School
Ison Springs Elementary School
Lake Forest Elementary School
Lake Windward Elementary School
Liberty Point Elementary School
Love T. Nolan Elementary School
Manning Oaks Elementary School
Medlock Bridge Elementary School
Mimosa Elementary School
Mountain Park Elementary School
New Prospect Elementary School
Northwood Elementary School
Oakley Elementary School
Ocee Elementary School
Palmetto Elementary School
Parklane Elementary School
River Eves Elementary School
Seaborn Lee Elementary School
Shakerag Elementary School
Spalding Drive Elementary School
State Bridge Crossing Elementary School
Stonewall Tell Elementary School
Summit Hill Elementary School
Sweet Apple Elementary School
Vickery Mill Elementary School
Wolf Creek Elementary School
Woodland Elementary School
D. West Middle School
Abbotts Hill Elementary School
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Estate planning and mental health
As we navigate the complexities of estate planning, one crucial aspect that often gets overlooked is mental health. It’s a topic that deserves our attention, especially as we think about the future not just for our assets, but for our loved ones' well-being. Life can bring unexpected challenges, and mental health issues can arise at any stage. When creating an estate plan, it’s important to consider the possibility that beneficiaries may need support during difficult times. This might mean setting aside funds specifically for mental health care, or perhaps even designating a trusted individual to help advocate for their needs. Open conversations about mental health within families can foster understanding and support. Encourage discussions about emotional wellness and ensure your loved ones know they’re not alone in facing life's challenges. It can be incredibly empowering for beneficiaries to know they have
a plan in place should they need mental health resources. Additionally, as we age, our own mental health can come into play. Planning for our own wellbeing—whether through advance directives or appointing a power of attorney—can ensure that our voices are heard, even when we may not be able to articulate our wishes. Remember, estate planning is not just about distributing wealth; it’s about safeguarding the emotional and psychological health of those we care about. Let’s prioritize mental wellness as we plan for the future. After all, true legacy goes beyond assets—it's about the love, support, and care we pass on to the next generation.
Sponsored Section December 19, 2024 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | 12
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DOMBROSKI
Johns Creek firefighters act on community needs
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Unlike some other fire departments in north Metro Atlanta, the Johns Creek Fire Department prioritizes every level of a 911 call.
That includes Alpha calls, or calls that are considered the least emergent, such as a sprained ankle. The list runs through Echo, something as critical as cardiac arrest.
“Anything you may go to your primary care physician for, or you may go to an urgent care and emergency room for, these guys will go,” Fire Chief Chris Coons said from inside the 9,000-square-foot Station 64 off Kimball Bridge Road, radio information intermittently playing through an intercom. “Unfortunately, to some people, this is their primary care.”
In a “former life,” Coons said he responded to someone’s call about a toothache at 3 a.m. He even delivered a baby at a gas station, when he moonlighted as a part-timer with the Roswell Fire Department.
Coons has been with Johns Creek since the department’s formation in 2008 and was promoted to chief nearly six years ago.
The indiscriminate practice, he said, is part of the department’s mission to provide the best service it can, helping out those in need, but it’s also a matter of double checking the severity of each situation.
“There’s so many moving parts,” Coons said. “Sometimes, there’s a mistake made on what’s going on on the other end of that line, and I would rather see us check that out than leave somebody there that was triaged wrong.”
Weekly schedule
Each shift at the station has a crew of five firefighters, working 24 hours on and 48 hours off, a model that may soon change. Coons said he’s in preliminary discussions about implementing the 48-96 shift model. The City of Roswell made that change earlier this year.
“It does have a lot of very interesting theoretical benefits,” Coons said. “We will give it a whirl and see, I think.”
At Station 64, Coons was joined by Fire Capt. Brad Ridings, who leads one of three shifts there.
Ridings, and Fire Apparatus Operator Carlton Flora, who showed off the major features of Quint 64 that day, saw the formation of the department with Coons. Firefighter David Hemmings, hanging around as well, has been with Johns Creek Fire for eight years.
Ridings keeps the group on track with a weekly schedule, coordinated with the two other captains at the station. There’s a lot of cleaning.
On Mondays, the crew does a deep
PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
Johns Creek Firefighter David Hemmings, Fire Capt. Brad Ridings, Fire Chief Chris Coons and Fire Apparatus Operator Carlton Flora gather at Fire Station 64 in front of Quint 64, the department’s $2 million ladder truck.
clean off all the trucks; on Tuesday, a house clean; Wednesday, the windows, even the tallest ones; Thursday is focused on the bay; and Friday, it’s all about the yard. They cut their own grass.
Training is slated for the weekend.
When the crew isn’t fighting fires, responding to medical calls, or cleaning, they can be found in the community room with recliners and TV, at least on the weekend.
“If you come by the fire station on Sundays, it’s car racing or NFL. Saturdays, college football,” Coons said. “And then one thing you will see fire stations watch every single year is the Little League World Series, in the playoffs.”
But, during lulls throughout the day, the kitchen is where most time is spent.
That night, the crew on shift at Station 64 planned to cook chicken, potatoes and green beans. This time, they ordered but usually, you can see Quint 64 in the grocery store parking lot.
While each shift has its own refrigerator, Ridings said there’s a lot of thievery of certain items.
“You literally could leave $100 sitting right there, and it will be there two days later when you come back, but do not leave ice cream in that freezer,” Coons added.
Regular training
That Tuesday was busy. After cleaning house, Ridings said the crew prepared for an upcoming air consumption drill. For that, firefighters don all their gear, an air pack, and perform fire related tasks.
Drills are conducted on location. Coons said the department wants a space like the Roswell-Alpharetta Public Safety Training Center where there are mock structures for firefighters to use.
“We’ve got to get one,” Coons said. “We use our fire stations, which is tough. You can’t really burn in here. They frown upon
from coverage territories based on mileage.
Heavy duty equipment
The newest of the city’s fire stations houses Quint 64, a $2 million aerial ladder truck, driven by Flora. The dual-purpose truck provides a flow capacity of up to 1,500 gallons-per-minute and offers up to 107 feet of vertical reach and 100 feet of horizontal reach.
When Flora and at least two other firefighters get to the scene of a fire on the quint, the first thing he does is get the pump going. Another pulled the right size hose or “attack line” depending on the size of the fire.
“As soon as they get positioned and they’re ready to fight fire, I’ll just pull a lever and water goes to it,” Flora said.
CIVIC DUTIES: In a new series from Appen Media, Civic Duties will take readers behind the scenes of local government. Senior Reporter Amber Perry and her colleagues will shadow employees across different city departments and turn those experiences into original reporting, so residents get a closer look at what exactly local governments provide the community.
that. That may get me retired early.”
Ridings added, “You can only search it so many times before you actually know where you’re at, blindfolded.”
This year marks the first of an annual required physical agility test.
“Firefighters are traditionally pretty health-conscious folk, but over the last few years, we’ve made a little bit of a push towards better health and wellness for our firefighters,” Coons said.
All fire stations in Johns Creek have gym equipment, though that wasn’t always the case. CrossFit is the new craze.
“It’s geared towards different body movements and cardio and things such as that, versus we were just worried about looking big and strong and breaking walls down,” Coons said. “Things have changed.”
The alarm system is getting replaced soon, from a buzzer that could scare you into a heart attack to a noise that ramps up slowly. The new device, he said, is more heart healthy.
Other things have changed as well, like the technology available to firefighters.
Hydrants are mapped out on the city’s advanced GIS mapping system, while firefighters used to rely on map books.
“Most of them were missing the one page that was your territory, because it’s worn out,” Coons said.
The GIS system also determines response times based on traffic patterns and has allowed the department to step away
The thing about Quint 64 is that because it has a 400-gallon capacity, as compared to up to 1,000 gallons of water on a traditional engine, there’s only enough water to “charge the system” and get one good refill.
“That’s why we’re so quick about trying to hook up to a hydrant,” Flora said.
A squad truck recently relocated to Station 64 from Station 61 to help with call volume.
It’s equipped with everything an ambulance has, minus a stretcher, and what firefighters need for other kinds of calls, such as a structure fire, hazardous materials or a person trapped in a car.
“So, we got a vehicle that’s a little bit more mission specific to what we do on the fire department on the EMS and other side,” Coons said.
Recruiting problems
Coons said there’s only a few vacancies in the department, which has 88 firefighters. The ebb and flow is natural, he said, as people begin to retire.
The average age is 46 years old. Coons spends a lot of time recruiting. He said it’s tougher than it’s ever been — there’s not a lot of young people applying to be firefighters.
“When I started the fire department, you almost had to have a senator appoint you,” Coons said. “I mean, it was the hardest job to get on the planet.”
The job is physically and emotionally demanding, firefighters dealing with tragedy after tragedy.
“Nobody ever calls us because they’re having a good day,” Coons said.
Chaplaincy support has come online in recent years, more mental health help for police and fire departments.
“That wasn’t a thing forever,” he said. “It was, like, ‘Tough it out’ … That’s how it was. You’d be like, ‘Oh my gosh, I just did CPR on an infant’ … and the other guys would be like, ‘Man, please.’ They were hurting inside too. When you do this a lifetime, it’s tough.”
AMBER
Innovation Academy student signs to row at college level
By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com
ALPHARETTA, Ga — Innovation Academy held its first signing day Dec. 5 to feature Bria Henry signing to row for High Point University in North Carolina. Classmates and school faculty gathered with Henry and her family to witness the signing ceremony.
Henry discussed life balance with rowing and what got her into the sport.
“My older sister rows, it all kind of started with her,” she said. “I tried [rowing] one summer and it was harder than I expected, but I really enjoyed it and thought I would do well so I decided to continue.”
She said freshman year was rough adjusting to a new schedule, but as time went on, her grades improved.
“I was able to find that balance in order to excel,” she said.
Both of Henry’s parents attended High Point and look forward to having her close to home.
Henry managed a rigorous academic
schedule at Innovation Academy while competing with Atlanta Juniors Rowing Association throughout her high school career. The number of colleges and universities with rowing programs is growing by the day, but high schools have not reflected the trend. Athletes who wish to participate in rowing prior to college must either attend the few private schools that offer the sport or participate in club teams such as Atlanta Juniors.
Maddux Castle, the women’s head coach at Atlanta Juniors, said Henry’s work ethic demonstrates how students can succeed.
“Today is a great demonstration of commitment and athletic prowess,” he said.
“It makes me so proud to see Bria grow and mature as an athlete, as a student, and as a whole human being. She will be part of just the second class to sign to High Point’s program, so she really has an opportunity to go up from the base, it will be exciting for all of us to see her and her teammates forging this new path.”
Locals join effort to change state flower
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
NORTH METRO ATLANTA — The Georgia Native Plant Society is supporting an effort during the 2025 General Assembly to change Georgia’s state flower to the sweetbay magnolia.
The Cherokee rose (Rosa laevigata) has been the state flower for more than a century.
Several organizations and leaders across the state are advocating to change Georgia’s state flower from the invasive species to the native sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana).
The Georgia Native Plant Society encourages all citizens to contact their state legislators and encourage them to support the change.
When state legislators and Gov. Nathaniel Harris approved the state’s official “floral emblem” in the summer of 1916, it was believed the Cherokee rose was indigenous to Georgia.
In fact, the Cherokee rose is indigenous to China and southeastern Asia. It was introduced to North America sometime in the 1700s.
Cherokee legend incorporates the flower into the 1838 Trail of Tears, where elders said the flower would grow where tears fell during the march to Oklahoma. You can still find the roses along the route the tribe took.
The Georgia Native Plant Society views the current state flower differently than Georgians did a century ago. They say
Cherokee and other Native Americans relied on Georgia’s native plants to survive.
The myth that the rose was special to the Cherokee people was popularized years after the tribe was forced to leave the state during the infamous Trail of Tears and has no basis in fact, the Georgia Native Plant Society says.
Furthermore, the Georgia Cherokee Community Alliance supports removing the rose as the state flower and encourages a native plant that was known by their people for the thousands of years they lived in Georgia.
Additional organizations are also supporting the change including Birds Georgia, the Georgia Invasive Species Council and the University of Georgia’s Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.
Statewide organizations want to rectify what they call a century-old mistake and join the 80 percent of U.S. states with an indigenous state flower.
Michael Cowan, who serves as the society’s advocacy chair, is a Dunwoody resident and a recipient of the city’s 2022 Sustainability Hero award. He helped overhaul the city’s Sustainability Plan, initiated Dunwoody’s efforts to become a Bee City USA, and established a partnership with the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper to monitor water quality for the local watershed.
Cowan said the key is to have the bill introduced early in the legislative session, so it passes amid more salient items. He
GEORGIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY/PROVIDED
The sweetbay magnolia, common throughout the Atlantic coast in the southeastern United States, is making a push to replace the Cherokee rose as the Georgia state flower.
said once people understand the context of the change, they get on board.
The Georgia Native Plant Society says state Rep. Deborah Silcox of Sandy Springs and Sen. Rick Williams of Milledgeville plan to introduce the required legislation in each chamber next year. The society says both recognize the symbolic importance of an indigenous state flower.
“The Cherokee rose was adopted as the state flower in 1916 under the incorrect assumption that it was native to the state and a legacy of the Cherokee people — it is neither,” Silcox said. “Georgia is one of the most bio-diverse regions in the world with so many beautiful native flowers … We deserve a state flower from Georgia.”
The sweetbay magnolia is a small, evergreen understory tree with a wonderfully fragrant and beautiful white
flower. It is native to Georgia and can be found growing wild in much of the state.
The society says invasive species, like the Cherokee rose, create costly control problems for Georgia farmers and homeowners. The sweetbay magnolia is the host plant for the state butterfly — the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail — and its flower supports many other pollinators.
Ellen Honeycutt, board chair of the Georgia Native Plant Society, said indigenous plants are the keystone for the state’s ecosystem.
“Loss of native plant habitat is perhaps the biggest cause of species decline today,” she said. “Without the native host plants, we don’t have the insects like caterpillars and butterflies that support the birds and all the other animals that are vital to sustaining a balanced ecosystem.”
While the Cherokee Rose is not sold or encouraged as a landscaping plant because of its invasive tendencies, the sweetbay magnolia is widely available and can be planted in all regions of the state.
“It would be great to have a state flower that Georgians can buy from local nurseries and feel good about planting on their property” Stuart Cofer, owner of Cofer’s Home & Garden Showplace in Athens, told the Georgia Native Plant Society.
All Georgians are encouraged to reach out to their local legislators and urge them to support a state flower from Georgia.
For more information, visit the Georgia Native Plant Society’s website at gnps.org/ conservation/advocacy.
ANNABELLE REITER/APPEN MEDIA
Innovation Academy senior Bria Henry, center, signs to High Point University’s rowing program.
Plans:
Continued from Page 1
According to his offer letter, obtained in an open records request, Godshall’s salary is $250,000 a year. His counterpart in the C-suite, COO Don Stephens, makes $340,000 a year.
A number of public comments that night questioned whether the layoffs will affect quality in service.
City Administrator Randy Knighton addressed the concern for one resident.
“The budget … contemplates the reduction of staff, but any organization that is true to itself will continuously evaluate and analyze its service provision, which we’ve done throughout this budget,” Knighton said. “Although [the budget] does contemplate a reduction in staff, our department heads are absolutely committed to ensuring that our service delivery is not compromised at all.”
The city also increased its fees across a number of departments.
Residents highlighted those associated with Recreation, like Christine Milliken who called its programming an “essential resource.” According to the proposed budget, the Recreation Admin Fee increased by nearly $300,000.
Mayor Kurt Wilson characterized the fee increases as the “end of subsidization.”
“Roswell taxpayers don’t need to subsidize things that should be equivocated in cost, and Parks and Rec fees is a perfect example, particularly when it’s successful…,” he said. “There’s already a program, by the way, for scholarships for kids who can’t afford it.”
The parking problem
Another topic of discussion was the budget’s assumption that the city would collect $2.2 million in parking revenues.
Godshall supported the figure because the city used “conservative” rates for the calculation.
Other speakers were skeptical, raising concerns about the city adding costs to residents and unintended consequences the plan may have on businesses.
Mayor Wilson took a dim view of the remarks.
He lambasted one resident, Daryl O’Hare, as she quoted Seer World CEO/Founder Peter Sorckoff’s characterization of the “flawed” data that underlies his parking study.
Interrupting O’Hare during the budget hearing’s public comment period, Wilson said she made a “silly
comment without context.”
Sorckoff had made the “flawed” data comment at an earlier work session when responding to City Councilwoman Sarah Beeson’s concern about the budget assuming a seven-figure parking revenue projection.
Beeson had also brought up a discrepancy in reported voluntary compliance rates.
“Look, the data is very flawed, and we know that, and I think part of what we’re building here is essentially a working hypothesis of where we think we should be on the conservative side,” Sorckoff responded.
The work session was the first time the council publicly discussed Seer’s parking analysis, which is the basis for the assumed parking revenue in the 2025 budget. The parking policy discussion is scheduled for next month.
Appen Media previously published a copy of the analysis and estimated the daily collections needed to reach the city’s $2.2 million goal. Based on 847 city-controlled spaces, Roswell would need to collect nearly $6.50 a day for every spot 365 days a year, if collections began Jan. 1.
However, the news outlet cited a typo in the document. There are actually 837 city-controlled spaces.
At the work session, City Administrator Jeff Leatherman said the parking model is built off 1,011 spaces which includes parking in the West Alley and Green Street lots, which are at risk of being redeveloped.
Hill Street development
Also at the regular meeting, the council approved a letter of intent with
addition to permit and impact fees. Presenting the plan, Sorckoff said those lease payments would generate around $680,000 a year. But, the rent factor, 8 percent of the appraised value of the land, will be phased in.
“They won’t pay rent for the first 20 months, and then their rent factor actually starts at 5 in year one, moves to 6 in year two while they stabilize and lease up, and then moves to 8 percent for the remaining 96 years of the lease,” he said.
Sorckoff also provided a timeline. Construction is expected to start next July, following a due diligence period, and it will take 20 months to complete.
Fire analysis
In other matters, Roswell Fire Data Manager Alex Temes presented a Fire Response Analysis that used data to determine how many fire stations were needed in the city and where they should be located.
Atlantic Companies, the developer pegged for transforming a 6-acre site along Hill, Atlanta and Ellis streets into a mixed-use development.
Mayor Wilson introduced the project in a prepared statement.
“The new development project is poised to transform property directly adjacent to Roswell City Hall, enhancing economic development and bringing new revenue streams into the city to help keep property taxes low to residents,” he read.
The project will feature around 80,000 square feet of commercial space, up to 143 multi-family units and up to 16 townhomes, plus 485 parking spaces that will be funded by the city. Most spaces will be part of a parking deck.
City Councilwoman Lee Hills cast the lone dissenting vote, citing the multi-family element.
“Regrettably, the number of apartments on this one is beyond my threshold of comfort,” Hills said.
The transaction includes an exchange of 1.3 acres owned by the developer and a 1.3-acre parcel owned by the city. It also considers a 50-year ground-lease to the developer of 4.6 acres, with an option to extend for an additional 49 years.
Right now, the Roswell Law Enforcement Center, whose headquarters are moving to the Roswell Summit property, sits on the project site. The council finalized the purchase of the Summit property that evening.
Rather than paying property taxes, the developer will be required to make payments on the city-owned properties leased for the project as well as a $400,000 public purpose payment, in
Its immediate recommendations called for the installation of traffic preemption at existing and future traffic signals throughout the city as well as relocating Fire Station 27 to East Roswell Park.
That evening, the council approved a $733,535 contract for traffic preemption. At the preceding work session, where the analysis was initially presented, Environmental/ Public Works Director Brian Watson shared that some intersections will be online by next June.
At the regular meeting, council members also approved a $540,198 contract to design Fire Station 27.
Another recommendation in the analysis includes relocating Fire Station 23 to property at Bowen Road and Ga. 92.
That evening, the council had formally advised the Roswell Development Authority to negotiate the sale of that property for no less than $4.5 million but with the condition that 2.5 acres be reserved, likely for the fire station.
Last year, the city purchased the 8.73-acre site from Christ United Methodist Church with an intended park use.
Since then, the city acquired the former site of Crabapple Middle School, which Wilson said is better suited to expand the city’s indoor and outdoor recreation programs because of its proximity to Roswell Area Park.
“The RDA has the authority through state law to pursue economic development projects in the City of Roswell,” Wilson said, in introducing the agreement. “The request the mayor and council are making through the resolution is consistent with the goals and objectives of their economic development strategy.”
AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
Peter Sorckoff, founder and CEO of consulting firm Seer World, describes a mixed-use development coming to Hill Street next year at the Dec. 9 City Council meeting.
Rally:
Continued from Page 1
They say their layoffs are the result of operational restructuring, the dissolution of positions whose responsibilities will be handed off onto the staff still around.
Timing of layoffs
Sean Hamby, one of “the Roswell 16,” a term dubbed to those laid off, primarily supported the Community Development Department as a GIS technician.
His separation letter explained that his position was being “eliminated due to a reduction in force,” offering words of “regret” and various forms of support, such as references and employment verification.
Hamby had been with the city for 37-plus years.
He expects the rest of the GIS division to be trained in his area of expertise, parcel editing, or assimilating new survey information into the city’s GIS system.
“It’ll be a learning curve,” Hamby said. “It’ll be a little bit of a change.”
The layoffs came at the worst time for Hamby, right before the holidays, but also, in his case, before a back surgery.
He had planned to use more than 800 hours of sick leave he built up over the years to help him through physical therapy and recovery. Soon, he’s going to set up his pension to begin drawing from it.
“I will be able to continue my insurance through COBRA, but that’s going to be expensive,” Hamby said.
The fundraiser will be helpful, he said, getting him through surgery and then back to work. The 60-year-old isn’t quite ready to retire, and he wants to make the decision on his own terms.
Hamby said this is not only a stressful time, but as someone who dedicated his whole working life to Roswell local government, it’s also “humiliating.”
“It just it sends a really bad message to the current employees that they’re not appreciated,” he said.
The unexpected
Former Roswell Area Parks Coordinator Joel St. Vrain was another employee let go.
With around 20 years at the city, St. Vrain said it was unexpected. He started working part time for Roswell when he was 14 years old.
“There was no heads-up,” St. Vrain said. “There was no forewarning … One hour you’re employed, one hour you’re not.”
He went into work that Tuesday, business as usual to complete work
A
Reevaluating priorities
Diamond, who created the fundraiser, served during a time that saw the ramifications of the Great Recession, from 2010 to 2017. Yet, she said she never saw city layoffs like this before.
One series of layoffs comes to mind, Diamond said, when the city outsourced its Inspections and Permitting Department. But, she said those employees were eligible for hire by the third party.
“If we were in a bad situation financially and we needed to cut back on spending … To me, you cut people when you’re having to cut across the board. We’re spending a lot of money in other places,” Diamond said. “I think this is more of a priority shift than a financial hardship.”
She said half a dozen employees were cut from the Recreation, Parks, Historic & Cultural Affairs Department. In her tenure, that department had always been a priority.
“We want Rec and Parks,” Diamond said. “That’s a priority. That’s one of the things we do best. It’s one of our differentiators. It’s our reputation.”
Service level
under a looming deadline, then was called in for a meeting with the Human Resources Department. He was told his position was being dissolved.
In late November, when he heard about the impending rift, he was told the city was looking to cut “low performers.”
“I was definitely not a low performer for them,” he said. “Whether I made people mad or was confrontational sometimes — that’s one thing. I’m not a ‘yes’ man … I never had anything less than successful or exceeds expectations on any evaluation for 20 years.”
St. Vrain said it feels like the city is regressing, adding parks but not adding staff.
The city had just completed Phase I of the Ace Sand site, a $2.2 million project in an area St. Vrain oversaw. The new park space, to the west of Don White Memorial Park, is the first project of the city’s River Parks Master Plan.
“They’ve added an entire park, maybe six acres of area, to maintain, beautify, keep up, because it’s brand new,” St. Vrain said. “Yet, we don’t have any extra staff to take on those loads.”
Cuts
to ‘enhance’ services
At the Dec. 9 City Council meeting,
where the second and final public hearing on the 2025 budget was held, Chief Financial Officer Bill Godshall said the staff cuts were intended to “realign the organization to meet … current, future needs of the city in an effort to enhance city services.”
Given two weeks to review and provide feedback, Godshall was able to reduce the number of proposed staff cuts.
“With a lot of work from the senior leadership team as well as department heads … we’ve been able to reduce that number from 23 to 16,” Godshall said. “We feel this will continue to better align our services to meet obligations and to enhance efficiency in meeting those obligations.”
According to his Nov. 8 offer letter, Godshall will be collecting $250,000 a year. His counterpart in the C-suite, COO Don Stephens, makes $340,000.
As of press time, an Appen Media open records request which asks for names of those who were laid off, their positions, length of service and severance pay, has not been filled.
The city’s HR Policy says employees designated for a layoff due to a reduction in force would receive one week of compensation for every year worked as well as any accrued PTO. However, it also caps severance pay at 12 weeks.
City Administrator Randy Knighton has said department heads are committed to ensuring level of service wouldn’t be compromised as a result of the staff cuts.
But, Diamond considers the jobs the employees had that weren’t on paper.
“It’s such a family group,” she said. “They not only look out for each other, but they pick up the slack for each other … Everybody there is a web of service, and you don’t know what all you’re going to miss.”
Diamond said the city’s grants manager in the Finance Department is one of the 16 who were laid off. The staffer had been with the city for 25 years.
“I’ve watched him in the arena … He’s so widely known and so widely respected that he’s a voice in that area, and to let that person go, not with a retirement party, but with an escort out the door, is where it kind of hit me in a different way,” Diamond said.
The news is particularly difficult for a few. Diamond said one former employee left a job to join Roswell city staff in October.
“I hope that some of this getting out there will help, because I think there’s a perceived stigma attached to being let go, even though it has nothing to do with your job performance,” she said.
SPECIAL TO APPEN MEDIA
Former Roswell Area Parks Coordinator Joel St. Vrain kneels with his son. St. Vrain, who had worked at the city for 20 years, was laid off in December along with 15 other staff members.
100 most influential people
People and things that have impacted our world,
RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com
Here is a continuing list of people and things that have impacted our world – some serious, some not so much.
No. 56: Vaccines (for all the anti-vaxers)
Top 3 –Smallpox vaccine: As a result of efforts by the World Health Organization, smallpox was eradicated in 1980 – as in eliminated, gone, no longer exists in the world. Before eradication, it is estimated that smallpox killed 300-500 million people worldwide in just the 20th century.
Measles: Once the leading cause of death of children, it is estimated that the measles vaccine saves 20 million lives every year. That is why school children are required to get the vaccine.
Polio vaccine: Polo has been 99 percent eliminated worldwide as a result of the vaccines (Jonas
Salk in the 1950s and Albert Sabin in the 1960s). Before the vaccine, polio paralyzed or killed hundreds of thousands of children annually.
COVID-19 vaccines (honorable mention): These recent vaccines have saved millions of lives in a short time by preventing severe disease and death during the pandemic. If you have doubts about the efficacy of these vaccines, talk to an ER doctor.
No. 57: Anti-vaxers
Reminds me of burning witches at the stake to prevent witchcraft or the Flat-Earth Society. s we spend on defense – big numbers, big impact.
No. 58: Books
Here are five famous opening sentences from famous books. See if you can identify which books they were in:
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
“Call me Ishmael.”
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
“All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”
“In my younger and more vulnerable years, my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since.”
Bonus first sentences:
“A screaming comes across the sky.”
“Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself.”
“It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.”
“Many years later as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendia was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice.”
“It was love at first sight.”
If you got 6 of 10, bravo! You read a lot! And you did better than I did.
If you get 3-5, not bad. Great memory.
If you get 1-2, need to read more.
#56-60
If you get zero, get off social media and YouTube and start reading!
No. 59: The modern world
The three things that Francis Bacon (in 1620) designated as changing technology upon which the modern world was built: printing (see No. 58), gunpowder and the compass. Modern “progress” – social, political and cultural evolution has always been driven by commerce. The compass enabled trade to span the globe.
No. 60: Mr. Rogers
This guy got it right a long time ago, and we have almost totally forgotten what he tried to teach us.
“It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood, A beautiful day for a neighbor. Would you be mine? Could you be mine… Won’t you be my neighbor?”
Book offers new take on King Arthur legend
Ever since I read Mary Stewart’s King Arthur trilogy when I was in high school, I’ve been a King Arthur fan. I suspect “The Crystal Cave” was one of the many books I snuck into class to read between the covers of textbooks. It was followed by “The Hollow Hills” and “The Last Enchantment.” Described as the Merlin trilogy, the books are told from his perspective.
Until this year, the last King Arthur book I read was “Finding Camlann” by Sean Pidgeon. Set in modern times, it’s the story of an archaeologist intrigued by new evidence discovered at Stonehenge. Like many before him, he sets out to establish whether Arthur ever actually existed. When I learned there was a new King Arthur book out, I had to get
it. Was I daunted by its nearly 700 pages? Yes, and I wondered whether it would hold my interest. That wonder disappeared in only a few pages, as I stayed up late night after night to finish it.
“The Bright Sword” by Lev Grossman
Warning: This is not your typical King Arthur story. It is set wholly in Arthur’s time but has a modern tone. If profanity bothers you, you’ll want to avoid this book. If the conflict between the pagan world and Christianity will upset you, this is not the book for you. Those fairies don’t mince their words.
This description from a Forbes review captures what you’ll encounter in this tale featuring lesser knights of the Round Table.
“’The Bright Sword’ also broaches issues that are decidedly more contemporary: abandonment and abuse, sexual and gender identity, even immigration, all in ways that
feel natural and organic rather than preachy or pedantic.”
A young wannabe knight arrives at Camelot, hoping to become a knight of the Round Table. What he discovers is a small group of despondent knights sitting around the famed table. Arthur is dead, and the top tier knights are dead or departed. Forget Percival, Galahad, and Lancelot. He finds, instead, sirs Dinadan, Constantine, Palomides, and Bedivere, plus a court fool. I recalled Bedivere and Palomides but had to look up the other two. Sure enough, they did exist in the original legend.
To restore Camelot and save England, they must reestablish Arthur’s spirit and vision, and to do that, they must “solve the mystery of why the lonely, brilliant King Arthur fell.” The story turns much of the original material on its head but is all the more intriguing because it does. As the blurb says, this tale “… is steeped in tradition, complete
with duels and quests, battles and tournaments, magic swords and Fisher Kings. It's also a story about imperfect men and women, full of strength and pain, trying to reforge a broken land in spite of being broken themselves.”
If you’re a King Arthur fan, this is must-read. If you’re a fantasy fan and know little to nothing of the legend of King Arthur, it’s also a must-read. For me, one sign of a great book is that it stays in my head for days after I’ve finished it. This one did that and more.
Happy reading.
Award-winning author Kathy Manos Penn is a Sandy Springs resident. Find her Dickens & Christie cozy mysteries on Amazon or locally at The Enchanted Forest, Bookmiser, and Johns Creek Books. Contact her at inkpenn119@gmail.com, and follow her on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ KathyManosPennAuthor/.
THE INK PENN
KATHY MANOS PENN Columnist
Shopping for a mortgage?
D.C. AIKEN
This week’s article I am relating to the Elvis Presley 1974 hit “Suspicious Minds” and how clients “shopping” for a mortgage should be very “suspicious” when comparing cost.
There is no doubt that “rate” and loan program are very important, but more important still is how much is the loan program going to cost you at the closing table. I have many customers who want to see a “cost breakdown” and or a loan estimate. A standard loan estimate will show sections numbered from 800 to 1,320. Each section is specific as to what costs are charged for the entire transaction. The “800” section is the most important when comparing lenders, as these are the fees that the lender will charge you for their services. These will differ from lender to lender and are truly the only place that you should look when comparing rates and charges.
But your immediate question is what about sections 900-1,320?
These sections are important, but this is where all your questions should be raised. The reason why you should be suspicious of these fees is that they will be the same at the closing table with whichever lender you choose, as they are not dictated by the lender, but for the most part by who you choose as your closing attorney in your sales contract, your closing date, your HOA fees, and the county you are closing in.
Yes, regardless of the lender you choose, these fees will ultimately be the same at the closing table, as the lender does not determine these fees.
However, here is where you should be suspicious. As I just stated, only the 800 section fees are determined by the lender you choose. So, why the difference in the bottom line not factoring in the lender fees? The answer is that some lenders will “guess” or low-ball some of the attorney, escrow, and title fees under the presumption that this is just an estimate. They will also not show enough property taxes being collected, and even show lower than actual property taxes, which will
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See MORTGAGE, Page 20
Colt
CITY OF ROSWELL
PLACE: Roswell City Hall, 38 Hill Street, Suite 215
DATE & TIME: 10 A.M. Thursday, January 2, 2025
PURPOSE: Package License
APPLICANT: Bhavinkumar Patel
BUSINESS NAME: Spark by Hilton Alpharetta - Roswell
BUSINESS ADDRESS: 3000 Mansell Rd, Alpharetta, GA 30022
Mortgage:
Continued from Page 19
ultimately lower the bottom line on the “estimate”….and then they may or may not include the initiation fee that most HOA’s collect at closing which is also shown on your sales contract. In some cases, this will result in a significantly lower cash to close “estimate” than what you may be comparing with another lender.
Many lenders today have the cost breakdowns from most of the closing attorneys in Metro Atlanta… not estimates…actual costs that are pretty much guaranteed. So, if the closing attorney is shown on your sales contract, why the difference in cost? I think you know the answer, and the same can be said about any other fees other than the 800 section fees on your estimate.
The ”Loan Estimate/Cost Estimate” may first appear overwhelming, but I have just shown you that there are truly only three places to compare when “shopping” for a mortgage loan.
CITY OF ALPHARETTA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The following item will be considered by the Board of Zoning Appeals on Thursday, January 16, 2025 commencing at 5:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.
a. V-25-01 12539 Darvish Lane Setback Variance
Consideration of variances from Unified Development Code (UDC) Subsection 2.3.3 (B) and UDC Subsection 2.3.3 (C) to reduce a swimming pool setback from 20’ to 10’. The property is located at 12539 Darvish Lane and is legally described as being located in Land Lots 1165 & 1166, 2nd District, 1st Section, Fulton County, Georgia.
Note: Georgia law requires that all parties who have made campaign contributions to the Mayor or to a Council Member in excess of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) within the past two (2) years must complete a campaign contribution report with the Community Development Department. The complete text of the Georgia law and a disclosure form are available in the office of the City Clerk, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.
1. Loan program; 2. Interest rate; 3. “800” section fees. Everything else will ultimately be the same at your closing regardless of the lender you choose.
Don’t be fooled by “low-ball” cost breakdowns. The mortgage industry, like the real estate industry, is experiencing a slow period. Be “Suspicious” of grossly different cost quotes you get from different lenders as well as lenders who quote you a rate for a less than 45 day closing and then tell you they cannot lock the rate quoted yet.
Happy shopping!
D.C. Aiken is vice president, producing production manager for BankSouth Mortgage, NMLS # 658790. For more insights, you can subscribe to his newsletter at dcaiken.com.
The opinions expressed within this article may not reflect the opinions or views of BankSouth Mortgage or its affiliates.
In Memoriam
James Kenneth Hansen (Jim)
March 29, 1938 - November 20, 2024
James Kenneth Hansen passed away peacefully in Houston, Texas, after a short illness on November 20, 2024, at the age of 86.
A celebration of his life will be held on December 21, 2024, at Oak Grove Funeral Home, 309 Parkdale
Avenue, Manistee, Michigan, 49660. Visitation begins at 11:30 a.m., with the service at 12:30 p.m., followed by a luncheon. Full obituary to follow on December 16, 2024 in the Manistee News Advocate.
CITY OF ALPHARETTA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The following item will be considered by the Board of Zoning Appeals on Thursday, January 16, 2025 commencing at 5:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.
a. PH-24-21 4098 Big Creek Overlook Appeal to Administrative Decision
Consideration of an appeal to an administrative decision related to a fine issued for violations of Unified Development Code (UDC) Subsection 3.1.1(D)(2) working without the required land disturbance permit, UDC Subsection 3.1.1(D) (3) failure to provide minimum erosion and sedimentation control measures, UDC Subsection 3.1.1(C)(3) and UDC Subsection 3.3.2 disturbance of stream buffers along state waters, and UDC Subsection 3.4.4(C) development within regulatory areas of special flood hazard. The property is located at 4098 Big Creek Overlook and is legally described as being located in Land Lots 47 & 86, 1st District, 1st Section, Fulton County, Georgia.
Note: Georgia law requires that all parties who have made campaign contributions to the Mayor or to a Council Member in excess of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) within the past two (2) years must complete a campaign contribution report with the Community Development Department. The complete text of the Georgia law and a disclosure form are available in the office of the City Clerk, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.
CITY OF ALPHARETTA
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The following items will be heard at a public hearing held by the Planning Commission on Thursday, January 9, 2025 commencing at 6:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.
Items forwarded by the Planning Commission will be considered by the City Council on Monday, January 27, 2025 commencing at 6:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.
a. CU-25-02 Kids Avenue/Stonewood Village
Consideration of a conditional use to allow a children’s event venue business in an existing shopping center. A conditional use is requested to allow ‘Recreation Facilities, Indoor’ for Kids Avenue. The property is located at 670 North Main Street, Suite 115B and is legally described as being located in Land Lots 1110 & 1123, 2nd District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia.
b. Z-25-01/CU-25-01 The Shipping Post/312 North Main Street
Consideration of a rezoning and conditional use to allow for the re-use of an existing structure for a shipping and printing store on a 0.59-acre property in the Downtown. A rezoning is requested from O-I (Office-Institutional) to DT-LW (Downtown Live-Work) and a conditional use is requested to allow ‘Print Shop’ for The Shipping Post. The property is located at 312 North Main Street and is legally described as being located in Land Lot 1197, 2nd District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia.
c. CLUP-24-05/Z-24-17/PH-24-20 Mayfair on Haynes Bridge
Consideration of a comprehensive land use plan amendment, rezoning, change of conditions, and public hearing to allow for a 2 nd phase of a residential development including 10 single-family detached homes on 1.53 acres in the Downtown. A comprehensive land use plan amendment is requested from Medium Density Residential to High Density Residential and a rezoning is requested from O-I (Office-Institutional) to DT-R (Downtown Residential). Changes to conditions of zoning is requested for the adjoining 2.83-acre property (Phase 1) approved for a single-family residential subdivision. A public hearing is requested to bring the subject property into the Downtown Overlay. The property is located at 0 Norcross Street and is legally described as being located in Land Lot 747, 1 st District, 2 nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia.
d. PH-25-02 Unified Development Code Text Amendments – Third Party Inspections and Plan Review
Consideration of text amendments to Section 4.4 Development Permitting and Construction of Article IV of the Unified Development Code (UDC) to add regulations pertaining to third party inspections and plan review.
Note: Georgia law requires that all parties who have made campaign contributions to the Mayor or to a Council Member in excess of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) within the past two (2) years must complete a campaign contribution report with the Community Development Department. The complete text of the Georgia law and a disclosure form are available in the office of the City Clerk, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.
Loop:
Continued from Page 1
Lights on the Loop attracted a wide variety of visitors, including families, residents from Alpharetta and nearby cities, seniors on bicycles and high school students wearing Christmasthemed pajamas.
The foundation’s mission is to provide education about the trail and advance its progress, hosting 26 public outreach events in the past 16 months.
During Lights on the Loop, the foundation again offered information about how far the path has come and where it’s going.
“The line for the hot chocolate was about as long as the line for people wanting to talk about the map,” Richard said.
The Alpha Loop’s miles of pathways will connect four major activity centers — Avalon, Alpharetta City Center, Northwinds Office Park and the North Point Economic District.
It will offer unique opportunities for visitors to exercise, socialize, enjoy nature and travel, said Janet Rodgers, president and CEO of Awesome Alpharetta.
“This makes it easy for people to get exercise and enjoy the beautiful setting of the wooded areas and the office spaces and homes along the walk,” Rodgers said. “It is a well maintained and beautiful path to ride bikes, run, walk and just stroll with family and friends.”
Currently, four connecting sections are being designed to improve connectivity with existing parts. The foundation also is seeking to enhance
sections with public art installations and wayfinding signage.
One critical section, a pathway that will connect the Big Creek Greenway with the trail’s downtown sections, has received grant funding for its design, Richard said.
Richard said she looks forward to the Alpha Loop’s progress in 2025 and beyond. She and her
2-year-old yellow Labrador Gus get out onto the path about five times a week.
The walks are a great opportunity to meet neighbors while enjoying the outdoors, she said. On their strolls, Richard enjoys the people watching, and Gus loves dog watching.
“People on the Alpha Loop, they always look you in the eye,” she said. “And they always smile.”
KAREN RICHARD/PROVIDED
Visitors enjoy some exercise along the Alpha Loop during Lights on the Loop.
Aleem LLC seeks a Digital Mrkting & Operations Analyst w/ Master’s in biz admin, Engg(any), or Tech-rltd & 1 yr of exp to dvlp, own & implmnt test initiatives to improve conversion rate & profitability of mrkting campaigns. mnge & implmnt new digital mrkting campaigns directly in various platforms. Perform mrkt analysis & competitive intel research to inform new ideas or existing prog improvmnts. Collect, analyze & rep on key metrics from all digital campaigns. Define product vision & direction, & communicate it optimally to cross-funct teams, execs, & partners. Collaborate w/ stakeholders to execute experiences that align w/ KYC strategy. Drive end-to-end product dvlpmt & working w/ engg & design teams to dvlp & launch new prods & features.
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Sawnee EMC is seeking an Electrical Distribution System Engineer. Requires a bachelor’s degree in electrical, mechanical, civil engineering or similar engineering discipline. Preferred experience in design, modeling and maintenance of distribution power systems. Must have strong computer, mathematical and communication skills.
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Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer of Females, Minorities, Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Sawnee EMC is VEVRAA Federal Contractor. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Drug Free Workplace.
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Client Services Specialist – Pantry
Bilingual Food Pantry Supervisor
The Client Services Specialist (Part-time) serves as the first point of contact at NFCC, welcoming clients and managing the intake process. This role connects clients with NFCC’s programs and services while maintaining accurate records through data entry and application updates. The Specialist also keeps clients informed about program enhancements and available services.
The Food Pantry Supervisor supports all aspects of the Food Pantry including inventory control, receiving products, client orders, supervising and managing volunteers, entering data and creating reports and supporting client intake. The Supervisor is the primary backup support to the Food Pantry Manager.
The Supervisor must be proficient in Spanish and have the ability to work with a team in a professional manner within a fast paced environment. Good interpersonal communications skills are required and MS Office (Excel) experience is a plus. Must have the ability to work evenings & weekends, lift up to 42lbs, use a pallet jack, push and pull items, and be on your feet for several hours.
The Specialist must be proficient in Spanish and have the ability to work with a team in a professional manner within a fast paced environment. Microsoft office skills are required and Salesforce experience is a plus. Must have the ability to work evenings & weekends.
If this sounds like the role for you, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org
If this sounds like the role for you, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org
