Johns Creek lays groundwork for elections task force

Roswell scraps effort to conduct ’23 polling

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Roswell officials have decided to stick with Fulton County to run its municipal elections this November, adding to the list of area cities abandoning efforts to operate their own polling.

Johns Creek, the first out of a North Fulton group to make the same move, has begun scoping logistics for setting up self-run municipal elections in 2025.

So far, Milton is the only North Fulton city that has formally adopted plans to operate its own municipal elections this November. In the first year, Milton has estimated $72,254 in costs for two polling locations on election day.

Sandy Springs has no council posts or referendums scheduled for this year.

Sparked by Milton’s decision in December to wrest control of its own city elections from the county, other cities across north Metro Atlanta have been exploring the idea over the past two months.

Discussion has centered around either self-administration or entering into an agreement with Milton, Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek and Mountain Park. The multi-city contract would have enabled one elections superintendent to oversee all the member cities’ municipal elections.

City staff in Johns Creek estimated that entering into the agreement would have cost the city more than $1 million, and operating its own election independently would have cost only slightly less.

In a spreadsheet, the city nailed down $721,884 of the $1 million for the first year of self-operated municipal elections and left some items unbudgeted. In its estimate, Johns Creek has accounted for 18 polling locations, the same number used by Fulton County in December 2022.

Fulton County set a deadline of March 31 for cities to decide whether they will go it alone.

Milton had a head start, spending more than a year to study the process through a six-member Municipal Election Feasibility Committee. The panel drew fire from some residents. One of its members, Mark Amick, was subpoenaed last June as part of a Fulton County investigation into Republican attempts to overturn the 2020 election.

Cities rethink strategy

Municipal officials were also informed recently that the county had lowered cost estimates it will charge cities to operate their municipal elections.

Milton launched its effort last spring under the presumption that Fulton County would charge more than $6 per registered voter to run polling for their municipal election. That figure jumped to $11.48 in December, then fell to $9 and some change.

On Feb. 1, county officials adopted a percentage-based cost formula setting the charge to cities at $7 per registered voter – lower than originally estimated, but still more than twice the $2.96 it charged cities in 2021 when municipal elections were last held.

Even so, the county’s cost reduction spurred some cities to rethink their efforts to go it alone with their own election apparatus.

At its Feb. 28 meeting, the Johns Creek City Council agreed to sign with Fulton County and abandon further efforts to operate its own elections for 2023.

The formal agreement was approved on the City Council’s consent agenda March 14.

That same night, at their work session, councilmembers explored opportunities in the future for city-run elections.

Also on March 14, Roswell announced

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Continued from Page 1 about the use of the apartment.

Some of the same residents appeared at the March 16 meeting to reiterate their opposition.

Barbara Davidson and Richard Barron addressed commissioners saying they remain concerned that the apartment would set a precedent that would destroy the neighborhood’s single-family environment.

County Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills, in whose district the property is located, said she agreed with residents that the apartment could set a negative precedent.

“I was very concerned,” Mills said. “I watched the public hearing, and I tried to take every comment that people said very much to heart.”

Commissioners approved the structure with conditions that require the homeowners to plant a row of trees between the apartment and the neighboring home; prohibit the inclusion of kitchen facilities; prohibit short-term rental; and require the square footage to be no greater than 1,000 square feet in compliance with county code.

In other matters at the March 16 meeting, two county residents ad - dressed commissioners with concerns over an upcoming family bingo event that includes drag queens.

Drag performer Mrs. Ivana is hosting the April 23 event at the Sexton Hall Enrichment Center in Cumming.

Resident Jeff Tormey said the performer’s suggestive Instagram handle and account are inappropriate for children. He asked commissioners to consider updating its adult entertainment ordinance to mirror Tennessee’s recent legislation, which bans male and female impersonators from performing on public property or in locations with minors.

Resident Heather Tatum agreed with Tormey, saying she shared the same concerns.

“I think many of the people that live here in this county would agree with me,” Tatum said. “And I also would like for you to look at a common sense ordinance in this county that requires people that attend any event that is sexual in nature, adult entertainment, to be 18 or older.”

Also at the meeting, commissioners authorized County Attorney Ken Jarrard to pursue civil action against a property on Browns Bridge Road to cause compliance with signage allowances under the county Unified Development Code.