Building inspectors ensure safety, consumer benefit
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — With years of experience in the construction industry, Johns Creek Building Inspector Shelby Nguyen knows pretty quickly whether a project is sound or needs fixing.
Common violations are bolts or hangers, that sort of thing.
“What generally bothers me most is when speaking with contractors coming
out here … saying, ‘Hey, you need to do XYZ,’ and they do XY, but not Z,” Nguyen said. “And, so I come back out, and I’m like, ‘Why aren’t you listening to me?’”
One thing she really likes about the job is that every day is different, and that she gets to split her time between the indoors and fresher air. Nguyen covers both commercial and residential properties, and within each, mechanical, electrical and plumbing work.
This training is typical for a building inspector nowadays, a role that requires certification. Back in the day, Chief Building Official Sal Gaeta said there were more trade inspectors, and that larger cities continue with that model, like the City of Atlanta, due to the complexity of its commercial developments. But, in Johns Creek, Gaeta said it can’t be that granular.
Johns Creek ranks No. 1 on two best suburbs lists ► PAGE 3
Property tax rate to remain stable in Johns Creek
Officials weigh proposal for developers to fund art
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — In a split vote July 29, the Johns Creek City Council opted to carry the millage rate from last fiscal year into 2025, instead of adopting the lower rollback rate.
The rate will remain 3.646 mills. Johns Creek Mayor John Bradberry and city councilmembers Chris Coughlin and Dilip Tunki, advocates of the rollback rate at 3.516 mills, cast the dissenting votes. A rollback rate refers to the millage rate which would collect the same amount of money as the previous year by taxing property, which typically increases in value, at a lower percentage.
One mill generates $1 for every $1,000 of a property’s taxable value, which by state law, is 40 percent of a property’s real – or fair market – value. A home that is worth $100,000 on the market would have a taxable value of $40,000, and a levy of 1 mill would cost the homeowner $40 in taxes.
Property taxes account for about onethird of the city’s revenue base.
City Councilman Bob Erramilli described the potential consequence of rolling back the millage rate as a “sacrifice” of services. Erramilli said the average family would pay $34 less in taxes with the rollback rate.
See TAX, Page 21
AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
Johns Creek Chief Building Official Sal Gaeta, left, speaks with Shelby Nguyen, a building inspector with the city, about their line of work at a home in the Bellmoore Park subdivision. That day, the pair reviewed in-progress construction for the addition of a sunroom.
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Police called to string of domestic violence reports
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Johns Creek Police made three arrests related to domestic violence in late July, two cases involving children.
On July 17, an Atlanta woman reported that her boyfriend, a 32-year-old Sandy Springs man, showed up at her mother’s residence while she was there with her 2-year-old son and her newborn daughter, whom the man fathered.
She told police her boyfriend grabbed their daughter out of her vehicle to place her in his vehicle, then used his knee to push her son onto his back. The boy fell, sustaining a scrape to the nose and a cut to his upper lip, according to the incident report.
The woman also said her boyfriend punched her in the eye, leaving a bruise. She said after attempting to crawl over her boyfriend to get to her child, he returned the newborn and left the scene, the report says.
Police obtained warrants on the suspect for two counts of battery and two counts of cruelty to children in the second degree.
Police arrest suspect for 5-year-old crime
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police arrested a 34-year-old Lawrenceville man July 22 on a charge dating nearly five years ago.
In October 2019, a Johns Creek man reported to police that he sold an iPhone to the man for $500 but that he’d been paid with five counterfeit $100 bills, according to the incident report. The exchange took place at the man’s home, and it was based on a Letgo listing.
Detectives connected a telephone number used by the suspect with his date of birth, driver’s license number and Social Security number, according to the report. They also found that the phone had been sold one day after the exchange at an ecoATM at a Kroger in Lawrenceville.
EDITOR’S NOTE
If you want to talk to someone about the violence in your life or in the life of someone you know, please call Georgia’s 24-Hour Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-33-HAVEN (1-800-334-2836).
According to the arrest report, the suspect was booked into the North Fulton County Jail in Alpharetta July 24.
In another incident July 28, police arrested a 34-year-old Johns Creek man for allegedly striking his girlfriend in the face.
When speaking with the woman, police saw that she had a large red mark and swelling to her left cheek and fresh scratches on her neck, the police report says.
Police spoke with two independent witnesses who said they saw the man strike the woman, knocking her glasses to the ground, according to the report.
The man was charged with battery and transported to the North Fulton County Jail in Alpharetta.
Later that month, detectives obtained a warrant on the suspect on charges of forgery in the first degree and theft by deception, according to the report.
On July 22 of this year, police responded to the Gwinnett County Jail in reference to a wanted person out of Johns Creek, the suspect from the October 2019 case. Police transported the suspect to the North Fulton County Jail in Alpharetta.
According to jail records, he was released July 31.
Visitors spot nude man wandering forest trails
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police responded to a section of Chattahoochee National Forest trails off Barnwell Road July 23 on reports of a naked man.
When police arrived at the scene,
The following day, police arrested a 44-year-old Johns Creek man after a dispute with a woman, involving their son.
The woman told police July 29 that the man was intoxicated and had gone into the kitchen while she was cooking dinner, immediately starting to insult her. The woman said the man had forcefully poked their son in the head, and when she tried to console the boy, the man slapped her hand away, according to the report.
The woman said the man shoved their son to the ground after he attempted to get in the middle of the pair and stomped on his leg, the report says. She said the man also prevented the son from calling the police, the report says.
The son corroborated the account to the police and provided a picture showing the man raising his hand as if he was going to strike his mother, the report says.
Police charged the man with three counts of battery, one count of simple assault and two counts of cruelty to children in the third degree. He was transported to the North Fulton County Jail in Alpharetta.
POLICE BLOTTER
All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.
a woman flagged them down and said the man had left five minutes earlier in a black SUV, according to the incident report. The woman described the man, some 40 years old, as “big, strong, fit,” wearing a baseball cap and appeared to her as being of sound mind, the report says.
Another witness told police he had seen the man walking on the roadway from the main parking lot toward the boat landing, wearing nothing but a red backpack, according to the report. The witness provided police with a partial license plate number.
Johns Creek ranks No. 1 on two best suburbs lists
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Travel + Leisure magazine recognized Johns Creek as the No. 1 U.S. suburb to live in for affordable housing, quality education and job opportunities.
The magazine also acknowledged the city’s low crime rate, variety of outdoor activities and Town Center, a highly anticipated 192-acre development for the area.
With some 82,000 residents, Johns Creek has a median household income of around $149,000, and 59 percent of homes are valued from $500,000 to $1 million, according to 2022 American Community Survey data.
Johns Creek Mayor John Bradberry announced the recognition at the July 29 City Council meeting and at other public engagements. The city also earned the top rank on a list of Atlanta’s best suburbs on livability.com.
Bradberry emphasized a commonality between both rankings: the quality of Johns Creek schools.
“…As we are about to start another school year, I think it’s worth noting how important it is that our schools are so good and how they contribute to the overall quality of our community,” Bradberry told the crowd. “So, congratulations to our schools, and congratulations to all of you. It’s really something to be proud of, and I just want to thank you for your part and the great community that we are.”
Mona ElGomayel, who considers herself the “queen” of Johns Creek real estate, distributed foam fingers to those on the dais.
“I wanted to say congratulations to all of you for such an accomplishment,” ElGomayel told the council. “I mean, Johns Creek did not get to be the No. 1 spot without your hard work and dedication that you bring to the table every single day for the citizens of Johns Creek.”
— Amber Perry
Mona ElGomayel, who considers herself the “queen” of Johns Creek real estate, speaks with Mayor John Bradberry while passing foam fingers to the City Council July 29.
Attorney general joins Appen’s bid for Sandy Springs payroll records
By CARL APPEN carl@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Georgia Attorney General’s Office has joined a fight to pry loose payroll records from the grip of Sandy Springs officials, according to a July 18 letter sent to the city attorney.
In 2023, Sandy Springs spent more than $41 million on salaries and benefits for city employees. That’s about $370 per resident.
Through the Open Records Act, Appen Media requested data from the city in order to analyze that spending. The inquiry is one the newsroom regularly makes with all the municipalities it covers.
The city has repeatedly declined to release that information, instead redacting the names of all those who received a paycheck. It is the only city Appen Media covers which has withheld the data.
Other cities will tell you who they pay.
As a result the newsroom has been unable to confirm who Sandy Springs is paying, how many people it employs or whether staff salaries are in line with other metro Atlanta governments.
Payroll information for public employees is subject to release under Georgia’s Open Records Act.
Appen Media previously used public records to report that a former assistant city manager resigned from Sandy Springs in July 2023 after three months on the job. That employee received $47,196 in severance, according to documents the newspaper obtained. The City of Sandy Springs declined to comment on the matter, citing a “long-standing practice” not to address personnel matters.
In response to a March request for additional payroll data, the City of Sandy Springs redacted the name of every person who had received a check, including the mayor and city manager. When the newspaper asked for clarification on why that information was not released, city officials cited safety concerns.
Sandy Springs staff have also used the explanation that a city “security plan” mandates they withhold payroll information. The city then denied requests to inspect that document, again citing safety concerns.
Appen Media eventually filed a complaint with the state Attorney General’s Office over the city’s refusal to provide payroll information.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Settlemire wrote to the city about the topic April 4.
“It is unclear how either of the exemptions being relied upon by the city apply to the redacted portions of the record,” the letter states.
Settlemire wrote further that because she is not aware of all the circumstances of the situation, she is not assuming any wrongdoing by the city. The note ends by requesting the city respond within two weeks and explain their justification for the redactions.
Sandy Springs City Attorney Dan Lee replied April 15, offering an explanation similar to the ones Appen received. His letter to Settlemire cited the city’s obligation to “protect its employees,” and pointed to the Sandy Springs security plan.
In an electronic letter dated July 18, Settlemire responded that the Attorney General’s Office was not satisfied that the city’s decision “comports with the legal requirements of the Open Records Act.”
Citing case law, legal rulings and the Georgia General Assembly, Settlemire countered Lee’s explanations.
“As to the employee names redacted, Georgia courts have expressly held that such names are, in fact, subject to disclosure,” the assistant attorney general wrote.
The three-page letter also speaks to the intent behind Georgia’s Sunshine Laws.
“Access to public records allows the public to know what actions their public servants are undertaking and fosters the public’s confidence in officials and the decisions that those officials make,” Settlemire wrote. “The failure to serve those purposes can lead to mistrust and controversy.”
After laying out the response, the Attorney General’s Office told Sandy Springs to turn over the data. “Accordingly, please ensure [Appen Media] is provided access to the requested record, inclusive of employee names and ‘position ids,’ within ten business days and confirm to our office when this has been accomplished,” Settlemire writes.
The letter ends with some advice.
“We strongly encourage you, as city attorney, to be mindful of the legal requirements and obligations set forth in the Open Records Act and to counsel the city accordingly,” the note recommends.
The city had until Aug. 1 to comply with the assistant attorney general’s directive.
As of press time Aug. 2 Appen Media had not received the information.
Democrats rally for Harris, down-ballot candidates
By JAKE DRUKMAN newsroom@appenmedia.com
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Democrats hosted a rally drawing some 150 attendees July 28 to celebrate the opening of a coordinated campaign office for the party.
The office on Redi Road will serve to support Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign, as well as the numerous Democrats running for local, state and federal offices in the area.
The most prominent speaker at Sunday’s rally was Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat who is reportedly on the shortlist to become Harris’ running mate. Beshear has found popularity in his deep-red home state, expanding his share of the vote between his initial 2019 election and his 2023 reelection despite Republicans continuously dominating Kentucky’s federal races.
“I know how to win tough elections, and so do you,” Beshear said to the crowd. “When Georgia came in four years ago, we knew that President Biden and Vice President Harris had won. So between now and Election Day, we need you to do what you do best: the hard work.”
A number of down-ballot Democrats, running for offices ranging from the U.S. House of Representatives to the county’s Board of Education, also attended and delivered speeches during the rally. The event’s speakers praised Harris’ political history, focusing on her and President Joe Biden’s investments into Georgia’s economy and support for labor unions.
“The Biden-Harris administration has created over 480,000 jobs in Georgia,” said Ashwin Ramaswami, who is running for Georgia State Senate District 48. “When we elect her president,
Kamala Harris, along with Democrats, will continue fighting to strengthen our workforce and our unions.”
Speakers also decried former President Donald Trump’s conservative agenda, honing in on the issue of abortion restrictions. State Sen. Josh McLaurin, who is also the former roommate of Trump’s running mate JD Vance, said that America is “not going back to Trump’s extreme vision.”
“[Republicans] have a dangerous plan at their fingertips to use every arm of the federal government to enact this agenda and attack reproductive freedom,” McLaurin said. “They want to prosecute doctors for sending medication abortion in the mail, and Vance has demanded that the Department of Justice do that.”
Harris’ campaign began just over 100 days ahead of Election Day, utilizing the infrastructure of Biden’s intended reelection campaign. Forsyth County’s coordinated campaign office was initially intended to support the Biden campaign, but quickly switched gears after the president announced July 21 that he was dropping his 2024 bid and endorsing Harris to succeed him.
Attendees of Sunday’s rally felt that the switch, while sudden, had energized some Democrats who were less enthusiastic about Biden and would bolster the party’s turnout in November. Bonnie Avera, a resident of Johns Creek, said she was happy to have Harris at the top of the Democratic ticket, as she would be more responsive to women’s rights issues.
“We’ve been ‘othered’ for a long time,” Avera said. “I think it’s a woman’s time to be the leader of America. There are leaders all over the world that are women, and it’s time for us to join that crowd.”
PHOTOS BY JAKE DRUKMAN/APPEN MEDIA People gather to listen to the speakers at a Forsyth County Democrats coordinated campaign office opening July 28.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear speaks to the crowd in support of Kamala Harris as the Forsyth County Democrats open a coordinated campaign office July 28.
Sandy Springs attorney now chairs Fulton elections board
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — A Sandy Springs attorney, Sherri Allen, is the new chair of the Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections after county commissioners approved her nomination at a July 29 special-called meeting.
The confirmation vote was 6-0, with District 5 Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr. abstaining.
Allen is a Sandy Springs resident and practicing attorney. She operates her own firm in the city, specializing in wrongful death, medical negligence, nursing home abuse, social security and veterans’ claims.
Allen is not new to serving her community. She is chair of the Sandy Springs Board of Appeals, legal assistance manager for The Warrior Alliance and on the board of Solidarity Sandy Springs.
Nominated by Fulton County Board of Commissioners Vice Chair Khadijah Abdur-Rahman, Allen is the third person to chair the Board of Registration and Elections this year.
In April, former Chair Patrice Perkins-Hooper left for an interim role as Atlanta’s city attorney after less than a year chairing the elections board.
Fulton County Commission Chair Robb Pitts then tapped Perkins-Hooper’s predecessor, Cathy Woolard, to take over for the May primaries and June runoffs.
Woolard announced her resignation as board chair in early July, giving Chair Pitts and commissioners just weeks to fill the position.
Already an important task, managing
the elections process will carry a particularly heavy weight this year in light of the November presidential ballot. National attention will be following closely the polls of Georgia’s most populous county.
District 2 Commissioner Bob Ellis, who represents the western half of North Fulton County, told Appen Media he’s excited to have Allen chairing the board. Ellis said Allen’s extensive work in the Sandy Springs community, her experience as a poll worker and nonpartisan disposition makes her a good fit. The fact that she hasn’t run for public office helps too, he said.
Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul also chimed in on the selection.
“Sheri Allen has been an exemplary member of the Sandy Springs Board of Appeals,” Paul said. “I am sure she will be effective as chair of the Board of Registration and Elections.”
On July 30, Allen issued a statement through Fulton County officials:
“Elections and voting access should not be politicized or partisan, an imperative which is made clear by the bipartisan composition of our Board. No matter the case or situation, I intend to follow the laws, best practices and successful procedures to provide transparency and access to the public. My predecessors’ priorities of access, fairness and transparency are priorities that I intend to continue. By providing consistency and reliable information, Fulton County will continue to build public trust and lead the state for voting equity. Fulton voters deserve measured and transparent leadership, and that is what I intend to do as the chair of the Fulton County BRE.”
Just opened?
Appen Media publishes New Business Spotlights to highlight
7 | Johns Creek Herald | August 8, 2024
Alpharetta startup’s technology could revolutionize cardiac surgeries
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A local startup CEO left the corporate world to pursue a solution for one of the world’s most pervasive health problems.
“We can save lives,” Dr. Ajay Houde, CEO and cofounder of Annoviant, said.
In 2018, Houde left Halyard Health, formerly a part of Kimberly-Clark, a Fortune 100 company with operations in Alpharetta, to pursue a breakthrough technology to help patients with damaged or defective hearts. He and cofounder Dr. Naren Vyavahare, whom Houde described as the “brain behind the technology,” created the Alpharettabased startup Annoviant and an innovative process, dubbed TxGuard.
TxGuard technology removes animal cells from an animal’s blood vessel through a proprietary process and implants it into a person’s heart, allowing it to serve as a kind of scaffold for human cells to grow around. The technology’s ability to regenerate and grow with patients’ bodies may make it especially helpful to children born with heart defects.
Children born with heart defects have few options for replacing heart valves, Vyavahare said.
Annoviant has so far secured four grants from the National Institute of Health and about $7.5 million in funding.
“We can give a better option, minimize the number of repeat procedures and save the time in the hospital for people,” he said.
TxGuard, Houde said, has the potential to make an impact on a huge health problem.
serious health issues. In 2017, his mother died because of a lack of proper diagnosis. In 2002, his wife was rushed to the hospital to receive a stent to treat a renal artery defect. And his sister has struggled with breast cancer.
The health difficulties experienced by Houde’s loved ones were one major reason he decided to leave his position in the corporate world.
received support from nonprofit startup incubator Tech Alpharetta, as well as other organizations. That support, Houde said, has proved invaluable.
“This has been, for me, a lifesaver,” he said.
“Health care is actually very near and dear to me because I have lost many of my relatives, some close friends,” he said. “Some of my family members also were impacted by a lack of having the proper diagnostic or proper treatment.”
Annoviant’s TxGuard aims to provide heart disease patients better options.
Almost 400,000 people undergo heart bypass surgery in the U.S. each year, according to WebMD. Traditionally, the surgery involves taking a blood vessel from another part of the body to go around a blocked cardiac artery or defective parts of the heart.
Since the 1970s, the methods have largely remained the same. Although the surgery saves lives and has a high survival rate, the procedure often requires patients to take anticoagulant drugs and undergo repeat surgeries as the replaced tissues harden.
Developing the technology behind TxGuard has been difficult at times, Houde said, but his business has
With dozens of startups partnered with Tech Alpharetta, the nonprofit has served as a place where Houde can seek mentorship, discuss new ideas and find help in solving complex problems.
The support from Tech Alpharetta has been a blessing, says Houde, but also has offered him motivation in personal tragedy.
A few months ago, one of Houde’s close relatives was diagnosed with coronary heart disease.
“So many people are struggling,” Houde said, adding, “There are 20 million people today who are struggling with coronary heart disease.”
Other people close to Houde also have experienced
During coronary heart surgery, physicians normally remove a vein from a patient’s leg to bypass one in their heart. But for some people, like the elderly or those who have diabetes, that may not be a viable option.
Although the TxGuard technology has not yet been tested in humans, Houde said that could be coming relatively soon. Annoviant has been working with the FDA throughout its development process. He said getting FDA approval could nevertheless take a number of years.
The first TxGuard devices would likely be implanted on pediatric patients who have few options, he said.
“Saving lives and making people healthy is a noble cause,” Vyavahare said. “And it gives immense inner joy if you even help one patient.”
PHOTOS BY: ANNOVIANT/PROVIDED Annoviant co-founders Dr. Naren Vyavahare, left, and Dr. Ajay Houde are developing a technology that could help heart disease patients.
This TxGuard device is implanted into human patients, serving as a kind of scaffold for human cells to grow around.
Ways the power of in-home
care
can boost your quality of life
As we all age there comes a point when the need for in-home caregiving becomes obvious, especially when the physical activities of daily living become too difficult to manage without help. There are a wide variety of situations, however, when the power of in-home caregiving can be used to provide a major boost to the quality of life of you or your older loved one.
When home is in an assisted living community, in-home care can provide a bridge that gives you the freedom and flexibility to remain in the setting and with the friends you’ve come to love. Perhaps maintaining your independence will require extra help as you recuperate from an accident or surgery. Should fall risks emerge, your caregiver can add security and peace of mind. A skilled Home Helpers caregiver can make life and nights easier if your loved one is starting to wander. For couples, this also makes sure a good night’s rest happens for their partner. Adding in-home care to the services provided by your facility can get you through unexpected times and weave a strong layer of support that lets you continue to maintain the lifestyle you want.
Home Helpers can also provide companionship if your loved one is in a Rehabilitation Center. Recovery can often be challenging, and having a sitter who stays with them can provide both
emotional comfort and stability in unfamiliar surroundings. The warmth of a well-matched companion can also help speed up recovery and battle the loneliness that can delay their recovery. It’s a way to have peace of mind knowing someone is by their side and looking out for your loved one.
Over the years, the transition from the loss of a partner, career or shrinking circle of social contacts can make it feel like the world is smaller every day. Depression and loneliness can be as debilitating as any other health challenge. Almost a quarter of adults over age 65 are considered to be socially isolated. Forty three percent of adults in the United States over age 60 report feeling lonely. For your older loved one, promoting social interaction can truly be transformative. A caregiver with a heart centered approach and positive spirit can help reinvent ways to pursue a hobby, enjoy outings and community activities, and build relationships that make for a longer and better life.
We have a team with depth and skill that can provide the care you need from six hours a day, several days a week to 24/7 care. A Home Helpers caregiver can assist with all personal care, help around the house, accompany you on doctor’s visits and provide specialized care for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, etc. For a free consultation, please call Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta Suburbs at (770) 681-0323.
Vegetables that go bump in the night
Dr. Brent Taylor, Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta
As a responsible parent, I try not to talk to my children about celery right before bedtime. I wouldn’t want to give them nightmares!
After all, celery is one of several plants that contain “psoralens,” a group of chemicals that can cause terrible sun burns and rashes when eaten or dropped on one’s skin.
The classic example of a rash from psoralens is the vacationer who makes himself a margarita and accidentally drips lime juice on his skin. All is well until he lies in the sun. Then, blisters develop everywhere the lime juice touched: most often in the pattern of a line down the forearm following where the lime juice dripped and ran.
But limes and celery aren’t the only culprits. Most citrus fruits, figs, fennel, carrots, and even parsnips contain psoralens. Yes, EVEN parsnips. And all this time you thought parsnips were innocent. Hah.
Most psoralens stay in one’s system for about three hours after ingestion, so someone who consumes large quantities of psoralens should avoid the sun for half a day or so.
An infamous report in a 1990 volume of Archives of Dermatology details the case of a German woman who fell victim to celery. She was a vegetarian who enjoyed tanning beds, and she did not realize that celery and tanning beds are a dangerous combination. One fateful day, she cooked a one-pound celery root and proceeded to eat the entire root and all the broth in which it had stewed. One hour later, she went to the tanning bed and received her usual 30-minute treatment. Nothing seemed amiss during the tanning bed session, but over the following 48 hours, she developed fever and then diffuse swelling and large blisters. She was hospitalized, treated with steroids, and the reaction took weeks to subside.
Investigators studied a comparable celery root and determined that there was approximately 1mg of psoralens in every 10g of celery root, meaning that she had ingested approximately 45mg of psoralens. This dose of psoralens would be expected to cause the observed blistering reaction in the presence of the amount of tanning bed light she received.
For the reader interested in toxicology, the LD50 (Median Lethal
Dose: the amount of something that would be lethal in half of the people who took it) of psoralens in the absence of light is approximately 1700mg/kg in mice. This means that if a mouse receives a dose of 1700mg of psoralens for each kg of body weight, then the mouse has a fifty percent chance of surviving. If we assume the same LD50 in humans and assume a 70kg weight for the average person, then this would mean that a human would have to eat 2,600 pounds of celery in one sitting to have a 50% chance of dying from the psoralens. Of course, this is impossible. No one can eat this much celery in one sitting (do not take this as a challenge)! But, in the presence of ultraviolet light on one’s skin, just one pound of celery was enough to nearly lead to the German woman’s death. It’s a remarkable example of a toxicity that is environment-dependent to the extreme. Celery is approximately 2600 times more lethal in the presence of ultraviolet light than in its absence. Psoralens hurt us in the presence of light because psoralens can fit inside our DNA and cause chemical reactions that depend on light to be initiated. Mutations and even breaks in DNA can occur. Even if the cell survives, the mutations can ultimately lead to cancer. Still, the small doses of psoralens the average person ingests from a normal diet allow us to usually disregard our diet when going in the sun. Large quantities of psoralenscontaining fruits and vegetables are the exception.
Interestingly, we do have a clue as to why plants make psoralens to begin with. The fact that they can be toxic to animals that ingest them means that they may exist to discourage animals from eating these plants. However, a more intriguing finding is that celery stalks will increase their production of psoralens by up to ten times the normal amount when infected with certain molds. Psoralens may be a defense against mold, and we humans may be the innocent bystanders. Eating celery that was infected with this mold prior to harvesting could theoretically increase the psoralen concentration by ten times the amount, and this would mean that the German patient might have only had to eat a couple ounces of infected celery to suffer the same consequences in the tanning bed.
So, remember: Be careful with lime juice at the beach. Be cautious about celery ingestion prior to light exposure. And never, ever trust a parsnip!
Insist
Dr. Brent Taylor is a Board-Certified Dermatologist, a Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeon, and is certified by the Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine in the field of Vein Care.
He is an expert in skin cancer and melanoma treatment, endovenous laser ablation, minimally invasive vein procedures and cosmetics procedures such as Botox and injectables.
Kathryn is a certified physician assistant with over 18 years experience as a Dermatology PA. We are excited to welcome her, as she brings with her experience in general dermatology and cosmetic dermatology.
Her specialties include general dermatology such as acne, eczema, rashes, hair loss, full body skin exams, abnormal growths etc. Kathryn also specializes in cosmetic dermatology including lasers, injectables, micro-needling, PRP, facial peels, sclerotherapy for spider veins and at home skin care.
Kathryn Filipek, PA-C
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A second opinion can change everything
opinion is the same as the first, it can help you feel more confident about your diagnosis and treatment plan.
Learning that you have a heart or vascular condition can create more questions than answers. What treatment is available? Is there more than one option? What will happen if I forgo treatment?
Deciding how to proceed can be stressful, and many patients feel tempted to go with whatever their doctor recommends. But at times like this, it’s essential to step back, take a deep breath and get a second opinion.
Receiving a second opinion as part of your heart care is critical because the medical world is becoming increasingly complex. A heart second opinion can help you understand your options before you make a momentous decision about your health and future. It can reveal new treatment possibilities. Or, if the second
Deciding whether to seek a second opinion can be emotional for some people. They worry they will hurt their doctor’s feelings or experience information overload. The fact is that second opinions are common in heart and vascular care. Doctors themselves seek a second opinion when they face a complex diagnosis. They know a second opinion can make the difference between life and death –especially when your heart is involved.
A second opinion can provide new hope
Your current doctor has your best interests at heart but may not know about the latest surgical and non-surgical therapies for your condition. They may mistakenly tell you that you don’t have any treatment options or guide you to
therapies that are unlikely to help. Heart and vascular specialists at Emory Healthcare have a national reputation for treating both common and complicated heart conditions. Our highly specialized teams have advanced training and expertise in medical, surgical and interventional cardiology. They can enroll patients in clinical trials that provide access to novel technologies and treatments that are not widely available. As a result, Emory Heart & Vascular offers more treatment options for the full range of heart and vascular conditions than many other institutions worldwide.
The second opinion process at Emory Healthcare
Obtaining a second opinion at Emory Heart & Vascular is straightforward. Before your appointment, our team will review your previous medical records.
Multiple physicians will discuss possible treatment options. They will reach a consensus about what options offer the most promise. During your office visit, they will share their recommendations with you. You can ask questions and decide with your care team how to proceed.
Ready to transform your Heart Treat-
ment?
If you or someone you care about needs a second opinion for a heart condition, turn to doctors at the top of their field. Emory Heart & Vascular brings together more than 150 physicians and 18 specialized programs in cardiology, cardiac surgery and vascular surgery. Next-day new patient cardiology appointments are available at one of our 23 locations.
Visit emoryhealthcare.org/transform to learn more.
Brought to you by- Emory Heart & Vascular
Family history of heart disease?
Emory Heart & Vascular can help rewrite it.
MORE TREATMENT OPTIONS
The difference? Emory Women’s Center at Johns Creek uses research and innovation in health to provide exceptional care, close to home.
Our expert heart & vascular team pioneers the most innovative techniques and treatments. Giving you more options and better outcomes than anywhere else. To make more “tickle monster!” moments like this possible.
From routine gynecology and menopause management, to high-risk pregnancies and specialty care, our team is here for your journey no matter where it takes you.
Visit emoryhealthcare.org/history to schedule an appointment.
Visit emoryhealthcare.org/women to schedule an appointment.
Find solutions to back pain with Wellstar North Fulton Spine & Pain Center
Brought to you byDr. Emily Kurokawa, medical director of Wellstar North Fulton Spine
& Pain Center
Back pain is one of the most common reasons patients seek physician care. Back pain can be emotionally, mentally and physically disabling. This can all lead to sleep deprivation, mood disruption and physical limitations. If you are experiencing back pain, the expert team at Wellstar North Fulton Spine & Pain Center will provide personalized care.
There are many causes of back pain, including degenerative disc disease, disc herniations, nerve root compression and trauma. More rare causes include autoimmune
disorders, inflammatory disorders, malignancy or pregnancy.
Symptoms can range from muscle soreness to joint aching or a shooting and burning sensation down the legs. There are “red flag” symptoms that may indicate serious causes for back pain. These symptoms may present as limb weakness, bowel or bladder incontinence, or pain that awakens you from sleep. However, most cases of back pain will resolve with rest and non-surgical treatments within a few weeks.
Non-surgical treatments may include muscle relaxants, topical creams, prescription medications or over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen, aspirin or ibuprofen. You may also benefit from applying heat or ice, resting and/ or seeing a physical therapist or a chiropractor.
If back pain lasts longer than six
weeks despite non-surgical therapies, then further imaging and/or injections may be needed. Injections may help reduce pain. Our boardcertified pain physicians offer a range of injections using corticosteroids into various joints or the spine.
A pain physician may recommend an epidural steroid injection if you have disc disease, spinal stenosis or disc herniations that lead to nerve compression. If you have back pain that does not travel to other parts of the body, you may be offered corticosteroid injections into the facet joints or sacroiliac joints, and if indicated, radiofrequency ablation may be offered for a longer therapeutic relief. Those who have had back surgeries and still have persistent back pain may be recommended for spinal cord stimulators, which are implanted devices that send electrical impulses
to the spine. Our pain physicians can also offer various other injections beyond the back. If you have pain in your neck, knee, shoulder or hip, our pain physicians can offer you conservative and non-surgical options.
Our patients at Wellstar North Fulton Spine & Pain Center have success because they have a whole team of experts working for them, and our board-certified pain physicians can guide you in the right direction. If you are a candidate for spine surgery, we refer you to our expert neurosurgeons at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center, who are standing by to develop a surgical treatment plan that’s right for you.
Learn more about our services at wellstar.org/northfultonspineandpain, or call (770) 751-2719 to make an appointment.
KUROKAWA
EXPERT SPINE SURGERY
Turning toward
How stressed couples can support each other
Brought to you by
– Will Goodwin, M.A at Summit Counseling Center
In a world where stress is often a common household guest, managing our reactions and maintaining positive connections with our spouses can be challenging. However, learning to turn towards rather than away from each other during stressful times can significantly strengthen a relationship. Here are some practical ways to achieve this:
1. Recognize the Signs of Stress
First and foremost, acknowledge when you’re stressed. It’s crucial to be aware of your body’s signals, such as tensed shoulders, a tight stomach, or a general feeling of unease. This awareness can prevent the stress from escalating and affecting your interactions with your spouse.
2. Employ Quick Stress-Relief Techniques
Before engaging with your partner, take a moment to reduce your stress level. Techniques such as the S.T.O.P. method (Stop, take a breath, Observe, Proceed) can be effective.
3. Initiate Connection
For many of us, experiencing stress can lead us to withdraw from others. Instead of withdrawing, try choosing to engage. Opening about your stressors can turn a potential disconnect into a moment of connection.
4. Listen Actively
Active listening involves fully concentrating on what is being said and your spouse’s emotional state rather than passively hearing the message of the speaker. This demonstrates empathy and validates their feelings.
5. Plan Stress-Reducing Activities Together
Engage in activities that both of you find relaxing. It could be a walk, a shared hobby, or simply watching a favorite show together. Shared activities can not only reduce stress but also reinforce the bond of fondness and admiration between you.
6. Maintain Physical Closeness
Physical touch can be incredibly comforting and soothing in moments of stress. A hug, a gentle touch on the arm, or holding hands can release oxytocin, reducing stress and promoting a sense of calm and connection.
Turning towards each other in times of stress involves a conscious decision to connect and communicate rather than withdraw into individual coping tactics. By adopting these approaches, couples can foster a supportive environment, enhancing their relationship resilience against the inevitable stresses of life.
Staying strong for the years ahead
Imagine a situation where you are as strong and robust as you were when you were thirty, but at seventy-five. Starting Strength can help!
Brought to you by - Coach Adam Martin, Starting Strength Atlanta
So, you want to get in better shape; what does this mean exactly? It is quite likely you want to get stronger than you are today. You have no desire to become the World's Strongest Human, nor do you want to oil up and show your muscles under bright lights in a scantily clad undergarment. But you would like to stay strong and well as the years continue to pass. You would like to pick up your grandchildren, carry a case of water, or retrieve something heavy from your garage.
As of late, there are many experts talking about longevity and the importance of retaining muscle mass as the decades pass. Dr. Peter Attia presents this in a beautiful graph of two paralleling lines: healthspan and lifespan. Allow me to pose a question, what does lifespan look like once healthspan runs out? It is quite likely you see an image that represents a poor quality of life. In an ideal situation, when we run out of "healthspan," we also run out of lifespan.
Recent studies suggest average life expectancies reach the mid-seventies for men and late seventies for women. Imagine
a situation where you are as strong and robust as you were when you were thirty, but at seventy-five. Now, imagine retaining this level of physical strength right up until the end of your lifespan. I hope you are envisioning a high quality of life!
Now, let's discuss how a barbell and a coach can help you with muscular strength and bone density. Your Starting Strength Gym understands the importance of stress, recovery, and adaptation as it relates to making you stronger than you are today. We do this by having you complete normal human movement patterns with a bit more stress (weight) than you did last time. As we repeat this process over and over, you become far stronger in just a few months!
Often, we describe exercise as medicine. Like medicine, exercise should be given in the least effective dose, not the greatest tolerated. Remember, physical strength is the most important thing in life; this is true whether you want it to be or not.
Starting Strength Atlanta Contact Info: 9775 Medlock Bridge Rd Suite K Johns Creek, GA 30097 (470) 944-7715
Website: atlanta.startingstrengthgyms.com
ISTOCK
Brought to you by –
Dr. Bradley Hepler, Atlanta Center for Dental Health
“Hi, how are you doing today?”
She said, “Do you think that you can make teeth last for one hundred years?”
People are living longer. They need their teeth to last longer. Average life expectancy has been increasing for years now. I have never promised that I could make teeth last for 100 years. But it has become one of our goals at The Atlanta Center for Dental Health. I have a curious mind and have done some reading about longevity. Some great minds in science and medicine seem to be making incredible progress. Ray Kurzweil has postulated that in a few years we may reach escape velocity. His prediction is that scientific and medical advancement will reach a state of adding at least one year to life expectancy every year. Doesn’t that mean that I could live forever?
We can make teeth last 100 years, if we regularly care for our teeth and prevent problems. Maintaining dental health over a lifetime requires consistent care and good habits.
Daily Oral Hygiene
1. Brush Twice a Day: Use fluoride toothpaste and brush for at least two minutes each time. Make sure to reach all surfaces of your teeth and use a soft-bristled toothbrush
to avoid damaging your gums.
2. Floss Daily: Flossing removes plaque and food particles from between your teeth and under the gumline, where a toothbrush can’t reach.
3. Mouthwash: Use an antimicrobial or fluoride mouthwash to help reduce plaque, prevent gum disease, and strengthen tooth enamel.
Regular Dental Visits
1. Check-Ups: Visit your dentist at least twice a year for professional cleanings and examinations. Early detection of problems like cavities or gum disease can prevent more serious issues.
2. Professional Cleaning: Regular professional cleanings remove tartar that can’t be removed by brushing and flossing alone.
Healthy Diet
1. Limit Sugary Foods and Drinks: Sugar contributes to tooth decay. Try to minimize consumption of sugary snacks and beverages.
2. Eat a Balanced Diet: Include plenty of fruits and vegetables. Foods rich in calcium and phosphorus help remineralize tooth enamel.
3. Drink Water: Water helps wash away food particles and bacteria, and staying hydrated is essential for good oral health.
Avoid Harmful Habits
1. No Smoking: Smoking increases the risk of gum disease, tooth decay, and oral cancer.
2. Limit Alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to oral health issues.
3. Avoid Using Teeth as Tools: Don’t use your teeth to open packages or bite hard objects, as this can cause fractures or wear down enamel.
Protective Measures
1. Use a Mouthguard: If you play sports or grind your teeth at night, wearing a mouthguard can protect your teeth from damage.
2. Sealants: Dental sealants can be applied to the chewing surfaces of your back teeth to protect them from decay.
Manage Overall Health
1. Control Medical Conditions: Conditions like diabetes can affect your oral health. Managing your overall health helps maintain
healthy teeth and gums.
2. Medications: Some medications can affect your oral health. Discuss with your dentist if you experience dry mouth or other side effects.
By following these guidelines and maintaining a proactive approach to your oral health, you can increase your chances of keeping your teeth healthy for a lifetime. Dentistry has incredible technology for repairing and restoring teeth. With dental implants and the vast array of great materials, we can do amazing things to fix and improve smiles. If we prevent diseases of teeth and gums and prevent people from just wearing out their teeth, I really believe that we can make teeth last 100 years.
“Preventive Dentistry can add 10 years to human life.” -Dr. Charles Mayo of the Mayo Clinic
Dr. Bradley Hepler and the experienced team at the Atlanta Center for Dental Health are dedicated to your health and longevity. We provide all the modern advances that contemporary aesthetic dentistry offers. If you would like a complementary consultation to discover your smile restoring options, please call the Atlanta Center for Dental Health at 770-9922236. It is our pleasure to serve this community and help as many people as possible live their best life.
Three options to replace that missing tooth
Brought to you by - Dr. Destinee Hood, Roswell Dental Care
If you’re missing one or more teeth, you may be all too aware of their importance to your looks and overall health. Your teeth are designed to work together to help you chew, speak, and smile. Replacing a missing tooth (or teeth) helps to make sure that all of your teeth continue to work together. Plus, it helps protect your remaining teeth.
Effects of a missing tooth
• It may be harder to speak or chew
• Remaining teeth can drift
• Bone loss can occur, which may cause remaining teeth to become loose over time
• Loss of teeth and bone can make your face sag, making you look older
Removable Partial Dentures
A removable prosthesis can replace multiple teeth on an upper or lower jaw. Partials clasp to your natural teeth and the replacement teeth are set in acrylic that matches your gum tissue. They are typically less expensive and can be removed when cleaning. However, they can break easier and may need to be replaced more than a bridge or implant.
Bridges
A bridge can replace one or more teeth and is permanently cemented into place. However, the teeth on either side of a missing tooth must be prepared and cleaning underneath the bridge requires more effort than other options.
Implants
An implant is a titanium post that resembles a tooth root and is surgically placed into the jaw. This serves as a strong support to hold replacement teeth. An implant is most similar to a natural tooth and, with proper home care and regular dental cleanings, can last for your lifetime. However, since it is a surgical procedure, implants may not be an option for everyone, especially those with chronic illnesses like diabetes or high blood pressure.
We always welcome new patients. For more information or to schedule an appointment for a FREE consultation to have your oral health or facial concern evaluated, give Roswell Dental Care a call at 470.288.1152 or visit www.RoswellDentalCare.com
• Crowns and Bridges in a few days
• Porcelain Veneers
• Tooth Colored Composite Fillings
• Teeth Whitening- no sensitivity
• Oral Cancer Screenings on all patients
• Teeth Cleanings, Digital X-Rays and Comprehensive Oral Exams on all new patients
• Cosmetic Smile Makeovers and Full Mouth Reconstruction (Complimentary Consultation)
• Occlusal Guards and Bite Adjustments
• Snore Guards and Sleep Apnea Analysis
• Digital X-Rays (90% less radiation) and Intra-Oral Photos
• Digitally Scanned Dental ImpressionsNo more gooey impressions!
• Electronic Records
• Accept and File all Major Insurances
• Implants
• Root Canals
• Extractions
• Spa-like Relaxing Atmosphere Our services include:
• Custom Baked
• FREE Nitrous Oxide and Oral Conscious Sedation
• Facial Aesthetic Enhancements including BOTOX and Dermal Fillers
Dr. David Remaley
Dr. Destinee Hood
Gen. Jack Singlaub, military legend tied to Georgia (Pt. 2)
In a previous column I described the career of legendary Maj. General John (Jack) Singlaub, a highly decorated veteran of World War II, Korea and Viet Nam who died January, 2022 at the age of 100.
In 1943 Jack received a commission to join the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant even though he was a semester shy of graduation from UCLA. He was quickly recruited by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the precursor of the Central Intelligence Agency and U.S. Army Special Forces, known as the Green Berets.
Singlaub’s first assignment was as a member of a three-man team that parachuted behind German lines in France soon after the D-Day invasion of June 1944 to help French resistance fighters. Jack became an expert and leader in unconventional and covert operations in Europe, Korea and Vietnam. His military career came to an end in Georgia when his views opposing President Carter’s defense policies were widely publicized. Here is his story.
In 1977 General Singlaub was serving as Chief of Staff of U.S. Forces in South Korea. In an interview with the Washington Post he was asked on “background,” that is without attribution, about the position of the South Korean military regarding President Carter’s publicly stated objective of removing U.S. ground forces from the Korean peninsula over a period of four to five years. The Korean Armistice was signed in 1953 and U.S. troops remained in South Korea as a deterrent. The president thought South Korea was able to protect itself.
President Carter was not pleased when he saw the report of the general’s interview, even though the idea of troop withdrawal was unpopular with the U.S. military, the U.S. intelligence community and the South Korean government. Unlike the case of General Douglas MacArthur, who violated a direct order from President Truman to clear policy statements before issuing them, General Singlaub pledged to implement the President’s order even though he thought the move would lead to a future war.
The general’s remarks to the reporter, which Singlaub thought were off the record, received wide news coverage. President Carter relieved Singlaub of his post, and Singlaub was reassigned to Fort McPherson in Atlanta as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM), one of the Army’s largest command centers. The president said the general “was not being chastised or punished” but transferred because his Korean post would have directly involved him in implementing the policy he was criticizing. Ironically, the President later abandoned the idea of withdrawing US troops from Korea and they are still there today.
Fort McPherson occupied almost 500 acres in southwest Atlanta and is one of the largest U.S. military bases. It operated from 1885 until its closure in 2011. It was named after Union Major General James McPherson who was killed during the Battle of Atlanta in the Civil War. Forty buildings constructed beginning in the late 1800s now
On the left shoulder of General
is a U.S. Army Ranger insignia patch and a U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) patch. Both played important roles in General Singlaub’s career.
constitute a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 2015 filmmaker Tyler Perry purchased a majority of the base’s land for use as his film studio. He preserved the historic district and uses some of the buildings as movie sets according to a staffer at the studio.
Relations between President Carter and the general suffered another blow during his assignment in Atlanta. General Singlaub criticized several of the president’s national security policies in response to questions during a lecture to ROTC cadets at Georgia Tech University in April 1978, once again supposedly off the record. However, the resulting news stories led to the general’s forced retirement, but not his presence in the public arena.
In retirement he headed two anti-Communist organizations, the World Anti-Communist League and the U.S. Council for World Freedom. At one point in his career, he headed the U.S. Parachute Association and led the U.S. Army parachute team in competitions around the world, earning the nickname “Jumping Jack.” He received many awards and published his memoirs, including a lot of military history, titled Hazardous Duty, in 1991.
Another little-known aspect of the General’s amazing career is his key role in establishing the program for training Army Rangers at Fort Benning, Georgia in the early 1950s where he was an
Part 1
Read the first part of this column on General Jack Singlaub at appenmedia.com.
SINGLAUB FAMILY/PROVIDED General Singlaub and his family resided in a historic house at Fort McPherson built in 1888, a house where former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt once stayed and where General Colin Powell lived at one time.
instructor and battalion executive officer. In 2023 the base name was changed to Fort Moore. The training program still exists, partly at Fort Moore and partly at Camp Frank D. Merrill near Dahlonega where students learn military mountaineering techniques.
Jack’s career had an impact on his daughter Mary Ann Singlaub, the youngest of the general’s three children. She worked in the South Korean Consulate General in Atlanta in 1977-1978 and worked in the language lab at Georgia State during her father’s assignment. The consulate experience was her first exposure to diplomacy and after graduating from the University of Colorado and earning her Master of Science in Foreign Service at Georgetown University, Mary Ann joined the U.S. the Foreign Service.
General Jack Singlaub, a name synonymous with valor and unconventional clandestine warfare, affected the lives of thousands of American soldiers and civilians in far-away places. His life was a tale of determination, commitment to his soldiers and to his country.
Bob is director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.
BOB MEYERS Columnist
US ARMY/PROVIDED
John (Jack) Singlaub
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Tibetan denizen, maybe
Elmer’s nemesis
Heroic poem
Dog holder 51 Burrowing rodent 53 “Give ___ break!”
Little dog, for short
Wind down
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Subcompact
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One of the “Katzenjammer Kids”
Repeated, singer who sang with Cult Jam
Plugs
Brunnhilde, e.g. 15 Saint-Germain’s river
Accelerator bit 19 Transmitted 21 It may be smoked 23 Quite a party 24 Requiem Mass word
Polynesian intoxicant 26 After horse or house 27 Plant with tiny white flowers 30 Hosp. injections
Slicker
Wipes out
Print measures
Civic:
Continued from Page 1
“They would be sitting on their hands, to be perfectly honest,” he said.
Appen Media joined Nguyen and Gaeta on-site at a home in the Bellmoore Park subdivision, due for a new sunroom attached to the second floor. The project was still in the works, with wire exposed beneath the sunroom and materials laying around.
Whether Nguyen conducts a midprogress inspection depends on the project. With a deck, something exposed and without an electrical component, Nguyen would only conduct an initial and final inspection.
Prioritizing safety
Gaeta said he’s charged by the state to promote the health, safety, and welfare of the entire public, to include a homeowner, their guests but also future owners of that same home.
“Enforcement of code is important,” Gaeta said. “The code is there for the sake of safety, and it’s a direct result of years’ worth of recognizing issues and problems.”
Nguyen was there to inspect the moisture barrier, which didn’t take very long, though the conversation lasted about an hour on that muggy afternoon and with comments from the homeowner, grateful to see the pair doing their job.
CITY OF JOHNS CREEK/PROVIDED
Johns Creek Building Inspector Shelby Nguyen, middle, describes to Appen Media Senior Staff Reporter Amber Perry what she’s looking for while on the job at a home in the Bellmoore Park subdivision. Meanwhile, Johns Creek Chief Building Official Sal Gaeta looked over the project.
“I’m happy that you’re here,” owner Jasbir Gill said.
Gill told Appen Media he feels much better that someone was there to look at the project, intended to provide additional space to guests and another TV. The sunroom will be open to the main structure.
“We’re not professional,” he said. “We don’t know what [the general contractor is] doing.”
Plan review
The site plan, under the purview of Gaeta and bearing his signature, is 19 pages in length. It’s a revision to a plan previously approved, and includes illustrations, specifications and a lot of jargon in a tiny font.
Gaeta’s primary task is to ensure all permits are applied for and ultimately issued, satisfying all the governing building codes and ordinances from the state and the City of Johns Creek.
An inspection might take five minutes, a good one at least, but plan reviews are constant.
CIVIC DUTIES: In a new series from Appen Media, Civic Duties will take readers behind the scenes of local government. Senior Staff 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.
construction — if there’s attention being paid to the drawing, the same will likely go for the build-out. It’s his job to be proactive.
“...If I have very bad drawings and I did nothing about them, we could potentially have a lot of bad buildings, because these are folks that are prone to just reverting back to old habits, bad habits,” Gaeta said. “They cut corners. They don’t understand that there are newer codes.”
More
information
To request a building inspection or permit, use the Customer Self-Service Portal at https://johnscreekga.gov/css. To report an issue, such as an unpermitted construction project, visit https:// johnscreekga.gov/community/servicerequests or download the JC Now app.
That day, Gaeta had 15 reviews due, though not a typical number. Gaeta said he issues about seven permits a day, different from a building official in a smaller jurisdiction who might issue maybe seven a month.
Most on his desk were related to a new subdivision called Ward’s Crossing off State Bridge Road, a project led by The Providence Group — a developer familiar to city staff, and whose name was also stamped on the home in Bellmoore.
“The good news for me, at least, is that they know their product,” Gaeta said. “We know their product. They’re now kind of the same drawings, just repetitive.”
Consumer protection
Site drawings tell Gaeta what he can expect when it comes to the quality of
Codes are released every three years, adopted by the state of Georgia from the International Code Council. Gaeta said the state governs the code, but that local jurisdictions can make them more restrictive.
He offered an example of an important update. In 2009, Gaeta said there was a building code that included a span chart for lumber, which was revised because of the depletion of old growth.
“For a joist to span 12 feet, you could have easily done it with a 2-by-8, but over time, lumber has degraded in quality, especially in the states,” Gaeta said, adding that newly-planted hybrid trees aren’t as structurally capable.
In 2012, he said a revision to the code called for spanning 12 feet with a 2-by-10.
Preparing for Medley
Commercial plans are more painstaking, he said, taking one to two hours, or longer, to review each one.
“When Medley comes through, I might just barricade myself in my office and be there for a week to look through about 200 pages of documents,” Gaeta said.
Medley, headed by Avalon developer Mark Toro, is a 42-acre mixed-use development characterized as a third leg to the city’s Town Center project. It will accompany the planned 21-acre Creekside Park and a new plant for biomedical engineering giant Boston Scientific.
Groundbreaking is scheduled for later this year. The first phase, expected to open late 2026, will include around 180,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and entertainment space, 108,000 square feet of office space, 340 multifamily residences, 133 townhomes and an activated 25,000-square-foot plaza.
“We’re shaking in our boots right now because we want to do a good job, but we can’t drop any of this,” Gaeta said. “This still is going to carry on.”
Hi, I’m Amber Perry and I report on all things in and around Johns Creek and Roswell. If you have any story tips or ideas please contact me at amber@appenmedia.com
Tax:
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“That is less than $3 a month,” Erramilli said. “Now, if you look at it that way…”
Erramilli also said the city’s bond rating is at stake, calling bond issuing a “good instrument” of finance.
Finance Director Ronnie Campbell also cautioned the City Council.
Campbell told the council that if it were to “continue down this pattern of eroding [the city’s] revenue tax base,” the city could fall below the threshold needed to have a triple-A bond rating. Last year, the council rolled back the rate.
Campbell said keeping the millage rate steady is viewed favorably by credit rating agencies.
Finance director chimes in Campbell also said this year is different.
“Even if you adopted the rollback rate, you were going to be above your revenue projection for property tax. That was the scenario in fiscal year 2023. For fiscal year 2024, it is not the same,” Campbell said. “If you adopt and hold the millage rate steady, you will be slightly above your revenue projection for property tax. If you adopt a rollback rate, you will be below your revenue projection for property tax.”
While Mayor John Bradberry had characterized the rollback rate as “revenue neutral” in response to Erramilli, City Councilwoman Stacy Skinner asked Campbell for clarification. Opposed to the rollback rate, Skinner had given her own presentation for an alternative.
Because the city would have only considered new growth and not reassessments from the 2024 Tax Digest, Campbell explained that the rollback rate is not revenue neutral.
The rollback rate would have meant the city would be about $500,000 under budget, though there was a projected surplus. Campbell told Appen Media the newly adopted rate will provide the city $700,000 above projected revenue.
Because the mayor’s proposed $78.6 million fiscal year 2025 budget assumes the rollback rate, Campbell is now tasked with recasting revenue projections for the next scheduled City Council work session.
Sustainable construction
In other action July 29, the City Council approved a $35.8 million construction contract for Creekside Park, 21 acres anchored by the pond behind City Hall. It is the largest individual construction project in the city’s history.
Because of an email she received raising concerns on sustainability, City Councilwoman Erin Elwood asked that the decking material be changed from ipê to manufactured pine. The adjustment increased the contract
cost by about $150,000.
According to an analysis published in Nature Sustainability, more than threequarters of ipê from the Amazon state of Pará in Brazil — a leading producer of the hardwood — is illegally harvested.
“I appreciate the community member raising that issue with us,” Elwood said.
The council also approved plans to expand Mount Pisgah Christian School’s campus after it hammered out traffic concerns associated with the project.
Another 46 acres will be added to its campus along Nesbit Ferry Road, where more than 123,600 square feet of building space will be housed. The phased plan, over 15 years, calls for two new academic buildings, a curriculum enhancement building, a performing arts center, a natatorium and six outdoor tennis courts.
Bolstering public art
At the preceding work session that night, the City Council advanced a program that will encourage developers to donate 1 percent of their project costs to purchase or commission art to be placed on their property or donate the equivalent to a city-managed public art fund.
The plan follows what surrounding cities like Peachtree Corners and Suwanee have done. Since 2008, when its Public Art Initiative was launched, the City of Suwanee has collected around $170,000 in lieu of actual art installations with a program participation rate of about 80 percent.
Assistant to the City Manager Olivia Gazda said the Johns Creek program would be voluntary, allowing developers to donate any amount of money.
The council agreed that the city’s Arts, Culture and Entertainment Committee be the recommending body for expenditures from the Public Art Fund and that city staff form an internal review committee to hear developers’ proposals.
Some councilmembers were wary about the subjectivity of public art, but Gazda ensured that criteria questions would filter out more controversial pieces.
“I keep thinking about that lamp from ‘A Christmas Story’ for some reason…” Mayor Bradberry said.
Solution
INVITATION TO BID CITY OF JOHNS CREEK
ITB #24-240
SR 141 PEDESTRIAN CROSSING
The City of Johns Creek extends an Invitation to Bid (ITB) to qualified construction firms for the construction of a pedestrian tunnel crossing on SR 141/Medlock Bridge Road between the intersections of Johns Creek Parkway and Hospital Parkway in the City of Johns Creek. ITB’s will be received electronically via the City’s bid platform, BidNet no later than August 27, 2024, at 2:00 PM A recommended attendance virtual Prebid meeting will take place August 13, 2024, at 10:00 AM. Questions are accepted and answered online only via BidNet. Deadline for questions is August 20, 2024, at 5:00 PM.
Quotes, bids, and RFP’s are electronically managed through the Georgia Purchasing Group by BidNet , our online bidding/vendor registration system, on the City website: https://www.bidnetdirect.com/georgia/cityofjohnscreek . To access the ITB document you must register with BidNet. Go to the City website above and click the link “register and view quote/bid/RFP opportunities”.
The City of Johns Creek, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 78 Stat. 252, 42 USC 2000d—42 and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, Subtitle A, Office of the Secretary, part 21, Nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs of the Department of Transportation issued pursuant to such Act, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, minority business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin in consideration for an award .
All offerors must comply with all general and special requirements of the ITB information and instructions.
Additional information may be obtained by contacting Neil Trust at the City of Johns Creek Procurement Division at purchasing@johnscreekga.gov or (678) 512-3233. The City of Johns Creek reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to wave technicalities and informalities, and to make award in the best interest of the City of Johns Creek.
CITY OF JOHNS CREEK/PROVIDED
A rendering of Creekside Park envisions the amphitheater portion of the project, anchored by the pond behind City Hall. The City Council unanimously approved the $35.8 million construction contract for the park at its meeting July 29.
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