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From: Julie Zahner Bailey
[julie4milton@mindspring.com]
Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2007 9:25
PM
Subject: Milton News from
Julie Zahner Bailey
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May 13,
2007
Dear Friends, Neighbors and Citizens of
Milton,
So many great things are happening. First
and foremost, I hope you have had the pleasure of
seeing our very own Milton Police men and women
patrolling our great city of Milton. We all
should be so proud of the 21 new police officers
that began official duty at midnight on May 1st.
It was a terrific
experience to witness the first Milton Police
Department rolling out together at midnight as
they headed out for their first official shift
helping to keep Milton safe. Please take the
time to introduce yourselves and your children to
these wonderfully dedicated and professional men
and women and help them to know how proud we are
to have them joining the Milton community.
And, on Friday, May 4th, the City of Milton
took receipt of the first three new fire engines
that have been custom fit for the needs of Milton.
One additional fire engine will be forthcoming and
a tanker truck is being sought via a grant
program. Our firefighters were sworn
in on May 11th.
The Milton Fire Department will be taking
over on May 18th. We truly are blessed to
have our public safety in the hands of so many
capable, caring and experienced men and
women.
Also of importance is the need to gather
public input on the various issues tied to
transportation including which intersection and
area you feel need various types of improvements
as to how you can provide meaningful input on
these topics.
Meanwhile, the issue of
upholding the long standing no-sewer and no
interbasin transfer policies has been at the
forefront of some recent work session and council
meetings. My position has been and continues
to be to uphold these long standing
policies. I encourage you to scroll down for
more of my comments on this critical issue as well
as a link to an article that ran in the May 9th
Milton Herald that highlighted the fact that our
council does not all share the same position on
this community important topic.
There is
much to be done as we continue to evolve as a new
City. Please do not hesitate to contact me
directly with any comments, questions, thoughts or
ideas. I truly am here for no other reason
than to ensure your best interests and desires for
Milton are well represented.
I do
consider it an honor and a privilege to represent
you. I take my responsibilities seriously
and hope you will join me in ensuring this unique
and wonderful place now called Milton remains a
place we can all be very proud for years to
come.
All my best -
Julie Zahner
Bailey
Milton City Council
770-664-5529
(home)
404-310-6344
(cell) | |
| No Inter-Basin Transfer, No Sewer
Issue |
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Beyond our
new Public Safety departments and the successful
deployment of these critical services, land use issues
and ordinance development continues. The recent
hot topic of whether to extend sewer to certain areas of
Webb Road near Highway 9 based on what was initially a
one applicant request, quickly became a several
applicant request with the risk of other similar
requests. This item was removed from the last
Council meeting agenda of May 3rd due to the three
applicants "withdrawing" their requests. While it
is not specifically known why the withdrawals took
place, there is no question that input from citizens and
the broad community had an impact on this issue. I
encourage all citizens to become more familiar with the
issue that was before the Mayor and Council and that has
been brewing for several months and ask you continue to
provide the Mayor, council and staff with your opinions
on whether to extend sewer or not into the City of
Milton. The issue is not dead and community input
is needed.
Please note, my position on firmly
upholding the no-sewer policies and the no-interbasin
transfer policies is well known by many. But,
given the critical nature of this issue, I do want to be
sure all of you know my position on this critical topic.
My long-standing position and activities to help ensure
the no-sewer policies and no-inter basin transfer
policies are upheld is a matter of record over the last
12+ years.
And for me, now as your elected
representative to the City of Milton Council, nothing
has changed. I believe as strongly today, as I did
12 years ago when the no-sewer policies were put in
place in March 1995, that this area should remain
decidedly no-sewer, whether that is public or private
sewer. I know first hand that the lack of
infrastructure and specifically no sewer, has allowed
this area to remain decidedly lower-density, residential
with limited and controlled commercial nodes.
I stated for the record at several recent
Council meetings and work sessions that I continue to
believe strongly that we must uphold these long standing
policies or run the very real risk that the area will
become prone to more density in areas that today are
limited by the lack of sewer. I believe the laws
in Georgia do not allow for such a simple separation,
but instead, when sewer is available, the density
increases. Similarly, I believe that when we set
in motion exceptions to our long-standing policies we
run the very real legal risk of having no policies or
legislative history upon which to rely when policies or
zoning cases are challenged.
Consistent
application of the laws, policies and decisions of this
area regarding land use, ordinances and Overlays have
been and continue to be our best defense against
unwanted high density and unchecked growth. I
support appropriate growth, but it needs to be managed
and it needs to be consistent with our Comprehensive
Land Use Plan, which includes the no-sewer and no
interbasin transfer policies.
So, in the
immediate, the three requests for sewer expansion on
Webb Road near Highway 9 were withdrawn, but this issue
has not gone away. As the City of Milton embarks
on the Comprehensive Land Use Plan Update process - a
process that will require extensive public involvement -
the issue of these long-standing policies will most
assuredly be a part of the discussion. Therefore,
your opinions need to continue to be heard on this
and other critical issues that will shape the future of
Milton. For this reason, I encourage and urge you
all not to leave things to chance, but instead, to
ensure your opinions are indeed a part of this
process. The City of Milton is your home, your
city and the place of our children's future, so please
be sure to be a part of defining what this place we all
call home will be now and into the future. Your
input and opinions matter and simply must be a part of
defining Milton.
Please use this link to read the May 9th Milton Herald article
regarding the "no sewer" and no inter-basin transfer
issue. |
City of Milton Meeting Reminders,
Agendas and Actions
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Tuesday, May 15th-Board of
Zoning Appeals @7pm
click here for the
agenda.
Thursday, May 17th-City Council
Meeting @7pm.
Thursday, May 3rd-City Council
Meeting Action Minutes, click here to review action minutes.
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Community Input Requested on
Transportation
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City of Milton wants to hear from citizens about
transportation related items. Input is being collected
as a part of the application for GDOT funding. The
City of Milton is applying for Georgia Department of
Transportation matching funds for a variety of local
projects that are currently underway, planned future
projects and long-range needs that have been identified
but not included in the planning stage. The city
is also seeking GDOT matching funds for transportation
enhancements such as bike/pedestrian projects, scenic
and historic highway protections and other related
complimentary proposals. Click here to review current projects,
future projects & identified long-range
projects. Prior to submitting updates and applications for
long-range and enhancement items, city staff is seeking
citizen input to be included in presentations to Milton
City Council members for their approval. To offer
you thoughts and opinions, please e-mail
info@cityofmiltonga.us using "Transportation" in the
subject line or call 678-242-2500.
What sort of input is the city
looking for?
- Your thoughts on the priority listing of these
types of long-range projects.
- Your thoughts on specific segments of trails,
paths and other enhancements.
- Provision of road speeds for various roads
throughout Milton-this input is needed by July 1st. Click here for roads and their current
speeds. Refer to page 16.
- Do you want the city to spend no monies, some
funds or a large percentage of its funding on
enhancement projects that will generally not aid in
congestion relief?
- Digital photos of any project locations, listed or
unlisted. Please use extreme care; do not
stand in the road to take
pictures.
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Again, thank you for your support and your
input. Let me hear from you regarding any
questions or comments. Every voice matters so please
stay involved and engaged.
Thank you for caring
about our community.
Take care,
Julie Zahner Bailey
Milton
City Council
770-664-5529 (home)
404-310-6344
(cell)
Paid for
by Friends of Julie Zahner Bailey
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Teacher
Appreciation Week Proclamation
May 7th -
11th
Milton City
Councilmember
D'versa-Williams brought forth a
proclamation to recognize Milton teachers.
Today's
teachers mold our future citizens through their guidance
and education; teachers work to open student's minds to
ideas, knowledge and dreams. Teachers spend
countless hours outside their classrooms preparing
lessons, evaluating progress, counseling and coaching
students, and performing community service.
Milton
would like to recognize their dedicated teachers by
proclaiming Tuesday, May 8, 2007 as National Teacher's
Day.
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Thank you for your on-going
support and your consideration of a financial
contribution to the Friends of Julie Zahner
Bailey.
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