Milton News from Julie Zahner Bailey

   
Dear Milton Friends, Neighbors and Citizens,

For those who may have been travelling this week I hope everyone has had a safe Spring Break and have returned safely to Milton. 
 
The work of the city continues and this release is intended to provide you some key updates.  Please take special note of upcoming meetings this week, results from the State Legislature that include positive billboard legislation, the return of our Special Services District Funds from Fulton County and $15,000 for city improvements, the latest water restrictions, Federal funds amounting to almost $320,000 for new Milton firefighters and an update on our newest K-9 puppy and more. 

Upcoming meetings this week include the Mayor and Council meeting on Monday, April 14th, the Board of Zoning Appeals meeting on Tuesday, April 15th, A Milton Grows Green Committee meeting this Wednesday, April 16th at 6:00p.m. followed by next week's Mayor and Council Work Session and the next Planning Commission meeting.  The agendas for these meetings are found in the right margin of this release or by looking on the city website under the city calendar. 

As always, I consider it an honor and a privilege to represent you and your interests and welcome any questions, comments or concerns.


All my best,

K-9 Donation 

Please welcome the newest addition to our Public Safety department.   Our newest K-9 will be a wonderful addition to Milton.  I am so appreciative of Dr. Roesner of Loving Hands Animal Clinic for the donation of the puppy and the veterinarian care for its' working life and Kelli Collins of Georgia K-9 Academy for the training that is underway already.

As I presented at our March 10th work session, I am excited to be a part of this terrific expansion of our K-9 program.  This latest donation provides a terrific opportunity for outreach to our youth in the local school communities helping to educate our youth about good decision making while also providing additional police protection to Milton. 

Stay tuned for more updates on this terrific furry addition to Milton's public safety department.

CPAC Survey 

The city has received over 3,000 surveys.  Thank you Milton residents for your overwhelming response. 

Check the winning ticket list to see if you've won a prize. To claim your prize, call the City's Community Development Department at 678-242-2534.

  State Legislative Update

Here's a recap of some local issues with which the State Legislature dealt:

BILLBOARDS

The issue: To settle a court suit with sign companies over denied permits for billboards, Fulton County agreed to backdate permits for 75 tall signs to allow them to be built mainly in what is now Johns Creek, Milton, and Sandy Springs. The new cities objected and asked the Legislature to intervene. A bill was introduced to prevent governments from backdating permits that fall in other jurisdictions.

The result: Passed
AJC article

SPECIAL SERVICES DISTRICT TAX MONEY

The issue: Before the cities of Milton and Johns Creek were established, Fulton County collected taxes from those areas to be spent in those areas. Fulton County had leftover money but no legal way to transfer it to the cities. It amounted to $5.5 million for Milton and $3 million for Johns Creek.

The result: Passed

Funds for Highway 9

$15,000 allocated to Milton from the State for purposes of Highway 9. The Milton Mayor and Council will determine how best to utilize these funds on behalf of Milton at a Work Session or another similarly appropriate forum.

The result: Passed

Milton to support and enforce new Fulton County outdoor water restrictions

Fulton County announced on March 19, 2008, that it will implement water use restrictions that are slightly different than those proposed by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD). An EPD mandate requires the Fulton County water system to reduce water use by 10 percent from a baseline established from April through September of 2007. To meet this mandate, Fulton has imposed the following requirements, effective April 1:

• Residents can hand-water outdoors only one day per week (compared to 3 days proposed by the EPD), for a period of only 25 minutes between midnight and 10 a.m., on an odd-even schedule. Even-numbered addresses may water on Saturday only, and odd-numbered addresses may water on Sunday only. Hand-watering is defined as one person with one garden hose, using a spray nozzle that automatically shuts off when released.

• Residents can water newly installed landscaping for a 30-day period (which is shorter than the 10 weeks proposed by EPD), but must obtain a one-time exemption from the EPD by applying at www.urbanagcouncil.com.

• Residents and HOAs can fill outdoor swimming pools (as allowed by the state exemption proposal).

According to the Ordinance adopted by the City Council in October, 2007, the City of Milton can support and enforce the restrictions set forth by Fulton County. While Milton has the authority to issue restrictions that are more restrictive, the City cannot issue restrictions that are less than those of the County. The City has no plans at this time to be more restrictive than the County's new rules.

Citizens need to be aware that EPD's ban on residential outdoor water use as previously set forth in late 2007 is still in place.

Fulton County will continue to monitor water use, and may implement additional restrictions as required as the summer proceeds. For more information, please call Fulton County water system at 404-612-8097.

City of Milton Meetings

Monday, 4/14 City Council Meeting, 6PM, agenda

Tuesday, 4/15 Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting, 7PM

agenda

• This agenda includes the Wieland development in Crabapple requesting variances.

Wednesday, 4/16 Milton Grows Green Committee, 6PM

Thursday, 4/17 Bike & Pedestrian Committee, 6PM, agenda

Monday, 4/21 City Council Work Session

Tuesday, 4/22 Planning Commission

Wednesday, 4/23 Community Zoning Information Meeting, 7PM, agenda

City of Milton Contacts

_______________________________

All meetings held at City Hall unless otherwise noted.

City Hall

13000 Deerfield Parkway
Suite 107
Milton, GA 30004
Phone: 678.242.2500
Fax: 678.242.2499

Click here for a map and directions to City Hall

EPD Hearing

The EPD hearing tied to the issue of whether a new sewer treatment plant would be built in northeast Cherokee took place as scheduled on March 18th. Citizens provided input to the EPD officers present regarding their opinions.

No results of the hearing are yet known.  Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

Quick Links

Many of you have asked for links to other community and government organizations.  The following links are being provided per your requests.

JZB Newsletter Archive

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Thank you for your consideration of such a donation.

The opinions expressed in this release are those of Julie Zahner Bailey and may not reflect official positions of the Milton City Council.