Lawrenceville Neighborhood Alliance
UPDATE
August 2011
1. Membership
What a great response in membership! Ninety four (94) households have joined the LNA. Each year, more residents are interested in neighborhood and city improvements. We have membership from 17 different neighborhoods and from residents who do not live in any subdivision. We also have businesses joining or advertising on the LNA website. In addition to the memberships we have had generous donations of over $1300. Thank you for this wonderful support and encouragement.
2. Changes/Improvements in the Property Maintenance Ordinance
LNA, in cooperation with the Quality of Life Unit, has initiated improvements in the Property Maintenance Ordinance. The City Council is set to vote on these improvements at the September 12, 2011 City Council meeting.
They include the following:
Open or Outdoor Storage
Changes: freezers are prohibited from outdoor storage. Lawn equipment must be placed on the side or rear yard, and basketball goals must be removed from the right of way and the street.
Swimming Pools
Stangnant water located within swimming pools or on swimming pool covers conducive to the breeding and harboring of mosquitoes or other insects shall not be permitted or maintained on any premises.
Exterior Surface Treatment Additions
Exterior surfaces of housing must be free of mold, algae or mildew. Gutters and shutters must be maintained in good repair. Roofs of buildings shall be maintained so that they are structurally sound and in a safe condition and have no defects which might admit rain or cause dampness in the interior portions of a building. Roof must be free of excessive accumulations of leaves, pinestraw, or other debris.
3. Report on Nuisance Cases begining 2011
Fifteen nuisance complaints have been filed since the first of the year. Of those, three have been resolved prior to the court hearing. Six liens have been filed on other properties. Three cases are awaiting a hearing. Three cases, Saddle Shoals common area, 160 Grayland Creek Drive and 210 Dogwood Lane are awaiting review as to what the City Council will do. The City has been cleaning up some of the properties, but there are others that are beyond clean up and repair. These nuisance properties are scattered throughout Lawrenceville.
4. Report of City actions on the improvement requests of neighborhoods
* Craigdale Estates - The City is conducting a field survey for the drainage problems. Contact person: Paul Austin
* Forest Hills - Forest Valley Curbs and Gutters - Request for proposals (RFP) for curb and gutter improvements is due in September. Contact person: Paul Austin
* Pendleton Park - streets will be paved before the end of the year.
* Windsor Farms - Detention Pond on Stokesay - City is getting bids for maintenance of the detention pond and adding vegetation so that it is not seen from the street.
* Paper Mill - City plans sidewalk repair. Lighting is being evaluated.
* Sherwood Forest - Sidewalks down Five Forks on hold as County plans to widen this road in the future. City is working on drainage problems and smoothing out driveway entrances, and paving. Lighting is being evaluated.
* Cramac - Street paving has commenced.
5. City Improvements Started - Information from David Mellard, LNA President
In less than 8 months, the City has made great progress on many fronts including:
* The City Park - Contracted with Tunnell, Spangler, and Walsh to design park and steps are being taken to go forward with the plan.
* College overlay district, particularly the Northdale Corridor. Requests for proposals (RFPs) have been asked for and due in by the first part of August.
* Signage project is nearly finished and is a great adidtion to Lawrenceville.
Working to close the gaps with the QofL regulations (see item 2).
* Addressing the issues with the Gas Department.
* City of Lawrenceville Comprehensive Audit (in progress).
* Focuting on neighborhood improvements.
* Continued work opposing the Airport Expansion.
* Creating a city manager form of government.
* Tax Allocation Districts and Opportunity Zones - The Economic coordinator is moving forward on TADs and Opportunity Zones. The areas inlude Pike Street-GA 120 and the College Corridor Overlay District.
The issues that face Lawrenceville didn't occur over night. The City officials are moving the city forward with these improvements.
6. August 1st City Council Meeting
* David Mellard, LNA President, spoke before the City Council on the need to search for the best possible candidate for the City Manager position.
* Beverly Dryden, LNA Director, spoke before the City Council on the need for transparency and open financial practices. The City's budget should provide a complete reporting describing what the City of Lawrenceville intends to do for the following year and the expenditures required. The budget should be a comprehensive formal plan that gives clear direction for programs, projects and expenditures that the City expects to achieve.
* Jan Overton, LNA board member, is scheduled to speak in opposition to the airport at the August 23rd Gwinnett Board of Commissioners meeting.
7. Annual City of Lawrenceville Candidate Forum - A Public Service to the Community sponsored by the LNA.
Mark your calendars for the annual City of Lawrenceville Candidate Forum to be held on October 13, 2011. Two council members are up for re-election: P.K. Martin IV and Katie Hart Smith. Please let us know of your concerns and of questions that you have.
8. City of Lawrenceville Recycling Day - October 22, 2011 9 a.m to 1 p.m.
Want to get rid of your old electronic devices, documents, and paint? The City of Lawrenceville will be sponsoring a recycle day at 20 South Clayton Street (old police station parking lot).
What you can recycle:
* Documents you wish to be shredded, limit of 5 boxes. You will be able to watch them shredded on the site. If necessary, volunteers will help you unload.
* Electronic devices (cell phones, computers, keyboards, etc) are free except TVs which will have a $10 recycling charge. Projection TVs and
Console TVs are not accepted.
* There is a charge of $1.00 per gallon for paint.
The Recycle day is open to residents and non-residents. The City will be accepting food pantry donations for our "CAN DO" Campaign sponsored by all the cities within Gwinnett.
9. Community Outreach
David Mellard, LNA President, is working with the QOL unit in addressing the needs of those property owners who are having a hard time coming into compliance with the property maintenance ordinance. He is setting up a committee of volunteers who will work to help those who need assistance. if you would like to offer your services, please contact David at dmellard@bellsouth.net or 404-226-0746.
10. The Neighborhood Stabilization Program is moving forward.
The program hopes to rehabilitate 50 or more homes in the Lawrenceville area. We will have more information later.
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