Community Corner

Three Questions With the Mayor: Important Meetings, Public Safety Reminder and Demographic Changes

Dacula Mayor Jimmy Wilbanks answers questions about our community.

In this week's "Three Questions With the Mayor," Dacula Mayor Jimmy Wilbanks provides an update on the latest city news and discusses demographic changes in our area.

Dacula Patch: What's new in Dacula this week?

Mayor Wilbanks: I wanted to remind each reader that this is a busy week at City Hall. Monday night at 7 p.m., the Planning Commission will meet to make a recommendation to the City Council on the rezoning of the PEAK at University Parkway project. Wednesday at 5 p.m., there will be a Called Council Work Session to hear from the applicants for the package store. On Thursday at 6 p.m., the City Council will vote to award the first license for a package store at a special Called Council Meeting. This meeting will be followed by the regular Council Work Session at 7 p.m. There will be no public comment period at the called Council Work Session since this meeting is designed to allow City Council members to acquire information, and there will not be a public comment period at the Special Called Council meeting since this meeting is called for the single purpose of awarding a liquor store license. People who plan to attend any meeting at Dacula City Hall should remember that parking is limited and seating is limited by the Gwinnett County Fire Marshal’s office.

Find out what's happening in Daculawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Dacula Patch: What is something Dacula residents need to know this week?

Mayor Wilbanks: The weather this year is confusing, just like always in Georgia. Some days are warm, followed by a sharp cold snap. That’s what we in Dacula are facing again this week. Since wide swings in weather stress heating systems, please check that you have working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. That means checking the batteries and running whatever test the manufacturers of these devices suggest. I also suggest a home fire drill. A fire in your home in the middle of the night is frightening and potentially deadly.

Find out what's happening in Daculawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Dacula Patch: In your State of the Region and Dacula message, you mention several interesting facts and demographic changes. Which of these facts/changes did you find most interesting and why?

Mayor Wilbanks: I thought that the demographic date was the most interesting. Our population density increased by a factor of 10 over the decade between 2000 and 2010. With the increase in density also came a change in diversity. Both of these facts fueled the changes we are seeing in the Metro-Atlanta region and within the City of Dacula. The Science Chanel had a program on cities recently. In the research for that program, the researchers found that one of every two people on the planet live in a city. As a city doubles in size an amazing statistic emerges. Everything increases by 15 percent, including wages, crime, street lengths, number of restaurants, and the like. An increase in demographics and diversity provide opportunities and challenges for the City.

You might also be interested in reading:


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here