Beaudreau Defends Airport Stance

District 3 commissioner says he wants to see what offers come in and discuss "fact versus fiction."

Gwinnett County District 3 Commissioner Mike Beaudreau spent a good part of his June 11 constituent meeting defending his recent actions regarding the Lawrenceville airport. Few people were present for the 11 a.m. meeting at Harbins Park, but the majority of those in attendance expressed concern regarding the potential commercialization of Briscoe Field.  Dacula resident Randy Taczynski said he believes Gwinnett County is one of the most irresponsible governments in the United States. Taczynski shared several concerns including recent land deal controversies, the Gwinnett Braves stadium and, in particular, the recent controversy regarding the commercialization of Briscoe Field. Taczynski, a homeowner in Apalachee Woods The Glens, said he …

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Nash: Briscoe Does Not Need to Be Commercialized

Chairman meets with representatives from area homeowners associations and citizens' groups.

Almost 40 people representing a dozen Gwinnett County neighborhoods, two citizens' groups and a local political organization met May 19 at the Apalachee Farms clubhouse in Dacula to discuss a pressing concern for area residents – the potential commercialization of Briscoe Field. Charlotte Nash, chairman of the Gwinett County Board of Commissioners and a Dacula native, was also in attendance to provide additional insight into the increasingly contentious issue. Last month, hundreds of residents gathered at 12Stone church to provide input at the behest of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners regarding a resolution proposed by District 4 Commissioner John Heard that would have removed commercial service from consideration at the …

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Nash Delivers State of County Address

County's new Board of Commission Chairman, Charlotte Nash, pointed to restoring public trust and budget crisis as key issues.

Well over 500 business and community leaders filled the Gwinnett Center's Tommy Hughes Ballroom on Wednesday to hear the county's new Board of Commission Chairman, Charlotte Nash offer her first State of the County address. The annual event, which usually take place in January, was delayed until a special election this past March was held to decide on a new county chairman. Newly elected Nash replaced Charles Bannister who resigned last fall in the midst of a grand jury probe over county land deals. Nash, a former County Administrator, took over the top spot during a failing economy that has forced the county to look for every means to cut expenses and reduce spending.  She also came along when the public's trust was at an all time low …

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State of the County Address Set for Wednesday

Gwinnett Chamber and Council of Growth hosting address by new county commission chairman.

Gwinnett Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash will share her vision for the county at the annual State of the County Address Wednesday, May 18, at the Gwinnett Center in Duluth. The Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce and the Council for Quality Growth will host the address presented by Gas South. Registration is at 11:30 a.m. followed by the noon program and address. “Gwinnett County continues to be a leader in infrastructure development, quality of life and economic development. I look forward to Chairman Nash’s outlook as she leads Gwinnett to a robust and prosperous 2011,” said Michael Paris, president and CEO of the Council for Quality Growth, in an announcement for the address. The State of the County Address will offer Gwinnett business and …

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Dacula Friends and Neighbors

Charlotte Nash, Chairman of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners

A profile of Dacula native Charlotte Nash.

Dacula resident Charlotte Nash has done a lot to serve her community in a variety of different capacities, but a little over a month ago she made headlines when she was elected Gwinnett County Commissioner in a special election.  When she was sworn in on March 28, she became only the second woman to hold the post and she looks forward to carrying out her first elected office position in a manner that will make Dacula proud. “I have deep roots in Gwinnett County,” said Nash. “My father's family moved here in the 1820's, and I have lived in the Harbins Community all my life.”   A 1971 graduate of Dacula High School, Nash married her high school sweetheart, Michael, to whom she has now been married for nearly 39 years. The Nash’s have one son…

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County Budget Reserve Could be ‘Wiped Out’ in 2015

Officials review report on county finances.

Uncertainty about the tax digest has led officials to warn the county's reserve fund could be "wiped out" in 2015 unless further actions are taken. County planners are currently using three different scenarios to estimate the county’s financial situation through 2015. In the most optimistic scenario, the economy would recover. The worst-case scenario is based on a continued high rate of foreclosures and stagnation in the housing market. “Our goal is to look far enough ahead to give us time to develop plans for whichever way the economy goes,” said Gwinnett County chief financial officer Aaron Bovos in a released statement. Officials expect a gap between revenues and expenses in the 2012 budget could cause the county’s reserve funds to fall…

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Resolution Against Airport Commercialization Fails

District 3 commissioner Mike Beaudreau proposed substitute motion which does not limit commercialization.

Commercial service at Briscoe Field will remain an option for now. Last month, District 4 Commissioner John Heard proposed a resolution to remove commercial service from consideration at the Lawrenceville airport. The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners voted April 19 to table the resolution in order to hold a public hearing for the purpose of gathering citizen input on the matter. Hundreds attended the April 28 meeting at 12Stone Church in which opponents to commercial service far outnumbered those in support. On May 3, before the commission voted on Heard’s resolution, District 3 Commissioner Mike Beaudreau proposed a substitute motion to direct staff to issue a request for proposals (RFPs) for privatization which could include …

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R++ - One of the famous "Dacula Crew"

3:30 pm on Sunday, May 8, 2011

DB, I concur, let’s get the facts ... but that costs money if done correctly and since teachers are furloughed along with EMS staff, I believe those salaries should be restored before we spend ANY tax dollars on additional studies - otherwise our county staff are indirectly and unfairly paying for this “adventure”. So let’s do this in a uniformly conservative method. Please contact the Gwinnett …   more ›

Commissioners Trim Costs by $1.5 Million

Twenty firefighter positions to remain unfilled.

New cost cutting measures approved Tuesday by the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners will save the county an estimated $1.5 million. The approved cuts include $722,000 from the Fire and Emergency Services budget and $127,000 from the Gwinnett County Police Department budget. Elections, transportation, support services and community services budgets will also be cut. Additionally, minor reductions in law, fleet, water, sewer and stormwater expenses were included. Four jobs will be eliminated -- three vacant jobs in transportation and one in transit -- and 20 vacant firefighter positions will remain unfilled. Commissioners also approved a recommendation to increase fees for participants in the Work Alternative Program. First time …

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Hamilton Mill Road Widening on County’s TSPLOST Wish List

Project one of 73 potential transportation projects submitted by Gwinnett County.

A $50.7 million project to widen Hamilton Mill Road from two to four lanes from Buford Highway to Braselton Highway is one of 73 transportation projects Gwinnett County officials have submitted to the state transportation planning director and the Atlanta Regional Commission for inclusion in the metro Atlanta region’s project list for the Transportation Investment Act of 2010. Gwinnett, along with the nine other counties in the metro Atlanta region, was asked to submit potential transportation projects to be funded by a 1 percent transportation special purpose local option sales tax (TSPLOST) that voters will be asked to approve next year. Officials estimate the TSPLOST could generate as much as $7 billion over the 10-year duration of the …

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Tim Sullivan

12:25 pm on Monday, June 20, 2011

I'd like to see the 4 laning of Hamilkton Mill fall off the list forever. It's sole intension is to improve the rout to the Distribution center in Buford. I'd guess 99% of this project is outside of the Buford City Limits and will benefit the local residents about 1% once it gets full of semi trucks that currently use GA 20 & buford hwy to get to their destination. Granted the road needs …   more ›

From Where I Stand

The Number One Challenge for New Chairman

Can trust be restored in government?

After a special election where fewer than 5 percent of the voters invested time to go to the polls and cast their ballot, Dacula resident Charlotte Nash won. Monday afternoon, she was sworn into office as the chairman of the Gwinnett County Commission. She comes to the job with many years experience having worked for Gwinnett County in the past. Many people have great hopes for the future of Gwinnett County. As she embarks upon her service as chairman of the Gwinnett County Commission, let us examine some of the challenges that are before any who are serving in elective office currently. One of the major issues is to determine the best way to restore trust in government. As I travel across the state of Georgia speaking to groups of …

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