Johns Creek City Council Briefs

Mayor asks for community involvement with billboards
Mayor Mike Bodker released a map of potential locations for billboards in the wake of the Fulton County billboard decision.

Bodker reiterated his outrage of the county commission vote on a lawsuit settlement that would allow 74 billboards in North Fulton – 31 in Johns Creek alone.

Bodker urged the following:
• There is “time for a miracle,” he said. Fulton County could revisit their vote, via a reconsideration. Bodker urged citizens to call on their Fulton County Commissioners, especially those in the four-member majority who supported the settlement agreement.

• Freedom of speech extends not only to the billboard companies, but to citizens, as well. Bodker urged residents to take action.

• Billboard companies must have the agreement of landlords in order to install signs, said Bodker, who called upon citizens to contact local businesses.

“Join me in my outrage,” said Bodker. The mayor said inherent in the Johns Creek city vote was a right to self-determination.

TAN Reauthorized
The Johns Creek City Council voted to reauthorize the solicitation of an annual Tax Anticipation Note (TAN), a mechanism that allows municipalities to borrow against future years' taxes. The 2007 TAN will be paid at year end and a new note will be extended for 2008. Except for equipment leasing, the city has no other borrowing capability because it has no bond rating.

City Accepts Police IT Report
The city council accepted a report by CH2M Hill OMI for Internet Technology (I.T.) program needs for the public safety administration and build-out.

The proposed I.T. services carry a price tag of $366,611 for the first year and $505,500 for the 2009 fiscal year. City service provider CH2 said they neglected to include a staff accountant to oversee the $15.5 revenue that will be “passing back and forth.” CH2 has agreed to absorb the out-of-scope staff position for the first year, but will pass along the contract escalation to the city during 2009.

The public safety IT budget comes in $21,611 over estimated costs after a number of revisions, including downsizing police computers to “ruggedized” standard Dell computers and without adding administration staff.