City Council Agrees on Proposed Road Projects

Roswell city officials have approved a list of Tier 1 and 2 roadway projects to be submitted to the Georgia Department of Transportation for consideration for funding under the Transportation Investment Act of 2010.

If approved by voters in July 2012, the special purpose regional sales tax could provide up to $8.7 billion for roadway improvements in Georgia.

Transportation Director Steve Acenbrak presented a list of six projects totaling $128.6 million at last night's city council meeting. The projects include Historic Gateway/SR 9, Big Creek Bridge Phase 1, Big Creek to the River Multi-Use Trail Connection, Houze Road operational improvements, North Fulton Cross-County Trail Connection and improvements to the interchange at Holcomb Bridge Road and Ga. 400.

Roswell's proposed projects still have a very long road to travel before the first shovel is turned. Acenbrak pointed out that 100 local governments in the 10 counties that make up the Atlanta Regional Commission will be submitting projects as well.

Mayor Jere Wood said it is important that municipalities in the North Fulton region present a united front."These are our Tier 1 and 2 projects," Wood said. "If we want Sandy Springs, Milton, Alpharetta and Johns Creek to support our projects then we need to support theirs."

Council Member Becky Wynn agreed and made a motion that council support the projects submitted by the other municipalities. The motion was approved by unanimous vote.

In other business, council unanimously approved the nomination of Thomas Pratt to the recreation commission, as well as a resolution renewing support for the East Roswell Library and a land offer for the library to be located at Holcomb Bridge and Fouts roads.

Councilman Kent Igleheart said he needed more time to consider a resolution asking Gov. Nathan Deal to veto a bill that would allow billboard companies to cut certain trees that blocked the view of their signs.

Current law prohibits the cutting of any trees planted by local, state or federal government. But lobbyists for the Outdoor Advertising Association, were successful in pushing a bill through both the House and Senate that would permit the billboard industry to cut trees that don't meet the bills' standards of being within 500 feet of a billboard unless they are 75 years old or have a permit.

A called meeting has been set for Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. to consider the resolution.