Thursday, October 18, 2012
Local resident, Jake Lilley, opines his thoughts on the upcoming bond referendum.
- OPINION
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Thursday, October 18, 2012
On November 6th, the citizens of Roswell will be asked to vote for or against a 10 year, $14.7 million bond. The stated purpose of this bond is to pay for “transportation, public safety and recreational improvements” throughout the city of Roswell. If you ask Roswell City Government, they will tell you that “Property tax rates will not increase because of the bonds,” and “The City is able to make these investments in the community within the current property tax rate.” But recently, I received an e-mail from Roswell for Fiscal Responsibility (RFFR) who claims the bond is “nothing more than a thinly veiled tax increase.” For most people, terms like “bond,” “millage rate,” and “property taxes” are very confusing. Now, if you take 3 …
Monday, October 15, 2012
The city of Roswell will hold a "virtual" town hall meeting online tonight, Tuesday, Oct. 16 from 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., about the bond referendum on the general election ballot.
- ELECTIONS
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Monday, October 15, 2012
Early voting has already begun and the city is hoping to provide some further clarity regarding its bond referendum which appears on the ballots of Roswell’s voters tonight, Tuesday, Oct. 16, during an online town hall meeting. The Roswell City Council voted on Aug. 13 to put a question to local voters on whether or not the city should issue a general obligation bond in the amount of $14.7 million to replace the current expiring bond. The city has maintained the bond would not involve a tax increase and is a simple yes or no vote. What is not so simple is the wording of the bond that may seem to be in legalese and that is because lawyers prepare the final wording that then must be approved by the Justice Department, Councilwoman Betty …
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Hop online Tuesday, Oct. 16 from 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. to find out more about the Nov. 6 bond referendum items.
- ELECTIONS
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Wednesday, October 10, 2012
The city of Roswell will host its first-ever Virtual Public Information meeting on the upcoming Nov. 6 Bond Referendum on Tuesday, Oct. 16. Participants are encouraged to register in advance of the meeting to familiarize themselves with the format. Meeting information and the link to register are available online. This online meeting will be an opportunity to learn more about what a bond referendum is, what projects could be funded through the bond and to ask questions about the bond. Panelists will include City Administrator Kay Love, Deputy City Administrator Michael Fischer, Finance Director Keith Lee, Transportation Director Steve Acenbrak, Fire Chief Ricky Spencer and Parks Administrator Jeff Pruitt. The city has held several public …
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
The Grimes Bridge Park Adult Recreation Center will soon include a new fitness center.
After months of preparation and anticipation by some in the community, a new fitness center at the Adult Recreation Center’s is set to open next weekend. The new center is the answer to requests by a growing group of adult center participants. With over 2,500 square feet of expanded space, the center has added: It's perfect for avid gym goers or those coming out of cardiac or physical therapy, as well as those that haven’t worked out in a while, say center staff. The Adult Recreation Center requires all fitness center participants fill out a health form and have an orientation by a professional staff member before they use the space. The cost to use the fitness center is as follows: Personal training is also available for an additional …
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
The city's website gives more detail into each of the proposed bond projects.
While the nation focuses on choosing the U.S. President, Roswell residents will also have the task of deciding whether or not to approve a $14.7 million bond referendum during the Nov. 6 election. The bond will be used to fund several capital projects, say city leaders. More information on each of the proposed projects can be found on the city's website. They include: Infrastructure Improvements Eves Road Complete Street Holcomb Bridge Road Multi-Use Trail Holcomb Bridge Road/400 Aesthetics Holcomb Bridge Road/400 Early NB Off Ramp Holcomb Bridge Road/400 SB Off Ramp Holcomb Bridge Road/400 SB On Ramp Holcomb Bridge Road/400 WB Thru Lane Public Safety Fire Station #4 Recreation & Parks Synthetic Turf Fields Adult Recreation Center-…
Monday, September 17, 2012
The new sidewalk is one of several being built with MARTA offset funds.
Roswell City Council gave the go-ahead, Wednesday, Sept. 12, for city staff to construct sidewalks at four locations within the city, including the area where Magnolia, Canton and Alpharetta streets intersect. Using the final MARTA Offset funds and set aside Sidewalk Connectivity funds, the city will spend $435,981.99 to hire lowest bidder Johnson Landscapes, Inc. to build sidewalks at Hembree Road - a multi-use path - Pine Grove Road, Norcross Street and finally, reconstruct two existing crosswalks at the intersection of Alpharetta Street at Magnolia Street, as well as construct a new sidewalk on the Roswell City Hall property. The new city hall sidewalk will enable historic district shoppers and diners easier access to the city hall …
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
The first meeting takes place mid-September.
- GOVERNMENT
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Tuesday, August 28, 2012
On Nov. 6, Roswell voters will be asked to decide on a $14.7 million bond referendum for capital projects throughout the city. In an effort to educate voters on the bond referendum and projects, the city has scheduled several public information meetings at various locations throughout Roswell. Meeting dates, times and locations include: After a brief presentation, residents will have the opportunity to discuss project details with city staff. The project list includes: Visit the city's website for more information on the Bond Referendum.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Roswell City Council approved sending a $14.7 million bond to referendum, which will be accepted or denied by voters in November.
When Roswell voters go to the polls in November, in addition to national and state races, they'll now also decide one very crucial local issue - to bond, or not to bond. Hoping to scratch some capital improvement projects off the city's lengthy to-do list, Roswell City Council approved sending a $14.7 million bond referendum to voters during the upcoming election. The city held a special called work session last week on Aug. 6, which proposed bonding $24 million in projects. But after further committee meetings and work sessions, Roswell City Councilman Rich Dippolitto proposed narrowing the list further to $14.7 million in projects "we can fund immediately," including: These are projects that are already moving forward and are perfect for…
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Roswell City Council is expected to decide whether they will send a $24 million bond referendum to voters in November during the meeting next Monday, Aug. 13.
Over the course of several hours and following what was at times a heated debate, Roswell City Council consented to placing an item regarding a proposed bond referendum on the council agenda for next week. The proposal comes on the heels of a failed penny tax for transpotration projects throughout the metro area. Now the city council must now decide if and when Roswell should bond $24 million to be used for capital improvement projects which often get sidelined at annual budget time in order to keep property taxes down. According to city staff and council, the two $12 million bonds would not put more of a burden on city taxpayers since the timing of the new bonds essentially begin when the prior bonds are paid off. Roswell City …
Friday, August 3, 2012
The council will meet Monday, Aug. 6, at 5 p.m. in room 220 of Roswell City Hall.
Despite it being an off week for Roswell City Council, the elected body will meet Monday, Aug. 6, for a special called work session regarding a possible bond referendum to be placed on the ballot this November. The referendum would presumably ask local residents whether or not they would approve two $12 million bonds - or $24 million in total - to be used toward capital fund projects. In a letter addressed to Roswell Mayor Jere Wood and Roswell City Council members, the city's Director of Finance Keith Lee said the focus of the meeting would be to go over Roswell's project list priorities, which were presented to residents in an open house earlier this year. The city will be paying off its current bonds in 2014 and 2015. Funding large …
Thomas Wayne Shelton
11:04 am on Saturday, October 20, 2012
Janet, I agree ... but we can do our best to ensure that anyone that supports the water plant will not be re-elected ... we're in this mess today because we're not (at least not enough of us) holding the council accountable. There will be another election next year and it is our duty to hold them accountable at that time and to put someone in those seats that will "represent" the residents … more ›