AJC > NorthSide > Blog > Archives > 2006 > November > 15 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USAfter Milton City, is Milton County next for North Fulton?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The bustle of preparation in Milton High School’s auditorium calmed Tuesday evening from a dull hum to silence as State Rep. Jan Jones (R-Alpharetta) gave the new city of Milton its marching orders.
“I want everybody to throw away the old pattern for cities,” Jones said. “We’re going to start a new city pattern.”
A quartet of men dressed in blue coat tails and knickers marched in time, carrying the U.S. and Georgia flags to represent the Sons of the Revolution and to salute the new city.
More than a dozen voices harmonized the national anthem, and a half dozen Girl Scouts crossed their hands over their hearts as they led the crowd of about 200 in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Milton’s first mayor, Joe Lockwood, raised his right hand, and with his left on the family Bible his wife Dawn held, took the oath of office as his daughter and two sons looked on beside him.
Four of the six city council members also were sworn in, as four candidates waited for a Dec. 5 runoff to decide their fates.
And from the auditorium seats, George Ragsdale, the man credited with leading Milton’s cityhood campaign, watched as Lockwood received the gavel symbolizing municipal leadership.
Lockwood extended an olive leaf to the man he defeated only a week before in the mayoral election.
“I want to express thanks to George Ragsdale,” Lockwood said. “The doors are always open, and we appreciate any and all help he can offer.”
With that statement, the celebration ended and the first city council began to start the task of running the new city.
Milton residents eager to see their new government take hold outside the reigns of Fulton county, were anxious that this was just the beginning of change.
“The work here is not finished,” said one-year Milton resident Carol Braun. “We’re hoping for not only the city, but for Milton County.”
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By Ervin D Engram
November 19, 2006 12:54 PM | Link to this
America is a great nation, when things are going our way.
However, I wish someone with advance forsight and State planning would combine some of the Counties in this state, not just for elections, but for health assistance,housing, emergency service, and increased reveune for people who are living in these counties.
We all cannot live in the metro area, it shows no state planning to develop everything for the metro, and not develop other major cities in this state.
Are there any other people who are natives of Geogia, able to see this as well? This is a wonderful state we need to think out of the Metro area, in about fifty years,cities will return where they once were, because of expenses. Think about it.