Election Day

By Mark Scott

July 19, 2006 08:50 AM | Link to this

The results for Milton and Johns Creek are exactly what we expected and exactly what we worked so hard for. We need to take control of our own issues, taxing and spending and priorities and get out from Fulton County control. We have even more hard work ahead of us, but these cities are going to be great.

By Still Questioning

July 19, 2006 09:32 AM | Link to this

OK Bodker. Now we get to see how close your crystal ball and all this “yack” comes to the truth. Let’s see how long it takes before JC asks for a tax increase. Let’s see if a decent-sezed city can function without a substantive commercial tax base. Show us this crapshoot is better off than the stability of a 150 year old well-funded, capitalized city with expansive parks, police, fire, a friggin jail for crying out loud! Time to put up—and NO TAX INCREASE!!

By Voted No...

July 19, 2006 09:44 AM | Link to this

All I saw was… I’m voting Yes for John’s Creek. Why? Johns Creek has nothing to offer except for the inevitable tax increases. If the residents would have waited until next year the could have been absorbed into Alpharetta. An established community with Parks, Police, Government and a decent track record… Welcome to the unknown Johns Creek residences.

By Suzi Krizan

July 19, 2006 10:17 AM | Link to this

We built this city……….

Now watch and see what a great city it will become. Roswell eat your heart ( if you have one ) out!

By Amir

July 19, 2006 10:21 AM | Link to this

As a resident now of Johns Creek, GA. I say that now the true status of North Fulton county would become apparent. There has always been confusion with Alpharetta…..But now we have a truly defined city, Johns Creek where the average income and home prices are higher and more affluent than anywhere in “Alpharetta”.

By Dr. Mike Sears

July 19, 2006 10:31 AM | Link to this

While I am personally disapppointed with the outcome of this issue, I have no choice but to accept the outcome. The principle of choice in government has always been,and continues to be,an important matter to those of us who were opposed to a new city. While I still believe that emotion won out over sound and realistic thinking on the part of the electorate, I am now a resident of Johns Creek and hope any pray that those on both sides of this issue can put down any ill feelings and look forward rather than back, although I suspect some will be unwilling or unable to do so. We have entrusted our homes, our property, and all that goes with it to a still unamed and perhaps unknown (although I doubt that) group of people who will become the government of Johns Creek. I wish them, and all of us, good luck. Time will tell.

By Bob Warren

July 19, 2006 10:39 AM | Link to this

Well said Mike. John’s Creek was not my choice either, but we have to move forward and work together. First and foremost, we have to remember we are each others neighbors regardless of choice or personal preference and we should continue to focus on improving our neighborhood together regardless of what city or county we reside in.

By Joy Mejias

July 19, 2006 11:58 AM | Link to this

People in Area B are lucky to have more than 1 choice. We in Area A have no other choice than to vote for a city of Johns Creek because the Fulton County Commission does not have the interests of northeast Fulton County as its priority. Now that the mandate is clear, it is also clear that EVERYONE in Johns Creek will benefit most if EVERY citizen becomes active and proactive in its formation, instead of being just reactive. Make your ideas known by participating instead of just sitting back and watching to see if this new city fails. What YOU do or don’t do as a citizen will determine its success or failure.

By Juliet

July 19, 2006 12:20 PM | Link to this

Can we do something about the traffic on McGinnis Ferry now? And maybe get some police officers up here so my friends will actually be caught when they’re speeding…?

By PMartey

July 19, 2006 12:22 PM | Link to this

I think this means that a lot of snobish rich white folks got their way. Hopefully it works for them and they don’t come back begging.

By Bryan

July 19, 2006 01:16 PM | Link to this

As a Roswell resident I am very happy for the cities of Milton and Johns Creek. Now I hope that we can put our differences aside and work together for a better North Fulton.

By Sean

July 19, 2006 01:17 PM | Link to this

First off thanks to the small minded thinking of the City of Alpharetta Mayor for not annexing in the “City of Milton” and parts of “John’s Creek” when they WANTED to come in two years ago! Now we have another two cities in North Fulton to share sales tax with, new business impact fees etc. As far a Milton and John’s Creek go I can’t wait to see them both explain to the residents why they are raising taxes to pay for all the promises. Didn’t Fulton promise the same thing a few years ago when the talk of new cities came up! Makes you wonder…..Think about this…Sandy Springs broke off because of the poor government response , mainly police and then they hire almost all Fulton County officers to man the department…Milton /JC don’t make the same mistake..

By Kenney Barton

July 19, 2006 02:45 PM | Link to this

Just because Sandy Springs did it, that doesn’t mean that you have to also! All this is going to acomplish is taking away from the cities of Alpharetta, Roswell, and Duluth.

By John

July 19, 2006 02:53 PM | Link to this

To P Martey - Why would anyone come back begging Fulton County? What, to be ripped off again? Also, I may be white, but not snobbish or rich. You, on the other hand, seem to have a real attitude problem, so I hope you don’t live in North Fulton.

By Bob Woodhead

July 19, 2006 03:44 PM | Link to this

Reading some of the earlier comments, I wonder if some of these folks have read any of the information posted about the reasons & tax ramifications for the creation of Johns Creek. Do they not realize that “doing nothing” was a negative option? That tax increases will happen by the will of the people, as it is written in the City Charter? That Roswell and Alpharetta WOULD NOT and COULD NOT annex all the area of unincorporated NE Fulton? Promises… CJC made it very clear the only promise being made was that we’d be receiving the same level of services we have now, at the same tax rate - with the hope there would be surplus for many improvements. I wish everyone could experience firsthand the dedication that these many volunteers made in an effort to help out ALL their neighbors. True, not everyone got their desired outcome, but this is a democracy, and I am proud to say I have watched a grassroots democratic process come to fruition.

By Phil Smith

July 19, 2006 04:07 PM | Link to this

As a Newtown resident on the Roswell border I was vehemently opposed to Johns Creek and actively campaigned against it. I am proud to say the my precinct, NC09, actually voted a majority NO agaist Johns Creek, and as far as I know we were the only one to do so. While I still prefer the known entity that Roswell would have offered vs the unknowns that go with a new city, all of the yammering back and forth is now history and we must all work together to make Johns Creek the best city it can be. We, as Johns Creek citizens, must work to elect “servants” and not politicians. We must attend OUR city council meetings to give them credit where credit is due, to hold them to their promises, and to hold them accountable for their actions. May God Bless Johns Creek!

By Sean

July 19, 2006 05:25 PM | Link to this

Same level of services that you have now? That would be near nothing…will of the people! Never heard that before have we….I wish you the best of luck.

By Dominique Huff

July 19, 2006 08:59 PM | Link to this

It is funny how many of these cities are hiring employees from Fulton County. The same employees who they complain never answered the phones, didn’t do their jobs and now you hire them for your own city. I hope Milton, Johns Creek, South Fulton and Chattahooche Hills open the hiring window and get some qualified people to work in their governments. Also, lets not forget to send home Robb Pitts in November, we need to get a conservative majority on the Board of Commissioners!

By WFC

July 20, 2006 06:57 AM | Link to this

The creation of the two new cities has to improve thigs up here. Trying to get anything done through Fulton County is impossible.

By Phillip

July 20, 2006 10:58 AM | Link to this

I use to say “I have an ALpharetta mailing address but live in Roswell.” So now I will say “I have a Johns Creek (stupid name) mailing address but still consider myself a citizen of Roswell.

By David

July 20, 2006 04:46 PM | Link to this

I find it interesting that most of the comments here seem to be critical or resigned about Johns Creek and don’t involve Milton. I hope that the soon-to-be new residents of Milton (of which I and my family will be) are not apathetic, and will actively participate to create a city that can improve our surroundings and life at a reasonable tax rate. Of course, no one wants more taxes, but they certainly want all the benefits one can purchase from them. It’s a two-edged sword. Hopefully, the premise on which Milton was found - that we,the residents of Milton, can do a better job of support services at the same tax rate than Fulton County - can be realized. I’m sure we, as well as John’s Creek, will be watched by citizens and the media, as this unfolds. Good luck to us all.

By Ken

July 20, 2006 09:18 PM | Link to this

Those of you on both sides are simplifying the issues. I am a resident of Sandy Springs and have witnessed a vast improvement in the attention given to us by the local government. We have many more police cars on patrol, and ordinances are being enforced. In contrast to the recently formed cities of Johns Creek and Milton, we were fortunate to have the benefit of careful advance planning of the city’s operations and an abundant tax base. Negotiating with county governments isn’t easy. It was a very complicated process that involved a huge contribution from the people involved. As David said, If you stay involved, you will participate. I wish the new cities well as they start to deal with the details of getting up and running.

By Liz Hausmann

July 20, 2006 11:07 PM | Link to this

Working on the Johns Creek Get out the Vote campaign over the last few months has been a wonderful experience. We have met many new friends while campaigning - on both sides of the cityhood issue. In the birth of our new city a new civic awareness has emerged. I want to extend a special thank you to everyone involved for such a high voter turn out in a summer primary election. Those voters have demanded a more responsive governement, and I truly believe that Johns Creek will exceed their expectations! Let us put the campaign behind us, and work together to be the best city we can be. Johns Creek - Welcome!

By Nick

July 21, 2006 06:10 PM | Link to this

I have lived in the same house in Alpharetta for close to 15 years. I was raised in this area. Since I was a boy I found that nothing was done for my area. Many of our roads are in disrepair, many area’s barely see Police interaction, and any needed help from Fulton was near impossible to get. Now with this ability to grow into our own, we can stop having to pay for services we never recieved and instead put our money into a police department that can help stop speeding and crime, that can service our roads and finance our hospitals. We must now use the same unity we had to create this city, to make it stronger.

By Steve

July 23, 2006 01:49 PM | Link to this

Could someone please explain how this effects our addressing? Specifically, do we have to change our address on checks, driver’s license, bills, etc from Alpharetta to John’s Creek? What a pain.

By Bob

July 24, 2006 12:41 AM | Link to this

Steve,

The USPS delivers to the Street Address and ZIP Code, not the city listed on the envelope. You do not have to change anything if you don’t want to.