Fulton
Last chance for feedback on budget
Fulton residents will have their last chance to sound off on the county’s proposed $569.4 million 2013 budget at a public hearing 10 a.m. Wednesday in the Government Center’s Assembly Hall, 141 Pryor St., Atlanta.
The budget does not include a countywide tax rate increase, but most departments are expected to take 2 percent to 5 percent cuts. The county is proposing to raise the tax rate by 19 percent for unincorporated south Fulton to pay for city-type services. Johnny Edwards
Cherokee
Schools head creates safety committee
Cherokee County School District Superintendent Frank Petruzielo has set up a School Safety and Security Ad Hoc Committee. The group of Cherokee schools staffers and administrators, parents and law enforcement leaders will meet regularly to discuss school safety initiatives and examine protocols and practices.
The first meeting is set Jan. 17. Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Fayette
Hospital seeks scholarship applicants
The Piedmont Fayette Hospital Auxiliary is seeking applicants for its Elizabeth Wilmot Bull Memorial Scholarship. The merit-based award is given to selected students with a 3.0 GPA or above who are enrolled in health-related studies at an accredited Georgia college or university.
Applications are due Jan. 15; call 770-719-7098. Jill Howard Church for the AJC
Gwinnett
Bikeway trail to be extended
Gwinnett commissioners have approved a construction contract to extend the multi-purpose Western Gwinnett Bikeway trail, which will add more than 2 miles along Peachtree Industrial Boulevard north to Rogers Bridge Road from its current end at Pleasant Hill Road in Duluth.
When completed, the trail will connect Norcross, Berkeley Lake and Duluth, providing alternative transportation options and improving pedestrian safety.
Vertical Earth of Cumming was the lowest of four bidders for the $1.3 million project. Federal funding will cover 80 percent, while the 2009 SPLOST will fund the local portion shared by Gwinnett County and the city of Duluth. Dan Klepal
DeKalb
School board members to be sworn in
The DeKalb County School District will swear in new board members at 3 p.m. Monday in the J. David Williamson Board Room at the Robert R. Freeman Administrative & Instructional Complex, 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd., Stone Mountain.
Marshall D. Orson, James L. ‘Jim’ McMahan and Melvin Johnson, elected last year, will take their oath of office. Pamela A. Speaks, who was re-elected, will also be sworn in, for another term. Ty Tagami
Cobb
AT&T donates to university program
Southern Polytechnic State University’s UTeach program in Marietta received a $25,000 contribution from AT&T. The university will purchase laptop computers and motion-sensing probes, temperature and pH probes, and EKG sensors.
The mission of the SPSUTeach program is to prepare students to teach curricula for grades 6-12 in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Kenneth Musisi
