Gwinnett Commissioners Approve Funds for Several Transportation Projects

Chairman says transportation is a priority for Gwinnett in 2013.

Transportation projects were plentiful on the Gwinnett Board of Commissioners' agenda Tuesday (February 5). And the commissioners approved several, with some price tags ranging into seven figures. Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash said that transportation is a priority for the commissioners in 2013, and that Transportation Director Kim Conroy had been given the signal to move ahead with some projects. Among the projects approved Tuesday: -- How will these projects affect your commute? What else would you like to see the commissioners take on in 2013? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

• Photos (1)

Gwinnett Police/Fire Vehicle Purchases and Homeland Security Grant on BOC Agenda

The commissioners hold their first Febuary 2013 meeting Tuesday.

The Gwinnett Board of Commissioners plans to consider some financial expenditures for public safety and emergency response items at their regular work session meeting Tuesday (February 5). The work session is scheduled for 10 a.m., with the regular business meeting set for 3 p.m. According to the work session agenda, Gwinnett Police are in line to accept a grant of about $108,000 from the Department of Homeland Security. Also, an additional $3 million is being requested by Support Services to purchase law enforcement and emergency vehicles to avoid a 2014 model year price increase. According to county documents, the Homeland Security grant would be used to purchase such items as helmets, face shields and portable lighting items for first …

• Photos (1)

Gwinnett BOC Approves 2013 Budget Amid Signs of Economic Improvement

The overall figure of $1.4 billion includes adjustments for such things as SDS-mandated service districts. The library system's budget was cut by $1 million.

Gwinnett County's elected leaders unanimously approved Thursday a $1.4 billion budget for 2013. As with previous years, there were cuts, tough choices -- and no pay raises for county employees. But there also are signs that the economic woes that have plagued the county in recent years may be bottoming out. District 1 Commissioner Jace Brooks of Suwanee, who is beginning his first full term on the board, noted that the Gwinnett tax digest is projected to decline about 1.9 percent this year. That would be the smallest such decline in recent years, and the reduction in tax revenues has been a major problem for Gwinnett budgets recently. -- What are your thoughts on the Gwinnett 2013 budget, and future budgets? Share your opinions in the …

• Photos (1)

Gwinnett BOC To Hold Public Hearing on December 10 on Budget

Public comment on the proposed 2013 budget will be allowed. No vote will be taken.

The Gwinnett Board of Commissioners will hold a special called meeting Monday, December 10, at 7 p.m. to allow public comment on the proposed 2013 budget. The planned $1.3 billion budget, a reduction from the 2012 spending plan, was rolled out in November. However, no formal vote on the 2013 budget is planned before January. Monday's meeting will be at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive. The 2013 budget is the first full county budget document since the Service Delivery Strategy (SDS0 settlement was reached in February 2012 between the county and cities in the Gwinnett Municipal Association. That settlement, among other things, mandated certain payments from the county to the cities and called for service …

• Photos (1)

Brooks to be Sworn in as County Commissioner

Jace Brooks will fill the rest of the Shirley Lasseter's term on the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners.

All seats in the Gwinnett County Commission will be filled by their next meeting on Tuesday.  On Friday, the county announced Jace Brooks will be sworn in as District 1 Commissioner on Monday. He will complete the term of Shirley Lasseter who resigned in May after pleading guilty to accepting bribes. Brooks was the only candidate who qualified for the special election in November to finish Lasseter's term. He is also running unopposed for the full four-year term in the general election. “We are pleased to have the board at full strength again and wholeheartedly welcome Commissioner Brooks to the commission," said Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash in a release. "He will play an important role as we deal with the issues facing Gwinnett …

• Photos (1)

Lasseter to Be Sentenced Today

Former Gwinnett County Commissioner Shirley Lasseter and two others are scheduled to be sentenced for accepting bribes.

Sentencing for former Gwinnett County Commissioner and one-time Duluth Mayor Shirley Lasseter is scheduled for today at 2pm in federal district court in Atlanta. On May 31, Lasseter pleaded guilty to accepting $36,500 in bribes in 2011 from an undercover FBI agent posing as a real estate developer to support a proposed development on Boggs Road. She faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. Lasseter resigned from the Board of Commissioners the same day. Her son John Fanning and Carl “Skip” Cain pleaded guilty to participating in the bribery scheme as well as to drug trafficking. Both also face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing for all three was originally …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Sunday Sales to Start One Month Early

Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners were able to push the date up to May.

During Tuesday's Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners meeting, members established the fees for businesses selling wine and beer on Sundays. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the fees were set at $500 a year for businesses selling both wine and beer and $250 for those who only sell one of the alcohols. Since the BOC was able to reach an agreement on the fees, businesses will be able to begin selling alcohol on Sundays beginning May 6th instead of June. Gwinnett County residents voted for Sunday sales in March. The City of Lawrenceville passed Sunday sales within city limits last November. What do you think about being able to buy alcohol in Gwinnett County on Sundays? Click the comment icon below to tell us.

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Vanzetta Evans

12:05 pm on Wednesday, April 18, 2012

What do you think? I like that I'll be able to buy anywhere in Gwinnett and that if I'm headed somewhere out of Lawrenceville on a Sunday, I don't have to make sure I go back into town and I can just pick it up at another package store or grocery store along the way.   more ›

Lasseter's Departure Means Change for Gwinnett BOC

The District 1 commissioner will not seek re-election, citing health reasons.

Other candidates could emerge, but as of now, the Gwinnett Board Of Commissioners will have a new member with a strong financial background next year. This development arose Monday when District 1 Commissioner Shirley Lasseter announced that she won't seek re-election, citiing health reasons. Lasseter's district includes Duluth and Suwanee. "I had been considering it for a while because of my health and I had been in the hospital twice in the past year," Lasseter told Patch on Monday evening. Lasseter is a former mayor of who is in her first term as BOC commissioner. Announced candidates to replace Lasseter are Jace Brooks, a Suwanee City Council member since 2002, and accountant Laurie McClain, whose business is in unincorporated Suwanee…

• Photos (3)

Seen on the Scene

Gwinnett Mayors, Commissioners Sign Historic SDS Settlement

Mayors from the county met at the Historic Courthouse to sign the documents.

Mayors from the 16 Gwinnett County cities, including newly formed Peachtree Corners, signed an agreement to bring an end to the Service Delivery Strategy (SDS) lawsuit. The mayors and County Commissioners in attendance posed for a photo at the Historic Courthouse after each city and County Board of Commissioners Chairman Charlotte Nash signed the agreement. Lawrenceville Patch will have more on this story.

• Photos (3)