Lawrenceville Mayor Issues Statement Following Accident Involving City Employee

Mayor Judy Jordan Johnson identifies the victim of Monday's accident as Otis Johnson. A tree limb fell on the city-owned vehicle he was driving, leading to another wreck.

Lawrenceville Mayor Judy Jordan Johnson issued a statement Monday afternoon after a city employee was involved in a car crash.  “The City of Lawrenceville is saddened by the news of an accident involving a city employee. We are praying for those affected by the incident," said the Mayor in an exclusive email to Patch. "Our hearts are with Otis  Johnson and his family during this time of extreme uncertainty.” Mr. Johnson was driving down Stone Mountain Street during Monday's heavy rains when a tree limb broke off and crashed onto the cab of the city-owned vehicle he was driving.  White Ford Ranger then continued through the intersection at Constitution Blvd and crashed into a Chevy S-10. The Jaws of Life were used to pull Mr. Johnson from …

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100 Year Old Margaret Tanner Honored by City

Mayor Johnson proclaimed the day "Margaret Tanner Day."

On January 8th, Lawrenceville resident Margaret Tanner celebrated her 100th birthday. During Monday evening's City Council meeting, Mayor Judy Jordan Johnson and the City Council celebrated Tanner's birthday by declaring the day "Margaret Tanner Day."  Johnson acknowledged the long-time resident's contributions to the community and recalled visiting Tanner's home when Johnson was a young woman. Last month, Tanner was interviewed by 11Alive News about how she stays so young. Tanner said her water aerobics class at the YMCA is her fountain of youth.

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Johnson Speaks Out on Redistricting, Budget Approved

The state's proposed plan would mean Lawrenceville would have six different representatives.

Deviating from the City Council’s Work Session agenda Wednesday evening, Mayor Judy Jordan Johnson said the proposed Georgia General Assembly legislative redistricting will cause the city to have six different representatives. In efforts to prevent that from occurring Mayor Johnson has spoken with Rep. Valerie Clark three to four times. She has also sent a personal letter, acknowledging her disapproval of proposed redistricting, to House Speaker David Ralston, Rep. Clark and Hunter Bland of the Appropriations Committee. In the letter, Johnson stated although she realized that redistricting has to take place due to the 2010 Census, “but to divide one city into six different sections with six different representatives, just makes (for) a …

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Lawrenceville Residents to Vote on Sunday Alcohol Sales

Lawrenceville residents will decide if stores may sell alcohol on Sundays in a General Election. City’s Hotel/Motel Ordinance possibly violates the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment.

City Council August 1, 2011 Business Meeting OLD BUSINESS: I. Public Hearings Item 1: 2nd Reading of Sunday Sales of Alcohol by the Package--- City Attorney Lee Thompson, Jr. presented the ordinance that would allow voters to decide if alcohol can be sold, by the package, on Sundays. The hours of sales in the ordinance are from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. This ordinance, if approved becomes a referendum which will then be placed on the ballot of the General Election to be held on November 8, 2011, as a question. (Early voting will take place from Monday, October 17 to Friday, November 4, 2011.) Councilman Tony Powell restated his opposition to the city’s moving forward with this vote. He said no one in the industry has come forth to ask for …

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City Begins Budget Process and Reluctantly Awards Bid for Collins Hill/Highway 316 Project

The city’s proposed budget for FY 2011-2012 is presented. Mayor Judy Jordan Johnson cast the deciding vote to award a bid with a subcontractor that has questionable qualifications, but a long history of doing business with the city.

WORK SESSION---Item 3: The City’s FY 2011-2012 Budget:City Clerk Bob Baroni officially presented the city’s proposed budget during a continued City Council Work Session on Thursday evening. Baroni said this was a simple budget based on last year’s expenditures. No city employees’ raises were included in the budget. But a 6.5 percent wholesale water rate increase, paid to the county, which goes into effect in December is included. This wholesale rate increase is mandated by an ordinance and the county gave prior notice to the city that it would take place. A budget memo given to the council before the meeting contained an outline of how the budget was calculated. The memo included an explanation of how the millage rate (2.16 mills) was …

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Alcohol Sales on Sundays and at Outdoor Events Tackled by City Council

The Millage Rate was set, Sunday alcohol package sale advances but not unanimously, and the city looks to change the Alcohol Ordinance for outdoor events.

Set Millage Rate:  Working against the clock to get the city’s millage rate over to the county by a 5:00 p.m. deadline, the council voted 4-0 to set the rate at 2.16 mills.   Sunday Sales of Alcohol by the Package: City Attorney Lee Thompson, Jr. said according to the city’s code to allow the selling of alcohol in liquor and grocery stores on Sundays, the council must first adopt an ordinance in order to call for a referendum to then ratify the ordinance. Thompson provided the council with a drafted ordinance. Thompson said this was a simple change in the ordinance that asks that Sunday sales be allowed in the same section that allows for the hours on any other day of the week that alcohol is sold. The timeline for getting the vote on the …

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City Council July 11, 2011 Business Meeting: Agenda Summary

The City Council sets millage rate with stipulation, Western Heights Gas Project must be rebid, Ezzard Road Drainage Project is approved for bidding process and third quarter Financial Report is given.

Announcements: Recognition-Lawrenceville Youth Baseball--- Mayor Judy Jordan Johnson recognized this youth team of 11 and 12 year-old and their coaches, as they prepare to compete in the State Tournament. Traveling to Troup County to participate in this tournament, the team will first play on Friday, July 15, at 6:00 p.m., on the Mike Daniel Recreation Center’s field. The new Water Treatment Plant ribbon cutting will be held on Friday, July 15, at 11:00 a.m.; the plant is located off Old Norcross on Winer Industrial Way. An Open House will be held from 2:00-4:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 17, at Moore Middle School located on Highway 129. Financial Report---City Clerk Bob Baroni gave the city’s Third Quarter, FY (Fiscal Year) 2010-2011 Financial…

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It's Our Night at the G-Braves!

Enjoy special deals and guests tonight at the Gwinnett Braves.

When the Gwinnett Braves take on the Syracuse Chiefs tonight, the guests of honor will be the residents of Lawrenceville. It's Lawrenceville Night at Coolray Field. Residents can either purchase tickets online and enter promo code "LAWRENCEVILLE," or walk right up to the ticket window and show either an ID or utility bill showing they are a Lawrenceville resident. Either way, fans from the Crepe Myrtle City can save up to $4 off ticket prices. Before the game, the G-Braves will show a video highlighting the City of Lawrenceville. During the game, fans can enjoy $3 food and beverage specials. Mayor Judy Jordan Johnson will reportedly be flying back in to town in time for the first pitch at 7:05pm. Paige Fleckenstein of the Gwinnett Braves …

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A Day in the Life

A Day in the Life of: Mayor Judy Jordan Johnson on June 14, 2011

Mayor Judy Jordan Johnson is the first female elected to preside over Gwinnett County’s largest city. She continues a family legacy seeped in public service.

Her alarm goes off at 4:45 a.m. In solitude, she does a morning bible study exercise. After dressing, she and a friend, set out on their daily three and a half mile walk. Timing for the walk varies because along the way they frequently stop to talk to others encountered. With walk completed, she returns to her home to get ready to go into the office. Driving herself, she arrives at her office in City Hall. And now her day officially begins. “I was here this morning at 6:25,” said Mayor Judy Jordan Johnson, “because that is a good time to catch up on correspondence. I write letters, emails and speeches. If the speech is about Lawrenceville, I can just talk off the cuff; if it is a specific introduction like the National Day of Prayer, more …

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City Council June 6, 2011 Business Meeting: Agenda Summary

Councilman Tony Powell blasted former Mayor Rex Millsaps' attempts to interfere with the hiring of a city manager. Council approved 2nd Read of Sign Ordinance, drastically reduced downtown parking space fees paid by business owners and more.

Before convening the City Council June Business Meeting, Mayor Judy Jordan Johnson did something she said she has wanted to do since taking office. She wanted to recognize and honor Lawrenceville veterans that served this country in World War II and in the Korean War. On Monday evening the mayor and city council members did just that. In recognizing the importance of this day in the country’s history, Mayor Johnson said, “On June 6, 1944 was the battle of D-Day. We so often do not express our gratitude to these men and women. It really came home to me when I was talking to some of these service men and women; and one of them stated that since being discharged only two people have said thank you. And I was the second one.”       Mayor …

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