Latest News

SNELLVILLE – Snellville residents will pick a new councilman and vote on a Sunday alcohol sales question during a March 19 special election.

Tod Warner, a 56-year-old real estate investment advisor, and Chief Operating Officer Antonio Molina, 36, are vying for the Post 5 seat vacated by now-Mayor Barbara Bender. Bender left her post after she was named mayor earlier this month following the resignation of Tom Witts.

Residents will also be asked whether they support the "Sunday Brunch Bill" which was signed into law on May 8, 2018 by the state, authorizing counties and cities to permit and regulate Sunday sales of distilled spirits or alcoholic beverages from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. If approved, Sunday alcohol sales starting at 11 a.m. at restaurants will be authorized as of April 9.

Polls will be opened at 7 a.m. and closed at 7 p.m. in the Community Room in City Hall, 2342 Oak Road. To vote in the special municipal election, residents must register to vote by 5 p.m., Feb. 19.

SNELLVILLE – The county's Microtransit program, which transports citizens for free around the city on small buses, has been extended past its initial six-month run until April 30.

The program has proven to be so popular county officials decided to extend the free service along its 17-square-mile route. Nearly 20,000 passengers have ridden a Microtransit bus since the program debuted.

When the program kicked off in September, the program drew an average of 91 daily passengers, during 68 average daily trips. This month, there was an average of 242 daily passengers riding 180 average daily trips. The highest one-day passenger count during the Gwinnett County Transportation program's run was 344. The highest one-day trip count was 225.

"We are currently running seven ADA accessible 12-passenger vans within the zone and have experienced steady growth in our completed trips," said Kurt Gagnard, Gwinnett County Transportation transit planner. "We have transported passengers to any number of locations and purposes including to grocery stores, school, work, doctor/dialysis visits, shopping, and back to their homes."

Once the free pilot ends the county will review all of the data to determine what best suits its needs for a future technology procurement and then eventually roll the program back out in the Snellville and Buford areas.

"Of course we will establish a fare for the service at that time though the amount has not yet been determined," Gagnard said. "We are currently looking at ways to optimize the service in order to reduce wait times and hope to have improvements rolled out as soon as they are developed."

Riders are be able to be picked up and dropped off door-to-door within a specific zone in Snellville. They can do this by the push of a button on the Microtransit app or by phone at 770-822-5010. Microtransit will run Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For more information visit gctransit.com.

SNELLVILLE – Barbara Bender has been appointed the city's mayor after the resignation of Tom Witts.

"As the new mayor," she said. "I would like to make a pledge to the city to represent the citizens of Snellville to the best of my abilities in a professional and respectful manner; to work with this council to keep them well-informed of anything going on with the city and with the staff; to listen with an open mind to all views; to engage in and require respectful debates on issues; and to help build consensus on issues important to the city.

"I think all of this is very important to us as we go ahead. I have no doubt that this council will help me fulfill that pledge. We really do have a great group of people up here."

Her appointment was confirmed following a 3-1-1 vote, with Councilman Roger Marmol dissenting and Bender abstaining.

Councilman Dave Emanuel was named mayor pro tem.

Because Bender had to resign her council seat to take the mayor's post, there will be a special election March 19 to fill that seat.

Qualifying for the Post 5 seat will take place Jan. 22-24 in City Hall.

Bender said the future of Snellville is bright.

"We are really, really close on having some agreements in place to actually get started on our Towne Center," she said. "We still have a couple of pieces arranged so hopefully soon, we are going to have some good notices to be putting out to all of you."

Bender, other councilmembers and members of the community who spoke at the meeting, praised Witts for his contributions to the city before he resigned.

"I would like to thank Mayor Tom Witts for his work and his efforts here in the city. He really did do a phenomenal job as councilmember and as mayor. Just a few of the things that he had either instigated or was one of the founding members … to getting things done at the city was the Snellville Veterans Memorial, the (Snellville) Farmers' Market, (Snellville Tourism and Trade), the Community Garden (at Snellville) and the (Snellville) Spirit magazine … Keep Tom and Carol Witts both in your thoughts and prayers as he's still undergoing chemo treatment for his colon cancer and his wife just had surgery for her bladder cancer on Friday."

Bender, a CPA and owner of Barbara A. Bender, CPA, LLC in Lawrenceville, served on the city council for six years from 2005 - 2011 and was elected again November 2013. She is the Secretary/Treasurer of the Snellville Community Foundation, Inc. which is the organization responsible for the Snellville Veterans Memorial. She is the president of the Snellville Entrepreneur Council, Inc. which is a start-up, non-profit which offers free one-on-one mentoring to start-up or established business owners and monthly peer advisory boards. She is a member of STAT and is a frequent volunteer for its many events.

SNELLVILLE – It's going to be another fun-filled year in Snellville.

Snellville Tourism and Trade has finalized its calendar for 2019. Back are all the favorites from years' past and a new event – the Hot Tamale Chili Cook-Off from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 9, the same day as the Veterans Day Celebration. The event is co-hosted by the Greater Eastside Chamber of Commerce.

All events take place on the Towne Green, located in from of City Hall, 2342 Oak Road.

"Snellville Tourism and Trade is proud to offer another season of family-friendly events on the Towne Green," said STAT Executive Director Kelly McAloon. "Each event will be bigger and better than ever. Whether it's Food Truck Friday or our popular Live on the Lawn Concert Series, Snellville is the place to be for entertainment in 2019. We hope to see you on the Green! Come experience Snellville and make memories here."

The 2019 event season kicks off at 4 p.m. May 3 with Food Truck Friday and ends Nov. 30 with the Christmas Tree Lighting and Lighted Christmas Parade Nov. 30.

Below is the list of events.

May 3 Food Truck Friday – (1) 4-8 p.m.

May 11 Beach Blast 12-5 p.m.

May 25 Memorial Celebration 5-6 p.m.

May 25 Live on the Lawn Concert 6-9 p.m.

June 1 Farmers' Market 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

June 7 Food Truck Friday (2) 4-8 p.m.

July 4 Star Spangled Snellville 4-10 p.m.

July 20 Live on the Lawn Concert (2) 6-9 p.m.

Aug. 2 Food Truck Friday (3) 4-8 p.m.

Aug.17 Live on the Lawn Concert (3) 6-9 p.m.

Sept. 6 Food Truck Friday (4) 4-8 p.m.

Sept. 14 Taste of Snellville 4-8 p.m.

Sept. 28 Live on the Lawn Concert (4) 6-9 p.m.

Oct. 4 Food Truck Friday (5) 4-8 p.m.

Oct. 19 Fall Festival 12-6 p.m.

Nov. 9 Hot Tamale Chili Cook-Off 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Nov. 9 Veterans Celebration 3-4 p.m.

Nov. 30 Christmas Tree Lighting 5-8 p.m.

Nov. 30 Lighted Christmas Parade 5:30-6:30 p.m.

For more information visit www.snellvilletourism.com

SNELLVILLE – Dianne Monroe has been named the Snellville Senior Center Volunteer of the Year for 2018.

When a request that the Senior Center is in need of more candy for its front desk, Moore is usually quick to donate some. She often picks up and drops off several of the Senior Center's members who no longer are able to drive back and forth to the facility. Monroe regularly helps with getting the bi-monthly newsletters prepared to be mailed out. In addition, she's a familiar face at the monthly Bingo program and is always available to help with whatever needs to be done. Monroe is also a member of the Keenager Club and continues to be a great benefit to the group.

A native Atlantan, who graduated from Grady High School, Monroe was married for 32 years to a U.S. Army private who was stationed at Fort Benning. They had two boys and one girl. That led her to become a Cub Scout leader, den mother and Brownie leader as well. Monroe is now a proud grandmother of six and a great-grandmother of four. Her favorite activity is bowling and she enjoys visiting friends.

"We could go on and on with all the ways Dianne has freely given of her time to volunteer at the center as well as for our community," said Parks and Recreation Director Lisa Platt. "We truly appreciate all her efforts in helping us offer successful programs for our citizens. So it is with great pleasure and sincere appreciation that on behalf of the City of Snellville and the entire Parks and Recreation Department, that we present this award to Ms. Dianne Monroe."

Gwinnett County Department of Transportation plans to close Pinehurst Road between Ridgedale Road and SR 84/Grayson Parkway beginning on Jan. 7 for a bridge replacement project at Big Haynes Creek.

Pinehurst Road is anticipated to re-open May 2019.

The draft 2040 Comprehensive Plan is now on the https://www.snellville.org/comprehensive-plan-maps website and is available for review and download.
On Dec. 10 the city council will conduct a public hearing and take comments on the draft plan and vote to transmit the draft plan to the State and Atlanta Regional Commission for review. On Jan. 22 the Planning Commission will consider the State and Atlanta Regional Commission approved plan, take public comment and forward recommendation to the city council for final consideration, public hearing and adoption on Feb. 11.

SNELLVILLE – The Gwinnett Chamber inaugural Moxie Awards is recognizing women who "are making it happen," and Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Bender is one of them.

Bender has been named a finalist in the "Greater Good" category.

"I am very humbled to be included with such an incredible group of Gwinnett women in leadership," Bender said.

The Moxie Awards recognize individuals and organizations alike. Individual awards honor those who are trailblazers in a male-dominated field, Gwinnett County champions, emerging leaders, professionals who are at the peak of their career and those who are generous with their time, talent or resources. Organizational awards highlight companies that support the advancement of women, as well as those that are women-led.

"We are fortunate to have such a standout network of women in Gwinnett," said Alicia Krogh, vice president of programs and events at the Gwinnett Chamber. "This new program will give the Gwinnett Chamber an opportunity to thank and pay tribute to those who do so much for our community."

The awards ceremony will conclude a two-part program on Nov. 27. It will begin with a panel, featuring Kim Guthrie, president of Cox Media Group, Wendy Johnson, president of Dale Carnegie of Georgia, and Jenny Pruitt, CEO and founder of Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby's International Realty.

The event will take place at the Infinite Energy Forum from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, visit GwinnettMoxieAwards.com.

Upcoming Senior Center Events

Upcoming Parks and Recreation Events