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SNELLVILLE – The Snellville Police Department has been awarded a Highway Safety High Visibility Enforcement Grant totaling $7,366 from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety in Atlanta.

The grant, which is funded through September 2019, is designed to help the SPD implement a traffic-calming program that allows the department to better respond to speed-related traffic complaints and to aid in the reduction of speed-related traffic safety incidents such as motor vehicle crashes involving injuries or fatalities throughout the city.

"We are grateful to receive this grant from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety," Chief Roy Whitehead said. "The equipment we are purchasing through the grant will advance our mission to reduce injury and fatality crashes in our community."

With recent growth, Snellville has experienced a 51 percent increase in total traffic accidents and a 68 percent increase in injury accidents over the last five years.

"Speed related violations such as speeding, too fast for conditions or following too close were contributing factors in over half of our traffic accidents in 2017," Lt. David Matson said.

With the grant funding, the police department will be purchasing two portable traffic calming speed signs from Radarsign, LLC in Marietta. The signs mount directly to the pole under an existing speed limit sign and it utilizes a built-in radar to display an approaching vehicle's speed. The signs are also capable of recording traffic data which will help the department determine the validity of speed-related traffic complaints and identify peak times when these types of violations are occurring in a specific area.

"Excessive speed not only increases the likelihood you will be involved in a crash, but also increases the likelihood that someone involved in the crash will be injured or killed," Matson said. "The traffic-calming speed signs will provide drivers with a visual notice of their speed along with a warning to slow down if they are in excess of the posted speed limit."

He also said that uniform officers may be used to conduct targeted speed enforcement in areas where the collected traffic data shows that there is a significant speed-related problem. The police department hopes to have the new traffic-calming signs available and ready to use by mid-November.

For more information on the SPD's High Visibility Enforcement Grant, contact Matson at 770-985-3567 or dmatson@snellville.gov. You can also learn more about the life-saving highway safety campaigns sponsored by the GOHS by visiting its website at www.gahighwaysafety.org.

SNELLVILLE – The city's annual paving contract has been approved at local company E.R. Snell's low bid of $698,448.85.

The council approved the contract for street repairs and repaving Monday.

The streets which will be paved before June 1, given good weather, are:

• Summit Place Drive
• Summit Place Way
• Summit Edge Circle
• Summit Edge Court
• Summit Tree Terrace
• Summit Springs Circle
• Summit Springs Court
• Summit Glen Drive
• Summit Glen Circle
• Summit Pond Road

City Manager Butch Sanders praised E.R. Snell for being the lowest bidder and a strong supporter of the city.

"We all owe a word of thanks to (E.R. Snell)," he said.

SNELLVILLE – The Snellville Police Department is hosting a National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Oct. 27.

The event, which allows residents to drop off unwanted or expired prescription drugs, will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the police department, 2315 Wisteria Drive. Residents can pull up to the police department and hand off the drugs from their vehicle.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency sponsors the event twice a year. The SPD partners with PCOM School of Pharmacy at Georgia Campus - Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine during the event. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day allows police to foster relationships with future pharmacists that will work in the community and educate citizens in the proper disposal of prescription medication.

"The Snellville Police Department will continue to host and support this event as we recognize the importance of providing a safe method to discard prescription medication in an attempt to prevent and deter the abuse of medication that may otherwise be converted to use by others whom the medication is not prescribed," said SPD Lt. A.L. Sullivan. "We ask for the community's continued support in this endeavor."

SNELLVILLE – City officials are looking for feedback on the 2040 Comprehensive Plan before it goes to council for approval.

An open house for residents will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8 in the City Hall Community Room, 2342 Oak Road.

Highlights from the draft documents will be posted around the room for community members to review at their own pace. Staffers from Jacobs, the firm tapped to update the plan, and city staff will be on hand to give an overview of the project and answer questions.

After the open house, the drafts will be revised based on input from the community

Draft plans will be sent for regional review before the end of the year, to be adopted by the state by February 2019

Information about the event and documents will be updated regularly at www.snellville2040.org.

SNELLVILLE – The city's own GarageWorx was named Small Business Resource Champion of the Year at the Gwinnett Chamber's 2018 Pinnacle Small Business Awards luncheon and ceremony Tuesday.

"Finalists of the Gwinnett Chamber Pinnacle Awards are organizations whose contributions go above and beyond the call of their own professional duties to ensure the small business community thrives," said Economic Development Manager Eric Van Otteren. "City leadership and the Downtown Development Authority of Snellville have long supported and encouraged opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses to thrive. This is recognition that GarageWorx is a vital asset to Snellville's business community and confirmation of a successful partnership."

GarageWorx, located on Clower Street, is a business incubator and education partner for suburban entrepreneurs and small business owners. Its mission is to improve the lives of people, families and communities through suburban entrepreneurship. The city has partnered with the innovative business since the fall of 2016, offering space to local small business start-ups at GarageWorx.

Josh Sweeney is the guiding force behind GarageWorx and enjoys finding new and innovative ways to help businesses build amazing company cultures.

The city hopes to grow its partnership with GarageWorx as it rolls out its new Towne Center library and market development next year.

Winton Machine Company was awarded both the 2018 Pinnacle Overall Gwinnett Small Business of the Year Award and the Small Business of the Year: 25+ Employees.

"We are honored to celebrate and recognize the region's top small businesses and individuals that contribute greatly to our local economy," said Dr. Dan Kaufman, president and CEO of Gwinnett Chamber. "These businesses, led by risk-takers and visionaries, are essential to creating jobs and sustaining economic growth."

The City of Snellville is soliciting competitive bids for the purchase of a John Deere Cross Over Utility Vehicle. Please visit the bid page for more information.

SNELLVILLE – The city is one of the top places to retire in the state, according to a new study.

The study, by SmartAsset, a financial technology company, ranked the cities with the most recreational and social opportunities for retirees. SmartAsset's index factors in the number of recreation centers and retirement centers available to seniors as well as the percentage of the city's population they represent.

Snellville finished sixth in the state in the rankings.

The study looked at state and local tax rates, considering two types of taxes - income and sales. The study calculated effective rates based on a typical retiree, earning $35,000 annually (from retirement savings, social security or part-time employment), and spending their disposable income on taxable goods. Next the study determined the number of doctors' offices, recreation centers and retirement centers per 1,000 residents in each area. Finally, it found the number of seniors in each area as a percentage of the total population.

Snellville has 7.9 doctor's offices, one recreation center and .5 retirement centers per 1,000 people. The percentage of the population deemed a "senior" is 17.1 of Snellville's population.

SNELLVILLE – Archer High School senior Kristin Horne was raised in a military family. So when it came time to complete her Gold Award – the highest achievement a Girl Scout can receive – she knew it had to draw attention to issues facing military veterans.

Horne created a "Garden of Hope" with benches and a rock circle with a plaque highlighting the serious issues veterans face today – post traumatic stress disorder, suicide and homelessness.

On Saturday, her Gold Award project will be dedicated at T.W. Briscoe Park at a 12 p.m. ceremony with city officials.

"I chose the veterans issues because my entire family has basically been in the military and the military in general means a lot to me," she said. "No one really thinks about (the issues facing veterans) until they read about it. I think more people should know about (the issues) because the more people can know about, the more they can help those that are struggling."

There is a QR code on the plaque, which when activated, will take visitors to a website with more information about the effort.

"Her project is to honor those who serve in our military with emphasis on acknowledging that 'Not all wounds are visible,' meaning that those who return, even without physical scars, very much have injuries from what they have experienced," said Parks and Recreation Director Lisa A. Platt, CPRP. "She wanted to create a space in which patrons - ex-military or not - could spend quiet time to relax. Projects like this one, not only help to bring awareness to the sacrifices of those who give of themselves to protect and help us, but it helps beautify Briscoe Park and will allow all our patrons a place to rest, reflect and just enjoy being in nature."

The public is encouraged to attend the ceremony.

SNELLVILLE – The Snellville Police Department was recognized as the top agency in the state for its efforts to educate the public about the dangers of distracted driving and enforcement of distracted driving laws.

The accolades were handed down at the 19th Annual Governor's Challenge Awards last week.

"This award recognizes the efforts of the men and women of the Snellville Police Department who take the role of protecting our city seriously," Chief Roy Whitehead said. "It was a team effort that makes me proud to work with these officers every day."

SPD has been recognized for its efforts to reduce injury and fatality traffic accidents 12 of the 19 years that the Governor's Challenge has taken place.

More than 50 agencies from across Georgia entered the 2018 Governor's Challenge, which covers the 2017 calendar year.

Statewide, approximately 20 percent of all traffic accidents in 2017 involved a distracted driver. In Snellville, only 5 percent of all traffic accidents in 2017 involved a distracted driver, a testament to the work Snellville officers do to curb this dangerous driving behavior.

Officers can often be found speaking about the dangers of distracted driving to local school and civic groups, the Citizen's Police Academy and at city events such as Public Safety Night. The department also utilizes all of its social media platforms to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving.

The Governor's Office of Highway Safety hosts the annual Governor's Challenge Awards banquet to recognize statewide law enforcement agencies in seven different categories based on department size, as well as in several other specialty categories, according to the GOHS website. The awards program was designed to highlight outstanding achievements in highway safety enforcement and education. They recognize agencies for the approach and effectiveness of their overall highway safety programs. Agencies are evaluated not just for enforcement initiatives, but for innovative problem-solving in their communities, using public information activities and creating departmental policies that support their traffic enforcement campaign efforts.

SNELLVILLE – The city is updating its Towne Center Livable Centers Initiative Plan and is seeking input from community members about their priorities for the Towne Center.

The updated LCI plan will guide the City's efforts to create a livable, walkable heart of the community by establishing priorities and creating a work program for the next five years. The survey is live now through Sept. 30 and is available at www.snellville2040.org/participate.

This effort is a continuation of previous plans for the Towne Center area, which began in 2003 as part of the Atlanta Regional Commission's LCI Grant Program. The program is designed to incentivize cities to re-envision their communities as vibrant, walkable places that offer increased mobility options, encourage healthy lifestyles and provide improved access to jobs and services. Participating communities are required to create a plan to achieve these goals and update it every five years to remain in good standing and eligible to receive program funding for transportation improvements.

Snellville's Towne Center LCI Plan was last updated in 2013 and must be updated this year to maintain its LCI status. The update will incorporate the latest community feedback, ongoing initiatives, recent issues and market realities, and new project ideas into an actionable five-year work program. More information about the LCI program is available at https://atlantaregional.org/community-development/livable-centers-initiative.

The city has already begun soliciting input about the next steps for the LCI plan with a booth at the Snellville Farmers Market on Aug. 4 and with input from the Community Task Force, a group comprised of community members and elected officials that meets regularly to guide the development of the LCI plan and the City's 2040 Comprehensive Plan. The next opportunity for the community to engage in the LCI and Comprehensive Plan updates will be an open house on Nov. 7 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Snellville City Hall Community Room.

For more information visit the project website at www.snellville2040.org.