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SNELLVILLE – The city council approved a proposal Monday that would raise the salaries of the mayor and councilmembers for the first time in 35 years.

The increases will go into effect after the November 2019 election, meaning current councilmember salaries will not increase unless they are re-elected, as mandated by Georgia law. Some current councilmembers do not face re-election until 2021 and would not receive a pay increase unless they are voted back into office.

Under the new ordinance, the mayor's salary would increase from $6,000 to $12,000 and councilmember salaries would rise from $4,000 to $8,000.

Councilwoman Cristy Lenski proposed the change, noting the population of the city since the last increase in 1983 has doubled and the duties and the responsibilities of mayor and council have increased. Lenski also said an increase in salary will attract better-qualified candidates in future elections.

The new salaries were calculated after city officials reviewed the salaries of the mayors and councilmembers of other similarly sized municipalities.

SNELLVILLE – Three of the winners in Partnership Gwinnett's first-ever Amazing Student Entrepreneur competition got their start in Snellville's Shark Tank student entrepreneur competition.

Mya Swaby, a rising senior at Brookwood High School, won Snellville's competition in May and then took the top prize for the county's first-ever event Aug. 2.

Swaby runs ContraBand Clothing, an apparel company that designs and produces augmented reality clothing.

"The City of Snellville works rigorously to support student entrepreneurs because they are fundamental to the future of our small business community," said Eric Van Otteren, Director of Economic Development for Snellville. "The success of these young entrepreneurs shows the true value in nurturing emerging talent."

AkeyJah Charles, a rising senior at South Gwinnett High School, who owns a photography business called The Key Images, placed second. Komlan "CJ" Amousou, a recent graduate of Grayson Technical High School, who will attend Gwinnett Tech in the fall and major in Photography, finished third for his photography business.

The first, second and third place winners were awarded cash prizes for supporting their business ventures. The first-place winner received $500, second place $300 and third place $200.

"Thanks to partnerships between Gwinnett County Public Schools and our local communities, our students are equipped with the soft skills and training necessary to start and operate a successful business," said Cindy Quinlan, Entrepreneurship Pathway Lead for Gwinnett County Public Schools and a Brookwood High School entrepreneurship teacher. "We are committed to meeting the demand of our student entrepreneurs who desire a classroom experience that encourages experiential learning."

Launched this year, the Amazing Student Entrepreneur competition is the student edition of the established Amazing Entrepreneur Contest. The student contest encourages young entrepreneurs in high school and college to introduce a practical business model that is created, owned and managed by students only. The competition requires contestants to submit a business plan summary and demonstration video for judging, with finalists earning the opportunity to present before a panel of business leaders.

SNELLVILLE – It's called a driving simulator and it allows a police officer to be put into everyday driving and emergency response situations without actually being out on the road and in their vehicle. Not only that, the simulator is mobile and it comes, literally, right to the doorstep of the Snellville Police Department to provide the training.

On Wednesday, several officers took part in decision-based public safety driver training presented by Local Government Risk Management Services, a service organization of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia and the Georgia Municipal Association.

The simulator is the key component of the training program. Drivers first attend classroom training that covers applicable Georgia requirements on regular, as well as emergency response driving, vehicle handling characteristics, physical driving conditions and driving techniques to use during emergency response situations.

After the classroom training, comes the actual hands-on training in the simulator. One student observes while the other sits in a realistic driver's seat where they are put through a series of driving situations from a list of more than 80 available scenarios. When a driver makes an incorrect decision, the instructor can back the program up and replay it showing the driver the situation, discussing driving techniques that would apply, and then can have the driver repeat the same scenario using the techniques learned.

The primary LGRMS Instructor is Mike Earl who started with LGRMS on June 1, 2011. He has been in law enforcement for 27 years and has over 2,300 hours of law enforcement training. His career has included working as a patrol officer, investigator, detective, special crime attack team, DUI Task Force officer, and training sergeant. He is a Georgia POST general instructor and a firearms, defensive tactics and TASER instructor.

ACCG and GMA's risk management workers' compensation and property/liability self insurance funds are financially supporting this program because of the unique and high risk driving situations that local government employees, specifically public safety personnel may be involved with on a daily basis.

The City of Snellville (City) is soliciting competitive sealed bids from qualified contractors to provide all labor and materials required for the Repair of Storm Water Drainage Systems and related infrastructure, including pipe of various sizes and materials, catch basins, headwalls, curb and road restoration, erosion controls, seeding/sodding, rip rap, etc, with related tie-ins and appurtenances at twelve (12) locations, which consist of seven (7) Replacements and five (5) CIPP Linings, within the city limits of Snellville, Georgia 30078.

Please visit the City's Bid Page for more information.

SNELLVILLE – The Snellville Police Department is offering a Citizens Police Academy class in order to strengthen the bond of friendship and cooperation between citizens and the police department.

The class runs 12 weeks beginning Aug. 30 and ending Nov. 15.

The class will help citizens gain a better understanding of the risks and responsibilities of officers. Some of the classes included in this training will be domestic violence, traffic stops, building searches, a tour of the jail and narcotics identification. The program also includes a ride along program with a Snellville police officer.

This program, founded in the spring of 2003, is open to all Snellville and Gwinnett residents 18 years and older. There is no charge for attending and participants do not have to live in the city limits to participate. A background investigation will be conducted on all applicants prior to acceptance in the Academy.

An application can be found here - http://www.snellville.org/Data/Sites/1/media/police/scpa-application---revised.pdf - and at the Snellville Police Department, 2315 Wisteria Drive.

For more information contact Lt. Robert Pendleton at 770-985-3573 or rpendleton@snellville.gov.

SNELLVILLE – The city council is currently weighing a proposal that would raise the salaries of the mayor and councilmembers for the first time in since 1983.

Under the proposed ordinance, the mayor's salary would increase from $6,000 to $12,000 and councilmembers' salaries would rise from $4,000 to $8,000. The mayor pro-tempore would receive $10,000.

The increase in salary, proposed by Councilwoman Cristy Lenski, will not go into effect until after the next election in November of 2019, as mandated by state law – meaning current councilmembers salaries will not increase unless they are re-elected.

"The population of Snellville in 1983 was approximately 9,000," Lenski said. "Since then, our population has more than doubled, and the duties and the responsibilities of mayor and council have increased as well. Our compensation should reflect this."

Lenski said an increase in salary will attract better-qualified candidates in future elections.

"In the most recent 2017 election cycle, Posts 3, 4 and 5 were uncontested and the election was cancelled. So yes, (Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Bender, Councilwoman Gretchen Schulz) and myself were very strong candidates and so we were unopposed. However, I'm concerned this might become the norm. Competition breeds new ideas, and we need to think seriously about how we can attract young, bright and inspired servant leaders to Snellville. And salaries are an important factor."

The new salaries were determined after city officials conducted a review of the salaries of the mayors and councilmembers of other similarly sized municipalities.

Residents can voice their opinion on the proposal by contacting councilmembers or city staff or by speaking at the Aug. 13 council meeting when the measure will be up for approval after its second reading.

"During the next few weeks, please contact us and let us know your questions, thoughts and concerns," Lenski said. "And I hope you will join me in supporting this measure."

City officials are meeting with the parties involved in the design of the city's Towne Center project July 19.
Talks will continue through the summer on the features and function of the property that will be located in a block between Oak Road, Clower Street, North Road and Wisteria Drive.
This is the kick off of talks designed to specially address the components of the project.
Plans are to create a library, city market, parking deck and shopping and residential buildings.
Construction could begin as soon as June of next year.
Stay tuned for more developments and information on this project as plans become finalized.

SNELLVILLE – The Council revised the city's Solid Waste Ordinance, allowing residents to place their waste at the curb for a longer length of time and calling for trash cans to be placed within the side or rear yard on non-pickup days.

Trash and recycling cans can now be placed curbside for 24 hours prior to the regularly scheduled pickup time. Previously waste was allowed at the curb for only 12 hours but city officials said due to resident work and vacation schedules, this would be more convenient. Garbage carts and recycling bins cannot be left in front of the residence more than 24 hours following the regularly scheduled pickup time.

Also, garbage carts and recycling bins must be stored or placed only in the side or rear yard, inside enclosed structures or where they are otherwise not visible from the street.

Residents can now also use any container that is open-top or a roll-off dumpster and three-cubic yard "Bagster" or similar type bag, but not front load dumpsters.

SNELLVILLE – It will be a family affair Thursday as an aunt and niece duo will display their art in the Community Room in City Hall.

The works of Kim Meenach and her niece, Megan James, can be viewed free from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday through the summer.

Meenach said she discovered the artistry and beauty of photography in 2008, on a winter trip to Alaska. Prior to that, she didn't have a professional camera and would just grab a disposable point and shoot from the drugstore. However, her father told her, "You can't go to Alaska and take pictures with a disposable camera!" and so he gave Meenach her first digital camera for Christmas, right before the Alaska trip

Meenach lives in Lawrenceville with her rescue greyhound named Promise.

Megan James said it was her imagination that led her to begin to create art.

"Being able to bring my ideas to life with a pen or pencil brought me such joy that over time I began to experiment with different mediums and tried to see how far I could push my creation off the page and onto something bigger and better," she said. "I've dabbled with acrylics, oils, sculpting figures from clay, stuffed animals and handmade purses. But, I always came back to pencil and paper."

James said one of her passions is illustrating children's books.

SNELLVILLE – Police officer Brett Chism was honored by City Council Monday for winning a national award after making the largest seizure of MDMA in the country last year.

The National Criminal Enforcement Association recognized Chism for making the largest seizure of MDMA – commonly known as ecstasy - in the country in 2017. The organization provides training and networking opportunities for its 7,000-plus international members in aggressive criminal patrol and "looking beyond the ticket."

On Monday, he was presented the award by Chief Roy Whitehead at the Council meeting.

"Brett is dedicated, energetic and driven as he serves and protects our city," Whitehead said. "He deserves to be honored for this effort as well as for what he does every day. His actions have brought tremendous recognition to our city and our department. I couldn't be more proud of him."

At about 2 a.m. on Sept. 29, 2017, Chism stopped a car for an equipment violation on East Main Street. The driver and passenger exhibited several indicators leading Chism to believe they were involved in criminal activity. He asked the driver for consent to search the car, but he refused. A K-9, on the scene, conducted a free air sniff of the car giving a positive indication for the odor of narcotics.

Chism searched the car finding 45,000 MDMA pills, marijuana and two handguns (one stolen). He arrested both occupants and between them charged them with trafficking ecstasy, possession of marijuana, possession of drug-related objects, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and theft by receiving for the stolen handgun.

Chism attended the National Criminal Enforcement Association National Conference in Denver for additional training and to receive this well-deserved recognition. The NCEA was founded in memory of Capt. Robbie Bishop of the Villa Rica Police Department who was killed in the line of duty.