At a press conference held at Jones Bridge Park on Wednesday U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn Bourdeaux (D-GA), who represents the 7th District, announced a plan to provide funding to expand suburban greenways and other environmentally friendly transportation projects. The project would benefit Peachtree Corners as well as the many surrounding, growing suburban communities in the Atlanta metro area.
To be funded by Congress, the project called FutureFit the Suburbs, is a vision to address the transportation needs of the metro area’s expanding inner and outer suburbs. Funds would focus on building and expanding greenways in Gwinnett and surrounding suburbs.
The plan includes four initiatives:
· The National & Regional Greenways Act would create a grant program to fund active transportation projects, including the construction and connection of national and regional greenways.
· Building Up the Suburbs (BUS) Act would provide more flexible funding for transportation projects specifically serving suburbs, while lowering emissions and congestion. Those would include Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Express Lane Transit (ELT).
· Mall Upcycling: Use incentives through low interest and guaranteed loan programs for private investment and redevelopment of large, blighted areas where malls are abandoned.
· Infrastructure Bank: Create a national infrastructure bank to leverage the power of public-private partnerships to fund and support environmentally sound infrastructure projects which in turn are good for the environment and the economy.
Representing Peachtree Corners at the press conference; Mayor Mike Mason, Mayor Pro Tem Weare Gratwick and CouncilmembersPhil Sadd and Eric Christ. Other dignitaries attending included Gwinnett County Commissioner Ben Ku, Joe Allen, executive director of the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District, Doug Hooker, executive director of the Atlanta Regional Commission and Norcross Mayor Craig Newton.
“Expanding and connecting our greenways improves our entire area,” said Mayor Mike Mason. “Multi-use trails and regional greenways benefit our city in multiple ways, including raising our home values. Our suburbs are growing quickly so providing infrastructure funding to these areas is an investment for the entire metro Atlanta area. Peachtree Corners, and all of our surrounding neighbors, would gain from additional environmentally friendly transportation projects.”
The City of Peachtree Corners’ finance department has been awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its 2024 financial year-end comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR).
The GFOA’s Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.
It is the city’s seventh year of receiving the award and represents a significant accomplishment by the city’s finance department and its leadership.
According to a GFOA release, “The report has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive ‘spirit of full disclosure’ to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the report.”
“We are pleased to again receive this honor,” said City Manager Brian Johnson. “Our finance department, and Finance Director Cory Salley, are to be commended for this achievement, as it is the highest form of recognition GOFA presents.”
A comprehensive annual report
The city’s finance department produces the CAFR each year and works with independent auditors to verify the city’s financial situation and standing.
“This prestigious award affirms Peachtree Corners’ dedication to exceeding basic requirements by producing comprehensive annual financial reports that reflect a strong commitment to transparency and full disclosure,” said Assistant City Manager Brandon Branham.
About the GFOA
The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), founded in 1906, represents public finance officials throughout the United States and Canada.
The association’s more than 20,000 members are federal, state/provincial and local finance officials deeply involved in planning, financing and implementing thousands of governmental operations in each of their jurisdictions. GFOA’s mission is to advance excellence in public finance.
The City of Peachtree Corners will hold an important public meeting on May 8 to discuss the future of law enforcement in our community — including the potential creation of a city police department.
This meeting will feature a presentation by City Manager Brian Johnson on the findings of a comprehensive Police Analysis & Staffing Study that evaluated the feasibility and projected costs of forming a city police department based on current workload, crime levels and community demographics.
The presentation will also include budgetary considerations, comparative models and the advantages and disadvantages of a county vs. city police department.
Following the presentation, there will be time for a Q&A and open dialogue.
In-person attendance is limited to 300. First come, first served. A livestream option will be available for those who can’t attend in person.
After the meeting, a follow-up survey will be available on the city’s project page.
Meeting details
The Future of Law Enforcement in Peachtree Corners
Date/Time: May 8, 2025 at 7 p.m.
Location: Christ the King Lutheran Church (5775 Peachtree Parkway)
On Tuesday, November 4, we will have municipal elections here in the City of Peachtree Corners for three council seats. [And] for the first time since 2013, there will be a state-wide election on the same day as our city general election.
The state-wide election is to fill two seats on the Public Service Commission, which regulates Georgia Power and other utilities.
For the PSC election, the Gwinnett County Board of Elections will have all 156 county precincts open on November 4. Historically, Peachtree Corners has had a single voting location for city elections — at City Hall.
If we do the same this year, citizens who want to vote in both the PSC and the City Council elections will need to go to two places to cast their ballots.
A few years ago, I convinced the County Board of Elections to remove their prohibition against the Gwinnett Elections Department managing city elections. (Every county surrounding Gwinnett already offered this service to their cities.)
This means there is the potential of adding our city council elections to the county ballot.
I would like to hear your thoughts on the pros and cons of combining our city council races with the county’s for this year’s elections.