June, 2008

A Note from Mike

Hello, Everyone:

Summer is in full swing, and I hope you are enjoying this slightly more relaxed time of year. I've got progress to report in the areas of parks, transportation and public safety for District 3 residents.

You probably have heard that we held the official groundbreaking for the Gwinnett Braves stadium this week. By this time next year, we'll be hearing the sounds of "Play Ball" right here in the county. On June 14th, we'll hold the grand opening of Duncan Creek Park in Dacula that features football fields, a teen area and more. I'll be holding my "Meetings with Mike" at the park in conjunction with the festivities. This week, Commissioners approved the expansion of Bay Creek Park in Grayson. The addition of a skate complex, tennis courts, a picnic pavilion and more will be paid for through SPLOST money, and will open in summer, 2009.

Commissioner Beaudreau congratulates the winners of the Snellville Commerce Club FBLA/DECA scholarhips. On the left is David Pruitt of Brookwood High School, and on the right is Bessy Baby of South Gwinnett High School.

Mike wishes best of luck to all District 3 Graduates in 2008.

The SPLOST is also funding the widening of Braselton Highway from Hamilton Mill Road to Pine Road. We broke ground on this project last month, and it should make it easier for commuters in the Hamilton Mill area to get around. After more than two years of construction, the Pleasant Hill Road underpass beneath Buford Highway opens this week, making it easier to get from District 3 to Duluth. And, long-suffering commuters on Grayson Highway are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, with the widening of SR 20 to four lanes expected to be complete by early fall.

District 3 residents in the Loganville/Summit Chase area will have improved fire protection and EMS services beginning later this month, when the new fire station on Rosebud Road will open.

As you may know, a developer candidate has decided to oppose me in the primary election, which is now just six weeks away. Despite the progress we've made in the last four years, I think we can continue to improve the quality of life in District 3 and the county, especially in the areas of transportation, parks and recreation, public safety and managing growth.

Below, you'll find some important information on voter registration, absentee ballots and advance voting. Your vote counts, and I would appreciate your support. You can also help by talking to your neighbors about my ideas, and putting a sign in your yard. Use the volunteer form on my website to let me know. You can also make a financial contribution using PayPal.

I am always interested in the opinions of District 3 residents. If you have any concerns you think I should know about, come by one of my "Meetings with Mike," (see the schedule below), contact me by email at mike.beaudreau@gwinnettcounty.com, or call my office at 770-822-7003. I hope to hear from you soon.

Mike

Meet Mike At Upcoming Events

You'll have several opportunities over the next few weeks to meet Mike and learn more about his ideas for a second term as District 3 commissioner.

Mike is hosting a community gathering at Summit Chase Country Club in Snellville on June 26th from 7-9 PM. You'll have a chance to visit with Mike and meet with other District 3 residents. Other events include:

• The Gwinnett GOP Breakfast at 8 AM on June 7th at the Golden Corral Restaurant on Riverside Parkway in Lawrenceville.
• The Greater Gwinnett Republican Women meeting on June 9th at 7PM in conference room B of the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center.
• The Duncan Creek Park grand opening and Meetings with Mike at 10 AM June 14.
• The Loganville Independence Day Parade at 10AM July 4th in downtown Loganville
• Gwinnett Glows on July 4th on the square in Lawrenceville. Look for Mike's Booth.
• Greater Grayson Chamber Network Lunch at Summit Chase on July 9th at 11:30.
• Meetings with Mike at Ronald Reagan Park on July 12th.

Make Sure You’re Ready to Vote This Year

As you undoubtedly know from the constant drumbeat of the TV news shows, 2008 is an election year.  While most of the attention so far has focused on the Presidential election, this summer and fall a number of local offices are up for election as well, including state House members and Senators, county commissioners and other local officials. You'll also have an opportunity to vote on renewing Gwinnetts SPLOST and participate in other referendum questions.

If you voted in the last Presidential election or any time since, your registration remains effective for this year’s elections.  However, if you have moved into a different county since the last time you voted or if this will be your first time voting, you will need to register. Remember, if you (or your child) will be 18 on the day of the election, you can register, even though you are still 17. The deadline for registration is June 16 for the Primary and Primary runoff and October 6 for the November election.  You can register to vote at many libraries, the Gwinnett elections office on Highway 20 in Lawrenceville or online at http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/.

If you can’t make it to your precinct on Election Day, which is July 15th for the Primary and November 4th for the General election, you can still vote.  You can request an absentee ballot by calling the Gwinnett Board of Elections at 678-226-7210.  Once you have completed and mailed in your request form, an absentee ballot will be mailed to you. You can request an absentee ballot anytime through the Friday preceding the election.

You can also take advantage of advance voting in order to cast your ballot early.  Advance voting will be available from July 7-11 at the Gwinnett Elections Office on Grayson Highway, as well as at the Centerville Community Center in Snellville, the Dacula Activity Building in Dacula, the Singleton Road Activity Building in Norcross and the George Pierce Community Center in Suwanee. 

There are a few other things to keep in mind.  You can vote a Republican or Democratic ballot, which will apply for both the primary and any runoff election.  If you have moved within your county since the last time you voted, you will need to file a change of address with your elections office.  And, be aware that your polling place may have changed since the last time you voted. Check your most recent voter registration card to be sure, or contact your county’s elections office.

Despite all the attention paid to the Presidential candidates, the people you elect for state and local offices will have a much greater effect on your quality of life.  Be sure to exercise your right to vote this summer and fall. 

Gwinnett’s Quality of Life Unit Helps Neighborhoods Stay Clean

In early May, Commissioner Beaudreau sponsored an information meeting for Homeowners Association members that featured a presentation from officers in the county's Quality of Life Unit. HOA members learned about the difference between neighborhood covenants and the county's property maintenance ordinances, and how the unit has been instrumental in enforcing the county’s property maintenance ordinances and keeping our neighborhoods clean, desirable places to live. The information presented at the meeting applies to any resident in unincorporated Gwinnett. Here's a summary of what was said:

Many of the incidents investigated by the QOL unit are reported by county residents.  If you see things like too many people living in one house, junk cars or trash piling up or other violations of property ordinances, you can contact the unit at 770-417-3434, or report the suspected violation online on the county’s website. In 2007, over 13,000 complaints were logged.

If you want to report a possible violation, you should be able to provide the exact address of where the problem is, along with a description of the possible violation and if appropriate the time of day when the violation can be observed. You can submit pictures of the problem; however an officer must witness the problem in person before a citation can be issued.  You’ll also have to supply your name and address.  Anonymous complaints cannot be taken.

There are a few things the unit can’t help with.  If you see graffiti, you should contact Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful at 770-822-5187 to report the problem.  The unit cannot enforce neighborhood covenants determined by homeowners associations.  And, of course, if you see something that requires immediate attention, you should call 911.

Once the department receives the complaint, a code officer is assigned to the case, and will typically respond within 3-5 days to do an initial inspection.  In many cases, this will result in a Notice of Violation letter being sent to the property owner, especially for minor or first-time issues.  Frequently, this is enough to get the problem solved. In other cases, an officer will meet with the property owner to try to resolve the issue.  If the issue can’t be resolved, the department will issue a citation which requires an appearance in Recorder’s court, and could lead to fines or jail time.

In 2007, the Quality of Life unit issued 11,898 Notices of Violation and wrote 5,657 citations for violation of county ordinances. In addition, the unit was able to deliver over 200 warrants for other crimes identified during inspections.  They also removed over 18,000 illegal signs from county right of way.

You can learn more about the quality of life unit, the types of violations they investigate or report a violation by visiting www.gwinnettqualityoflife.com.

Meetings with Mike Summer Schedule

"Meetings with Mike" will continue this summer, providiing an opportunity for District 3 residents to have a private discussion with their commissioner in his office once a month on a Saturday morning. If you have a have a question about or an issue with the county or its government, you are welcome to share it with Mike.

Mike recently participated in the Read Across America program at Bethesda Elementary School in Lawrenceville. The program is designed to promote childhood literacy.

In June, Mike gets "out of the office," and will hold Meetings with Mike in conjunction with the grand opening festivities at the county's new Duncan Creek Park. Duncan Creek Park is located at 3700 Braselton Highway in Dacula, at the intersection of Pine Road. Everyone is welcome to come out and celebrate the opening of District 3's newest park at 10 AM, and talk with their commissioner immediately following the ceremony.

In July, Mike plans to visit with residents at Ronald Reagan Park on Five Forks Trickum Road at 10 AM on the 12th. Mike will return to his office at the Justice and Administration Center in Lawrenceville on August 9th.

Meetings don't require appointments, and are first-come first served.

Note: Dates for Meetings with Mike may change. Check www.MikeBeaudreau.com for late revisions.

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