Lanier 400 Parkway Moving Along, Other Roads to be Repaved
Crews with Reid & Reid Contractors work on Lanier 400 Parkway on July 30.

A new highway that will connect Bald Ridge Marina Road to Pilgrim Mill Road is well on its way to completion. The new Lanier 400 Parkway is expected to be finished by late fall. During the July 21 meeting of Cumming City Council, lighting for the new road was approved. The project includes installation of 30 new, 155-watt LED street lights mounted on dark bronze poles. Over the past few months, crews with Reid & Reid Contractors have been busy laying the groundwork for the final roadway. Baldwin Paving Company will soon move in to complete the paving work.

 

Additionally during the July 21 meeting, Council approved bids for three repaving projects not related to Lanier 400 Parkway: West Maple Street from SR 20 to Kelly Mill Road; Samaritan Drive from SR 20 to Professional Drive; and Samaritan Drive from Professional Drive to Hillcrest Way. Jasper Grading and Pipeline, the lowest bidder for all three paving projects, was the successful bidder.

 

Click here for more photos of the Lanier 400 Parkway construction.  

 

 
Cumming Aquatic Center Draws Thousands for State Meet
More than 1,100 swimmers from around the state filled the Cumming Aquatic Center on July 23-25 for the Georgia Recreation and Park Association Class A Swim Championships. In addition to the competitors, about 3,000 supporters came out to cheer them on. This was the second year in a row for the Cumming Aquatic Center to be chosen to host the event. The 2014 event netted more than $15,000 for the center and produced thousands of dollars in economic impact for the Cumming and Forsyth County community. Click here to see photos and read more about the 2015 event.
Did you know?   Together, the three pools at the Cumming Aquatic Center hold approximately 1,057,000 gallons of water, and in 2014, the Center provided more than 21,600 swim lessons to children and adults in our community.
Retiring Deputy Chief Honored, First Female Named to Role

Mayor Ford Gravitt and Cuming City Police Chief Casey Tatum recognized retiring Deputy Chief Clyde Cook for his 10 years of service to the City during the July 21 City Council meeting.

"We appreciate your 10 years of loyal and dedicated service to the people of Cumming," said Gravitt. Added Tatum: "You have served with dignity, class and pride."

Gravitt and Tatum also recognized Cook's replacement - Cumming's first female Deputy Chief, Aletha Barrett, who has served the department since April of 2014 and will begin her new role on Aug. 1.

Mayor Ford Gravitt presents Cook with a plaque of appreciation with Tatum, left, and Barrett.
Barrett brings a wealth of varied law enforcement experience to the position. Before starting work with the Cumming PD, she spent five years with the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office as a Crime Scene Specialist, Latent Print Examiner, Shoe Ware Examiner and Marijuana Examiner. Additionally, she worked with the Dawson County Sheriff's Office for seven years in various roles, including a Sergeant with E911 and a Training Officer. Barrett also continues to serve as Chief Deputy Coroner for the Forsyth County Coroner's Office and as an instructor at the Georgia Police Training Center.
When not on duty, Barrett stays busy with her family - husband,
Chris, and their five children. The couple also serve together as pastors at The Church at War Hill.
Welcome New City Councilman

Charles F. "Chuck" Welch, Jr., who was elected to the Post 1 City Council seat in June, was sworn into office at the July 21 Cumming City Council meeting by Municipal Court Judge Richard Neville. Welch, who was joined by his wife and son for the swearing-in ceremony, is a native of the City who has served the community in various roles, including the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club of Forsyth County, and the local United Way. Welch's father, the late Charles Welch Sr., served as a Cumming City Councilman from 1972 to 1986, and later as a Forsyth County Commissioner. Click here to view photos from Welch's swearing-in ceremony.

 

 
Electronic Billing Service Makes Paying Utility Bills a Breeze
Don't like dealing with old-fashioned paper bills, envelopes and stamps? The Cumming Utilities Department has a solution! The department offers a free electronic billing service (E-Bill), as well as online bill pay, so customers never have to fuss over paper when it comes to receiving and paying their monthly water and sewer bills from the City of Cumming. By downloading a simple form and returning it to the Utilities office with a copy of their driver's license, customers can start receiving their Cumming Utilities bills via email.
 
Learn more here
Submit Water-Focused Photos for a Chance to Win Up to $500
The Cumming Utilities Department is encouraging Cumming and Forsyth County residents to submit photos in the 2015 Water Reflections Photo Contest, presented by the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District. Winning photos will be featured in the planning district's 2016 calendar, with first place receiving $500 and the 11 runners-up each receiving $100.

Click here for full contest information
Tim Day, right, receives a certificate of appreciation from John Coffman of the Safety Committee.
Water Division Honored for CPR Participation
The Water Distribution and Collection Division of the Utilities Department was honored during a recent meeting of the city's Safety Committee, which provides safety education and resources to city employees. Tim Day, the division's leader, received a certificate on behalf of his employees for having the highest level of participation during a recent series of CPR and First Aid classes. About 75 percent of the division's employees took part in the training.

Coming Soon
To the Cumming Fairgrounds
Mt. Pisgah Auto Crusade Car Show - 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Aug. 21 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 22
Cumming Farmers' Market - 7 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays through September 26

To the Cumming Playhouse
Mark Pitt as Elvis - 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Aug. 16
Riders in the Sky - 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Aug. 22
Branson on the Road - 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Aug. 29

Meetings
Planning & Zoning Board - 5 p.m. Aug. 18
City Council - 6 p.m. Aug. 18
Both meetings are open to the public and held in the third-floor Council Chambers at City Hall, 100 Main Street. For all meetings after 5 p.m., please enter through the rear parking lot entrance.

 

 

Wanted: City of Cumming Businesses

Looking for a great way to advertise? If you are a City of Cumming business license holder in good standing, your business could be featured on www.cityofcumming.net.  Each month, a different local establishment is chosen as the City's Featured Business, with its logo and a full article prominently displayed on the homepage. Interested? Click here and scroll down to fill out the form at the bottom of the page.


We hope everyone enjoys the last few days of summer before students return to school!
 
Sincerely,   
City of Cumming
Division of Public Information