Cumming Amenities Named "Best in Forsyth" by FCN Readers
Representatives of the City of Cumming accept the City's "Best of Forsyth" awards during the Jan. 25th gala.
Three City of Cumming amenities received honors in the Forsyth County News' 2017 "Best of Forsyth" contest. Readers of the local newspaper voted in a wide variety of categories for what they feel is the best of the best in Forsyth County.

Winners were announced during a red-carpet gala event on Jan. 25. City of Cumming Award winners were:
  • The Cumming Playhouse - Best Live Theatre
  • Cumming Country Fair & Festival - Best Community Event
  • Cumming Recreation Department Gymnastics - Best Gymnastics Program

Congratulations to the City of Cumming's Best of Forsyth winners!
Did you know? City of Cumming amenities have been honored in the Forsyth County News' Best of Forsyth contest every year since it began in 2015. Thank you to everyone who has supported City of Cumming facilities, events and programs over the years!
City Council Kicks Off New Year with Personnel Matters 
In its first meeting of 2017, the Cumming City Council passed resolutions to re-hire all existing employees and re-appoint all committees and boards. "This is our first meeting of the year, and we have a lot to look forward to," noted Mayor Ford Gravitt.

Council also approved changes to the City's employee retirement plan. The changes will not impact any existing employees, but will apply to all new employees hired after Jan. 1, 2017. Under the changes, employees will now have to work for the City for 25 years before they qualify for retirement healthcare benefits. Whereas current employees have to work just 10 years to qualify.
                                                                                                                            
Council also voted to create a trust fund in conjunction with Georgia Municipal Association to fund current and future retirement healthcare costs. This move, combined with increasing the required years of service, ensures the solvency of the program for the future. The agreement with GMA assists the City with the management of benefits at a lower cost than the City could provide the services in-house.
  
In other business during the January City Council meeting, Council:

  • Approved a request from Chris Grimes, Deputy Director of the Forsyth County Emergency Management Agency, to sign off on the Forsyth County and City of Cumming Emergency Response and Mitigation Plan, which covers the next five years. Renewal of the plan every five years is required by the Georgia and Federal Emergency Management Agencies in order for local governments to apply for funding in the event of a disaster.  
  • Set the qualifying period and fees for the Nov. 7, 2017, municipal election. Qualifying will occur between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Aug. 21-23, 2017 at City Hall. Qualifying fees are $360 for mayoral candidates and $180 for council candidates, and represent three percent of the annual salaries of these posts.   
  • Accepted a payment of $10,000 from Atlanta Gas Light as part of a natural gas pipe installation project. Atlanta Gas Light has so far paid the City a total of more than $340,000 for property needed to complete the project.  
  • Approved the purchase of a forklift from Case Equipment Company, the lowest bidder, for Cumming Utilities' wastewater treatment facility.  
 
Click here for meeting videos.
 
Public Hearings on Draft Comprehensive Plan Set for Feb. 21
The City of Cumming is in the process of updating its comprehensive plan. This plan is a progress guide for the next 20  years in the areas of population, housing, land use, natural and cultural resource protection, economic development, community facilities, transportation, and other planning topics.

Two public hearings will be held as part of the Planning & Zoning Board and City Council meetings on Feb. 21, 2017 at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Cumming City Hall in the third floor Council Chambers, 100 Main Street. The purpose of these hearings is to present the draft comprehensive plan to the community, followed by an opportunity for public comment on the plan.

Click here to view the draft comprehensive plan.
Mayor H. Ford Gravitt speaks to members of the Leadership Forsyth Class of 2017.
Leadership Forsyth Visits City Hall
Cumming Mayor H. Ford Gravitt spent about an hour meeting with members of the Leadership Forsyth Class of 2017 on Jan. 10 at Cumming City Hall. Gravitt spoke to the class about City of Cumming history, as well as several of the City's recent capital improvement projects including Cumming City Park's new 27,000-square-foot Recreation Building. Each year, a new group of up-and-coming leaders is selected for participation in Leadership Forsyth. Each class goes through a year-long program, learning all about the local community from government and civic leaders, educators, business professionals and others. To learn more about the Leadership Forsyth program,  click here.
 
Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell McMurry speaks during the January GMRC meeting at Cumming City Park.
City Hosts Georgia Mountains Regional Commission's January Meeting
The City of Cumming hosted the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission's first monthly meeting of 2017 at the new Cumming City Park Recreation Building. Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell McMurry was the event's keynote speaker. The Georgia Mountains Regional Commission (GMRC) is comprised of 13 Northeast Georgia counties and 38 municipalities within those counties. The GMRC provides a range of support services for its member counties and cities, such as technical resources, economic development assistance, and career training programs. Click here to learn more about the GMRC.
Coming Soon
 
To the Cumming Playhouse
  • "Real Time Radio Show 2017" featuring The Skillet Lickers - 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Feb. 11
  • "Back in the Saddle: All-Star Western Music" - 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Feb. 18
  • "Live in Central Park Revisited: Simon & Garfunkel Tribute Band" - 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.  Feb. 25
  • "A St. Patrick's Day Celebration" featuring Chloe Agnew (former member of Celtic Woman) and Dermot Kiernan - 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. March 4  
 

 

Meetings
  • Planning & Zoning Board - 5 p.m. Feb. 21
  • City Council - 6 p.m. Feb. 21

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. Click here for previous meeting videos. 

The Cumming Playhouse will present several great musical performances throughout February and March. Be sure to check them out at www.playhousecumming.com!

 

Sincerely,   
City of Cumming
Division of Public Information