City of Cumming
E-News
March 2022
Lou Sobh Automotive Group Sponsors City Center Amphitheater
We're thrilled that Lou Sobh Automotive Group will be sponsoring the Cumming City amphitheater!

Through an agreement with the City, Lou Sobh Honda and Kia will provide a substantial amount of funding each year for three years to support various community events at the amphitheater, such as live concerts and music festivals, movie nights, and live-streamed sporting events and tailgating parties. In return, Lou Sobh Automotive Group will receive exclusive naming rights to the amphitheater, sponsorship and promotional rights, and be allowed to display vehicles during amphitheater events. Lou Sobh will provide signage for the venue, including a metal sign at the top of the bandshell featuring the Lou Sobh name flanked by Honda and Kia logos.

Mike Sobh, pictured here with Mayor Troy Brumbalow and who co-owns the two dealerships, both located on Buford Road, with his father, Lou Sobh, said the amphitheater sponsorship is part of a proud tradition for the Sobh family. “At Lou Sobh, we have always believed in giving back to the local communities that support us,” he said. “We especially like to support events and facilities that bring communities together, and we believe the Cumming City Center amphitheater will be the new epicenter of entertainment and fun in our community. We are truly honored to have the Lou Sobh name grace this wonderful venue.”

Click here to read more about the Lou Sobh Amphitheater.
City Center To Host Splash Art Fest In Fall
The Cumming City Center has partnered with Splash Festivals to present a new event, the Cumming Art Fest, this September. The agreement with Splash - which manages art festivals in several cities throughout the metro Atlanta area, including Alpharetta, Johns Creek, and Norcross - was finalized in February. The Cumming Art Fest is scheduled for Sept. 17 & 18, and will feature some 100 artists' displays, as well as a "Creative Kidz Zone" and other family-friendly activities. Click here to learn more about Splash Festivals and the Cumming Art Fest!
Complete a Survey to Help Guide the City's Future
The City of Cumming has begun the process of updating the Comprehensive Plan, which helps to guide development of the City of Cumming. As part of the Comprehensive Plan Update process, which occurs every five years, the City of Cumming is asking residents (both inside and outside the Cumming City Limits) to provide feedback via an online survey. The survey is estimated to take about 20 minutes to complete and will help the Comprehensive Plan Update Steering Committee to draft an updated plan for the City of Cumming's future. Click here to access the survey, and here to learn more about the Comprehensive Plan Update process.
Long-Time City Administrator Honored by Mayor & City Council
Mayor Troy Brumbalow and City Council honored the City's long-time former City Administrator, Gerald Blackburn, during their regular meeting on Feb. 15th. Mr. Blackburn passed away on Jan. 30th, after having been retired from the City since Dec. 31, 2017. He was 81. Mr. Blackburn was appointed as the City of Cumming's first Director of Recreation & Parks in 1972 and remained in this position until being named the City's first City Administrator in 1986. He remained in this role through his retirement. During the Feb. 15th meeting, Mr. Blackburn's family received a proclamation honoring him and his 45 years of service to the City of Cumming. Additionally, the Cumming Home water tower at Ga. 400 Exit 14 was lit purple, the color of Alzheimer's Awareness, on Feb. 15th in honor of Mr. Blackburn. His wife of
63 years, Sue, and their three children: Shane, Kiwp, and Robin, accepted the proclamation while many other members of the Blackburn family were in attendance at the meeting.

During the February Work Session and Regular Meeting, City Council also:

  • Approved a pay increase for the three members of the City's Planning Board. Previously, all members received $75 per month. With the increase, the Chairman now receives $150 per month, and the other two members receive $100 per month.

  • Approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Forsyth County Board of Education to install a sanitary sewer line in conjunction with the Board’s plan to build a Procurement Services and Distribution Center on Keith Bridge Road. The Board and the City agree to share the cost of the sewer line, with the Board of Education paying 75 percent and the City paying 25 percent.

  • Approved rate increases for Cumming Utilities water and sewer rates. The suggested rate increases come following a study of operational costs and rates of surrounding areas. Rate increases of 3.5 percent per year for water and 5 percent per year for sewer over the next 5 years are built into the resolution approved by Council in order to keep up with increasing operational costs and inflation rates.

  • Approved, in a 4-0 vote with Councilwoman Linda Ledbetter abstaining, the low proposal from Southern Design Buildings LLC for construction of two park pavilions at the Cumming City Center. The pavilions are similar in size and design to one located at Gate C of the Cumming Fairgrounds.

  • Approved, in a 4-0 vote with Councilwoman Linda Ledbetter abstaining, the purchase of an artificial grass product manufactured by Challenger Turf in Dalton for installation at the Lou Sobh Amphitheater at the Cumming City Center. The City will purchase the product directly from the manufacturer, which will save the retail markup.

  • Tabled a vote on adopting portions of the International Maintenance Code for use by the Planning & Zoning and Cumming Utilities departments until a future meeting.
Cumming Utilities Rate Increases to Begin April 1
Following a production cost analysis and rate study of neighboring water and sewer providers in north Georgia, City Council voted during their February regular meeting to approve suggested rate increases for Cumming Utilities customers of 3.5 percent for water and 5 percent for sewer per year for the next five years. The rate increases for water and sewer will begin on April 1, 2022.

The increases are necessary due to many factors including: Increased costs for water and sewer production due to inflation; high costs of replacing aging infrastructure and adding new infrastructure due to population growth; Army Corps of Engineers charging more for raw water from Lake Lanier; and the City's pro-rata share of Lake Lanier's maintenance costs. Additionally, Cumming water and sewer rates will still remain some of the lowest in the north Georgia area even with the increases.

The water rate increase is the first since 2010, and the sewer rate increase in the first since 2018. We appreciate our customers' patience and understanding as these adjustments are made! More information about the rate increases can be found here.
Arbor Day 2022: Thank You
The City of Cumming would like to thank everyone who attended the Annual Community Arbor Day Celebration on Friday, Feb. 18th. We had a great turnout of more than 100 people, who came to Creative Enterprises-Forsyth for the 3rd annual event. Guests enjoyed s'mores, hot beverages by Because Coffee, taking "tree hugger" photos in a special photo area, picking up free tree saplings and other goodies, and a program featuring a demonstration of planting a new cherry tree on the Creative Enterprises' grounds. Creative Enterprises also offered tours of their facility, which works with special needs adults, and many of their clients and family members took part in the event. We are also very appreciative of our other event partners: Keep Forsyth County Beautiful; UGA Extension Service-Forsyth County; the Georgia Forestry Commission; and our tree sponsor, Lanier Forsyth Rotary Club. Click here to see many more photos from the event!
City Hall is Great FoCo Cleanup Location
Gather a team and come out to City Hall on Saturday, March 26th for the Great FoCo Cleanup! City Hall (100 Main Street) is one of three Great FoCo Cleanup supply pickup stations (others are the Coal Mountain Recycling Center and The Goddard School on Old Atlanta Road). Teams must pre-register by contacting Keep Forsyth County Beautiful. They will then pick up their supplies and t-shirts at one of the three locations beginning at 9 a.m. on March 26th. Next, they will fan out throughout the county to pick up litter along roadways, and finally bring their bags of litter to any of the County's Recycling Centers by 1 p.m. Pre-registration for this event is required. Questions? Contact Keep Forsyth County Beautiful at 770-205-4573 or KFCB@forsythco.com.
Be a 'Quacker Backer' for Forsyth County Schools
Mayor Troy encourages everyone to adopt a duck for the Forsyth County Schools' Education Foundation 2022 Duck Dive for Education. For just $10 anyone can be a "quacker backer" and enter for a chance to win the $10,000 drawing (or 'diving' in this case), which will be held on April 1st at the Cumming Aquatic Center! Funds raised through the Duck Dive go directly to grants for educators and students in Forsyth County Schools. In 2021, the Duck Dive raised more than $115,000, which went directly back into schools. Only 20,000 ducks are available so get yours today (deadline to adopt ducks is March 25th)!
MEETINGS
Youth Council Meeting - March 1 at 5 p.m.

City Council Work Session - March 1 at 6 p.m.

Planning & Zoning Board Meeting - March 15 at 5 p.m.

Regular City Council Meeting - March 15 at 6 p.m.

All meetings are open to the public and held in the third-floor Council Chambers at City Hall, 100 Main Street, unless otherwise noted. For all meetings after 5 p.m., please enter through the rear parking lot entrance.
Stay Connected