City of Cumming
E-News
August 2020
Unique Putting Venue Coming to City Center
Golfers, get your putters ready! Mayor Troy Brumbalow recently announced that a unique miniature golf experience will be coming to the Cumming City Center when the facility opens in fall of 2021.

Putt It Forward will be located on approximately two acres of the Center's green space. The course will feature 18 holes, many of which will be modeled after famous holes from well-known courses throughout the country such as Pebble Beach, TPC Scottsdale, Oakmont Country Club, and of course Augusta National Golf Club. The more sophisticated design will be challenging for avid golfers while also providing plenty of fun for kids and amateurs.

Mayor Brumbalow recently toured some courses in Arizona (see photos) constructed by the same group which will build the course at the City Center, and was very pleased with the quality. He noted that the fairways and greens undulate like regular golf courses. "It's truly like real golf," he said. "I just think it's a great way for us to utilize some of the park space at the City Center; it's something that any age group can enjoy."

The Cumming City Center is currently under construction on approximately 75 acres between Canton Hwy. (Hwy. 20 West) and Sawnee Drive, behind Forsyth Central High School. It is slated to open in fall of 2021, with features including an amphitheater adjacent to a small lake, two water fountains, approximately 117,000 square feet of retail space, a new Cumming Police and Municipal Court building, ample green space including several “pocket parks,” and an extensive trail and boardwalk system that will meander above the Kelly Mill Branch stream, its tributaries and wetlands.
Don't Forget to Buy Your Bricks
Have you purchased your bricks yet? Be sure to check out the City Center Buy-A-Brick Program for your opportunity to be a lasting part of the Cumming City Center's history!

For only $50.00, you can purchase a personalized engraved brick with up to three lines of text (with 18 characters per line). Individuals, families, businesses, churches, civic clubs, schools and specific school organizations or clubs are all invited to take part in the City Center Buy-A-Brick Program. "We really hope to have a great representation of our entire community involved with the brick program," said Mayor Troy Brumbalow.

Bricks will be placed on walkways around the Plaza Fountain and the Park Fountain, two locations of prominence on the City Center grounds. There are less than 2,800 engraved bricks available so community members are encouraged to act quickly to purchase theirs. Bricks can be easily purchased with a credit card by clicking here, or a hard copy order form can be obtained anytime between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Friday at Cumming City Hall (100 Main Street) and returned with check or money order made payable to the City of Cumming, GA. All orders and payments must be received by Nov. 22, 2020.

For more information, click here or contact Jennifer Archer, City Center Property Manager, at jarcher@cityofcumming.net.
August Fairgrounds' Events Cancelled
The Taste at the Cumming Fairgrounds, which had been postponed from its original date in April to Aug. 1, has been cancelled all together for 2020 due to ongoing concerns surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Taste is a yearly event, typically held just prior to Easter, featuring dozens of local restaurants and other food vendors serving samples to the public, as well as multiple Easter egg hunts, live music, and other family-friendly activities.

The Yaarab Shrine Circus, which had been relocated to the Cumming Fairgrounds and postponed from its original date in May to Aug. 6-9 has also been cancelled. The Shriners' event had been slated to bring in various circus performances "under the big top" at the Fairgrounds' arena.

Be sure to like and follow the Cumming Fairgrounds Facebook page for the most up-to-date information on events.
Aquatic Center Outdoor Pool Days Extended, Events Added for August
Due to Forsyth County Schools pushing the opening of the 2020-21 school year to Aug. 13, the Cumming Aquatic Center has extended the week days in which the outdoor leisure pool will be open. The outdoor facility will remain open through Aug. 12 as follows: On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday for two sessions - 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.; On Wednesday for one session - 2:30-6 p.m.

Additionally, the outdoor pool will offer special home school days from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 13, 18, 28 and Sept. 2. Click here for the full schedule.

A Parent's Night Out event has been added to the schedule on Aug. 21 from 6-10 p.m. Drop the kids off to enjoy four hours of pool time complete with games and dinner. Cost is $18/child and is open to ages 5 to 13. Space is limited so register today!
Council Selects Vertical Earth for City Center Construction
During the work session of July 7, City Council selected Vertical Earth to conduct the site work at the Cumming City Center. The City received three proposals for the site work, with Vertical Earth presenting the lowest bid at just under $15.8 million. Based on recommendations from the project's engineer and construction manager, Council voted to accept the proposal from Vertical Earth.

Also during the July Work Session and Regular Meeting, City Council:

  • Approved a proposal to refurbish the intersection of Pine Lake Drive and Canton Highway. The Hickory Ridge homeowners' association conveyed this property to the City as it is across from the future main entrance of the City Center. Improvements will include a new stone monument sign with a small retaining wall, minor grading, lighting, and landscaping.

  • Adopted the 2019 audit report as presented by the City's independent auditing firm, LeRoy, Cole & Stephens. Auditors noted that all City departments met or came in under their budgets in 2019, and Mayor Brumbalow noted that overall the City came in some $1.7 million under budget.

  • Approved an amendment to the City's Right of Way Ordinance, which will require contractors working in rights of way to properly mark all vehicles, provide proper identification for all employees, and provide notice to nearby residents of the work taking place in rights of way.

  • Approved the low bid from Mullins Utility & Contracting, LLC for replacement of water lines on Rebel Road.

  • Approved a request to advertise for proposals for the Lanier 400 water booster system and elevated storage tank. This system is necessary due to higher elevations along the Lanier 400 ridge, and will serve future development in this area and improve water pressures. Council also approved connection fees of $6,250 per residential unit for this area. This rate is in line with other elevated water systems in the City's service area.


Relay for Life Organizers Seek Help with Fall Events
Organizers of last year's Scare Fair Haunted Attraction are at it again. They will present House of Four Scythes this October at the Cumming Fairgrounds as a fundraiser for Forsyth County Relay for Life, benefiting the American Cancer Society.

The haunted attraction is planned to run nightly during the Cumming Country Fair & Festival (Oct. 8-18), as well as Oct. 23-24 and 30-31. Volunteers are needed for every aspect of the haunt, including scare actors, makeup artists, set and prop designers and constructors, security, and more. Anyone interested in learning more should check out the group's Facebook page or email cummingscarefair@gmail.com. Vendors are also needed for the event's haunted midway, which will be open during the weekends of Oct. 23-24 and 30-31. Potential vendors should email the above-mentioned address for more information.

Relay for Life organizers are also planning a breast cancer awareness event during the IPRA World Championship Rodeo at the Fairgrounds' arena over Labor Day Weekend. Saturday, Sept. 5 has been designated as "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" night during the rodeo. Organizers are currently seeking business sponsors for this event as well as promotional merchandise and in-kind donations for event raffle baskets. Pre-event merchandise can also be purchased here (all proceeds go to the American Cancer Society in support of breast cancer patients and research). For more information, email Rena Pendley, American Cancer Society Senior Community Development Manager, at rena.pendley@cancer.org.
SAA Virtual Art Show: Call for Submissions
Calling all artists: Get your work ready! The Cumming Arts Center is excited to announce its first virtual art show, “Autumn in the City." 

Presented by the Sawnee Association of the Arts, Autumn in the City will be open to SAA members and non-members alike. Applications are available on the SAA website along with all rules and information about submitting work.

The time frame for submitting entries is Sept. 1 through midnight Sept. 30. The Autumn in the City virtual show will be a juried event for two- and three-dimensional artwork. The show will go live on October 20.
MEETINGS

City Council Work Session - August 4 at 6 p.m.

Planning & Zoning Board Meeting - August 18 at 5 p.m.

Regular City Council Meeting - August 18 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.

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