ITS Director Receives National Certification

John Matelski, Gwinnett County’s Chief Information Officer and Information Technology Services Director, graduated from the 2010 – 2011 National Certified Government Chief Information Officers Program earlier this year. The program is offered by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Government and GMIS International.

The Certified Government Chief Information Officers Program began in 2005 and is the first local government specific program for Chief Information Officers in the U.S. The 240-hour course is designed to cover a wide range of topics, including strategic technology planning, leadership, communication, security, legal issues and financial trends.

County Administrator Glenn Stephens said, “I am thankful that Gwinnett County has leaders who are willing to improve their skills and knowledge on their own time in order to add value to county government.”

Matelski is one of 13 public sector employees to receive the certification this year. “I am thankful for the opportunity to further my education and knowledge in this rapidly changing field and look forward to using this certification to better serve Gwinnett County,” said Matelski

Info on Community Council of Gwinnette County

GFP note: We thought we'd share a bit of information regarding a community group with our reader. Sounds interesting!

The first step in the right direction to improving community involvement.

The Community Council of Gwinnett County (CCGC) is a non-profit organization that serves as a network for other non-profit organizations in Gwinnett County. Our mission is to bring people together to improve the community through networking, resource collaboration, and education.

Organizations that join CCGC have access to individuals that can increase exposure.

Our desire to make Gwinnett County a better and stronger place to live and that needs to be shared and brought to realization through the people who live here.

CCGC is proud of and will do all that we can to continue to keep it a great place to live.

CCGC meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month from August - May at:

The Salvation Army
3455 Sugarloaf Parkway
Lawrenceville, GA 30044

Meet and Greet begins at 9:45 am and meetings begin at 10:00 am.

The CCGC meetings are filled with information your organization can use. Guest speakers are invited to share experiences and offer suggestions. The meetings are a great networking opportunity for all organizations.

For more information visit our website www.commcouncilgc.org

Libertarian Will Costa Enters Race for Gwinnett County Commission Chairman

Will Costa, a long time political activist and small business owner, filed today to be a candidate in the March 15 special election to replace Charles Bannister as Chairman of the Gwinnett County Commission. Having decades of political experience, Costa has earned the trust and respect not only of the Libertarian Party of GA, who endorsed his candidacy on Monday night, but also the thousands in Gwinnett who have stood by him and with him in the past, and come out ahead.

Costa is well-versed in the political process, with a good understanding of what it will take to lead Gwinnett through tough economic times.

“There are two things I know and know very well, economics and civic leadership," said Costa, the Libertarian candidate for Labor Commissioner in the November general election. "Gwinnett is projected to see a reduction in revenue and an increase in operating expenses both are a direct result of many elected officials inability or unwillingness to understand the most basic principals of public servitude.”

Costa is well known by many in Gwinnett, as well as much of Metro Atlanta, for his family-owned fresh pasta company that was started in 1983. Costa at a very young age has helped to manage and develop the company. Costa is a graduate of Georgia State University and lives with his family in the Lilburn area.

“I have seen my share of tough economic times, and I have always managed to turn things around. I have made getting the most out of limited resources more of an art form, including leading others on how to do the same," explained Costa, who qualified for the race this morning. "Many times county officials think that leadership is telling people what to do and or just doing it for them.”

Costa asserted that many times County Officials are unwilling to let the cities execute their responsibilities. Costa has identified overlapping services as major sources waste as well as areas where the public is underserved.

“My approach to tackling the budget woes will include working with the cities to streamline services to the people” said Costa. He also added that “the old style of efficient management of duplicate services is not enough we must review the County City relationship!”

Some of Costa’s top priorities, in addition to the budget, will be to reduce gang activity associated with illegal drugs, welfare abuse, illegal immigration and zoning abuse. Costa sees opportunities to improve Gwinnet’s economy by utilizing our logistics infrastructure to attract more commerce.

To learn more about Will Costa's campaign for Chairman of the Gwinnett County Commission, please visit WillCosta.org.
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Public Invited to SPLOST Review

Gwinnett residents are invited to attend a semi-annual SPLOST Citizen Review Committee meeting to be held Friday, Oct. 29 at 9 a.m. at the new Lawrenceville Police Headquarters located at 300 Jackson Street. Police Chief Randy Johnson will lead a tour of the SPLOST-funded facility following the meeting.

The Joint Citizen Review Committee was formed in 2005. Government officials discuss the progress of current SPLOST-funded projects and provide an independent auditor’s report showing how much money came in and how it was spent.

By state law, local governments must use revenue from the voter-approved sales tax to build specific capital improvements. The funds cannot pay for staff or operating expenses. Gwinnett has had a series of successful SPLOST programs since 1985.

The current SPLOST program runs from April 2009 to March 2014. Officials predict it will raise about $730 million for transportation, parks and recreation, city projects, public safety, courthouse facilities and libraries.

Review committee member Kathryn Willis said, “Our role is to be an oversight committee rather than a decision-making body. We hear about sales tax collections and the status of projects at these meetings and return to our communities to share that information. We recognize that more people are tuned into how their local governments are spending money these days, so we’re inviting anyone who’s interested to attend.”

Gwinnett Treasury Director Rhonda Etheridge said the county’s latest SPLOST-funded projects include the Sugarloaf Parkway extension, Alexander and Rhodes Jordan Parks, the Police Headquarters Annex/E-911 Center and the Hamilton Mill Library.
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Historic Bus Tour of Gwinnett Set for November 6th

What Gwinnett municipality was originally named Trip? What local city has an entire district listed on the National Register of Historic Places? Come and discover the answers to these questions and other historic tidbits about Gwinnett.

The Gwinnett History Museum, part of the new History & Culture Program of the Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center, is sponsoring its annual historic bus tour. You are invited to participate in this event on Saturday, November 6, 2010. The bus pulls out at 8:30 am from the Lawrenceville Female Seminary and will travel to the cities and towns of Norcross, Centerville, Grayson and more. This is an opportunity you do not want to miss!

Participants will enjoy the comfort of a motor coach bus and be led by knowledgeable tour guides as they ride through the county. Take a step back in time and learn about important events and notable people.

GEHC History & Culture Program Manager Catherine Long states, “This is a great adventure for history buffs who desire to learn more about Gwinnett County’s unique past.”

This full day program costs $15 a person. The tour will end at approximately 4:00 PM. Participants are asked to bring extra money for lunch at a local restaurant during a stop in Norcross. Seats are still available – call 770.822.5178 to make your reservation today.

For more information about this event and the History and Culture Program of the Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center, visit www.gwinnettEHC.org.

George Pierce Park Gets Greenway Link

Construction will begin soon on another piece of the Ivy Creek Greenway trail. Currently one section of the Greenway is already complete and extends from the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center to the Mall of Georgia.

Commissioners on Tuesday approved trail construction within George Pierce Park that will connect the city’s Suwanee Creek Greenway to the existing multi-use trails in the county park. There will be a trailhead near the adult softball parking lot with benches and signage, almost a mile of paved, multi-purpose trail with retaining walls, and 1,850 feet of boardwalk with scenic overlooks. New concrete steps near the lower parking area for the soccer fields will connect to an existing gravel trail.

District 1 Commissioner Shirley Lasseter said, “I’m excited that we are able to move forward with another phase of this long-planned recreation project with funding from the 2005 SPLOST program. This trail is an excellent example of coordination between the city and the County to connect greenways that our citizens will enjoy using.”

JD James, Inc., submitted the low bid for the trail project at $1.02 million.
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Gwinnett 2011 Budget Process is Underway

Six Gwinnett residents will serve on the Chairman’s budget review committee to help set priorities and seek ways to prioritize spending in county government operations and capital improvement plans. Board of Commissioners Chairman Charles Bannister announced the six members on Tuesday, saying he increased the number from two in previous years in response to rising public interest.

The committee members are: Sam Brownlee, retired Fulton County Administrator; attorney Dan King of King and Spalding; attorney Michael Levengood of McKenna Long and Aldridge; Laurie McClain, a CPA with McClain & Company, PC; Southern Company’s Herman Pennamon; and Wayne Sikes, Gwinnett Hospital System board member. Both Brownlee and Sikes are veterans of the budget review committee while the four newest members all served on the Engage Gwinnett citizens committee for the future of Gwinnett.

Each County department and agency will present its business plan including needed financial resources to Bannister, his review committee and designated County staff on Oct. 6, 7 and 8 at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center. The County will videotape those presentations and make them available to the public on its government access cable TV channel and on demand anytime through the website, www.gwinnettcounty.com.

“We intend to present a preliminary budget to the Board on Nov. 16, and I will publish my proposed 2011 budget by Dec.1,” Bannister said. The Board traditionally adopts the final budget in early January.

Chief Financial Officer Aaron Bovos noted that the 2011 process will continue to provide a great opportunity to align resources with prioritized services. Decreases in revenues for the County continue to be anticipated in fiscal year 2011. The County’s 2010 budget totals $1.56 billion after revisions that were due to a $31 million revenue shortfall.

“As we rebuild our 2011 through 2015 financial plan, we'll mindfully consider the Engage Gwinnett committee recommendations,” said Bannister. “We must maintain existing assets before we can expand services.”
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