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Alpharetta to condemn more parcels for road project By JAKE DRUKMAN jake@appenmedia.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. –– The Alpharetta City Council voted unanimously Jan. 3 to pursue eminent domain for condemnation of three properties along McGinnis Ferry Road for a multi-million-dollar expansion project. The three properties, located on Tidewater Crossing and Tidewater Way, are among the dozens of tracts the city has pursued to acquire through legal means since the project was launched more than a year ago. Alpharetta is undertaking the project, estimated at more than $60 million, in partnership and with financial assistance from Johns Creek, Forsyth County and the Georgia Department of Transportation. The votes to approve the condemnations were among the first actions taken by two new members of the City Council. In ceremonies held at the beginning of the meeting, Brian Will was sworn in to the Post 2 seat, filling the position held by Ben Burnett, who did not seek re-election. Doug DeRito was also sworn in as Post 3 councilman, filling the seat vacated by Karen Richard, who also did not seek a second term. DeRito previously served a decade-long stint on the City Council from 2001-2011. “I want to do it again because I think I have a lot to offer,” DeRito said. “I think I can at least be a voice of consensus up here and represent the best interests of the city. And I’m sure everyone up here has the same goals in mind.”
Schools change course on classroom attendance
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JAKE DRUKMAN/ APPEN MEDIA
Post 3 Councilman Doug DeRito is sworn in to the Alpharetta City Council Jan. 3. DeRito previously served on the council from 2001-2011. Following the swearing in ceremony, the council approved Post 6 Councilman Dan Merkel as mayor pro tem. The position was formerly held by Post 1 Councilman Donald Mitchell, the longestserving member on the City Council. Mitchell is one of two remaining council members who led a campaign last year for a $29.5 million parks bond referendum. The proposal divided the
Roswell community mourns athlete’s death
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council, passing by a 4-3 vote, but it received overwhelming approval from voters in the November election. With the addition of two new members and a new mayor pro tem, it did not go unnoticed that Mitchell now has been seated on the dais as far away as possible from his ally in the parks bond
See PROJECT, Page 20
Local housing market looks strong for 2022
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Ratified district maps may shape future elections By JEFFREY ALBERTSON newsroom@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — Three maps cleared by the Georgia General Assembly last month during a special redistricting session and signed into law Dec. 30 by Gov. Brian Kemp will reshape elections in North Fulton County. A flurry of litigation is expected in either scenario. For the second time in state history, Republicans control the redistricting process, which follows each census. Georgia missed adding a new Congressional seat, after the state population grew by about one million people from 2010 to 2020. U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Marietta), who represents North Fulton in the 6th Congressional District, has already announced she will seek election against an incumbent Democrat in the neighboring 7th District in Gwinnett County. The announcement followed the release of a new district map, which would extend beyond North Fulton into Forsyth and Dawson Counties. With the changes, Republicans have a strong chance of taking back the 6th District. McBath flipped a long held Republican seat in 2018. McBath’s election bid will pit her
See ELECTIONS, Page 20