N ov e m b e r 2 5 , 2 0 2 1 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 2 5 , N o . 4 7
City cuts ties with tourism bureau Mayor considers veto of 4-3 council decision By SYDNEY DANGREMOND sydney@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — After months of heated discussions, the Johns Creek City Council voted Nov. 15 to end its contract with the city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau. The vote was 4-3, with Erin Elwood, Chris Coughlin, Stephanie Endres and John Bradberry in favor. Mayor Mike Bodker joined council members Lenny Zaprowski and Stacy Skinner voting against. Before the official vote, Bodker urged the council to push the decision until January, after three more newly elected members of the City Council are sworn in. Bodker also said he would consider using his mayoral veto. However, after pushback from Elwood who argued the debate did not need to carry into the new year, Bodker relented, saying he may reconsider at the next council meeting. Council members first began working with staff to update the existing agreement with the Visitors Bureau at a Sept. 13 work session. At the time, one of the key issues centered around an accusation that the CVB had not abided by Georgia Sunshine Laws which govern open meetings and records. Before a subsequent Sept. 27 work session, Councilwoman Endres went a step further and called for terminating
Skinner sworn in, takes Post 2 seat
► PAGE 4
Bodker delivers farewell address as city’s 1st mayor By SYDNEY DANGREMOND sydney@appenmedia.com
ending the contract. “When I consider this, I really regret any part I played in escalating the emotional hostilities between the city, council and members of the CVB board, but it is also an economic decision, it is an efficiency decision,” Elwood said. “And as we bring on an economic development director and a brand-new council tasked with bringing forth the town center, we need to be completely in concert, and we
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — After 15 years and four terms in office, Johns Creek’s first and only mayor, Mike Bodker, will officially step down at midnight on Jan. 1, turning over the reins to Mayor-elect John Bradberry. Dozens of community leaders gathered at Country Club of the South Nov. 18 to hear the mayor’s final address. “Here we are so many years later, and I still feel so humbled to have been entrusted with the great honor and responsibility since the inception of our city,” Bodker said. City staff put together a handful of videos for the occasion, showcasing the growth of Johns Creek under Bodker’s leadership as well as making some final playful jokes. The word of the day was gratitude. Community leaders and friends of the long-time mayor shared memories and thanked Bodker for his decade-and-ahalf in elected office. Bodker reciprocated, spending the majority of his address thanking the many individuals he worked with both before the city was incorporated in 2006 and in the 15 years since. “With my term coming to a close,
See AGREEMENT, Page 5
See BODKER, Page 5
SYDNEY DANGREMOND/APPEN MEDIA
Mayor-elect John Bradberry explains his support for a motion to terminate the city’s agreement with the Johns Creek Convention and Visitors Bureau at a Nov. 15 City Council meeting. the agreement entirely, but that effort failed when the council voted 4-2 to continue negotiations. Since then, the city manager’s office has worked to hammer out an agreement, and the latest draft was scheduled for consideration by the City Council Monday night. Elwood cites economics In her motion to terminate, Elwood said the latest contract draft was insufficient, and the financials supported
World War II veteran keeps history alive
► PAGE 6
Fulton superintendent receives new contract
► PAGE 10