M ay 1 2 , 2 0 2 2 | 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 6 , N o . 1 9
City ponders added foot traffic Officials weigh plans for pedestrian safety at future town center
District’s 2023 budget reaches $1.12 billion
By SYDNEY DANGREMOND sydney@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The Public Works Department will gather two conceptual master plans for a new pedestrian crossing at the proposed Johns Creek town center. During a May 2 work session, City Council members discussed options, including a bridge and a tunnel, to increase pedestrian connectivity at the proposed Creekside Park. Public Works Director Chris Haggard showed members high-level considerations for choosing between a bridge or tunnel across Medlock Bridge Road, north of Johns Creek Parkway. A third option for placing a pedestrian bridge south of Johns Creek Parkway was quickly dismissed by council members. Four council members, including Mayor John Bradberry, Dilip Tunki, Erin Elwood and Chris Coughlin, instructed Haggard to gather conceptual plans and cost estimates for both a bridge and tunnel crossing which will then be shown to residents for input. The remaining council members were still in favor of gathering plans for a crossing but were only interested in pursuing the tunnel option.
North Fulton jail on track to reopen
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Fulton Schools budget proposes pay increase as worker pool declines By CANDY WAYLOCK candy@appenmedia.com
While some council members, including Coughlin, were wary of the timing of the project and hoped to wait for more development before constructing a crossing, they were convinced in the need to build the project using transportation sales tax dollars allocated to the city in the county’s second iteration of the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. The conceptual plans, Haggard said, will likely take around six months to complete. Later during the City Council meeting, members unanimously approved a reso-
lution of support for the renovation and reopening of the Fulton County Annex Jail in Alpharetta which has been closed since March 2020. “The Mayor and City Council support Fulton County’s efforts to make the necessary capital investments to reopen the facilities and allow for the use of detention facilities in north Fulton County,” the resolution states. Members of the Fulton County Commission are scheduled to take up the issue at their meeting May 4, and Brad-
ATLANTA —Teachers in the Fulton County School System will be among the highest paid in the region next year under the proposed $1.1 billion budget for the 2023 fiscal year starting July 1. The budget also includes a slight decrease in the millage rate for property owners. Included in the FY23 budget is a 3 percent salary increase for all district staff, a mid-year step increase for eligible employees, bonuses and other financial incentives. The pay increases will add nearly $53 million to this year’s salary schedules. “We are in a competitive market, and we’re constantly trying to make sure that our frontline positions are staffed with qualified personnel…and that comes at a price,” said Marvin Dereef, chief financial officer for Fulton Schools. Despite the salary hikes, the FY23
See OPTIONS Page 7
See BUDGET, Page 10
Cities to receive help on transportation costs
Primary candidates weigh in on issues
SYDNEY DANGREMOND/APPEN MEDIA
Economic Development Director Randall Toussaint delivers a presentation to the City Council on potential new development in the city at a May 2 work session.
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