North Fulton cities scramble to find solution to costly elections

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ATLANTA — City councils across north metro Atlanta are scrambling to find a way for their cities to administer their own municipal elections this fall, a move that could free them from mounting costs proposed by Fulton County.

At stake are tens of thousands of local tax dollars in savings if the plans are enacted.

In 2021, Fulton County charged cities $2.96 per registered voter to manage their municipal general elections and $2.46 per registered voter in runoff elections. The county charged cities the same figure in the 2019 municipal elections.

But in December, Fulton County Elections staff proposed charging cities $11.48 per registered voter for this year’s municipal elections.

There was pushback from the Fulton County Board of Registrations and Elections, and the county later agreed to charge cities $9.38 per registered voter for this fall’s municipal elections.

Last month, the Milton City Council set things in motion by approving a plan to run its own 2023 municipal elections. The plan was drafted by a panel who spent months studying whether local administration of elections would be feasible.

The Milton Municipal Election Committee consisted of six members. One was Milton resident Mark Amick, who was subpoenaed last June as part of a Fulton County investigation into Republican attempts to overturn the 2020 election. City staff couldn’t account for how Amick was nominated to the committee.

Using the Milton election study as a guide, an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) involving Milton, Johns Creek, Roswell and Alpharetta is in the works that will propose one regional election superintendent oversee all the cities’ 2023 municipal elections. But cities will still need to hire their own election manager.

Sandy Springs has no municipal elections scheduled for this fall.

The Alpharetta City Council approved its own election superintendent Jan. 23.

That same evening, the Johns Creek City Council confined the discussion to its work session.

So did the Roswell City Council, but the topic resurfaced the following night at the Roswell Community Development and Transportation meeting. The discussion sparked a special-called Roswell City Council meeting for Jan. 30 to further examine elections.

While the next municipal election for Sandy Springs is slated in 2025, Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul said the city will monitor the ongoing regional conver -

Polling locations were another concern raised at both the Roswell and Johns Creek council work sessions.

Quick deadline

While Milton took more than a year to formulate and adopt a local election plan, Johns Creek City Manager Ed Densmore told councilmembers that Fulton County must have the city’s decision by March 1.

Johns Creek Mayor John Bradberry and most councilmembers were optimistic about the endeavor, but Councilwoman Elwood kept her feet on the ground at the Jan. 23 work session.

“Truly, I am very concerned about our decision affecting the legitimacy of this institution,” Elwood said.

She said the discussion and questions are being framed “reactively.”

Johns showing registered voters and voter turnout at a Johns Creek City Council work session Jan. 23. The Johns Creek City Council, along with elected officials from other North Fulton cities, discussed the possibility of running their own municipal elections that same night. sations to determine how best to ensure the city’s elections can be conducted in an efficient, cost-effective manner.

The Milton template

The Milton elections committee estimated that the city’s cost to run its own municipal election this fall would be $72,254 in the first year, saving Milton at least $114,090, based on the charge sought from Fulton County. With one-time startup costs out of the way, subsequent years are estimated to cost $56,589.

The cost projection was based on a number of state-regulated components. However, the cost is also rooted in the committee’s preferences, such as exclusively using paper ballots.

While the Milton elections committee recommended paper ballots, Mayor Peyton Jamison could not confirm whether that would be the case.

Jamison said the election superintendent would look at all viable options once appointed.

There’s been some confusion as to whether the cities would conduct identical municipal elections if the IGA were to be approved.

Senior staff from Alpharetta, including City Administrator Chris Lagerbloom, met with Milton Deputy City Manager Stacy Inglis Jan. 24 to pore over details of the city’s election plan.

Alpharetta Assistant City Administrator James Drinkard could not say whether Alpharetta is committed to follow the exact Milton template. For one thing, he said, Alpharetta is a much larger city.

“We have to think through those

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things,” Drinkard said. “There have been some conversations of all the cities having one elections superintendent, but I don’t know if that requires we have to follow the exact template of Milton.”

At the Roswell City Council Jan. 23 work session, officials discussed a possible partnership with their “sister cities,” and what an intergovernmental agreement might look like. There was some indication among some councilmembers that Roswell would follow the same template as Milton if they signed the IGA.

However, Roswell City Councilwoman Sarah Beeson took issue with the uniformity because of Milton’s decision to use paper ballots. Beeson said paper ballots are concerning for a “city of our size.”

With a population of 92,500, Roswell has more than twice the residents of Milton.

Johns Creek City Councilwoman Erin Elwood also raised the concern over paper ballots at its council work session.

With the expectation that Milton’s election study will set the IGA’s precedent, Elwood said “What Milton has come up with works for Milton. I don’t think that works for Johns Creek.”

“We are asking the question, ‘How do we have our own election in 2023, eight months from now?’ Elwood said. “I think the question that we should be asking, and it’s our duty to ask, is if we want to take control of our elections, what does that look like? And how do we define success?”

Elwood said she’s talked to election voter protection activists.

“They’re scared about 2023. But they actually are not that opposed to 2025,” she said.

Instead of focusing on a quick decision, Elwood said she wants to see resources, like time, spent on negotiating with Fulton County. Elwood said it’s probable Fulton County will come down on cost like they’ve done in previous years.

Johns Creek City Councilman Chris Coughlin recommended the city pursue negotiation concurrently with efforts to explore self-run elections this year.

The City Council will reassess the situation once the deadline arrives, Bradberry said, but “in the short term, I think that there’s a bigger risk if we don’t investigate and pursue.”

The March 1 deadline came as news to Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson, though, who at the Jan. 24 Roswell Community Development and Transportation meeting said he hadn’t spoken to the Johns Creek mayor all week.

The night before, Roswell officials voiced their hope to push through election discussion in time for the November 2023 election.

Alpharetta City Administrator Chris Lagerbloom shared the same sentiment at the Jan. 23 City Council meeting.

“We’re not afraid of the challenge, and I’m confident in our team to be able to do this,” Lagerbloom said.

— Managing Editor Pat Fox and Staff Reporters Delaney Tarr and Shelby Israel contributed to this story.

Calendar

‘COMPLETENESS’ AT STAGE DOOR THEATRE

What: How does a computer scientist hook up with a molecular biologist? He blinds her with science, of course. When Elliot builds a computer program to help Molly with her research project, the variables in their evolving relationship shift as rapidly as the terms of their experiment. This deft and imaginative new ROM-comedy shows that even the most sophisticated algorithm may freeze in the face of love’s infinite possibilities.

Salsa Dancing For New Students

What: Discover a new world and tune into sexy and spicy tropical sounds of Salsa and Bachata music and dance. All you have to bring is the desire for learning how to dance and we will guide you step by step toward the experience of your life.

When: Monday, Feb. 6, 7-10 p.m. (recurring)

Where: PASOFino Latin Dance Studio, 8610 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs

Cost: $20 per class

When: Jan. 27- Feb. 12, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Where: Stage Door Theatre, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody

Cost: $35 for adults, $20 for students, $15 for children

More info: stagedoortheatrega.org

BLACK HISTORY IN ROSWELL: HONORING OUR PAST

What: Presented by the Roswell Historical Society, this event highlights the struggles and triumphs of African Americans in the Roswell area, beginning with the enslaved people brought from the coast by the founding families and ending with the Civil Rights movement. Elaine DeNiro, archivist for the Roswell Historical Society and the City of Roswell, will present original documents pertaining to the area’s Black history. Charles Grogan, Roswell's Black historian, and Sandra Taylor will share their personal experiences about growing up in a Black neighborhood in Roswell.

When: Thursday, Feb. 2, 2 p.m.

Where: Roswell Branch, Fulton County Library System, 115 Norcross Street, Roswell

More info: roswellhistoricalsociety.org

THE SPIRIT OF HARRIET TUBMAN

What: Leslie McCurdy invokes the “spirit” of Harriet Tubman as she portrays the life of the famous Underground Railroad conductor, recreating stories familiar and some rarely told, using words said to have been Harriet Tubman’s own. Through it all, viewers will learn of the faith and conviction that drove Harriet Tubman to follow her dreams — the spirit of the past connecting with the present, inspiring her charges to have the courage to do the same in envisioning their future.

When: Friday, Feb. 3, 10-11 a.m.

Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell

Cost: $12

More info: roswellgov.com

BLACK OPRY REVUE

What: Black Opry’s stellar lineup of some of the most acclaimed Black performers in the industry launch the 2023 Roswell Roots Festival at Roswell Cultural Arts Center with a celebratory evening of music and storytelling. Black Opry is home for Black artists, fans

More info: pasofinodance.com and industry professionals working in country, Americana, blues and folk music. This collective of performers brings the long-overlooked contributions of Black country artists to the forefront.

When: Friday, Feb. 3, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell

Cost: Tickets are $32.50; Tickets for seniors, student and military are $27.50

More info: roswellgov.com

DADDY DAUGHTER DANCE

What: Mark your calendar for the annual date night of the year at the Sandy Springs Recreation and Parks 13th Annual Daddy Daughter Dance for daughters in kindergarten through fifth grade. The dance will feature music from both dads' (and father figures) and their daughters' favorite playlists provided by a live DJ. In addition to dancing, there will be plenty of fun activities that include dance contests, musical games and refreshments. Participants can make a keepsake photo, and there will be door prizes and a goody bag for each girl. The attire for dads and daughters is business casual to semi-formal.

When: Saturday, Feb. 4, 6-8 p.m.

Where: Studio Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs

Cost: $35