It was a great way to spend a part of a Sunday afternoon as Chattahoochee Hill Country Dist. 3 Councilman David Hanson held a “fireside chat” meeting with his constituents Jan. 27. A number of the nearly 80 in attendance at city hall were from other city voting districts who came to experience a more direct form of communication with elected officials, something many in Chatt Hills had requested since the city’s inception in December. Hanson’s question at meeting’s end on whether residents thought the venue useful was met with applause from across the room.
Hanson began the meeting by providing an overview of the new city’s operation since its beginnings only weeks ago, including the purchase of property such as the fire station, city hall and the ballfield, the formation of the new fire department and the agreement with Fulton County Sheriff’s Office to expand police coverage until the new city police department is formed.
But the thrust of the meeting was geared to addressing current concerns by a variety of residents that they be kept informed on the many issues facing the city council and citizens. To that end, Hanson asked citizens to participate in volunteer groups that can provide information and input in five major service areas that had been identified by Mayor Don Hayes, members of the city council and city staff.
“It is felt that volunteer support to the city can be most effective when organized around city operational functions and services,” Hanson said. “It is also felt that better focus on needs of the city and prioritization of support can be realized when council members are engaged with volunteer groups.”
Hanson suggested that residents consider forming groups that include public safety, environment and public improvement, business and commerce, citizen services and cultural activities.
“In the organizing phase of building this city we had a large group of volunteers with a single goal,” Hanson said. “In the building phase of the new city it is felt by the mayor and staff that the city could be better served by smaller groups of volunteers working on many purposes with leadership from diverse and activity-focused leaders. It is felt that both the service area groups and council members assigned to the groups by the mayor should avoid dealing with political agendas or purposes.”
Hanson suggested that volunteer teams include members from all areas of the city, buttressing the idea that the emerging city’s goals not be a source of division along lines of geography or politics.
“While the city won’t turn away help from any source, we can’t afford to accept help that serves to disrupt the community or serves agendas other than that of building the city that we have all worked on for the past several years,” Hanson said.
Numerous questions were posed by residents covering a variety of topics. Perhaps the most often stated since the city’s inception was one seeking a method of dialogue at council meetings between citizens and the city council. Hanson said there had been a lot of discussion on the issue, adding that the council hoped to establish that dialogue at some point.
“We want people to be informed and participate,” said Hanson. “We’re trying to figure how the system works and we want (the dialogue) to be fair and not turn into chaos. Other council members are interested in how this meeting will go today and they are interested in getting information to their constituents.”
As the questions flowed, they hit on multiple topics ranging from the inclusion of council meeting minutes on the city website to timelines for establishing the police department and from garbage pick-up to having alternate truck routes for 18-wheelers hauling construction debris from Douglas County to the landfills on U.S. Highway 29.
CH2M Hill Program Manager Terry Todd said the city clerk would have all meeting minutes posted on the website in March, once they are approved by the council. Meeting minutes will be posted customarily as soon as they are approved at the succeeding council meeting, he said.
Referencing the police department, Hanson noted the $259,000 budget covering the remaining 10 months of the fiscal year and said that information is being put together to present to the council for a proposed start date.
Todd said garbage pick-up will continue to be provided by private vendors arranged by residents since Fulton County does not provide that service. He said the county might continue to have a trash amnesty day, depending on what the county commission decides. And regarding 18-wheelers using numerous city roads as short cuts to Hwy. 29, Todd said the city could explore having truck route signs installed. The city takes control of all public works functions beginning in March, Todd said, adding that city limits signs are now being prepared for installation on major intersections after the first of March.
The city’s 24-hour call center number is (770) 463-5550. The city’s website is www.chatthillsga.us
The new Chattahoochee Hill Country Community website, located at http://chccommunity.com, provides information on community resources and events.