Feb. 8-12 proclaimed FBLA Week in Cumming
News, Press Release February 3, 2021
PRESS RELEASE
Mayor Troy Brumbalow and City Council presented a proclamation during their January Work Session recognizing the week of Feb. 8-12 as “Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Week” in Cumming. Yugeshwar Muralidhar, a member of the City of Cumming Youth Council, accepted the proclamation on behalf of the FBLA chapters at his school, Forsyth Central High School, and the Forsyth Alliance Academy, which is also a part of the City’s Youth Council.
Also during the January Work Session and Regular Meeting, City Council:
- Decided in a 3-0 vote, with Councilman Christopher Light recused and Councilwoman Linda Ledbetter abstaining, to deny a rezoning application for property on Pilgrim Mill Road that was intended to be used as a development known as The Villages at Brooks Farm. However, the motion provided an exemption which allows the applicant to re-apply at any time rather than waiting one full year to re-apply as is typically required;
- Reappointed all members of all boards and authorities of the City of Cumming, as well as all City of Cumming professional service providers and demand services providers for 2021;
Approved the low bid from Edge Roofing LLC for roof renovations at the Dobbs Creek Recreation Center; - Approved the low bid from Suez-Utility Service Company Inc. for repairs and maintenance to Cumming Utilities’ 800,000-gallon Sawnee Mountain ground storage tank;
- Set the qualifying period and fees for the Nov. 2, 2021 municipal election. Qualifying period will be Aug. 16, 17 and 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 daily. Qualifying fees are 3 percent of the yearly salary of each position, or $180 for the post of Council Member and $360 for the post of Mayor;
- Approved two updates to the City’s Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual. The first prohibits employees from coming to work at times when they are aware that they may have an illness that could result in a contagious condition, and the second allows for the hiring of family members within the same department as long as the two related employees are not in the same chain of command;
- Held a public hearing regarding the zoning of just over 74 acres known as the Williams tract, which was recently annexed. No one spoke during the public hearing and Council voted to zone the property Single-Family Residential (R-1);
- Approved an expenditure of up to $40,000 for creation of a steam engine display in one of the Cumming City Center’s pocket park areas instead of a second water fountain, as was originally planned. Mayor Brumbalow explained that after looking into related costs of the fountain, creating a steam engine display would be much more cost effective (fountain costs run between $80,000 and $200,000) and would also be a good way to honor the community’s long-standing historical connection to steam engines.
Mayor Brumbalow issues first-quarter memo
Featured Stories February 3, 2021
PRESS RELEASE
CUMMING, Ga. Despite the pandemic, we were still able to hold our 3rd Annual City of Cumming Christmas Parade on Dec. 5. Since the event was completely outdoors and spectators had plenty of room to spread out (and were encouraged to wear masks), we proceeded with the event in order to bring our community some much-needed holiday cheer.
While we didn’t have quite as many parade entries as in 2019, the parade was still a big success and everyone seemed to have a great time!
Congratulations to our 2020 Christmas Parade award winners:
Best Float – Forsyth Central High School Flash of Crimson Spinning Drummer;
Most Spirited Band – Flash of Crimson;
Best Scout Troop – Cub Scout Pack 211;
Best Jeep – Angie Kellett, Jacque Stewart, Jon Wolfe & Linda Stewart;
Jeep Honorable Mention – Taylor, Dodd & Jordan Vickers;
Best Modern Vehicle Non-Jeep – Coal Mtn Stake of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints;
Best Classic/Antique Vehicle – Eric Johnson & Brian Hassel;
Best Animal Entry – Chalcedon Presbyterian Church;
Best On-Foot Group – Stayin’ Alive Crew;
Most Creative – FOCO Sheriff’s Office;
Most Holiday Spirit – St. Brendan’s Catholic Church;
Holiday Spirit Honorable Mention – Good Shepherd Catholic Church Preschool.
In December, the City of Cumming Youth Council, comprised of students from Forsyth Central High School and Alliance Academy for Innovation, gathered together again to elect officers for the 2020-21 term, which began on Jan. 5. Due to the pandemic, the 2019-20 term was cut short so all of last year’s members (with the exception of three who graduated) were invited to return. They all agreed, and in December we welcomed three new members. The nine students selected for 2020-2021 Youth Council are Jake Dutton, Mayor (FCHS); Caleb McWhorter, Mayor Protem (Alliance); Emma Humphries, City Administrator (FCHS); Riley Brumbalow, Clerk (FCHS); Zach Furbush (FCHS); Mary Beth Lowe (FCHS); Yugeshwar Muralidhar (FCHS); Alana Murray (Alliance); and Allison Oldani (FCHS).
Youth Council meets every first Tuesday of the month at 5 p.m. at City Hall. Progress continues to be made at the site of the Cumming City Center. City Council recently approved a number of bids for various aspects of construction of the Center’s buildings, including concrete work, steel fabrication & erection, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and fire suppression systems. Vertical construction began at the site in mid-December, with the City Center slated to open in late fall of 2021.
In November, City Council awarded a bid for construction of an extension of Buford Dam Road from Veterans Memorial Blvd to Castleberry Road. Construction of this important road extension, which will serve as a bypass of downtown Cumming during peak traffic hours and large-scale events at the Cumming Fairgrounds, has begun and, barring any weather delays, is slated to be completed by late summer of 2021.