Lasseter's in the Loop Happenings

By Shirley Lasseter
Gwinnett District 1 Commissioner

Happy New Year, everyone! It’s hard to believe that 2012 has arrived – and with it came cold weather. After such a mild fall, the cold stuff may be here to stay for a while. Here’s hoping for an early spring!

Fire Gwinnett and Emergency Services shares some safety tips to help you stay safe and enjoy those really chilly days:

• Avoid playing, skating, or driving over any frozen body of water. Remember that only the surface area is frozen and the ice will not be thick enough to hold the weight of an adult, child, or a large animal
• Dress warmly in layers and limit your time out in the cold weather to avoid
  hypothermia or frostbite
• If you must drive, monitor weather and road conditions and stay alert while
  driving 
• Use home heating appliances with caution and don't leave them on when you go to bed or leave the house
• Install and maintain smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in the home
• Develop and practice a home escape plan.

Last month I reported on a new section of the Ivy Creek Greenway that we just finished building at George Pierce Park. Now I’m happy to say that we’ll be getting a million dollars in federal transportation enhancement funds to help design and build a third section of the trail.

Construction will start next summer at the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center in Buford. The new portion will go through the woods for almost a mile before connecting to the existing trail that runs behind the Mall of Georgia, making a continuous length of over three miles. Future sections will connect the existing trails resulting in seven miles of paved, greenway trail from Suwanee to Buford.

If you've ever been called for jury duty in Gwinnett, you’ll be pleased to know that we now have a “one day or one trial” system that saves the county $30 per day for every juror who is not brought to the courthouse, eases parking congestion and reduces security screening waits. We expect to save in the range of $100,000 annually. Kudos to State Court Judge Randy Rich who led the effort.

Pleasant Hill Road is about to be widened from Buford Highway to the intersection of Howell Ferry Road/McClure Bridge Road. In 2013, we’ll have a third lane and sidewalks in both directions and a raised median to improve safety. This project extends the six-lane roadway that opened to traffic last year. A future project will complete the widening to the Chattahoochee River. Funding is from the 2009 SPLOST sales tax program.

The Department of Water Resources needs your help to stop materials thefts. Copper thieves have been keeping police busy lately, and now they’re stealing those heavy metal covers from manholes and sewers as well as cast iron water meter covers. Please call Gwinnett Police at 770-513-5100 or
Water Resources at 678-376-7000 if you see suspicious activity. We staff both lines 24 hours a day. If you can snap photos of alleged thieves and their
vehicles, send them to Jeff Boss at jeffrey.boss@gwinnettcounty.com.

Last November, I started holding monthly meetings with constituents and would love to see you there. “Lasseter’s Listening Session” is a very informal way for me to hear what’s on your mind. So far, we’ve met at McDaniel Farm Park in Duluth and at Fire Station 13 in Suwanee. The next one is on Saturday, Jan. 21, from 10-11 a.m. at Fire Station 7, 3343  Bunten Road in Duluth.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me at 770-822-7000 or shirley.lasseter@gwinnettcounty.com if there’s anything I can do for you.    

Have a Blessed New Year!