(Lawrenceville, Ga., March 8, 2017) – For 20 years, Gwinnett County has held a AAA bond rating from all three bond-rating agencies – the highest possible for local governments, allowing the County to refinance bonds at favorable interest rates. In addition to refinancing the debt, the County was also able to pay off some debt early. All of these activities combined are saving taxpayers more than $80 million in future interest payments.

Gwinnett County is one of 49 counties in the nation to have a Triple AAA bond rating. The latest rating came in December after the County’s finances went through intense review by analysts from S&P Global, Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings.

The County in January refinanced bonds used for construction of Coolray Stadium. The strong credit rating coupled with favorable market conditions resulted in lowering the interest rate from 6.25 to 3.27 percent and saving about $14 million over the life of the bonds.

“I think this demonstrates that Gwinnett County is keeping a close eye on taxpayers’ money,” said Gwinnett County Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash. “We aren’t going to leave money on the table.”

Financial Services Director Maria Woods said the Triple AAA bond rating means the County can borrow money at most-favorable interest rates at the time the bonds are issued and also refinance the bonds when the market improves and interest rates drop. Woods said that while the credit rating is a reflection on the financial condition of the County, it is also influenced by sound management decisions and institutional practices. Woods credited the Board of Commissioners for fiscal flexibility, smart debt management and financial policies such as multi-year planning, controlling expenditures and a pay-as-you-go capital program.

“This Triple AAA bond rating by independent analysts tells investors that Gwinnett County is well-managed, fiscally strong and a solid investment,” Nash said. “This is a very difficult rating to achieve. A Triple AAA rating puts us in the top 2 percent of the 3,000-plus counties in America.”

The bond-rating agencies scrutinized multiple aspects of the County, including the County’s finances, management, economy, debt, and budgetary performance and flexibility

Fitch Ratings’ report cited the County’s strong revenue and expenditure flexibility, its maintenance of healthy reserves, low long-term liabilities and prudent fiscal management.

Moody’s Investor Services commented that Gwinnett had a strong fiscal position bolstered by formal financial policies and conservative budgeting, low debt and pension burdens, and a large tax base with strong socio-economic factors.

S&P Global reported that Gwinnett had very strong management with strong financial policies and practices, strong budgetary performance, and held a very strong debt and contingent liability position.

Cobb County is the only other county in Georgia to have a similar rating.

(Lawrenceville, Ga., Feb. 21, 2017) – Gwinnett County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a $2.9 million contract to replace the Harbins Road bridge over Jackson Creek in Lilburn.

District 2 Commissioner Lynette Howard said, “This project not only addresses flooding concerns, but also fills in the sidewalks along Harbins Road.”

In addition to the bridge replacement, the project will include installation of sidewalk on both sides of Harbins Road from US 29 to Dickens Road. The contractor also will install curb and gutter and drainage improvements.

Georgia Bridge and Concrete LLC, submitted the lowest of five bids at $2,902,486.70. The plans call for the contractor to replace the existing bridge while raising the roadway at its approach to the bridge. While road closures will be required as part of this project, driveway access will be maintained at all times during the construction.

This project is funded by the 2014 SPLOST program.

(Lawrenceville, Ga., Feb. 21, 2017) – Commissioners on Tuesday approved pedestrian projects that run along roadways and over water. Three separate projects will address pedestrian needs on Richland Parkway, Old Peachtree and Rock Springs roads, and Harbins and Dacula roads.

District 1 Commissioner Jace Brooks said, “These projects will help to improve pedestrian safety and serve to fill gaps in the sidewalk network.”

At Richland Parkway, the contractor will build a new pedestrian bridge alongside the existing roadway bridge. Lewallen Construction Co. Inc. was the lowest of five bidders at $709,325.22.

The Richland Parkway project includes installing a pedestrian bridge as well as new sidewalks from Shore Drive to Collins Port Cove. The pedestrian bridge will be about 230 feet long and will serve to complete the sidewalk connection from Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road to Taylor Road.

The Old Peachtree/Rock Springs project will include several sections of new sidewalks along both roadways. Also Old Peachtree Road eastbound will be widened from Ridge Oak Drive to Blakely Drive, extending the right turn lane onto Collins Hill Road. The Ohmshiv Construction LLC, bid of $833,326.75 was the lowest of four received for this project.

Ohmshiv was also the low bidder on the project to install sidewalks along four sections of Harbins Road and Dacula Road.

“This project is a partnership between Gwinnett County and the city of Dacula,” said District 3 Commissioner Tommy Hunter. “Dacula used their SPLOST funds to help the County build the project.”

The four sections of sidewalk total just under a mile and will connect gaps of sidewalk from Harbin Oaks Drive to Liam Avenue. Ohmshiv’s bid of $438,619.60 was the lowest of the five bids received for this project.

All of these sidewalk projects include curb and gutter and drainage improvements. All County funding comes from the 2014 SPLOST program.

(Lawrenceville, Ga., Feb. 21, 2017) – The Citizens Project Selection Committee will meet Wednesday night to vote on projects in the road safety and alignment category of the 2017 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.

The group, known as the CPSC, is to meet at 6:30 p.m. in Conference Room A in the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center in Lawrenceville.

“Our staff presented information on the road safety and alignment category in January,” said Alan Chapman, director of the Gwinnett County Department of Transportation. “The group will vote on the road safety projects this week and then staff will present information on the Intersections category.”

At each meeting, the group is briefed on a project category. Then they vote on that category at a following meeting. On Jan. 24, the group approved a list of proposed bridge, culvert and transportation drainage projects.

Prior to the November referendum, the CPSC allocated funding across these categories of Transportation projects:

• Bridges, Culverts and Transportation Drainage,
• Capital Projects Rehabilitation and Resurfacing,
• Intersections,
• Major Roads,
• Residential Speed Control,
• Road Safety and Alignment,
• School Safety,
• Sidewalks and Pedestrian Safety,
• Transportation Planning, and
• Unpaved Roads.

Since the SPLOST vote, the CPSC has received presentations and voted on six project categories: bridges and culverts, school safety, rehabilitation and resurfacing, unpaved roads, residential speed control, and transportation planning.

The CPSC is made up of 11 members and 11 alternates selected through a grass-roots process: Interested residents from various constituencies selected the representatives. For additional information about citizen input and the 2017 SPLOST, please visit www.gwinnettcpsc.com.

(Lawrenceville, Ga., Feb. 16, 2017) – In her seventh annual State of the County Address, Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Chairman Charlotte Nash declared the county’s condition to be “remarkable,” highlighting multiple accomplishments while acknowledging challenges in the future.

Nash said Gwinnett’s brand is one of excellence as demonstrated by its good jobs, workforce, schools, recreational opportunities, and its exemplary bond rating.

“We’ve been building this brand over the course of decades but today, I see a strong Gwinnett brand that’s been re-invented,” she said.

Innovation is a hallmark of the Gwinnett brand, she said, citing the County’s F. Wayne Hill Water Resources Center, saying the wastewater treatment plant turns byproduct from the treatment process into fertilizer, and converts methane into electricity to run the plant. She noted the state-of-the-art facility also returns 14.5 billion gallons annually of the water used by the county back to Lake Lanier and the Chattahoochee River. Research institutions and others in water industry are working with Gwinnett County to discover new methods for recycling water and producing clean water more efficiently, Nash said.

Nash said collaboration between the County and its cities is another important element of the Gwinnett County brand of remarkable excellence. She spotlighted a new facility in Lilburn that doubles as a city hall and a county public library. The County is discussing similar library relocations in Duluth and Norcross, she said.

She said the County plans to work with the private sector to redevelop the 24-acre Olympic tennis venue on U.S. 78 near Stone Mountain, and with community improvement districts to improve pedestrian connectivity around Gwinnett Place mall and redevelopment and transportation along I-85 between DeKalb County and Beaver Ruin Road.

Nash also discussed the future expansion of the Infinite Energy Center as the county’s signature business and entertainment district. Mark Toro, managing partner and chairman of the board of North American Properties, described to the audience of about 750 what made Gwinnett County an attractive place to do business.

The County needs to explore new ways to improve mobility – including transit, Nash said.

“We can’t stop improving our road network, but expanded transit options must also be part of any long-term solution,” she said.

Nash also reaffirmed the County’s commitment to diversity and pledged to broaden its community outreach programs.

“Inclusion does not just happen,” she said. “It takes intentional effort. Let me be perfectly clear – failure to respect all Gwinnett residents and welcome their participation in our community is neither acceptable nor smart. Gwinnett’s future success depends on all of us, working together to build the community.”

Nash said she wanted to build on the County’s Gwinnett 101 Citizens Academy, Dinner and Dialogue between citizens and commissioners, and Building Bridges events for various constituencies.

New inclusionary steps by the County will include adding young people to Gwinnett 101, inviting diverse groups to display traditional art, clothing, crafts and heritage in county buildings, and reaching out to minority job applicants and small businesses.

She called on people of all backgrounds and heritage to become more involved in their county government.

Nash announced a new tagline for the County’s community outreach program: “Many Voices, One Gwinnett.”

“Gwinnett’s future depends on all of us, working together to build the community,” she said. “We must engage and empower leaders from our diverse population who love Gwinnett to champion this important work.”

Video of the speech is available on demand at https://vimeo.com/204436992 and will air frequently on the county’s government access cable channel beginning at 7:30 p.m. tonight. A text version of the speech and a handout highlighting the previous year’s accomplishments can be found at www.gwinnettcounty.com.

(Buford, Ga., Feb. 16, 2017) — Is it possible to travel around the world in less than two hours?  The Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center (GEHC) thinks it is and invites you to become an international traveler without the need for a passport.

The GEHC and local Girl Scouts from the Apalachee Service Unit are partnering to celebrate World Thinking Day on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.

World Thinking Day is a learning opportunity that highlights international friendships and reminds everyone that Girl Scouts are a part of a global community with members in more than 150 countries. 

At World Thinking Day, each participating troop adopts a specific country, shares information, provides a taste of that country's cuisine and makes a "swap" that is reflective of the culture.

With 24 troops planning to attend, visitors will travel to countries such as New Zealand, Peru, Germany, Greece, Jamaica, France, Kenya, the United Kingdom and more.

World Thinking Day may be organized by the Girl Scouts, but the public is invited to participate. GEHC’s Director of Programming Jason West said, "You don't have to be a Girl Scout to enjoy this program.  It is for everyone, and I hope people across Gwinnett and northeast Georgia will come and experience it.”

In honor of the event, the GEHC will charge a special discounted admission of $2.00 per person between the hours of 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.  Visitors can participate in the World Thinking Day program and see the GEHC’s special exhibit entitled Abracadabra! Everyday Magic. The exhibit explores the science and math concepts behind common magic tricks. There will be a separate Girl Scout charge of a dime per beverage/food item and swap.

For more information on the GEHC and World Thinking Day, please visit www.gwinnettEHC.org.