|
Alpharetta council candidates face off
|
| | 
|  |
| |  | | 
| | | Bo Reese of Warrenton subdivision along Kimball Bridge Road served as moderator for an Alpharetta City Council candidate’s forum. Here he explains the rules of the forum as local resident Jimmy Galvin listens. (click for larger version) | |
October 28, 2009
The five candidates in contested elections for Alpharetta City Council gathered at the Glen Abbey Clubhouse Oct. 25 for a two-hour forum hosted by the Kimball Bridge Road
Coalition.
Bo Reese moderated the event and Victor Hawa watched the clock as timekeeper as the five candidates were asked about everything from their priorities to what they would do about an apparent rise in petty theft in the city.
Mike Kennedy, one of two candidates for Alpharetta Council Post 2, was asked to list his priorities. He put traffic at the top, as it affects the most lives every day.
"There's a limited amount you can do with traffic in the municipal budget," he said.
Intersection improvements and signal timing are possible, but building major thoroughfares is too expensive, he said.
"You've got to have business. Look at the mess the city of Milton is in right now. City of Milton has no significant tax base," Kennedy said. "They can't afford to fix the mud puddles in Bell Park."
His opponent, Aubrey Osteen, said he wanted to improve safety in the neighborhoods. He urged an incentive to get more than 10 percent of Alpharetta's police officers living inside city limits. That would mean take-home police cars end up back home, Osteen said.
"With take home cars you would deter a lot of crime," he said.
Osteen also said by concentrating on petty crime, major crimes can be stopped. He said petty thefts and traffic violations lead to catching suspects on much bigger crimes, such as drug
possession.
In the other race, three candidates are in a hot race for the Post 3 Council seat, with Chris Owens, John Keim and Tom Miller on the ballot.
Miller said Alpharetta officially is a "Green City" in the eyes of the Atlanta Regional Commission, which means more effort should be spent on transportation issues rather than environmental.
"It means trees, passive parks and preserving greenspace when we have zonings," he said.
Miller wants the future land use plan followed, especially with respect to density and placement of mixed-use communities, which he said he'd support only where the city's land use plans allow.
John Keim said re-creating Milton County would add to Alpharettans' property values.
With 70 percent of North Fulton taxes going to the southern part of the county, he said, bringing back Milton County would raise property values 10 to 20 percent by keeping those dollars here. And taxes would be cut as none of the money would be sent south, he said.
"Then folks want to come in here instantly," Keim said.
He also wants the city to reward bidders for completing projects ahead of schedule and penalize them for missing deadlines.
Alpharetta is in great shape coming out of a recession, while neighboring cities such as Roswell, Johns Creek and Milton are struggling, according to Chris Owens.
He wants the future land use plan being retooled next year to reshape zones designated for apartments to other uses.
"Also, as the next applications move forward, I'd encourage more single-family homes," he said.
Owens also urged for high quality, fee-simple town homes with "correct square footage" for the property where they would be built.
"Make sure they go where they belong, not just placed randomly," Owens said.
 View images.
Tags: Alpharetta City Council
| |
|
|
