About Dunwoody reporter. (Sandy Springs, GA) 20??-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 27, 2013)
COMMENTARY Our/in, i, lion if to proride our reader t with freak and engaging information about life in their communities. Published by Springs Publishing LLC 6065 Roswell Road, Suite 225 Sandy Springs, GA 30328 Phone: 404-917-2200 • Fax: 404-917-2201 Brookhaven Reporter I Buckhead Reporter Dunwoody Reporter I Sandy Springs Reporter www.ReporterNewspapers.net Atlanta INtown www.AtlantaINtownPaper.com CONTACT US Founder & Publisher Steve Levene stevelevene@reporternewspapers.net Editorial Managing Editor Joe Earle joeearle@reporternewspapers.net Intown Editor: Collin Kelley Assoc. Editor/Digital Content Manager Dan Whisenhunt Staff Writer: Melissa Weinman Copy Editor: Diane L. 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Publisher assumes no responsibility for information contained in advertising. Any opinions expressed in print or online do not necessarily represent the views of Reporter Newspapers or Springs Publishing, LLC. Eight years...wow, it’s hard to believe. It seems more like two years, rather than eight, since Sandy Springs became a city. But, what I want to talk about is our mayor, Eva Galambos, and the great leadership we’ve had from her. To have us come out of the gate as not only the talk of the state, but nationally and even internationally. Hardly a week goes by that she isn’t being interviewed by someone asking about how we have accomplished all that we’re doing as a new city, especially through private compa nies contracting for services. Eva envisioned long before we became a city we could be different. What she meant was, Sandy Springs could provide city services at a higher quality and lower price than compa rable governments, and that’s exactly what has been accom plished. Her leadership has kept our city true to its core services and freed up millions of dollars for capital improvements so sorely needed in our community. Look at what has been accomplished in so many areas un der her leadership. Really too numerous to start listing, but one in particular that stands out is parks and recreation: Mor gan Falls Overlook Park, youth sports activities, partnering with the public schools to use the playgrounds for the pub lic, and on and on. Go to the city webpage [www.sandyspringsga.org/City- Departments/Recreation-and-Parks] and just scroll through all the programs offered by the city to this community - most of which would have never been available but for the fact we became a city. Having long-term vision is difficult for public officials, yet Eva has met this challenge. She leaves the city with a cash re serve of $32 million, and we began in 2006 with $0 in the bank - doing so while we weathered the worst economic time REP. WENDELL WILLARD GUEST COLUMN in our memory. How was this done? It was done through great city leadership, led by Eva. When people ask me about Eva and what kind of person she is, I explain she is the most charming and engaging person - she nev er knows a stranger. But don’t ever think you can pull something over on her. As she listens to your pro posal she will in a kind way explain what deficiencies she sees in your approach, and why. After working with Eva over the years, it’s easy to tell when she has made a decision. She stiffens her neck, lowers her chin against her chest and gives a very compelling explanation of why she agrees or does not agree with you. So, due in great measure to Mayor Eva Galambos, our city has been launched, and is on a chartered course continuing the delivery of services which enhance our lives, add value to our properties, and make us proud to tell others we live in Sandy Springs. She may no longer be mayor, but the foundation she has prepared will sustain our city far into the future, with the new leadership continuing the course. Yes, she is receiving much deserved recognition for her years of work on our behalf, but the greatest tribute we can pay her is to not let our heritage of this great city be diminished. Thank you, Eva, and Godspeed. Rep. Wendell Willard of Sandy Springs represents District 51 in the Georgia House of Representatives and serves as the city of Sandy Springs’ attorney. On the record: A year in quotes Here are some of the things people in Reporter Newspapers communities had to say in 2013. “After two years of meeting and planning, we have our first tangible piece of the trail, and it feels pretty great.” —Denise Starling, executive director of Livable Buckhead, on the proposed trail along Ga. 400, in May. “We realize that many of our residents would prefer to keep the landscape free of additional billboards. While I agree, we must adhere to the law.” —Sandy Springs Mayor Eva Galambos, explaining why new billboards were appearing around the city, in July. “I think you could sum it up by saying there doesn’t seem to be a preponderance of people saying they’re so concerned about this issue that it needs to be addressed immediately.” —Brookhaven resident Bill Roberts, on the city’s ongoing legal battle with the Pink Pony, an adult entertainment club, in September. “One of the challenges we have with our dog park is it is re gional in nature. That’s a problem. When people say to me, ‘But we love it so,’ I say, ‘Go home to your communities and repli cate what you love.” —Dunwoody City Councilwoman Lynn Deutsch, on the controversy surrounding the city’s dog park, which city officials want to move from one location to another within Brook Run Park, in December. The move has drawn strong opposition from dog park users. “A year to the day that the citizens voted to incorporate the city of Brookhaven, they’ll see their own police cars patrolling. That’s a significant milestone.” —Brookhaven Mayor J. Max Davis, announcing the start of the city’s police department, in July. “We get the bar bill, but we don’t get a drink.” —Atlanta City Councilwoman Yolanda Adrean, on the effects of development on community borders, in September. “I never liked the logo, and I think there are a lot of people who agree. But I dislike spending money to change the logo just three years after council adopted it. I dislike that even more.” —Dunwoody City Councilman Terry Nall, on a decision not to spend $40,000 to develop a new city logo, in October. Correction Editor's note: An article in the Dec. 13 edition of Reporter Newspapers about students attending The Art Institute of Atlan ta provided incorrect information about ownership of The Hub, a student housing facility in Sandy Springs. The Art Institute of Atlanta leases the property. 6 | DEC. 27, 2013 — JAN. 9,2014 | www.ReporterNewspapers.net DUN
