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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
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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
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