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FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS
Sunday, December 11,2022 FORSYTHNEWS.COM
Forsyth hires new county manager
ByAshlyn Yule
ayule@forsythnews.com
Picking from two candidates, the
Forsyth County Board of Commissioners
named the new county manager at a spe
cial called meeting on Friday, Dec. 9.
David McKee, who has served as assis
tant county manager since April 2021, was
appointed as the next manager for Forsyth
County, and he will begin his new role on
Dec. 16 following the departure of current
county manager Kevin Tanner.
“David brings a wealth of leadership
qualities and understand
ing of the county’s needs
to the position,”
Chairman Alfred John
said in a press release
about McKee’s appoint
ment. “The board looks
forward to working with
him in his new role.”
In his role as assistant
county manager, McKee has overseen the
county’s departments of engineering,
recycling and solid waste, fleet services,
water and sewer, public transportation and
public facilities. He has also served as the
executive manager for activities related to
transportation and is the main person of
contact between the county and the
Georgia Department of Transportation.
Before serving Forsyth County, McKee
worked in Dawson County in roles includ
ing environmental compliance, engineer
ing, GIS and planning. He also served as
Dawson County’s public works director
and SPLOST administrator.
“I am very pleased that David will be
assuming the role of county manager,”
Kevin Tanner said in the release. “There
are a lot of good things happening here in
Forsyth County, and I have full confidence
that David’s expertise, leadership and
well-rounded knowledge of county opera
tions will continue to advance the board’s
vision for the county well into the future.”
An announcement from the office of
Gov. Brian Kemp’s office in November
detailed Tanner’s departure from the coun
ty to the Georgia Department of
Behavioral Health and Developmental
Disabilities.
Tanner served as Forsyth County
Manager since January 2021.
McKee
'A special courthouse'
Photos by Kelly Whitmire Forsyth County News
Forsyth County Juvenile Court Presiding Judge Christopher Willis shows off his courtroom during a tour of the
new juvenile court building.
Forsyth County holds opening for Juvenile Court building
■AHVONE WHO DOES ACHING TO
HELPACHILD IN HIS LIFE IS A HERO.
MR. FRED ROGERS
A quote by Fred Rogers of "Mister Rogers'
Neighborhood" is one of the first sights visitors will
see at the new Forsyth County Juvenile court.
By Kelly Whitmire
kwhitmire@forsythnews.com
After years of operating out
of a converted motel followed
by two years of construction,
the Forsyth County Juvenile
Court has a new home.
On Thursday, Dec. 8, a rib
bon-cutting ceremony was
held at the new court building,
located at 875 Lanier 400
Parkway, the same location as
the previous court, which has
been demolished.
“Those of you who have
been up here before realize
that just behind where every
one is standing, there used to
be a hotel, and that is where
we had court for years and
years,” Forsyth County
Juvenile Court Presiding
Judge Christopher Willis said.
“We couldn’t be more appre
ciative and excited about hav
ing this new facility to con
duct court in.”
Forsyth County Chief
Superior Court Judge Jeffrey
S. Bagley said the juvenile
court had needed a new home
as the former motel grew
older, even recalling mold
being found at one time in the
former building.
“The old motel building
was pretty bad, it really was,
so I’m glad to have this beau
tiful facility,” Bagley said.
“Juvenile court is special, and
it deserves a special court
house. I presided over juve
nile court cases for about two-
and-a-half years during the
beginning of my judicial
career, and I know how spe
cial these cases are. They all
concern the welfare of the
children of Forsyth County,
our most precious commodi
ty.”
“In delinquency cases, the
focus is on rehabilitation rath
er than punishment. In child
abuse and neglect cases, the
See Juvenile 12A
Trailer flips
on Ga. 400
By Kelly Whitmire
kwhitmire@forsythnews.com
A portion of Ga. 400 was
closed after a wreck in rainy
weather on Friday, Dec. 9.
According to a news
release from the Alpharetta
Department of Public Safety,
a portion of Ga. 400 between
McGinnis Ferry Road and
Windward Parkway was
closed for about two hours
on Friday afternoon after a
tractor-trailer overturned.
All southbound lanes were
closed due to the crash,
snarling traffic for hours
during wet weather.
The truck was “returned to
a full and upright position”
and removed before the road
fully opened, according to
ADPS.
ADPS officials did not
respond to a request for
comment about the wreck on
Friday afternoon.
Authorities
investigating
man shot in leg
By Kelly Whitmire
kwhitmire@forsythnews.com
The Forsyth County
Sherriff’s Office is investigat
ing a recent shooting.
On Friday, FCSO officials
said the victim was shot in
the leg but was not being
cooperative with the office’s
investigation.
The victim reportedly went
to an urgent care clinic in
Forsyth County for treatment.
As of press time, it is
unclear when the victim was
shot or whether the gunshot
was self-inflicted or if the
victim was shot by someone
else.
Forsyth County Chamber holds Star Wars-style annual celebration
Photo submitted to Forsyth County News
Stormtroopers, Princess Leia and more were on
hand for the Forsyth County Chamber of
Commerce's annual meeting, 'May the Work
Force Be with You.'
By Kelly Whitmire
kwhitmire@forsythnews.com
Not long ago, in a con
ference center not very far
away, members of the
Forsyth County Chamber
of Commerce held a Star
Wars-themed celebration
for their annual meeting.
On Friday, Dec. 9, the
chamber’s annual meeting
had the theme “May the
Work Force Be with You”
and celebrated not only the
chamber’s accomplish
ments over the last year but
also a special anniversary
for Northside Forsyth
Hospital and an award for
Georgia’s outgoing lieuten
ant governor.
“The chamber’s focus
determines our communi
ty’s reality, and this event
has always allowed us time
to reflect on how far we’ve
come since the founding of
the organization in 1953,”
said Chamber President
and CEO James McCoy,
who was dressed in a Jedi
robe. “The Forsyth County
Chamber has been a driver
of growth, prosperity and
collaboration in our com
munity. The chamber is a
relatively small organiza
tion, and we can only
achieve success with the
force of bust, support and
collaboration alongside our
partners.”
The event included Jedi,
stormtroopers, light sabers,
songs and more from a gal
axy far, far away.
“We’re going to be lean
ing into this theme if you
haven’t caught that yet,”
McCoy told the crowd at
the beginning of the cele
bration. “So, just lean in,
and you’ll enjoy it.”
Here are some of the top
ics from the meeting.
Celebrating the
Chamber
Chamber officials took a
look at the last year and
what is coming in 2023.
During comments and a
video presentation, Derek
Brooks, the chamber’s
chair for 2022, highlighted
the successes of the last
year, including those of
Forward Forsyth, a public-
private partnership of the
chamber, the Forsyth
County Government, the
Development Authority of
Forsyth County and local
schools
“As of October 2022,
[the chamber’s] efforts
have resulted in the team
announcing 23 economic
development projects,
totaling nearly $210 mil
lion in planned capital
investment,” Brooks said.
“These projects also repre
sent more than 450
announced new jobs here
in Forsyth County. The
Forward Forsyth force is
also focused on their new
product development.
“Currently, there is over
4 million square feet of flex
business parks in the plan
ning and development stag
es. I’m really excited about
that.”
Each year during the cel
ebration, the next year’s
chair is introduced to the
public.
Chamber officials wel
comed 2023 chair Andrew
Walker, who serves as the
Forsyth County president
of Providence Bank and
has been a member of the
chamber since 2004.
Walker thanked Brooks
for his leadership in the last
year before presenting him
with an award.
“Our community is for
tunate to have Derek as the
chairman of the board this
year,” Walker said. “Derek,
your knowledge of our
See Chamber 12A
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