Fellow citizens,

Let me first extend my warmest wishes for a happy and prosperous new year to you and your loved ones, and to our neighbors in Milton, Alpharetta and Roswell. May we continue to share in the many blessings we have enjoyed throughout this past year, and also to form fast friendships that will strengthen and unite our communities.

The New Year is a time for beginnings and a time for reflection. Looking over the past year, I can say I feel nothing but great hope for the months ahead. I am somewhat awed by all that our citizens have accomplished, and humbled by the task that lies before us.

My goals for the City of Johns Creek for 2007 are straight-forward. We will stand our new city up on the strongest foundation possible and we will do so with the input and advice of our citizens and business leaders.

It has always been my belief that each member of our community is a shareholder, and it is the duty of our government to give the best return on investment we can achieve for all of our stakeholders.

Most importantly, this year we will work with our community to develop a Comprehensive Land Use Plan for our City that will be the blueprint for our future. It will be an exciting opportunity for our citizens to raise their voices and tell us how they want our city to look for generations to come.

It is an important document that will speak to the needs of our citizens and will document and protect the vision that we have fought for these many years.

Foremost in the land use plan will be the protection of green space. Undeveloped land is all too rare a commodity here in our city, and it is our duty to preserve an appropriate amount for public use.

In the area of more immediate concerns, I think I can speak for all of our city council when I say that a positive step towards lessening our traffic woes is, and will remain, a priority through the coming year.

It will take a sustained effort on the part of our government, and our neighbors’ governments as well, to take steps that will have a positive, lasting impact.

Our traffic problems were years in the making and no one can make them vanish all together in twelve months, but we can and will make significant improvements.

This year we will establish a relationship with our citizens based on excellence in customer service and open lines of communication. This month, we have already launched a 24-hour help line, 678-512-3200, and have received tremendous feedback on the swift action taken by staff to address the needs of our citizens.

As our city grows and changes, our level of customer service will not be compromised. As I have said in the past, we will not always be able to give you the answer you desire, but we will get back to you in a reasonable amount of time and let you know who is working on your request and a schedule for resolution.

Over the course of this year, as our permanent Web site comes on-line, it will be a primary mechanism for communication for our citizens and another place to provide input into our local government and be a strong voice in the formation of our city.

Lastly, it is my most fervent hope that all those involved citizens who have been so engaged in the start up of Johns Creek, stay active in our new government. To that end, I will continue to hold Town Hall Meetings and to ask that you never hesitate to seek out your elected officials. You are our most valued advisors.

In closing, I would like to thank you for the honor to serve as your mayor and look forward to working together this year towards the realization of helping all of us realize our vision of better governance.

Respectfully,

Mike Bodker
Mayor, City of Johns Creek