2009 News Archive 

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Mayor, Council reflect as city celebrates 3rd anniversary

Three years ago the doors swung open on the new City of Johns Creek. It was the culmination of a grassroots effort that began as a slow smolder and ignited into full flame with the incorporation of nearby Sandy Springs in 2005.

A July 2006 incorporation vote, which garnered an overwhelming 85 percent-plus approval, was followed quickly by the formation of the Governor's Commission, selection of CH2M Hill to provide city services, and election of the inaugural Mayor and City Council (including a subsequent runoff to fill the final two spots).

That whirlwind was just a prelude. At one minute after midnight on Dec. 1, 2006, the first Council meeting was called to order. The elected officials passed a host of ordinances and approved myriad other actions critical to the city's smooth transition from Fulton County rule.

Later that day officials presided over the ceremonial installation of the first Johns Creek city limits sign at the intersection of Kimball Bridge and Jones Bridge Road. There was also another Council meeting that included Congressman Tom Price presenting the Mayor and Council with a U.S. flag flown over the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

A year later the city organized its first Founders Day celebration, with a day full of events starting with a parade and ending with a festival of lights and song at Emory Johns Creek Hospital. The event has expanded into a weeklong affair, culminating with the parade down State Bridge Road that now includes almost 20 floats and close to 2,000 participants.

Now three years into cityhood, Mayor Mike Bodker and Council Members Dan McCabe, Ivan Figueroa and Karen Richardson reflect back on the drive to become an independent municipality, meeting the challenge of those frenzied first few days, the tremendous strides the city continues to make, and lessons learned along the way.

Council Member McCabe

I am constantly amazed at what we have accomplished so far. I am convinced that incorporation was the only way to go, seeing how poorly managed Fulton government is up close. By far the smartest thing we have done is take a long-term strategy with our decisions. We cannot fix in a few years what has taken 20 years to mess up. By thinking long-term, we are taking into account how our decisions will affect future generations, so that the problems of today will not get repeated 20 years from now.

Council Member Figueroa

I take great satisfaction seeing how our community pride continues to grow, as shown by the tremendous growth of the Founders Day Parade. As we head into the holidays, I am excited to see our community's arts programs grow and develop. I am looking forward to the next Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra concert, as well as the new Shakespeare Studio's productions. The Johns Creek Arts Center continues to offer great classes and the new Arts Alliance is working hard to promote arts in the Creek!

I am also pleased to see Johns Creek schools continue to excel. Northview's recent International Night was a great success. Chattahoochee was just named one of Georgia's High Schools of the Year, and the new Johns Creek High already has a State Champion team. Our teachers, parents, and families work hard to ensure our kids have the best future possible.

Council Member Richardson

I find that I am more centered both personally and professionally and have a much clearer understanding of what it means to run a city. I thought it would be an easy transition from community advocate to Council Member, but they aren't the same. Now I have to take a broader perspective; it's still advocacy, but from a much higher level.

I think we all came into this with an "idealized" perspective of what a city should be like, how it should function. I am pleased to see that Johns Creek functions well, but it does not necessarily work like a traditional city. We do not have layers of bureaucracy; there is no "city think." We have a great professional staff with a tremendous background in city operations, but they take a more progressive view. Together, we have laid the groundwork for the future.

When it comes to Founders Day, building tradition is important and I am pleased that involvement has grown so much each year. I was watching some of children working on their neighborhood's parade float and they were having such a good time. It is something they will always remember and it will be a point of pride for them growing up here and calling Johns Creek their hometown.

Mayor Bodker

My first thought is and always will be of profound thanks to Speaker Pro Tem Burkhalter. Without his tremendous talent as a lawmaker and willingness to do whatever it takes to deliver for his district, simply put, we would not be here. My thanks also to the entire North Fulton delegation who worked so hard to get our referendum for cityhood approved and provided us the opportunity to choose Johns Creek.

My second-what incredible people we have here, and how much they have accomplished.

As is often the case with great vision, we are surprised at what it takes to put that vision into action, into a comprehensive plan and ultimately, the city we have today. I would be remiss if I did not salute all the employees who not only rose to the challenge of a city start-up, but also combined their expertise with incredible professionalism and enthusiasm.

While my fellow Council Members and I are often congratulated on the direction the city has taken, I think it is important that we remind ourselves that it was, and continues to be, the citizens who took us all down this road and it is the citizens that have continued on this path towards not only a local municipal government, but a community. It is a fine point, but it is the one that makes all the difference.

Today I am proud to say I am Mayor of the City of Johns Creek-but what makes me most proud is that I am a member of the community that is Johns Creek.

We have rolled up our sleeves and worked hard together-elected officials, city workers, businesses and citizens. We certainly got more challenges than we bargained for in the first few years, but we have met them head-on, together, and worked towards reasonable solutions.

For our future I can only hope that we always remember these early days, and sustain this passion for excellence and the spirit in which we work together to achieve it. It is the combination of those two attributes that make us so who we are, and makes our city such a wonderful, vital and thriving place to live and do business.