Latest News

Mayor Pro Tem Dave Emanuel was one of the graduates from the 2019 Region 3 Multi-Day Training Program hosted by the Board of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development.

Participants represented a number of professional and non-professional economic development fields, including elected officials, public servants, business leaders, educators, and social service providers from ten counties.

"This series of classes provided excellent, useful information, much of which can be applied to Snellville," Emanuel said. "In addition to classroom presentations, we saw first hand what other cities have done to attract new businesses and support existing businesses. Each city's situation is unique, but there is a common thread of assessing the current business and community environments, formulating plans to improve them and putting those plans into action."

The Academy provided each of the graduates an opportunity to gain a unique understanding of the complexities of economic and community development on the local, regional, and state levels.

Created in 1993, the Academy assembles a cross section of economic development professionals and resources to provide this training in all 12 service delivery regions in Georgia.

"One of the goals for the multi-day regional Academies is to encourage multi-county cooperation," says Kelly Lane, director of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development. "Many times the participants discover the issues facing their community are the same as those facing other communities in their region, and can then combine limited resources to address the issue."

The Academy's multi-day program, taught one day a month over a four-month period, includes training in the basics of economic and community development, plus specialized segments on business recruitment and retention, tourism product development, downtown development, planning, and other essentials for community success. In addition, the curriculum features specific leadership skills such as consensus building, ethics in public service, collaborative leadership and other segments needed for effective community leadership in economic development. Local elected officials may receive certification training credits through the Association County Commissioners of Georgia and the Georgia Municipal Association for completion of this program.

SNELLVILLE – Early voting for the Dec. 3 Run-off Election is ongoing and will end Nov. 27 at 4:30 p.m.

The hours of early voting are each weekday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at Snellville City Hall, 2342 Oak Road.

During the original Nov. 5 vote, the Post 2 contest did not see any of the four candidates receive more than 50 percent of the vote needed to win the seat outright. Now, the top-two vote getters - Solange Destang (567 votes) and Brittany Marmol (496 votes) - will square off Dec. 3 to decide the winner of the seat. Marmol's husband Roger decided not to run for re-election for the post.

During the Nov. 5 election, incumbent Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Dave Emanuel defeated challenger Cortez Riden 989 to 211. Mayor Barbara Bender did not have a challenger in her race and notched 1,093 votes.

Early voting for the December 3, 2019 Run-off Election will begin Thursday, November 21, 2019 at 8:30 and end Wednesday, November 27, 2019 at 4:30. The hours of early voting will be each week day from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

El voto anticipado para la Elección de Segunda Vuelta 3 de Diciembre 2019 comenzara el Jueves, 21 de Noviembre 2019 a las 8:30 a.m. y terminara el Miércoles, 27 de Noviembre 2019 a las 4:30 p.m. Las horas de voto anticipado serán cada día de semana dentro de las 8:30 a.m. hasta las 4:30 p.m.

SNELLVILLE – There will be a run-off election Dec. 3 to determine the winner of the city's Post 2 council seat after none of the four candidates garnered more than 50 percent of the vote.

In the Post 2 contest, Solange Destang received 567, Brittany Marmol notched 496, Wanda Blow got 90 and Thomas Mwambay tallied 39 votes respectively, meaning Destang and Marmol will square off Dec. 3 to decide the winner of the seat. Marmol's husband Roger decided not to run for re-election for the seat. The winner of the race would've needed to receive 597 votes to avoid the runoff.

Incumbent Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Dave Emanuel defeated challenger Cortez Riden 989 to 211

Mayor Barbara Bender did not have a challenger in her race and notched 1,093 votes.

SNELLVILLE – A logo has been chosen to represent The Grove at Towne Center – a highly anticipated mixed-use town center coming the city.

Residents got a first look during a special reveal before the city council meeting Monday on the corner of Clower Street and Wisteria Drive.

"We're thrilled to have a visual representation of a project that we've been working to create for so long," said Mayor Barbara Bender. "Showing the logo to our residents brought such joy, and we're proud to have a design that represents a few of the wonderful aspects of Snellville's past and present, while also representing where we hope to go in the future."

The custom design features an oak tree with two intertwining trunks to represent the town's rich history coming together with the present. The leaves are said to represent the individual residents of Snellville who are at the center of the project. Additionally, the color green was chosen to symbolize the planned greenway and green space the area will offer. Finally, "The Grove" is a nod to the city's history, as this was the name of the location where founding community members came together for events and celebrations in Snellville's early days.

The $85-million project is being developed by CASTO, one of the country's leading commercial real estate companies, together with Atlanta- based development partner MidCity Real Estate Partners.

"We are pleased to provide a logo that the City of Snellville is proud to associate with The Grove," said Shannon Dixon, EVP of Southeast Development for CASTO. "We believe this design incorporates the most important aspects that the City wishes to convey – community, a nod to the past, and excitement for what's to come."

The Grove at Towne Center will be a walkable, destination space that will feature inviting restaurants, entertainment and retail spaces that will serve as key amenities for office users, residents and visitors. Shared use paths for pedestrians and cyclists will be located throughout the development, connecting the various components of the master planned project and the surrounding neighborhoods via the Snellville Greenway.

The first phase of construction of The Grove at Towne Center project will include relocation of the city's U.S. Post Office, expected to occur in early 2020 with a groundbreaking on the project anticipated for the second quarter of 2020.

For more information and updates on the Grove at Towne Center project visit www.snellville.org/the-towne-center-snellville.

SNELLVILLE – Spurred by reports of people getting sick or dying from vaping products, the Mayor and Council unanimously decided to place a 12-month moratorium on approving the opening of new vape shops in the city.

"This is something that is of particular interest to me, because as I have been reading, and all of you I am sure have been reading every day practically in the newspaper, there's more concern expressed for e-cigarettes and vaping and the illnesses and deaths that have been caused," said Councilwoman Gretchen Schulz, who spearheaded Mayor and Council's efforts looking into the issue. "What this resolution that we are looking at passing does is prohibit the opening of any new vape shops for the next 12 months. This will give us time to see what, if anything, is going to be done perhaps by the state legislature or by the federal government. After 12 months we can determine where we go at that point."

A vape shop is defined as a store which has total retail sales of more than 25 percent designated to vaping products or 25 percent of the floor area designated for the sale or advertising of vaping products, city officials said.

The City of Snellville is currently selling surplus items on Ebay. One item will be listed per day on Ebay under the seller "cityofsnellville" starting on October 11, 2019 and will list for seven (7) days. The items are as follows:
1984 Ford 2910 Tractor – S/N U9048404

1993 Toro Top dresser – S/N 30387

2007 Club Car XRT 800 – S/N XH0708-729392

2007 Toro Z-Master Mower – S/N 270002152

500 Gallon Trailer Tank – S/N 10173170

These are pieces of machinery that are old and inoperable in their current condition. The cost to repair for general use would exceed the value of the equipment. If you are interested please visit ebay and search under the seller "cityofsnellville'

SNELLVILLE – The city's Digital Badge Program kicked off Thursday with a meeting between city officials and area educators.

A digital badge is an indicator of accomplishment or skill that can be displayed, accessed and verified online. The badges are earned by completing certain tasks outlined online in subjects such as financial management, and can be used by students, job seekers or employees looking to advance their education or career. A digital badge is a digital version of a traditionally paper certificate used to designate course completion or competency.

Now the city is looking to partner with area schools to offer the free program to students using LRNG.org, an online resource "powered by" Southern New Hampshire University.

"We can use this for elementary school, middle school and high school students," said Mayor Pro Tem Dave Emanuel who helped organize the program he said will "improve skill sets" of those who participate. "The applications are almost endless."

Emanuel said he believes Snellville is the only city in Georgia and the smallest city in the country to adopt the program, joining larger cities like Chicago, Washington, DC and Philadelphia.

The program impressed Shiloh High School Principal Dr. Danyel Dollard.

"For our seniors, what better way to be prepared for college than a financial literacy class," she said. "The wheels are spinning on how we can use this."

For more information on the program visit www.LRNG.org or contact Economic Development Director Eric Van Otteren at evanotteren@snellville.org.

SNELLVILLE – Mayor and Council approved the stormwater and patching and paving projects for the 2020 fiscal year Monday.

The projects will be completed by July 2020, city officials said.

The stormwater projects were awarded to The Dickerson Group with a bid of $454,664. Stormwater infrastructure improvement projects are scheduled for the following areas:

1898-1899 Harbour Oaks Drive

2018-2039 Harbour Oaks Drive

1560 Summit Chase Drive

3197 Classic Drive -1271 Green Turf Drive

3156 Classic Drive -1235 Green Turf Drive

3317-3329 Summit Turf Drive

2990 Riverbend Drive

3327-3326 Classic Drive

3211-3200 Grand Central Drive

1863 Bennett Ridge-1843 Valley View Drive

3310-3311 Grand Central Drive

The street patching and paving bid was awarded to the lowest bidder, E.R. Snell Contractor, Inc. not to exceed the budget amount of $696,000.

The streets that will be repaved and/or patched are:

Valley Drive

Valley Way

Lanier Drive

Lanier Way

Twin Springs Drive

Scenic Drive

Vail Valley Court

Deer Valley Court

Aspen Ridge

Heavenly Lane

Zermatt Way

Beaver Creek Lane

Brooks Court

Summit Turf Lane

SNELLVILLE – The city's police department won the top prize at the Governor's Office of Highway Safety Awards Banquet in Macon Wednesday.

Gov. Brian Kemp presented the prestigious Governor's Cup to Chief Roy Whitehead and Lt. David Matson in recognition of the achievements of the Snellville Police Department.

"I am honored and privileged to represent the hard work of the men and women of our department as they strive to keep our city's streets and roadways safe," said Chief Roy Whitehead. "I am especially honored to receive this award on their behalf from Gov. Brian Kemp."

SPD also won first place in the Occupant Protection and Distracted Driving categories.

Agencies throughout the state submitted applications based on their participation in the various enforcement initiatives of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety focusing on impaired driving, occupant protection, distracted driving and speeding together with efforts in education and community involvement.

The Snellville Police Department achieved the highest score, earning the Governor's Cup.

Lt. David Matson and Sgt. Scott Smith prepared SPD's submission qualifying the department for the award.