Longtime Suwanee Council Member Bows Out
Brooks attends final meeting as he plans to seek Gwinnett BOC post.
Photos
After 10 years on the Suwanee City Council, Jace Brooks will attend his final meeting Tuesday. The regular May meeting is 7 p.m. at City Hall.
He leaves with a record of accomplishment, and hopes of doing the same for Gwinnett County. As an announced candidate for the Gwinnett Board of Commissioners, he will have to resign his Suwanee post.
What are your memories of Jace Brooks' record in Suwanee? Tell us in the comments below.
"We have truly been blessed to be able to accomplish so much in Suwanee over the past 10 years," Brooks said in recalling his time on the Suwanee council. "From a broad perspective, I guess I am most proud that Suwanee is seen as a leader in this region - a success story - yet we have been able to accomplish so much while still remaining highly efficient and fiscally sound."
Brooks has been in office almost since the beginning of the "parks" era in Suwanee. The Open Space Referendum in 2001 authorized the city to borrow money to develop the signature parks and trails system. Town Center Park, which opened in 2004, was the first one built. The city's current City Hall opened in 2009.
"I am most proud of Town Center Park," he continued. "I am often overwhelmed with pride and excitement when I drive by the park and see it being used by so many people. We wanted to create a gathering place. A place where neighbors could eat together and play together and spend time with one another. A place that created a sense of place for Suwanee. I guess we hit the nail on the head!"
A financial manager by profession, Brooks notes that Suwanee has accomplished this and increased its population 76 percent, all while lowering taxes.
"Since I have been serving, we have lowered taxes several times, upgraded our credit/bond rating, and attracted hundreds of high paying private sector jobs," he added.
Suwanee will hold a special election in July to replace Brooks; further details have not been announced.
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ashby harris
7:08 am on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
I've lived here for 33 years. I don't know where Mr. Brooks gets the "lowering taxes" part.
Rosemary Vollmar
8:50 am on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Well, Ashby, I have long noticed that when politicians say "lowered, or kept the taxes the same", they really are talking about the tax rate or millage. They will do their darndest to keep that the same so that they can say they didn't raise the taxes. But, what is occuring that causes us to pay more 'dollars' every other year or so, is that the tax assessor goes around and raises our property values. The rate might be the same, but oh boy, the written ckeck to the tax collector just keeps getting larger and larger.
Steve Burns
9:00 am on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
For the record, the City Of Suwanee last August lowered the millage rate for the current fiscal year. http://suwanee.patch.com/articles/suwanee-lowers-tax-rate-for-2011-12