Finance Department honored for fourth straight year.

Courtesy City Of Milton

The City of Milton and its Finance Department have again been recognized for excellence, this time in producing the Fiscal Year 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).

For the fourth year in a row, the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has awarded the City of Milton the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. It is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, said the Chicago-based GFOA.

In addition, the city’s Finance Department again received an award recognizing Financial Reporting Achievement. This award is given to the department or agency designated by the honored government as primarily responsible for preparing the award-winning CAFR.

To view the award-winning 2011 CAFR, click here.

Attainment of both awards represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management, and the fact that Milton has been recognized for the last four years highlights the tremendous amount of work and care that goes both into the CAFR and the city’s financial reporting every day.

“These documents, which provide valuable insight into how the City of Milton uses taxpayer dollars responsibly and frugally, are of utmost importance to our residents and business owners concerned with how their government is being run,” said Stacey Inglis, Assistant City Manager.

Inglis said producing the CAFR – which includes a yearly extensive audit, exhaustive research of historical data and numerous detailed written documents – was a months-long process involving every city department. Next year’s document is already being prepared.

“We invite all of our citizens to explore the CAFR and understand fully the city’s financial position,” she said.

Upon completion, the CAFR is judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, including demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and groups to read the report.

GFOA is a nonprofit association with offices in Chicago and Washington, D.C. serving approximately 17,500 government finance professionals.

Make sure to RSVP for Council’s Open House Dec. 15.

Courtesy City of Milton

There are just a few days left to RSVP for the Mayor’s Holiday Open House hosted by City Council Saturday, Dec. 15 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the home of Mayor Joe Lockwood on Dorris Road.

To RSVP, please e-mail rsvp@cityofmiltonga.us and include your name and address to verify you are a Milton resident. You will be sent an invitation to print out.

The entire city is welcome to the informal holiday party. All food and drinks will be donated by City Council and local businesses. Confirmed participating businesses include Crabbapple Tavern, Edible Arrangements, 'Cue, Xian Chinese Bistro, Milton's Cuisine and Cocktails, Sip, Mambo Jambo Cafe, Ippolito's, Olde Blind Dog Irish Pub, El Azteca, Brooklyn Joe’s Pizza, Pasta & Grill, Scottsdale Farms and Vintage Pizzeria.

Shuttled parking will be available from Milton High School, 13025 Birmingham Highway in Milton (click here for directions). Handicapped parking will be available at the home, 375 Dorris Road in Milton (click here for directions).

For more information about the party, contact Christine Doss, Executive Aide to Mayor and City Council, at 678-242-2492 or christine.doss@cityofmiltonga.us.

Milton awarded Green Communities certification.

By Accessmilton.com

The City of Milton on Wednesday earned Green Communities certification from the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) for leadership in the efficient and sustainable use of natural resources in metro Atlanta.

Milton is now recognized as a “Bronze” level Green Community, one of only 18 jurisdictions in the state to receive the honor since the program began four years ago. It is the first new North Fulton city to gain the designation, the result of more than two years of work involving staff and volunteers from Milton Grows Green (MGG).

Additionally, it is the first and only community to receive credit for having a community forestry master plan.

The designation comes mere weeks after Milton took first place for local governments in the Clean Air Campaign’s 2012 PACE awards thanks to the city’s commute options programs to reduce traffic and improve air quality.

“At only six years old, Milton has recognized the value of being a green community by promoting an excellent quality of life combined with environmental stewardship,” said Cindy Eade, the city’s environmental sustainability coordinator.

And the effort won’t end here, said Michele McIntosh-Ross, principal planner with Milton.

“We’re not far from gaining silver-level certification, and from there we’ll go to gold,” she said.

Over the past two years, city staff and MGG implemented sustainable practices in all aspects of the city’s operations, including energy and water consumption, green building standards, reducing waste and protecting green space and trees. Additionally, they have tirelessly promoted sustainability at city events and local schools.

“Milton [is] setting an example for businesses and other organizations seeking to use resources wisely and efficiently,” said Tad Leithead, ARC chairman. “Sustainability – economic, social and environmental – is the foundation of ARC’s Plan 2040, and we applaud the efforts of all of our certified Green Communities for their leadership in ushering in a more sustainable region.”

ARC developed the Green Communities Program to foster greater environmental stewardship and recognize local governments that invest in programs leading to a more sustainable region. The nationally recognized program showcases the ways in which local governments are helping to transform the region by reducing their environmental footprint.

For more information on the City of Milton’s sustainability efforts, please visit the MGG by clicking here. You may also contact Eade at 678-242-2509 or cindy.eade@cityofmiltonga.us.

For 2013, business license renewals cannot be mailed.

By Accessmilton.com

Due to state law concerning the Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act passed by the Georgia General Assembly last year, 2013 business license renewal forms cannot be mailed back to the City of Milton.

Instead, if you renew your business license for 2013, you must e-mail the forms to bl@cityofmiltonga.us or hand-deliver them to City Hall, 13000 Deerfield Parkway Suite 107 Suite F (click here for directions, click here for a map of City Hall).

Additionally, all applicants must submit Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) affidavits along with identification such as a driver's license, passport or legal immigration document. Businesses will receive the E-verify affidavit, SAVE affidavit and credit card authorizations forms in the mail along with instructions on how to file these documents.

These documents are being mailed in early December, said Kathleen Field, Community Development Director for the City of Milton. However, if you are a business owner you may begin the process immediately by downloading the forms below.

New Business License

Business License Renewal

Private employer Affidavit

Private Employer Exemption Affidavit

Affidavit Of Presense In the United States

Credit Card Authorization Form

All forms and payments are due by March 31, 2013.

"We're hoping the e-mail address allows applicants an alternative to making an in-person visit to City Hall," Field said. "Using the e-mail will cut down on wait times due to walk-in traffic."

For more information, contact Jamila Jones, permit technician, at jamila.jones@cityofmiltonga.us or 678-242-2521.

Entire city invited to mayor’s Christmas party.

City of Milton Mayor Joe Lockwood and his wife Dawn Lockwood will be opening their home to the community for a Christmas open house.

by Joan Durbin jdurbin@neighbornewspapers.com

The idea to invite 30,000 or so people to their home began with Milton Mayor Joe Lockwood’s late night chat with his wife, Dawn.

“We were lying in bed, talking about having a Christmas party again this year,” the mayor recalled, “and I said how about inviting the entire city?”

At first, Lockwood said, his wife didn’t take him seriously. “She was like, now really, who do you really want to invite?” he said with a chuckle.

When it became clear her husband meant every resident of Milton, “I was a little hesitant at first,” Dawn Lockwood said. “But I’m actually looking forward to it now. We love to entertain and this will be a good party.”

All Milton city council members have told Lockwood they would be there and be co-hosts, he said. “They have been very supportive. They’re bringing desserts and we are all chipping in for beverages. Some restaurants are going to be donating food. No city funds or taxpayer money will be spent.”

The open house will be Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Lockwood home, 375 Dorris Road. There is handicapped parking at the site and shuttle buses will be running from Milton High School, 13025 Birmingham Highway.

The event is intended to be casual and will afford residents the opportunity to shake hands and chat with elected officials in an informal, social setting.

“I think it’s pretty novel. It will be a big party with a small town, community feel,” Lockwood said.

Councilwoman Karen Thurman said she was looking forward to celebrating the holidays with other Milton residents.

“It is very gracious of the mayor and his wife to allow the city council to help host a Christmas party at his house at which we invite all the residents of Milton,” she said. “I am planning on bringing Congo bars, which is a recipe from my grandmother, Polly Mobley, a Milton resident.”

Councilman Burt Hewitt said it is very hospitable for the mayor to open his home to the entire city. “I also think it’s a bit crazy! I’m not sure what I will be cooking. I have never prepared for 32,000.” Lockwood said the event is not a dress-up affair. “I plan to be wearing jeans,” he said.

With an event this big, advance planning is crucial. To get an idea of how many people will be coming, the Lockwoods are asking for RSVPs at rsvp@cityofmiltonga.us. Include a name and address to verify Milton residency. An invitation will be sent by return email to print out and bring to the party.

For more information, call Christine Doss, executive aide to the mayor and city council, at (678) 242-2492 or christine.doss@cityofmiltonga.us.

Read more: NeighborNewspapers.com - Entire city invited to mayor’s Christmas party

New Poll Up - Old Poll Results

All:

We have a new poll up.

It asks "Does the City of Milton Treat All Citizens Equally?"

Have your say today in the right margin.

Below are the most recent poll results=>

Teen killed in Forsyth County wreck.

AM NOTE: Every time we post one of these terrible stories, it shows the horrible reality of what can transpire when speeding occurs. Milton GA needs to hire more officers and work proactivetly with both open road neighborhoods and commuters to insure our roads are the safest in Georgia. Speeding should not be tolerated.

By Alexis Stevens The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Forsyth County investigators believe excessive speed and wet conditions may have been factors in a wreck that killed a high school student and injured several others Monday afternoon.

Kyle Alan Robins, 17, died in the two-vehicle wreck, which happened around 4 p.m. on Hendrix Road in Cumming, investigators said. Robins was driving a four-door sedan with a classmate in the front seat at the time of crash, which happened about two miles from North Forsyth High School.

Robins died after apparently crossing the center line and into the path of an oncoming pickup truck, Coroner Lauren McDonald III told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution late Monday.

“It was a massive impact,” McDonald said. “This truly was a horrific accident.”

The impact split the car into two, with the front portion traveling about 70 yards from the point of collision, McDonald said.

“The car had turned into the truck,” McDonald said. “The driver was on the vulnerable side.”

A front seat passenger, Joel Knost, was transported by ambulance to North Fulton Hospital, where he was in serious condition Monday night. Both teens were juniors at North Forsyth, according to Jennifer Caracciolo, spokeswoman for Forsyth County schools.

Three people in the truck were also injured, according to Chief Jason Shivers with the Forsyth County fire department. An 18-year-old female and two juveniles were transported to hospitals by ambulance for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. That teen is senior at the same school, Caracciolo said. She was transported to North Fulton Hospital, where she was treated and released later Monday.

The ages of the other passengers in the truck were not immediately available. Both were transported by ambulance to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite, Shivers said.

After learning of the crash, some students gathered at the high school, Caracciolo said. Student leaders were planning to gather at 8 a.m. Tuesday at the school’s flag pole to remember the classmate who died, she said.

Additional grief counselors are expected to be at the high school Tuesday, Caracciolo said. News of the student’s death was posted on the school’s website.

Robins was a member of the golf team at the school and also played baseball. Will Johnson, an assistant baseball coach for a summer league team, told The AJC he hadn’t gotten to know Robins well. But in a very short time, Johnson was impressed with the teen’s dedication and positive attitude, even during the more laid-back summer season.

“He was one of those kids that never missed a game,” Johnson said.

Road to Safety competition challenges North Fulton students.

First and second place winners in last year’s Road to Safety Program from Johns Creek High School are pictured with Fulton County Schools Area Superintendent Dr. Sam Taylor (back right), Principal Buck Greene (back left) and Jamie Chuven (front middle), video production teacher at Johns Creek HS. (click for larger version)

by PHOEBE BUMSTED; The Milton Herald

December 05, 2012

NORTH FULTON, Ga. – The third annual Road to Safety video competition will accept entries from high schools across Fulton County until Dec. 18. The top three winners will receive cash prizes of up to $1,000 in addition to donated prizes from local businesses.

The contest, inspired by the memory of Parker Jackson and Patrick Enloe, aims to encourage students to participate in safe driving habits.

"[Their stories showed me that] we've got to do something to get these kids to be safer drivers," Lisa Cauley, Road to Safety co-founder, said.

Cauley believes that Road to Safety is an effective way to reach students because they will be more receptive to messages from their peers than their parents or teachers.

Video submissions can cover any type of dangerous driving, from texting while driving to hydroplaning. The goal is to raise awareness about all kinds of dangerous driving.

"We had more texting and driving videos than any other topic…There's a lot of different things that have not been addressed yet that can still be addressed. Hopefully, we'll get a little more variety this year," Cauley said.

Past videos can be found at the RTS website www.road2safety.com. Schools have access to these videos, and Cauley encourages them to air the videos at large school events such as dances where students might be drinking.

Johns Creek Driving School has used winning videos in its program, and RTS has been recognized through proclamations from the Fulton County Commissioners and the Georgia State Senate.

Participating schools include Alpharetta, Cambridge, Centennial, Chattahoochee, Johns Creek, Milton, Northview and Roswell. Students over the age of 14 can submit videos for consideration to their video production teacher or principal, or they can mail entries directly to RTS. Videos must be on a flash drive or SD card in .mov format in order to be considered.

The judges for the Road to Safety competition will include Lisa Cauley, School Board member Katie Reeves, a police officer, Steve Jones from Johns Creek Driving School and one previous winner. They focus primarily on the message of the videos rather than the quality of the video production. Cauley emphasized that the focus of the contest is not video production but driving safety awareness.

"This is not a video production competition. This is about sending a message, and any student with a home computer, a smartphone or a camcorder can make a two minute video," Cauley said.

Deadline for submissions is Dec. 18 and judging will take place in mid-January.

For more information about RTS, visit www.road2safety.com, email them at roadtosafety@att.net or call 678-428-4254.

Family and friends honor the life of Milton Coach Mike Scott.

by Carolyn Aspenson; Appen Newspapers

December 05, 2012

MILTON, Ga.- "A man never stands so tall or straight when he stoops to help the youth of a community," Milton High School Head Coach Howie DeCristafaro said about Coach Mike Scott.

Scott succumbed to pancreatic cancer Saturday, Dec. 1st.

"Mike wasn't like other people," said Todd Perry, a close friend of Scott. "He was special." Perry became emotional while talking about his friend.

"Mike had a passion for football, but his true passion was for the boys," he said. "He taught these kids that football prepares you for life, for dealing with the challenges it brings."

Scott, known to most as Big Show, because of his booming size and personality, played college football for only a short time.

"He had a heart problem and didn't pass his physical the year he was set to play in the starting line up," Perry said.

Perry said that while Scott's heart wasn't strong enough to play the sport, it was too strong to walk away from it entirely.

"He ended up being a student coach for the team," he said. "And that's where he found his passion for coaching."

Scott's coaching career included Trinity University in Texas, the University of Central Florida, the University of West Georgia, Southeastern Louisiana University, the University of West Alabama and Milton High School.

"Mike was more than just a coach," Milton Athletic Director, Gary Sylvestri said. "He taught PE and health and had contact with every kid in this school. They loved him."

Sylvestri also said there is a memorial board in the Milton weight room with notes to Scott. "His life touched everyone. There are more notes up there from female students than male."

The notes will be put in a memorial box and given to the family.

"Mike put his heart into everything he did," Sylvestri said. "He never said no to anyone, and even though he had this big, tough guy presence, the kids saw through it, and they respected him."

Carrie Smith started a fundraising page on Giveforward.com for Scott's family, hoping to raise money to help with medical costs.

"I got excited when we hit the $2,000 mark," she said. "I'd hoped to raise maybe $10,000 but we're over $50,000 now and it's unbelievable."

Smith said local businesses provided products and services for fundraising.

"We've received cash donations from both people and businesses," she said. "It's wonderful to see so many people coming out to support Mike and his family."

Perry said schools in the area have raised money for the Scott family.

"Our biggest competitor raised money at our game," he said. "The community is really pulling together to support Mike and his family."

To donate to the family www.giveforward.com/miracleformike.

Scott is survived by his wife of nearly eight years, Mary Jane Bray Scott; daughter, Abigail Scott; and son, Anthony Michael Scott, all of Canton; father, Waller Massie Scott Jr. of West Chester, Ohio; and sister, Debbie Scott Harrison of Nicholasville, Ky.

See photos from the fourth annual Tree Lighting.

Courtesy City of Milton\

It was a clear, cool night Nov. 29, perfect for the fourth annual City of Milton Tree Lighting.

A large crowd gathered at the site, Ga. 9 and Webb Road, to hear the Milton and Cambridge choruses, see the tree lit and have photos made with Santa Claus. And the man himself did not disappoint, arriving in a City of Milton fire truck to the tune of “Here Comes Santa Claus.”

Special thanks to everyone involved, including the singers, local businesses, and of course Hayden Moore, the Alpharetta High School student who helped Mayor Joe Lockwood light the tree for the third year in a row.

To view photos from the event, click here.

Milton police arrest home invasion suspect.

Courtesy Milton Police Department

City of Milton police have arrested and charged a man they believe to be responsible for a Nov. 21 armed home invasion on Hopewell Road.

The suspect is believed to be in the country illegally from Honduras. He is in Fulton County Jail without bail and attempts are being made to identify his real name.

Police said the suspect allegedly took part in a home invasion the day before Thanksgiving in which a family was held at gunpoint. The family owns a home-based business, and the suspect and another man allegedly came under the false pretenses of looking for work.

One of the family members was able to escape and ran to a neighbor’s home. There she called police. The suspects, who ransacked the home for money, fled on foot when they heard sirens. No one was hurt.

Officers were able to track the suspects with a K-9 unit until they were likely picked up by a vehicle. Later investigative leads led police to the Savannah area, where the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department assisted Milton detectives in apprehending the jailed man.

The suspect is charged with armed robbery, first degree burglary, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and false imprisonment.

Milton police continue their search for the other two suspects believed to be involved in the home invasion.

Milton HS coach dies of cancer.

By David Wickert The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A Milton High School football coach died Saturday after losing a battle with pancreatic cancer, Channel 2 Action News reported.

Mike Scott, 36, was a teacher and coach at the school in Alpharetta for six years. An offensive line and strength coach, he was diagnosed with cancer in early October and was given six to eight months to live.

He previously played football at the University of Kentucky and coached college football. He is survived by his wife and two children.