Johns Creek, Georgia

Infobox Settlement |official_name = Johns Creek, Georgia




image_





image_

---

map_caption = Location in Fulton County in the state of Georgia
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = Georgia
subdivision_name2 = Fulton
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Mike Bodker
area_magnitude =
area_total =
area_land =
area_water =
population_as_of =
population_note =
population_total = 62049
population_density =
timezone = EST
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latitude =34°1'44" N
longitude =84°11'55" W
region =
website = http://www.JohnsCreekGA.gov
footnotes =

Johns Creek (population approximately 62,049) is a city of Fulton County, Georgia which was incorporated on December 1, 2006. It is named for a body of water that runs through the area. According to special legislation passed by the Georgia General Assembly in March 2006 and signed by the Governor of Georgia in April 2006, the city was created out of the entire unincorporated eastern part of northern Fulton County, bounded by Roswell to the west and south, Alpharetta to the northwest, Forsyth County to the north, and Gwinnett County to the south and east. Johns Creek is the state's tenth-largest city.

History

It was proposed that the northeast portion of Fulton County would be incorporated into a new city, as part of municipalization of northern Fulton County. While the name of the Ocee community or even the Warsaw community (both in use since the early days of Milton County) had been proposed, "Johns Creek" had also been put forth, as the body of water it is named for (originally "John's Creek" with an apostrophe) is a significant tributary of the Chattahoochee River that runs through the heart of the area. Legislation had also been introduced that would have called the area "Riverside", but there is already a Riverside, Georgia in the southern part of the state.

The main purpose of the drive to incorporate the Johns Creek area was as part of the complete creation of municipalities of Fulton County,Fact|date=March 2008 which includes most of the city of Atlanta and stretches across the metropolitan Atlanta area from north to southwest, having taken its area from two additional counties.

The referendum to incorporate the area was held on July 18, 2006, with only residents of the Johns Creek area (and not adjacent cities or the remainder of the county) eligible to vote. In relation to this referendum, the city of Milton was also created in December 2006 further northwest in northern Fulton County. Prior to the referendum, in the southwest portion of Johns Creek, a few hundred residents in the area of Newtown unsuccessfully petitioned for annexation into nearby Roswell, as they did not wish to wait for the formation of a new city. Such annexation would have further reduced the new city's tax base. It has been said that residents of Johns Creek, like those of Milton and Sandy Springs, did not feel it fair their tax dollars were not being used to fund libraries in the more affluent North Fulton, while South Fulton received most tax dollars.

At the opposite end of the county, the city of South Fulton has also passed the legislature and been signed by the governor, but will not vote until 2007. Unlike Milton and Johns Creek there was in fact little or no local news coverage nor public push to create this city — the only purpose is complete municipalization of the county and elimination of the county commission by default. This comes in the wake of 2005's incorporation of Sandy Springs, which was already a very developed city of over 80,000 people. All incorporations are using the same temporary suspension of state law which requires any new city's boundaries to be at least three miles (5km) from any existing city.

Government

A mayor and six city council members (elected at-large or citywide) make up the city's governmental structure, along with a city manager (appointed by the mayor), a city attorney, a city clerk, a city tax collector, a city accountant (nominated by the mayor and ratified by the city council), and an executive aide.

Mike Bodker, 41, who led the successful citizen effort to create the new city of Johns Creek, became its first mayor in December 2006. Bodker, who is a partner in a business consulting firm, has no prior political experience, which is evident in the way he and the City Council conduct city business. Johns Creek's initial city manager is John Kachmar, and the initial contract city attorney is Bill Riley.

In recent years there had been growing animosity by those in white north Fulton County over disproportionate levels of tax revenue being used in the less-developed southwest section of the county, as well as over excessive land development and zoning, and other issues of local control. Because of the July 18, 2006 referendum, active political discussions regarding the re-forming of Milton County out of north Fulton (the area in which the City of Johns Creek resides) have been revisited. This is partly due to the fact that as of December 1, 2006, there is no area of the northern portion of Fulton County left unincorporated.

Government Service Changes from Fulton County to City of Johns Creek

Water and sewer service: Handled through contracts with Fulton County indefinitely.

Police: Handled through contracts with Fulton County until April 2008 when the City started their own Johns Creek Police Department with 56 sworn officers.

Fire: Handled through contracts with Fulton County until the Fire Dept starts up in fall of 2008.

Management: The City has a public-private partnership contract with a private company CH2MHILL OMI to run day-to-day operations at the City (excluding Police & Fire). Estimated annual cost $16 million - $18 million. CH2MHILL OMI came with a management team already selected and was able to start services on day one of incorporation. John Kachmar became city manager after a nationwide search was conducted. There are six actual city employees (not including Police & Fire) and approximately 80+ CH2MHILL OMI employees or subcontractors that serve the city. Website: www.johnscreekga.gov; main phone: [phone].

Green space: Fulton County had contracts with private entities to manage recreation programs. The city took over those agreements. CH2M Hill staff maintain the facilities.

Planning and zoning: The city council adopted the county's zoning rules and land use plan. CH2M Hill staff manage the community development, planning & zoning.

Roads and traffic: Routine maintenance is handled or managed by CH2M Hill.

Public schools: Continues to be served by Fulton County Schools. Northview High School, Chattahoochee High School, Taylor Road Middle School, Barnwell Elementary School, State Bridge Crossing Elementary school, and Medlock Bridge Elementary School are located in the city. [http://www.johnscreekga.gov/about/FAQ.html]

Geography

Johns Creek is centered at coor dms|34|1|44|N|84|11|55|W|city (34.0289259, -84.1985790)GR|1, as recognized by the USGS GNIS in December 2006. The elevation is around 286 meters or 938 feet AMSL. Johns Creek is bounded to the south by the Chattahoochee River and Gwinnett County. It is bounded on the Northeast by McGinnis Ferry Road and Forsyth County. It has an irregular boundary with the cities of Roswell and Alpharetta on the Northwest side.

US Postal Service Issue

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) now partially recognizes Johns Creek. Residents in the 30022 (Alpharetta), 30097 (Duluth), and 30005 (Alpharetta) ZIP codes are able - as of June 1, 2007 - to use Johns Creek, GA, as their mailing address according to the USPS. Residents with 30024 (Suwanee) and 30076 (Roswell) ZIP codes have not been authorized to use Johns Creek, GA as their mailing address. Johns Creek officials continue to work with the USPS for a permanent solution. Because websites typically use ZIP codes, a search for Johns Creek on most sites (such as for weather) usually returns "no such city". The lack of a single Johns Creek ZIP code causes much confusion regarding the location of stores, restaurants, residential real estate, etc., since these sites usually use their mailing addresses in advertising, which means they are identified as being in Duluth, Alpharetta, or Suwanee, rather than being in the city of Johns Creek. The new recognition of Johns Creek by the USPS partially solves this problem, but it will be up to the eligible businesses in the city to actually migrate to the usage of the newly-legitimate "Johns Creek, GA" address format in their advertising. In 2008, Mayor Bodker started a "Choose to Use Johns Creek" initiative in which he asked all residents and business owners in the city to start using their Johns Creek addresses.

Demographics

There is currently no demographic information available, as Johns Creek did not exist in 2000, nor was it a census-designated place.Johns Creek is predominately Caucasian with a large Asian minority consisting of Chinese, Koreans, and Indians and a smaller percentage of African-Americans.

Education

The public schools in Johns Creek are part of the Fulton County School System and are not funded by the city.

High Schools (Grades 9-12)
* Chattahoochee High School
* Northview High School
* Johns Creek High School, opening in August 2009

Centennial High School, located in Roswell, serves students that live in Newtown.

Middle Schools (Grades 6-8)
* Autrey Mill Middle School
* River Trail Middle School
* Taylor Road Middle School

Haynes Bridge Middle School, located in Alpharetta, serves students that live in Newtown.

Elementary Schools (Grades K-5)
* Abbotts Hill Elementary School
* Barnwell Elementary School
* Dolvin Elementary School
* Findley Oaks Elementary School
* Medlock Bridge Elementary School
* Ocee Elementary School
* Shakerag Elementary School
* State Bridge Crossing Elementary School
* Wilson Creek Elementary School

References

External links

* [http://www.JohnsCreekGA.gov Official site for the city of Johns Creek]
* [http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/sum/hb1321.htm Georgia legislative summary]
* [http://www.cviog.uga.edu/spotlight/news/item.php?id=348 CVIoG article]
* [http://www.bizjournals.com/bizspace/atlanta/local_column/?story_id=1273132 "ABJ" article]
* [http://www.accessjohnscreek.com Access Johns Creek]
* [http://www.thepost-news.com The Post in Johns Creek]
* [http://www.northfulton.com Johns Creek Herald]