GwinnettForum | Number 23.58 | July 26, 2024
A NEW TWO-SIDED MURAL graces the Lilburn City Park Pavilion. Commissioned by Mayor Johnny Crist, the work is a product of Sonny Franks, a Clemson graduate who has painted his entire life. Franks is also the June Citizen of the Month for Lilburn. Franks particularly enjoyed the quote from Mark Twain, which graces half the mural. “He’s my favorite author,” Franks says. “I heard that quote years ago and wanted to share it with the public.”
TODAY’S FOCUS: Adventures of getting through a reverse mortgage
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Why Gwinnett County has few significant water main breaks
SPOTLIGHT: E.R. Snell Contractor, Inc.
ANOTHER VIEW: Violent right-wing political speech is too commonplace
FEEDBACK: Considerations of Gateway Monument coming to CID
NOTABLE: Firms get contracts to rehab three flood control dams
RECOMMENDED: The Eye of the Needle, by Ken Follett
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Opera in Atlanta dates back to the late 19th Century
MYSTERY PHOTO: Pouring water may be this mystery’s best clue
CALENDAR: Jazz in the Alley in Norcross on Saturday
Adventures of getting through a reverse mortgage
By Sara Rawlins
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. | Let me advise those who are thinking about using their home for its equity, that is, get a reverse mortgage.
There are two types of home equity, a HELOC or HECM.
The HELOC can be obtained by anyone who has equity in their home. They can borrow money against the home, but it has to be paid back in a certain time.
In contrast, the HECM allows you to live in your home until death. The HECM has three or four rules that a person must follow.
- The homeowner taking out the HECM must be age 62.
- The homeowner must be able to pay the home insurance.
- The homeowner must be current in paying the property taxes.
- The Homeowner’s Association dues must be current. (I don’t live in an area with such an association.)
Searching for information, I went online looking for a company that does reverse mortgages. There are many. You must be vigilant and ensure such a company is backed by government guarantees.
A gentleman who works for a reverse mortgage company in Alabama was my guide. We kept in touch via email and phone. He is what is called the “originator” of the reverse mortgage. He sent me a package via email of what my home was valued at, an amortization chart based on the value of the home, numerous graphs showing growth on money, the value of the property, the annual percentage rate, and what the total estimated settlement cost I would receive after all the fees were paid. They advise you on what you are willing to spend. There is also a required home appraisal fee that is out of pocket. If they find a problem with your home, you are granted a year to fix it, but money will be withheld until the problem is corrected.
There are a couple of things you must pay for out of pocket before you get started. One of them is counseling about the mortgage. The fee for counseling was $600, which included the home appraisal. There is one more fee, the originating fee, which was $5,000 and included at the settlement.
We had two problems. One we fixed ourselves to ensure that the closing would go through. The other we could have waited because you are given a year to fix it, but we decided after closing to fix the second problem and got reimbursed for the fix.
Then there was the closing. A notary came to our house with his own printer and cell phone with all the documents to be signed by us and notarized by him. I opted for him to email me copies of all the documents we signed instead of printing 240 pages! He stuffed the pages in a FEDEX package and off they went.
I’m 71 and Jeff is 72 and we are both retired. I retired from Gwinnett Medical Center before it became Northside and Jeff retired from the phone company after AT&T took over and before they started using sub-contractors.. We will have money without struggling as well as pay off some of our high-yield bills.
Would I do this again, yes. Now I don’t have to worry about our children having to sell our house. All they have to worry about is what to do with all our worldly possessions.
Estate sale anybody?
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Why Gwinnett County has few significant water main breaks
Via PIxabay.
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
JULY 26, 2024 | Remember the problems in some big cities of water mains breaking? When this happened, streets flooded out of out of control for hours and sometimes days. Think of all that wasted clean water!
One of the reasons this happened was because many city water systems and mains were very old, and in all probability weren’t maintained as they should have been. But in Gwinnett, though there will always be occasional water main breaks because of routine circumstances, there have routinely been very few breaks here. Part of the reason is because the Gwinnett water mains are not very old, the majority having principally been built in the last 30 years.
There’s another reason: The county’s water and sewer fund is financially healthy, providing continuing dollars to maintain the system properly. A recent release concerning the water mains reads:
“The Department of Water Resources will begin work on two water system improvement projects as part of an ongoing water main replacement program. Just over half a mile of water mains will be replaced along Ridgedale Way and several cul-de-sacs in the Ansley Brook Subdivision located southwest of Lawrenceville at a cost of $1.4 million. Additionally, about a half a mile of water mains will be replaced along Bristol Lane and Nelson Dive southeast of Duluth at a cost of a little more than $828,300. Commissioners awarded both contracts to GS Construction, Inc.”
It was a small announcement and small projects. Yet it shows how deliberate the Gwinnett Department of Water Resources goes about its work.
We contacted the office of Rebecca Shelton, who has led the Department of Water Resources since 2023. She outlined a few of the reasons Gwinnett has few water main breaks, which primarily consists of continued maintenance of the system. A few ways this is done:
- Gwinnett Water Resources has advanced GIS (Geographic Information Service) and uses asset management software that tracks location, age, material, and size of the entire water distribution system;
- GIS software is available to field crews live, in the trucks, at all times;
- Gwinnett has a very young water distribution system, with over half of the pipes installed within the last 30 years;
- Gwinnett implements an extensive valve exercising and inspection program that confirms valve locations, limits time to make necessary repairs, and limits the number of people impacted by a maintenance need; and
- Gwinnett keeps a large inventory of repair materials on hand and readily available.
There’s more, in that Gwinnett uses modern techniques, such as snaking cameras in the mains. Gwinnett maintains closed circuit TV cameras mounted to remote control vehicles and that are highly specialized to handle the harsh environment inside a sewer pipe. The robotic vehicle can turn, tilt, lift and zoom the camera to make a visual inspection of the inside of a sewer pipe.
Using these tools, Gwinnett can respond to maintenance needs before failures occur. These closed circuit television system camera vehicles are NEVER used in the potable water distribution system, since the water mains are pressurized.
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E.R. Snell Contractor, Inc.
The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Today’s sponsor is E.R. Snell Contractor, Inc. of Snellville. Founded in 1923, E.R. Snell is a local, family-owned construction and infrastructure company dedicated to delivering excellence in every road and bridge they undertake. Their rich history has established them as a trusted name in the industry, renowned for their bedrock commitments to safety, quality, and customer satisfaction. ERS is excited to reach the momentous milestone of 100 years in business and looks to the future and the next ten decades as they build the road ahead.
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Violent right-wing political speech is too commonplace
By Jack Bernard, contributing columnist
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. | Like many, I deplore politically inspired violence. There is no acceptable excuse for it. The attempted assassination of Donald Trump should upset all Americans.
But the extremist verbiage coming from the MAGA movement has helped to promote and exacerbate the divisions in our nation, driving us into silos and creating an atmosphere of hatred towards the other side.
Free speech is a key tenet of American freedom. And that includes free speech by divisive figures like Trump. However, we should also understand how a presidential candidate can create an atmosphere in which violence seems normal. Trump himself has helped create this situation via his constant advocacy of violence. Here are just a few examples in Trump’s own words:
- “How’s her husband doing by the way? … (the attacker didn’t do a) good job.” Trump was sarcastically referring to the attack on Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s husband, which he never condemned.
- “This is an act so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH.” Trump was referencing General Mark Milley’s correspondence with Chinese military leaders, designed to reassure them that our democracy was stable.
- To appeal to the far right after the Charlottesville, Va., extremist rally, Trump said that there were “good people on both sides.” He has made a habit of putting forth such false equivalencies to help his political fortunes. He never acknowledged that one side was white supremacists and antisemites, whereas the other was simply protesting bigotry.
- When asked during the 2020 Presidential debate to condemn the far-right violence, he contentiously stated “Proud Boys, stand back and stand by.”
- Finally, who can forget Trump’s January 6, 2021 speech to his supporters (including neo-Nazis, white supremacists and extremist groups like the Oath Keepers, the Proud Boys, Three Percenters). “We fight like hell. And if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.” As he instructed them, these same supporters subsequently marched on the Capitol. Screaming “Hang Mike Pence”, these insurrectionists assaulted law enforcement officers. Nearly 200 people were injured with five killed. And close to 1,500 Trump supporters have been charged, with many already tried and sentenced.
I am not surprised that the attack occurred. We have become divided into warring tribes, right and left, in large part due to the former [resident. However, nothing can justify anyone shooting Trump.
Trump’s popularity will significantly increase because of this shooting, and his base becomes highly motivated. The sloppy assassination attempt may help re-elect Trump, a budding dictator on “day one.”
However, with Kamala Harris (the obvious choice) running rather than Biden, moderate and independent voters may finally wake up to the very real threat that Trump poses to our democracy. Further, I believe that the nomination of a black woman will ensure that the Democratic base turns out in record numbers. I am much more optimistic than I was before Joe Biden stepped down.
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Considerations of Gateway Monument coming to CID
Editor, the Forum:
My first thought when reading about the Sugarloaf Community Improvement District’s newest public art project, the Gateway Monument Sculpture that will cost $300,000 was, “How exactly will this improve anything?” Seems like a lot of money for something shiny. Aren’t there other ways to put that money to use that would actually improve the lives of people in the area?
– Louise Stewart, Norcross
Dear Louise: Yes, good art is expensive. Yet it’s encouraging to me to live in a community where art is not neglected, since its conception and display can uplift us, and let us focus on something else besides everyday living, and especially, trying to make a buck. Look at the good feeling people get when visiting Suwanee, which pioneered public art in our county. Think too, of how art can cheer us up! I’ll admit at first the $300,000 figure seemed high, but at least we have people who see beyond the bottom line, and aim our thoughts higher, into the artistic world. –eeb
Here’s a good use of the term “Whilickers!”
Editor, the Forum:
The July 23 edition was packed with information; so much to think about. My main concern is the huge spending deficit; will it ever stop? Too many special interests want a piece of the pie and a government that can’t say no. Whilickers!
It’s a real disappointment that our Secret Service and guardians of our executive branch (including candidates for office is so woefully inept. The Presidential campaign will be a dogfight; may the best man prevail!
– John Moore, Duluth
Dear John: Ooops. These days you must be PC and say: “May the best person prevail!”—eeb.
About Hartsfield Airport and Delta’s recent problems
Editor, the Forum:
Thinking about the world’s busiest airport and the near total monopoly of Delta Airlines at that airport. Will Delta learn anything after this recent fiasco? Does Delta have anyone in management or IT that has heard of redundancy or backup systems? What’s the problem ? Does it cost too much?
What a total joke this airline has become. Even Southwest learned their lesson after the Christmas meltdown of their system. Southwest was relatively unaffected by the recent outages.
Is the Atlanta area going to be satisfied with one airline controlling most of the gates at the world’s busiest airport? Do you know of any other major city in the country with only one airport that has such a monopoly?
I feel for all those business and vacation travelers stranded because of Delta’s complete incompetence. I am really glad I have moved to a place with multiple airports and am not tied to one carrier. This is just another example of how backward the Atlanta area is.
– Dan Mackaben, Crystal Lake, Ill. (Formerly of Lawrenceville)
Send us your thoughts: We encourage you to send us your letters and thoughts on issues raised in GwinnettForum. Please limit comments to 300 words, and include your hometown. The views of letters are the opinion of the contributor. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. Send feedback and letters by to: ebrack2@gmail.com.
Firms get contracts to rehab three flood control dams
The Gwinnett Department of Water Resources will rehabilitate six flood control dams maintained in the County. For each dam, work includes replacement or rehabilitation of a valve in the outlet control structure to ensure proper dam operation, lining the primary outlet pipe and performing maintenance repairs.
When combined with previously awarded maintenance projects, a total of 11 dams will be rehabilitated using American Rescue Plan Act funds.
- IHC Construction Companies, LLC, was awarded a $2.5 million contract for work on the Yellow River Watershed Dam Y-14 in unincorporated Gwinnett County, northwest of Lawrenceville.
- Haren Construction Company will rehabilitate Tribble Mill Watershed Dam TM-1 near Grayson and No Business Creek Watershed Dam N-1 at Trophy Club Lake south of Snellville under a $2.7 million contract.
- Rehabilitation of Yellow River Watershed Dam Y-16 at Richland Lake north of Lawrenceville, Lake Inverness Dam between Norcross and Duluth and Yellow River Watershed Dam Y-3 south of Lawrenceville will be performed by IHC Construction Companies, LLC, through a $2.8 million contract.
Opioid Advisory Committee to be formed in Gwinnett
A Gwinnett advisory committee concerning the opioid crisis will be formed after settlements reached in federal lawsuits against several pharmaceutical companies. The state of Georgia has designated Gwinnett County to receive a substantial sum of money from the resulting settlements.
The Opioid Abatement Advisory Committee will review applications from organizations seeking funds for opioid abatement and remediation efforts and then recommend to commissioners how to disburse these funds. The committee will include a member of the Gwinnett County Board of Health, an executive member of a community service board, the Gwinnett County Sheriff or representative, an accountability court judge, and a resident who has experienced opioid addiction either personally or through a family member.
The Eye of the Needle, by Ken Follett
From Susan McBrayer, Sugar Hill: I could never have predicted I would enjoy a book portraying World War II through the eyes of a top-notch German spy living undetected in England. But I found this historical ‘thriller’ about the planning of D-Day to be very readable and down to earth. The book begins with the spy murdering his landlady and then suddenly it switches to a story of a newlywed couple who move to an isolated island off the coast of Scotland. These two stories seem to be worlds apart until they collide one stormy night in 1944. The outcome is electric. I will never forget the suspense that had me on the edge of my seat when I first read this book 44 years ago. Does the book stand the test of time? Well, even though I knew the ending when I read it again last weekend, I think it definitely does.
- An invitation: what books, restaurants, movies or web sites have you enjoyed recently? Send us your recent selection, along with a short paragraph (150 words) as to why you liked this, plus what you plan to visit or read next. Click here to send an email.
Opera in Atlanta dates back to the late 19th Century
The Atlanta Opera is a professional company that brings opera to Georgia stages. Founded in 1979 as the Atlanta Civic Opera, the Atlanta Opera enjoys an increasing level of local and international acclaim and plays to growing audiences each year.
Opera has been a part of the cultural and social history of Atlanta since the late 19th century, when touring companies and visiting artists performed for Georgia’s music aficionados. Interest in opera and musical performance was widespread. Atlanta’s first music festival, organized in 1909 by the Atlanta Music Festival Association, attracted 25,000 people from all over the state.
The success of this first festival inspired the association to establish an annual engagement with New York’s Metropolitan Opera. Beginning in 1910, the relationship lasted for more than 70 years and brought opera stars like Enrico Caruso and Arturo Toscanini to Atlanta’s stages. Perhaps inspired by the Metropolitan Opera’s annual performances, local artists soon sought to establish an opera company of their own.
The year 1976 brought the debut of both the Georgia Opera and the Atlanta Lyric Opera. In 1979 members of the two companies combined to form the Atlanta Civic Opera. But along with the talent inherited from its predecessors, the new company also acquired their combined debt. Struggling financially and artistically, the Atlanta Civic Opera stopped performing in 1983.
In 1984 the president of the Atlanta Civic Opera board, Alfred Kennedy, led the charge to build a new opera company. Kennedy appointed William Fred Scott, formerly of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, as artistic director, and he served in that capacity until 2005. In 1985, after a host of fiscal and organizational revisions, this new company was renamed the Atlanta Opera.
Since its founding, the company has performed in multiple venues throughout the metropolitan region. Growing audiences prompted the company in 1995 to move performances from the 1,748-seat Symphony Hall of the Woodruff Arts Center to the 4,518-seat Fox Theatre, where the Atlanta Opera performed until 2003. In 2007 the opera moved yet again, this time to the 2,700 seat Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center.
The Atlanta Opera’s performances include both local and national artists, with the Atlanta Opera Chorus composed entirely of local singers. In 1996 the Atlanta Opera Chorus performed at the International Opera Gala during the Olympic games. The chorus shared the program with another Georgian, the renowned soprano Jessye Norman. The following year the opera hit one million dollars in seasonal ticket sales for the first time in its history.
In addition to producing a full season of opera performances each year, the Atlanta Opera also provides educational programs in the arts. The Atlanta Opera Studio promotes the arts by offering opera workshops for teachers and students and by performing in schools around the state.
When confronted with a global pandemic in 2020, the opera created an entire season of outdoor tent performances, producing 40 performances of entirely new works. They also expanded the company’s reach by establishing the Atlanta Opera Film Studio, which records stage productions for international distribution. In 2024 the company announced that it had achieved “budget one” status, making it one of only ten companies nationwide with annual operating costs in excess of $15 million.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Pouring water may be this mystery’s best clue
The biggest clue about today’s Mystery Photo may be the water pouring away on the left center of the photograph. Do you know what this is, and where it is located? Test your memory, make a stab at it, and send your idea to ebrack2@gmail.com, and be sure to include your hometown.
Anne Soutter of Alpharetta somehow recognized the most recent mystery, although she has never been to Milan, Italy. She says: “I learned of the Milan Cathedral through an Art History class at Drake University. Of all the medieval cathedrals, I loved the Milan Cathedral just on sight. I’ve been in Westminster and stood outside Notre Dame. It’s amazing to me that even through two World Wars these amazing creations of the Masons still stand, and may they stand for thousands of years to come.” The photo comes from Teralea Moore of Shelby, N.C., via Susan McBrayer of Sugar Hill.
Also sending in the correct answer were Jay Altman, Columbia, S.C.; George Graf, Palmyra, Va.; Mikki Root Dillon, Lilburn; Linda Borenstein, Atlanta; Allan Peel of San Antonio, Tex.; and Stew Ogilvie, Lawrenceville: “Milan Cathedral, or Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica of the Nativity of Saint Mary, is the cathedral church of Milan, Lombardy, Italy. Dedicated to the Nativity of St. Mary, it is the seat of the Archbishop of Milan, currently Archbishop Mario Delpini.”
Peel also told us: “The Milan Cathedral is the largest church in Italy and the third largest in the world. Construction of the cathedral started in 1386 and took nearly six centuries to complete, with the final details being completed in 1965. The Milan Cathedral is adorned outside with nearly 2,300 sculptures, and an additional 1,000 inside the church … more statues than any other building in the world.
“The mystery photo was shot from one of the rooftop terraces that visitors can reach by climbing 250 stairs (or take an elevator) to reach the main terrace level over the transept. If you look up, you can see the famous Madonnina or “Little Madonna”, a gold-colored statue of Mary that stands 365 feet high on the cathedral’s highest spire, armed with a Halberd (a weapon similar to an ax) to protect all of Milan. To ensure that Madonnina has a clear view of all of Milan, the city has adopted a rule that no building in the city shall be built higher than the Virgin Mary.”
- SHARE A MYSTERY PHOTO: If you have a photo that you believe will stump readers, send it along (but make sure to tell us what it is because it may stump us too!) Send to: ebrack2@gmail.com and mark it as a photo submission. Thanks.
Jazz in the Alley in Norcross on Saturday
Lionheart Theatre in Norcross presents The Enchanted Bookshop by Todd Wallinger on July 25-28. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday; on Saturday at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday at 3 p.m. The playhouse is located at 10 College Street. For tickets at $12, call 404 919 4022.
Jazz in the Alley in Norcross will be Saturday, July 27, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Betty Mauldin Park. Justice Michael and Friends will be performing. Bring your chairs and plan to arrive early if you want a good spot.
Paws in the Park: Bring your pup to one of these parks and get pet ownership tips and tricks from the Gwinnett Animal Welfare staff.
- Saturday, July 27 | 11:00am – 2:00pm Harbins Park, Dacula;
- Saturday, August 3 | 11:00am – 2:00pm Simpsonwood Park, Peachtree Corners;
- Saturday, August 10 | 11:00am – 2:00pm Lenora Park, Snellville; and
- Saturday, September 14 | 11:00am – 2:00pm Rabbit Hill Park, Dacula.
Braselton 5-K run benefiting the Braselton Police Foundation will be Saturday, July 27, starting at 6:30 a.m. This is a certified run and the time can be used as a qualifier for next year’s AJC Peachtree Road Race. To register, go to this site.
Celebrate Harry Potter’s birthday: Come to the Duluth Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library at 7 p.m. on July 31 to join the party. Enjoy themed snacks and drinks, participate in wizarding games and activities, and celebrate your love of the Harry Potter universe! Costumes and wizarding attire are highly encouraged. This event is for adults only. Advance registration is preferred.
Hear Author Howard Bryant talk and see an exhibition about Hank Aaron on Wednesday, July 31, at the Atlanta History Center. The exhibit will be on view from 6:30 until 7:30 p.m. and the talk , “More than Brave: the life of Hank Aaron,” will begin at 7:30 p.m. Mr. Bryant reveals how Aaron navigated the upheavals of his time—fighting against racism while at the same time benefiting from racial progress—and how he achieved his goal of continuing Jackie Robinson’s mission to obtain full equality for African Americans, both in baseball and society, while he lived uncomfortably in the public eye. Get tickets here.
Open House for public input on a safe access study for the Five Forks-Trickum commercial nodes will be at the Lilburn Activity Building, 788 Hillcrest Road on Thursday, August 1 from 5 to 8 p.m. This will be the public’s last chance for input. Do you want a more vibrant and walkable community? More sidewalks, bike paths, park amenities, pocket parks, etc? This is the best vehicle to get these amenities. But it takes input from residents of the area. Be there to voice your opinions.
Citizenship Information Session will be August 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Norcross branch of Gwinnett County Public Library. Understand the requirements for citizenship and the naturalization process in our information session.
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