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Johns Creek pulls out the stops for Cauley Creek Park opening By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
Johns Creek Mayor John Bradberry cuts the ribbon to Cauley Creek Park at its grand opening July 22.
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — After years of planning and construction, Johns Creek hosted a party for Cauley Creek Park’s grand opening July 22. Largely funded by the city’s 2016 parks bond, Cauley Creek Park has doubled the city’s park space with its 203 acres. A soft opening was held in June, an early welcome to residents to use some of the park’s amenities. Located on Bell Road in the eastern half of the city, Cauley Creek Park features lighted sports courts, lighted grass and synthetic fields, a pedestrian bridge and river overlooks. It also has a rubberized 5K trail, which the city says is the first in the state of Georgia and one of the first in the country. The park is adjacent to the Rogers Bridge connection over the Chattahoochee River to Duluth. The pathway’s ribbon-cutting, in
partnership with the City of Duluth, was held July 10. At the Saturday event, around 4,000 visitors had their fun with carnival rides and games, train tours, food trucks, live music and one very tall cowboy on stilts. It was the last day in “Cauley Creek Week,” a days-long celebration that brought visitors to the park for court and field demonstrations. To take on the big addition, the city recently created a stand-alone Recreation and Parks Department. The department’s new director and former Johns Creek city engineer Erica Madsen welcomed the crowd under a shelter, which blocked out the hot sun, and introduced the mayor. “This is a, I think, a watershed moment,” Johns Creek Mayor John Bradberry said. “I was talking to someone earlier — they said they will always remember this day because it’s such a big
See PARK, Page 6
Johns Creek sets public hearings on proposed 2023 property tax rate JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The City of Johns Creek has scheduled three public hearings on the proposed 2023 millage rate, and all residents are invited to attend and participate. The city has tentatively adopted a property tax rate of 3.986 mills, unchanged from last year. Even so, property owners may face higher tax bills because of rising values. Under Georgia law, maintaining the same millage rate when property values rise is regarded as a tax increase, and the city is required to hold a public hearing to give residents an opportunity
to comment. The proposed mill levy would represent an annual tax increase of about $53 for a homesteaded residence with a fair market value of $525,000. A non-homesteaded property would see an increase of $57. While set at the same level as last year, the millage rate represents an overall property tax increase of 7.27 percent which means more money for city government. Had the City Council opted to keep property tax revenue the same as last year, the mill levy would have been reduced – or “rolled back” – to
3.716 mills. All public hearings will be held at Johns Creek City Hall on Lakefield Drive. The first will be July 25 at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. The second is set for Aug. 8 at 11 a.m. in the Ocee Conference Room. The third and final public hearing will be held during the regularly scheduled City Council meeting at 7 p.m. on Aug. 8. The council will then vote on a final mill levy. Each year, the Board of Tax Assessors is required to review the assessed value of taxable property in
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the county. When the trends of prices on properties that have recently sold in the county indicate there has been an increase in the fair market value of any specific property, the Board of Tax Assessors is required by law to re-determine its value and adjust the assessment. This is called a reassessment. Residents are invited to email comments to public.comment@ johnscreekga.gov. For additional information on the proposed 2023 millage rate please visit the city website at www.johnscreekga.gov.
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