Instead of a standard sit-down meeting or presentation, the U.S. Army Corps or Engineers wanted attendees at their Thursday night public input meeting in Gainesville share what they wanted to see in the Lake Lanier Project Master Plan Update and see if it matched the things they had previously heard about.
After the option to learn a little more on current facts and figures, the roughly 100 attendees were given six colored-coordinated stickers and a note card to share their thoughts anonymously by putting the stickers where they felt the greatest needs were both on and off the shore in three categories - government, commercial and special interest - and then leaving any additional comments on the card. Many lake users, residents and business owners shared interests in the government addressing unsafe boating behavior, keeping Corps money local, better control of erosion and sedimentation, adding more navigation markers on the lake and making more restaurants available.
"We learned a lot about what they care about," said John Titre, principal with Boating Capacity Solutions and the contractor hired by the Corps for this project. "And if that was missed... they have the opportunity to write that down on a card and we'll address the issues that they care about."
After the next two meetings Tuesday in Cumming and Thursday in Dawsonville, Titre said they will begin surveying boat ramp users as well as a random sample of dock owners, marina slip users and shoreline residents during the peak season, Memorial Day to Labor Day. By the time that surveying is complete, they will host another series of meetings in the same locations to address the things they discovered through those surveys and with the information gathered at the meetings this month. "In both of those instances we want to have a meaningful dialogue, we want to listen to people and we really believe that people support what they create together," Titre said.
Corps officials said the last time a study like this was done was in 1987 and a copy of the printed plan was even available for attendees before they took a look at some current figures, data and maps.
"Lake Lanier is at a crossroads and we really care about making sure that we provide opportunities for future generations to have safe and enjoyable experiences, long into the future. Without establishing this baseline data, we really have no way of knowing how people are using the lake and what their desired future would be," said Titre.
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 20 at the Central Park Banquet Room, 2300 Keith Bridge Rd, Cumming GA 30040 and the next meeting will be Thursday, February 22 at Kilough Elementary, 1063 Kilough Church Rd, Dawsonville GA 30534.
