GAINESVILLE – Gainesville Mayor Danny Dunagan presented his “State of the City Address” at Tuesday evening’s city council meeting, and Gainesville is officially a multi-billionaire.
“The assessed value of taxable property in Gainesville as of January was $5.8-billion, that’s an 8.25-percent increase over the previous year,” Dunagan said.
Dunagan said 2017 saw strong financial growth as seventeen new and expanded firms created a total of 690 new jobs and over $136-million in capital investment.
Dunagan went on to list numerous honors and recognitions bestowed upon the city during 2017, capping it off by saying, “Earlier this month the Milken Institute (an independent economic think-tank based in Santa Monica, California) named Gainesville/Hall County…as the top small metro area in the nation for job creation, and number two in the nation for high-tech gross domestic product growth.”
“Gainesville doesn’t just lead Georgia in these areas but the rest of the nation,” Dunagan said.
Looking ahead to 2018 Dunagan said traffic would be a primary focus. “Traffic is at the top of our ‘to-do’ list every year.”
To hear Mayor Dunagan’s address in its entirety, click on the audio player to the left.
NEW PROGRAM ANNOUNCED LINKING COPS AND KIDS
Gainesville Police Public Information Officer Sergeant Kevin Holbrook joined Gainesville Police Chief Carol Martin to tell the city council about a new initiative designed to reach into the community - particularly the younger members of the community.
Known as “Pupils and Police” the initiative hopes to remove barriers and misconceptions that may exist between students and law enforcement.
“The purpose is to enhance the relationship between police and youth through community engagement, outreach and other proactive approaches towards problem solving and building relationships,” Holbrook explained.
Holbrook said, “This unique policing initiative brings youth together with local officers to share personal stories and meals, to ask questions and let their guards down enough to have very difficult and honest open discussions that are ultimately necessary to make change in our community.”
“Although it may not be the best, it may not be the prettiest, but we have to have open, honest communication, and especially with our youth, more important than anyone else.”
“We can get in those students’ lives and we can get them, first and foremost, before they get into anything else.”
http://accesswdun.com/article/2018/2/639221/gainesville-mayor-presents-annual-state-of-the-city-address