By Jonathan Copsey / STAFF

At a recent council meeting, it was discussed replacing the bridge over Caney Creek on Douglas Road, near where a proposed roundabout is to be placed. That issue was back up last week with the hopes of funding such a venture through reallocating bond monies left over from a transportation improvement bond of some years ago. After some discussion, the motion was tabled for another time after several members expressed concern that they were not familiar enough with the toic, having missed the original council meeting.

Councilman Doug DeRito led the discussion, first saying that using bond monies in a way not approved by the voters was dubious. Mayor Arthur Letchas and city attorney Sam Thomas assured him that the obligated uses of the bond have been taken care of and that the nearly $900,000 was merely remaining in the fund, unallocated.

Three council members had been absent at the July meeting – David Belle Isle, D.C. Aiken and DeRito – and they expressed support to delay a vote on the issue.

The bridge was declared unfit for heavy traffic after a GDOT report on the city’s bridges. While the efficacy of GDOT may be suspect, it is their role to inspect municipal bridges and do so typically every two years. Regardless, DeRito wished to read and understand the bridge report before making any decision on funding what may or may not be a necessary improvement.  

There’s A Cemetery Authority?

It might come as a surprise for some Alpharettans that there is a Cemetery Authority. It certainly came as a surprise for some members of the Council and staff.

The authority was brought up at last week’s council meeting when it was revealed that an ongoing estate dispute had been cleared up, resulting in the city receiving $500,000 toward the upkeep of the Alpharetta cemetery.

On the Cemetery Authority is Mayor Arthur Letchas, Councilman John Monson and Engineering Director Pete Sewczwicz.

The money came from the estate of a certain Beatrice Hicks Kelly, who had decreed in her will that her estate should go to support her sister and whatever is left should go to the city of Alpharetta. Her sister was given $500,000 and lived exactly one day after Beatrice. This left the full amount to the city.

This has been pending for about three years, said attorney Sam Thomas. Beatrice is buried at the Alpharetta Cemetery along with her husband and son.