Forsyth Officials Give Update During State Of The County

FORSYTH COUNTY, GA — Forsyth County officials came together last week for the annual State of the County. Commission Chairwoman Laura Semanson spoke about the state of the county before the other commissioners spoke on a panel regarding the community on Feb. 19.

"In a community as dynamic as Forsyth County, each moment brings something new," Semanson said. "The state of the county is one of growth, of change, and of maturing as the home to over 236,000 people and 7,600 businesses, large and small, and everything in between."

It’s important to understand how the county got to where it is today, she said.

"Once a sleepy, rural community on the outskirts of the outskirts of Atlanta, the region’s growth and the completion of Ga. 400 brought challenges and opportunities right to our doorstep," Semanson said. "On the shores of Lake Lanier, in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, and with a freeway to the big city, Forsyth County was discovered by tens of thousands of families, like mine and like many of yours, who came to seek this great quality of life that we have here in Forsyth County. And as they came, family farms gave way to subdivisions, and Forsyth County became the most desirable bedroom community in the metropolitan area."

Now, she said 2019 was an amazing year in Forsyth County. There were many announcements and events that improved the quality of life for residents, for employees, for those who work, live and play in the county.

• Engineering department resurfaced 168 roads last year, for a total of 57 miles
• Library system saw almost 717 thousand visitors, with over 2.8 million items checked out
• An estimated 1.9 million visitors enjoyed county parks
• Almost 700 dogs and cats found a forever home
• Residents brought 19,00 tons of materials to recycling convenience centers
• Registered over 10,000 new voters
• 911 Center handled over 81,000 calls
• Fire department responded to almost 15,000 incidents
• Sheriff’s Office answered over 223,000 calls for service

"This doesn’t even begin to touch the surface of all the great things that make the state of our county so strong," Semanson said. "In 2020, the county will continue to enhance the services and amenities our residents are asking for. The passage of SPLOST 8 will help to fund further improvements to our community assets. Our community’s beloved greenway will see much-needed renovations, as well as continued construction to increase access to a larger section of the county. Lanierland will see an expansion, including a new Miracle League field and inclusive playground. Those are just a few of the projects coming.

"In 2020, we’re focused on continuing to engage our residents in charting our future. We’re focused on delivering the solutions you’re asking for. We’re communicating like never before, on all types of social platforms. Last year, our Insight2Forsyth project went live, simplifying access to development related information. In 2020, we’re bringing even more transparency with access to electronic meeting agendas. We’re enhancing customer service with a new 311 system for reporting, routing, responding to, and tracking resident inquiries.

"As you can see, our current state is ever-changing, and I believe it’s positive change. We have 20/20 vision, and our sights are on our future."

To watch the speech, visit Forsyth County's website.