Councilmember Q&A for Georgia Cities Week
Dacula has joined other cities across the state in celebrating Georgia Cities Week, April 23-29, 2023. This week, sponsored by the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA), has been set aside to recognize the many services city governments provide and their contributions to a better quality of life in Georgia. This year’s theme, “Lighting the Way,” reflects the role cities play in the state’s history, economy and culture. City government is truly government of, by and for the people – the people who are making the decisions about our community are your neighbors, business owners and community leaders.
In celebration of Georgia Cities Week, we asked Dacula City Council members several questions about public service, the city and what Georgia Cities Week represents. Below are the responses from Councilmember Denis Hayes, Councilmember Ann Mitchell and Mayor Trey King.
1. How did you get your start in public service?
Councilmember Hayes: I started helping people in my neighborhood and a sitting city council member saw me and asked if I would like to be part of the City Council or city planning. From there it was history.
Councilmember Mitchell: At the urging of my neighbors, I decided to run for office and I won the election.
Mayor King: I started as an appointed member of the Dacula Zoning Board of Appeals in the early 1990s.
2. What advice do you have for someone wanting to get involved in local government?
Councilmember Hayes: You have to want to be a servant of the people.
Councilmember Mitchell: Get involved with learning about your city. Attend council meetings and ask questions. Do not be afraid to try something new.
Mayor King: I would always begin by consistently attending Planning Commission and/or Council meetings. This will show that you are interested in what is happening in your city, and it will help you learn more about the municipal process. Also, you must realize from the beginning that public service is not glamourous, and it requires sacrifice and sustained commitment. Furthermore, you should always be open to the opportunity of serving the community in any way you can whether in an elected office or otherwise.
3. What are some of the ways people can get involved in the city and their community?
Councilmember Hayes: Join their local government social pages, come to meetings, look for opportunities to get involved.
Councilmember Mitchell: People can attend council sessions and other city sponsored events like “Thursdays at Maple Creek Park.” Citizens can choose to educate themselves on what is happening in the city by checking the web site and Facebook page often.
Mayor King: I believe some of the best ways to get involved are by attending meetings, looking for volunteer opportunities, and using the community/city website to stay abreast of community events. Taking advantage of as many of these opportunities for involvement as possible gives you many ways to better understand your community and where your service might be most needed.
4. What three words do you think best describe Dacula and why?
Councilmember Hayes: Big small town. Dacula is a small-town that is growing but has not lost the small-town feeling.
Councilmember Mitchell: Beautiful, Friendly, and Growing. Dacula is changing from the small farming community that it once was, but I believe it is growing effectively while keeping its small-town feel and beauty, and the people are so friendly.
Mayor King: Welcoming, Diverse, and Thriving. Dacula is home to residents from many different backgrounds who all contribute to our growing community. People from around the world have chosen to call Dacula home.
5. Why is Georgia Cities Week important?
Councilmember Hayes: Because it allows the others to take notice of cities throughout Georgia.
Councilmember Mitchell: It is important because it turns the focus to all Georgia’s cities. GMA helps cities prepare with great fact sheets and ideas for reaching out to citizens.
Mayor King: Georgia Cities Week is a great opportunity for the cities of Georgia to show how being part of a city can enrich your life.
6. Is there a specific project or city service you’d like to highlight?
Councilmember Hayes: I think the Rowen project is the biggest project happening right now and has the potential to change the face of Dacula and the surrounding area.
Councilmember Mitchell: Our city Sanitation Department works very hard to keep the city beautiful. We have a great group of hard-working dedicated employees. We are very fortunate to have our own sanitation service.
Mayor King: Several years ago, we transitioned to an in-house recycling program saving taxpayers almost $100,000 annually. Currently, we are also working on a massive renovation of our Maple Creek Park playground by adding new landscaping, a new play surface, and new equipment for both adults and children.
7. Where do you see Dacula in five years?
Councilmember Hayes: A bigger small town with an infrastructure to support the ongoing growth.
Councilmember Mitchell: Continuing to grow conscientiously and hoping that traffic is improved along Dacula Road.
Mayor King: We are poised to transition from a bedroom community to becoming a leader in supporting the growth, innovation, and technology coming to our part of the state. There is no better place to be than Dacula, Georgia if you want a thriving community with a great quality of life for yourself and your family.
8. What is something that residents would be surprised to learn about serving the community?
Councilmember Hayes: How much it makes a difference to the culture of the city. If we all took the time to serve and help each other, we set the tone of the city’s culture and can make it one of the best cities to live in Georgia.
Councilmember Mitchell: I think they would be very interested to learn exactly what their city tax dollars support and that getting to know more citizens is quite fun.
Mayor King: There is so much more going on behind the scenes than people realize. Most of the changes and improvements seen in the community take months and years of hard work, persistence, and commitment in order to come to fruition.
