A Photo Album for Alpharetta

publication date: Sep 1, 2008

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author/source: Jonathan Copsey / STAFF

By Jonathan Copsey / STAFF

Top: Alpharetta Council received the first copies of the new Pictorial History Book from its authors at last week’s council meeting; Above: (from left) Councilman John Monson, Alied Waste’s manager Mike Meuse and Mayor Arthur Letchas test out the new recycling container.

Alpharetta is looking pretty good for such an old gal. Luckily, there are pictures to prove she’s as old as she says she is. And now they are all in one book.

The 150th Pictorial History Book was presented to the Mayor and Council at last week’s council meeting. The book encompasses all of Alpharetta’s history through pictures and memories of the residents who grew up here.

Kim Dodson, Alpharetta’s Special Events Manager, presented the first edition of the book and introduced her co-authors: historians and residents Billy Bates, Howard Knight and Connie Mashburn. Between the four of them, a book telling the city’s story was hammered out after the long process of fact checking and what amounted to asking Bates, who has seen many years here, who his neighbors were.

“There was so much to write about that the most difficult part was what to leave out,” said Dodson. “We had to keep the book to 160 pages. That was the most difficult part – how do you put 150 years of history into 160 pages?”

Somehow they managed it. Almost all photographs in the book are from collections never before seen by the public, as they have come from private collections such as family photo albums. Chapters include early history, leisure, economy, government, the Great Depression and the merger of Milton County with Fulton County.

“Mr. Mayor, we’ve had a city for 125 years, but as far as I know no other mayor and council has ever provided the funding and other support other than this group here,” said Mashburn, the primary author of the book. “It’s really difficult to find the words to express our gratitude for what you’ve done. We thank you all very much.”

There are 160 pages in the limited hardcover edition, which is available for $35 per copy. It can be ordered at Alpharetta city hall. There will be two events where the authors will sign books and participate in discussion at the Old Milton County Fair from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on September 13 and at Barnes and Noble on September 28 from 2-4 p.m.

Recycling Just Got Easier
Mike Meuse of Allied Waste Management, those guys who collect your recycling, presented the new recycling bin to Council, which looks an awful lot like a normal trash bin.

Taller, on wheels and having a flip top, the new receptacle takes some of the work out of recycling and makes it safer. The wheels were added to make moving it easier and the flip top keeps trash in the can. Being much taller than the current bin, the new one holds 35 gallons, more than twice the material of the current one, yet keeps the same footprint as the old 18 gallon one.

“We collected 595,000 pounds in July,” said Meuse. “2,256,000 pounds went into landfill. That’s about 20 percent of total [was recycled]. It’s a good rate.” But not good enough. Meuse and Allied Waste want to increase that 20 percent to 25 percent. To do so Alpharetta must increase its recycled material by 113,000 pounds per month, or 2 pounds more per house per week.

The new cart was introduced to make that goal easy for each household.

“Alpharetta will be, to my knowledge, the second municipality in the entire metro area to provide residents with this type of cart,” said Meuse. Everybody else still has the small 18-gallon box.

“I actually have one,” said Councilwoman Cheryl Oakes. “I’ve had mine for about a month. It’s great. It rolls easy and the lid keeps the dogs away… I love the rolling feature.”

“It helps support our goal of a greener city,” said Mayor Arthur Letchas.

There will be no additional charge for the new recycling can. Residents just have to turn in the old one. To order, call Allied Waste at 678-407-6216.