Notes and Quotes-5/8/2020

• Gary Pirkle Park Re-Opening Updates

-Gary Pirkle Park will open trails and restrooms to the public beginning today, Friday, May 8th. At this time we are still discouraging group activities. We recognize the importance of being able to enjoy outdoor recreation, but also want to emphasize that visitors to the park must follow CDC and state guidelines for social distancing, including maintaining 6’ distance at all times and limiting gathering of groups to 10 people or less.

-Playgrounds, pavilions, and fields for organized team sports remain closed.

-The parking lot will be open daily from 7:00 am to dusk.

• Virtual Events & Future Events

-Our Trivia Tuesdays will continue through the month of May. A TikTok video was released on Wednesday, featuring our staff and giving a shout out of thanks to nurses on National Nurses Day.

-Tour de Chalk wrapped up with the announcement of our 3 winners on Monday, May 4^th. This successful virtual event had a reach of over 10,000 people and received a combined 2,200 interactions.

-On Monday, May 4^th we released the details of a “Lip-Sync Battle” virtual event that the events team is collaborating with the City of Norcross to produce with the support of the communications team.

• A Message from the Events Team

-In conjunction with the bands and their management teams, staff is reorganizing the originally planned concerts scheduled to perform in the 2020 Bowl at Sugar Hill concert series. The Roots & Boots show with Sammy Kershaw, Aaron Tippin and Colin Raye along with Parmalee is on the calendar for October 3^rd, 2020. Due to multiple conflicts and in light of the highly impacted New Orleans area, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Tank and the Bangas and Rebirth Jazz Band will be moved to 2021. We had several more events that we were planning to announce in March for summer 2020, and are now working to reschedule those to a safer date. We hope to bring a couple more events to the fall of this year, but with the health and wellness of our guests, artists and staff at the forefront of our decision making, some will inevitably be moved to the 2021 concert series.

-All Eagle Theatre (city) events previously scheduled from March to July have been postponed (Rentals vary but may begin in June). Staff is working with renters and touring acts to move their events to a date where guests, artists and staff will be able to safely and comfortably attend events in the theatre. We will be closely monitoring the COVID-19 updates as well as public health recommendations and make adjustments to our plans with our partners as necessary.

• Leaf and Limb Service Operations

-As a reminder, limb and branch chipping resumed on a limited, monthly basis on Monday, May 4th. Please keep your limbs to the required limits on sizes and volume (4ft x 4ft area and no taller than 6ft), allowing us to catch up. We will pick-up during the first week of the month with an all-hands effort to get everything during that week. We are still short-staffed and having to bring some workload in-house as our vendors and suppliers are still not back up to speed. For the time being, this will be the schedule until such time as we are able to staff back up and/or outsource support services.

-The first pick up occurred this week and a one-time second pick up will take place next week to ensure that all neighborhoods are served.

-Our leaf/grass bagged yard debris collection service will resume on May 11 with a limited and revamped schedule. The schedule will correspond to the day BEFORE your regular garbage collection day.

-This service was initially limited because demands left by other outsourced services and suppliers (understaffed due to the pandemic or ones that chose to shut-down) in other public works areas required a redeployment of staff.  We have also experienced a depletion of staff due to COVID-19 concerns as well as due to natural attrition since January. 

• Updates from Advanced Disposal

-Advanced Disposal resumes unrestricted bag and bulk item service May 11. Due to the pandemic, operational changes on sanitation services were put in place for the health and safety of all involved. The number of green logo bags were limited as well as all bulk items. Advanced Disposal appreciates this special accommodation during this unprecedented time and plans to resume to normal service beginning Monday, May 11^th. Any questions about service may continue to be routed to the Advanced Disposal customer service office at 678-495-0058.

-Advanced Disposal’s Annual Cleaning Week Rescheduled to Week of August 24. The annual Advanced Disposal Spring Cleaning event, originally scheduled for the week of May 4th has been rescheduled to the week of August 24^th.  An updated flyer will be included in your gas bill closer to the date and notification will be posted to the City of Sugar Hill webpage and on social media.

• Census Updates

-Please continue to encourage residents to complete their 2020 Census and remind them why the census is important to Sugar Hill and the future of our city. As of 5/7/2020, Sugar Hill has the 10^th highest self-response rate in the entire state. This number is definitely something we, as a city, should be very proud of and should use to inspire residents to continue to encourage their friends and neighbors to participate.

• Broadstone Begins Leasing Units

-The Broadstone apartments have begun to lease their units for late Summer and Fall 2020. For more information please refer to the website https://www.broadstonesugarhill.com/#/

• Memorial Day Ceremony

-A Memorial Day Ceremony will take place on Monday, May 25^th at 11:00 am at the Veterans Memorial in downtown Sugar Hill. Due to the circumstances surrounding COVID-19 we are planning to market this as a virtual Facebook live event but will accommodate those that do arrive in-person.