🌱New Bridge In Milton + Christmas Tree Recycling

Hey, Alpharetta-Milton. I'm here in your inbox this morning to get you up to speed on everything you need to know about what's going on around town. Because community information is power! Today we'll cover:

• New project in Milton needs public feedback
• Recycling fresh Christmas trees at Home Depot in Alpharetta
• Drop off fresh Christmas trees at Milton High School

But first, today's weather:

Today will have showers. The high will be 57 with a low of 40.

Our local sponsor has some great stuff to offer:

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Here are the top stories in Alpharetta-Milton today:

1. Last week's rain had the potential to cause your yard to become saturated with water. If that's the case, you might want to take steps to prevent damage. For example, you should determine if there are any drainage issues, plant trees, and make sure outdoor drains aren't clogged with leaves. You could also place a rain barrel outside to capture water to use in the future. (City of Milton) 3.23 inches of rain in less than two days. That is a LOT of rain in not a lot of time.
   And it is also approximately how much fell -- sometimes in drizzles, too often in torrential downpours -- over Tuesday and so far Wednesday in Milton, according to a rain gauge along Hopewell Road. The only consolation is that, if it was colder, it could have been worse: One inch of rain equates, on average, to 13 inches of snow, according to the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS). So even if your backyard is soaked, at least it's not now covered in nearly 41(!) inches of snow. Yet a water-logged backyard is problem enough -- especially when it happens over and over again. Hopefully, the weather conditions will improve (the forecast says they should!) and your yard will dry up soon. Still, if your yard is more prone than most to being saturated with water, consider talking to a landscaper or taking some steps yourself to address them. It might have grading problems or infiltration issues that can be addressed through filling in, regrading and covering water-logged depressions and/or safely (for the environment and nearby water supply) redirecting rain runoff. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency suggests that you might want to: • Redirect downspouts (steering water coming from your roof) • Use a rain barrel to capture – and eventually repurpose – some of that same water • Plant a rain garden • Plant trees • Reduce the amount of nearby surface that’s “impervious,” meaning water cannot penetrate them Also, please make sure outdoor drains are clear of leaves. These and other steps can help Milton’s stormwater systems function more efficiently.The Georgia Department of Transportation needs your feedback on a new project in Milton. They are planning to replace a bridge that goes "over Cooper Sandy Creek, a Chicken Creek tributary, along Freemanville just north of Creek Road." The project won't start until 2025. Here is a link for your feedback: https://freemanville-rd-bridge-replacement-0016582-gdot.h... Comments from the public need to be added by Jan. 27. (City of Milton)
2. (City of Alpharetta)
3. (City of Milton)

Today in Alpharetta-Milton:

• Yoga with Lily at the Town Green by Alpharetta City Hall, 2 Park Plaza (9:30 AM)
• Breakdown Burger at Truck& Tap, 30 Milton Avenue in Alpharetta(12:00 PM)
• Avalon on Ice at 400 Avalon Blvd in Alpharetta(12:00 PM)
• A Song Can Change Your Life Podcast with Danny Mitchell (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Now that it's 2023, seniors in Milton have some new homestead exemptions from City of Milton property taxes. More residents aged 65 and older may qualify for additional ones. You can go to www.miltonga.gov/SeniorHomesteadExemptionForm, to fill out the form online, to see if you qualify. This needs to be done by April 1 to receive an exemption for this tax year. (City of Milton) When the new year began, so did the new parameters for who qualifies for senior homestead exemptions from City of Milton property taxes. Voters approved these changes on the ballot last November that expand the eligibility criteria, meaning more Milton residents (age 65 and over) might be able to take advantage. Specifically…
  • There’s one exemption now for those age 65 and over, which is for $25,000 regardless of income. (There used to be two exemption categories with different requirements.) The new, single, 65-plus exemption applies to both the City’s M&O and bond-related taxes. • The qualifying income threshold for another senior exemption category – this one for those 70 and over – rose after last fall’s vote. Residents in this age category qualify for this full value exemption from municipal ad valorem taxes if their annual income is below $100,000. (In the year prior to the change, the qualifying annual income was about $80,000.) You can qualify for either of these senior homestead exemptions by going to www.miltonga.gov/SeniorHomesteadExemptionForm, filling that out, and submitting it to the City’s Finance Department. People must apply by April 1 in order to get an exemption for this tax year.
• The Alpharetta Chamber of Commerce is hosting the first Coffee and Commerce next week. It will take place on Thursday, and attendees can meet the new leadership and Chairman of the Board. the Join us next Thursday for our first Coffee and Commerce of 2023 and meet our new leadership and Chairman of the Board! Register through our website alpharettachamber.com
• Attention all coffee lovers! Want to enjoy coffee while supporting a great cause? "The Milton First Responders Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting our City’s Police and Fire departments, has partnered with Boarding Pass Coffee to create a custom roast of different types of Brazilian beans called Milton’s Firehouse Blend." If you want to try some, it can be purchased at Boarding Pass Coffee at 13695 Highway 9 in Milton and online at https://boardingpasscoffee.com/.../miltons-firehouse-blend.. One dollar from every bag will go to the First Responders Foundation! (City of Milton).
• Would you like to honor a Milton city employee who goes above and beyond on a regular basis? You can let everyone know by filling out a form at www.miltonga.gov/i-want-to/honor-a-city-employee/ . The employee can work at the Police Department, Fire Department or at City Hall. (City of Milton, Georgia - Government via Facebook)

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• Artist Reception for Miera Robin Gans (January 8)
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• SMART townhome in Woodstock for sale! (Details)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Sunday! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with another update.

— Gail Lafleche

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Alpharetta-Milton Daily? Contact me at Alpharetta@Patch.com