Mayor Vetoes Jones Bridge Road TSPLOST Project

JOHNS CREEK, GA — For the second time in a dozen years, Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker has exercised a power granted to him in the city charter by vetoing action taken by the City Council.

Mayor Bodker on Friday vetoed action taken at the Council's Nov. 26 to authorize the concept plan phase for the Jones Bridge Road improvement project. The Council approved spending $200,000 to consider additional concepts of the project, which was approved by voters in November 2016 as part of the TSPLOST referendum.

Bodker argues that the council's actions "did not honor" the wishes of voters who approved the TSPLOST referendum, violates his understanding of the law and places the city's long-term transportation plan in danger.

The action taken at the Nov. 26 meeting directed Johns Creek staff members to draw up several options for improvements on Jones Bridge Road, including studying whether a three-lane option would be a viable solution. This, according to the mayor, would be a reversal of the wishes of voters, as project funds are designated for transportation improvement and congestion relief.

"This veto is partially based on an analysis by city staff that clearly shows the three-lane option will not relieve congestion on Jones Bridge Road," the mayor adds.

The project approved by voters calls for widening Jones Bridge between Waters Road to State Bridge Road from two to four lanes, and installing sidewalks, trails and landscaping. Action at the Nov. 26 meeting called on staff to create concept plans for alternatives and studying the impacts of installing a turn lane running the length of the roadway would be effective.

Bodker also said the veto is based on the fact that if a referendum question includes documentation outlining a project, the law requires Johns Creek to carry out that project as described in those documents. This interpretation was backed by a Dec. 3 courtesy review of the question by the office of Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, Bodker said.

The failure to make these improvements to the road "compromises other road projects in the city that need congestion improvement on Jones Bridge to function efficiently," Bodker contends.

Bodker states his veto, a power he's only exercised once before in the last 12 years, is a "serious expression" of his concerns about the City Council's decision.

"The use of a veto to override a majority action based on a mayoral preference is an abuse of power," he adds. "Hence, it must be rare, principled and it should prevent future harm to the city."

Johns Creek City Council members is set to reconsider the veto at its Dec. 10 meeting. According to the city's charter, once a veto message is delivered, reconsideration of the item vetoed by the mayor is placed on the agenda for the next regular City Council meeting.

To override the veto, it will take at least five City Council members voting in the affirmative to void the mayor's actions. If the override measure fails, the original action item is defeated.

Image via Shutterstock