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Snellville council approves $4 million lease-purchase to speed new Briscoe Park community center; deletes loitering code provision
Summary
On Dec. 8, 2025 the Snellville Mayor and Council approved a $4 million lease-purchase financing package for a new Briscoe Park community center to be repaid with SPLOST receipts, moved Ordinance 2025-13 (loitering provision) to second reading, approved surplus of four police vehicles and confirmed two Tourism & Trade board members.
The Snellville Mayor and Council on Dec. 8 approved financing to expedite construction of a new community center at Briscoe Park and took several routine administrative actions, including code changes and board confirmations.
Mayor and Council approved a resolution authorizing financing, acquisition, construction and installation of the new community center after a public hearing that outlined the city's funding plan. "We have a little over $9 million of SPLOST dollars that are assigned to this project," Mr. Pepper told the council, adding the city is "working with the Georgia Municipal Association to acquire a $4 million" lease-purchase to allow construction to proceed now and be repaid with future SPLOST collections.
The vote on the financing resolution was unanimous: the mayor called six votes in favor and none opposed. Council member C.J. Pitt explained the lease-purchase was selected because it "had no buyback period" and would allow the center to be built faster while relying on upcoming SPLOST receipts for repayment.
Council also moved Ordinance 2025-13, an amendment to Chapter 38 (Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions) that deletes a loitering section the police had identified as no longer enforced. The mayor said the provision was "determined to be unconstitutional," and the council voted to waive first reading and schedule the ordinance for second reading on January 12. The council voted unanimously to advance the ordinance.
Separately, the council approved the police department's request to surplus four high-mileage police vehicles; the vehicles will be posted for bid on GovDeals.com. That motion passed by the same unanimous hand vote.
The mayor nominated, and council confirmed by unanimous vote, Deborah Jones and Stephanie McDonald to renewal terms on the Snellville Tourism & Trade Board for 2026'2027.
Other meeting items included routine minutes and agenda approvals, council reports highlighting local youth and arts programs, and public comments. Resident Tricia Rollins used public comment to report an interaction with police near Ashley Furniture and concerns about trash-dumpster timing on Highway 124; she said she submitted photos and a report to staff. Stephanie McDonald (the performing arts director and newly confirmed board member) thanked council members for their engagement with youth programming.
The council adjourned after a motion and unanimous vote. The next regular meeting is scheduled for January 12, 2026.
