Change?!
Occasionally in the flow of things there comes a time of transition. Such a season has come to Lilburn.
After just shy of 14 years, Bill Johnsa has tendered his resignation, effective the end of May 2022.
City Manager Johnsa has been the initiator and sustainer of so many improvements for our town, that it is difficult to get one’s head around it all.
The rerouting of Main Street was a catalyst for progress that brought senior housing at Noble Village, the intergovernmental agreement that saw the construction of City Hall/Library, and the Main Street Townes at Lilburn [across from City Hall/Library], made possible by the moving of City Hall to its current location, 340 Main St.
Bill has overseen the revitalization of Old Town, with added parking, new restrooms and playground in City Park, our popular splash pad and Calvin Fitchett pavilion, and now streetscaping and pedestrian improvement between 1st and Railroad.
Bill has nurtured partnerships with Gwinnett County, the Lilburn Community Improvement District, and the Lilburn Downtown Development Association. Each of these has contributed incredible benefits to the city.
These partnerships saw the addition of sewer and a new water main down Main Street, the restoration of our stream that added a large recreation area to City Park, the funding of improvements to our trail system, financing and DOT buy-in for intersection improvements - the list goes on.
During the last two years of managing all this change, Bill has had an able partner in Jenny Simpkins, our Assistant City Manager. She will take the reins now, with a full understanding of the legacy that Bill has established. Bill will continue in his new role as Project Manager for the many initiatives getting off the ground.
City Manager Simpkins - that title sounds good to us veterans of city governance - will carry on for the best outcomes for all the citizens and businesses of Lilburn.
We are continuing to “Rediscover Lilburn!”
Photo: Mayor Tim Dunn, standing, with City Manager Bill Johnsa and Assistant City Manager Jenny Simpkins.