Braselton stands firm in opposing new name for Friendship Rd.

BRASELTON - Without any discussion, the Braselton City Council Monday night unanimously approved a resolution declaring that the city will not recognize the new name for Friendship Road, Lake Lanier Islands Parkway.

The city has opposed from the beginning plans by Hall County to rename the stretch of road from I-985 to Old Winder Highway. The county commission voted last week to proceed with re-naming the road.

The resolution adopted by the Braselton City Council Monday night is posted below in its entirety as is a statement that was read to the county commission Feb. 28 by Braselton Mayor Bill Orr.

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A RESOLUTION/ORDINANCE REAFFIRMING AND ESTABLISHING
THE NAME OF STATE ROUTE 347 THROUGH
THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE TOWN OF BRASELTON
AS FRIENDSHIP ROAD; AND OTHER PURPOSES

WHEREAS, State Route 347, known locally as Friendship Road, traverses the corporate limits of the Town of Braselton and its future realignment will also run through the corporate limits of the Town; and

WHEREAS, the Town is mindful of the rich history and heritage of Friendship Road and its inhabitants and its significance to the region; and

WHEREAS, no authority exists for a County to unilaterally change the name of a state route within the corporate limits of a municipality; and

WHEREAS, the Town is desirous of defending its right and sovereignty to prevent a name change of such roads running through its jurisdiction absent its consent;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AND ORDAINED AND IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED AND ORDAINED AS FOLLOWS:

The Town of Braselton does not recognize Hall County’s purported renaming of Friendship Road to Lanier Islands Parkway within the corporate limits of the Town as same is an ultra vires act and is without legal authority or force of law. To the extent necessary and in affirming the present name of such road, the Town hereby establishes and ratifies the name of State Route 347 within its corporate boundaries as Friendship Road including any future realignment at its terminus with State Route 211.
SO ORDAINED, THIS 7th DAY OF MARCH, 2013



Bill Orr, Mayor


ATTEST:



Jennifer Dees, Town Manager/Clerk



APPROVED AS TO FORM BY:



Gregory D. Jay, Town Attorney


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Mayor's statement to Hall County Commission:

Bill Orr Mayor Town of Braselton

Statement Hall County Commission 3/27/2013

The town of Braselton objects to the renaming of Friendship Road and the new road that crosses into our city limits without open discussion and agreement with our town. It is not clear that a county has the right to name a new road section that falls within the Town’s limits without agreement of the town to do so. What is troubling to me is that, the actions taken to date concerning this road naming has not been done in a spirit of cooperation.

There has not been a request for The Town of Braselton’s input in this process. Our citizens and businesses object to the unilateral name change and request a process of cooperation with the Town of Braselton, Hall County, and the residents of Hall County especially those that front Friendship Road today.

The Town of Braselton requests a dialog and agreement with the Commission and residents as a preferred process for making a decision like this. We have never in the history of our dealings with the four counties that intersect in the Town of Braselton been shut out of discussions concerning road naming when the road being named crosses into our town limits.

We reserve the right to support litigation as our only option if the proposed name change and new road name is bullied through to an affirmative vote.