Gwinnett Daily Post

DULUTH -- Glen Coyne has spent the last two years helping with the development of Duluth.

At Monday's City Council meeting, Coyne was honored for his service as he prepares to move north to become the executive director of the Cuyahoga County planning commission in Cleveland.

"I've really enjoyed my two years here," Coyne said. "We were able to get a few capital projects built that had been on the books for years."

Among the projects Coyne helped get going were the developments on Davenport Road and McClure Bridge Road, as well as the Hill Community plan, which worked on sidewalk and street drainage improvements.

However, Coyne said he was most proud of the stormwater utility plan, which was planned and implemented during his tenure.

"That was a big project for us and it was nice to see it get done," he said.

Mayor Nancy Harris said she'll miss the outgoing planning director, but that his contributions would be felt in the city for a long time.

The city also planned to go into an appeals hearing with Missy's Retreat, a massage parlor. However, minutes before the council meeting started, lawyers came to an agreement with the parlor accepting a seven-day suspension, which begins Thursday, in return for dropping the appeal.

The council also accepted the recommendation of the city staff to reject the five bids received for the canoe launch at Rogers Bridge Road, citing price, references and previous work as reasons not to accept any of the bids.

Other items discussed include: -- An ordinance to annex the 3.5 acres of land at 3765 Peachtree Crest Drive from M-1 (county) to M-1 (city). The property is the current site for Georgia Stage, which manufactures theater curtains.

-- The council authorized a resolution for the Series 2012 Bond in which the city was able to get a lower interest rate on the bond, saving the taxpayers $700,000.