Loganville Councilman Makes Surprise Appearance at November Meeting

In an evening of surprises, ending with Mayor Ray Nunley's announcement he is battling cancer, Councilman Rey Martinez also turned up to attend the November city council meeting in Loganville. Martinez, who was deployed with the US Navy Reserves in September, said he is scheduled to leave for the Middle East next week to help provide security for returning troops as they draw down from the war.

"I'm home for some R and R before shipping out," Martinez said, adding nobody knew he planned on attending. "The mayor is the only person I told I would be here."

Martinez said he would not be able to attend the Veterans Day Ceremony at the city on Sunday as he will be en route back to his base camp to prepare to ship out. He has spent the past two months training in Virginia for his deployment, but he hasn't let that stop his involvement in city government. He attended the previous two meetings, albeit remotely by phone. Martinez said he intends to do the same from the combat zone until his return next year. His council post is up for reelection in November 2013 and he plans to seek another term.

In other business:

• Following a successful petition drive and vote to allow for a package store in the Loganville, the city voted to delay a vote on the ordinance for no less than 90 days to give them time to iron out the details. The proposed ordinance would allow for two package stores, one in Walton County and one in Gwinnett County.
• Cut the alcohol license fees for bona fide clubs, of which the American Legion Post 233 is the only one in the city, making if $500 each for beer, wine and distilled spirits. This makes a total alcohol license fee of $1,500 for the American Legion.
• Announced that Colonial is in the process of bring a Buick dealership to Loganville.
• Approved the purchase of three new vehicles for the public works department with the savings in SPLOST funds as a result of the city undertaking to do some of the SPLOST projects in house.
• The CEO of Clearview Regional Medical Hospital, JT Barnhart, told Loganville council members that the hospital is opposing the Certificate of Need by The Loganville City Council has written letters of support for the new facility.