DUNWOODY, Ga. – Georgia’s newest city, Dunwoody, officially began its operations today. The day was marked by a special midnight session of the city council in which a ceremonial ribbon cutting honored the occasion.
The citizens of Dunwoody overwhelmingly supported cityhood during a July 15 referendum. Voters returned to the polls Sept. 16 to elect a mayor and six-member city council. City leaders held their first meeting later that month to begin creating policy and procedure for the city and to start developing the framework for management of the city’s operations.
“The path to cityhood has been an incredible and sometimes arduous journey,” Mayor Ken Wright said in a released posted to the city’s Web site. “There are many people responsible for helping us reach this historic day, and I am grateful, both as mayor and a member of this community, to each and every one of them. While there is much work still to be done, this is a day for the citizens of Dunwoody to celebrate.”
Meanwhile, City Manager Warren Hutmacher announced that William “Billy” Grogan, deputy police chief in nearby Marietta, Ga., has been named Dunwoody’s first police chief. Grogan begins his new role Dec. 16.
“I am very honored and humbled by my selection as the first ever Police Chief for the City of Dunwoody,” Grogan said in a released posted to the city’s Web site. I am energized by the opportunity to work with the Mayor, City Council and City Manager to establish the police department as soon as possible. The Dunwoody Police Department will operate transparently and work in partnership with the residents and businesses of Dunwoody to provide a safe and secure environment to live, work and play. My door will always be open and I look forward to getting to know everyone in the community.”