City of Cumming E-News

City of Cumming

E-News

August 2025

Cumming Aquatic Center Lifeguards Take Top Honors at GRPA Competition

A team of lifeguards from the Cumming Aquatic Center took home 1st place honors in the Georgia Recreation & Park Association (GRPA) Lifeguard Competition hosted by Gwinnett County Recreation on July 14th! The team faced tough competition from other teams from throughout metro Atlanta and northeast Georgia. From high-pressure rescue scenarios to technical challenges and teamwork tests, they gave it their all and showed what true excellence in water safety looks like. Congratulations to the CAC team: Team Captain Lily Glover, and Lifeguards Kara Gross, Kate Gerstler, Ben Kerrisk, Andrew Meersman, Jack Michler, and Jack Murdock!

Rodeo Returns Labor Day Weekend

The IPRA World Championship Rodeo returns to the Cumming Fairgrounds' Covered Arena on Labor Day weekend. This annual tradition kicks off on Friday, August 29th at 8 p.m. and continues at 8 p.m. on Saturday, August 30th, and at 7 p.m. on Sunday, August 31st. Each night's show lasts approximately two and a half hours and features bull riding, bareback riding, barrel racing, cowgirl breakaway roping, calf roping, steer wrestling, team roping, and saddle bronc riding. There's also plenty of family-friendly comedy from the rodeo clowns. Purchase tickets here or at the gates, which open two hours before showtime each night.

Dog Days at the Cumming Aquatic Center:

It's almost time to register for a community favorite event at the Cumming Aquatic Center: Dog Days! Every year at the end of outdoor pool season, CAC staff open the pool for Dog Days, giving dogs a chance to enjoy the water. Registration for this year's Dog Days is open now!

Dog Days will be held on September 6th, 7th & 13th. There are separate sessions for large dogs (45 pounds and up) and small dogs (under 45 pounds). Cost is $15/dog (no charge for humans!), and proof of vaccination is required (tags are not accepted; must be official documentation from a vet's office or vaccine clinic). After registering, bring proof of vaccination to one of four early vaccine check-in days or arrive early for your session to show proof of vaccinations. Early vaccine check-in days are: September 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; September 5th, 1-8 p.m.; and Sept. 11th and 12th, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information about the Cumming Aquatic Center, click here or check out the center's Facebook page!

Cumming Recreation & Parks is now accepting registrations for August activities!

Click here for the complete August program guide. Among the offerings are:

NEW Country Line Dancing & Ballroom Dance Classes for adults
Various other dance classes for adults & kids
Art classes with Janet Clukie, including "Let's Make Art," "Drawing & Painting," and "Pet Portrait"
Adult fitness classes, including Barre, Zumba, HITT, Yoga, and more!

Learn more about Cumming Recreation & Parks offerings and how to register for programs here!

REMINDER: Dobbs Creek Recreation Center Closed for Renovations

Dobbs Creek Recreation Center, 1115 Dahlonega Hwy., is closed though Sept. 1st for resurfacing of hardwood basketball courts and restroom renovations. The facility will reopen with normal hours on Sept. 2nd. The resurfacing project is a critical maintenance task that is performed every eight to 10 years to ensure the safety and quality of the courts.

During the closure period, Dobbs Creek open gym/play sessions will be suspended. All other Dobbs Creek programs, such as gymnastics and self-defense, will be held at the Cumming Events Center inside the main CPRD facility at 437 Pilgrim Mill Road. All programs and classes normally held at 437 Pilgrim Mill Road will not be impacted by the Dobbs Creek Recreation Center closure.

Anyone with questions about the closure or Dobbs Creek Recreation Membership Pass extensions, should call 770-781-2030. For updates about the closure and other department news, be sure to follow the recreation department's Facebook page or check the department website.

Municipal Election: Qualifying is August 18th-20th

Qualifying Period for the November 4th, 2025 City of Cumming Municipal Election is Monday, August 18th through Wednesday, August 20th from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day in the office of the City Clerk on second floor of City Hall, 100 Main Street.

The offices of Mayor (currently held by Troy Brumbalow) and City Council Posts 1 & 2 (currently held by Chad Crane and Jason Evans, respectively) are up for election. Anyone interested in seeking any of these offices must meet certain requirements, pay a filing fee, and file a notice of candidacy during the Qualifying Period.

The filing fee for the Office of Mayor is $360, and for either Council Post is $180. Candidates must be at least 21 years of age; must reside in the City of Cumming (within the Cumming City Limits) for at least one year preceding the date of the election; and must be a qualified voter of the City of Cumming.

Click here for complete information about the upcoming 2025 City of Cumming Municipal Election. Questions regarding candidate qualifying can be addressed to Alison B. Smith, City Clerk, at asmith@cityofcumming.net or 770-781-2010.

July City Council Meeting Recap

We would like to extend our congratulations to Sonya Caesar, who was honored by Mayor Troy Brumbalow and City Council in June. Sonya, a rising 4th grader at Whitlow Elementary School, represented our community well as Little Miss of Georgia and was crowned Little Miss of America 2025 in Las Vegas during a national competition in July!

During their July Regular Meeting (the July Work Session was cancelled), Mayor Troy Brumbalow and City Council took the following actions:

Approved an annexation request from Hoff Homes for Hutchinson Place Apartments. Future plans for the property include adding seven new apartment units distributed between two new buildings.
Approved a rezoning request from Matt Highway Land Co, LLC to rezone 5.068 acres at 310 Bald Ridge Road from Highway Business and Office Professional to Central Business District for creation of 60,000 square feet of retail space and 298 parking spaces.
Approved the 2024 Audit Report as presented by the Rushton Group.
Approved removal of two 8,000-gallon fuel underground storage tanks at the Cumming Police Department. The City switched to a fuel card system last fall.
Approved completion of the Real Time Crime Center at the new Cumming Police Station, currently under construction at the City Center. Funding for the Center will come from the Cumming Police Department Foundation.
Approved purchase and outfitting of three new vehicles for the Cumming Police Department.
Accepted the low proposal from GWI for a booster pump for Smithdale Heights water system improvements.
Accepted the low proposal from Eddie's Heating and Air for improvements to the HVAC system at the Potable Water Production Facility.
Approved a change order which adds the Thalley Creek Trunk Sewer portion of the Settingdown Creek Trunk Sewer project back to the project. JDS, Inc., which submitted the low proposal, agreed to do the work for the same price they bid last year.
Approved three supplemental loans from GEFA (Georgia Environmental Finance Authority) for three Cumming Utilities projects.
Approved a sales and use tax refund engagement agreement with Tax Specialists of Georgia-Southeast, LLC, which will search for any instances where tax-exempt contractors paid Georgia Sales Tax.

Click here to view meeting agendas and minutes. Click here to view meeting videos.

'Summer in the City' Art Show Continues

The Sawnee Association of the Arts' annual "Summer in the City" Art Show at the Cumming Arts Center (111 Pilgrim Mill Road) runs through August 23rd. The show features Sawnee Association of the Arts member and non-member local artists' works in two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and photography. This is one of the Center's largest exhibits and entries are juried (judged with prizes awarded). The show includes varied works like this one by Dianne Lacefield titled "Go with the Flow."

"Medley of Mediums" Art Exhibit is a new theme for the Cumming Arts Center's next exhibit, opening on August 27th, with a reception to meet the artists on August 30th. This exhibit will be open to SAA members with an open call to non-member local artists.

Classes and workshops are gearing up! Learn Mosaics in a one-day workshop with Wendee VanOrder; Watercolor in Dry Brush Technique with Alan Young; Silk Scarf Painting with Leslie Rogers Todder; Acrylics 101 with Heather Lee; Watercolor Stuido with Hal Schwab; Water Marbling with Neha Bhatt; Drawing Lessons and Encuastic Painting with Kris Straukas; Leather Crafting with Tom Slavicek; and more!

The Cumming Arts Center Gallery and Artisan Gift Shop is open Wednesdays-Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit sawneeart.org for more information on all shows, exhibits, and workshops.

School Street Playhouse: August Concerts

It's another month of music at the School Street Playhouse, 101 School Street. These great bands take to the stage in August:

GlowBand: Eagles & Friends - August 9th at 2:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. GlowBand pays homage to The Eagles and "friends" such as Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, and Bob Seger!

The Shane Brothers Band - August 16th at 2:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. The musical journey of brothers Chuck and Paul Shane spans decades. You don't want to miss their show!

Rock the House 5 Featuring Junior's Farm Band (Benefitting CASA of Forsyth County) - August 23rd at 7:30 p.m. Come support a great cause: CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates) of Forsyth County while enjoying a fun night of music!

For tickets to either of these great concerts, click here!

MEETINGS

City Council Work Session - CANCELLED

Planning & Zoning Board Meeting - August 19th at 5 p.m.

Regular City Council Meeting - August 19th at 6 p.m.

All meetings are open to the public and held in the third-floor Council Chambers at City Hall, 100 Main Street, unless otherwise noted. For all meetings after 5 p.m., please enter through the rear parking lot entrance.

Click here for previous meeting videos.

Click here for City Council Agendas and Minutes.

Click here for Planning & Zoning Board Agendas and Minutes.

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