News and Events in District 4 with Commissioner Holtkamp

September 2025

Happy September, District 4!

I recently had the opportunity to visit the F. Wayne Hill Water Resources Center (WRC), Gwinnett's award-winning wastewater treatment facility. It was truly a showcase of what the county is doing to protect our environment and be a leader in sustainability. This September also marks a special milestone for the facility as we celebrate its 25th Anniversary!

Did you know that the water cleaned and returned to the environment from the WRC is some of the highest quality in the United States? Because it discharges into Lake Lanier, the plant must meet—and consistently exceeds—some of the most stringent water quality limits in the nation.

Beyond just treating water, the WRC is designed to be a true resource for our community. Using a system called Ostara Nutrient Recovery, the plant reclaims phosphorus from wastewater and turns it into a useful, slow-release fertilizer. It also captures heat and energy from methane gas—a byproduct of the treatment process—to power its own operations, cutting energy costs by more than 20% and reducing its carbon footprint. A new biosolids dryer will soon be added to save the county millions on future landfill costs.

These achievements highlight the dedication and innovation of the Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources staff, and they solidify our reputation as a worldwide model for wastewater treatment. We are proud of this milestone and the excellent service it represents!

Also, I will be hosting two upcoming town halls in September and October! Mark your calendars for these engaging community events:

Monday, September 22 from 6:30pm to 8:00pm at Seckinger High School in Buford
Thursday, October 16 from 7:00pm to 8:30pm at the Clubhouse at Sugar Hill Golf Club

I will be joined by various Gwinnett County departments at the September 22 town hall, and will co-host with Representative Matt Reeves and Representative Soo Hong on October 16.

If you have any questions, please contact my office at Matthew.Holtkamp@GwinnettCounty.com about the upcoming town halls. I hope to see you soon!

Happening Around Gwinnett

County buildings get new names to better identify their services

Three buildings around the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center campus in Lawrenceville have been renamed to help visitors differentiate the buildings and to better reflect the services they house.

Former Name	New Name	Address
Government Annex	Connections Corner	750 South Perry Street, Lawrenceville
One Justice Square	Innovation Square	446 West Crogan Street, Lawrenceville
Courts Annex	Gwinnett Traffic Court and Juvenile Justice	115 Stone Mountain Street, Lawrenceville

The names of the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center and the Nash Court Building inside GJAC will not change.

F. Wayne Hill's history of innovation

As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the F. Wayne Hill Water Resources Center, it's worth highlighting another significant milestone in the facility's history.

In 2021, the U.S. Patent Office awarded a patent to Gwinnett County for a new method to clean and restore water treatment membranes. This innovation, developed by our own Gwinnett Water Resources team and engineering partners, restored the performance of these membranes, adding six extra years of service life and lowering power use.

While this specific process is no longer needed today due to changes in treatment chemicals, it remains a strong example of Gwinnett’s ability to innovate, find efficient solutions, and be a leader in the field of water resources. Find out more at GwinnettH2o.com.

4-H Farm Friends at the Gwinnett County Fair

Don't miss the chance to experience farm life at the Gwinnett County Fair's annual 4-H Farm Friends exhibit! Inside the Big Red Barn, you can get up close with rabbits, goats, and sheep. You can even try your hand at milking Daisy, the wooden sawhorse cow.

The exhibit runs from Thursday, September 11, through Sunday, September 21. Special group tours are available on weekdays from 9:30am to 11:30am.

Additionally, homeschool groups and families with toddlers are invited to an exclusive Discovery Day on Friday, September 19. For more information, visit GwinnettExtension.com.

What's New in District 4

Important election dates

Please be aware of these important dates for the upcoming Special Election on November 4:

Voter Registration: Registration deadline is Monday, October 6.
Absentee Voting Application: Application deadline is October 24.
Advance Voting: In-person early voting is available from October 14 through October 31.
Absentee Ballots: Absentee ballots are due by 7:00pm on November 4.

Find more information on registration and upcoming elections online at GwinnettCounty.com/Elections.

Gwinnett's Public Safety Fall Festival

Get ready for a day of family fun and community connection at the annual Public Safety Fall Festival! Join at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville on Saturday, September 27 from 10:00am to 2:00pm for this free event.

You'll have a chance to meet local first responders, explore interactive safety displays, and enjoy hands-on activities for all ages. The festival will also feature touch-a-trucks, delicious food, giveaways, and exciting demonstrations. For more information, contact the Gwinnett Police Community Affairs Section at 678.442.6520 or email PDCommunityAffairs@GwinnettCounty.com.

Special Events and Happenings

Visit GwinnettCountyEvents.com or follow the County’s social media channels for more upcoming events.

Hispanic Heritage Celebration

Saturday, September 13 from 10:00am to 1:00pm | Free

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with cultural, games, music, live performances, and light refreshments! Interested performers or vendors, please call 678.225.5360.

All ages. Register online. OneStop Buford, 2755 Sawnee Avenue, Buford.

Intro to 3D Printing

Friday, September 19 from 1:00pm to 2:00pm | Free

Learn the basics of 3D Printing with GCPL's Learning Labs! Stop by to see the 3D printer in action and learn how to find files, set them up to print, and troubleshoot common printer issues. Plus, learn how to make future reservations to use the Learning Lab to print your own 3D projects.

Ages 12 and up. Register online. Gwinnett Public Library Hamilton Mill Branch, 3690 Braselton Hwy, Dacula.

Fall Adventure Club: Sneaky Squirrels

Monday, September 22 from 10:00am to 11:00am | Free

Join the Fall Adventure Club and learn about fall in the forest through interactive, engaging, and fun activities! This week's theme is sneaky squirrels.

Ages 2 to 5. Register online. George Pierce Park, 55 Buford Highway, Suwanee.

Story Time with Commissioner Matthew Holtkamp

Wednesday, October 15 from 10:30am to 11:30am | Free

Join Commissioner Holtkamp for a cozy, fall story time with the whole family at the Dacula Library Branch.

All ages. Gwinnett Public Library Dacula Branch, 265 Dacula Rd, Dacula.