What North Atlanta Should Know Today: 10 Stories for Saturday, July 25

North Atlanta begins Saturday with lingering river flooding after Friday’s storms, while homeowners face approaching tax deadlines and public hearings. Several major road projects are also reaching important turning points, from McGinnis Ferry Road to Peachtree Corners.

Here are the 10 stories worth knowing today.

1. Big Creek Rose Higher Than Expected Overnight

Big Creek near Alpharetta reached 9.3 feet during the 24 hours ending early Saturday, substantially above its seven-foot flood stage and higher than Friday’s initial crest forecast. The National Weather Service’s flood warning remains in effect until 9 p.m. Saturday for portions of Fulton and Forsyth counties.

At that level, flooding extends beyond the creek’s immediate banks. Most of the Big Creek Greenway may be closed or covered by water as much as three feet deep, particularly near Kimball Bridge Road and Rock Mill Park. Low-lying yards near Seale Drive and Gunter Court may also be affected. Additional showers and thunderstorms are possible Saturday afternoon, though the creek is expected to continue receding. National Weather Service flood statement

2. Gwinnett’s Property-Tax Decision Is Moving Toward a Final Vote

Gwinnett County commissioners held the first two public hearings Thursday on a proposal to retain the county’s general-fund rate at 6.95 mills. Because that rate is above the state-calculated rollback rate of 6.792 mills, Georgia law requires the proposal to be advertised as a tax increase even though the numerical rate would remain unchanged.

The county says homeowners receiving both the regular homestead exemption and Value Offset Exemption generally would not see an increase in the county-government portion of their bill. That protection does not apply to school or city taxes. Online comments remain open until 9 p.m. August 3, followed by a final hearing at 11 a.m. and a commission vote at 2 p.m. August 4. Gwinnett County millage information

3. Johns Creek Will Vote on Its Own Tax Rate Monday

Johns Creek is considering retaining its municipal rate at 3.492 mills. The proposed rate is 0.195 mills above the calculated rollback rate of 3.297 mills, producing what state notices describe as a 5.91 percent tax increase.

The distinction matters because holding the rate steady while property values rise allows the city to collect more revenue. The final public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at Johns Creek City Hall, followed by an expected City Council vote. The city’s estimated property-tax digest has increased from approximately $8.87 billion to $9.06 billion. City of Johns Creek millage-rate notice

4. Fulton Property Owners Have Six Days to Appeal Assessments

Most Fulton County property owners have until Friday, July 31, to challenge their 2026 assessments, unless a different deadline is printed on their individual notice. That deadline applies across Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Milton and Roswell.

Owners should confirm the property characteristics, exemptions and fair-market value shown on the notice before deciding whether to appeal. Appeals may be submitted online, by mail or at a Board of Assessors office. A recent state-law change also allows eligible homeowners who missed the usual April 1 homestead-exemption deadline to apply during this appeal period. Fulton County assessment information

5. A Major Peachtree Corners Intersection Project Has Paused

Visible construction has slowed at Peachtree Parkway, East Jones Bridge Road and Medlock Bridge Road while the city waits for utility relocations and specialized traffic-signal equipment.

AT&T and Lumen must relocate remaining facilities before portions of the work can proceed. Gwinnett County has approved the new signal equipment, but the manufacturer estimates a 16-to-20-week delivery period. Final paving and striping cannot be completed until the new signal system is available. The city says the project remains within its contractual schedule for completion in February 2027. Peachtree Corners project update

6. McGinnis Ferry Road Is Scheduled to Reopen After Sunday

A section of McGinnis Ferry Road between the Seven Oaks Parkway–Brassfield Drive area and Sargent Road remains fully closed through Sunday while crews install a 72-inch stormwater pipe.

Through traffic is being redirected along Sargent Road, Jones Bridge Road, Brookwood Road and Peachtree Parkway, although neighborhood access remains available. The closure is part of the larger McGinnis Ferry widening project connecting South Forsyth and Johns Creek. Drivers should confirm that the road has reopened before returning to their regular route Monday, particularly after Friday’s heavy rainfall. Forsyth County closure notice

7. Mid Broadwell Road Is Also Nearing Its Reopening Date

Alpharetta’s closure of Mid Broadwell Road near Jennifer Oaks Drive is scheduled to end Sunday after approximately two months of culvert work.

The road has been closed since May 26 while the city replaced the culvert at a creek crossing. Reopening would restore a useful east-west connection for residents traveling between the Birmingham Highway area and central Alpharetta. As with McGinnis Ferry, weather and final inspections could affect the precise reopening time. City of Alpharetta project notice

8. Cumming Is Turning Its Former Police Site Into Event Parking

The old Cumming Police Department property on Castleberry Road is being converted into additional parking for the Cumming Country Fair and Festival and other events.

The city awarded a $658,110 contract to Jasper Grading for demolition and parking-lot construction. The site sits across from the Cumming Fairgrounds, where limited parking and heavy event traffic have long shaped the visitor experience. The police department and municipal court have moved to their newer facility at Cumming City Center. Cumming City Council project record

9. Forsyth Nonprofits Can Compete for a Larger Grant Pool

The North Georgia Community Foundation plans to distribute $1 million through its 2026 Community Grant Program, nearly twice the amount awarded during the previous cycle.

Forsyth-based nonprofits, along with qualifying programs operated by churches, schools and government entities, may apply for their most pressing operational or program needs. The application has also been shortened, with different paths for organizations above and below $1 million in annual budgets. Applications are due at 5 p.m. August 17. North Georgia Community Foundation grant program

10. Forsyth’s First Jewish Youth Education Center Will Open August 9

Congregation Beth Israel will celebrate the opening of the Martin and Evelyne Salama Youth Education Center with a ribbon cutting and Jewish Family Festival on Sunday, August 9.

The new center at the congregation’s Brannon Road campus represents another step in the expansion of organized Jewish life in a county whose population has grown increasingly diverse. Congregation Beth Israel began in a storefront in 2016 and now serves more than 400 families across Forsyth and neighboring counties. The opening celebration is free and open to the broader community. Grand-opening information