Milton residents wanting to learn more about the workings of their local government can tune into a new monthly video series on YouTube, created by the city’s communication department. Jason Wright, Milton’s communications manager, launched the Citizens Government Academy series last month, providing YouTube viewers with two-minute glimpses into different aspects of government operations. In the process of developing Milton’s strategic plan, public input suggested the city needed to do a better job building relationship with citizens, Wright said. The idea for the series was developed in response. With the new series, he hopes to reach a different crowd than the usual residents who come to city hall for meetings. “We know our residents are on YouTube,” he said. “All the research that we have points to [the fact] that they’re extremely educated. They have computers. They have cell phones. And people with computers and cell phones, one of the biggest places they go to is YouTube.” The series is meant to reach people on their terms, Wright explained. “We’ve got so many busy residents,” he said. “They’ve got a lot of things going on in their lives, so why not give it to them where ever they are, whenever they want.” Though only two videos have been posted, Wright believes the series appears to be well-received. About 60 viewers watched the initial video in the first month, which is likely more than the turnout would be if the Citizens Government Academy was a class where residents met weekly at city hall, he said. Wright has drafted a long list of topics he would like to cover with the series and also wants to touch on hot topics that might come up over time. “I hope that it can be a really nice wealth of information to take away a lot of the mystique of government,” he said. “There’s a perception that government is this kind of monolithic, difficult entity … and at the city of Milton, we are really trying to separate ourselves from that perception.” The video series is just one avenue to reach residents, Wright said. “We do very well on Facebook,” he said. “We do very well through our email newsletter sign-ups. We’re reaching more than one in 10 residents in our email newsletter.” He said the city is lucky to have progressive leaders who encourage trying new ways to interact with residents. ON THE WEB:
youtube.com/user/CityofMiltonGeorgia

Recent police reports of note. All reports were supplied by local police departments. NO PARTIER LEFT BEHIND: After his friends left him at a club and went to a woman’s apartment, Nasser Ramos-Villaverde allegedly went to the apartment on Ivywood Lane, broke the victim’s window, climbed in the residence and started a fight. Ramos-Villaverde was arrested on a charge of criminal trespass/damage misdemeanor and taken to jail where he was issued a $2,000 bond. YOU HONKING AT ME?: An unknown male suspect began driving aggressively at the corner of Kimball Bridge and State Bridge roads and followed another driver home after she honked her horn at him when he did not move for a green light. The suspect got out of his car with a bat, but then fled in his vehicle. TEXT ABUSE: A resident of Ridge Court filed a report with the Alpharetta police to document receiving repeated unwanted texts from an unknown person. The texts were not threatening or obscene, just annoying. COLLEGE CREDIT: A man on Summerwood Lane reported being a victim of identity theft after discovering some unknown person, or people, used his information to obtain a student loan and enroll at Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn, Mich. Once the loan was funded, the unknown person(s) withdrew from school and got a refund check. STOLEN ACCESSORIES: Kirdy Tavernier was arrested for shoplifting June 7 from Von Maur at North Point Mall. He allegedly took about $200 in jewelry and left the store. BORROWED BILL MONEY: A woman on Park Wood Circle reported being the victim of bank card fraud. She misplaced her wallet and later received a phone call from her bank saying there was some fraudulent activity on her account. The suspect allegedly tried to use her bank card to pay several bills. SWIM AT YOUR OWN RISK: A victim at 5001 Somerset Lane had the rear window of her vehicle smashed out while she was at the pool. The suspect reportedly took five expensive purses out of her car.  WET PRINTS: Alpharetta police officers were dispatched to a burglary in progress at the pool house at the Dunmoor subdivision on Centennial Drive. When officers arrived on scene, there was no forced entry into the building and nothing appeared to be missing, however, they did find wet footprints in the area as if someone had just gotten out of the pool. The names and charges above are from area arrest warrants and crime reports. A warrant is merely an accusation of a crime, and accused people are innocent until proven guilty.