There also are plans for a park in Gwinnett County, creation of a stormwater report, the Sixth Street Park Plan and streetscaping.

Blechinger said Auburn is looking to create a Shackelford Park trail system, and that afterschool programs focusing on art, music and sports are on the horizon.

The city is continuing to work on its sports complex, which will allow for the creation of a pony league.

The city will have a focus on the arts, Blechinger told the audience.

In addition, Public Works will be moving to its Parks Mill location.

The Great Rail Trail is still on the drawing board, Blechinger said.

Financially, the city of Auburn is weathering the recession fairly well.

Public safety receives 47 percent of the city budget, and while property taxes were lowered in 2009, the city made more money because more taxes were collected.

The city is "doing very well," she said.

Auburn has $13.8 million in total assets, with $3.7 million in cash and $2.7 million in liabilities.

"When one city succeeds," Blechinger said, "Barrow County is a success ... [we are] each other’s biggest supporters. When one succeeds, we all succeed."

After Blechinger spoke, newly instated Braselton Mayor Bill Orr gave his update.

The focus in Braselton continues to be infrastructure, he said.

The city has been working on its water system, wastewater system and reuse water system — which allows residents to water their lawns using recycled water.

The city has doubled its capabilities, Orr said.

He also mentioned that Braselton continues to not have an ad valorem tax.

In the horizon, the city is looking to realign the two state highways that cut through downtown (SR 53 and 124) so that they no longer intersect the area.

The plan is to create a green space and visitor’s center for resident’s enjoyment.

There also is the prospect of a 1.2 million square foot office space at the SR 211/I-85 intersection.

"We’re excited about that," Orr told the audience.

The mayor also spoke about how Braselton was named the nation’s leading recession-resilient city, which was "quite an honor."

Orr said that in terms of the Braselton budget, he was seeing very positive numbers.

The plan, he said, is to "stay resilient over the next year ... make the right investments for the future."

Statham Mayor Robert Bridges spoke next.

"Statham is ready for 2010, but I don’t know if 2010 is ready for Statham," he said.

There are 400 lots in the city ready to be built on, Bridges told attendees, and 150 acres of industrial land that is shovel ready.

The city is continuing to work on its parks, creating handicapped accessible places and looking to create a place to honor veterans.

The city also is looking to create an off-leash area for dog owners to let their pets mix and mingle.

Golf cart trails are also on the city’s radar.

While the city might not have immediate funding for the projects, Bridges said, it is positioning itself to be ready.

Bridges said that making an effort to get retail back into downtown Statham was important.

He also touched on water services in the city, referencing a foul taste and odor that came from organics getting in the system during the fall rains.

The city is now prepared to respond more swiftly to that, in case it ever happens again.

Bridges said the future of Statham was bright, and that while it may take the economy a few years to come back, that it would.

Winder Mayor Chip Thompson was next up to let attendees know how his city has faired in the past year.

"Two thousand nine was tough year," Thompson said.

He said revenues were down for the city, and that reevaluations of costs were continually ongoing.

However, the city did receive a grant to update downtown buildings, he said.

Winder also was awarded a traffic enhancement grand from the state Department of Transportation.

The Winder television station received awards for its show "CopTalk," as well as for its visual arts abilities.

WIMO, the local radio station, shared sports games with residents, as well.

Thompson said that the city was working with others on the countywide service delivery strategy and that it was going to be part of the county’s updated comprehensive plan.

The city continues to support Lanier Tech, and its Adult Literacy Center.

The community center and cultural arts centers were both hubs of activity in 2009.

Public safety received grants, in the form of paying for a HEAT officer, as well as the salaries and benefits for two more officers for a three-year period.

The city has initiated a smoke detector program for the elderly, and participated in the Empty Stocking Fund.

"I’m proud of what the city’s been able to do," Thompson told attendees.

In 2010, the mayor said that Winder had several goals.

He said that transportation is a priority, with the Horton and Athens Streets project coming to fruition.

The Ed Hogan project — which, with county help would reduce the amount of commercial traffic through downtown Winder — is being worked on, as well.

Thompson encouraged local businesses.

"The economy needs to be stimulated," he said.

He also spoke about the Liveable Centers Initiatiave project, which will allow for a plan to revitalize downtown Winder, as well as position the city for a number of grants.

The streetscape project is also on its way.

There also are projects to increase the pride in the town.

Thompson also stated that the city plans to apply for a $500,000 revolving loan to begin work on revitalizing the Granite Hotel.

He was optimistic about the future.

"There are better days ahead of us," he told the audience. "I know it."

Bethlehem Mayor Sandy McNab was the last to speak.

He said the town had purchased land near its city park to use during festival season, and that "our plans are to keep getting bigger."

McNab said the town was working to increase the size of its city limits, and that it was in talks for sewer with the county.

McNab said the Star of Bethlehem had been replaced, and that he hoped with a new, brighter star shining that the light would be on the town.

"We’re proud of our town," he told the audience.

Carl Mayor David Brock did not speak at the event.

The Chamber also will host a State of the County in March with County Commission Chairman Danny Yearwood.