GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Business owners along Beaver Ruin Road in Gwinnett County have reached a breaking point as they continue to grapple with a persistent issue: piles of trash and graffiti left behind by students from Berkmar High School. For years, this problem has plagued local businesses, with no clear solution in sight.
Joey Lasky, owner of Mattress and More, has been dealing with the mess for quite some time.
“We want to keep everything clean and nice,” Lasky said. “We don't want to have any of that.”
Lasky reports that the issue extends beyond just litter.
“They're back there drinking alcohol, turning up alcohol bottles at, you know, Monday at 9 and 10 a.m.—school students,” he shared with 11Alive.
In addition to the trash, the business owner expressed concerns about the graffiti, vandalism, and even fires being set on his property.
“They’re starting fires, vandalizing our Penske trucks, our personal automobiles, just keeping us away from doing business, which is what we're here to do,” Lasky explained.
The problem was highlighted when Lasky first showed 11Alive the extent of the damage earlier this week. Berkmar High School's principal acknowledged the situation, estimating that about 90 of the school’s 3,000 students were responsible. However, he emphasized that the school only has jurisdiction over students while they are on campus.
In response to the ongoing issues, Lasky met with Gwinnett County officials and Lilburn Police to devise a strategy.
Ofc. Veronica Arnold noted that it will require a collective effort to resolve the situation.
“It's going to be a lot of people working together to try to clean it all up and just kind of, you know, get rid of all the trash and prevent the kids from coming here,” she said.
One of the measures being considered includes planting pricker bushes around the area and increasing patrols to deter further misbehavior.
As efforts to address the problem ramp up, Lasky is already noticing some improvements. “Today alone, I've seen a huge change,” he remarked.
Gwinnett County and local law enforcement are determined to find a lasting solution, ensuring that business owners can focus on serving their customers without the disruption caused by student mischief.