Governor celebrates Campus 244 growth
Firms move headquarters to Perimeter development
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Gov. Brian Kemp stopped by Dunwoody June 26
to celebrate Transportation Insight and Nolan Transportation Group’s new headquarters at Campus 244.
Employees started moving into the 174,000-square-foot space on the third and fourth floor a couple weeks ago.
The 1.3 million-square-foot mixed-use development just north of
I-285 includes a hotel, restaurants and a five-story, 405,000-square-foot Class-A office building.
The state’s chief executive, back from an economic development trip to South Korea, helped cut the ribbon at the new headquarters along
See CAMPUS, Page 12
assessments
By BEECHER TUTTLE newsroom@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp in April signed a bill to limit large annual property tax increases that have plagued homeowners in Metro Atlanta suburbs for the better part of a decade.
While the legislation should help property owners in counties like Fulton, DeKalb and Forsyth, it will also quietly remove what some deem a loophole that has benefitted taxpayers who know the ins and outs of the property assessment process. The coming days and weeks will likely represent the last chance homeowners have to lock in their property values without much of a fight.
Set to be enacted prior to the 2025 tax season, House Bill 581 will enable counties to limit the appreciation of property values to no more than the current rate of inflation. The new law comes on the heels of significant annual surges in taxable property values in most every county in North Georgia and parts of Metro Atlanta.
However, the bill will also soon prevent homeowners from taking advantage of the current system where simply appealing a property tax assessment will freeze the appraisal value for the current and two
See EXPERT, Page 11
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
From left, Georgia’s first lady Marty Kemp; Gov. Brian Kemp; Ken Beyer, CEO of Transportation Insights Holding Company; Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch; and Richard Hicks, CEO of Inspiredu, cut the ribbon on TIHC’s new headquarters June 26 at Campus 244.
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Dunwoody playing catch-up with police
Analysis shows understaffing while Perimeter crime grows
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. —Since taking the oath of office two months ago, Police Chief Mike Carlson has ushered in a new era at the Police Department.
After longtime Police Chief Billy Grogan announced his retirement in January, city leaders opted to recruit from within and promote the former deputy chief to the top job.
Appen Media sat down with Carlson to discuss the department under his leadership, recent crime trends and what residents can expect ahead.
Carlson said the biggest change is now the decision lies with him.
“When I make those careful
POLICE BLOTTER
All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.
Officers arrest felon in Brook Run Park
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police arrested a 31-year-old Lawrenceville man June 19 after discovering the convicted felon at Brook Run Park after hours.
The suspect, later identified as Ranard Hampton, said he was homeless and just looking for a place to sleep for the night around 1 a.m. at the skate park.
When asked why he chose Brook Run, Hampton said he used to work landscaping at the park and there is a nearby bus stop.
Officers detained Hampton without handcuffs for loitering and prowling and asked him to walk over to a seating area. When Hampton refused to leave, officers asked him if he had any weapons on him.
Hampton said he had a knife but would not consent to a search. He was then arrested and placed in handcuffs.
After the struggle, officers said they found a loaded handgun in his waistband.
Officers said Hampton would not follow their commands after being arrested.
A criminal history search showed Hampton to be a convicted felon out of Cobb County on multiple
decisions, I have to use my 26 years of experience and the individuals that surround me,” Carlson said. “What’s going to be best, not only for the department, but how are we going to make sure we represent citizens and their issues.”
The new chief said he has been meeting with residents since his swearing-in because it’s important to stay connected to the community.
Before Carlson took the helm, consulting firm BerryDunn returned a two-year study of the Dunwoody Police Department, commending its practices but showing understaffing and inexperience.
During the 2024 planning retreat, city officials emphasized recruiting, retention and the implementation of
occasions, officers said.
Officers transported Hampton to DeKalb County Jail for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, loitering and prowling and obstruction.
Overconfident Atlanta man booked for equipment theft
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police arrested a 21-year-old Atlanta man June 19 after a landscaper reported the man stole items from his truck on Fenhurst Place.
The victim, a 21-year-old Gainesville man, said he recognized a black Chrysler 300 with a missing grill sitting behind his truck.
He also said he saw the same vehicle when someone stole three leaf blowers totaling $2,000 from his truck in Tucker a month ago.
The victim said he and other employees approached the Chrysler and took photos.
According to the victim, the suspect got out of the vehicle and said he would try to rob them again, adding that he had a fake license
recommendations from BerryDunn. Even with the swearing-in of officers Sebastian Wright and Alvin Slocum since May, there remain six vacant officer positions, the same number discussed at Dunwoody’s March retreat.
“They’re usually here a few weeks in advance before we can get them on the City Council’s roster,” Carlson said, referencing swearingin ceremonies at City Hall. “As of July 1, we have been approved for an additional sergeant and three officers.”
If there are no new hires, the Dunwoody Police Department will have 58 sworn officers with 10
See POLICE, Page 3
plate and could not be caught.
Officers said the suspect left the scene after the brief exchange.
Police tracked the vehicle to the Korger parking lot off Chamblee Dunwoody Road and detained the suspect, later identified as Adrian Banks, as he was attempting to remove the license plate.
After a database search, officers said the tag belongs to a 42-yearold Atlanta woman who reported it stolen with Chamblee Police.
Officers said they had the vehicle towed back to headquarters because they spotted a leaf blower visible in the backseat, thought to belong to another victim.
After an interview with a Dunwoody detective, officers transported Banks to DeKalb County Jail Charges include loitering and prowling, theft by receiving stolen property, using a license plate to conceal the identity of a vehicle, no insurance and driving with a suspended license.
DeKalb County Jail booked Banks at 6:33 p.m. June 19 and released him June 22 at 12:42 a.m.
Correction
The May 30 edition of the Dunwoody Crier included incorrect information regarding the city’s 2023 bond referendum. The article, “Four Oaks residents seek talks with city,” incorrectly reported the result of the Nov. 7, 2023, vote on the city’s $60 million bond proposal to finance parks, recreation expansion and upgrades.
The article originally stated that the bond had been voted down, 53-47 percent. The actual margin was 57-43 percent. Public opinion is not as evenly divided as suggested in the May 30 article. Appen Media updated the story online June 3 to display the correct results of the vote.
Police:
vacancies as of July 1.
A swinging pendulum
Summer 2020 was difficult for many Americans, especially law enforcement officers, with a global pandemic and nationwide calls to defund policing.
Recruitment for sworn positions became difficult, with experienced officers leaving the profession, less candidates signing up and turnover rates increasing.
Dunwoody officials adopted a restrictive 2021 budget across all departments, cutting 9 percent from the Police Department amid larger cuts to others during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since then, the city has increased pay for police seven separate times through cost of living and market adjustments.
An officer with a high school degree and no experience making $44,567 at the end of 2020 is now earning $59,391.
Other benefits include a $15,000 signing bonus, $800 a month housing stipend for living in Dunwoody, extensive medical coverage and bonuses for unitspecific work.
“My goal here is to attract the best and brightest officers,” Carlson said. “We never lowered our standards to get more individuals through the door.”
The chief said recruiting is competitive with other Metro Atlanta agencies and officers looking for where they can make more, like the private sector.
“Between our mayor, city manager and the council, they wholeheartedly support the Police Department,” Carlson said. “They’re just trying to keep up with our surrounding agencies.”
Sandy Springs, just to the west across Ga. 400, has a population of around 108,000, more than double the population of Dunwoody.
Both cities reported their index crime counts – or total crimes – were just under 2,000 in 2023.
Sandy Springs Police Department has 171 sworn officers, almost three times Dunwoody’s 58.
Another revealing comparison is the number of sworn officers per 1,000 people.
Roswell and Alpharetta, larger cities than Dunwoody but slightly smaller than Sandy Springs, each have 2.3 sworn officers per 1,000 residents.
Dunwoody, at 1.1, comes out
PUBLIC SAFETY
Limited to personnel directly involved in law enforcement. Excludes organizational roles like executive assistant. Senior officers include sergeants, lietenants, majors, chiefs, and deputy chiefs; officers include peace officers and detectives; administrative includes roles like crime scene analysts and jailors.
ahead of only Johns Creek when compared with neighboring North Fulton cities.
Milton, with 10,000 fewer residents than Dunwoody, has 51 sworn officers who delt with an index crime count of 265 in 2023.
That same year, Dunwoody’s 58 sworn officers delt with a crime index count of 1,985.
Recruiting and retaining
The BerryDunn study recommends an increase in the authorized staffing level of the Police Department from 64 to 78, accounting for attrition to achieve the minimum staffing level of 73.
The City Council funded some recommendations this year, like adding a four-member unit focused on street crimes and civilian positions intended to free up officers.
The additional positions, if filled along with other vacancies, still leave the department five sworn officers below the recommended minimum staffing level.
Meanwhile, the Police Department has been looking to fill those positions.
Recruits come from a variety of backgrounds, Carlson said.
He recently swore in an officer from Emory University Police Department and interviewed a retired Chicago officer in mid-June.
A non-sworn candidate heads to the Georgia Police Academy in July.
Carlson said the mindset of an ideal recruit is someone who is community-oriented, which is why he requires the post-academy Police Officer Training program.
public meetings about increased homelessness and crime in Perimeter, it’s not clear if taxpayers are feeling or seeing their investment.
After reporting annual increases to violent crime from 2019-2022, the department reported a 7 percent decrease last year.
The number of homicides, assaults and robberies decreased between 2022 and 2023, but residential burglaries, entering autos and larcenies increased.
The Perimeter Center Improvement Districts, covering Brookhaven, Dunwoody and Sandy Springs, reported a 35 percent increase in crime from 2022 to 2023.
The challenges of policing in Dunwoody boils down to traffic, vacancies and crime.
Tens of thousands pour into the city from I-285 and Ga. 400 every day, often leaving officers sitting in traffic with everyone else.
“I’ve got more plans for the department, I’m going to ask for more personnel next year,” Carlson said. “I’m asking for seven more personnel, whether I get it or not, we’ll see.”
As Dunwoody continues to grow, Carlson said he wants to ensure he has the staffing to make it safe.
Policing in Perimeter
It is clear Dunwoody officials are helping the Police Department recruit sworn personnel through pay increases, incentives to stay and additional positions for promotion.
But, it’s an uphill battle because crime in the city and throughout Perimeter has increased since 2019.
With residents speaking at
With increasing crime and persistent vacancies, it’s not clear whether one factor can be singled out or if a myriad of explanations fit.
Potential explanations include labor shortages and wage competition, and fallout from the murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis in 2020.
Around that same time, the Dunwoody Police Department endured public humiliation when an internal probe revealed serious misconduct – including allegations of sexual harassment – by Police Lt. Fidel Espinoza, a high-ranking supervisor. Amid the controversy, Espinoza resigned in May 2020
Amid the turbulence of the nation’s recent history, some police agencies have reported increased hiring since 2023, but the Dunwoody Police Department has not.
CHART CREATED BY CARL APPEN/APPEN MEDIA
Recalling when Union troops arrived in Roswell, July 1864
Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman ordered the 2nd U.S. Cavalry Division, led by General Kenner Garrard, to Roswell on July 4, 1864. Sherman’s instructions included, “Arrest every citizen in the country whom you find likely to prove a spy and keep moving so that your force cannot be computed.” (Charged With Treason, by Michael Hitt and “Military Entrenchments of North Fulton County, Georgia,” a map by Michael Hitt and Chuck Brown)
On July 5, Garrard’s division moved from Smyrna north toward Marietta, turning east toward Roswell by way of the road which is today Ga. 120. That same day, the Confederate Battalion left Roswell, crossing the covered bridge at the Chattahoochee River. Cap. James King had given instructions to the superintendent of the woolen mill, “to run the machinery until driven out by the soldiers.”
After crossing the bridge, Capt. King ordered it burned. Garrard’s advance guard, the 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry rode along the
ROSWELL: A PICTORIAL HISTORY/PROVIDED
This Georgia Historic Marker commemorates General Garrard’s move into Roswell and the burning of the mills. According to the Georgia Historic Marker website, the marker is damaged or missing at present.
River Road (today’s Azalea Road) and came upon the burning bridge. They were too late to save the structure, but they found the Ivy Woolen Mill. There were two cotton mills and one woolen mill in Roswell. Mill operators claimed to be subjects of Britain and France.
Prior to the arrival of Union soldiers in Roswell, Theophile Roche, a weaver from Paris, had an idea to fly the flag of France
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at the Ivy Woolen Mill. This effort to trick the Union Army into believing the mills had foreign owners did not work. Woven into the cloth were the letters CSA. Garrard ordered the mills destroyed and wrote to Sherman to inform him of his actions.
Sherman wrote back, approving his actions and gave further instructions.
“To make the matter complete you will arrest the owners and employees and send them, under guard, charged with treason to Marietta…let them take along their children and clothing, providing they have the means of hauling,” he wrote. “I repeat my orders that you arrest all people, male and female, connected with those factories, no matter what the clamor, and let them foot it, under guard, to Marietta, whence I will send them by cars to the North.”
Following orders, Garrard gathered the mill workers, mostly women and children, and had them sent to Marietta by wagon. In Marietta, they stayed temporarily at the abandoned Georgia Military Institute. From there, they were given rations and sent in railroad boxcars through Tennessee to Kentucky. Some of the women and children stayed in Louisville while others continued into Ohio. (New Georgia Encyclopedia, “Deportation of Roswell women”)
There are different stories about the fate
of the mill workers. Some eventually found jobs in mills in the North, and a few made their way back to Georgia.
Colonel Miller of the Union army went to the Chattahoochee River Shallow Ford on July 8 to examine where his troops would be crossing. This part of the river was located near where the park and playground are today on Azalea Drive. The Shallow Ford was used by the Cherokee Nation as part of the Hightower Trail.
On the south bank of the Chattahoochee, the 53rd Alabama Cavalry stood guard. The Confederates had recently built rifle pits at the site.
Around 3 a.m. July 9, 1864, the first and third brigades of the Fourth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry were awakened and instructed to travel on foot down to the banks of the Chattahoochee River. They would be wading across the river.
The next Past Tense will share the history of the Union forces crossing the Chattahoochee River and their march through Dunwoody.
Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Atlanta. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.
VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist
TALK BACK TO THE CRIER
Agencies weighed costs of construction on homes
To the editor:
The original concept proposed by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) for the Pitts Road Bridge replacement was to construct a parallel bridge along Pitts Road while keeping the original bridge open to traffic. This approach has been successfully implemented for the Roberts Drive replacement bridge. However, the key difference was that the parallel bridge option required GDOT to acquire four homes. These two options were presented to the community in a meeting, and the community provided valuable input. As this project is in my district, I discussed the alternatives with GDOT and the community. The choices
Talk Back to the Crier
were to either close Pitts Road Bridge for what turned out to be about a year, or to leave the bridge open, resulting in the loss of these homes. Ultimately, the community weighed in and decided that the short-term pain of the bridge closure was worth it if these homes could be saved. GDOT listened to the community and revised its plans. It closed the bridge and replaced it “in place.”
This is an excellent example of GDOT, the City of Sandy Springs, and the community coming together to solve a challenge without uprooting neighbors from their homes.
John Paulson Member, Sandy Springs City
Council
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Silenus, e.g.
Instrument for Orpheus
It might be
in the dust
26 Resting places
27 Guanacos
29 Tailless stoutbodied amphibian
30 Italian operatic tenor
31 Make-up artist?
32 Like raw silk
New senior pastor named for Kingswood Church
He has also held denominational roles like Director of the Center for Clergy Excellence and superintendent for the Atlanta Emory District. Additionally, he has been appointed to Atlanta-area churches, including St. Mark United Methodist Church in Midtown and McDonough First United Methodist
“I am beyond excited to be appointed to Kingswood Church and becoming part of the Dunwoody community,” Everhart said. “God has amazing and wonderful plans for our time together, and I look forward to this new opportunity.”
— Hannah Frazer
Terraces at Perimeter Center signs new lease
The announcement of the new president and CEO of Swisslog Americas, Sean Wallingford, kicked off the company’s push for growth with a customer-focused leadership team, a company statement says.
field service engineers throughout the United States.
Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch said the city is thrilled to welcome Swisslog to Dunwoody.
"Dunwoody's skilled workforce and our central location in Metro Atlanta make us an ideal home for an expanding international company,” Deutsch said. “Dunwoody will benefit from a new corporate partner as part of our growing logistics ecosystem."
“Atlanta has become a leading global center for the supply chain, home to distribution centers, offices and headquarters of some of the largest companies in the supply chain industry,” Wallingford said. “As we continue to expand our customer base and portfolio, this new headquarters will better position us to capture additional growth opportunities, bring further innovation to the region and enable us to recruit the best supply chain, software and engineering talent.”
The new regional headquarters builds on the momentum Swisslog is seeing in the Americas for automation solutions that deliver results for customers.
Established in the era of the manual warehouse, Swisslog evolved into a leading supplier of crane-based automation in the 1990s.
Sponsored Section
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The pristine landscape and serene environment provide a perfect backdrop for these magnificent homes.
The Homestead at Milton offers estate-sized homesites within a gated community, providing residents with privacy and tranquility. The opportunity to own a home in this rare collection is limited, with only 13 homesites remaining. These prime homesites range in price from the $900s to over $1 million, while custom homes are available from $4 million to $11 million. Each home is a blend of inspiration and tradition and
defines the new southern lifestyle. Located just a short distance from downtown Crabapple and only three miles from Historic Downtown Alpharetta, The Homestead at Milton combines rural charm with urban convenience. Residents enjoy easy access to a variety of shops, restaurants, and entertainment options. The Avalon and GA 400 are also within close reach, making commuting and travel convenient. The community is part of a toprated school district, and children will attend Cambridge High School, Hopewell Middle School, and Summit
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Discover the epitome of luxury living at The Homestead at Milton. Bring your own builder or work with one of our premiere custom builders and seize the opportunity to find your homestead. For more details, visit TheHomesteadatMilton.com or call 770.766.4954 to schedule a private appointment. Vision Development Partners is represented by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties’ New Homes Division. BHHSgaNewHomes.com. An Equal Housing Opportunity.
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Newell Brands signs lease at Queen tower
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs announced Newell Brands signed a 180,000-square-foot lease June 24 at the iconic Queen tower at Concourse Office Park for its new global headquarters.
With the national office vacancy rate around 18 percent in the second quarter of 2024, a new major tenant in the Queen tower signifies a jump in the regional competitiveness of Perimeter.
Newell Brands, a global manufacturer and marketer of consumer and commercial products, is known for products like Coleman, Rubbermaid and Sharpie.
The Fortune 500 company moved its global headquarters less than 2 miles south from 6655 Peachtree Dunwoody in Sandy Springs.
Newell Brands is one of six Fortune 500 companies in Sandy Springs, home to the most in Atlanta’s Perimeter market.
The Queen Building at 5 Concourse Parkway lies in the heart of Perimeter and stands 31 stories with almost 700,000 square feet of Class A office space.
The property is a part of the Concourse Office Park, a 2.2 million-square-foot development just north of I-285 and immediately east of Ga. 400.
Mayor Rusty Paul said the city is thrilled to keep Newell Brands headquarters in Sandy Springs.
“We have several programs designed to encourage the retention and expansion of existing businesses, and the incentives we have put in place to foster a pro-business community are clearly working,” Paul said. “We are excited that Newell decided to stay home and look forward to the positive impact of retaining 890 jobs and adding
Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Sandy Springs
• UPS • WestRock
• Veritiv Corp.
• Newell Brands
• Intercontinental Exchange
• Graphic Packaging
165 new jobs to Sandy Springs’ economy.”
Sandy Springs offers economic incentives to attract new business and encourage growth of existing ones.
Benefits of this program include an expedited permitting process, a waiver of permit fees and a waiver of business and occupational taxes.
In March 2024, the Sandy Springs City Council approved the request from Newell Brands to waive building permit fees and business occupational taxes for three years. The estimated value of the fees waived totals $281,883.
The relocation, brokered by Cushman & Wakefield, increases the square footage of Newell Brands’ headquarters by 20 percent.
“We are pleased to call Sandy Springs home to our global headquarters and to continue our strong partnership with the city,” a Newell Brands spokesperson said. “We look forward to bringing our Atlantabased employees together in a single space that will foster performance, innovation and inclusion.”
— Hayden Sumlin
Because Every Client Matters.
NEW BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS
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Opened: December 2023
Phone: 770-881-8100
Address: 3400-C, Suite 390, Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta GA 30005
Website: fyzical.com/alpharetta-ga
Name of Business: The Slime Factory
Owners: Ryan Scott, Priscila Diep
Business description: The Slime Factory is a 5,000-square-foot. colorful and fun laboratory where you learn how to make different types of slimes and decorate them with a wide variety of toppings and scents. You get a sensory experience at their gooey slime pool, take awesome pictures in their Slime Wall and Photo Booth and go home with your slime creations and an official Slime Factory certificate proving your expertise as a “Master Slime Maker!”
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Address: 1000 North Point Drive, Alpharetta, Ga. 30022
Phone: 786-757-7090
Web: Theslimefactory.com
FILE PHOTO
Fortune 500 company Newell Brands signed a 180,000-square foot lease in June at the Concourse Office Park’s Queen tower, keeping their headquarters in Sandy Springs. According to Cushman & Wakefield brokers, the building is 92 percent leased.
Area fire departments prepare for July 4 amid dry conditions
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
NORTH METRO ATLANTA — As Independence Day rolls around, fire officials across Metro Atlanta have shared the game plan for fireworks displays.
According to the National Drought Information System, parts of Fulton County and all of Forsyth County are “abnormally dry,” meaning the region is going into or coming out of a drought.
Because of the conditions, Alpharetta Fire Marshal Ethan Talbot said the risk of fire has significantly increased.
“Recent fire incidents like the brush fire earlier this week on Westside Parkway show how easily fires can start, posing a threat to property and disrupting community life,” Talbot said.
Alpharetta, Talbot said, is strongly urging all residents to consider the potential dangers of using consumer fireworks this year. While it has been
Expert:
Continued from Page 1
succeeding years, no matter if they actually win their case. Starting in 2025, property owners will need an appeal to be successful and result in a reduction in the value of their property to lock in the three-year assessment – something easier said than done.
The numbers tell the story
An eye-popping number of property assessment appeals are filed in Metro Atlanta counties every year. In DeKalb County, roughly 19,000 appeals were filed for 2023, according to the Assessor’s Office. More than 16,000 of those were for residential properties. Meanwhile, Fulton County saw more than 30,000 appeals in 2023. Forsyth provided a list of around 4,000 unnamed appeals for last year.
The legislation “should cut down on the number of people that appeal things without even knowing if the value is wrong,” according to one assessor who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The same property owners have been appealing every three years no matter what, he said, noting that there are neighbors in his county with similar properties who have significantly different tax assessments, all because one homeowner pauses the process through appeals while the other cuts a check without asking questions.
In theory, the assessments should even out after the freeze is over, but that rarely happens, he said.
District 3 Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett offered a similar perspective
legal in Georgia to use fireworks for some time now, he said the risk of starting a fire is exceptionally high under the drier-than-normal conditions.
“Instead, we encourage everyone to enjoy professional fireworks events like the Alpharetta July 4th celebration at Wills Park,” Talbot said. “This event is organized with the utmost attention to safety and provides a spectacular and secure way to enjoy the holiday with friends and neighbors.”
Alpharetta division chiefs said staffing for the Fourth of July is currently planned to be the same as in previous years, though they would reevaluate as the holiday draws near in case adjustments become warranted.
In Johns Creek, Fire Chief Chris Coons said the Fire Department will continue to house a fire truck at each professional firework display, permitted and inspected by the city’s fire marshal.
“We’ve been doing that now for several years,” Coons said. “We kind of
late last year, suggesting that the powers that be have been wary to implement multi-year increases in a single assessment, especially considering another appeal would surely be waiting.
Data shows 5 to 10 percent of residential appeals have resulted in a reduced assessment in a given year, the assessor said. That is no accident.
Jody Campbell, a partner at law firm Blum & Campbell which specializes in real estate law says that due to the sheer volume they’re facing, appeals committees haven’t the bandwidth or time to critically react to the evidence put before them, or the ability to dive deep on comparable sales
“It’s easier to rubber stamp what the assessor tells them,” Campbell said.
The Board of Equalization, the panel that hears most property assessment appeals, is not always made up of real estate professionals or those who work in tangential industries. In fact, committee members are only required to be property owners who have completed 40 hours of certified training and earned their high school diploma. Property visits occur but anecdotal evidence suggests they’re more of a rarity, according to Campbell. Hearings in front of Boards of Equalization run roughly 5 to 7 minutes, and live testimony – like that from a third-party appraiser – is typically not allowed or considered, he said.
“You can walk in with the most scientific presentation – a lockdown case –and they may just arbitrarily agree with the assessors,” he said. The end result is that 2024 is absolutely the year to appeal if you simply want two additional years with no changes to your appraisal, Campbell said. Otherwise, come next year, you’ll have to convince a committee to approve a reduced
put that in place just because this time of year is the dry time of year, and you never know what may happen if some of those beautiful sparks fall in somebody’s pine straw … So, we’re there to get on it quick.”
This year, there are six professional firework displays scheduled, three on July 3 and three on July 4.
Coons said the city has seen some fires because of consumerlevel fireworks, citing an example of a firework landing in a gutter with leaf litter.
“Be mindful of where [the firework] is intended to go and where it could potentially go and what that may look like,” Coons said. “Fireworks can be very, very dangerous outside of just the fire side of it. Obviously, they cause fires, but they can cause just incredible injuries.”
Coons also cautioned parents against allowing children to handle fireworks, or a lighter to set them off.
Property tax appeal deadlines, contacts
• Fulton County: Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, fultonassessor.org/ property-appeals/
• Forsyth County: Monday, July 8, 2024, forsythco.com/ Departments-Offices/Board-ofAssessors/Assessments
• DeKalb County: Monday, July 15, 2024, dekalbcountyga.gov/ property-appraisal/appeal-process
assessment to earn those two extra years.
Realities to consider
When deciding whether to move forward with an appeal, it’s important to understand the benefits – or maybe lack thereof – beyond the two-year freeze on assessment increases. The financial ramifications can be much less impactful than most people assume for typical homeowners. A $50,000 reduction in property value results in roughly $450 in tax savings in a given year, according to Campbell.
The 2023 numbers provided by Forsyth County show that a “successful” appeal can often result in no more than pocket change. One unidentified property that was originally assessed at more than $1.7 million saw its valuation drop by exactly $100 following the appeals process, meaning the property owner saved just pennies in taxes. However, another Forsyth property initially valued at roughly $2.88 million fell to less than $1.3 million after an appeal, resulting in an enormous tax
Depending on the size of the event, Forsyth County Fire Division Chief Jason Shivers said a fire engine, a brush truck, ambulances as well as on-foot personnel and the bicycle team will be on-site, such as the celebration at the Cumming Fairgrounds July 4.
“We always have a very large presence there for that event, and it’s from both a fire prevention and fire response [perspective] but also because of the large crowd,” Shivers said, adding that the Sheriff’s Office and the Cumming Police Department will be there as well to ensure safety.
In the past two to three weeks, Shivers said the Fire Department has handled small brush fires, which he said are not uncommon for this time of year.
“Anytime you’ve got a period of dry weather, a grass fire on the side of Ga. 400 or in someone’s backyard or from a campfire, those are going to get worse quicker because of the dryness … and the wind,” Shivers said.
savings.
The appeals process is also lengthy, even if it isn’t necessarily arduous. Appeals are usually finalized between four and 10 months from the initial paperwork. The board of tax assessors can also increase the value of a property if an on-site inspection reveals significant additions or improvements to the property of which the board wasn’t already aware.
That said, you can choose to be billed at 85 percent of the initial assessment while your appeal is being resolved, which can be a major benefit for property owners with extremely large initial assessments, particularly owners of commercial properties.
The time to act is now
While each county has slightly different rules, the main pillars of the appeals process are the same across the state. You’ll have 45 days from the date on the Notice of Assessment to file an appeal.
DeKalb County said its notices were mailed at the end of May, suggesting a mid-July deadline. Forsyth County sent notices out on May 24. Appeals for Fulton County must be postmarked on or before the last date to file, which is clearly marked on every individual notice of assessment.
While you don’t need to see a reduction in property value under the current law to lock in property values, you do need to complete the appeals process. That means attending the Board of Equalization hearing or having someone else attend on your behalf.
But come next year, you’ll need to actually find a way to convince a committee or arbiter to approve a reduction to your assessment to see any benefits.
Campus:
with Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch.
“We have such a special thing going on in Georgia with the state and local partnerships, working on economic development issues and supporting companies like this,” Kemps said. “I appreciate Mayor Deutsch and her colleagues for what they’re doing to make Georgia a great place for business.”
The governor touted investments into the University System of Georgia, the Savannah port and transportation infrastructure that spur business throughout the state.
More than 300 people attended the ribbon-cutting, including clients and employees, Dunwoody officials, state officials and Campus 244 developers Georgetown Company and RocaPoint Partners.
Ken Beyer, CEO of Transportation Insight Holding Company, recapped the business’s pre-pandemic growth and its drive to become the fourth largest domestically managed transportation company in the United States.
“This new office represents the beginning of the next stage of our growth,” Beyer said.
San Francisco-based private equity firm Gryphon Investors acquired Transportation Insight and Nolan Transportation Group in 2018, operating both companies under a holding company structure.
“We’re helping get that package delivered to your home,” Beyer said. “Every day, what our professional men and women do keeps this economy moving.”
Among the company’s 14,000 customers and 80,000 carriers, household names in Georgia like Home Depot, Coca-Cola, UPS and Delta use Transportation Insights Holding Company for logistics.
Looking ahead, Beyer discussed the Beon platform.
“This year, we launched Beon as a holding company brand … think about Meta with Facebook,” Beyer said. “Beon is our future, it’s not only a tech platform, but it will drive our future growth.”
From left, Inspiredu CEO Richard Hicks and Ken Beyer, CEO of Transportation Insights Holding Company, listen to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp June 26 discuss economic development and public investment through the state. Kemp said local and state partnerships make ribbon-cuttings like the one at Campus 244 possible.
Beon is an AI-enabled digital logistics platform that powers both brands and seamlessly connects shippers and carriers within one ecosystem.
Today, Transportation Insights Holding Company employs 2,000 people in 12 offices across the country with 500 workers at Campus 244, Meyer said.
“They stuck with us through probably the worst freight economy in history,” Meyer said. “This building, to me, represents our comeback.”
Harrison Fry, senior supply chain consultant at TIHC, said he’s enjoyed having the corporate and brokerage teams at the same location closer to downtown Atlanta and major highways.
Previously, employees were spread out between five different offices in Metro Atlanta.
Fry said now that all employees are in a shared space, increased collaboration has been nice.
He also mentioned some amenities he’s enjoyed since moving into the offices two weeks ago, like outdoor terraces on each floor of the building and the gym with a locker room and showers.
The 174,400-square-foot space on the third and fourth floor of the former Goldkist building underwent a transformation after developers acquired 13 acres surrounding the 1970s-style office building.
Architects kept the building footprint but added two additional floors with a timber overbuild, a more sustainable alternative to demolition and starting from scratch.
Prior to developers acquiring the property, the building sat empty for years as an eyesore to commuters on I-285.
Matthew Phillips, vice president of development at RocaPoint Partners, said phase one of Campus 244 will wrap up by the end of year. He also said permits for phase two’s office building next door are more than six months out.
Dunwoody Economic Development Director Michael Starling said he remembers walking through the vacant building years ago with all the old furniture from Goldkist still there.
Starling said it’s great to see the building modernized with all the amenities that tenants and employees want.
Since Hapag-Lloyd announced its
move to Dunwoody in December 2021, Starling said the city is becoming a hub for transportation and logistics companies from around the world.
The German shipping company invested $18 million into its 125,00-square-foot regional headquarters at Three Ravina Drive.
Swisslog Logistics, a warehouse automation and software company, is another example of a transportationbased company moving its regional headquarters to the city.
Starling and City Manager Eric Linton said Dunwoody will make a focused effort to market itself at trade shows as a transportation hub.
As Dunwoody commits itself to marketing the city as a logistics hub, the Beon platform and CEO Ken Beyer are committing themselves to Metro Atlanta.
Transportation Insights and Nolan Transportation Group have hired more than 180 new employees since the start of the year.
“This office is designed to hold 1,250 people, so we have lots of space to grow” Beyer said. “We also want to build the next great brand in Atlanta alongside Coca-Cola, Home Depot and Delta.”
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
DEATH NOTICES
Santo Caruso, 92, of Alpharetta, passed away on June 16, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Betty Maugans, 96, of Alpharetta, passed away on June 23, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
In Memoriam
Marvin Jerold “Jerry” Smith
Marvin Jerold Smith, known as Jerry Smith to his many friends, died on June 8, 2024, having celebrated his 93rd birthday on Memorial Day.
Jerry was born on May 27, 1931, to Ray and Tressa Smith in Roseville, California. They later moved to San Bernadino, California where Jerry attended elementary, high school and two years at San Ramon Valley College. He enlisted with the US Coast Guard for 3 years where he served as the 2nd class storekeeper on a small air sea reserve ship stationed in San Diego. On completing his service, he returned to San Bernadino and married Patricia Eisenhart, his college sweetheart.
Jerry enrolled in Mexico City College while he was in the service, so as soon as Jerry and Pat were able, they drove to Mexico - years before there were anything but bad roads; through jungles, over rivers, using railroad bridges. It was quite an adventure. Jerry studied international finance, and Pat worked as a secretary. After a year they returned to the US and Jerry attended the University of California at Berkley where he completed undergraduate and graduate studies.
Jerry spent most of his business career in the petrol chemical industry. After working on the west coast for years, Mobil Chemical transferred him to Atlanta to introduce new ways to use polyethylene films. He joined Georgia Pacific Alpha Plastics Division in 1994 and travelled nationally.
Jerry lost his daughter Karen Lorraine Smith in 1992 and wife Pat in 1993.
In 1995 Jerry met Carolyn Haile, who also liked to travel. They bought their first motorhome in 1997 after Jerry retired as Sales Manager from Georgia Pacific in 1996. They traveled for 20 years all over North America, as well as taking 34 cruises to visit the world.
He was a member of St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church for more than 50 years where he served as an elder, deacon, bell ringer and Boy Scout leader.
He is survived by his son Kurt Jerold Smith of Conyers, Georgia and Carolyn Haile of Dunwoody, Georgia, his long-time partner of 29 years.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 20th at 10:00 a.m. in the chapel of St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church in Dunwoody.
Donald Wilson, 89, of Roswell, passed away on June 24, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The City of Dunwoody City Council will meet Monday July 22, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Dunwoody City Hall, which is located at 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, Georgia 30338 for the purpose of due process of the following:
The City of Dunwoody will conduct a Public Hearing to begin the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan. The current plan will expire on October 31, 2025. To continue to meet the Georgia Minimum Standards and Procedures for Local Comprehensive Plans (Chapter 110-12-1), the City must update its plan every five years. The purpose of the public hearing is to brief the community on the plan process and schedule, and provide an opportunity for residents to give input.
Should you have any questions or comments, please contact the City of Dunwoody Community Development Department at 678-382-6800. Staff is available to answer questions, discuss the decision-making process, and receive comments and concerns.
North Fulton Community Charities, a non-profit in Roswell, Georgia, is seeking a Part
This entry level hourly position is available now, averages 28 hours per week, and requires the ability to lift up to 75 pounds and work outside during the day.
NFCC have been serving individuals and families in the North Fulton area for 40+ years. Our Mission “To Ease Hardship and Foster Financial Stability in our Community”. We provide opportunities for the whole community to thrive. NFCC is committed to provide professional development and pathways for advancement to all members of the NFCC team. To view the complete job descriptions, please visit our website at https://nfcchelp.org/work-at-nfcc/. If you wish to apply, please send your resume to mjallad@nfcchelp.org .
EEO Statement: NFCC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. NFCC does not discriminate based on race, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disabilities, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis protected by the law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.
