Redevelopment options, growth dominate Sandy Springs retreat
Switch to in-house services shows millions in savings
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Redevelopment along Roswell Road and all around the city dominated discussions Feb. 5-6 during the Sandy Springs City Council annual retreat at the City Springs Conference Center.
Other conversations surrounded the city’s 20th anniversary in December and identifying priorities moving forward.
The retreat kicked off with reports from each city department reviewing last year’s work and providing a picture of needs and activities in 2025.
Public safety remains one of the city’s central priorities.
Police Chief Kenneth DeSimone said the Roswell Road Fleet Center has saved police officers more than $100,000 on fuel since its July 1 opening.
While general theft and burglary are up from 2023, entering auto and vehicle thefts are down slightly, he said.
The Police Department’s priorities center around completion of its new Headquarters and Municipal Court off Morgan Falls Road, currently set for April. DeSimone committed to reducing general theft and serious-injury crashes by 2 percent with upcoming engagement campaigns.
Fire Chief Kieth Sanders said his department achieved a reduction in nonemergency calls, which he committed
From left, Sandy Springs council members Jody Reichel, Melissa
and Andy Bauman rank the strengths and weaknesses facing the city and its residents during an activity to wrap up the City Council’s annual retreat Feb. 6.
to last year to free up firefighters. The initiative makes sure first responders are where they can best serve the public.
City Springs growth stalls
Economic Development Director Michael Burnette said recent conversations about City Springs 2.0, the planned expansion of the city’s downtown district, indicate things are progressing slower than officials expected. In the meantime,
Burnette said the focus downtown is on putting develop-ment agreements together and finalizing concepts.
One of the challenges, or opportunities, facing Sandy Springs is available retail space. The city has a vacancy rate below 4 percent and struggles to find space for businesses and restaurants looking to move in.
See RETREAT, Page 10
Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul discusses compliance with federal standards as a part of the construction of a multi-use trail connecting Atlanta to Central Perimeter.
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs’ contractor for constructing a 12-foot-wide path along Ga. 400 got a notice to proceed Jan. 6, teeing up a three-year project to increase mobility between Atlanta and the Perimeter area.
The Sandy Springs City Council approved a $1.5 million contract for inspection and engineering services Feb. 4 as the city and its contractors prepare to break ground on PATH400. Because the project is partially funded through the Federal Highway Administration and the Georgia Department of Transportation, additional construction inspection support is needed to ensure compliance with mandates.
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Merged chambers prepare to push Perimeter prosperity
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Greater Perimeter Chamber, a new business advocacy group created from the merger of Sandy Springs and Dunwoody chambers, meets for the first time Feb. 20.
President and CEO Adam Forrand says the inaugural meeting will be about “defining what we’re for.”
By merging two organizations within one of Metro Atlanta’s largest business districts, the Greater Perimeter Chamber hopes to offer members an expanded network, one unified voice and enhanced access to the surrounding community and its resources.
“We will share our vision of this chamber and who we are for, and we will challenge and inspire attendees to clarify who and what they are known for,” said Forrand, who previously headed the Sandy Springs chamber. “We want to be sure that people understand that we are for this community, our members and growth.”
The merged chamber’s scale and capacity matches the growth of Central Perimeter over the past couple of decades.
“We’re excited about bringing people to coalesce,” Forrand said. “In a world
of divisiveness and people saying what they’re against, we are just going to take a different tact.”
The Greater Perimeter Chamber offers memberships designed for local entrepreneurs and small business owners with fewer than five employees. It has a Chairman’s Circle for large corporations.
When both chambers announced the merger last summer, Forrand said, Georgia Power called them up to become the newest member.
Company is invested in region
Toni Hannah, area manager for Georgia Power in North DeKalb County, said the utility company serves Central Perimeter and is invested in the chamber’s success.
“The unification brings a remarkable opportunity to amplify our collective impact,” Hannah said. “By combining resources and vision, we are creating a level of scale that can truly shape the Perimeter business community and propel it toward a more prosperous future.”
Chamber CEO Forrand said the merger’s point is to deliver greater value to members.
“At that top tier, these companies are not only making investments in their business with a clear expectation of a return on their investment, but they’re
also seeking to support fellow members and the business community at-large,” Forrand said.
Typically, the business community recognizes the chamber’s strengths as promotion and networking. Forrand said partnerships with larger employers in the region can provide small businesses with needed services.
Forrand also said he expects exponential growth in the chamber each year.
“We’re seeing new businesses come to our community, and we’re seeing new investments being made,” he said. “This is a place where people want to do business, and I expect our success to be concurrent with the communities we serve.”
Members, visitors invited
Other large employers with Chairman’s Circle memberships include Northside Hospital, WestRock, Inspire Brands, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Mercedes Benz and State Farm.
The Perimeter Community Improvement Districts, a self-taxing commercial property owners group, is also a member. The Perimeter CID includes areas in Fulton and DeKalb counties.
Members and visitors are invited to the new chamber’s launch at 11:30 a.m., Feb. 20 at the Atlanta Marriott Perimeter
Parkway.
Troy Franklin, president of the Wiregrass Foundation in Alabama, will give the keynote address, outlining fundamental questions, like what are you for, and how are you demonstrating it?
At the Sandy Springs City Council annual retreat Feb. 5-6, elected officials discussed the implications of a unified Perimeter chamber on the city.
Mayor Rusty Paul said there are questions about which side of the county line will benefit more from the merger.
Forrand said the Greater Perimeter Chamber’s logo says, “advancing Dunwoody & Sandy Springs,” and they are absolutely “for” both cities.
“We’re also for what makes them unique and different, and we want to celebrate those,” he said. “Doing business in Dunwoody is different than Sandy Springs, when it comes to codes, rules and regulations.”
Natalie DeLancey, executive director of the City Springs Theatre Company and 2025 co-chair of the chamber’s Board of Directors, said the unification creates new opportunities for businesses.
“The Greater Perimeter Chamber is focused on driving advancement, expanding networks and fueling economic growth,” DeLancey said.
Memberships is now opendon’t miss out on this exciting new chapter! today and become part of a dynamic network that’s shaping the business landscape.
Together, we’ll create opportunities, drive innovation, and build a brighter tomorrow. YOUR VOICE. YOUR BUSINESS. YOUR SUCCESS. YOU ARE WHAT MAKES US GREATER.
Sandy Springs to host open house for Roswell Road improvements
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs is holding an open house Feb. 26 to present improvements planned to Roswell Road just south of the Chattahoochee River, known as the North End Boulevard
The public input session, which uns from 5:30-7:30 p.m., is at Sandy Springs Middle School off Pride Place, a short drive from the planned improve-
Sandy Springs selected Heath and Lineback Engineers to design the project last summer. The scope of the project
encompasses six MARTA bus stops and a mix of commercial properties, including office, retail and multi-family.
The roadway safety and mobility improvements include a new signalized intersection between Roberts Drive and Dunwoody Place, a new connector road between Roberts Drive and North River Parkway and a raised median along Roswell Road (Ga. 9).
Pedestrian and cyclist improvements include lighting on both side of the state route, a multi-use path on the east side and a 6-foot-wide sidewalk on the west side.
The project is funded in part through the city’s share of countywide sales tax revenue, or the 2021 TSPLOST program, and with federal funds from the Georgia Department of Transportation.
City Councilman Andy Bauman, representing the opposite end of the city in District 1, said he prioritized action this New Year to redevelop and revitalize neglected commercial areas near the city’s border with Roswell.
Residents can learn more about the project at www.sandyspringsga.gov/roswell-road-north-end-boulevard-project. — Hayden Sumlin
Appen Media Group, Decaturish.com to launch Decaturish Ink
DECATUR, Ga. — Decaturish.com, a trusted source for hyperlocal news in Decatur and surrounding communities, will launch a new publication, Decaturish Ink. The newspaper will provide readers with high-quality, in-depth journalism in a professionally designed print and digital format.
With the same commitment to transparency and thoughtful reporting, Decaturish Ink will elevate community storytelling by featuring long-form articles, profiles of local leaders, arts and culture highlights and engaging opinion pieces.
"Our readers have expressed a desire for deeper, more narrative-driven content that captures the spirit and unique voices of Decatur and surrounding areas like Tucker, Chamblee and Stone Mountain," said Hans Appen, publisher at Appen Media Group. "We’re excited to bring Decaturish Ink to life and give the community a new platform for thoughtprovoking journalism."
Appen Media purchased Decaturish.com in 2024 from editor Dan Whisenhunt, who founded the news website in 2013. Increasing the influence and reach of Decaturish.com by adding a print product to the market was a motivating factor for both parties to reach a deal last year.
“Decaturish Ink is the culmination of more than a decade of providing in-depth, reliable coverage of Decatur and its surrounding neighborhoods,” Whisenhunt said. “It provides an important new way for us to engage with our readers, allowing them to hear all the untold stories of our community. While we are proud of our digital publication, Ink will provide access to many of those stories in a convenient format and exclusive firstrun print articles before they appear on Decaturish. com.”
Decaturish Ink will be published monthly from March to May, bi-weekly starting in June, and will transition to a weekly publication beginning in September. The print publication will complement Decaturish.com's daily online news coverage. The first issue, set to publish March 20, will include new exclusive features and content not previously found on Decaturish.com, and will be delivered to 7,500 single family homes, apartment buildings and businesses in the area.
"Decatur is filled with incredible stories waiting to be told," Appen said. “With Decaturish Ink, we hope to capture these narratives and create a publication that becomes a source of pride and inspiration for our readers.”
Decaturish Ink is the culmination of more than a decade of providing in-depth, reliable coverage of Decatur and its surrounding neighborhoods.”
Common questions & answers
Q: What is Decaturish Ink?
A: Decaturish Ink is a community newspaper serving the City of Decatur and nearby areas. It is a print extension of Decaturish.com, the leading local news source since 2013. Known for its timely and reliable reporting, Decaturish covers government, education, events, and human-interest stories.
Q: How is it different from Decaturish.com?
A: Decaturish Ink will incorporate many of the features that readers appreciate on Decaturish.com, expand on them, and add new ones that are harder to do online – like long form investigations. Also, while digital platforms are popular, not everyone in
the community prefers or has easy access to online news. It also gives local businesses an alternative marketing vehicle in which to tell the community about their services and products.
Q: Who will receive it?
A: 7,500 single family homes, apartment complexes and businesses will receive free distribution every week. It will also be available at various rack distribution points. Residents or businesses who wish to be added to our distribution can request that by emailing circulation@appenmedia. com.
Q: Who is involved in publishing it?
Whisenhunt and Assistant Editor Zoe Seiler continue to lead the charge for Decaturish news. They are joined by a team of reporters and contributors at Appen Media that collectively represent the largest newsroom in north metro Atlanta.
Q: How can the community contribute letters, events and announcements?
Decaturish Ink would love to publish submissions from the community, and most of t hem are free. There is a small fee associated with submitting obituaries, wedding announcements and some calendar listings. Letters to the Editor or New Business Spotlights are all free to submit. Submissions can be emailed to newsroom@appenmedia. com.
JACOB TOMBERLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Dunwoody’s Spruill Center lists 50th anniversary plans
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Spruill Center for the Arts announced this year’s Artistic Affair fundraiser will be March 29 from 5:30-9 p.m. to mark the beginning of its 50th year serving the community.
In addition to the traditional live and silent auctions featuring artwork from Spruill Center instructors, this year’s event will honor the 50-year history of the arts nonprofit.
There will be major announcements planned, luminaries from Spruill’s past in attendance and milestones to reminisce about.
The Spruill Center’s mission is to foster creativity and social connections. It offers 300 classes and workshops each quarter for all ages and skill levels through its 17 dedicated studio spaces. Also, the Spruill Gallery’s curated exhibitions and programs unite artists and patrons, creating space for all to grow and expand their understanding of contemporary art.
To commemorate five decades in the community, the annual celebration will be a ’70s-themed party with timeless music from DJ Bismark, disco balls and a “Best Dressed” competition. Tickets are $100 and include buffet dinner, open bar, valet parking and access to a host of experiences including henna tattoo artists, the Georgia Bubbleman, illusionist Chris Moorman and live painting from Leslie Cannon.
There will be an appearance from guerilla artist Evereman, who has gifted more than 30,000 pieces of his iconic work throughout Metro Atlanta over the past two decades.
Attendees can also take part in creating a time capsule to mark the occasion
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Dunwoodians play corn hole at the Spruill Art Center for the Arts’ new turfed courtyard next to its expanded classroom and community building Dec. 14.
that will be sealed for another 50 years.
Last year’s fundraising event included 350 guests and raised nearly $100,000 toward the programs and outreach efforts of Spruill.
The 2025 Artistic Affair and 50th Anniversary Celebration is presented by sponsors Northside Hospital, Regency Centers, and Trident Construction. Supporting sponsors also include JWB Construction Services, Alston & Bird, Interlokit, the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts, Savannah Distributing and Rough Draft Atlanta.
For more information about tickets and the 50th anniversary celebration, visit www.spruillarts.org/artistic-affair/. — Hayden Sumlin
Author talks, winter sales fill February book calendar
By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI newsroom@appenmedia.com
February abounds with local authors making their rounds. And one of the must-see speakers is Michael L. Thurmond, who has served as Chief Executive Officer of DeKalb County, in the Georgia Assembly and as Director of
Georgia's Division of Family and Children Services, Georgia Labor Commissioner and Superintendent of Dekalb County Schools.
Thurmond will discuss his latest title, "James Oglethorpe, Father of Georgia," Feb. 20 at a free Roswell Roots program hosted by Atlanta Authors and Bookmiser.
Details about Thurmond’s event and seven others are here:
Saturday, Feb. 15, Kelly Silverman details “Hot Boiled Peanuts: A Georgia Food Tour.” 2 p.m. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore. com
Tuesday, Feb. 18, Marie Benedict, with her new mystery, “The Queens of Crime.” Johns Creek Books is offering two ticket options: Free and $27, which includes a book. 1 p.m. Duluth Library, 3180 Main St., Duluth. eventbrite.com/e/marie-benedictthe-queens-of-crime-at-duluth-library-withjohnscreekbooks-tickets-1112910247509
Tuesday, Feb. 18, Grace Helena Walz, “Southern by Design.” Free. 5 p.m. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com
Thursday, Feb. 20, Michael L. Thurmond. Thurmond will recap his latest work, "James Oglethorpe, Father of Georgia," at a free event presented by Roswell Roots, Roswell Cultural Arts, the City of Roswell, Atlanta Authors and Bookmiser. 6 p.m. Free. Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., 770-594-6232. atlantaauthorsga. com
Saturday, Feb. 22, Angie Williams, “The Raindrop Adventures of Crystal and Sparkle.” 2 p.m. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com
To submit an author event for the upcoming month, email Kathy Des Jardins Cioffi at kathydesjardins3@gmail.com by the 15th.
A life changing gift for the one you love
February and Valentine’s Day bring thoughts of the perfect gift for a loved one. It’s a great time to consider a gift that can be life changing for an older loved one. That’s recognizing the preventive benefits of in-home care.
All too often in-home care is seen as the service you only seek after serious cognitive decline, surgery or recovery from a stroke and other health issues that require supportive care for the activities of daily living. Viewing in-home care as an earlier preventive step opens the door to prolonging a more vibrant and enjoyable life in the comfort of home.
We know that the key to healthy aging is healthy living. By 2030, 1 in every 6 Americans will be over 65. Over 28% of older adults live alone. While preventive tests and regular checkups catch physical changes early, there are activities that in-home care can bolster that are key to maintaining the best possible health and prevent the loss of independence as we age.
The impact of loneliness and social isolation on the spirit and body can be devastating, and keeping in good shape often needs a nudge and companionship. A skilled caregiver for a few days a week can help keep your older loved one moving and stave off the inactivity that
accelerates the aging process. Social activities and learning new things and skills can boost mental health. Studies continue to show the importance of maintaining a good diet and the impact that nutrition has on maintaining our cognitive abilities. Exercise, diet, social activities and learning can also contribute to a better sleep cycle and a good night’s sleep.
With a heart centered approach and positive spirit, a carefully matched Home Helpers caregiver can help pursue a hobby, enjoy community activities and outings and build relationships that enrich the life of your older loved one.
Perhaps your loved one is a family caregiver. Providing respite care for several days a week or overnight assistance can provide a break and some private time for them to combat burnout, get some rest and relieve some stress. It helps them and the entire family of the loved one they support.
A Home Helpers caregiver can assist with all personal care, help around the house, accompany you on doctor’s visits and provide specialized care for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, etc. We have a team with depth and skill that can provide the care you need from six hours a day, several days a week, to 24/7 care. For a free consultation, please call Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta Suburbs at (770) 681-0323.
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Happy Hollow Road home survived area’s evolution
Whenever I write about a subject where more history is needed, the best result is for someone to reach out to me with their memories and knowledge. That happened after I wrote about the house, well and red cedar tree at 5326 Happy Hollow Road. Shari Dickerson sent me an email saying she and her husband Charlie purchased the home in 1970. The street number at that time was 5324.
Shari said Charlie was the family historian and may have had more history to share, but unfortunately, he died March 19, 2018. However, Shari found documents that show the home was purchased from real estate developer Brantley Katz, who developed the Fontainebleau West subdivision.
Shari recalls that the previous homeowner was W.N. Hall, who built the two-bedroom, one bath house in 1955. This answers the previous question of when the home was built. William Newman Hall and Jennie Stevens Hall, originally from Dalton, Georgia, built the home. Hall had retired from Mercedes Benz. He previously worked for the Packard Car Company in Jacksonville, Florida, according to his World War II draft registration card.
The Hall family kept cattle on their Happy Hollow property.
Jennie Hall died in 1968, and W.N. Hall sold the home and land to Brantley
Retreat:
Burnette said Central Perimeter does not offer the same opportunities as the Atlanta Beltline, but Sandy Springs is looking to pursue a similar strategy with multi-use paths, mobility and redevel-opment of outdated commercial properties.
The good news is that there are several private sector projects in the permitting process around the city.
Burnette said there are more than 1,850 multi-family units, 50,000 square feet of office and 131 condominiums expected to be completed in the next two to three years.
The city invited in developers from Jamestown, Toro and Patterson Real Estate Advisory to discuss financial trends affecting the national economy
Katz, who added a bedroom and bathroom before offering it for sale. The Dickersons paid $25,000 for the house in 1970 and moved in with their son Chip.
Chip started school at Hightower Elementary School on Tilly Mill Road and continued at Kingsley Elementary.
Daughters Kelly and Beth were born while the family lived on Happy Hollow Road, and they also went to Kingsley Elementary
and where deals are being made in Metro Atlanta.
The Johns Creek Town Center, envisioned as a walkable downtown area like City Springs, will be filled out with the anticipated 42-acre, $560 million mixed-use development Medley, headed by Av-alon developer Mark Toro.
Little room to grow
Sandy Springs lacks undeveloped land. Over the past 15 years, it has built and fed a downtown with cultural and entertainment venues.
What the city lacks is room to draw large-scale commercial investment, a condition less prevalent in many other North Fulton cities. Sandy Springs officials are seeking ways to get developers inter-ested in projects within the city’s borders.
The city wants to revamp the northern section of Roswell Road (Ga. 9), while also pursuing op-tions for re -
Shari recalled. “It was their fort. The long driveway saw many a big wheel drag race.” There were several families with young children in the neighborhood.
In the 1970s, she remembers a WinnDixie on Winters Chapel Road, where Walmart Neighborhood Market is today. In the large space at the recently rezoned Mt. Vernon Shopping Center, where Lidl was the last tenant, the grocery store was A&P. Orchard Park and Kroger opened in 1982, as advertised in the Oct. 24, 1982, Atlanta Constitution.
Shari Dickerson remembers Dunwoody Club Drive was a dirt road between Happy Hollow Road and Winters Chapel Road during the years they lived on Happy Hollow.
The Dickersons needed more space but decided to move to a home on North Peachtree Road in 1979 rather than build an addition to their Happy Hollow home. They rented the home for seven years before selling it to the Kelly family in July 1986.
School. Chip graduated from Peachtree High School, while Kelly switched from Peachtree High School to Dunwoody as a senior, when Peachtree became a middle School. The couple’s youngest daughter Beth was in the first class at Peachtree Middle School and graduated from Dunwoody High School.
“My children have wonderful memories of the house and especially the well house,”
development of the downtown district and Central Perimeter.
At the end of the two-day retreat, city staff asked elected officials to write down strengths, weak-nesses, opportunities and threats facing Sandy Springs and post them on boards around the room. After jotting down thoughts on each topic, each council member and the mayor went around and ranked them.
Elected officials agreed that public safety, neighborhoods and staff leadership are a strength for the city.
City Manager Eden Freeman backed it up, showing an analysis of the city’s switch to bring most of its government services in-house some five years ago. While the city anticipated cost savings of around $14 million over five years, Freeman said the savings have been just under $26 million.
Weaknesses centered around city project delays, limitations to growth,
One of Shari’s vivid memories is of the 1973 ice storm in Atlanta. The family had no electricity for several days. Charlie saved the day by cooking not only for his family but for many neighbors on their outdoor grill. The red cedar tree that is part of the property lost one huge limb but survived the ice storm.
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.
the complexity of city codes and regulations for residents and aging commercial properties.
Another outside expert, David Cheatwood with First Tryon Advisors, said Sandy Springs ranks in the top 14 percent in the state for financial health, with a AAA bond rating. It means the city has the option to float a general obligation bond for parks and recreation, new Fire Stations or develop-ment. Elected officials showed no interest in the idea.
During closing discussions, City Councilman Andy Bauman drew attention to the city’s housing market.
“We have challenges; the threatened closing of Spalding Drive Elementary has really highlighted the problem of declining population of young families in Sandy Springs,” Bauman said. “That ties into housing issues … and our entire ecosystem of schools, workforce and support of our Main Street businesses.”
DICKERSON FAMILY PHOTO/PROVIDED Charlie and Shari Dickerson, together in the backyard of their 5324 Happy Hollow home.
VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF
Columnist
How is your appetite for local news?
CARL APPEN Director of Content and Development carl@appenmedia.com
Research is vital part of Appen Media reporting
Most of the stories from our newsroom are not just regurgitations of press releases and conferences.
When covering city council meetings, Appen reporters parse through agenda packets that can number hundreds of pages. While writing about the sale of a commercial office building, staff may pull vacancy data from the Georgia Department of Economic Development.
Most of these documents are not directly cited. They serve to inform our reporters about the topic at hand or to fact check a quote. A 500-word story may be built upon hundreds of pages of text or thousands of datapoints in a spreadsheet.
Smart newsrooms expect only a short window of attention from readers. Successful ones make it count. It’s our job to distill volumes of information and present to you a summary of the most important morsels.
During that process, reporters gather a lot of documents, and most don’t see
the light of day. I’m interested in changing that percentage.
Making source material more accessible to readers serves a few purposes.
It reinforces trust with our audience by backing up reporting. That one is the classic “cite your sources” motivation.
It encourages a more informed public. During a city budgeting process, reporters sift through audits and expenditures and revenue reports. They’ll take the hundredpage budget document and bring you an answer to the most important question: “Will this mean more or less turkey for me?”
Some residents may want to dive further, investigating for themselves why a deficit in the parks department appeared this year, or how many transportation projects went in the red. Making the underlying budget document more accessible, as reporters bubble up the topline information into the story, would make that exploration easier.
Should the cities themselves do a better job of sharing those documents? Of course. I just wouldn’t hold your breath or bet next year’s tax bill on it.
There’s a third, less obvious purpose that I think about often. Sometimes our newsroom is simply the only place where all these documents exist in the same
CARL APPEN Director of Content and Development
place.
As an example, I keep a spreadsheet of electronic surveillance technology used by our cities. The list includes everything from license plate readers and facial recognition software to fiber-optic cabling and Bluetooth beacons. I can see which Metro Atlanta cities are tracking residents at community events and the vendors they use to do it. I’ve assembled the document over years and supported each detail with records, meeting minutes, marketing materials and other sources.
I don’t seek out the data. I just flag relevant documents when I see them coming through our newsroom during the regular course of business and file it away.
The surveillance tech is a heavy exam-
ple of the third purpose. There are many others with perhaps brighter undertones.
Simply put, I think we come across a lot of useful information that doesn’t always make it to your eyes.
I want to share more of it with you.
We can do a better job of pointing you toward public information cited in our stories. That one is easy.
I want to hear what other kinds of documents we should make available.
If a reporter cites census data in a story about your city council approving a senior living facility, should we include a link to the population figures? Or would you prefer we keep highlighting only the most important and relevant data?
Imagine there was a data tab on appenmedia.com. Would you want us to share raw figures, or only the ones we’ve analyzed and contextualized?
Folks in the Appen Media newsroom are great at taking mundane materials, trimming the fat and serving you a nutrient-dense bite of your local government’s most important actions. My question is whether you’d also be interested in a side of burnt ends.
Email thoughts, questions and requests to carl@appenmedia.com. We can cook a little more if you’ve got the appetite
PATH400:
Continued from Page 1
The 12-foot-wide multi-use path will stretch about 8 miles along Ga. 400, connecting Midtown Atlanta to Central Perimeter and the northern suburbs.
Last May, Sandy Springs awarded a $20.1 million contract to F.S. Scarborough to construct two-thirds of the segments needed to finish the 2.3-mile trail extension from north Buckhead to Central Perimeter.
The city’s contribution to the inspection contract, like the one for construction, is a 20 percent match, with GDOT covering the rest with federal funds.
Atlanta is funding construction of the 12-foot-wide multi-use trail from Loridans Drive to Nancy Creek. Sandy Springs is then building the path’s bridge over Nancy Creek to Windsor Parkway and another segment from Ridgeview Charter Middle School to just north of Johnson Ferry Road.
With funding still up in the air, the middle section is not scheduled for construction this round.
More funding sought
Public Works Director Marty Martin said Sandy Springs is in talks with the Atlanta Regional Commission and GDOT to get funding for the middle segment of the multi-use path from the Atlanta-Sandy Springs city limits to Ga. 400 and I-285.
“No final decisions from them yet, but let me assure you, we’re not waiting,” Martin told City Councilwoman Jody Reichel. “We’re in active discussion with them right now.”
The project’s timing is lining up well with the final major segment south of project’s pick-up point at Loridans Drive is almost finished.
Martin said city staff members reviewed three proposals from consultants based on quality-based criteria, selecting the highest scorer, AtkinsRealis.
City Councilman Andy Bauman said it sounds like the highest scoring bidder displayed a big gap in professional qualifications, including experience, technical approach and past performance.
Martin agreed, saying he has worked well with a member of the AtkinsRealis project team while they were employed at GDOT.
Martin said the amount of time contractors are on-site will vary, with monthly check-ins and the daily presence of a lead inspector throughout the three-year construction timeline.
Some of the required compliance revolves around materials testing and certification, bidding procedure
and the documentation of wages and hours.
Mayor Rusty Paul said the city secures construction engineering and inspection services for all federally funded projects.
“This may be the most important contract we approve [besides construction itself],” he said. “A few years ago, we had to return some money to the state Department of Transportation because the contractors we were using didn’t follow all the rules.”
Paul said the city was eventually reimbursed by the contractor, but Sandy Springs wants to avoid problems in the future.
“There’s a whole laundry list of things,” he said. “This will keep us out of trouble, hopefully.”
Stream bank improvements
In other business at the meeting, elected officials heard an update on design plans for stream bank improvements to a tributary of Marsh Greek within Abernathy Greenway South.
Because of a widening of Abernathy Road, city staff said there have been dramatic changes to drainage patterns, causing erosion. The planned stream bank stabilization and storm water project, totaling $3.9 million, look to make the park usable for residents in the future.
At the same time, there is a 60-year-old sewer line beneath the creek bed servicing about 10 homes in the area that would need to be removed before construction. City officials said there are ongoing discussion with Fulton County.
The City Council voted to approve the $400,000 federal grant from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division with a $1.5 million local match for a portion of the project. The city has budgeted the funds to complete the project.
“We have had a lot of conversations with the adjoining neighborhood, and it’s very important for them,” Paul said. “The water is polluting the stream and creating problems downstream.”
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Client Services Manager – Food Pantry
NFCC is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the fulltime Client Services Manager – Food Pantry position. The Client Services Manager is responsible for creating, managing and implementing client centered intake policies and procedures. This includes maintaining the reception area of the Food Pantry; the end-to-end application processes; follow up on applications and resolving complex client matters.
Additionally, the Manager trains and manages the Client Services Team members and volunteers while maintaining positive employee relations and talent development of the intake staff. A history of exceptional customer service and interpersonal skills and a knowledge of MS Office are required. Working some evening and weekend work hours is also required.
If this sounds like the role for you, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org
Communications and Marketing Manager
NFCC is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the fulltime Communications and Marketing Manager position. The Communications and Marketing Manager is responsible for helping raise awareness of North Fulton Community Charities and its programs and services. One of the primary responsibilities of this role is to create internal and external communications and marketing materials to promote NFCC’s overall mission.
The Manager will manage and update multiple channels including social media, email, websites, newsletters, presentations, and video. Proficiency in WordPress, Microsoft Office, and Canva are required and experience with Salesforce or other CRM and Pardot/Account Engagement a plus.
If this sounds like the role for you, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org
State Farm (Dunwoody, GA) seeks Lead Data Engineer to design & build out cloud-based data analytic capabilities for monitoring & reporting utilizing a mix of vendor supplied & custom developed app. tooling. Must be certified in one of the following: Splunk Power User/Hadoop/AWS CCP or CCA/Microsoft Azure/ Good Cloud Professional/or similar Cloud based cert. Must take & pass pre-hire Python coding test. Option to work in hybrid environment w/ req. travel to one of following hub offices once a quarter for planning sessions & other team/ area meetings: Bloomington, IL, Atlanta, GA, Dallas, TX, or Phoenix, AZ. Must live w/in 180 miles of one of these hub offices. Apply at https://jobs.statefarm.com/main/jobs, Job ID: 40074
Client Services Specialist – Pantry
The Client Services Specialist (Part-time) serves as the first point of contact at NFCC, welcoming clients and managing the intake process. This role connects clients with NFCC’s programs and services while maintaining accurate records through data entry and application updates. The Specialist also keeps clients informed about program enhancements and available services.
The Specialist must be proficient in Spanish and have the ability to work with a team in a professional manner within a fast paced environment. Microsoft office skills are required and Salesforce experience is a plus. Must have the ability to work evenings & weekends.
If this sounds like the role for you, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org
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