Sandy Springs Crier - August 31, 2023

If you are arrested in Sandy Springs, you may end up in jail in one of three counties; Fulton,

Tax rate remains steady

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs city leaders approved a steady millage rate for 2023, but some residents may see increased property taxes as home values con-

Following initial public hearings in August, elected officials approved a property tax rate of 4.731 mills at a special called meeting Aug. 22. No public comments were shared during any of the hearings.

Sandy Springs’ millage rate is capped by the city charter at 4.731 mills. With property values generally increasing each year, the city could roll back the tax rate to generate the same revenues as the prior year, or it can maintain the same millage rate, which generally brings in more money because property values have risen.

people on a wide range of charges — everything from murder and aggravated assault to driving under the influence and disorderly conduct. arrested individuals must be placed in custody with outside authorities, sometimes dozens of miles away, while the wheels of justice slowly turn.

But unlike municipalities that house

At a July 18 meeting, the Sandy Spring City Council unanimously approved contracts with the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office and the City of

See JAIL, Page 8

• 1,504 individuals were taken to Smyrna and about 847 individuals went to Fulton County.

At the Aug. 15 public hearing, City Manager Eden Freeman said staff considered a revenue-neutral rate of 4.3808 mills.

But, the city would miss out on more than $3.5 million in revenues with the rollback rate, so it was not recommended, Freeman said.

See TAX, Page 4

PHOTO: ALEX POPP/APPEN MEDIA/FILE ILLUSTRATION: CARL APPEN/APPEN MEDIA

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Metro Atlanta police agencies report totals from 2022 state asset forfeiture

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

METRO ATLANTA — While public safety departments across Metro Atlanta receive annual funding from local governments for operational costs, a portion of these agencies’ expenses are covered through local asset forfeiture.

A forfeited asset is property or currency that has been determined to be the benefit or proceed of a crime by a state superior court judge.

Once an agency is granted a forfeited asset, it is distributed among the law enforcement groups that participated in the investigation. Assets that are not currency are assigned a fair market value and may be liquidated through sales, such as on auction-based sites like GovDeals and PropertyRoom or through a Federal Firearms License holder.

State law requires departments to report annual asset forfeiture funds to the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, a financial reporting database for local governments.

Alpharetta, Roswell, Dunwoody, Johns Creek, Sandy Springs and Forsyth County each reported a list of expenses covered by forfeited assets in the 2022 fiscal year to the Carl Vinson Institute.

Combined, the Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Dunwoody and Sandy Springs police departments and the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office reported some $398,675 in expenses covered by forfeitures.

Milton Police Capt. Charles Barstow said the Milton Police Department ini-

tially did not provide an asset forfeiture report to the Carl Vinson Institute due to an oversight. The report has since been submitted, and it is pending approval by the institute as of publication.

Of the six Metro Atlanta agencies that have available reports, Roswell was the biggest spender, recording around $140,174 in expenditures covered by state forfeiture funds. Some of these expenses included training, employee travel, equipment and facilities.

The Dunwoody Police Department reported the lowest dollar amount of expenditures at $20,917, which covered training; law enforcement awards, museums and memorials; training; investigation; and facilities and equipment.

According to state law, local law enforcement agencies can use funds derived from forfeited assets “for any official law enforcement purpose at the discretion of the chief officer of the law enforcement agency receiving such distribution,” if the use does not replace other funds that have been appropriated for the purpose, or for salaries or rewards to employees.

Alpharetta provided a detailed list of expenses from its confiscated assets fund, including firearms, customized public safety Yeti cups and phone chargers.

Police departments can also cover specific types of training with forfeited asset funds. Roswell and Johns Creek offered its officers Brazilian jiu jitsu, which officials said is effective in reducing injury to suspects and officers during arrests.

“There's no difference in how we

Note: Funds received through the Equitable Sharing Program are counted as federal expenses but are still considered forfeited or confiscated assets in local jurisdictions’ budgets. This story contemplates only state expenditures.

spend the money, whether it comes federally or locally,” Alpharetta police Lt. Andrew Splawn said. “But once we have the money, it can be spent on things like training, equipment, initiatives. In fact, much of our second floor is paid for with asset forfeiture money. We got a SWAT bus and some other high-dollar items that are typically hard to budget for.”

For aiding in federal investigations, local agencies can also participate in the Equitable Sharing Program, an asset forfeiture effort operated by the United States Department of Justice that allows assets or proceeds from federal crimes to be liquidated.

The Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation participate in the program. Local task forces that participate in investigations related to each federal branch are eligible to receive funds from assets forfeited from the crimes.

Many agencies employ officers on task forces that are related to the federal law enforcement branches, such as the high-density drug trafficking area or financial investigation teams.

DATA: CARL VINSON INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT CHART: CARL APPEN/APPEN MEDIA Data for Milton was unavailable. A police official told Appen Media the city did not submit their report due to an oversight, but had remedied it after it was brought to their attention.

Nonprofit plans program on navigating dementia

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Atlanta chapter of Adult Children of Aging

Parents will host a free program on communicating with loved ones who have dementia Sept. 13 at the Town Square Sandy Springs Adult Day and Alzheimer’s Resource Center.

The educational event

“Communicating with Individuals Living the Dementia Experience” will feature three techniques on navigating the subject, as well as discussions on relationship building and overcoming obstacles.

Dementia Team Lead Staci Hannah of the Georgia Department of Human Services will present the program. Hannah specializes in supporting those living with dementia and their caregivers. She also owns Graceful Journey, a coaching business on navigating terminal illness.

Registration opens at 5 p.m., and refreshments will be provided. The program begins at 5:30 p.m. in Suite 130 in Building 1 at 8601 Dunwoody Place in Sandy Springs.

More information on ACAP Atlanta programs is available at acapcommunity. org/upcoming-events.

— Shelby Israel

Park study: Chattahoochee River bolsters North Fulton community

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — National Park Service officials said more than 3.5 million people visited the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area in 2022, spending millions of dollars and bringing thousands of jobs to North Fulton County communities.

A recent National Park Service report shows that $176.6 million was spent around the park in 2022, supporting 2,372 jobs in the area. The Chattahoochee River National Park is a 48-mile waterway corridor stretching from Buford Dam in Forsyth County to Peachtree Creek in Atlanta.

“Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area provides great opportunities for outdoor recreation in the Atlanta region and attracts many outof-town visitors,” Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area Superintendent Ann Honious said National Park Service economists gathered this data as part of a nationwide park visitor spending analysis. Officials said the study showed the lodging, hospitality and restaurant industries were most affected by park attendance in 2022.

Officials said that 312 million visitors spent nearly $24 billion directly around national parks.

“Since 1916, the National Park Service has been entrusted with the care of our national parks,” National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said. “With the help of volunteers and partners, we

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Rivermont Golf Club celebrates 50 years in the game

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — It’s not often that you hear of a family owned and operated golf club, or one that takes so many environmentally green measures, but that’s Rivermont in Johns Creek.

Hobbes,” acted as an escort to the new building.

Cupit said family-owned private golf clubs are an unusual model. There are member-run clubs, he said, but there’s an increasing number of companies who consolidate.

castings, fish hydrolysate and mycorrhizal fungi, brought in from different areas around the country like Alaska.

Chris Cupit is the owner and general manager of Rivermont Golf Club, where he lives. The club, located on Rivermont Parkway in Johns Creek, celebrated 50 years in operation this year and hosted the Georgia Amateur Championship for its first time in July.

Chris Cupit, owner and general manager of Rivermont Golf Club, is the son of one of the guys who started the place in 1973. In July the club hosted the Georgia Amateur Championship for the first time as part of a weeklong celebration to mark its 50th year. There were also parties for the club’s 700 members and a night of fireworks.

Cupit and his mother Lynda are neighbors and live on the golf course. Cara, Cupit’s sister, will soon run a Pilates studio that was recently built next to the clubhouse. A brown spritely dog named Hobbes, after “Calvin and

“We have to be successful, and we have to make money because it's our livelihood,” Cupit said. “But our focus is on so much more. My mom will say it's her ministry.”

Family history

Cupit sat in his office on the second floor of the clubhouse, stately and tastefully dated, describing the story of his father David, how he came over from a big golfing family in Texas. David, who died in 2003, was one of 10 kids, and one of five who became a golf professional.

Cupit’s father moved to Atlanta and began working at the Atlanta Country Club in the ’60s, then Ansley Golf Club. Before making Rivermont what it is today, David was the first head golf professional at Dunwoody Country Club.

The Cupits became the sole owners in 1988 and since then, have fostered a sense of community among its members and beyond, like with the Rivermont Women’s Association.

While the club never had any exclusionary policies like other clubs at the time, Cupit said his family recognized the ladies wanted to be more involved and allowed not only members, but also women in the surrounding neighborhood to join.

The association has an investment club, a book club, a lunch bunch and several bridge groups. That day, about a dozen women played the card game in the dining area. The association also regularly brings in guest speakers.

Eye on environment

Rivermont Golf Club has become known for its innovative green practices.

To fertilize the course, the club’s “mad scientist” Mark Hoban brews compost tea using worm manure, or worm

Tax:

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Although many residents will pay more in taxes this year, officials stressed the city’s homestead exemption will ensure the increase is not too sizeable.

Homes with a fair market value of $500,000 and a homestead exemption should expect to pay about $65 more in city property taxes in 2023. For non-homestead properties, the increase will be about

Hatcher Hurd, former editor and writer for Appen Media, detailed Hoban’s positive impact on Rivermont in a story from 2015. Hurd reported Hoban’s “organic maintenance philosophy” earned him the Environmental Leader in Golf award from the Georgia Golf Environmental Foundation.

Cupit said Rivermont uses less than a pound of nitrogen per acre in a year, whereas golf courses tend to use four to five pounds of nitrogen per acre annually. Homeowners typically use one to two pounds of nitrogen per acre, he said.

He also said Rivermont’s irrigation uses recycled water.

“We're the last bit before it goes in the Chattahoochee,” Cupit said. “So instead of all the runoff going from the neighborhoods going right into the river, we capture it.”

A social sport

There’s 100 people waiting to become a member at Rivermont, Cupit said, in part due to the growth in golf’s popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Golf was one of the few things people could safely do.

The pandemic reminded everyone of how they’re social creatures, he said, contributing to the mission of Rivermont.

“If we can help people find friends and develop relationships, and have fun being together, centered around golf … that’s what we want.”

While he didn’t follow his father’s footsteps as a pro, Cupit played golf in college and involves himself with the game today whether it’s through volunteering with the Georgia State Golf Association or with the United States Golf Association as a rules official.

Cupid said he loves golf because it has some “old fashioned values,” defined by walking with a bag and not being bombarded by screens, and he enjoys that the game is “primal.”

“You get to hit a ball with a bat,” he said. “It's fun to whack something.”

$70.

“Regardless of what happened to somebody's property value, if it went up a lot, the most their Sandy Springs tax could go up is 3 percent,” City Councilman Andy Bauman said.

While residents have received their 2023 property tax assessment notices, the Fulton County Tax Commissioner's office has yet to finalize the tax digest.

Once those numbers are finalized, Sandy Springs residents should expect to see their property tax bill in the mail, officials said.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

MOVIES BY MOONLIGHT: ‘THE BAD GUYS’

What: Bring a picnic or choose your dinner from a food truck and enjoy “The Bad Guys” on the big screen at this free event. Movie begins after sunset.

When: Friday, Sept. 1, 7 p.m.

Where: Heritage Amphitheater Lawn, 6110 Blue Stone Road, Sandy Springs

More info: sandyspringsga.gov

HOME BY DARK CONCERT: UNION HILL PARK SERIES

What: The event, featuring Sarah Darling and Emily Shakelton, is part of a series that offers the opportunity to enjoy music by established and emerging performers and songwriters in an intimate setting under the covered pavilion nestled in the trees at Union Hill Park.

When: Friday & Saturday, Sept. 1-2, 8-10 p.m.

Where: Union Hill Park, 1590 Little Pine Trail, Alpharetta

More info: homebydark.com

ALPHARETTA FARMERS MARKET

What: Every Saturday morning through November, more than a dozen vendors set up shop near the Town Green with locally grown produce, natural meat, gardeners with fresh flowers and plants, handcrafted gifts, jellies, sauces and soaps, homemade baked goods and more.

When: Saturday, Sept. 2, 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

Where: North and South Broad streets, Alpharetta

More info: alpharettafarmersmarket.com

JAZZ ON THE LAWN

What: Forever Pink Foundation, Inc. will present the “Jazz on the Lawn” music concert with performances by Groove Centric, PR Experience and DJ XL/ Xavier Lewis. All proceeds go toward funding grants, scholarships and other philanthropic thrusts of the Foundation. Bring your cooler, picnic basket and lawn chairs to relax and enjoy the melodic tunes.

When: Saturday, Sept. 2, 4-9 p.m.

Where: Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody

Cost: $75-$100

More info: jazzonthelawn.my.canva.site

JAZZ ON THE LAWN

What: Forever Pink Foundation, Inc. will present the “Jazz on the Lawn” music concert with performances by Groove Centric, PR Experience and DJ XL/Xavier Lewis. All proceeds go toward funding grants, scholarships and other philanthropic thrusts of the Foundation. Bring your cooler, picnic basket and lawn chairs to relax and enjoy the melodic tunes.

When: Saturday, Sept. 2, 4-9 p.m.

Where: Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody

Cost: $75-$100 More info: jazzonthelawn. my.canva.site

SHOP, SIP & STROLL

What: This event, recurring one Friday a month through November on The Green, will feature 25-plus artisans and makers offering handmade items like candles, jewelry, pottery, skincare, gourmet food and more. There will also be live music and drinks.

When: Friday, Sept. 8, 5-8 p.m.

Where: The Green at Crabapple Market, 12650 Crabapple Road, Milton More info: crabapplemarketga.com

MUSIC ON THE HILL: THE GEEK SQUAD

What: In this event, as part of a free outdoor music series every second Friday of the month through September, The Geek Squad Band will perform. Bring a blanket, unpack your picnic and uncork a bottle to unwind with sounds from this dynamic cover band.

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When: Friday, Sept. 8, 7-9 p.m.

Where: Roswell City Hall, 38 Hill Street, Roswell More info: roswell365.com

AN EVENING OF SONG FEATURING INDIA TYREE

What: Join this event for a performance of musical theater standards by one of Atlanta’s talented singers, India Tyree.

When: Sept. 8-10, 7:30-9 p.m.

Where: Stage Door Theatre, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody Cost: $28 for adults; $20 for students; $15 for children

More info: stagedoortheatrega.org

DOGGY DAZE OF SUMMER

What: Bring your pooch and enjoy the last days of summer at East Roswell Park for a free outdoor extravaganza.

When: Saturday, Sept. 9, 4-9 p.m.

Where: East Roswell Park, 9000 Fouts Road, Roswell More info: roswell365.com

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: WHO’S BAD

What: Bring your blankets and lawn chairs to this free summer concert series, where the Michael Jackson cover band Who’s Bad will perform. Food trucks will be on-site. Beer and wine will be available for purchase. Dogs are not allowed, except service animals. Music begins at 7 p.m.

When: Saturday, Sept. 9, 6-10 p.m.

Where: Mark Burkhalter Amphitheater at Newtown Park, 3150 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek

More info: johnscreekga.gov

CONCERT BY THE SPRINGS: STILL SWINGING

What: Get ready to hear horns, woodwinds, strings and percussion with the band Still Swinging. Lawn seating is free. No pets are allowed.

When: Sunday, Sept. 10, 7 p.m.

Where: Heritage Amphitheater Lawn, 6110 Blue Stone Road, Sandy Springs

More info: sandyspringsga.gov

Too many dairies in North Dekalb to name

Dairies played a major role in the economy of north DeKalb County from the 1930s up until the early 1950s. There are too many for me to name and describe in one article. Today I will focus on a few of the dairies that were in Chamblee and Doraville.

According to “A Century in North DeKalb,” compiled by the First Baptist Church of Chamblee in 1975, there were 33 dairies in Chamblee and 200 dairies in DeKalb County in 1939. DeKalb County was the largest producer of Grade A milk in the south and had more dairies than any other Georgia county.

David Chesnut, whose family lived in Doraville along where Chamblee Tucker Road meets I-85, recalls dairies near the family home. The W. O. Pierce and P. E. Pierce Dairies were located on both sides of North Peachtree Road, between North Shallowford Road and Peachtree Boulevard. Irvindale and Chatham Dairies were located across from the railroad tracks. David and Linda Chesnut later lived at the historic Donaldson-Bannister Farm in Dunwoody.

Irvindale Dairy was also across from the railroad tracks in Chamblee. Owner P. E. Hyde started Irvindale Dairy in 1918 with six cows, delivering milk in single horse drawn wagons. Thirteen years later, Hyde had accumulated 33 acres for his dairy business. By 1931, Irvindale was considered “one of the most modern dairies in the entire south.”

Former Chamblee Mayor Dub

Brown’s family owned a dairy farm. Brown shared his memories of living and working on the family dairy farm in an oral history recorded in October 1987 at DeKalb History Center. The family dairy was located on two properties along Buford Highway. Everyone in the family worked on the dairy farm including his two sisters and two brothers.

The B. F. Lyle Dairy was located on ten acres along Woodwin Road between Winters Chapel and Tilly Mill Roads. The dairy sold to customers in Buckhead, Brookhaven, Chamblee, and Doraville, using their dairy truck to deliver buttermilk and butter.

The intersection of Buford Highway and Shallowford Road was once home to the I.O. Morton Dairy. The Morton Dairy was on 62 ½ acres with a large rock dairy barn, milk house, large feed room, and three family homes. In 1949 the farm was up for auction, advertised as being near Lawson General Hospital and the General Motors plant.

Another dairy was located on part of the land where the General Motors plant was built-the J. H. Maloney Dairy. John Harwell (Bud) Maloney delivered milk to families in Doraville and other nearby communities. He also operated an Amoco station in downtown Doraville.

As job opportunities increased with the construction of the General Motors plant and other industries, nearby communities shifted from the land of dairies into the land of new subdivisions.

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/SPECIAL TO APPEN MEDIA

This 1939 map of north DeKalb dairies appears in "A Century of North DeKalb," compiled by the First Baptist Church of Chamblee in 1975.

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF

Columnist

THE INVESTMENT COACH

Is tithing one of your financial imperatives?

ten percent, and counseled, “You should also know how much you make. Part of the benefit of giving a portion of your money is it makes you think about where your money goes. God does not want us to be sloppy with our finances, Don.”

LEWIS

Columnist

J. WALKER, CFP

The Investment Coach

In Newtown Park in Johns Creek there is a free lending library in what looks like a big birdhouse. Walking in the park almost every day, I always check the library to see if there’s a new book that piques my interest. Recently I finished “Blue Like Jazz,” a book by Donald Miller billed as “nonreligious thoughts on Christian spirituality.” A semi-autobiographical work, it’s a collection of essays and personal reflections of a young man wrestling with his conscience midst secular surroundings as he seeks to better understand the nature of God and Jesus, and the need for an authentic personal response to that understanding.

In a chapter on the subject of money, after learning that a friend, who always seemed broke and, in many ways, appeared to be non-religious, tithed, Don confessed to his pastor that he gave no money to the church. Rick, the pastor, asked why he didn’t give, and Don replied, “Because I have no money. Everything goes to rent and groceries. So am I exempt?”

Acknowledging Don’s tough financial situation, Rick said, “Nope. We want your cash.” After a brief conversation, Don speculated that maybe he made about a thousand dollars a month as a struggling writer. Rick said the church wanted a hundred dollars,

Jail:

Continued from Page 1

Smyrna Police Department to house shortterm and long-term inmates who may be awaiting trial in municipal court or serving sentences up to one year.

“The City of Smyrna Police Department runs its own jail and has been the primary provider of this service to the Sandy Springs Police and Municipal Court Services since 2018,” officials said in late June memos. “Due to the Pickens County Sheriff's Office being a significant distance away, it is not the best choice for processing arrestees from the city, but it does provide an appropriate jail location for those people that are under sentence.”

Records show that of the 2,351 people jailed by the Sandy Springs Police Department in 2022, 1,504 were processed and held at the City of Smyrna Jail for between one and five days on city ordinance and traffic violation charges.

One reason folks engage a financial planner is because they don’t want “to be sloppy with finances.” They desire a well-thought-out and disciplined approach based on defined goals and objectives and life transitions timelines. In planning what your money and investments should do for you, questions are posed. Writer Mitch Anthony, in his best-selling book, “The New Retirementality,” offered a way to think about money based on Abraham Maslow’s “hierarchy of needs.” At the base of a pyramid titled “Maslow Meets Retirement,” Anthony starts with “survival money,” funds needed to handle everyday expenses and necessities. At the next level up is “safety money,” a reserve to meet “life’s unexpected turns,” emergency money.

Next you have “freedom money,” funds for life’s fun things, hobbies, travel, dining out, theater, sports, plus personal growth and education, etc. Higher on your pyramid, is “gift money,” funds for the people and causes about which you care deeply, including support and gifts to children, grandchildren, charities, etc. Sometimes “sandwich generation” needs for offspring (whether minors or adults over age 18), or aging parents or grandparents, may necessitate funding expenses out of cash reserves or deferring “freedom money” aspirations. At the top of your pyramid is “dream money,” perhaps for a second home, motor

McGinnis said another 1,308 people were cited and released in 2022.

Arrestable city ordinance charges include public urination, vandalism, entering automobiles and making false statements to police.

But the most common city ordinance charge is issued for “disorderly conduct,” which is cited nearly every day and has a wide range of meanings and interpretations from “throwing bottles, paper, cans, glass, sticks, stones, missiles, or any other debris on public property,” to acting violently, fighting, or standing in a street or sidewalk, “so as to impede the flow of vehicular traffic.”

If you are arrested for any of these items you will most likely be taken to the Smyrna jail.

Sgt. Matthew McGinnis, Public Information Officer for the Sandy Springs Police Department said all arrestees charged with felony or misdemeanor state charges are housed at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta. In 2022, that number included about 850 individuals.

“Smyrna Jail is short-term holding for

home, boat, exotic trips. Dreams often are listed as “bucket list” items.

In talking with clients early in the planning stage, it is useful to understand religious preferences and affiliations as some folks practice tithing. For many, tithing, money donated for God’s purposes comes “off of the top,” given as part of “survival money” with faith that our Lord will provide. When Don decided to tithe, he emptied his checking account that contained only eight dollars. But shortly thereafter he got a lucrative writing gig with a magazine plus well-paid speaking engagements at retreats and conferences. Each time he took ten percent off of the top for his church and another ten percent went into a savings account. His life, attitude, earning power, net worth, and sense of wellbeing, improved dramatically. As an advisor I have heard the same story over and over; those who give time, talent, and treasure to causes about which they care report getting more done with more energy and success in work and play. Interesting how that works!

The concept of tithing one-tenth of your income first appeared in the Old Testament. Leviticus 27:30 instructs, “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.” The 10% requirement specifically comes from the Hebrew translation of tithe, or “ten.”

Philanthropy is an important aspect of financial planning, which can be combined with prudent tax planning. Some Pharisees tried to trap Jesus by asking

city ordinance violations,” he said. “Pickens County Jail is our long-term holding facility for city ordinance violations. That is determined by the Municipal Judge when they are sentenced.”

Between January and August of 2023, just two individuals were housed in the Pickens County Jail.

The Smyrna Jail is a 64-bed facility built in 1997 located about 17 miles from Sandy Springs, while the Pickens County Jail is a larger facility about 50 miles away from the city.

By agreeing to the updated inmate housing agreements with Pickens County and the City of Smyrna, officials also approved a sizable increase in what it pays to house inmates outside the county.

Through the new 2023 agreement, the per-inmate cost at the Smyrna Jail will increase by 40 percent, from $50 to $70 per day, requiring an increase of more than $190,000 to the police department’s budget.

Officials said their agreement with the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office, which caused per-inmate costs to rise about 20

whether it was lawful to pay taxes to the oppressive Roman Emperor. Pointing out that Caesar’s face appeared on the coin of the realm, Jesus replied, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.” (Matthew 22:21). For those blessed with significant income and net worth, it’s prudent and acceptable to minimize taxes while doing good. Various types of trust vehicles may be employed. Gifting common stock with embedded taxable capital gains may make sense compared to giving cash. Insurance vehicles may provide tax free cash to heirs while some of the estate assets go to charity. Those taking mandatory distributions from qualified retirement plans like 401(k) or IRA plans, may donate up to $100,000 per year as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) to approved charities while having the money excluded from taxable ordinary income. That may help to lower Part B Medicare premiums.

Mark Victor Hanson, author of “Chicken Soup for the Soul,” opined, “Discover the joy of giving and you will discover the reason for living.” Life without purpose is a train wreck.

Lewis Walker, CFP®, is a life centered financial planning strategist with Capital Insight Group (CIG); 770-441-3553; lewis@ capitalinsightgrp.com. Securities & advisory services offered through The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. (SFA), which is otherwise unaffiliated with CIG. Lewis a Gallup Certified Clifton Strengths Coach and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA).

percent from $45 to $55, will offset the increase in Smyrna costs.

Sandy Springs leaders were also presented with an option to hand municipal jail services off to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office at the North Fulton County Jail in Alpharetta, for $60 per inmate, per day, plus a portion of the cost for maintaining and operating the jail.

However, city leaders seemed hesitant about the option, citing “numerous historical coordination and performance issues,” they have faced while dealing with the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office.

While they do use the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta to house some inmates, neither Sandy Springs nor the county could provide Appen Media with any documents laying out the terms of their shared use jail agreement.

The only other cost savings option, city officials said, would be to release more people with a copy of their charges instead of booking them into jail.

The Sandy Springs City Council approved the inmate housing agreements without any further discussion.

Workforce Development Coordinator is responsible for developing programs and services for NFCC clients and students seeking employment, post-secondary education, or other career options. The workforce development coordinator collaborates with local employers to help match job seekers to open positions. They work directly with clients on the job application, resumes, and interview preparations and provide tips for successfully securing and improving employment to foster financial stability.  Bachelor’s degree in a human services, human resources, or other related field required and 2 years of professional experience in human services, human resources or career counseling preferred.

To view the entire listing visit https://nfcchelp.org/ work-at-nfcc/. To apply, please submit resume to Carol Swan at cswan@nfcchelp.org.

VETERINARY TECHNICIANS & ASSISTANTS: Dunwoody Animal Medical Center is hiring! Send resume to office@dunwoodyamc.com

Advertise your JOB OPENING in the newspaper

Part-time

Donor Operations Associate

The Donor Operations Associate greets and removes donations from vehicles and sorts merchandise in a designated area.  They are responsible for keeping the merchandise secure, all areas free of debris and the donor door area neat and clean.  This position is the face of NFCC so they are expected to provide excellent customer service and treat each donor with a professional and friendly demeanor.  High school diploma or equivalent preferred. Ability to perform low to moderate facility maintenance tasks.  To view entire listing visit: https://nfcchelp.org/work-atnfcc/  To apply, please complete an application for employment and email to Marten Jallad,  mjallad@nfcchelp.org.

Retail Sales Clerk Sales & customer svce (incl greeting, customer interaction, & merchandising the store. i.e., returning clothes to racks/displays & in properstore locations. Cashiering. Store upkeep. Standing 5-8 hours/day usually 2-3 days/week. Weekend availability.

Hourly wage based on exp.

Applications: Consigning Women. 2508 Mt. Vernon Road. Dunwoody 30338. 770.394.1600 (Sun-Fri 125, Sat 10-6)

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Retired medical surgeon, 83, male, would like to meet retired medical doctor, female, 75-80 years, Sandy Springs area. Please call 781-850-6113

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