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MAYOR’S GREETING Welcome to this issue of our Douglasville Impact Newsletter! 2020 has been an interesting year thus far, to say the least. As we have collectively been dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, I have been overjoyed with the response within our community. Local businesses have really stepped up to make sure Douglasville citizens stay fed and cared for. I also cannot mention our community’s response to COVID-19 without thanking our healthcare professionals. These men and women have been working tirelessly to ensure everyone receives quality treatment and prevention. In addition, I would
like to express my gratitude to the men and women of law enforcement, E-911, first responders, and emergency management personnel who have been working around the clock to keep us all safe. I know it has been difficult dealing with the constant updates surrounding COVID-19. I want to reassure you that City staff and I are carefully monitoring the situation. I have had conference calls with Governor Kemp on a regular basis receiving the most up-todate information. I have even been on a conference call with Vice President Pence to gather information from the Federal level of government. I will also continue to coordinate with Chairman Jackson Jones to keep the spread of COVID-19 to a minimum. Mayor Rochelle Robinson City of Douglasville
Waste Reduction When people hear about reducing their waste they automatically think about recycling, however recycling is just a small part of the picture. The number one way to reduce waste is not to create it in the first place. Not creating waste requires refusing disposable products and reusing and repairing items that you already have. By incorporating durable reusable items into your daily routine, you can help put an end to single-use waste, prevent litter AND save money. Due to several unforeseen circumstances, the City of Douglasville has suspend its curbside recycling program for the indefinite future. The City remains committed to keeping you up to date on the future of the the recycling program and providing alternative waste reduction methods. 2
RECYCLING SUSPENDED
BYO- Bring Your Own Replacing disposable products with reusable ones is one way you can help stop waste before it starts. Although some disposable products like water bottles can be recycled, bringing your own cup, bottle and bag is the BEST choice for saving money and reducing waste.
•Roll a utensil set up in a cloth napkin & store in your purse/bag/desk •Carry a reusable straw
Here are some tips to make remembering to bring your own reusables as easy as possible: •Place your cup or water bottle by your keys, purse or backpack each night/morning •Keep a spare mug at work •Post a reminder by your door or on your phone •Write “Bring Bags” at the top of your grocery list and put bags with your list •Keep bags in your car •After making a restaurant reservation, set a reminder to bring your own to-go box
HOME / BACKYARD COMPOSTING
For more information and to take the pledge, visit DouglasvilleGa.gov/GoGreenDouglasville
YARD WASTE
Composting is nature’s way of recycling and reducing waste. Food and yard waste can be turned into valuable organic matter and nutrients that can be used for gardens and lawns. Besides keeping organic matter out of the landfill, compost increases soils ability to retain moisture and reduces the need to purchase fertilizer or herbicides.
Grasscycling is the “greener” way to a better lawn as well as reduce waste headed to the landfill. If you haven’t heard the term, it basically means leaving the grass clippings where they fall. Taking the bag off the mower is the only action required to go from mowing to grasscycling. When grass clippings can decay naturally on the lawn, they release valuable nutrients and add water-saving mulch which makes it a healthier lawn. An added plus is that grasscycling tremendously cuts down the volume of material making the trip to the landfill.
Things to Compost: ·Napkins, tissues, paper towels ·Toilet & kitchen roll tubes ·Vacuum bag contents & dryer lint ·Fruit & vegetable scraps ·Coffee & tea bags ·Egg shells
Tips for Grasscycling: ·Mow when grass is dry ·Sharpen mower blades often ·Set mower blade height to 3” ·Cut lawn before height reaches 4” ·If large clumps of grass are left on lawn, mow over again to allow grass to sift into turf ·Grasscycling REDUCES the need for chemical fertilizers which saves money!
·Grass clippings & plant pruning Things to NOT Compost: ·Meat & meat bones ·Dairy items ·Food cooked in oil ·Pet waste & litter
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from air pollution to money saved by reuse and reduced consumption. Going green demonstrates care, not only for ourselves, but also our community, Douglasville, both now and for future generations.
Calling all residents of Douglasville to GO GREEN! What is going green? Going green means living a life, both as an individual as well as a community, in a way that is friendly to the natural environmental and is sustainable for our earth. Going Green is MORE than just recycling. In fact, recycling should be considered the last option. Finding ways to reduce consumption and waste as well as reuse items should be our first actions. Green choices benefit our environment by conserving energy and natural resources. Studies have also found that individuals living a green lifestyle benefit from multiple health and economic advantages,
War time posters during World War II reminded us to “use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without”. Even though our reasons have changed, that mindset still is applicable in helping us maintain a greener Douglasville. We are challenging every Douglasville resident to reduce their waste by being a conscious shopper, skipping packaged items whenever possible, choosing reusable over disposable through B.Y.O. (Bring Your Own…bag, bottle, etc.), and, finally, recycling what cannot be reused or done without. At the end of the day, reasons to “go green” are not as important as our actions. So let’s “Go Green Douglasville” and make our actions count!
WATER CONSERVATION - WSA When temperatures start to rise, we often find ourselves using more water around the house. Whether it is growing award-winning hydrangeas or topping off the swimming pool, warmer months always correlate with more demand for water resources in our community. To be a good steward of the local environment, the Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority asks that everyone increasing their water usage practice some simple conservation tactics such as: · Water plants before 10:00 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m. You will lose less water to evaporation if you water outside of the hottest hours of the day.
· Try not to overwater. If you see water running off into the street, your lawn is oversaturated. · Fix leaks as soon as you spot them. Even a small drip can add up to a big bill. Many more easy water conservation tips and tricks can be found online at www.ddcwsa.com.
Contributed by: Lyndsey Sargent | Communications Coordinator Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority
E- WASTE AND SCRAP METAL RECYCLING Whether you’re looking to clean out your garage or storage closet, free-up the junk drawer, or just plain do something good for the environment, there’s a way to make it happen. All those old obsolete televisions, computers, cell phones, cables, phone cords, mismatched chargers, lawn-mowers, exercise equipment, appliances, and BBQ grills that you’ve been holding onto will finally have a purpose. Keep Douglasville Beautiful holds a bi-annual recycle event that allows residents to drop off most electronics and scrap metal for recycling at NO cost. There is a $5 fee for televisions and monitors only. The e-waste and scrap metal recycle event is set up as a drive through and drop off event. Volunteers are on site to collect items from your car quickly and conveniently. The event is held once in the Spring and once in the Fall from 9:00am - 2:00pm at the overflow parking lot at First Presbyterian Church located at 9190 Campbellton Street, Douglasville, GA 30134. The next event will take place on Saturday, October 3, 2020.
Keep Douglasville Beautiful can accept anything that has a cord, uses batteries or has metal content. Some examples of electronics and scrap metal that will be collected are: Computers, Laptops, Tablets • Stereos, Radios, Home Audio, Speakers • Printers, Scanners, Fax Machines, Copiers • CRT/LCD Monitors • VCR/DVD Players • Cable TV Boxes • Cell Phones, Pagers, PDAs • Televisions • Hair Dryers, Curling Irons • Metal Furniture • Game Systems Nintendo, Sega, Xbox, etc. • Large and Small Appliances • Air Conditioners • Lawn Mowers, Weed Eaters, Lawn Tools • Exercise Equipment - Treadmills, Ellipticals, etc. • Wiring, Cables, Electrical Cords, Christmas Lights • Metal Coat Hangers • Vacuum Cleaners • Engines and Transmissions, Old Car Parts, Lead Acid Batteries (automotive type) • Scrap Metal • Automobiles (please call for instructions) • Household Fixtures - faucets, electrical switches, etc. Practically anything that has a cord, uses batteries, or has metal content.
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What are the environmental benefits of recycling e-waste?
According to the EPA, Electronic products are made from valuable resources and highly engineered materials, including metals, plastics, and glass, all of which require energy to mine and manufacture them. Recycling consumer electronics conserves our natural resources and avoids air and water pollution, as well as greenhouse gas emissions that are caused by manufacturing virgin materials.
DONATE Why not recycle your items by giving them another home? Did you know that the average US citizen throws away approximately 70lbs of clothing and textiles each year? Once you determine that your clothing, shoes, handbags and household textiles no longer have a place in your home, consider donating them to charity. Second hand charities keep approximately 3.8 billion pounds of post-consumer textile waste out of landfills. Feel free to include your mismatched socks, old sheets and worn shoes when
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you’re donating. The items that can’t be resold will be recycled and converted into reclaimed wiping rags or post-consumer fiber for various industries. Here are a few local donation options: ·10:10 Thrift Store (5960 Stewart Pkwy, Douglasville) ·Goodwill Thrift Store & Donation Center (5793 Fairburn Rd., Douglasville) ·Last Chance Thrift Store (900 Thornton Rd., Lithia Springs) ·Loving Hands Ministry (6461 Church St., Douglasville) ·Value Village (3150 Hwy 5, Douglasville) 5
FROM THE CITY MANAGER’S DESK As we continue to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Douglasville, City staff is working hard to maintain those essential services citizens cannot go without – public safety and sanitation services. A special-called City Council meeting was held back on March 17, where Mayor Robinson and the City Council decided to close all City buildings to the public. Since then, staff has continued to work to serve the public, whether it be in-person or electronically. Aside from maintaining the health and safety of all citizens, it is the shared goal of everyone at the City of Douglasville organization to maintain a high level of service provision to all citizens. Operationally, City staff has been hard at work to present the Mayor and Council with a conservative budget for fiscal year 2021. The economic blowback from this pandemic has been felt by many local governments around the state and across the country. Douglasville is no different. While we’ve done a great job of being stewards of the City’s funds, it is important to reign our finances even further to ensure that we can continue to provide the best services possible. Once we have a better understanding of how the economy will adjust, we will focus on the necessities of the City operation. While we wait to see how the fallout of this pandemic will continue to unfold, it is important to stay vigilant in following the CDC guidelines. It has been extraordinary to see how this community has come together, and I am confident when this is behind us, we will continue to build toward the future. Please continue to be safe, consider your health and the health of others.
FARMERS MARKET Live Healthy Douglas* proudly sponsors the new Church Street Farmers Market, which provides an outlet for farmers and vendors to make affordable and locally grown fruits and vegetables, and other products accessible to the community. The market also provides an opportunity for the farmers and vendors to earn an income from their sustainably grown food.
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*The Live Healthy Douglas Partners include Keep Douglasville Beautiful, Cobb and Douglas Public Health, UGA Extension Douglas County and Douglas County Parks & Rec
If you are interested in being a vendor and providing local produce and products to our community, please apply online at www.DouglasvilleGa.gov/FarmersMarket
COMMUNITY GARDEN Our community garden is growing! On the corner of Courtland and Johnson St. in the Mill Village neighborhood, Keep Douglasville Beautiful has tilled up the soil, planted and watered the seeds and is looking for this garden to help provide access to fresh fruits and veggies to an area that is considered a food desert because of its limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables. This community garden is not like your typical plotbased community garden where plots are rented but is one where anyone can help cultivate it and anyone can enjoy the produce. It’s amazing to see how healthier eating habits develop when nourishing options are easily available. No matter your level of expertise, stop by and enjoy a garden that is helping the community one vegetable at a time!
Coffee Shop
I n t e r v i e w s
As Committee Chair for Transportation, we sat down with Councilwoman Dr. LaShun Darnley to discuss transportation updates. As Transportation Committee Chair, what information updates can you provide on the SR92 project? DANLEY: Currently, the most significant adjustment constituents can see regarding the SR92 project is the SR92 Northbound lane headed toward Hiram is closed, rerouting traffic in the North/Southbound lane. Several subdivisions in this area, including Crystal Lake, have been directly affected. GDOT is meeting with City staff monthly to keep us updated on the status of the project. We also anticipate the four-lane highway will open in 2021. It is important to note that the project could be affected by the COVID19 Pandemic, which could possibly result in a new opening date. However, we are hopeful the project will continue to stay on track. We will relay any additional information to our residents as soon as we have any new details. For more information, constituents can also visit GDOT’s website for project status at: http://www.dot.ga.gov/BS/Projects/SpecialProjects/SR92 How do you see the SR92 project affecting the downtown area and Douglasville? DANLEY: This project is extremely important to me. In fact, my family was directly impacted by the need to have emergency connectivity to the downtown area. Growing up, my family and I lived on Colquitt Street. While at church choir practice one evening, our house caught fire. At the time, there was not a fire station in the district and all traffic passage to this side of town had to cross the tracks. Ultimately, my family was devastated as a result of not having critical access. It is imperative that residents have the necessary access to resources the new SR92 will provide. What businesses and development would the constituents in your Ward like to see this project bring to the area? DANLEY: The constituents in this area have stated that this area needs everything from a banking branch, to a farmer’s market, as well as a variety of eateries where the community can come together. A coffee shop or bagel/bakery option and a health care-oriented chain such as CVS are all needed in this ward. It is promising that this area can soon see these types of establishments develop along the new SR92 corridor. The City’s master plan also provides connectivity paths from downtown to this community. This will help promote eco-friendly paths, healthy living, and an overall improved quality of life. This long-awaited project will provide a new landscape of community to this ward. 7
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The Douglasville City Council ROCHELLE ROBINSON Mayor 678-449-3000 robinsonr@douglasvillega.gov
NYCOLE MILLER Ward 2, Post 1 678-449-3012 millern@douglasvillega.gov
DR. LASHUN BURR-DANLEY Ward 3, Post 1
678-449-3006 danleyl@douglasvillega.gov
COACH CHRIS WATTS Ward 4
678-449-3014 wattsc@douglasvillega.gov
TERRY S. MILLER Ward 1 678-449-3002 millert@douglasvillega.gov
MARK ADAMS Ward 2, Post 2
678-449-3004 adamsm@douglasvillega.gov
SAM DAVIS Ward 3, Post 2
678-449-3007 daviss@douglasvillega.gov
HOWARD M. ESTES Ward 5 678-449-3010 estesh@douglasvillega.gov
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ibe for weekly n e w s, e Cit y Ha ve n t s, a ll. All w nd info e n eed is y V isit w w f ro m our e m w.Doug a il a d d re s s las villeG ! A .gov/S ubscr ib e