VOLUME 21 NUMBER 50
FREE
MARCH 19, 2016
Published Since April 1995 Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties • www.facebook.com/ocgnews
Bill to eliminate DeKalb CEO position advances
Kohl’s to close at Stonecrest, two other metro-Atlanta stores
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he Mall At Stonecrest in Lithonia will lose anchor store, Kohl’s, this fall, company officials have announced. Kohl’s plans to close Fran Millar Dee Dawkins-Haigler the Stonecrest store at 2929 Turner Hill Road in Republican State Sen. Fran Millar’s bill to eliminate DeKalb Lithonia on Nov. 1 and County’s CEO position passed two other metro Atlanta the House Governmental Affairs stores this year: Committee and is expected to The Kohl’s at Northhead to the Rules Committee lake Mall, 4820 Briarcliff next. SB 378 would allow the Road, and the store at current election to take place 2342 Holcomb Bridge and the CEO could serve two Road in Roswell will years then the position would close on June 19. They change to an elected Chairman are among 18 Kohl’s that of the Board of Commissioners and a board-appointed county will close nationwide. manager who would run the The retailer is closretailer said. of this decision was to if they choose, can accept day-to-day operations. ing the underperforming Kohl’s officials say ensure we could take care a competitive severance Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler, stores as part of its coma Democrat, said there was no they plan to offer store of every impacted store package,” the news reprehensive review of all Democratic support for the bill employees impacted by associate. We are proud lease said. as it cleared the Governmental markets, rent and custom- the cuts jobs at other to share every eligible Kohl’s stores employs Affairs Committee on March 16. er base, officials said in locations or severance store associate will be approximately 80-100 “They pulled us off the floor a release. The shutdowns packages. offered the opportunity to associates. for this bill while we were in represent less than 1 the middle of debate,” Daw“An important part work at a nearby Kohl’s, percent of total sales, the kins-Haigler said. “Basically, an announcement was made that those who were concerned about DeKalb County’s form of government needed to get to the committee meeting immediately. I’ve been serving eight mission District 5 seat was vacant zational act for an unexpired term years and I’ve never seen that for over two years and the board greater than 180 days. happen.” Dawkins-Haigler said the split along racial lines and were unMaxine Daniels, director of bill is expected to head to the able to decide on a number of issues DeKalb County Voter Registrations Rules Committee by March 24 The full board was restored—four and Elections office, said the special and she’s urging DeKalb County blacks and three whites—when election in May would require separesidents, especially those who Mereda Davis Johnson was elected rate ballots, additional voting malive in South DeKalb, to contact their legislators and speak out. last year to fill the District 5 post. chines and additional poll workers. She said the bill is being pushed She replaced Lee May, appointed “It’s too late to put the special through with little input from to serve as DeKalb’s Interim CEO, election on the May 24 General constituents. after he officially resigned to pave Election Primary ballot with the Millar, who lives in North the way for a special election to fill other questions. The deadline to DeKalb and has been an outspoStan Watson ken critic of the CEO form of his commission seat. have done that was Feb. 25,” Dangovernment, has said the goverCommissioner Larry Johnson, iels said. “The issue now is whether By Valerie J. Morgan nor has called for reform. the board’s presiding officer, said he it will be a stand–alone election or A few weeks ago, State whether it will be held in November he DeKalb County Board wants to avoid having another long Rep. Pam Stephenson and some vacancy on the board again. The with the General Election,” said DeKalb delegates, including of Elections has schedDawkins-Haigler, conducted Daniels. uled an emergency meet- board will have to choose another a meeting at the Stonecrest Daniels said the Board of Elecing on March 21 to determine when deputy presiding officer to replace Library in Lithonia so that Rep. Watson, who held the position. tions also would discuss whether a special election can be held to fill Scott Holcomb could explain “I’m recommending the counSarah Copelin-Wood is a valid the unexpired term of Stan Watson, his substitute House bill that ty put forth the $400,000 to hold candidate when it holds its spewould change DeKalb’s form of who had two years left to serve in government. the special election in May,” said cial-called meeting. Wood was the Commission District 7 seat. Millar’s bill would create seven Johnson, who said he is working in standing in line to qualify for the Watson resigned on March county districts, while the House concert with the House Delegation School Board District 3 seat but did 11 after paying his fee to run for version creates eight. for DeKalb County. not have her payment in the proper DeKalb tax commissioner on the If lawmakers approve either bill, The delegation sent a letter form by the noon deadline, Daniels the measure would go to counlast day of the qualifying period. ty voters in a referendum this dated March 14 to DeKalb’s elecsaid. Watson’s departure from the board November. The ballot question The DeKalb Board of Elections now leaves the County Commission tions director formally requesting would appear this way: “Shall the vacancy for the Commission will hold the special-called meetwith six members instead of sevthe act be approved which elimDistrict 7 seat be filled on May 24, ing on March 21, 4:30 p.m., at the en, making the board vulnerable to inates the Chief Executive Offiwhich falls between the 29-day Main Elections Office on Memorial cer of DeKalb County, creates a deadlocking on voting matters. county commission chairperson minimum and 45-day maximum Drive. The situation is one the board elected county wide and proas outlined in the county’s organifaced many times when the Comvides for a county manager?”
DeKalb officials to set special election to replace Commissioner Stan Watson
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