FREE VOLUME 24 NUMBER 33
OCTOBER 6, 2018
News 24/7
Stay connected
Published Since April 1995
ocgnews.com
D
Major sewer spills in DeKalb decrease by 42 percent
eKalb County recorded 42.1 percent fewer major sewer spills when compared to the same time last year. In September 2018, DeKalb Watershed Management (DWM) reported 22 major sewer spills for the year compared to 38 reported spills during the same period last year. The CEO Michael Thurmond overall volume of major sewer spills also declined by 72 percent (13.7 million gallons to 3.8 million gallons). “The decline in major sewer spills shows that DeKalb County is moving in the right direction,” said DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond. “DeKalb is committed to protecting the environment and quality of life and supporting economic development.” County officials cited the following recent accomplishments: • New leadership at Department of Watershed Management • Cleaning large sewer lines for the first time in 50 years • Inspecting 2,049 creek crossings • Removing 1,300 tons of debris from sewer lines • Cleaning more than 600 miles of small sewer pipe • Treating 45 miles of pipe to remove roots • Clearing easements and removing trees The county has invested nearly $100 million to rehabilitate, repair and maintain the county’s aging sewer system. Of that amount, the county allocated $79 million for immediate maintenance and an additional $18.3 million for easement clearings, large and small pipe cleaning, root control and creek crossing inspections. Staff has also been added to proactively report spills and the county created standard protocols and procedures to respond to sanitary sewer overflows. An aggressive countywide fats, oils and grease
SEE WEST NILE page 7
With The Mayor
S
tonecrest Mayor Jason Lary will host “Straight Talk With the Mayor” on Oct. 8, 7 p.m., at City Hall. Lary said this month, his topic is entitled “Talkin’ Trash.” He will field questions from constituents and discuss steps the city is taking to crack down on illegal dumping and other code enforcement issues in the city.
Photo provided
The overall volume of major spills in DeKalb County declined by 72 percent.
public education effort in 2018 has contributed to fewer spills. The county recently partnered with DeKalb County School District and Georgia Piedmont Technical College to develop a “No FOG, No Clog” program helping students learn how to properly dispose of fats, oils and grease.
By Mackenzie N. Morgan
eKalb County District Health Director Dr. S. Elizabeth Ford is urging the public to take extra precaution while outdoors after health officials confirmed a West Nile virus-related death in the county on Oct. 4. The DeKalb woman was in her 90s and a resident of Dr. S. Elizabeth Ford Dunwoody. According to health officials, this is DeKalb’s second West Nile case and first death from the virus. “On behalf of the Board of Health, we extend our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the family during this difficult time,” said Ford. “Although it’s rare, in some cases, West Nile virus can be fatal. Remember, even though fall has arrived, everyone must still take precautions. The risk of contracting the virus remains whenever temperatures are above 50 degrees Fahrenheit,” emphasized Ford. “Symptoms for West Nile virus that require hospitalization include disorientation, flu-like symptoms and a fever that does not respond to regular intervention,” said Ford. Health officials say prolonged warm weather and
Straight Talk
DeKalb County recorded 42 percent fewer major spills when compared to the same time last year.
DeKalb health officials report West Nile virus death
D
facebook.com/ocgnews
Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program will open Nov. 1
T
he Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), administered by the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services, will be available Nov. 1. The federally-funded program assists lowincome, elderly and disabled Georgians with heating bills through direct payments to home energy suppliers. Beginning Nov. 1, residents aged 65 and older or those who are homebound can apply for assistance through LIHEAP. All other eligible residents may apply for assistance beginning Dec. 3. Funds are administered through local Community Action Agencies on a first-come, first-served basis until all funds are exhausted. In 2018, the LIHEAP program spent over $48 million to assist more than 140,795 clients with their heating bills. Depending on income and household size, those who qualified for the program received between $310 and $350 toward their home heating bills. To qualify, a family’s annual income must be less
SEE ASSISTANCE page 7
Recently, more than 150 tires neatly stacked about three feet high were dumped on the shoulder of Evans Mill Road near Rock Springs Road, Lary said. “Unbelievable. Whoever did it must have come during the night,” said Lary. “We’re not going to put up with this in the city of Stonecrest.” The city got help from DeKalb County in removing the tires. It took two trips to clean up the tires, officials said. Stonecrest is not alone in experiencing dumping. In July, officials in neighboring Rockdale County had to clean up a twomile trail of over 100 tires that were illegally dumped. A muddy shoe print and the trail of tires led authorities to the suspect, Zavien Corell Sims, a 17-year-old from Conley. Rockdale authorities said the tires were dumped from the entrance lane of 7th Century Row near McDaniel Mill Road to Klondike Road at Stonebridge Trail. Sheriff’s deputies saw a large U-Haul truck that was stopped in the exit lane of 7th Century Row. The U-Haul was unoccupied and the rear area was loaded half way with used tires. Deputies spotted the teen walking on McDaniel Mill Road. He had tire marks on his shirt, mud on his shoes and black residue on the palms of his hands. One of the investigators on the scene located a muddy shoe print in the asphalt that matched the shoes Sims was wearing. Sims was arrested on felony charges for unlawful dumping for commercial purposes. Lary’s October meeting will mark the second installment of “Straight Talk.” The mayor launched his town hall meeting in September to give stakeholders a chance to meet with him and discuss issues relevant to the city.
PAGE 2 • OCTOBER 6, 2018
PET OF THE Week
WWW.OCGNEWS.COM
LifeLine Animal Project presents its DeKalb County Animal Services Pet of the Week, Isaac. This handsome boy is about 3 years old and is very smart. He learned how to sit very quickly and is very treat-motivated. Isaac gets along well with other dogs. He is also a shelter sweetheart, so he qualifies for our Treat Yourself free adoption promotion throughout October! That means, you can adopt Isaac, who is already neutered, vaccinated and microchipped, and treat yourself to a lifetime of love for free. Come meet this precious pup by dropping by LifeLine's DeKalb County Animal Services shelter at 3280 Chamblee Dunwoody Road. For more information, email adoptions@dekalbanimalservices. com or call 404-294-2165.
Rockdale animal shelter receives grant for dog and cat spay/neuters Rockdale County Animal Care and Control Shelter (RCACCS) has received a $5,000 grant from the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Dog and Cat Reproductive Sterilization Support Program. The grant provides financial aid to animal shelters and rescue organizations for the spaying and neutering of dogs and cats. “We are excited about receiving this grant funding from the Dog and Cat Reproductive Sterilization Support Program in order to setup a spay/neuters procedures in Rockdale County,” said Sue Sanders, Rockdale County Director of Recreation and Maintenance Department. “This outreach effort is a win for both the animals and the county residents.” According to the grant requirements, the funding must be used for sterilization only. The procedure must be performed by
a Georgia licensed and accredited veterinarian. Funding for the program is made possible by sale of Dog and Cat Sterilization specialty vehicle tags. In 2017, nearly 1,007 dogs and 820 cats were brought to RCACCS as strays or owner surrenders. During the first six months of 2018, RCACCS has been home to 453 dogs and 350 cats. This grant will help the shelter reach its goal of having every shelter animal spayed or neutered before it is adopted. Adoptions are held at the shelter during hours of operation and every third Saturday of the month. The RCACCS is a division of the Rockdale County Recreation and Maintenance Department. The shelter is located at 1506 Rockbridge Road, Conyers. The hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/OCGNEWS
PUBLISHER Glenn L. Morgan
gmorgan1@ocgnews.com
EDITOR Valerie J. Morgan
editor@ocgnews.com
ADVERTISING MANAGER Richard S. Hill
richardhill@ocgnews.com
STAFF WRITER Mackenzie Morgan
mackenzie@ocgnews.com
PRODUCTION MANAGER Travis Hudgons travis@ocgnews.com
On Common Ground News is published weekly by On Common Ground, Inc. The newspaper serves DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Rockdale and Henry counties. The opinions expressed by writers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher or the newspaper’s advertisers. No portion of this newspaper may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher. We reserve the right to reject material and advertisements we deem inappropriate.
On Common Ground News P.O. Box 904 Lithonia, GA 30058 (678) 526-1910 www.ocgnews.com
OCTOBER 6, 2018 • PAGE 3
Grice Consulting makes case for SPLOST contract, half of Stonecrest City Council vanishes before presentation
G
rice Consulting Group presented its qualifications to perform SPLOST work at the city of Stonecrest’s Oct. 3 work session, giving the public its first opportunity to hear in detail the firm’s qualifications and contract proposal. Only Councilmembers George Turner, Jimmy Clanton and Mayor Jason Lary were in attendance for the presentation. The other three council members said they had more pressing matters. John Funny, president of Grice Consulting, said his company has performed program management and transportation planning services for hundreds of projects throughout the U.S. including the city of Atlanta, Charleston, SC; Charlotte, NC; Chattanooga, TN; Virginia Beach; Washington, D.C; Los Angeles, CA; Houston, TX; and Miami, FL; to name a few. Funny said he founded Grice Consulting Group in 1995. Grice became an LLC in 2010, according to the Georgia Secretary of State’s web site. Grice said he reformulated the company as an LLC in order to expand and do international business.
John Funny, President of Grice Consulting
During the presentation, Funny was accompanied by members of his team and his attorney, Bruce P. Brown,. Three members of the city council vanished before he spoke. Councilwoman Jazzmin Cobble said she had to get to work. Councilwoman Diane Adoma said she had another commitment. Councilman Rob Turner said his wife was having surgery. The entire council was present for its regular meeting, which preceded the work session and lasted from 9 a.m. until around noon. The absences frustrated City Councilman Jimmy Clanton, who said he could certainly understand Councilman Rob Turner needing to leave due to his wife’s surgery. Clanton said, however, there was no
Stone Mountain murder suspect arrested by DeKalb Sheriff’s Office A man considered to be a suspect in a Stone Mountain murder in March of this year has been arrested by the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office Fugitive Unit. Investigators apprehended 19-year-old Quintylas Octavious Trammel of Decatur without incident on Oct. 3 on a warrant issued on Sept. 20, 2018. Trammel was indicted by the Grand Jury on charges of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Theft by Taking, and two counts of Armed Robbery. He is in custody at the DeKalb County Jail.
Quintylas Octavious Trammel
CITY OF STONECREST BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS, PUBLIC HEARING: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16TH 2018 AT 6:00 P.M. STONECREST CITY HALL, 3120 STONECREST BLVD LITHONIA, GA 30038 The following Variance Petition located within the City of Stonecrest is scheduled for Public Hearings as stated above. LAND USE PETITION: PETITIONER: LOCATION: CURRENT ZONING: PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT:
V-18-004 Mera Cardenas / Flat Rock Archives 3956 Crossvale Road R-100 (Residential Med Lot) District Request for encroachment into 10’ setback for ground sign.
LAND USE PETITION: PETITIONER:
V-18-005 Dekalb Realty Holdings, LLC c/o Battle Law 7218 Covington Hwy M (Light Industrial) District Request to eliminate 75’ transitional buffer.
LOCATION: CURRENT ZONING: PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT: LAND USE PETITION: PETITIONER: LOCATION: CURRENT ZONING: PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT:
V-18-006 Joseph Lowery 3869 E. Saddleridge Drive R-100 Zoning Request to encroachment into the 10’ side yard.
Photo by Glenn L. Morgan
excuse for the other council members’ absence. “They were not interested in hearing a presentation because they have already made up their minds that they are going to support the contract. That’s why they got up and walked out,” said Clanton. “What they have done is unethical. They have done the city an injustice.” The infighting among council members has persisted for months. The drama came to a head last month as Councilwoman Cobble made motions to rearrange the agendas at both, the work session and City Council meeting, halting actions on the city’s SPLOST work. Negotiations with Grice have been in limbo since last year when Grice invoiced the
city a total of $162,000 from September through November 2017. Mayor Jason Lary, City Manager Michael Harris and other administrators questioned what they called “high costs” and the city ended up negotiating a $40,000 payment with Grice. Funny said during his presentation at the council’s work session that he had submitted his company’s qualifications, scope of work and proposed fee schedules to the city on Aug. 16, 2017. Grice began pre-SPLOST work a month later. The relationship deteriorated shortly after Grice’s invoices were submitted. In May 2018, four members of the city council ordered city administrators and City Attorney Thomas Kurrie to resume negotiations with Grice after learning the city and Grice were at odds over the invoices. Councilman George Turner said at the recent work session that he believed the city had an obligation to “act in good faith” to work with Grice because the council unanimously voted last year to award the contract to Grice. But Mayor Lary disagreed,
SEE STONECREST page 4
Stonecrest City Councilman Jimmy Clanton accepted to Leadership DeKalb’s 2019 Class Stonecrest City Councilman Jimmy Clanton, Jr. has been accepted to Leadership DeKalb’s class of 2019. Leadership DeKalb convenes current and emerging leaders from diverse backgrounds, informs them about vital issues for a thriving and forward-looking DeKalb County and engages them to lead in ways that improve quality of life for all who live and work in DeKalb. The 55-member class includes: Dr. Stephen Green, Superintendent/CEO DeKalb County School District; Ted Jimmy Clanton, Jr Terry, Mayor of the City of Clarkston; Craig Medlin, Major of DeKalb County Police Department; Andre Moorer, Senior Manager of The Cheesecake Factory; Vera Morrison, Deputy Chief of the City of Decatur Fire Rescue; Mike Carnathan, Manager of Research & Analytics Group, Atlanta Regional Commission; and leaders from major arteries within DeKalb County business, government and community arena. Councilman Clanton said he is honored to have been selected. “It’s a worthwhile investment of personal time and personal expenditure to take advantage of such an awesome opportunity”, Clanton said. “I look forward to transforming the valuable information gained and connections made at Leadership DeKalb to the benefit of the citizens of Stonecrest.”
PAGE 4 • OCTOBER 6, 2018
I
WWW.OCGNEWS.COM
WorkSource DeKalb to host disability awareness forum, career expo
n recognition of Disability Awareness Month, WorkSource DeKalb and the One-Stop Disabilities Committee will host a disability awareness forum and career expo on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 774 Jordan Lane, Bldg. No. 4, Decatur. The forum will educate
the community, service providers and job seekers about accommodations and services for persons with physical and mental disabilities. Several business professionals and organizations that have a vast amount of experience in disability awareness will be on hand. Presenting
agencies include the Georgia Department of Labor, Goodwill of North Georgia
and disABILITY LINK. A recruiting event will begin immediately after the information forum. Employers are seeking call center representatives, customer service representatives, retail sales representatives, rehabilitation counselors, program assistants, and marketing
consultants. Interested candidates can register at: worksourcedekalb2018disability-awareness-forum. eventbrite.com. For more information on upcoming events at WorkSource DeKalb, visit www.worksourcedekalb.org or call 404-687-3400.
Opportunity ATL, Metro Atlanta Chamber and Goodwill set hiring event for disadvantaged youths
Y
oung people ages 16 to 24 who are unemployed or not in school are invited to attend a job and resource event on Oct. 16, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Goodwill of North Georgia’s career center, 2201 Lawrenceville Highway, Decatur. Opportunity ATL and the Metro Atlanta Chamber are partnering on the event, which will offer mock interviews, résumé assistance and training resources in addition to a pool of employers looking to hire new talent. Youths are encouraged to come dressed professionally. Goodwill is providing gently-used blazers at no charge on a first-come, first-served basis for those who don’t have professional attire.
“No matter what challenge someone is having in finding work, Goodwill is here to help,” said Jenny Taylor, vice president of career services for Goodwill of North Georgia. “Our services include free tools and programs for youths, people with disabilities, returning citizens, and people with limited financial resources. Partnering with
Rockdale BOC Bond Referendum Review Committee gets underway A citizens’ Bond Referendum Review Committee, appointed by the Rockdale Board of Commissioners (BOC), has begun developing a plan for a new courthouse. The 27-member committee has been tasked with submitting its plans to the BOC by January 2019. The BOC said it selected a diverse group of community leaders to address the $140 million bond referendum proposed to fund the project. During the committee’s first meeting, which was held on July 24, Sue Sanders, one of the county’s directors who is overseeing the project, discussed the process and timeline the county has outlined for a plan. The committee will receive support from Jones, Lang, Lasalle, an Atlanta-based consultant firm. The consultants and committee members will tour the current courthouse, hold forums and conduct a survey to get community input before submitting a recommendation to the BOC. The committee and consultants have been asked to address in their recommendation: location, cost, consolidation of government and judicial functions as well as a parking deck and green space. “The citizens spoke strongly in favor of more citizen engagement, involvement and input on major community items that will have a direct impact on our overall population. Myself and the Board of Commissioners all agreed that we needed to place this effort in the hands of the citizenry. We are doing that with this committee,” BOC Chairman Oz Nesbitt said. “We look forward to this committee bringing us a workable, feasible and reasonable solution that is supported by the people of Rockdale County.” The committee members are as follows: Thomas Dean, co-chairs Bill Campbell, co-chairs Ahmad Muddessar Art Darr Carter Rogers Charlie Staples Darlene Hotchkiss Deidre Murray Demetrius Myatt Don Meyer Donald Murphy Albert Murray Faye Phillips Fred Straub Garvin Haynes Jae Harrison Janice Van Ness Jay Grover John Bowers Ken Holmes Maria Brown Michael Grubbs Mike Houchard Rogers Gotier Stacy Bonner Terry Moore Tim Hogg The committee began meeting bi-weekly on Aug. 7. The meetings are on Tuesdays at the JP Carr Community Room, 6-8 p.m. For information on the committee, contact Director Sue Sanders at 770278-7223.
Opportunity ATL provides us with a seamless way to reach even more youth and we’re excited to host this event in October.” Atlanta has more than 34,000 youth who are currently not in school or employed. Frequently referred to as “opportunity youth,” these young people face a number of barriers that prevent them from finding and retaining employment. The Metro Atlanta Chamber has received funding to coordinate longterm efforts in support of Atlanta’s youth, and is working with several partners, including Goodwill, to make the Opportunity ATL event possible. Goodwill of North Georgia’s mission to put people to work
“Helping Atlanta’s youth obtain the resources they need to find work, and then providing them with introductions to companies who are actively hiring and can help make a difference in their lives is at the heart of why Opportunity ATL was launched,” said Amy Lancaster, director of workforce development for the Metro Atlanta Chamber. “We are thankful to have great partners such as Goodwill of North Georgia, which is hosting the job and resource fair at its Career Center in Decatur and is providing other resources to help these young people find success.” For more information on the event, visit www.opportunityATL. org.
Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary creates Citizens’ SPLOST Oversight Committee Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary announced the creation of the Citizens’ Stonecrest SPLOST Oversight Committee. The committee will consist of Stonecrest citizens from each of the city’s five districts and will represent the interests of the residents by assuring that the city is accountable for the funds generated by the 1% sales tax. The committee will also ensure that SPLOST projects are completed on time and within budget. The SPLOST Oversight Committee will be comprised of 12 members. Recommendations for appointees will come from each council member and the mayor. The mayor said that priority preference will be given to Stonecrest residents with experience in the following areas: • Legal Services • Contracting • RFP/RFQ Evaluations • Purchasing • Road Construction • Engineering • Information Technology • Construction Management Lary said he plans to make the appointments by Oct. 15. If you are interested in serving on the committee, contact your councilmember or the mayor at jlary@stonecrestga.gov.
STONECREST continued from page 3 saying the city did not award a contract and he reiterated his position that the city had no such obligation to Grice. “We’re not obligated to do anything but to take care of the needs of the city of Stonecrest…What I care about is getting the best bang for our buck,” said Lary. City officials noted that while Grice had adjusted its scope of work and fees for the 6-year SPLOST management proposal by $886,000 to approximately $2.8 million, Grice’s fees were higher than the 2 to 5 John Funny percent that other companies were charging. “Grice Consulting is proposing a fee of $2.799 million which is approximately 7% of all anticipated SPLOST transportation-related revenues for the City of Stonecrest, which is still much higher than the rate charged by most competitors,” the city stated in a three-page report dated Sept. 24, 2018. City Manager Michael Harris said that negotiations with Grice would continue. “I think we’ve made substantial strides… We’re far, far, closer…,” Harris said. “We’ve received additional information (today) and we’ll need to take into consideration in moving forward.” Harris recommended the city pursue an RFQ/RFP, according to the city’s purchasing policy. But he said t the city would likely look at requesting a Request for Qualifications rather than a Request for Proposal. He said either way, Grice would have the opportunity to put its name in the hat, along with other companies. The video of the work session can be at www.ocgnews.com
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/OCGNEWS
OCTOBER 6, 2018 • PAGE 5
Snapping Shoals EMC awards $18,000 in grants to Rockdale teachers
Chief of Police Gene Wilson, Chief Operating Officer David Spann, Captain Cannon, City Clerk Christina Heyman, Chief Morgan, Mayor Evans, Captain Wall, City Manager Tony Lucas, Human Resources Director Casey Duren, Destination Development Manager Teri Haler and Director of Planning and Inspections Marvin Flanigan. Photo provided
Honoring Fallen Firefighters Conyers Mayor Vince Evans presented Rockdale County Fire and Rescue officials a proclamation in honor of National Fallen Firefighters’ Memorial Day on Oct. 7. Honor Guard members from Rockdale County Fire and Rescue traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the national memorial weekend in which firefighters lost in the line of duty each year are remembered and honored.
Community invited to share thoughts at second “On The Scene with Dr. Green” DeKalb County School District (DCSD) Superintendent R. Stephen Green invites all students, parents, staff and stakeholders to the second "On The Scene with Dr. Green" event of the 2018-2019 school year on Thursday, Oct. 11, 7 p.m. The event will be held at Tucker Middle School, 2160 Idlewood Road in Tucker. Green will give a brief statement about the state of DCSD before answering questions from the audience. "On The Scene with Dr. Green" is an opportunity DeKalb Superintendent to learn more about your schools and to have your R. Stephen Green concerns addressed. Throughout the 2018-2019 school year, Green will visit seven total locations. To learn more, visit www. dekalbschoolsga.org/on-the-scene.
Snapping Shoals EMC (SSEMC) Bright Ideas Mini Grants has awarded Rockdale County teachers about $18,000 in grants for projects that extend educational opportunities and activities for students. The funds are allocated from the SSEMC co-op’s unclaimed capital credit funds. The 2018 winners were recognized at a luncheon and presentation by SSEMC Vice President of Engineering Services Todd Mooney on Sept. 26, 2018 at the Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) board room. The 2018 SSEMC Bright Ideas Mini Grants RCPS recipients and their projects are: Janice Foot - C.J. Hicks Elementary, “Sensory Sensitive Classroom.” Timothy Cockburn, Maria Medley, Heather Webb - C.J. Hicks Elementary, “Perfectly Positioned for Learning!” Stephen Williams - Conyers Middle School, “Aerospace Engineering Robotics Lab Project.” Katy King - Gen. Ray Davis Middle School, “We Give a HOOT! Bringing to Light the Issues Facing Georgia's Birds of Prey.” Katy King - Gen. Ray Davis Middle School, “Connecting Conyers Through the Arts… Continuing the Connections.” Jennifer Schie - Flat Shoals Elementary, “Art Rocks!” Monica Seeley - Heritage High School , “Stay ‘Lit’ for Literacy.” Michael Benjamin, Avian McKie, Batini Farris, Teresa Longo Memorial Middle School, “Farm to Cafeteria Table: Growing Food to Feed Young Minds.” Jessica Kiser - Pine Street Elementary, “Drum Circle.” Terri Anschutz - Pine Street Elementary, “Career Exploration Centers for Innovative Learning: Robotics.” Jacqueline Evans - Rockdale County High School, “Recycle Program.” Jennifer Caruso - Salem High School, “Clowning Around” (circus skills for theater). Pamm Dugan - Shoal Creek Elementary School, “3D City: Whole School Collaboration to Design & Build a STEAM Model City.” Kechia Rowles - RCPS Athletic, “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” (softball program growth). Sirena Graves - RCPS Learning Support, “Transition Fair and Life Skills Boot Camp” (for students and families with special needs). CITY OF STONECREST PLANNING COMMISSION, PUBLIC HEARING: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9TH 2018 AT 6:00 P.M. STONECREST CITY HALL, 3120 STONECREST BLVD LITHONIA, GA 30038 CITY OF STONECREST MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, PUBLIC HEARING: MONDAY, OCTOBER 15TH 2018 AT 7:00 P.M. CITY OF STONECREST, 3120 STONECREST BLVD STONECREST, GA 30038 The following text amendment within the City of Stonecrest is scheduled for Public Hearings as stated above. LAND USE PETITION: PETITIONER: LOCATION: CURRENT ZONING: PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT:
RZ-18-003 LDG Development 6554 & 6560 Chupp Rd / 2616 & 2601 Macedonia Road / 7247 &7257 Covington Hwy C-1 (Local Commercial) / R-100 (Residential Medium Lot) / O-I (Office-Instutional) Request to change the conditions of zoning to construct a mixed use development with residential (240 townhome units) and commercial components
LAND USE PETITION: PETITIONER: LOCATION: CURRENT ZONING: PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT:
RZ-18-005 *Administratively held Lavonne Lee 7056 Maddox Road RE (Residential Estate) District Request to rezone subject property from RE to M (Light Industrial)
LAND USE PETITION:
AX 18-0001 * Will be heard at the October 15TH City Council Meeting Only. Halpern Enterprises 6024 Covington Highway MU-5 (Mixed Use) / C-1 (Local Commercial) Request to annex the western portion of this parcel into the City of Stonecrest and change the zoning of the subject property from C-1 w/ conditions and MU-5 to MR-2 to build a 160 townhomes subdivision.
PETITIONER: LOCATION: CURRENT ZONING: PROPOSED:
PAGE 6 • OCTOBER 6, 2018 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM
Rockdale’s Constitutional Corner
The 411 on the Clerk of Courts
By Ruth A. Wilson, Clerk of Courts
M
any people who are otherwise well informed about their local government and elected officials have no idea about the role of the Clerk of Courts. Permit me to introduce myself, your Rockdale County Clerk of Superior and State Courts, a.k.a., Clerk of Courts. I have the honor of serving in this position for my third term of office. One of the reasons (beyond public service) that I agreed to pursue this position is that it is relatively low profile, by design. The only problem is it leaves the public with gaps in knowledge and understanding
of our role in the courts and of all the other services we provide. There is a little more to it than just “shuffling papers” as some mistakenly believe. Even if that were ever the case in the past, it certainly is not the future of the Clerk of Courts Office. Just visit our website to get a quick overview at www. RockdaleClerk.com The origin of Clerks of superior court in Georgia goes back to early British history. For centuries, the custody of court records was entrusted solely to judges. Eventually, it became apparent that judges should not have to preside over arguments and simultaneously perform administrative functions of the court such as recording proceedings, issuing writs and processing court documents. These days that includes handling most of the communications with the public, other courts and justice entities, state and federal agencies and regulators, the legal community, technology management, financial management, human resources management and other essential but non-judicial functions. The office of the Clerk of court
Groundbreaking ceremony set for Grove Gardens senior living facility in Atlanta Greater Piney Grove Community Development, Inc. and Georgia Communities, Inc. will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the Grove Gardens senior living community. The ceremony will be held on Friday, Oct. 19, 10 a.m., on the campus of The Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church, 1879 - 1903 Glenwood Avenue, S.E., Atlanta. During the ceremony, the community will hear more about the church’s vision for leveraging this investment to create opportunities throughout the community. There also will be remarks by DeKalb County leadership, project and community partners. Dr. William E. Flippin, Sr. is senior pastor of the church.
Dr. William E. Flippin, Sr
was created with “subordinate judge officials” from among clergy because they were generally the only literate group at the time. Those officials were titled “Clerks” (the term derived from the Latin word “clericus” meaning “clergyman”). James Madison said, “The accumulating of all powers, legislative, executive, and judicial in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.” Framers of Georgia’s first Constitution in 1777, most of whom had come from Europe to escape tyrannical rule and tough economic conditions, believed as Madison did that to prevent and limit corruption and to protect the interests of all and not just a few, there has to be separation of powers in government- even within the Judicial branch. Clerks were created as Elected Officials to ensure a separation of duties and powers and to ensure that the courts are not corrupted. The Founders insisted on electing those in power and entrusted to protect the interests of the citizens of
Georgia. The first Georgia constitution provided for election of a Clerk in every superior court of the state. That is what is meant by saying that a Clerk of superior court is a county “constitutional officer”. It was believed that if Clerks of superior court had been appointed, they would be put in the position of serving the appointing judge rather than serving the public interest. Status of Clerks as publicly Elected Officials provides the checks and balances envisioned by framers of the Constitution even with respect to land records of the county of which the Clerk of superior court is the official custodian. The Clerk collects, counts and accounts for millions of dollars in public funds which are used to run our public schools as well as city and county government. And now you know the rest of the story. Throughout each month, the clerk of courts, tax commissioner, sheriff and probate judge—Rockdale’s elected constitutional officers—discuss topics relevant to their respective roles.
Good News Community C.M.E. Church welcomes new pastor Good News Community C.M.E. Church in Lithonia invites the community to join in welcoming its new pastor, the Rev. Amber LoweWoodfork and her husband, Jerry Woodfork, Jr. Rev. Lowe-Woodfork is a native of Columbia, MS. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Mississippi in 2012. After deciding to serve the community through ministry, Lowe-Woodfork enrolled in the Phillips School of Theology at the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta. She graduated in 2015 with highest honors and received the Master of Divinity degree with a concentration in Ethics. Rev. Lowe-Woodfork is an ordained elder in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. She has served as senior pastor at St. James CME Church in Perry, GA and Mount Zion CME Church in Rome, GA. She also has served as the Director of Faith Outreach for several political candidates including former Atlanta City Council President Ceasar Mitchell, Peter Aman, and State Rep. Keisha Waites. Rev. Lowe-Woodfork and her husband say they are excited about leading Good News Community C.M.E. Church and look forward to reaching and teaching and growing the ministry. Good News Community C.M.E. Church invites the community to worship services, which are held on Sundays at 11 a.m. The church is located at 2547 Parkway Drive, Lithonia.
Springfield Baptist to host Entrepreneur, Small Business Expo Springfield Baptist Church will host its annual Entrepreneur and Small Business Expo on Saturday, Oct. 13, 9 a.m. to noon, 1877 Iris Drive SE, Conyers. The expo is free and will feature vendors, networking, resources and seminars for startups and established businesses. For more information, contact info@sbcgrowht.church or 770-9291111.
HVAC loans available for homeowners with moderate credit During the first week of marketing the new E-Z Pay HVAC Financing Services for homeowners with moderate credit scores of 550 or higher. The National Sustainable Energy Group (NSEG) received 47 calls for new HVAC financing and HVAC installation services from homeowners living in Dekalb and Rockdale counties. Needless to say, our Comfort Advisors are working around the clock to complete energy evaluations for our perspective clients. Homeowners that have been without HVAC services for several years are calling us to schedule energy evaluations for new service for Goodman HVAC units. Evening and Saturday appointments are booked through the next 2 weeks. “We are honored to be in the position to assist homeowners with HVAC financing with moderate credit. This is the game changer that we needed for our clients in the communities that we serve” said Percy Brooks, CEO of NSEG. “The housing recession of 2008 still has had a lingering effect within the African American community.” The NSEG will now offering its HVAC financing options to local licensed HVAC contractors that have clients with moderate credit as well. “Collectively we have the capacity to provide financing for 7500 HVAC loans” said Brooks. For additional information call 404-218-6445 or visit us at www.hvachomesystem.com
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/OCGNEWS
OCTOBER 6, 2018 • PAGE 7
Scenes from the Heart of South DeKalb Festival
Photos by Travis Hudgons
WEST NILE continued from page 1
standing pools of water from heavy summer rains make it easier for mosquitoes to breed and bite people. Children who spend time playing outside and jumping in puddles are at an increased risk, if not properly protected, warn health officials. To reduce the spread of West Nile virus and other mosquitoborne diseases, mosquito control technicians routinely test mosquitoes throughout the county for viruses. Storm drains and other sources of standing water are treated with larvicide to keep young mosquitoes from becoming flying biting adults. In addition to the health department’s mosquito control program, the DeKalb County Board of Health is conducting door-to-door campaigns to educate the public on how to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and mosquito bite prevention. For more information about the West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne illnesses, contact the DeKalb County Board of Health’s Environmental Health division at 404-508-7900 or visit www.dekalbhealth.net/envhealth.
Here’s Help To reduce mosquitoes in and around your home: • Reduce mosquito breeding in your yard by eliminating standing water in gutters and items such as planters, toys, wheelbarrows and old tires. • Discourage mosquitoes from resting in your yard by trimming tall grass, weeds and vines. • Make sure window and door screens fit tightly to keep mosquitoes out of your home. To prevent being bitten by mosquitoes: • Reduce outdoor exposure at dawn and dusk, when the mosquitoes that transmit West Nile virus are most active. • Use an insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535. Apply according to label instructions. • Spray clothing with products containing permethrin. Also apply according to label instructions. • Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks when outdoors, particularly at dawn and dusk and in areas with large numbers of mosquitoes.
ASSISTANCE continued from page 1
DeKalb to unveil new South Peachtree CreekEmory Connection Trail The DeKalb Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the county’s newest path. The ceremony for the South Peachtree Creek-Emory Connection Trail will be held on Friday, Oct. 19, 10 a.m., near the entrance of Clairmont Place, 2100 Clairmont Lake, Decatur. DeKalb County and the PATH Foundation have partnered to develop the trail that leads through Mason Mill Park, and connects the ball fields and parking area at Medlock Park and the Emory Parc neighborhood. The final phase includes connectivity that will provide bike/pedestrian access from neighborhoods directly to the Emory campus. The public is invited to join county officials, parks staff and PATH Foundation representatives at the ceremony.
On Common Ground News Marketplace
than or equal to 60 percent of the median income for a Georgia family. For a household of one, the income threshold is $22,839; the income threshold for a household of five is $50,948. Those seeking assistance must contact their local Community Action Agencies. All applicants must provide the following: • Most recent heating bill or statement of service from their heating providers. • Social Security numbers for each member of the household. • Proof of citizenship for each member of the household. • Proof of income for the last 30 days for each adult member of the household; (Proof of income can include, but is not limited to, a paycheck stub or a letter granting public assistance.) • Social Security or unemployment benefits for all household members, if applicable. For more information on the program, contact the Division of Family and Children Services at 404-657-3426. To find a Community Action Agency in your area, visit http://www.georgiacaa.org.
NOW HIRING Kenley’s Catering and Restaurant is hiring cooks and cashiers. For more information, call 404-217-2455.
LAWN CARE
ROOM FOR RENT Newly furnished, in DeKalb County, $525 monthly. All utilities + Cable + W & D. On MARTA. 1 person room only. 404-401-9767.
YOUR AD
PAGE 8 • OCTOBER 6, 2018 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM
We cater to the entire family. Gum Treatments Tooth Colored Fillings Oral Surgery Cosmetic Bonding & Veneers Crowns, Bridges & Dentures Root Canals Implants We Accept Most Insurance Plans Peachcare & Medicaid Emergency Walk-In Time Available
900 N. Hairston Rd. Suite B Stone Mountain, GA 30083 404-294-8500 Spalding Gentle Dentistry 6460 Spalding Drive Norcross, GA 30092 770-849-0006