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VOLUME 23 NUMBER 35
NOVEMBER 25, 2017
Published Since April 1995 Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties
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GOOD SAMARITANS
DeKalb Commissioner Larry Johnson prepares for a radio interview to discuss as volunteers pass out frozen turkeys in purple bags and Mission Agape gives out coats. Photos provided.
A senior shows her gratitude with a smile Rockdale BOC Chairman Oz Nesbitt, who helped distribute turkeys at the Olivia Haydel Senior Center. Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/OCG News
Hundreds of free Thanksgiving turkeys help families in need
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By Valerie J. Morgan
cross DeKalb and Rockdale counties, Good Samaritans opened their hearts and wallets to pitch in to make the Thanksgiving holiday joyous for hundreds who often struggle to make ends meet. Nearly 500 turkeys were distributed to needy families
who came to the Gallery at South DeKalb Mall on Nov. 18 for the Women in DeKalb NAACP’s fifth annual turkey giveaway. Another 350 turkeys, along with boxes of food, were given away at Exchange Park Intergenerational Center in Decatur. DeKalb Commissioner Larry Johnson co-sponsored both of the events, with dozSEE THANKSGIVING, page 5
DeKalb wins award for Journey to Procurement Excellence Project DeKalb County’s Department of Innovation and Technology has been recognized as a Georgia leader in innovation. The department received one of nine technology innovation awards presented at the Georgia 2017 Technology Innovation Showcase for the county’s Journey to Procurement Excellence project. “It is an honor to have been recognized again this year for how DeKalb County is transforming the delivery of services to our citizens and constituents through business and technology innovation,” said John Matelski, DeKalb’s chief innovation and information officer. DeKalb’s awarded-winning project allows for online collaboration with suppliers through the procure-to-pay lifecycle. The project replaced paper processes with electronic processes, increasing procurement productivity while streamlining accounts payable processing. The system allows new suppliers to register online and electronically submit all necessary forms, including, invoices and proof of work completion. The system supports electronic signa-
tures for all county contracts and gives suppliers real-time access to purchasing, receiving and payment transactions and other important information. County workers can collaborate online with procurement and contracts staff on writing solicitations and contracts, bid evaluations and awarding and executing contracts. Since the implementation of the project the county is experiencing fewer calls to the procurement and accounts payable offices. The Department of Innovation and Technology collaborated with the Purchasing and Contracting Department on the project. “DeKalb County is setting an example for others to follow with its innovative use of technology,” said Michael Clark with the Georgia Technology Authority. The top projects were evaluated based on: • Level of innovation in addressing a specific business problem; • Significance to improving business processes and operating efficiency; • Significance to financial savings or cost avoidance; and • Significance to enhancing service delivery to external or internal customers.
City of Atlanta closes on Civic Center sale to AHA
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he City of Atlanta has completed its sale of the Civic Center to the Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA) for $31 million. AHA will partner with Weingarten Realty Investors to develop affordable housing on the site, retail and commercial space. Weingarten is the Texas firm that began talks with the city for the purchase in 2015 but reached an impasse in 2016. Mayor Reed said with the close of the sale, he is excited about the future for the site. “Good things take time. Through its focus on affordable housing, the
redevelopment of the Civic Center property will give families and working people the opportunity to live in an area with access to transit, employment and good schools. Moreover, this new development will be an asset to the neighborhood, further adding to the vibrancy and vitality of Midtown and downtown Atlanta,” Reed said. “I am thankful to our partners in this effort, and am excited to see what the future holds.” Officials project the investment at $300 million and expect the initial development phase to be two to three years. SEE CIVIC CENTER, page 5