VOLUME 23 NUMBER 9
FREE
MAY 27, 2017
Published Since April 1995 Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties • www.facebook.com/ocgnews
Moving Up
DeKalb County to replace 102,000 aging water meters DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond continues to make good on his promise to address the county’s water crisis. Thurmond announced this week that he has developed a plan to replace more than 100,000 aging water meters starting the fourth quarter of this year. According to a task force led by Thurmond, 55 percent of the county’s 184,000 small meters, or 102,000, are at risk of failure and may contribute to inaccurate water bills. Thurmond’s plan includes replacing 62,000 small meters that are outside of their 15-year life cycle and 40,000 manufactured before 2014 that have potential factory defects. The majority of the small meters are residential customers, a county spokesman said. “Implementing a large-scale meter replacement program will take time, but is a substantial step to restore faith in the accuracy of meter readings and water bills,” Thurmond said. Thurmond’s task force, comprised of staff members in watershed, water billing, communications and the county’s Information technology department, has been meeting weekly to analyze every aspect of DeKalb’s water billing crisis, which resulted in excessive charges to customers. County officials say the new meters will be replaced through the county’s procurement process. Costs have not yet been determined or where the replacements will begin initially. County spokesman Andrew Cauthen said that information would be provided as officials move closer to implementing the work. After the older meters are replaced, defective meters will be replaced on an ongoing basis. The county will provide systematic maintenance of all meters at a rate of approximately 7 percent per year based on the age of the meter.
It’s graduation time and even the youngest graduates marched in celebration. At Voices of Faith Christian Daycare in Conyers, the pre-K program graduates stood proudly to accept their diplomas during a program held on March 24. Some giggled, some cried and some played during the program. For more photos and a salute to the high school valedictorians and salutatorians, visit www.ocgnews.com.
DeKalb Sheriff Jeffrey Mann suspends himself, cites “conduct unbecoming”
DeKalb County Sheriff Jeffrey Mann
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eKalb County Sheriff Jeffrey Mann, who is under investigation for exposing himself in an Atlanta public park and running from police, says he is disciplining himself for “conduct unbecoming.” Mann said in a statement that he is suspending himself May 27 through June 4 and donating one week’s pay to a charity to be determined. Mann’s announcement comes in advance of a the findings of an investigation expected to be reported in a few days to Gov. Nathan Deal. The governor ordered a special panel to broaden its scope of an investigation of Mann, who was arrested on May 6 for exposing himself in
an Atlanta park and running from police. The special panel was given 30 days from May 11 to report its findings to Deal. The governor updated his executive order on May 16, calling for the panel to not only look into criminal charges, but alleged misconduct in office and the alleged incapacity to perform the functions of office. Deal’s new executive order was issued after Mann’s attorney, Noah Pines, held a news conference and told reporter he had asked the governor to reconsider having Mann investigated because the charges against him amounted to violations of city ordinances—not criminal charges. Deal had cited criminal charges as the justification for appointing an investigative committee but asked for the panel to probe more deeply. Deal appointed Attorney General Chris Carr, Newton County Sheriff Ezell Brown and Peach County Sheriff Terry Deese to conduct the investigation. Deese sent a letter to the governor on behalf of the Georgia Sheriff’s Association requesting that an investigation be conducted. Mann could be suspended for up to 90 days base on its findings.
Mann’s spokesperson, Cynthia Williams, said after news outlets obtained a copy of an internal memo Mann had provided to employees of the Sheriff’s Office on May 23, he released the memo to the public. Mann’s memo reads as followed: “Each day I ask the employees of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office to perform in public and in private at the highest professional standards. Being in law enforcement, I know we are called to be model citizens and to remain mindful of keeping the public trust. As such, I cannot ask my employees to abide by a code of conduct unless I am willing to subject myself to it as well. In fact, I must be held to an even higher standard than my employees as it relates to our Code of Conduct policy and schedule of penalties. As a dedicated public servant for nearly 25 years, I know the importance of serving with integrity. It is for this reason that I am imposing upon myself discipline under our Code. “I am disciplining myself for “conduct unbecoming,” specifically the provision defined as “engaging in conduct on or off duty which has a tendency to destroy public respect
for the employee and/or the DKSO and/or destroy confidence in the operations of the County service is conduct unbecoming and is prohibited.” This self-imposed discipline should not be construed to suggest or imply guilt of the Atlanta municipal ordinance charges alleged. I will continue to vigorously defend myself as it relates to the charges. However, the mere fact of placing myself in a position to be arrested is sufficient reason for this self-imposed discipline. I cannot, in good faith, fail to take responsibility for the negative and unwanted criticism brought to this great agency and the County, and I apologize to each of you. You deserve a leader who takes responsibility for his actions. “While the schedule of penalty for this infraction (first instance) is written counseling, in my case, I am imposing the maximum time of one week’s suspension. My suspension will be effective Saturday, May 27, 2017 through Sunday, June 4, 2017. “I will donate the equivalent of one week’s pay to a charity or charities to be determined in the very near future. “I am committed to remaining your Sheriff and restoring your trust in me.”