VOLUME 23,NUMBER 14
FREE
JULY 1, 2017
Published Since April 1995 Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties • www.facebook.com/ocgnews
Former DeKalb Commissioner Stan Watson indicted on theft of county funds
Over 80 tons of debris removed from DeKalb sewer lines
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eKalb County has removed more than 80 tons of debris from its sewer system, unclogging lines that haven’t been cleaned in over 50 years, according to the county’s Department of Watershed ManageStan Watson ment. With more than former DeKalb County Com2,600 miles of sewer missioner accused of misappropriating funds intended for lines, DeKalb prioritized cleaning 818 business travel has been indicted on one charge of Theft by Conversion. The Grand miles of sewer lines documented to be in Jury returned the single count indictment Tuesday (June 2) against Stan Watson, 63, need of immediate maintenance due to in connection with county-issued funds age and repeat overtotaling approximately $3,000. The charge against Watson dates back flows. “Issues associated to January 2016 when he served as District with reduced sewer 7 Commissioner. At that time, Watson capacity have begun to requested and received advance checks negatively impact our for travel expenses related to upcoming quality of life and hinder business conferences. However, prior to economic development attending those conferences, the Comin DeKalb County,” said missioner resigned his position in March DeKalb CEO Michael 2016 to run for Tax Commissioner. The Thurmond. “We will State alleges the expense money was then almost certainly restore converted to personal use and not repaid functional capacity to the until approximately one year later, well system through sewer after Watson’s resignation. County policy cleaning.” requires any funds advanced for travel but Approximately 73 not actually used for said travel be returned percent of the county’s to the County immediately. priority large sewer lines Following his indictment, a Grand with diameters greater Jury warrant was issued for Watson’s arrest. It is anticipated he will surrender to than 18 inches have been inspected and 38 percent authorities. have been assigned for The case will be prosecuted by the District Attorney’s Anti-Corruption Unit. A cleaning. DWM inspections confirmed that nearly trial date has not been set.
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one-half of the inspected lines contained blockages that significantly reduced sewer flows. The county’s sewer cleaning program targeting smaller lines is nearing completion. Of the 765 miles that are less than 18 inches in diameter, approximately 96 percent have been inspected and cleaned. The sewersheds that have areas cleaned to date include: • Indian Creek • Shoal Creek • Cobb-Fowler Creek
• North Fork Peachtree Creek • Nancy Creek • Peavine Creek These areas represent 27 percent of all sanitary sewer overflows during the past three years (20152017). More than $16 million from county bonds were appropriated to support the county-wide sewer cleaning initiative. A total of $65.8 million has been appropriated to repair and enhance the county’s sewer system in response to a 2011 consent decree agree-
ment with the Environmental Protection Agency. The agreement requires the county government to significantly reduce sanitary sewer overflows by improving management and operations and rehabilitating the sewer system. In February 2017, the BOC adopted CEO Thurmond’s request to allocate $35.4 million in additional funding for the assessment, cleaning and repair of the remaining 1,800 miles of county sewer lines.
Affordable Housing For Seniors Officials break ground on Sterling at Candler Village in DeKalb
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eKalb County officials joined community partners on June 29 to break ground on a project that has been 10 years in the making—Sterling at Candler Village, a South DeKalb apartment complex that will provide subsidized independent living for seniors. After 10 years of planning, the $25 million project is finally getting under way at 1955 Candler Road, said Sherrie Guest, project lead for The Benoit Group (TBG), the developer. “We’re very excited to be here,” Guest told officials at the groundbreaking ceremony. “When I was working with the DeKalb Housing Authority in 2011, it (the project) kept getting resuscitated then it would go back into its coma-like state… It was part of a master plan for South DeKalb—to work with the South DeKalb Senior Center along with the Candler Library.” Guest said it took time for the DeKalb Community Development Group to find the needed community partners and finances to pull off the project. The project, she said, was funded with tax-exempt bonds issued by the Housing Authority of DeKalb County, a HUD 221 loan serviced by Capitol One, a home loan from the DeKalb County Community Development Group and subsidies for the units that will be offered in partnership with the Housing Authority
Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/OCG News
of DeKalb and the Atlanta Housing Authority. “This is collaboration at its best, in terms of private and public partnerships. If it were not for all of these members from both the public and private sector, this project would not be where it is today,” Guest said. “Sterling at Candler Village will be a development that will help decrease the gap for affordable senior housing in South DeKalb.” True North Construction plans to complete the project by fall 2018, said Pierce Walker, development coordinator for TBG. The complex will be comprised of 170 apartments for
seniors ages 62 and older earning below the area median income. About 70 percent will be one bedrooms, the remainder will be two-bedroom units. The apartments will be located in two four-story buildings. Amenities include Energy Star appliances, a state-of-the art community room, fitness center, computer center, outdoor gathering and seating areas, picnic shelters and grills and community gardens. “The building is just one facet of the development. The care of our seniors is the most important. That’s what makes a development a community,” Guest said. “TBG wants to ensure maximized living for our seniors. Our property management entity, Dorchester Management, and our nonprofit arm, Social Expressions, will help facilitate health and wellness, education and independency for our seniors.” DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson, District 3, said he pushed for years to bring the development to his district, starting “four CEOs ago” with DeKalb CEO Vernon Jones. “The goal was to have a live, work and play community for seniors so seniors could walk, learn and have social activities in one setting. This is going to be a great catalyst for this community,” Johnson said. DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond praised Johnson, whom he called one of his “heroes” and a dedicated public servant, and all of the community partners for their work on the project. “This is a great, great day for DeKalb and metro Atlanta, and really for humanity, when all of us can come together and provide affordable housing for citizens who deserve it most, the citizens whose shoulders we stand on,” Thurmond said.