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SERVING DEKALB, FULTON, GWINNETT, HENRY AND ROCKDALE COUNTIES
CONTACT THE NEWSROOM Phone: (678) 526-1910 n Fax: (678) 526-1909 n E-mail: editor@ocgnews.com
www.facebook.com/ocgnews VOLUME 19 NUMBER 9
WWW.OCGNEWS.COM
AUGUST 1, 2013
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Biomass fuel plant wins final round to build in DeKalb
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By Valerie J. Morgan
judge has ruled in favor of Green Energy Partners-DeKalb, LLC, paving the way for the Athensbased company to start constructing the biomass fuel electric generating facility that a group of citizens have been fighting for two years. “We plan to break ground late this summer,” Green Energy Partners CEO Neville Anderson told On Common Ground News after the newspaper obtained a copy of the decision on deadline. “This has dragged on long enough.” The $60 million plant will be built on a 21-acre site at 1744 and 1770
Rogers Lake Road in unincorporated Lithonia. The decision to dismiss the case was handed down July 29 by Judge Amanda C. Baxter in the Office of State Administrative Neville Anderson Hearings. Baxter said in the 16-page decision that Citizens for a Healthy and Safe Environment (CHASE), which filed the suit against Green Energy Partners, the Environmental Protection Division and the Georgia Department of Natural
Resources, failed to respond in a timely manner to various court orders. Baxter also said in the decision that the allegations CHASE made concerning the EPD Director Judson H. Turner’s role role in assessing health risks associated with the plant lacked merit. The grassroots citizens group said the plant would pose a health hazard by spewing tons of pollution in the air from wood chips converted to electricity. On Common Ground News, which was working the story in the late hours on July 31, could not reach the group. Anderson said Green Energy Partners offered to hire an engineer to review emissions and advise the group,
but was not successful in working with the group. EPD administers and enforces Georgia’s air quality programs through the Georgia Air Quality and state regulations. DeKalb County commissioners approved the controversial plant in June 2011. In December 2012, the county approved property tax incentives to help Green Energy Partners secure the financing for bonds to build the facility. The electricity will be sold to Georgia Power. The plant expected to generate about $220,000 a year for DeKalb County for the next 20 years. The plant is expected to create 100 jobs during construction and 25 permanent positions.
DeKalb Board of Commissioners’ leadership, District 5 hang in limbo
Burrell Ellis
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Lee May
Sharon Barnes Sutton
By Mackenzie N. Morgan
eKalb County Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton says she will continue operating as the interim presiding officer, running the Board of Commissioners’ (BOC) meetings without a co-presiding officer— for now. The board, she says, has taken no action to name a co-presiding officer, the position she formerly held. Staff members are fielding constituent concerns for the District 5 seat, which was held by Lee May. “This is new territory for us. We are still awaiting legal opinion and our committee members will have to take on additional roles,” said Barnes Sutton, who said the county attorney will give the opinion. Barnes Sutton, who represents District 4, has been serving as the interim presiding officer since July 16 when May vacated his seat to be sworn in as interim DeKalb CEO and run the entire county. The board shuffle began after Gov. Nathan Deal removed Burrell Ellis from his position as CEO and appointed May in the wake of corruption charges Ellis is facing. Prosecutors allege Ellis illegally coerced county businesses into contributing to his re-election campaign. Ellis is facing a 15-count indictment on the charges. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. He will continue to receive his annual salary of $150,000 while he is suspended. Barnes Sutton says while there will be no major changes to the BOC’s current operation, she plans on working very closely with the interim CEO to make sure everyone is on the same page. “We will continue to focus on making policies to improve our citizens’ quality of life and bringing economic development to the area and we’ll make changes as needed,” said Barnes Sutton. Gov. Nathan Deal appointed May as the County’s Interim Chief Executive Officer under the County’s Organizational Act, which calls for the presiding officer to assume the role of CEO in the event it becomes vacant. May, 37, is the youngest person to hold the position. See Board, page 15
L-R: Deputy Carlos Byrd, Deputy Jason Hayes and Lieutenant Thomas Brewer show off their new uniforms.
Photo by Joshua Smith/OCG News
Rockdale Sheriff ’s deputies get new look under new administration By Joshua Smith
ROCKDALE—With a new sheriff at the helm, deputies with the Rockdale County Sheriff ‘s Office (RCSO) are sporting a new look: They are transitioning from tan and brown to gray and black uniforms. It’s the first time in 16 years that Rockdale deputies have gotten new threads and it’s among several changes that have come under Sheriff Eric Levett’s administration. Levett took the reigns in January as part of Rockdale’s “slate of eight,” all of whom filled the county’s top offices as the first African Americans elected in Rockdale history. The new uniforms represent one of Levett’s most visible imprints to date as sheriff. The Sheriff’s Office is phasing in the new uniforms, starting with about 80 deputies who are on the streets. The 20 deputies who work in the courthouse or serve warrants will get their uniforms next, and those who work in administration will follow. “The color scheme is a big change. With new leadership, usually comes a new uniform,” said Michael Camp, spokesman for the Rockdale Sheriff’s Office. “We have close to 300 employees including certified deputies, detention deputies and civilian employees, but the 180 certified officers who are on the streets will have first priority. Hopefully, by the beginning of next year, all of our certified officers should have the new uniform.” Levett said the new uniforms, manufactured by Blauer, are a plus for deputies. “My staff and I selected gray and black because the colors are more tactical in terms of approaching suspects at night. I also think the black pants look more professional and the new uniform as a whole looks better with our gray cars,” said Levett. “Ultimately, our
uniform costs will come down due to their durability.” The Blauer company develops and manufactures high-performance, protective uniform apparel for the public safety market not only in the U.S., but also produces a line sold in Europe. Rockdale is spending about $340 each, to provide each deputy with a supply of shirts and pants, Camp said. For more on Sheriff Eric Levett’s first seven months in office, Page 6.
Colors of the Law
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Photo by Joshua Smith/OCG News
ockdale County Sheriff Eric Levett sports the Office’s new gray and black uniform before heading to a back-to-school fair in Conyers. Uniform colors vary among deputies in the metro area. In DeKalb County, deputies wear dark blue shirts with a lighter shade of blue pants. In Gwinnett, deputies wear tan shirts with brown pants. In Fulton County, deputies sport all brown.