Official Publication of the City of Chattahoochee Hills, GA
CHATT HILLS NEWS
Issue 5 Volume 1 www.chatthillsga.us
JULY 2020 Features
Events
Arts in Chatt Hills
Campbellton Masterplan
4th of July Parade Page 3
Events are starting up! Page 4
What are our Artists up to? Page 5, 10-11
Campbellton Community is growing Page 18-19
July 4th Parade
BOUCKAERT FARM CoRUNa 5K
HEALTH CDC Get the latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) information HERE.
The State of Georgia has a new COVID-19 hotline. If you believe that you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to the novel coronavirus, please contact your primary care doctor or an urgent care clinic. Please do not show up unannounced at an emergency room or health care facility. CALL THIS HOTLINE: (844) 442-2681
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CELEBRATING INDEPENDENCE DAY Wishing you all a very happy and blessed 4th of July from the officials and staff of Chattahoochee Hills, and the Reed family! As we all take time to celebrate with our families and friends, we should also take a moment to reflect on our country’s independence and give thanks to those have fought and continue to fight for our freedom. Here in Chattahoochee Hills, we have much to be thankful for. In other parts of the state and country, citizens in urban areas like Atlanta and rural areas like those in the southwest of the state have been struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions put in place to slow it down. But here in our hometown, we have plenty of natural space to socially distance and enjoy our great outdoors, all while reducing our exposure to the pandemic – it feels so much safer here. In fact, some reports suggest that COVID-19 will generate more demand for rural areas like Chatt Hills, as more and more people realize the benefits of having open space around. That’s okay – as the 4th largest city in Georgia, we’ve got plenty of room to welcome newcomers while maintaining our unique quality of life. With over 1,000 acres of parkland, we also have 2
plenty of greenspace for everyone to enjoy! That brings me to two exciting announcements. Construction is expected to begin this summer on the boat ramp at Campbellton Park. Thanks to our Parks Commission Chair Diana Wilson, who found an opportunity through the Department of Natural Resources, DNR will build the boat ramp at no cost to the City, providing easy access to the river! We hope to celebrate the grand opening early this fall. The second exciting announcement is that the process for the land swap for our new River Park at the south end of the City has almost been completed. This swap gives us more land than our original river parcel, with better access to the park, a historic home, AND access to the Chattahoochee River within walking distance. Diana is already working on opportunities to build a second boat ramp there. There were some complex legal requirements to make the swap happen, and I want to share some words that the Special Master Robert E. Wilson had to say: (basically the judge for this process). “I think that the greater region of the Atlanta environs – which cover a large area is very blessed to have had the City of Chattahoochee Hills created because of its mission and its purpose. It is not your usual municipality. Anybody who knows anything about it and why it was created and what its purpose is, is more than just your average municipality. And I firmly believe that the area that encompasses your City is a preservation, in large part, of so much of the past that is lost for most of us in the metropolitan area. And it needs to be preserved. And the value of your
City in doing that is not just to the people that live there; it’s for all of us that live anywhere within reach here in the Atlanta area.” It was just so rewarding to hear an outsider who was so aware of how special Chattahoochee Hills is, and a nice reminder of why all the good work that so many people have done to protect and preserve it is so important. This summer issue also features some exciting reports from City Hall. The first townhall meeting of the year was hosted by City Councilmember Ruby Foster for the Crossroads Community and District 1. Thanks to her hard work, and a team effort led by our city manager and his staff, the meeting was well attended and well received. The Campbellton Historic Crossroads Community Master Planning process began last month. This is an exciting collaboration with the Cities of Chattahoochee Hills and South Fulton, stakeholders, and citizens to design the future of this historic crossroads. Lastly, I’ll leave you with the exciting news that more and more businesses are re-opening in Chatt Hills and around us, following the current safety guidelines for COVID-19. So enjoy the 4th of July starting with the parade at Serenbe. Then continue your celebration with friends and families at home, out and about in Chatt Hills, or someplace father from home.
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Be safe, and be well! Mayor Tom Reed
Chatt Hills
HOLIDAY CELEBRATION The 4th of July Parade starts at 10a.m. from the Blue Eyed Daisy at Serenbe to the Stables.
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Trending Topic
JULY EVENTS
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Still Serenbe Exhibit
4th of July Parade
July 3, 4:00-7:00pm Gainey Hall & Gallery 10640 Serenbe Lane
Starting at 10a.m. from Blue Eyed Daisy 9065 Selborne Lane.
Still Serenbe is an authentic historical documentaion of the Serenbe community during the unprecedented shelter-in-place of 2020. Organized by the Chatt Hills Artist Co-op, top photographers Jessica Ashley, Bob Lederman, Billy Newman, and Stephanie Richardson spent over a month photographing residents as a fund-raiser for the Chatt Hills Gallery and Paint Space. This exhibit is a photography of the participants in the project. This will also become a book.
Line up for parade participants is at 9:30am a long the gravel road through the wildflower meadow. The parade will run from the Daisy to the Stable.
Upcoming Events
www.chatthillsmusic.com
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Serenbe Farmers Market
Studio 13 Grand Opening
Saturdays 9:00-11:00am 9110 Selborne Lane
Saturday 12:00 noon 11126 Serenbe Lane
An eclectic market comprised of small local and sustainable growers, artisans and craftsmen meet each Saturday to share in their passion for sustainable food and local art. Our established market is held in a unique outdoor environment on the Selborne Green, surrounded by retail shops, restaurants, and art galleries.
Studio 13 offers complete pilates in the heart of Serenbe. Our grand opening will begin at noon with an outdoor gathering with catered food & drinks from Halsa.
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Classes begin at 10am and schedule online at studio13serenbe.com.
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Rissi Palmer
Lovers Leap
August 15, 8:00 pm Gainey Hall & Gallery 10640 Serenbe Lane TICKETS
Sept 19, 8:00 pm Gainey Hall & Gallery 10640 Serenbe Lane TICKETS
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Trending Topic
OUR COMMUNITY PUBLIC ART New tile mural dedicated to Shelton Stanfill created by Morgan Boszilkov-Lindsey
Morgan Boszilkov-Lindsey during the installation of her tile mural installed at the base of the Hill Restaurant in Serenbe. This is a Serenbe Institute project in honor of Shelton Stanfill, a national leader in the arts and humanities for more than 40 years. Offical dedication will be in the fall. Stanfill had been the CEO of Atlanta’s Woodruff Arts Center, home of the High Museum of Art, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and Alliance Theatre Company, together the largest arts center in the South and third largest in the United States. Stanfill was insistent upon extending
arts education to children, and sought diversity in audiences and performances. His employees could count on him for support and a fair and equitable workplace. He was Co-Chair of the Atlanta Jewish Film festival, and was a Councilor at the Carter Center, and a member of the board of the Midtown Alliance. Morgan Boszilkov is a self-taught artist using clay, fabric, and paint to create two-dimensional and sculptural, vibrant works of art.
Shelton and Brigiette Stanfill
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Trending Topic
CHATT HILLS BUSINESS Maliblue Pools The Fine Art of Building Pools By Laurie Searle, Citizen Reporter
Chattahoochee Hills resident pool builder, Flynn Whitehurst, stopped by his favorite neighborhood hang-out recently to catch up with his bicycling buddies at Pro-Bike Repair in Serenbe. Flynn’s the kind of guy who has never met a stranger, so when I asked about his custom pool business, he shared the story of his “wannabe fine artist” dream as a youth and his journey to creating Maliblue Pools. Flynn grew up around Chattahoochee Hills, living in nearby Newnan and Palmetto and attending Campbell High School. When he was in the 10th grade and had the teen-dream of buying his own car, he jumped at the offer to work part-time for his teacher’s pool business. “I started out doing pool maintenance, making more money than I could at the local fast-food restaurant,” Flynn said. As he gained more skills, he eventually helped with other tasks and learned about starting up pools – the process of adding chemicals to the water, testing and adjusting the pH levels, and testing the filtration systems. After high school, Flynn enrolled in The Art Institute of Atlanta where he honed his artistic design skills and learned about color, composition, form & function. Throughout college he continued working part-time in the pool business, never expecting to make it a full-time career. But when he received his degree, the economics changed his mind. He looked at the income potential as an artist versus what he could make working full-time in the pool 6
Maliblue Pools designed and built by Flynn Whitehurst. business, and for Flynn, choosing the pool business was a no-brainer. “I worked for a pool company doing pool start-ups for a time then opened my own pool business, Flynn said. “Within a year and a half, I had 100 customers, and by the second year I had built my first pool.” Flynn enjoyed designing and building pools so much, he sold off his poolcleaning business and bought a back hoe and other heavy equipment needed for his new custom pool business. Today, Maliblue Pools has quite an impressive resume of custom pools & hot tubs designed and built for residential and commercial clients throughout Georgia, including Chattahoochee Hills and Serenbe (including its pool at Mado). To reach Flynn for more information, check out Maliblue Pools on Facebook (@Maliblue.Pools), or catch him at Pro-Bike Repair in Serenbe.
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Trending Topic
COVID-19 Coping Strategies During the Pandemic
Covid19 throws off many stressors for us. My husband often laughs at me when we are in a crowd because I find myself running from people that don’t have masks on. I was recently at the grocery store, and I saw two people coming down the aisle without a mask on and it really scared me. My husband was with me at the time, and of course he almost fell over laughing watching me run. “Wow,” I thought, “why am I running?” As I think back on this scene, I decided to put some strategies together that have helped me during this pandemic. Here some are tips:. 1. KNOW YOUR RED FLAGS You must learn how to identify your thoughts and sensations that contribute to your stress and feelings of being overwhelmed. Thoughts such as why am I concentrating so much on something I cannot control. Or perhaps you are having problems with a jittery stomach as you think about what is happening in the world with COVID19. Try breathing deeply then exhaling. Try this: breathe in for four (4) seconds, breathe out for four (4) seconds. Repeat until you calm down until you have gained control 2. MINDFULNESS AND COVID19 First of all, what is mindfulness? Mindfulness can be formal or informal meditation. Mindfulness can stop the chatter inside of you relating to COVID19 and anything else that stresses you out. It is really about being in the moment, observing what’s coming at you from the outside, and what’s coming up inside—taking it in and observing and not reacting to it. I participated in a mindfulness workshop, and the presenter took us outside. It was such a beautiful day. The only thing that she asked us to do was breathe and look. After we came back inside, we discussed what happened. It was amazing that I saw things that I had never noticed, such as a bird flying above me with such a beautiful color and how it was flying after a butterfly. Wow! Mindfulness can be amazing! a. Take a moment or two to pause during the day. Put aside whatever you are working on or thinking about and take in a few slow breaths. Notice the sensations of the air going in through your nose and exhaling out through your nose.
b. Lie down, close your eyes, and slowly scan your body mentally from head to toe—or start from the opposite direction—bringing your awareness to each part of the body without judging or trying to change anything. c. Practice S.T.O.P.—this is an acronym that stands for Stop, Take a breath, Observe your feelings, and Proceed 3. MAINTAIN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS Even though we are in social isolation, we don’t have to feel alone. Have a virtual girlfriend party. What about a virtual family reunion or birthday party? Make sure you reach out to others whom you feel are particularly isolated. Pick up the phone and call someone instead of texting them. I know they would love to hear your voice instead of a text. 4. BE COMPASSIONATE WITH OTHERS AS WELL AS YOURSELF There is so much that we cannot control right now. We need to talk positively to ourselves as well as to others around us. This pandemic will cause a lot of stress for many of us, and we cannot be our best selves all the time. But we can ask for help or reach out when help is asked of us. Often during these times, I say the SERENITY PRAYER: God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. 5. IF NOTHING ELSE HELPS call you mental health professional. They are only a phone call away. By embracing good mental-health and well-being measures, and by relying on others when necessary, we can protect ourselves and those around us. Take each day as it comes and focus on the things you can control. Sandra Wright, PhD, Office: (470) 588-1986 Cell: (404) 422-1626, http://www.sandracollinswright.com
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Local
HIDDEN GEMS The Upper Wooten Road-Trail Taking a Walk (or Ride) on the Wild Side By Laurie Searle, Citizen Reporter
Pictured above on Upper Wooten Rd: Laurie Searle hiking. Mika & Randy Zisk and Edyn & Darrell Ross riding bicycles. The secret is out. One of the best trails in Chattahoochee Hills isn’t a trail at all. It’s a gravel road that connects two of the City’s most popular parks – Rico Park and Cochran Mill Park. Upper Wooten Road may appear closed just past Rico Park. However, the gated 2.7 miles of gravel road is only closed to public vehicle access. Pedestrian, bike, and equestrian access is not only allowed, it’s encouraged. The City gated this section of road in 2013 at the request of prop8
erty owners who said their land was continually vandalized and dumped with trash. In exchange for the City restricting public vehicular access, the property owners agreed to maintain the 2.7 miles of gravel road so it could be used as a trail for horses, walking, hiking, biking, and jogging. Hiking the Upper Wooten Road-Trail Drive to the intersection of Upper Wooten and Rico Roads and park at the end of the ball field at Rico Park, located at 6290 Rico Rd. Parking is free, and there is a restroom with
drinking water available on the back side of the concession stand. Then walk or ride approximately 0.2 mile on Upper Wooten Rd until you see the yellow gate and dead-end sign. From this point on, there are no road or trail signs. You just stay on the gravel road for 2.7 miles until you reach the gate with the stop sign pictured above. Of course, you can cut your hike short, turning around whenever you like. But you can also extend your hike past this gate into Cochran Mill Park, where 20 miles of nature trails await.
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Local
PARKS
6300 Cochran Mill Rd. Chatt Hills, GA 30268 Info@BearCreekNatureCenter.org (770) 306-09144
Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography
If you’re looking for a place to take your family on the weekends, go to Bear Creek Nature Center. Located about 20 minutes south of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, we are a great place to stop for a hike or learn something new. Teach your kids the importance of taking care of the environment through our education programs. You can also go hiking on our nature trail and be immersed in our beautiful environment. Our admission is only $5 for the first person and parking and $3 for each additional person over age three, so we are an affordable destination for your next adventure. Bear Creek Nature Center is an environmental education facility dedicated to sharing the love of nature with our community. You can learn more about how to support us and volunteer on our website at bearcreeknaturecenter.org Admission: $5 for a car and driver, $3 for each additional person aged 3 and up. General Hours
Mon Closed Tue 11:00 am – 04:00 pm Wed 11:00 am – 04:00 pm Thu 11:00 am – 04:00 pm Fri 11:00 am – 04:00 pm Sat 11:00 am – 04:00 pm Sun Closed
ject to change. Check our Facebook page for any temporary changes.
Hours are variable and subCHATT HILLS NEWS - JULY 2020 - SUBSCRIBE TO CHATT HILLS NEWS
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Arts Section
GW Harper New Chatt Hills Gallery Member African-American artist GW Harper was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1980. Throughout her life, GW Harper has always been a creative and felt drawn to the art realm. Initially GW Harper’s creations were a method of stress relief that evolved into something much larger. Her interest in art was cultivated during her adolescent years and further developed when she opted to take several art classes during her latter high school years. After completing her nursing degree, GW Harper briefly shifted away from her creative background in order to focus on her nursing career. She soon returned to her true love, specializing in acrylic/watercolor-based abstract and mixed media creations. The meaning of the abstract images GW Harper paints could easily be left up to one’s interpretation. Her mixed-media pieces often draw parallels between current political topics and contains a slew of hidden messages and double entendres woven within the blankets of color. GW Harper cherishes when onlookers derive their own meaning from her pieces based on their own life experiences and is happiest when she is able to inspire others to follow their dreams. GW Harper lives and works in Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia, surrounded by her art, husband, and two young daughters. She is a former Goat Farm studio member, and her artwork is represented by both Kuali Studio Gallery and Chatt Hills Gallery & Paint Space in Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia.
“Imagine being both Black and “essential” in today’s current cultural/ pandemic climate. Well, I don’t have to and what I’m left with is an unexplainable sense of emptiness. A feeling that my life is practically disposable as both a nurse and a woman of color. I’m just another RN reporting for duty. Just another brown face in a protesting crowd. I am a member of both an expendable and undervalued demographic-let the media tell it. What’s a woman of color to do about it but paint?”
To see more of her work, visit https://www.gwharper.com. 10
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Arts Section
Individual Adult Oil Painting Classes Serenbe Textile Lofts 10625 Serenbe Lane, Suite A Chattahoochee Hills, GA 30268 310-902-5358
Saturday November 14, 9:00 TO 5:00 Sunday November 15, 11:00 TO 5:00 Some studios will be open on Friday the 13th The Chatt Hills Gallery and Paint Space will participate in the next Southern Hands Artist Studio Tour (SHAST). For more information visit https://www.shastour.com.
Chatt Hills Gallery is open Sat 11-4 and by appointment call 818.434.5436, 9057 Selborne Lane in Serenbe. Co-op members are: Adrienne Anbinder, Malinda Lively-Arnold, Jessica Ashley, Janice Barton, Morgan Boszilkov, Christina Blum, Logynn Ferrall, Gail Foster, Gigi Harper, Hope Harrison, Wanda Hughes, Ann Jackson, Robert Lederman, Julie McKinney, Amy Peterson, Karin Slaton, Tom Swanston, and Judy Walker.
www.chatthillsgalleryserenbe.com
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Logynn Ferrall
HEALTHY Healthy is a journey. Take time to do a quick inventory of your week, which can have a positive impact on your stress levels and on your physical and emotional health. Feeling emotionally whole, doing meaningful work, and being physically able is what brings balance to our lives. Yet sometimes this can feel out of reach due to our circumstances, life’s emotional challenges or a loss of our vitality. Taking an inventory of our activities/commitments always helps me, my family, and my clientele to focus on what makes us smile and feel connected. After we finish our review, we find a way to do more of whatever that is to support ourselves and others in our lives! So here we go with a “Ball park estimate” activity Inventory. Remember to take this lightly and be curious about your activities, this will help in the final review! Please say yes or no to the following statements — yes for the statements that reflect your goals or needs in your life. Check no to the statements that don’t have meaning for you or your goals and say no if you would avoid participating in them:) 1. I think of my self as a strong individual both physically and emotionally. 2. My happiness expands when I am able to help those around me. 3. When I am instructing or teaching, I feel relevant. 4. I love learning about history, new ideas, or delving into some subject that I don’t know anything about. 5. My relationships with my family and friends are the most import12
ant thing to me. 6. I am always thinking about the future and what I want to do next that is exciting. 7. Give me a job and I can get it done no matter what the obstacles. 8. I am happiest when I can bring people together to understand each other. 9. I like showing people how to do things, and really appreciate the rules and instructions. 10. When I am accomplishing my goals, all is right with the world. 11. I love to create art, make music, or write…it keeps me steady and happy. Great, now I want you to look at what you said “no” to and beside the answer estimate how much of that activity/commitment you have in your life now? For example, you might have said “no” to #8. I want you to give yourself a percentage of how much you are doing this now in your daily activities. Say, over a week, what percentage of time do you spend bringing people together? See what I mean?…Now do this with all the “no” answers…this is not a math assignment; it is a “week in review’ assignment. Ok, now do the same figuring with the “Yes” answers…beside each question you answered yes to, estimate how much time you spend doing this activity/commitment. So if you can see where I am going with this, please just go ahead and think about how much time you are spending in a week doing/
attending to the items that bring you happiness verses the ones that you are not interested in and maybe don’t find meaning in. This is a “ball park estimate” activity inventory. I use this to start a conversation with myself, my family, and my clientele to see where we can increase the happiness and connection for the future. Here are the top ten mental health apps https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320557 that can add some calm and peacefulness to your life!!
Logynn Ferrall, 281 658 5036 logynnbferrall@mac.com my.doterra.com/logynnbferrall Logynn Ferrall teaches healthy, natural ways to improve the quality of your life.
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Community
ANNOUNCEMENT
Studio 13 Grand Opening July 25th Every aspect of Studio13 is designed to create a supportive and restorative environment for our guests. Our goal is to help you align with your highest purpose and leave balanced and better prepared to take on your day. We offer a complete Pilates experience on the Reformer, Chair, Cadillac, Spine Corrector, and Barrel. Our beautiful, brand new space is clean, organized, and customized to the last detail. We diffuse therapeutic essential oils to balance the parasympathetic nervous system and support feelings of ease and wellbeing. Our staff are happy, friendly, and welcoming. For an introduction, drop by the studio 10 minutes before your appointment or class time. We look forward to seeing you soon! Studio Hours by Appointment. info@studio13serenbe.com Studio 770.629.2327 Dr. Lord 404.831.1138 11126 Serenbe Lane, Chattahoochee Hills, GA 30268
Dr. Julie Lord Partner and Lead Instructor, Licensed Chiropractor Dr. Julie Lord brings a holistic perspective and decades of experience as a Chiropractor to her Pilates practice and instruction.
Jill Campbell, Owner A longtime executive at Cox Enterprises, Jill Campbell has often wondered how she would spend her retirement years. The moment she and her family arrived in Serenbe for their first visit, she felt an amazing sense of place. Jill knew she was home, from the laid back feel, to the horses in the pastures, to the hiking trails, cute storefronts, and friendly people.
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Community
OUR CHURCHES Campbellton Baptist Church 8660 Campbellton Fairburn Rd Friendship Baptist Church 6090 Cochran Mill Rd www.friendshipbaptistchatthills.com Interfaith Fellowship at Serenbe www.facebook.com/ groups/1964824926878340/ New Hope United Methodist Church 7875 Atlanta Newnan Rd
Providence Baptist Church 6402 Campbellton Redwine Rd www.pbcrico.org Rico United Methodist Church 6475 Rico Rd Rivertown United Methodist Church 9325 Rivertown Rd Sardis Baptist Church 8400 Sardis Rd www.sardisbaptistch.com
Southern Crescent Unitarian Universalist Fellowship www.facebook.com/SouthernCrescentUUFellowship/ Vernon Grove Baptist Church 8440 Vernon Grove Rd OTHER CHURCHES IN CHATT HILLS Many churches have suspended services and activities due to the COVID-19 precautions. Please check with the individual churches to get an update on their schedules.
TELLING THE STORY OF AIR SERENBE, ITS ARTISTS, AND ITS COMMUNITY. Something In The AIR is a series of profiles and interviews that share the stories of the artists, patrons, and volunteers that make up the AIR Serenbe community. Not only will we talk with our fellows and residents, but we’ll also hear from members of our National Advisory Council, board, and the Serenbe community at large. We aim to offer both insight and inspiration.
https://www.airserenbe.com/2020/sita
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City Government Crossroads Community Meeting—Making Connections in District 1 By Laurie Searle, Chatt Hills Citizen Reporter and Councilmember
A large group of engaged citizens turned out for the first town hall meeting of the year, hosted by Chattahoochee Hills District 1 City Councilmember Ruby Foster on June 23 at City Hall. Ruby’s district includes the Crossroads Community, the oldest and second largest subdivision in the City with approximately 136 homes built between 1986-2006, so she planned the meeting with City Manager Robbie Rokovitz to address concerns specific to that community, as well as other residents in District 1. Robbie enlisted the help of his senior staff, commission members, and Mayor Reed to give presentations on the different departments in the City and answer questions and concerns.
live in Chattahoochee Hills. He talked about free programs for citizens including: Vacation House Checks, where a police officer will check on your home twice during a shift while you’re on vacation; and the Neighborhood Watch Program or P.A.C.T. (Police and Citizens Together), which assigns a specific police officer to a community for direct line communications. He said that in a city as large as Chattahoochee Hills (with 56 square miles), the police need the help of residents – to be those extra eyes and ears and report problems.
City Manager Robbie Rokovitz introduced his staff, who each in turn gave a brief description of their department’s duties, followed by a short question & answer session.
Fire Chief Greg Brett said his department’s top priority is public safety, and whether residents are reporting a fire or a medical emergency, their first step should be to call 911. The Chatt Hills fire station is about 10 minutes from the Crossroads Community, but thanks to an automatic aid agreement, the City of Palmetto also receives the calls. He also mentioned his department’s MED 51 vehicle that can transport injured or ill residents during medical emergencies if Grady transport is delayed. And he mentioned several free programs for citizens including: Chatt Hills Alert, which provides emergency alerts to your phone; and ChattCare, which provides regular monitoring of “at risk” citizens with health conditions.
Police Chief Jim Little said the best way to get a hold of the Police is to dial 911 and to let the dispatcher know you
Public Works Director Darold Wendlandt said his 7 employees are responsible for maintaining 108 miles of roads
Mayor Tom Reed opened the meeting with greetings and delight at the number of residents who turned out. He said, “Town hall meetings are about putting a face to a name and making connections between residents and the City staff.”
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City Government
Mayor Tom Reed discussing plans with residents. in the City (multiplied by two when cutting the right-of-way on both sides), in addition to the City’s five public parks. Addressing issues specific to the Crossroads Community, he said his department is responsible for the roads in the subdivision, since it was grandfathered in under Fulton County. However, due to budget constraints at this time, the best that can be done is some patching and filling, as is the case with most other roads in the City. He noted that Wilkerson Mill Rd was recently paved using funds from the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST), and he is working with the Police Department on enforcing “No Trucks” on this road. He said residents can help his department address issues by notifying the City. Several residents commented that they had made calls about trash being dumped and a tree that needed to be taken down, and they were delighted that Public Works addressed the problems so quickly. Community Development Director Mike Morton displayed several maps of the Crossroads Community, including one that showed an early design of the community which was immensely larger. He doesn’t have the history of why this was changed, but said the larger parcels in the original plan are no longer a part of Crossroads. He mentioned a planned subdivision across the street from Crossroads and said a group is expected to apply for permitting this year. He expects this to be mixed use development with nice homes, small businesses, and amenities. He said anyone who lives within 300 feet of proposed development 16
will receive notification via letter, and residents will have opportunities to speak at two public meetings. He also said that the Fulton County is planning a sewer project down Wilkerson Mill Rd. Residents asked questions about potentially annexing into Coweta County, and also about the proposed Bear Creek Reservoir. The Mayor said there is a citizen group leading a border change effort, but nothing official has come before the City Council. He also said the Bear Creek Reservoir project is not moving forward, to his knowledge. Another question was asked about the property tax assessment and the high increase. Mayor Reed said assessments are done by the Fulton County Tax Assessor’s Office (and our city has not increased its millage rate). He advised residents to file an appeal if they believe their property is incorrectly assessed. Councilmember Ruby Foster said some residents had inquired about possibly restarting the Crossroads Community Home Owners Association (HOA). She said she found the original HOA filed document, if anyone was interested in seeing it. Mayor Reed said that some communities want an HOA to help with civic activities or to collectively address issues. However, an HOA is not something the City would initiate – it is entirely a community-led initiative.
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City Government Parks Commission Member Tom Blum talked about Neighborhood Clean-Up and how volunteers have worked in different parts of the City to keep it clean. He noticed there is very little litter in the Crossroads Community, but said there is a big littler problem on Wilkerson Mill Rd and Cochran Mill Rd. He said if residents are interested in organizing a Clean-Up day or volunteering to keep a section of road picked up, the City can provide volunteer vests, picker-uppers, and garbage bags. Darold said Public Works would pick up the trash collected from Clean-Up days. Census Partnership Specialist Andrea Dennis talked about the importance of citizens participating in the 2020 Census. She said census data are used to determine our system of political representation, inform business development and investment, and allocate government funds to where they are most needed. Andrea said $65 billion in federal funds will be distributed across the United States based on population count. Mayor Reed added that a third of our City’s budget is apportioned by population, so he is encouraging all citizens to participate. To participate in the Census, go online to: my2020census.gov or call (844) 3302020 for English language, or (844) 468-2020 for Spanish language. Parks Commission Chair Diana Wilson said the City has over 1,000 acres of parkland, thanks in part to a citizen-led volunteer effort to raise funds for the City to purchase its parks from Fulton County when the city incorporated. Cochran Mill park is the largest with 800 acres, and also the closest to the Crossroads Community and District 1. She invited residents to sign up for a free parking pass, which they could receive from the city clerk tonight. She also mentioned that a boat ramp will be constructed at Campbellton Park this year, and there are plans for additional boat ramps in the City. Councilmember (Dist. 3) Laurie Searle said there are a few items of interest near District 1. The Bear Creek Nature Center at 6300 Cochran Mill Rd (formerly Cochran Mill Nature Center) opened last month and has its Grand Opening
caption scheduled for July 11. It features nature programs, displays, trails, and volunteer opportunities. The Cedar Grove Community Center at 9285 Cedar Grove Rd is available for the community to rent through Fulton County (404) 612-4058. It has a large community room, kitchen, and rest room. The City Hall meeting room is also available – there is no charge for public community meetings and a nominal charge for private use. She also mentioned Community Brickworks, a nonprofit organization in Chatt Hills that runs a volunteer community library at City Hall, and has a Food Bank which is open on Wednesdays from 3:30-5:00 p.m. Councilmember Ruby Foster closed the meeting by thanking residents for attending and inviting them to enjoy the refreshments and continue chatting with the council, commission members, and staff. She also reminded them to complete the sign-in form if they are interested in receiving the City’s Newsletter and other information, and visit the City’s website at www.chatthillsga.us. Additional town hall meetings are being planned for the other city council districts in Chattahoochee Hills. In the meantime, if residents have questions or concerns, they may visit City Hall at 6505 Rico Rd, call the city manager (770) 463-8881, or contact their city council representative.
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City Government Campbellton Community Master Plan History in the Hills! Two communities. One historic village. A world of opportunity. The Campbellton Historic Crossroads Village Master Plan emphasizes the importance of history with the recognition that planning wisely for future development is necessary to manage change. This project is a multijurisdictional project between the cities of Chattahoochee Hills and South Fulton. The master plan is funded through Atlanta Regional Commission’s (ARC) Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP). Both cities are embarking on the creation of a framework master plan to use as a guide for future development in the area of Campbellton, with the assistance of the consultant team consisting of planners from Pond & Company and urban economic advisors from BAE Urban Economics. The focus is to create an overall plan that honors the history and character of the area so when development does come, there is a vision framework created by both communities to guide it. A major goal is the creation of opportunities for residents and visitors, including business development and employment, easy access to quality everyday goods and services, high-quality development and housing, the expansion of recreation, and the re-establishment of the historic town center as a walkable and vibrant area. Currently the area, peppered with remnant historical resources of the once bustling antebellum town, includes two churches, a lodge, a house reputed to be the oldest in Fulton County, and a monument marking the location of the old courthouse. The area is also home to Campbellton Park and the Texaco gas station at the intersection of Cascade-Palmetto Highway and Campbellton-Fairburn Road. A boat ramp for access to the Chattahoochee River is slated for construction this summer by the Department of Natural Resources in Campbellton Park. About Historic Campbellton Campbellton was a crossroads community established in 1829, shortly after the formation of Campbell County in 1828. Many of the original settlers are interred in the town’s four cemeteries, and many of their descendants still live in the area today. Prior to the Civil War, Campbellton was a 18
prosperous rural town of 1200 and boasted an academy, a courthouse, a post office, a general store, a mill, churches, and surrounding homes and farms. The Chattahoochee River, the rural agricultural landscape, the construction of the railroad, the Civil War, and the Great Depression were considerable factors in both Campbellton’s original success and in its decline. Campbellton’s history is far from over. The very land that in part prevented Campbellton from prolonged success is now one of its greatest assets: the rural character and access to the region’s most important waterway, the Chattahoochee River. The historic timeline developed by the Pond project team from archival, historic research identifies major historical events and periods associated with the ghost town and the surrounding area. The timeline serves a second purpose as a living document to be augmented with local
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stories from members of both communities throughout the course of the project. Where We Are in the Process Pond is wrapping up the existing conditions component of the work, which includes the review of all available data and plans, historic research, base map development, conversations with stakeholders, the development of a project website and postcard mailings, and a market analysis draft. The team is seeking input from the community through a public meeting held on June 24, the project website’s online survey and interactive map tool, and by phone/email to augment and clarify the information gathered to date. As the team works toward planning, a charrette in mid-July will kick off the gathering of input from the community on the specifics of potential development. This information will inform intensity, scale, architectural styles and streetscapes, public spaces, transportation, and environmental issues that impact the character of the area. Along with input gathered from previous plans, the feedback will provide the Pond team with direction when creating design concepts.
The cities of Chattahoochee Hills and South Fulton, and the Pond consultant team invite you to participate in a socially distanced on-site pop-up July 11 from 10am to 2pm and the virtual charrette on July 14, 15 and 16. Please see the project website for details! Upcoming Public Events • Socially Distanced On-Site Pop Up: July 11, 10am to 2pm • Virtual Charrette: July 14, 15, 16 • Public Meeting in early fall, TBD Project Website https://planningatpond.com/campbellton-crossroads-master-plan Do you have a personal story to add to the timeline? An interesting tidbit to enrich the area’s recorded history? Just interested in learning more about the project? Contact Mike Morton by phone or email to tell your story and/or provide your input! Mike Morton, Community Development Director 770-463-6578, mike.morton@chatthillsga.us
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City Government Tourism Product Development Team Back in February, the City of Chattahoochee Hills was fortunate to have a Tourism Product Development Resource Team from the Department of Economic Development visit our town and provide a report that will enhance or improve the quality and quantity of experiences available to visitors. The Tourism Product Development (TPD) staff offers guidance through on-site Resource Teams, culminating in a full report of recommendations, grant opportunities, and follow-up technical assistance. By identifying and enhancing a community’s tourism product, the Resource Team approach ultimately may help draw more visitors to the community as well as provide an overall diversified economic development strategy for bringing jobs and infusing new money into a community. The report is available on the City’s website at: https://www.chatthillsga. us/Chatt%20Hills%20-%20TPD%20 Report%20MASTERFINAL_0%20(1). pdf
Key Take-Aways Highlight of the top recommendations for tourism product and full details follow in each section of the report. • Promote outdoor adventure with land/water trail solutions • Partner with the Arts to enhance school, trails, community brand • Preserve and develop a narrative for cultural heritage sites • Set up a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) in your new city center/downtown • Create agritourism experiences • Explore sites for unique lodging and experiences
As the community prioritizes these ideas, keep in mind the Tourist Development grants available. Applications are accepted each June and December for a maximum of $10,000 and $5,000 amounts respectively to assist with implementation of a tourism development product. Finally, tourism product ideas presented here are further supported with a resource page featuring links to funding resources at local/state/ national agencies that may also be of value in creating and improving Georgia tourism product
Georgia Department of Economic Development: Cindy Eidson, Director, Tourism Product Development; Tracie Sanchez, Manager, Tourism Product Development; Tina Lilly, Grants Program Director, Georgia Council for the Arts; Chris Chammoun, Rural Georgia Initiatives Consultants: Nedra Deadwyler, Civil Bikes; Gwyneth Moody, Georgia River Network, Director of Water Trails & Outreach; Wayne Whitesides, MTB Atlanta, Ethic Inc. 20
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City Government Fiscal Year 2021, which runs from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021, is here. The City of Chattahoochee Hills initiates its formal budget process in mid-February to ensure time for an inclusive and transparent process while allowing the governing body the time to review projected revenues and anticipated expenditures prior to adopting the annual budget. That adoption takes place before the beginning of the fiscal year, July 1. Public meetings are also held to inform the citizenry and to provide opportunities for public input. Each department director met with the City Manager to review their respective budget requests. Each request was evaluated by the City Manager according to the priority specified by the department director and available funding. Goals and strategies identified by the governing body during the annual retreat held February 7th were emphasized and incorporated in these departmental discussions. The Mayor and City Manager meet with Council members individually to review and make modifications to the budget, with each member of the governing body having access to the same information and discussion items during this process. The first reading and public hearing on the FY2021 Budget was held June 4th. The second reading and budget adoption took place at a Special Called and advertised meeting June 11th. Due to COVID-19, this year’s budget will look a lot different. And by different, I mean that the revenues are projected to be lower in all categories. This means that there are no planned capital projects with the exception of road maintenance, and operational expenses have been reduced across all departments. The table below illustrates the reduction in each fund category.
The TSPLOST fund appears to have an increase, but that is not the case. This percentage includes the fund balance of approximately $300,000 that is being carried over from FY2020. We have been trying to allow this fund
Robert T. Rokovitz, MPA, ICMA-CM
to accumulate more revenue since it takes a lot more than $300,000 to repair and/or pave roadways. Since TSPLOST is based on sales taxes, the amount of revenue we accrue monthly has gone from around $40,000 per month to $32,000 per month. That is about 25% lower than pre-COVID revenue. The chart below provides a visual of the fund comparison between FY2020 and FY2021.
This budget includes funding made available to maintain city services while continuing to make strategic reinvestments in our infrastructure. Over the next year, we will continue to monitor expenditures and revenues to ensure we are in line with or better than the forecasted path for the City. Preparation of the budget is an extensive and calculated task. We would like to thank all of the employees who make the budgeting process and resulting budget document as meaningful for the public as possible, and their commitment to public service is evident through the hard work they put into the budget process and into the services they provide the residents every day. We extend our special thanks and gratitude to our elected officials for their detailed and passionate involvement in the budgetary process during this especially challenging budget season. Due to COVID-19, many budget discussions had to been done in a very different manner instead of the usual face-to-face in-person meetings. We are confident that the Council and staff will be able to meet the challenges that will face us in the next fiscal year and beyond.
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City Government
Running the City of Chattahoochee Hills during COVID-19
City Manager Robert T. Rokovitz
When the shelter in place orders started back at the end of March, how everyone does business has become less about face-to-face meetings and contact and more about working from home, video conferencing, and any other method to reduce the exposure to and spread of COVID-19. The City of Chattahoochee Hills is no different. In April, we reduced how many administrative staff could work at one time at City Hall and closed the door to the public with few exceptions. We just very recently began having public meetings again for the Mayor and Council as well as the appointed Boards and Commissions. However, we are still encouraging the wearing of a mask and setting up the meeting rooms using social distancing recommendations. We recognize that many still do not feel comfortable coming to these public meetings yet they still want to attend and be part of the public
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process. To accommodate this desire, we have subscribed to one of the most popular video conferencing technologies being used – ZOOM. ZOOM allows us to host virtual meetings in which the audience, you, can easily log in for free to watch and even participate in meetings. We publish the access information on your City website at www.chatthillsga. us before every meeting. You can use any number of devices to watch these meetings such as a computer, smart phone, or tablet. You can also choose whether you want to use your device’s audio or dial in by phone at no cost. So we hope to see you soon, virtually, and look forward to the day when we can get back to the time before social distancing and masks became the norm.
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City Government
Please Complete the 2020 Census Questionnaire As the nation adjusts to a new normal with COVID-19, the 2020 Census remains as important as ever. An accurate count directly determines equitable representation as well as the federal funding the City of Chattahoochee Hills receives. Stand up and be counted. To complete the 2020 U.S. Census online, visit: https://my2020census.gov
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Trending Topic
Community & City
City of Chattahoochee Hills, City Hall, 6505 Rico Rd, Chattahoochee Hills, GA 30268, Phone: (770) 463-8881, www.chatthillsga.us
City of Chatt Hills: www.chatthillsga.us Chatt Hills Charter School: http://www.chatthillscharter.org/calendar Community Brickworks: www.communitybrickworks.org Serenbe Community: www.serenbe.com Acton Academy at Serenbe: http://actonacademyatserenbe.com/#ourstory
Event
We will be scheduling Special Called City Council meetings as dictated by circumstances - these will be virtual, and open to the public.
City Council Work Session - Thursday, July 2, 6:00 pm City Hall - 6505 Rico Road, Chatt Hills, GA 30268
The City will take the following safety precautions: • The City Council room will be set up so that the council and staff are all at least 6’ apart. • Any citizen attendees that want to attend in person will also be separated by at least 6’; capacity will be limited to the number of seats that can fit in the room under those conditions. • The meeting will be streamed live. Check details on the City’s website.
City Council Meeting - Tuesday, July 7, 6:00 pm City Hall - 6505 Rico Road, Chatt Hills, GA 30268 Historic Commission Meeting - Monday, July 13, 6:30pm City Hall - 6505 Rico Road, Chatt Hills, GA 30268 Parks Commission Meeting - July 14, 6:00pm City Hall - 6505 Rico Road, Chatt Hills, GA 30268 Planning Comission Meeting - Thurs., July 30, 6:00 pm City Hall - 6505 Rico Road, Chatt Hills, GA 30268
About Chatt Hills News The official newsletter of the City of Chattahoochee Hills, Chatt Hills News, is published monthly. The publication is available in public locations around the City, at City Hall, or via email subscriptions. Email Subscriptions: To subscribe via email visit the City’s Website: www.chatthillsga.us Or subscribe directly at this link: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/w9cGwxA Print Copies: Residents of Chatt Hills who do not have Internet may request mailed copies by calling City Hall (770) 463-8881. Article / Event Submissions: If you have a story, event, or suggestion for future articles, we’d like to hear from you. Please submit your information by the 15th of every month for publication on the 1st of the month to: chatthillsnews@chatthillsga.us
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