Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Spruill Gallery Celebrates 35 Years in Dunwoody!


Opening Reception: Thursday, July 1
6:00-9:00 pm

Please join us for a birthday party as we celebrate 35 years of art in the community. The exhibition features work by instructors, board, and staff of the Spruill Center for the Arts. All works of art will be for sale. Proceeds to benefit the artists and the 35th Anniversary Campaign.

Happy Birthday Spruill!

Meditations on Italy
Copies of "Meditations on Italy," a Spruill Center designed and published book, will be on sale during the 35th Anniversary Exhibit. The book features works by 18 Spruill Center instructors and is 44-pages + cover in full color. It represents the original hand-bound book on hand-made paper that sold at Artistic Affair for thousands of dollars.
The books are $25 each + tax.

Acapulco Vacation Raffle
The opening reception will feature a raffle for a 6-day, 5-night stay for 2 in an Ocean View room at the beautiful Fairmont Pierre Marques Resort in Acapulco, Mexico. Airfare is not included. The stay must take place by December 18, 2010. Black-out dates are Oct 29 - Nov 02, and Nov 12 - Nov 15. "Other black-out dates may apply without notice." Raffle tickets will be on sale for $20 each, or 6 for $100. A minimum of $1,000 in raffle tickets must be sold in order for a drawing to be held and the prize awarded. If enough tickets are not purchased all raffle money will be refunded.

Everything Will Be OK
Also available for auction will be a print by the artist Jason Kofke featuring his well-known statement, Everything Will Be OK.

Atlanta School of Massage in Dunwoody offers exceptional value in all Spa Services

SensAbility is the teaching clinic of
Atlanta School of Massage &
Atlanta Institute of Aesthetics

The Atlanta School of Massage, located here in Dunwoody, a pioneer and international leader among massage therapy schools, is celebrating 30 successful years in massage therapy education.  The school has classes starting soon and the student clinic, SensAbility is the teaching clinic of the nationally recognized Atlanta School of Massage and Atlanta Institute of Aesthetics, offering premier massage therapy and skin care services to the Atlanta community.  In keeping with their pioneering tradition, the school continues to grow their long history of accomplishments:
  • First Massage Therapy school to open in the state of Georgia
  • First Massage Therapy school in Georgia to be Accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT)
  • Named a 2004 School of Distinction by the ACCSCT
  • First Massage Therapy school in Georgia to be approved by the US Department of Education to offer Title IV funding
  • First to partner with Emory University on research into the beneficial effects of neuromuscular therapy on patients with Parkinson's disease
  • The first Massage Therapy school in Georgia to open a skin care division, Atlanta Institute of Aesthetics
The Atlanta School of Massage is located at 2 Dunwoody Park S, Dunwoody, GA 30338 and appointments for services can be made at 770-677-0300.

Dunwoody High School's Wes Bancroft honored by the Braves 400 Club


Dunwoody High School's Wes Bancroft, was honored by the Braves 400 Fan Club as one of their 2010 Metro Atlanta All-Star Selections at a luncheon held by the 400 Club on June 3rd.

Bancroft, a rising senior at DHS, was first in the DeKalb County with eight wins on the mound, sixth in ERA at 2.52 and seventh in strikeouts with 57. He also posted a .389 average with 22 RBIs and 24 runs scored.  Wes was also named to the DeKalb County Dugout Club All-County First Team.  Previous selections to the 400 Club All-Star team include Brian McCann and Jeff Francoeur. 

If you want to see Wes in action, check out this youtube video.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Dunwoody Wildcats 2010 Youth Football Camp hosted by Head Coach Jim Showfety


Coordinated by the Dunwoody Varsity Football Coaching Staff

Dates: June 28, 29, and 30
Times: 9:00 AM – 12:00 NOON (arrive each day by 8:45 AM sharp)
Participants: Ages 6-14
Location: Peachtree Middle School – 4664 N. Peachtree Road – Dunwoody, GA 30338
Cost: $75 per player
What to Bring: T-Shirt, Shorts, Cleats, Sunscreen, Baseball Cap, & Water Bottle

Walk-up registrations allowed and here is the registration form.

Make checks payable to:
DUNWOODY GRIDIRON CLUB, INC.

Don't miss the biggest independence day parade in the State of Georgia, happening right here in Dunwoody on Mon, July 5th.

Monday July 5th, 2010

On Monday, July 5, at 9:30 a.m., the Dunwoody Homeowners Association and the Dunwoody Crier newspaper will host the annual Fourth of July Parade featuring marching bands, floats, clowns, animal units and local celebrities. This year's parade theme is Dunwoody Salutes America's volunteers.  You can register for the parade at the Dunwoody Homeowners Association website at www.dunwoodyga.org.

POST-PARADE FESTIVAL
Join us for the family festival in the parking lot of Dunwoody Village. We invite all parade participants and spectators to join us for live entertainment, kid's activities, BBQ, hotdogs and much more.

The parade route is 2.7 miles. Steps off from the intersection of Mt. Vernon and Jett Ferry at 9:30 a.m., proceed west on Mt. Vernon to Dunwoody Village Parkway. You can view a map of the parade route here and get more information on the Dunwoody Crier website.

Who is your Public Safety Champion?


Who is your Public Safety Champion?

The DeKalb County Police Alliance is seeking nominations for our 2010 DeKalb Public Safety Champion Awards. These awards honor police officers, community members and community organizations who have a positive impact on public safety.  Who in Dunwoody, Chamblee, Doraville or DeKalb could you honor with a nomination?

This is your opportunity to help honor them!
Just fill out the nomination form and submit by September 9th.


1st Annual Insider's Breakfast
featuring
Colonel John King, Doraville Police Chief
Reflections on Lessons Learned from a Year's Deployment in Afghanistan
July 22nd, 8:00 am
Crowne Plaza Ravinia

RSVP -
678.362.0392

4th Annual Police Officers Ball
October 30, 2010
Crowne Plaza Ravinia Hotel

The 2010 Hometown Hero's Gala & Silent Auction will raise funds to ensure that every sworn police officer in unincorporated DeKalb County and all the municipalities has a $100,000 life insurance policy.

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Deborah Spector, deborah.spector@dekalbpolicealliance.org, or call 678.362.0392

Friday, June 25, 2010

Listen to the Candidates running for the Dunwoody area GA House and Senate Seats.

Thursday night I attended the Ashford Alliance candidate forum whereby each candidate spoke for 5 minutes.  The crowd was intimate but the information gained on each of the people at the head table was very worthwhile.   I of course audio recorded the 5 min stump speeches and present them to you here for your listening pleasure.  As a very thankful friend once said, "John you attend the meetings so I don't have to" and that being the case, I am happy to bring this event to you.

None of the candidates used the mic therefore I would recommend turning up the volume of the speakers if you are able to do so.  Apologies to Eric Christ as his audio link includes a few minute introduction of the event.   Enjoy.
Senate District 40
Eric Christ
Jim Duffie
Fran Millar - Bev Wingate representing
James Sibold

House District 79
Tammy Anderson
Keith Kaylor - No show
Tom Taylor
House District 80
Keith Gross - No Show
Mike Jacobs - Letter read to crowd.
Sandy Murray- Friend representing.
House District 81
Jill Chambers
Elena Parent

The Dunwoody Tornado of April 9, 1998


I remember the day well but many of our newer residents may not be aware of the devastation that hit our community on April 9th, 1998. If you were not aware or to young when it happened, check out the video to gain some perspective of those who not only lived through the event but then used it to bring the community closer together in so many ways.

Early Voting is an Option for General Primary Election


Early Voting for General Primary Election
DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections Encourages Voters to Take Advantage of Early Voting

DECATUR - DeKalb County Board of Registration & Elections is encouraging voters to cast ballots early for the General Primary Election on July 20.  Early voting in person is available now without having to providing a reason.  The Absentee Poll at 4380 Memorial Drive is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for Early Voting. 

During Advance Voting Week, July 12 - 16, extended hours of 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and four additional sites will also be available for voting before Election Day. 

The additional Advance Voting locations are: 

·        Decatur Historical Courthouse
101 East Court Square, Decatur

·        DeKalb County Fire Headquarters
1950 West Exchange Place
Tucker (Northlake area)

·        Chamblee Civic Center
3540 Broad Street, Chamblee

·        Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center
3181 Rainbow Drive, Decatur

Voters who wish to vote absentee by mail can submit their request now.  They should note on the application that it is for the July 20 General Primary Election and remember to mark party preference. 

For additional information, visit www.dekalbvotes.com or call 404-298-4020.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

The Aha Connection - if you aren't on Audra's list - you should be.


My friend Audra Anders has an extensive e-mail list and for years she has been forwarding Dunwoody community related e-mails to her list of friends from those who wanted to spread some information. Well her list of friends started grow, others wanted in and before you know it, Audra's little e-mail list, now called The Aha Connection, is the fastest way to spread Dunwoody community news.  If you need to find the owner of a lost dog, sell unwanted concert tickets, find a babysitter; you name it - The Aha Connection can help.

There are two ways get the Aha information, primarily this is an e-mail service so email Audra at ahaconnection@att.net if you want to be "on the list" and then there is the newly updated website listed below.  I highly recommend and commend Audra for the service she provides the community, check it out.
The Aha! Connection is a free daily e-mail alert service and website. It is Dunwoody’s guide to what's hot, new, and relevant - from jobs, to babysitters, to school/community events, to pets and so much more!

As useful as it is informative, The Aha! Connection strives to keep the Dunwoody community connected. Audra knows about the latest and greatest services, news, and events in the Dunwoody and greater Atlanta area and always shares the scoop via the Aha! Connection.

Cinemoms - Atlanta's premier membership club for Moms with school aged children.


CineMoms started as a movie club for moms, but now it's become so much more!! CineMoms is now a membership club for moms with school-aged children in the Atlanta area (pre-school – high school). Once you join CineMoms, you will receive a member card which will instantly allow you to receive deals at retailers, museums and entertainment venues located all around the city.  Simply look at our list of partners and deals (we're adding new ones all the time) and present your card upon purchase. It’s that easy! As a membership benefit, moms also get free movie, concert, theater and arena tickets throughout the year along with discounted entry into CineMoms' events. Some events are just for moms, others are for the whole family! At the mom-only events, you will have a chance to meet and socialize with other moms from around the metro Atlanta area. Our mission is to offer fun and affordable opportunities to moms and their families during these tough economic times!  Check out the site above or Fox5 interview for more information

(FYI:  Kristin & the boys saw a sneak preview of Toy Story 3 a week in advance thanks to my wife being a member of Cinemoms, therefore I can speak from experience that this is definitely worth checking out.)

Tammy Anderson provides candidate overview from missing League of Woman Voters survey.


On June 10th, I published the League of Woman Votes candidate overview but the information on Ms. Tammy Anderson (R) candidate for House District 79 was missing and I have since received an update from Ms. Anderson asking me to update the information on my blog.  As I stated in my original post, I am happy to do so and in fairness to candidate Tom Taylor the Republican primary challenger to Ms. Anderson, I will also rerun his information below hers.


Tammy Thorn Anderson (R)

Age
(as of June 10): 45

Education: Bachelor of Science in Communications from The University of Texas at Austin

Previous Occupations: Nationally Award winning Art Director working on Multimillion Dollar accounts and then decided to switch focus to my Family and Community Volunteerism. Worked for Texas School for the deaf in Austin Texas.

Citizens for Dunwoody- Original Executive Committee, Citizens for Dunwoody- Chair for Charter Task Force, Citizens for Dunwoody- PR and Educational task force. DES PTO and elected to DES school Council. Austin PTA and Yearbook editor.

Family: Married 12 years to Brian Anderson (The City Attorney for Dunwoody). My greatest achievement is our four amazing children: Riley (11) rising 6th grader at Peachtree MS, Austin (9) rising 4th grader at Dunwoody Elementary School, Ethan (7) rising 2nd grader at Austin Elementary School and Gavin (3) Dunwoody Methodist Pre-School.

Blog site: http://tammyfordunwoody.blogspot.com
E-mail: Thornanderson@netscape.net

Why are you running for office?: Control of our schools! I am angry about the total lack of voice we have in both DeKalb County and in what’s happening to our schools. Never forget, we pay for both with our taxes. No one on the DeKalb County Board even lives in Dunwoody. The legislation our next State Representative introduces and votes for is crucial to all of our children and their children to come.

The 2010 General Assembly has received significant criticism for failing to resolve critical financial issues of the state. If elected, what will you do to ensure better success in 2011 and future legislative sessions? Work for smaller Class Size and giving parents a voice in their children’s education. Adopt Zero-based budgeting and Jobs bill. Work to build a Southern by-pass and Northern arc to reduce gridlock (conservative estimates are 20% of traffic removed from Highways).

How will you engage voters in your district in identifying issues that are important to them, and how will you ensure progress is made on these issues?
I will listen and represent them. Luckily, Dunwoodians are not afraid to express their opinions and are a highly educated group of people. I will continue to be involved in the schools and City.

What specific changes, if any, to property tax policy would you like to see?
Continue freeze of property assessments. Research making Assessment challenges easier and less biased. Create State standard for property assessments that include neighborhood comps. I’m a proponent of replacing State income tax with a sales tax.

If elected, what would be your three (3) top policy priorities and how would you work to achieve results? 1) Education. Gain local control of Schools by any means possible. Start by implementing Senator Weber’s Charter Cluster model and working to pass the (EID) Educational Improvement District tax. Encourage and support the City of Dunwoody stepping up to start its own charter schools. Establish independent oversight of all large educational spending and contracting. Move to representation by population. Have Counties and/or School Boards split upon meeting specific maximum population. 2)Budget. Initially, implement zero based budgeting and research benefits of replacing state income tax with a Fair Tax. 3) Transportation and Environment. Create alternative outer toll arc and by-pass to reduce traffic and emissions. Implement timed lights and incentives to employers who create satellite offices and work from home practices for employees. Explore searching for and use of underground aquifers along with equitable comprehensive, regional water planning. We need more Parks and Green space and we need to vigorously protect our existing resources.

Do you think that Georgia should adopt an independent redistricting commission, that should be put into law in time for 2011 redistricting?
No, a commission will still be political. I favor a computer generated model where once the criteria are fixed; the politics are removed from the process.


What else needs to be done to resolve Georgia’s transportation problems?
In addition to the previous transportation solutions, build a second major independent Airport to the North of the City. Review periodically and eliminate unprofitable mass transit routes (replace buses with vans where feasible) and add routes where a need exists. Time lights throughout Georgian cities to cut down on wasted gas and emissions.

What further changes, if any, does Georgia need in terms of ethics reform?
Make prosecution faster, easier and more rigorous. Further, make fraud restitution a mandatory component of the process including prosecution costs. Apply standards across the board to cover any government entity, position and/or agency including schools and school boards who receive state funding.


Tom Taylor (R)

Occupation: Manage all aspects of defense programs for major industry contractor.
Age (as of June 10): 48
Education: Georgia State University BA, International Relations & Economics, and MBA, International Business
Family: Wendi Taylor, wife of 26 years & Son Keith Taylor, 18,recent Wesleyan grad
Web site: TomGetsResults.com
E-mail: TomGetsResults@gmail.com

Why are you running for office?
: My conservative leadership experience provides proof of my dedication to Dunwoody & North DeKalb County and evidence I get desired results. •Founded Citizens for Dunwoody & Dunwoody Action Committee PAC •Led legislation & referendum effort to incorporate Dunwoody •Provided blueprint for Dunwoody Police as Police Task Force Chair •Ramped up city services achieving 1st year surplus without raising taxes as City Councilman •Orchestrated Parks & Property bill passage, transferring parks & $7M bonds ..

The 2010 General Assembly has received significant criticism for failing to resolve critical financial issues of the state. If elected, what will you do to ensure better success in 2011 and future legislative sessions?
Tom Taylor: Run state government more like a business model. Adopt Zero-based budgeting and have government function with as few employees as possible. As an inaugural City Councilman in Dunwoody, we established a government where there are very few employees with the exception of Police, allowing us to run a surplus in year one of operations without raising taxes. This same model could be applied to some state functions, outsourcing and using public/private partnerships to be better stewards of tax $.

How will you engage voters in your district in identifying issues that are important to them, and how will you ensure progress is made on these issues?
Tom Taylor: In leadership positions in advocacy groups and as a City Council member, I know that open and transparent discussions and exchange of information and ideas is critical to resolving issues. As councilman in a brand-new municipality, there were a plethora of issues, much akin to starting a business. While not all can be resolved to everyone's satisfaction, staying engaged and being a listener are key factors. The most important item to ensure progress is perseverance, some issues need time.

What specific changes, if any, to property tax policy would you like to see?
Tom Taylor: The most important item regarding property tax policy is to set a statewide standard for assessments. Having a piecemeal system that varies by county. It is also important to link assessments with actual market values, which in may instances is not the case.

If elected, what would be your three (3) top policy priorities and how would you work to achieve results?
Tom Taylor: 1. Reduce state spending. Adopt strict Zero-based budgeting and hold people accountable. To balance the budget the first priority is to identify non-essential or non-performing programs and eliminate them. 2. Settle the water dispute. This problem is not going away and will effect jobs and growth for the future. Engage the issue rather than in just rhetoric. 3. Education policy. Quality education is critical to the future, must be coupled with accountability both in classrooms and admin.

Do you think that Georgia should adopt an independent redistricting commission, that should be put into law in time for 2011 redistricting?
Tom Taylor: Although this sounds like an equitable process, my firm belief is that neither party would ever agree to implement this. As a practical matter, neither party wants to give up the power of the majority in the process.

What else needs to be done to resolve Georgia’s transportation problems?
Tom Taylor: This is an answer that requires more than 500 words, but the bottom line is to implement, rather than discuss to death, transportation solutions. As an example, more public/private partnerships to leverage dollars and advance projects. A very clear and successful example of an innovative solution is the success of the CID's in Atlanta. The other critical element is to bring MARTA and the jigsaw puzzle of other metro area transportation authorities under a unified management structure.

What further changes, if any, does Georgia need in terms of ethics reform?
Tom Taylor: Ethics should be a simple issue that any 2nd grader should know. Don't lie, don't steal, don't cheat or allow others to do so. As a candidate that has had frivolous ethics charge filed against him, the one change that I think is critical is to have a provision for recourse. As a an observer of the State Assembly over the past 5 years, I would also push to have ethical lapses enforced uniformly. This has not been the case over the past few years.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Come out Thursday Night to listen to your local candidates.

PRIMARY CANDIDATES - PUBLIC FORUM

The Ashford Alliance Community Association (AACA) invites you to meet and learn about our local candidates running in the upcoming primary elections.  The AACA was founded in 2006 as a non-profit corporation to inform the people who live in North DeKalb inside I-285 of matters which can affect their quality of life and to provide a voice to those neighborhoods which otherwise might not be heard.

Date:  Thursday, 24 June, 2010
Time:   7:00 - 8:30PM
Place:  St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church, Gable Hall
3110 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Atlanta 30319
There is no charge.  All are welcome.
Invitees (or their representatives)
(We are working to verify who will attend in person.)

Senate District 40
Eric Christ
Jim Duffie
Fran Millar
James Sibold
House District 81
Jill Chambers
Elena Parent

Video from June 21 Dunwoody City Council Meeting



Here is the agenda, everything passed except sign ordinance was deferred and sidewalk policies stay the same.

Dunwoody grows by 165 acres as city takes over parks from DeKalb - AJC


By Patrick Fox for the AJC
Dunwoody took possession of 165 acres of parkland from DeKalb County on Monday, culminating a long process that stretched from the negotiating table to the Georgia Legislature.

At a mid-morning news conference held before 60 residents and city officials at Brook Run Park, Mayor Ken Wright declared ownership of the recreational property.

"We are officially in charge of our parks, our green space," he said.

Monday's action comes in the wake of legislation passed in March allowing Dunwoody to take over the parks by paying DeKalb $100 per acre. Similar measures were passed this year allowing similar transactions in Sandy Springs and other new cities in north Fulton County.

The city is in line for $7.5 million in bond money from a 2001 referendum. Wright said the city will study a master plan drawn more than a decade ago by DeKalb County to help craft a strategy for the new park system. He said the city also will seek public comment.

City council members were fairly pointed on Monday when addressing the land transfer with DeKalb County.

"One of the things that defines a city is its parks," Councilman Danny Ross said."Our parks are certainly not reflective of the way we like to maintain things. ... We intend to make this into a showplace that our community can be proud of."

Councilman John Heneghan, who lives within two blocks of Brook Run, had specific ideas in mind. He said the county has allowed most of the seven buildings at Brook Run to deteriorate and threaten public safety.

"The first priority for me is to maintain the security of the park, to close up the buildings in the back," he said. "From there, it's to provide some fast, efficient services (such as) benches and seating in the playground, which has been deficient for years."

DeKalb County had no official comment on Monday's event, but Commissioner Jeff Rader earlier had said he expected the county to sue. Rader said the county has invested $13 million in Brook Run Park without any compensation from Dunwoody.

GM Redevelopment Plan? Taxpayers Beware by Rep Mike Jacobs

By Rep Mike Jacobs,

When a county commissioner talks about spreading “risk” and “cost,” taxpayers should run in the other direction.

Those words were quoted from a recent edition of the DeKalb Neighbor (click for link) in which Commissioner Jeff Rader talked about the potential redevelopment of the Doraville GM plant: “We … need to spread risk and cost of this to other stakeholders. [Otherwise] the county will have to service the debt and use taxpayer funds to pay back that money.”

The GM redevelopment is a project that taxpayers need to be watching closely. Very closely.
New Broad Street, the developer of Florida’s Celebration community (click for link), is proposing a partnership with DeKalb County where the developer and the county will acquire the GM site and build a supersized mixed-use center with condos, apartments, retail stores, office space, and hotels. The county is proposing to use a special allocation of federal stimulus bonds known as recovery zone bonds to help finance the redevelopment of the GM site. The “benefit” of using these bonds is that the federal government subsidizes 45 percent of the interest.

However, the remaining principal and interest on the bonds would have to be paid out of the county treasury. That’s our tax dollars the county is gambling with. Whenever you read news stories that the county is thinking about shutting down recreation facilities and judges are reading the Riot Act to the CEO and county commissioners about the judicial budget (click for links), you have to wonder what the county is thinking when they consider using the very same tax dollars for risky development projects.

Some officials in the county government are going so far as to talk about increasing our property taxes to help pay for the bonds to redevelop the GM site. That should be a complete non-starter.

When Commissioner Rader was talking about spreading “risk” and “cost,” he was talking about the county’s efforts to shake down the Doraville City Council to use the city’s funds to help pay for the project, because the GM plant is located inside the City of Doraville. That’s still using tax dollars. It’s robbing from Peter to pay Paul. Doraville would be right to say no.

The DeKalb County Development Authority would be responsible for issuing the bonds to help pay for the New Broad Street project. Generally speaking, in DeKalb County, the use of our tax dollars to support the projects of a quasi-governmental authority requires a voter referendum. This referendum requirement is the result of a law I authored in 2007. As part of this year’s House Bill 203 (click for link), however, the General Assembly granted the county a one-time exemption for the stimulus bonds now being proposed for the GM site.

The reason for the exemption is that the stimulus bonds had a June 30th “use them or lose them” deadline. It would have been impossible to hold a referendum under this time constraint. The consequence of not meeting the deadline would be that DeKalb’s allocation of stimulus bonds would be reallocated to other local governments in Georgia. Those local governments would then be able to use the bonds for infrastructure projects like improvements to roads and sewers. Infrastructure is the real purpose of the stimulus bonds, not risky development projects. DeKalb either has obtained or is attempting to obtain an extension of the June 30th deadline.

In addition, I considered the fact that the county commission would have to conduct an open public vote on an intergovernmental agreement to spend our tax dollars for the stimulus bonds to be an important safeguard that would exist whether or not the referendum requirement applied to these bonds. The county commission has not yet voted on an intergovernmental agreement to use our tax dollars to repay stimulus bonds for the New Broad Street project at the GM site. The commission also would have to vote on any property tax hike for this purpose.

The commissioners absolutely should oppose such an agreement or tax increase. The county is in no position to bear the “risk” and “cost” of a supersized development project using our tax dollars. In a recent article in the Dunwoody Crier (click for link), Commissioner Elaine Boyer appeared to suggest that a majority of the county commission is prepared to reject a tax increase for the GM redevelopment plan.

To make sure this happens, your county commissioners need to hear directly from you. You can find their contact information at web.co.dekalb.ga.us/boc/contact.html if you would like to voice your opposition.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

This morning the City to hold Press Conference and Tour of Dunwoody Parks


Event Coincides with official turnover of Dunwoody Parks

WHAT: Tour of the Dunwoody Parks and Press Conference to discuss parks and unveil new park signage. Conference will be held at Brook Run Park. Press is invited to participate in the tour.  Dunwoody City Council and Staff will announce official turnover of Dunwoody Parks.  City staff and new Parks and Recreation Manager to discuss plans for Dunwoody Parks.

WHO:
Ken Wright – Mayor
Denis Shortal – City Council Post 1
Adrian Bonser – City Council Post 2
Robert Wittenstein – City Council Post 4
Danny Ross – City Council Post 5
John Heneghan – City Council Post 6
Warren Hutmacher – City Manager
Michael Smith – Public Works Director
Brent Walker - Parks and Recreation Manager

WHEN: Today
Monday, June 21, 2010
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

WHERE:

9:00 a.m. Brook Run
4770 North Peachtree Road

9:15 a.m. Windwood Hollow Park
Lakeside Dr just off Peeler Road (near the DC Water Works)

9:30 a.m. Perimeter Center East Park
Off of Perimeter Center East.

9:40 a.m. Dunwoody Park/Dunwoody Nature Center
5321 Roberts Drive

10:00 a.m. Vernon Oaks Park
Vernon Oaks Drive and Vernon Springs Drive

10:25 a.m.
Donaldson Bannister Farm
4831 Chamblee Dunwoody Road

10:50 a.m.
Brook Run (Press Conference Location)
4770 North Peachtree Road

WHY: The City of Dunwoody is excited to announce the official turnover of Dunwoody parks from DeKalb County and discuss the future for the properties.

MORE: Lunch is provided for all attendees courtesy of Roadworx. For more information please visit the city website at www.dunwoodyga.gov or call the main office at 678-382-6700.

PHOTO OPPS: Available throughout the tour and conference.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Seven times the DeKalb County Grand Jury said there was inadequate staffing at 911 call center. Today it is at the worst level ever.

Below is a link to an AJC article about the critical under staffing of DeKalb's 911 Call center and below that link and abbreviated article is what I call a clue, in fact DeKalb was given at least seven clues in the form of Grand Jury Presentments (reports) going back three years that the DeKalb 911 center had staffing problems.

The Grand Jury reports found on the DeKalb District Attorney website are interesting reading and a real wake up call of numerous problems facing the county with many of them lingering for years with little or no improvement. Besides the many 911 issues the unaccounted funds in the Recorders Court now needs a little follow up and possible further intervention by CEO Ellis.  But hey who needs to collect traffic and court fines when you can just keep cutting the court budget?

Vacancies plague DeKalb 911 center

The DeKalb 911 center is so understaffed that dispatchers sometimes can't take bathroom breaks, county officials say.  Almost a third (38) of the 122 jobs assigned to the center are vacant, and the county is investigating complaints of slow ambulance response times even as it seeks to hire 31 officers and seven supervisors for 911 dispatch.   Meanwhile, records obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution show six dispatchers were disciplined from May 1 to June 8 for failure to show up for work and other violations.  County officials have said they hope to address these problems with additional staff and training, but that will take several months.  “It will take about six months to get the positions filled. For now, we’re using overtime to cover it,” Police Major James Conroy told commissioners.

DeKalb Grand Jury - Sept/Oct 2008

911Center
Thank all those involved for their efforts – we were all very impressed with the facility and technology involved. An effort must be made to hire more police officers so that 911 calls can be acted on more quickly. The attention paid to Operators work areas deserves special mention. Ergonomic systems and individualized heating and cooling systems speak highly of the value placed on these individuals and the importance of their positions. However, these amenities are lost if the turnover rate continues at its current pace. It is the recommendation of this Grand Jury to invest in services aimed at personnel retention. More proactive counseling would be a step in the right direction. During our tour of the 911 dispatch center, we were introduced to the new 311 non-emergency program. The next term of Grand Jurors should be given an updated presentation on the successful implementation of the 24 hour service to lighten the load of 911 operators. (Never happened or not reported) Included in this presentation should be an explanation of the policies and procedures regarding code enforcement. The new 311 system is only as effective as the officers responding. This may be another area where more personnel would be worth considering in the next budget review.

DeKalb Grand Jury - May/June 2008

911 Call Center
There were concerns addressed regarding the 911 Call Center in prior presentments. The DA responded that the 911 Call Center was going to be added to the grand jury tour on an annual basis to assess progress. (last one appears in Sept 2008) The next Grand Jury to tour this center should reference prior presentments to reflect progress in the recommended areas.

DeKalb Grand Jury - March/April 2008

DeKalb County 911 Call Center Needs: We recommend that the planned improvement speedily proceed wherein lockers/places for employees’ personal belongings are added. Call Center personnel would then have a place to store limited personal effects before, during, and after their shifts. Such an amenity would not be
costly but would improve working conditions and morale amongst incoming call operators and dispatchers in this department. Any such improvement would be welcomed by those working there as the Call Center currently experiences a nationally-comparable dilemma of having a 20% turnover rate.

The Administrative Staff of the former Director of the Call Center relocated with that individual to another department in the county. Thus, several Administrative positions, though needed and funded, must be created and approved by DeKalb County officials to enable the current Administration to effectively perform their duties and responsibilities. We urge current county government officials to proceed with the creation of these positions.

DeKalb Grand Jury - January/February 2008

The Grand Jury visited the DeKalb County 911 Call Center Operation on February 14, 2008. Security was tight in the facility which serves as the first respondent to everything from domestic violence to homeland security. Captain James Conroy, the Director of 911 Operations gave the Jurors a briefing on the operations which raised many questions about potential concerns. One such concern was the placing of emergency calls from a mobile (cellular) telephone. It is possible for a 911 call made from a mobile telephone to be directed to an adjoining county. An example was given to the director of a real event which occurred two years ago when a 911 call to report a house fire was made using a cellular telephone in the most northern portion of DeKalb County. The call was answered by the Fulton County 911 operations because the cellular tower for that area for the caller’s carrier is located in Fulton County. Since the street address of the caller was not located in Fulton County, the fire department was not dispatched to the home. Fortunately, a neighbor was awakened by the flames and contacted 911 using his land telephone line and DeKalb Fire Department was quickly brought to the scene of the fire, but it was too late to save the house which by then had burned to the ground. This demonstrates a deficiency in the system. Two solutions to this problem exist: 1) educate the public on using land lines, not mobile telephones when calling 911 if possible; and, 2) technology is available today that would allow the 911 system to be integrated with GPS technology whereby the location of the mobile caller determines where the 911 call would be directed. The use of this technology should be explored and implemented as soon as possible.

Prior Grand Juries have indicated the high level of turnover in call center operators due to the stress of the job. Although the operations have taken steps to reduce the level of stress and have set up facilities to accommodate operators who have handled difficult situations, this turnover still prevails. Currently there are 18 positions unfilled at the facility. The training period for these positions is long and costly. The Grand Jury recommends that creative staffing patterns of shifts should be revisited.

The implementation of the 311 call system has not proven to decrease the number of nonemergency 911 calls. The system clearly has not been implemented as originally intended. According to the director, the problem with the system is not operational, but one of awareness. The Grand Jury believes that a marketing campaign designed to create awareness could alleviate this problem.

The director manages the facility without having access to his budget by focusing on headcount. This created a grave concern within the Grand Jury. This information should be shared with the director and he should be part of the development of that budget. The director should also be part of the task force which studies the technology requirements of the center. It is the Grand Jury’s understanding that technology decisions are made by an outside committee appointed by Police Chief Bolton and/or CEO Vernon Jones.

DeKalb Grand Jury - November/December 2007

We commend the 911 Call Center for their state of the art technology and their stress reduction programs. However, we do forward the concern for the high turn over rate for personnel.

DeKalb Grand Jury - September/October 2007

911Center
Thank all those involved for their efforts – we were all very impressed with the facility and technology involved. An effort must be made to hire more police officers so that 911 calls can be acted on more quickly. The attention paid to Operators work areas deserves special mention. Ergonomic systems and individualized heating and cooling systems speak highly of the value placed on these individuals and the importance of their positions. However, these amenities are lost if the turnover rate continues at its current pace. It is the recommendation of this Grand Jury to invest in services aimed at personnel retention. More proactive counseling would be a step in the right direction. During our tour of the 911 dispatch center, we were introduced to the new 311 non-emergency program. The next term of Grand Jurors should be given an updated presentation on the successful implementation of the 24 hour service to lighten the load of 911 operators. Included in this presentation should be an explanation of the policies and procedures regarding code enforcement. The new 311 system is only as effective as the officers responding. This may be another area where more personnel would be worth considering in the next budget review.

DeKalb Grand Jury - July/August 2007

The July – August Term Grand Jury had concerns regarding emergency telephone communications between the public and county emergency service organizations. The Grand Jury presented the District Attorney with a list of questions to be answered by those responsible for the Dekalb County 911 system. Two witnesses appeared, and a summary of their testimony appears below.

Sergeant Diane Rava, former commander of the DeKalb County 911 Center, appeared before the Grand Jury on August 20, 2007 to answer our questions. She presented an explanation of the operational methodologies of the 911 Center as well as some data pertaining to performance. When queried, she also spoke of the operational problems within the Center; among them: a. A very large percentage of the calls received by the 911 Center are of a non-emergency nature. Secondary phone numbers are available to the public; however, the public is not aware of these numbers due to poor publication. These non-emergency calls clog the system. b. The expansion of the 311 system should help lessen the number of nonemergency calls to the 911 Center. c. The 911 Center is operating with a new computer-aided dispatch system provided by InterAct Public Safety Systems. Performance data for 2006 was provided by Sergeant Rava; however, no data was presented for 2007 or for the period that the new system has been utilized. The only current performance figure given was a comment that in one recent week there were over six thousand (6,000) lost calls. The fact that there were 38,576 lost calls in all of 2006 indicates that there is a problem in staffing or in the spin up of the new system or both. e. Staffing within the Center is lacking due to a hiring freeze instituted by DeKalb County Government. There are eight (8) vacancies. Sergeant Rava testified that seven (7) to nine (9) operators are usually on duty at one time. When asked what is the optimum number of operators needed Sergeant Rava testified that approximately fifteen (15) operators are needed. She also testified that County Executive Assistant Richard Stogner was receptive to discussing the personnel needs of the 911 Center.

Mr. Richard Stogner, DeKalb County Executive Assistant, appeared before the Grand Jury on August 27, 2007 and gave a comprehensive briefing on the county’s emergency telephones system, its recent installation, current staffing problems, funding, and plans for the future. The 911 system is one element of a comprehensive approach to public safety emergency services, to wit: a new police and fire headquarters facility, the new 911 operations center, a new 311 citizens help center, and a new police communications system. The Grand Jury focused on the 911 system, the new 911 Center, and the plans for the 311 system. A summary of Mr. Stogner’s testimony follows: a. Funding for the 911 system is controlled by Georgia legislation. Money collected from both wired and wireless accounts amounting to the current $1.50 per month is used solely for the operation of the 911 system. Money in excess of annual requirements is carried over, and the County has the option to reduce the monthly charge to telephone users when deemed appropriate. Mr. Stogner presented a spreadsheet showing funds collected and expended on the 911 system from July 2007 back to 2002. b. County Government authorized the hiring of 8 new operators just in the past week in response to needs within the Center. Mr. Stogner testified there is “no reason to freeze 911 because salaries come from dedicated funds.” He also stated regarding staffing, “All the chief has to do is ask.” c. The 311 Center will relieve the 911 Center of handling non-emergency calls which represented 42% of the total volume of calls received in 2006. No 911 funds will be used for the 311 Center. Dekalb County will be the only jurisdiction in the metro Atlanta area offering this service which should be fully operational in 2008. After a “massive” public education effort focusing on when to use 311 instead of 911 the 311 Center is expected to be handling about 2,000,000 calls per year for nearly all departments of Dekalb County Government. d. The Grand Jury was particularly interested in standards of performance within the 911 Center. The only success standard that Mr. Stogner could recall was a goal to answer calls within 5 to 7 seconds. Other than that he could not testify as to the goals regarding lost calls or to other quality assurance methodologies.

Findings:
1. A tremendous amount of effort and money has been expended on upgrading emergency communications in Dekalb County.
2. Funding for the 911 system is being accomplished in accordance with Georgia law.
3. It is too early to tell how well the new computer-aided system recently installed is working.
4. Personnel issues are being worked out in a business-like manner
5. The 311 system is a superb idea, and, when fully operational and after thorough public education, will greatly relieve the load on the 911 Center. Operational efficiency of the 911 Center should improve and cost reductions should be realized. Quality Assurance methodologies within the 911 Center are still unknown.

Recommendations involving the investigation of the DeKalb County 911 Center:
1. The next Grand Jury should be made aware of this investigation, its findings and recommendations. 2. The next Grand Jury should be scheduled for a visit to the Dekalb County 911 Center. 3. The next Grand Jury is encouraged to continue our investigation in the following areas: a. Testimony should be provided from the principals involved in the Center regarding performance standards and goals – what are the performance goals, how performance is measured, the mechanics for resolving problems, and finally, whether corrective measures are effective. b. The progress of the 311 Center should be monitored.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

City takes over responsibility of parks on Monday Jun 21st and other recent tidbits of information.

 Brook Run Park, (Playground, Skate Park & Theater)

The City of Dunwoody is excited to announce the official turnover of Dunwoody parks from DeKalb County on Monday June 21st and will be holding a park tour to discuss the future for the properties. Click for details.

AJC reports Dunwoody OKs blueprint for its future.  Two years into its existence, Dunwoody has an outline of the city it wants to become.

Newsweek names Dunwoody High School one the best in the nation (#775) at providing Advanced Placement courses.

Fellow blogger Rick Callihan was busy updating his Dunwoody Talk blog with the usual humorous spin on Dunwoody City Council meetings. He posted a second recap of Mondays meeting discussing Signs, the new Parks Director & a proposed amendment to the City's alcohol ordinance. He also posted two serious pieces, one on the CRCT test scores at Dunwoody Elementary and another on the possible tax increase that Dunwoody residents may have to pay to secure the redevelopment of the Doraville GM Plant as well as a rebuttal from DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis. The Crier also had a good story on the same issue.

It appears that Rick's CRCT story line might have been started by Dunwoody Mom over at the Dunwoody School Daze blog, whom I thoroughly enjoy reading. Sticking with an Education angle, the Crier reports that Lynn Deutsch is considering a run for the DeKalb County School Board though she is still weighing her options. Former DeKalb County School Board member, Brad Bryant may be picked to replace Kathy Cox as the State School Chief and that could be very good news in cleaning up the issues in DeKalb.

The Brook Run Dog Park Association, currently named Just a Walk in the Park, just updated their website address to correlate with a possible association name change.  In reviewing their website, I saw that they are worried about Brook Run being transferred to Dunwoody.  I recently talked to Laine Sweezey, the President of the organization and informed her that I believed that the Dog Park and the Community Garden are now mainstays of the park and the City of Dunwoody will be fostering relationships with both.  In fact I believe the City has already scheduled meetings with the various park organizations to improve the relationships.

Volunteers are needed for the 5th of July parade, please email Stacy Harris at Staceyharris70@hotmail.com to get further details.  There is only one short pre-planning meeting on Sunday June 27th at 4:00 pm at Dunwoody United Methodist Church and you will be given a newly designed parade t-shirt as well as a coveted parade marshal whistle!!!  For those only interested in getting the t-shirt, hurry up and buy yours at Dunwoodytshirts.com because the deadline is this Friday and also be sure to check out their photo contest as well.

One final item, be careful on the shoulders of 285 because almost all of the storm drain covers on the highway are missing.  Check out this video, featuring my friend and Dunwoody resident Ray Egan that was filmed at Chamblee Dunwoody & 285. 

June 14th - a very long but productive night at the Dunwoody City Council

Monday evening the Dunwoody City Council meeting started at 7 pm and didn't end until almost 5 hours later at 11:50 pm. We passed the Comprehensive Land Use Plan on to the next step after numerous relatively minor changes, maintained the same tax rate and then spent quite a bit of time on the sign ordinance which is up for a final vote next Monday at a specially called meeting.

Since much of the evening was a work session, many other items were discussed but they will not be decided until next month at the next regularly scheduled voting meeting. Work sessions seem to drag for us but the discussions had and work done will assure that we vet all the items before a final vote is taken. Doesn't mean we always get it right but I can assure you that the members of Council are working very hard on your behalf.

The meeting video is split into two segments with the first part being from the start until the discussion on signs; the second video picks up where the first one stopped (2 - 3 min lapse) with the discussion of prohibiting string lights and then goes until the end. Follow along on the agenda as published.


Friday, June 11, 2010

Dunwoody City Council agenda for Monday June 14th.

Monday, June 14th
Dunwoody City Hall
41 Perimeter Center East
Dunwoody, GA 30346
7:00 p.m. - Watch Live

Special Called Voting Meeting at 7 pm
Immediately following: regularly scheduled work session.

Special Voting Meeting Agenda

1. Resolution to adopt the proposed City of Dunwoody 2030 Comprehensive Plan for transmittal to the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Department of Community Affairs.
2. SECOND READ - Ordinance to adopt the proposed 2010 Millage Rate.
3. Approval of Intergovernmental Agreement with GDOT Local Assistance Road Program (LARP) for asphalt resurfacing on Vernon Lake Drive and Vernon North Drive.

Regular Work Session Agenda

1. Introduction of Parks and Recreation Manager.
2. Art Festival Update.
3. FIRST READ: Ordinance Amendment to Chapter 4, Alcohol, for Beer Tasting.
4. Stream Buffer Discussion.
5. Discussion of Ordinance to amend Chapter 21, Signs, and Chapter 27, Zoning, Article III, Overlay District Regulations §3C-13, Regulation.
6. Discussion of 2010 Council Meeting Schedule.
7. Discussion Regarding Setting of June Voting Meeting.
8. FIRST READ - Ordinance to amend Chapter 26 Sidewalk District Requirements.
9. Discussion of Comprehensive Transportation Plan Contract Award.
10. 2010 Road Repaving Bid Results.
11. FIRST READ – Ordinance to amend Assemblages in Public Places in Chapter 26 Streets, Sidewalks and Other Public Places.
12. Georgetown Master Plan Discussion
13. Initiation of Text Amendments.
a. Outdoor Lighting Efficiency.

City of Dunwoody starts to explore impact fees on future development.

The City is evaluating the merits of initiating an Impact Fee Program as a means to address the effects of new developments and their associated infrastructure impacts on the City of Dunwoody. This Request for Proposals (RFP) asks consulting services providers to break down the cost assignments into five individual tasks with both task specific and a total project cost.

The objectives of this project are

1. To assess the following public facility categories for a City of Dunwoody Impact Fee Program:
  • Roads, Streets and Bridges;
  • Police, including Radio Transmission Facilities;
  • Fire, including Emergency Medical and Rescue Facilities (services currently are provided by DeKalb County;
  • Storm Water Management Facilities;
  • Parks, Open Space and Recreation Facilities; and
  • Libraries and related Civic Facilities.
2. To develop an impact fee program:
  • that is in compliance with Georgia law and State guidelines;
  • that is tailored to the unique needs of Dunwoody;
  • that can be readily understood by the public and local decision-makers; and
  • will fit seamlessly into the City’s administrative and accounting procedures.
This RFP process is specifically designed to complete an initial Impact Fee Assessment addressing each of the eligible public facility categories. The City may wish to proceed with the preparation of documents regarding the elements needed to put impact fees in place for those facilities that the Mayor & City Council determine to be feasible. If there is acceptance in moving forward towards the adoption of an impact fee program for the City of Dunwoody, the selected firm(s) will be requested to complete preparation of the first annual CIE update required by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA).

The RFP is structured such that Task 1, the Impact Fee Assessment is the only element of the RFP that will be authorized for completion. All other Tasks will require authorization by the City to proceed.
Dunwoody RFP Impact Fees

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Wanted: Dunwoody Municipal Court Clerk



Municipal Court Clerk
Dunwoody, Georgia
Posted: Thursday, June 10, 2010
End Date: Wednesday, June 23, 2010

The City of Dunwoody is accepting applications for Municipal Court Clerk.

Job Summary:
Serves as clerk to the Dunwoody Municipal Court. Clerk duties include preparing for and managing the functions of the municipal court, preparing the court docket, managing the financial records of the court, and performing administrative duties as related to the municipal court. Duties are performed independently under the general supervision of the City Manager and in coordination with the Municipal Court Judge.

Minimum Requirements:
Education and/or Experience:
a) Bachelor's degree or Associates Degree in business, public administration, or related field from an accredited college or university.
b) Five years of progressively responsible experience in municipal court administration.
c) Any equivalent combination of education and experience is acceptable.

Salary Range:
$48,666 - $68,349

Benefits:
Vacation Leave
Holidays
Sick Leave
100% City-Paid Employee Medical Insurance
100% City-Paid Employee Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
100% City-Paid Employee Life/AD&D Insurance
100% City-Paid Employee Short-Term Disability Insurance
100% City-Paid Employee Long-Term Disability Insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Retirement Savings Plans
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Education Assistance

To Apply:
Interested candidates may email a resume as a Word document or PDF to jobs@dunwoodyga.gov. The position will be open until filled.

League of Woman Voters provide profiles on Dunwoody area candidates for House District 79.

Georgia House, District 79


The Georgia House of Representatives is the Lower House in the Georgia Assembly, comprised of 180 members. The House, together with the Senate, constitutes the legislature. The duties of the legislature include consideration of proposed laws and resolutions, consideration of proposed constitutional amendments for submission to the voters, and appropriation of all funds for the operation of state government.

PLEASE NOTE: Responses are published exactly as they were submitted by the candidates. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the League of Women Voters of Georgia have made no edits to correct spelling, grammar, punctuation or factual errors.

Tammy Anderson (R)

Ms. Tammy Anderson, Republican candidate for District 79 had not replied to the LWV survey or possibly it was lost in the mail therefore I will list her replies here if she desires the information to be published at a later time.

Keith Kaylor (D)

Age (as of June 10): 45
Education: B. Chemical Engineering
Family: Married 11 years with one daughter
Web site: none
E-mail: kakaylor2003@yahoo.com

Why are you running for office?: I feel that the career politiatians that have been running the Sate of Georgia are not dealing with the important statewide issues facing us: - Education, transportation, ethics, and water conservation.

The 2010 General Assembly has received significant criticism for failing to resolve critical financial issues of the state. If elected, what will you do to ensure better success in 2011 and future legislative sessions?
Keith A. Kaylor: The biggest problem with Georgia's financial status is numerous special interest tax breaks handed out over the years. I would abolish as many of these tax breaks as possible.

How will you engage voters in your district in identifying issues that are important to them, and how will you ensure progress is made on these issues?
Keith A. Kaylor: I would keep in contact with the voters through email, as well has holding community forums open to all. The traditional communication of elected officials in Dunwoody has been one-sided, with our legislators telling the voters what they want, and no room for feedback except for an elite few. I will change that if elected.

What specific changes, if any, to property tax policy would you like to see?
Keith A. Kaylor: One of the few positive things the state legislature has done recently is make it easier for citizens to challenge their property assessments. The recent drop in real estate values has left many homeowners paying far more in taxes than they should. We should continue to make it easier for citizens to distpute their property assessments.

If elected, what would be your three (3) top policy priorities and how would you work to achieve results?
Keith A. Kaylor: Education - We need to ensure adequate funds are provided to education. The future of our state depends on our public education system. Suggestions for improving our schools should come from educators and parents, not partisan think tanks. Transportation - we need comprehensive transportation planning for the Atlanta Metro area, including adequate funds for mass transit, telecommunting, and other options besides one-person commuters. Water - We need comprehensive, regional water planning.

Do you think that Georgia should adopt an independent redistricting commission, that should be put into law in time for 2011 redistricting?
Keith A. Kaylor: Definitely. Our current system is partisan, and leads to politicians picking their constituents, instead of the other way around. This leads to districts dominated by one party, and politicians that are forced to cater to the extremes of their party to remain in office. We need a non-partisan, indipendent commision to draw districts according to logical lines such as county and city boundaries.

What else needs to be done to resolve Georgia’s transportation problems?
Keith A. Kaylor: We need a permanent source of transportation funding paid for by the people who use the transportation system. The best way to do this would be an increase in the gasoline tax, not a sales tax. Revenues from this tax should be used on a county or regional basis only, not statewide. A portion of the funds should be used for mass transit. A gas tax would also have the benefit of encouraging fuel efficiency and reducing traffic thrugh public transportation, car pooling, etc.

What further changes, if any, does Georgia need in terms of ethics reform?
Keith A. Kaylor: Georgia needs substantial changes in ethics reform, including restrictions on lobbyists, real enforcement powers, and a nonpartisan, independent ethics body. The current system is dominated by PACs and influential politicians who distribute money to other politicians. This makes it almost impossible for incumbents to be challenged, except for millionaires. Why are so many incumbents unchallenged, but open seats see 8 challengers? Our campaign finance system in Georgia is broken.

Tom Taylor (R)

Occupation: Manage all aspects of defense programs for major industry contractor.
Age (as of June 10): 48
Education: Georgia State University BA, International Relations & Economics, and MBA, International Business
Family: Wendi Taylor, wife of 26 years & Son Keith Taylor, 18,recent Wesleyan grad
Web site: TomGetsResults.com
E-mail: TomGetsResults@gmail.com

Why are you running for office?
: My conservative leadership experience provides proof of my dedication to Dunwoody & North DeKalb County and evidence I get desired results. •Founded Citizens for Dunwoody & Dunwoody Action Committee PAC •Led legislation & referendum effort to incorporate Dunwoody •Provided blueprint for Dunwoody Police as Police Task Force Chair •Ramped up city services achieving 1st year surplus without raising taxes as City Councilman •Orchestrated Parks & Property bill passage, transferring parks & $7M bonds ..

The 2010 General Assembly has received significant criticism for failing to resolve critical financial issues of the state. If elected, what will you do to ensure better success in 2011 and future legislative sessions?
Tom Taylor: Run state government more like a business model. Adopt Zero-based budgeting and have government function with as few employees as possible. As an inaugural City Councilman in Dunwoody, we established a government where there are very few employees with the exception of Police, allowing us to run a surplus in year one of operations without raising taxes. This same model could be applied to some state functions, outsourcing and using public/private partnerships to be better stewards of tax $.

How will you engage voters in your district in identifying issues that are important to them, and how will you ensure progress is made on these issues?
Tom Taylor: In leadership positions in advocacy groups and as a City Council member, I know that open and transparent discussions and exchange of information and ideas is critical to resolving issues. As councilman in a brand-new municipality, there were a plethora of issues, much akin to starting a business. While not all can be resolved to everyone's satisfaction, staying engaged and being a listener are key factors. The most important item to ensure progress is perseverance, some issues need time.

What specific changes, if any, to property tax policy would you like to see?
Tom Taylor: The most important item regarding property tax policy is to set a statewide standard for assessments. Having a piecemeal system that varies by county. It is also important to link assessments with actual market values, which in may instances is not the case.

If elected, what would be your three (3) top policy priorities and how would you work to achieve results?
Tom Taylor: 1. Reduce state spending. Adopt strict Zero-based budgeting and hold people accountable. To balance the budget the first priority is to identify non-essential or non-performing programs and eliminate them. 2. Settle the water dispute. This problem is not going away and will effect jobs and growth for the future. Engage the issue rather than in just rhetoric. 3. Education policy. Quality education is critical to the future, must be coupled with accountability both in classrooms and admin.

Do you think that Georgia should adopt an independent redistricting commission, that should be put into law in time for 2011 redistricting?
Tom Taylor: Although this sounds like an equitable process, my firm belief is that neither party would ever agree to implement this. As a practical matter, neither party wants to give up the power of the majority in the process.

What else needs to be done to resolve Georgia’s transportation problems?
Tom Taylor: This is an answer that requires more than 500 words, but the bottom line is to implement, rather than discuss to death, transportation solutions. As an example, more public/private partnerships to leverage dollars and advance projects. A very clear and successful example of an innovative solution is the success of the CID's in Atlanta. The other critical element is to bring MARTA and the jigsaw puzzle of other metro area transportation authorities under a unified management structure.

What further changes, if any, does Georgia need in terms of ethics reform?
Tom Taylor: Ethics should be a simple issue that any 2nd grader should know. Don't lie, don't steal, don't cheat or allow others to do so. As a candidate that has had frivolous ethics charge filed against him, the one change that I think is critical is to have a provision for recourse. As a an observer of the State Assembly over the past 5 years, I would also push to have ethical lapses enforced uniformly. This has not been the case over the past few years.