Dunwoody Forum for DeKalb Commissioner shows vast differences in qualifications.

Full 45 min Video of the Candidates

This evening I attended and recorded the DeKalb County Commissioner Candidate Forum sponsored by the Dunwoody Homeowners Association and the Dunwoody Crier where all five candidates looking to replace Elaine Boyer were in attendance.   Candidates Wendy Butler, Larry Danese, Nancy Jester, Tom Owens and Holmes Pyles were questioned by Ms. Stacey Harris the President of the Dunwoody Homeowners Association.


Of the five candidates, it is my opinion that there are several serious contenders with great backgrounds and several others on the other end of the spectrum where by they either don't have a clue or were running because they had a specific agenda or vendetta to satisfy.  Please take the time to time view the video for yourself and then do your own research on the candidates.  I will be interested to read some of the recaps of this forum as some of the answers were either off the wall or quite odd.  I will link to them in a comment when I see them.  If you were there or have an opinion of the video, please feel free to share your comments on the blog.

The five questions were...

1. Since the majority of District 1 either is or may be incorporated, what can DeKalb County do to improve the quality of life for district 1?

2. What is your philosophy about development/land use in DeKalb? What principles will guide your work in this area?

3. With the incorporation of Dunwoody, Brookhaven and the probably incorporation of Tucker/Lakeside, the amount of HOST money that is available for capital projects (20%) will be directed towards the new cities leaving 2/3 of the county without funds to pay for paving and other capital projects. How would you address this countywide issue?

4. What is your knowledge of the general fund - which departments have the largest operating fund? Following the lead of the new cities, which departments would you move towards privatization?

5. DeKalb County Fire has been running all fire trucks a man short compared to the national average (3 vs. 4). In addition, the number of retiring fireman is the same as the number of fireman coming out of the fire academy. This equals a net zero gain. How do plan to address this issue?

The 5 candidates who qualified for the Nov 4th election to replace Elaine Boyer as DeKalb Commissioner.

As per the AJC, Five candidates will compete to replace former DeKalb County Commissioner Elaine Boyer, who recently resigned and pleaded guilty to fraud charges.

Qualifying for the race ended Wednesday, setting up a two-month campaign before the Nov. 4 election. The winner of the race will represent about 140,000 people in north DeKalb, including the cities of Brookhaven, Doraville, Dunwoody and Chamblee.

The candidates are Wendy Butler, a land use attorney; Larry Danese, a retired electrical and nuclear engineer; Nancy Jester, an actuarial consultant; Tom Owens, a Vietnam veteran; and Holmes Pyles, a retired state government employee. All candidates are Republicans except for Pyles, who is independent.

If necessary, a runoff would be held Dec. 2

CALL FOR DEKALB COUNTY SPECIAL ELECTION TO FILL VACANCY IN THE OFFICE OF DEKALB COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 1

TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF DEKALB COUNTY:

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections do hereby call for a special election to be held on November 4, 2014, to fill the vacancy in the office of DeKalb County Commissioner, District 1. If a runoff is required, it will be held on December 2, 2014. The special election will be held to fill the unexpired term of Elaine C. Boyer, who has resigned.

Qualifying is to begin on Monday, September 8, 2014 at 8:30 AM and end at 12:00 Noon on Wednesday, September 10, 2014. The qualifying fee is $1,151.24. Qualifying will be in the office of the DeKalb County Board of Registrations and Elections, 4380 Memorial Drive, Decatur, GA 30032.

The last day to register to be eligible to vote in this special election is October 6, 2014. The special election will be held in all the regular polling places in Commission District 1, DeKalb County, in conjunction with the General Election. The polls will open at 7:00 AM and close at 7:00 PM.

If a runoff is required, it will be held on Dec. 2.

This call is issued by the DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections.

H. Maxine Daniels, Director
For: The DeKalb County Board of Registrations and Elections

Date Change to Sat Sept 21 - Elaine Boyer speaks to Dunwoody over breakfast on Sat Sept. 21th

Saturday, Sept. 21
9am-11am

Wrights Gourmet
in the Shops of Dunwoody

Elaine Boyer has long been the lone Republican voice on the DeKalb County Commission.

For 20 plus years, Elaine has represented the more than 120,000 residents in District 1 encompassing much of North DeKalb - including Brookhaven, Dunwoody, Tucker, Smoke Rise and Northlake. While politics in the county may change, Elaine has remained a strong voice for conservatism fighting to limit the tax burden, reduce the size of government, constituent advocacy, and the safety of the families of DeKalb.

Wrightʼs Gourmet is located behind the Hickory House at 5482 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road in the heart of Dunwoody.  $10 at the door includes a great breakfast.

DeKalb raised Dunwoody's Millage (Tax) Rate the highest in the County - Live Stream Meeting 8 am Tuesday

Farmer Bob turns into City (County) Slicker when needed.

There will be a (Live Streamed) meeting of the Finance, Audit, & Budget (FAB) Committee of the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, August 28, 2012 at 8 a.m. The location will be the Maloof Bldg, 5^th Floor, Board of Commissioners Offices, 1300 Commerce Dr, Decatur GA 30030.

1. DISCUSSION: The Budget Committee has invited the CEO, Executive Assistant, and Finance Director to a meeting to address the millage rate issues brought up by the Mayor’s of DeKalb County. All of the Mayors of DeKalb County have been invited to attend to participate in the discussion.

You can watch the complete replay: http://www.dekalbboc.com/

More background below ...

Mayors organize to question county millage - Dunwoody Crier

In the end, Dunwoody, which only uses the fire service, had the highest county millage increase (15.25 percent) followed by Doraville (9.84 percent), Chamblee (9.9 percent) and Stone Mountain (9.7 percent). “We want to understand how they did their calculations,” Dunwoody City Manager Warren Hutmacher said. “We want to make sure special tax districts are implemented consistent with the Service Delivery Strategy.”  Because the millage rates are already set for this year and the county collects the taxes for the cities, Hutmacher said it would be impractical at this point to reset the millage rates this late in the year.

Mayors, county squabbling over millage rate hikes - Champion News

 DeKalb County’s nine mayors, its county commissioners and CEO Burrell Ellis are expected to meet Aug. 28 to discuss concerns over disproportionate property tax increases.  The cities, which are home to 102,794 residents, or 14.9 percent of the county’s population, say the county’s 2012 millage rates have increased their property taxes from 7 percent to 15 percent while the millage rate for unincorporated DeKalb declined by double digits for police, roads and parks.

700 homes in N. DeKalb will be reassesed lower due to mistake.

Mr. Bob Lundsten, the Chief of Staff for DeKalb Commissioner Elaine Boyer asked me to publish an excel version of the spreadsheet below as well as the related story from the Crier.

Excel Spreadsheet

More than 700 homes in N. DeKalb mistakenly overvalued, see if your home is listed 

If residents of Wynterhall, Mount Vernon Way, Withmere, Sumerset Court as well as dozens other streets in Dunwoody thought their recent tax assessment were too high, they are probably right. The Crier has obtained the list of 722 additional properties the DeKalb Tax Assessor found to be mistakenly overvalued. The overvaluations range from about $50,000 to as much as $250,000. Most of the overvaluations in Dunwoody are six figures.

Residents in Wynterhall had complained and District One Commissioner Elaine Boyer looked into the assessments, which triggered the tax assessor to release a new list totaling $67 million in overvaluations. A previous report had identified some 2,000 properties assessed too high in Decatur and the Emory area.

The tax assessor had previously concluded that the county’s tax digest had dropped 6 percent, but with these mistakes lowering the digest by millions, it is expected the drop will be closer to 8 or 9 percent.

The new list identified 79 homes in Wynterhall that are overvalued from $61,000 to $136,000. Homes on Withmere, Biddle, Reston and Mt Vernon Way are overvalued from $53,000 to $209,000. The list also includes homes in the Tilly Mill, Silver Lake, Henderson Mill, Clairmont Terrace and Mercer University areas.

The tax assessor’s office said that residents would be receiving a new notice with the corrected information and still have 45 days to appeal.

To see the list as a pdf, click here.

Animal Shelter Fund Raiser: Sunday 5 PM @ Stars and Strikes

Commissioner Boyer is co-hosting a fundraiser with Commissioner Watson & Commissioner Barnes Sutton this Sunday, 5/20 at 5:00 PM at Stars & Strikes in Stone Mountain. The fundraiser will raise money for spaying & neutering the pets of DeKalb residents that are not in a financial situation to do so, this in turn will reduce the large number of puppies & kittens being dumped at our DeKalb Animal Services every day. The spay/neuter program will be run through LifeLine Animal Project, a 501(c)3, our partner on this project. This is a fun family-oriented event, so bring the kids out & enjoy bowling, laser tag, video games, etc. with the Commissioners! Hope to see you there. To purchase tickets:

www.helpdekalbanimals.com  

Stars and Strikes:

http://www.starsandstrikes.com/f3/StarsAndStrikes/StoneMountain.aspx

It is not that far of a drive from Dunwoody, Chamblee, or Doraville.  All the animals, regardless of whether they are in Cities or DeKalb, will benefit from your generous donations or attendance.  In addition you can let your kids beat you in bowling.

See you on Sunday

Unincorporated islands between Dunwoody and Doraville proposed to be annexed by Doraville

Video

On Monday March 19th at the DeKalb Delegation Meeting, Rep Elena Parent discussed issues related to some citizen opposition of several small islands of unincorporated DeKalb County that are proposed to be annexed by the City of Doraville. The issue being raised by these citizens has to do with the ongoing code enforcement problems related to an Islamic Mosque that is currently being handled by DeKalb County whereby those opposed to the annexation do not believe that the City of Doraville will adequately handle the ongoing enforcement of the issue.

If SB532 is approved in the legislature this year, Doraville will take over two separate islands of unincorporated land. The first starts at the Dunwoody border on Tilly Mill at the creek just north of PIB whereby the Texaco and that entire intersection will then be under the control of Doraville (now they only have the liquor store / gas station on the east side up to the dry cleaners near Stonington). Doraville will also take over the unincorporated Ridgeway Drive neighborhood to match up with the Carver Circle neighborhood which is already within the City of Doraville. The city line would then cross over PIB and Doraville would control the Adult entertainment establishment “The Oasis”, the Friday’s Plaza and the neighborhood behind the Home Depot where the Mosque is located. The second area proposed to be annexed is an industrial area with apartments South of PIB at Winters Chapel (near QuickTrip).

The unincorporated islands are definitely a police problem and if this legislation is approved it should be beneficial to the residents of the City of Dunwoody whereby the two city departments could partner in uniform enforcement and provide mutual aid to one another.

I wish we were able to clean up the City boundary lines whereby the City of Dunwoody would on this side of PIB and Doraville could be on the other but I guess that would just make too much sense?

The attached video was not purposely cut short on the last speaker, YouTube just has a 15 min limit.

DeKalb uses Park Bond money to fund general operations.

Video

Channel 2 Action News has learned Dekalb County's cash shortage was so severe last year that county officials spent $40 million in money designated for green space projects.

Dekalb's chief financial officer told Channel 2's Richard Belcher it was a mistake that won't be repeated, but county commissioners aren't happy.

Nothing was stolen, but there is no disputing that bond money should not have been spent on county operations. One county commissioner even calls it illegal. Either way, it's a clear measure of just how cash-strapped the county had gotten.

Going the extra 2/10ths mile to pave Tilly Mill Road south of the Dunwoody line.

Neighbors irked when Dunwoody road paving stops at Doraville line

By Michelle Shaw of the AJC
Dunwoody’s 2011 paving project called for resurfacing busy Tilly Mill Road this summer.  But neighbors in the area of Tilly Mill and Peachtree Industrial were dismayed when they realized the paving would stop at Stonington Road, and not continue approximately two-tenths of a mile to Peachtree Industrial.

The problem: That stretch of road is in Doraville, not Dunwoody.

“We have to use this stretch of road to get to our homes,” said Jason Moss, a Dunwoody resident who lives near the intersection. “It seems like it would be in the best interest of Dunwoody to pave this piece of road.” Fortunately for Moss and others in the area, some city and county officials agreed.

Dunwoody had already contracted with Allied Paving Contractors Inc. to pave more than 4,000 feet of Tilly Mill, from Peeler Road to Stonington Road. The estimated cost of paving that stretch of road was $210,000, according to a memo to the city council.

Moss and many of his neighbors, including members of the Dunwoody North Civic Association, thought the city could pave the remaining piece of road without much, if any, additional expense. They couldn’t get the Dunwoody City Council to see things their way.

The issue was simple for Councilman Denis Shortal. The piece of road in question, no matter how short, isn’t in Dunwoody.  Not all took such a hard line. Councilman John Heneghan asked the new mayor of Doraville what it would take to get the piece of road paved.

Eventually, DeKalb County got involved because it is responsible for resurfacing roads in Doraville. Ultimately, the county negotiated a price of $54,000 for the extra stretch of Tilly Mill, said Bob Lundsten, chief of staff for DeKalb County Commissioner Elaine Boyer, who represents the area.

“Everything was already in place,” Lundsten said. “The equipment, the workers, everything was in place, and the county was able to save money and make residents happy.”

Soon after Dunwoody completed its work on Tilly Mill, Allied paved the Doraville portion of the road for DeKalb County.  “However it happened, I’m just glad it did,” Moss said. “That piece was in pretty bad shape.”

Paving on Tilly Mill Road through Doraville and DeKalb is scheduled for tomorrow & Friday.

I am very proud to announce that the repaving project for Tilly Mill Road has been extended south of the Dunwoody city line through sections of Doraville and unincorporated DeKalb County.  Grinding should start tomorrow and paving should be finished in that section by Friday.

A special thanks goes out to DeKalb Commissioner Elaine Boyer, her Chief of Staff Bob Lundsten and Doraville Mayor Donna Pittman for making this project possible with County funds.

Benefit Monday night for DeKalb County 9/11 Memorial

Commissioner Boyer would like to invite you to the DeKalb Fire Rescue & Police fundraiser at the Blue Ribbon Grill this Monday, 8/8/11 from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM.  15% of the proceeds from all meals served will be donated to a memorial for the front of the Public Safety Headquarters.  The memorial will house a piece of steel from the World Trade Center.

The memorial will be unveiled as a part of the 10^th Anniversary Remembrance Ceremony being held:

• Date: Sunday, September 11, 2011
• Time: 8AM
• Location: DeKalb County Public Safety Complex
  West Exchange Place, Tucker, GA

If you are unable to attend but would like to donate to the fund, please visit: www.dekalb911memorial.wordpress.com.

Please circulate to any neighborhood email lists that you may have. Additional information on both events is available on Farmer Bob's Blog. Thank you so much for your support of DeKalb’s Fire & Police Departments.

Courtney Townsend

Commissioner Elaine Boyer, District One

Senior Policy Advisor/Constituent Services

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners

404-371-2844

ctownsend@dekalbcountyga.gov

DeKalb County Bond Rating goes down the sewer, interest rates and cost of government bound to go up.

Read the rating report for yourself

AJC article outlining Elaine Boyer thoughts on announcement.

DeKalb County had its bond rating drop for the third time in as many months, leading one of its commissioners to suggest the county's financial position was so bad it was "near junk bond status."

On Tuesday, Standard & Poor’s announced it had downgraded DeKalb’s long-term general obligation debt from AA- to BBB. Appropriation-backed debt was dropped from A+ to BBB, while the county’s water and sewer debt went to a AA- rating. BBB is considered the lowest investment grade, said Robin Prunty, managing director of Standard &Poor’s public finance department. D is considered default.

“Once again the taxpayers will suffer because of poor and ineffective management of DeKalb County,” Commissioner Elaine Boyer said. “Having our bonds downgraded to near junk bond status is embarrassing and unnecessary. We are in a fiscal crisis in this county, and the CEO must embrace some fiscal discipline.”

While Boyer called the downgrading a wake-up call for better management, CEO Burrell Ellis said it was reason to raise property taxes.

“The county is not in junk bond status. Elaine is using inflammatory language to alarm people unnecessarily, but we do have some level of financial instability, which needs to be rectified with a millage increase,” Ellis said Tuesday from his home, where he is recovering from surgery.

DeKalb ended 2010 with no money in its reserves and decreased revenue. In response, Ellis proposed raising taxes by 2.32 mills. Last month, the county commission rejected the tax hike and voted to cut $33.6 million from the 2011 budget.

Standard & Poor’s questioned that decision and cited concerns about “county officials' inability to provide sufficient and consistent information regarding the county's current liquidity position.”

The credit agency also was concerned there were multiple years of deficit operations, a lack of policies on cash management and no structural solutions.

“The county’s reserves have been depleted; they are concerned that we’re not building back,” said Joel Gottlieb, DeKalb's chief financial officer.

Standard & Poor’s issued a warning to DeKalb in January, and then lowered DeKalb’s general obligation debt and placed the county on a credit watch, threatening to make further declines if improvements weren’t made in 30-90 days, Prunty said.

Moody’s Investor Services also dropped DeKalb’s rating for the second consecutive year in December.

Gottlieb said he could not put a dollar figure on the impact, but the downgrade could substantially raise interest rates on DeKalb’s upcoming water and sewer projects. In response to a federal consent decree, the county recently approved rate increases to cover $1.35 billion in water and sewer upgrades. The county planned to sell about $500 million of that debt in June or July, Gottlieb said.

“We feel the water and sewer rating is incorrect,” Gottlieb said. “Our coverage in water and sewer are strong because of the rate increase. This is surprising and we’re working to see if that could be reversed.”

The other downgrades will have no immediate impact because DeKalb does not plan to borrow any other funding in the next few months and existing debt is on a fixed rate. However, it could affect borrowing in the future, officials said.

In addition to a property tax decline, DeKalb has struggled with a loss last year from a police ticket strike, fewer sales tax dollars and pending property value appeals, Gottlieb said.

Despite cutting the budget, commissioners have said they may consider raising taxes in June.

DeKalb County Budget Meeting to discuss 2.32 mil tax increase - Tues Feb 15th at Montgomery Elem

Budget Meeting Announcement

Tuesday, February 15th—7:00 PM until 8:30 PM
Montgomery Elementary School
3995 Ashford Dunwoody Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30319
Hosted by: Commissioner Boyer & Commissioner Gannon

Read the Proposed 2011 Budget - increase of 2.32 mils

Listen to CEO Burrell Ellis

What others say: The Crier, Dunwoody Patch, AJC, Champion, South DeKalb

 Flyer

Meeting Tuesday to learn about water and sewer rate increases of 13% next year, and the next year and then the following year too.

Water & Sewer Projects Information Meeting

Tuesday, December 7, 2010
6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Dunwoody City Hall
41 Perimeter Center East,
Dunwoody, GA. 30346

County watershed experts have assessed the water, sewer and infrastructure needs and have identified critical capital improvement projects that are needed over the next five years to ensure our water supply is adequate and safe for drinking, fire protection, our anticipated growth and development, and that the county is in full compliance with all state and federal regulations.

The meetings will provide an explanation of the repairs and upgrades needed and the proposed fee structure to pay for the program.

5 yr Capital Projects, Proposed Rate Increases and Presentation

DeKalb County has identified more than $1.4 billion in critical capital improvement projects that are needed in its water and sewer system over the next five years.

These investments are crucial to the health and welfare of the residents and businesses in DeKalb County. They provide for the continued supply of safe drinking water, adequate fire protection, opportunity for continued growth and development, and comprehensive wastewater collection and treatment, in full compliance with all state and federal regulations.

The County operates one of the larger systems in the Southeast U.S., serving more than 730,000 people each day, and more than 20,000 businesses, with more than 2,600 miles of water lines and more than 2,600 miles of sewer lines. All of the County’s drinking water is treated at the Scott Candler Water Treatment Plant; the County’s wastewater is treated at 3 locations: the Snapfinger Wastewater Treatment Plant and Polebridge Wastewater Treatment Plant on the South River, and the R.M. Clayton Water Reclamation Center (operated by the City of Atlanta) on the Chattahoochee River.

The County’s treatment plants, as well as thousands of miles of water and sewer pipes, need significant repairs and upgrades. For example, the Snapfinger Wastewater Treatment Plant was built in 1963, and has not had substantial upgrades since 1983; the Polebridge Wastewater Treatment Plant was built in 1973, and was last substantially updated in 1990. Extensive work is necessary to address aged conditions, satisfy tightening federal and state regulations for water and wastewater, and plan for future demands due to growth. Among the critical types of improvements are the following:

• $378 million to rebuild, upgrade, and expand the Snapfinger Wastewater Treatment Plant.
• $65 million to upgrade sections of the Polebridge Wastewater Treatment Plant.
• $38 million to upgrade the Scott Candler Water Treatment Plant.
• $179 million to repair, replace, and update parts of the water distribution system.
• $600 million to repair, replace, and update the wastewater collection system.
• $82 million to begin water reuse and to return treated wastewater to the Chattahoochee River, per state water planning requirements.
• $36 million for vehicles and equipment necessary to deliver repairs and improvements to the water and wastewater systems

To finance the cost of the capital improvements program, it will be necessary to raise water and sewer rates each year by 13% for the years 2012, 2013, and 2014 which amounts to an increase of approximately $8.00 to $11.00 per month for the average household each year until 2014. Investing now in the water and wastewater systems will ensure that DeKalb County maintains reliable water and sewer services for current and future generations.

Is PDK Airport up for an expansion of allowing larger aircraft? DeKalb BOC votes Tuesday and PDK Watch wants your involvement.

PDK Expansion of allowing Larger Aircraft?

I received the following message about possible PDK Airport expansion from the PDK Watch group asking that I forward the information. I am happy to do so even though I am not up on the specific details but maybe our DeKalb representative Ms. Kathie Gannon will fill us in on the details? 

John

Dear Community Leaders,

I am taking the liberty of sending you a very time-sensitive ACTION ALERT about an upcoming vote on Tuesday morning by the DeKalb Board of Commissioners that could expand size of jets allowed to use PDK Airport.  If this is a concern to you or to others in your neighborhood associations, I would welcome your sharing this information to your e-mail lists or otherwise circulating as widely as you can.

My apologies for the lateness of this message. Not until early Saturday afternoon did I become aware that our efforts to work with the Board of Commissioners to amend the  proposed 2010 PDK Airport Layout Plan had apparently reached a dead end.

Thank you for your consideration considering this information and making it as widely available as possible to concerned community members.

Larry Foster

Communications Director

PDK Watch Inc.  on behalf of Open DeKalb Inc.

-----------

October 24, 2010

Dear Citizens Concerned about PDK Airport Expansion,

Your help is urgently needed to try to avoid approval of a document that--if not amended--could be used to support significant expansion of PDK Airport.  I've indicated below what the problem is, why it is important, and what you can do to help.

In brief, the DeKalb Board of Commissioners is set to vote on Tuesday, October 26, on the proposed 2010 PDK Airport Layout Plan, which incorrectly claims the weight-bearing capacity of the main runway is 75,000 rather than the currently-indicated 66,000 lbs.  If the Airport Layout Plan is not amended back to 66,000 lbs., the size of the jets allowed to use PDK would increase. To convince the Commissioners to support this important amendment, your brief e-mail messages to the Commissioners within the next two days are crucial (see full details below).

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?  

Since Spring 2010, a proposed new 2010 PDK Airport Layout Plan (ALP) has been under consideration.  The PDK Airport Administration--now led by PDK Airport's Acting Director Mike Van Wie--has stated that the the proposed 2010 ALP merely "describes" the state of PDK Airport at this time--that it is not a projection for future PDK development and expansion. Yet a crucial change has been unobtrusively slipped into this 200-page document that would, in fact, support further PDK Airport expansion.  A final vote on the proposed 2010 ALP is scheduled at the DeKalb Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday morning, October 26, 2010, just two days from now.

The key change in the proposed 2010 ALP that we feel must be amended, indicates that the weight-bearing capacity PDK  Airport's main runway has an engineered capacity of 75,000 lbs., rather than the 66,000 lbs. that previous ALP's have indicated.  A careful engineering assessment of the proposed change by a professional structural engineer who designs airport runways indicates that there is no engineering basis that can justify such a change and that saying that the runway is engineered to a 75,000 lb. capacity would be "fraudulent."

Since late spring, board members from Open DeKalb Inc., including Norma Herd, Susan Gouinlock, and myself, have been addressing these issues with the Board of Commissioners and--with the aid of Commissioners Jeff Rader, Connie Stokes, and Elaine Boyer--we have attempted to get the proposed 2010 ALP amended so that it accurately describes the weight-bearing capacity of the main runway as 66,000 lbs.  

As a result of these efforts, a vote on the ALP has been deferred three times during the past three months  The vote on the ALP this Tuesday, however, will be the final one.  At the very end of this past week, we heard the bad news from Commissioner Rader that he does not believe he has the necessary votes to amend the ALP.  The other key commissioner who represents our area, Kathie Gannon, is expected to support describing the main runway as 75,000 lbs.--even though the runway is not engineered to that capacity--and a majority of the Commissioners are expected to follow her lead.

 

WHY IS THIS ISSUE IMPORTANT?:

For the Board of Commissioners to vote for a document incorrectly indicating that the engineered weight-bearing capacity of PDK Airport's main runway is 75,000 rather than 66,000 lbs. would, in effect, be to approve a major policy change authorizing the expansion of PDK Airport without a full and open discussion of the crucial issues involved. To take such action would undercut recent efforts by concerned community members during the past year to work out more mutually advantageous arrangements between the PDK Airport and concerned community members.  Such an action might also derail the ongoing negotiations with the highest levels of DeKalb County government to seek an approach other than legal action to try to resolve community disagreements with PDK Airport actions.

 WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?

The most immediate need is for concerned citizens to send an outpouring of brief e-mail messages today and tomorrow the to all the members of the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners, urging them to amend the proposed 2010 PDK Airport Layout Plan back to the existing 66,000 lb. engineered weight limit.  

Your messages should include just a few brief sentences identifying yourself and expressing your concern politely.   

Each message must be directed to an individual commissioner (see names and e-mail addresses below), since messages to all the commissioners are blocked by anti-spamming devices.  

Many messages, not lengthy or argumentative ones, are likely to be most effective.  Some of the commissioners evidently do not believe that more than a handful of individuals are concerned about PDK Airport noise and operations.  Please let them know that is not the case.

Here are the names and e-mail addresses of the DeKalb County commissioners, in order of their districts.  Please send your messages NOW:

1.  Elaine Boyer    ctownsend@dekalbcountyga.gov

2.  Jeff Rader     jrader@dekalbcountyga.gov

3.  Larry Johnson     larryjohnson@dekalbcountyga.gov

4.  Sharon Barnes Sutton     sbsutton@dekalbcountyga.gov

5.  Lee May     lmay@dekalbcountyga.gov

6.  Kathie Gannon    kgannon@dekalbcountyga.gov

7.  Connie Stokes     conniestokes@dekalbcountyga.gov

Please write NOW, and also further circulate this message to your friends and neighbors.   We face an uphill battle at this point, but if you don't act, we can't be successful.

Thanks for your attention to this important message, and, hopefully, for your prompt action.

Larry Foster

Communications Director

PDK Watch Inc. on behalf of Open DeKalb Inc.

P.S.  If anyone would like to attend the Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, October 26, to personally show your concern, here is the information you will need.  Note that what is most needed at this time, however, is your e-mail messages to the commissioners.

The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners meets at the Maloof Auditorium 1300 Commerce Drive in Decatur.  Street parking is cheapest, requiring numerous quarters, or you can park in the high-rise parking across the street for a flat $6 fee (up from $2 previously).

The Commission meeting begins at 9 a.m.  During that first hour there is a half-hour public comment period, at which several of us will attempt to address the problems with the ALP.  The meeting proper is scheduled to start at 10 a.m., and the PDK Airport Layout Plan is at the top of the agenda, so even given a worst-case scenario, the vote will have been taken  by 10:30 a.m. or so.

Let me emphasize, however, that your immediate e-mail messages to the commissioners is what is most needed right now.

In case anyone would like to read a more detailed summary of the arguments, I have attached a more detailed discussion of the issue here for your reference

Copy of the Doraville GM package that DeKalb County Commission is going to vote on today.

I have obtained the DeKalb Board of Commissioners documents regarding the Doraville GM plant redevelopment whereby the developer would get a 35 million gift from the DeKalb County Tax Payers in exchange for promises of development at a later date.  The proposed development down the road is too small and too far away in exchange cash up front to build something now that isn't needed nor will generate extensive tax revenue.  I think I heard Elaine Boyer call it empty promises.
DeKalb GM Vote Info for Aug24

Taxpayers Can’t Afford to Subsidize another Atlantic Station by DeKalb Commissioner Elaine Boyer

By Elaine Boyer

Milton Friedman, Nobel laureate and economic advisor to Ronald Reagan, coined a memorable term that withstands the test of time in economics and politics: “There is no such thing as a free lunch.”

DeKalb County’s CEO Burrell Ellis, the county’s development authority and a private developer seeking to remodel the former General Motors plant in Doraville might consider that wisdom. Taxpayers would wind up on the hook for this 165-acre project deemed to be the region’s next Atlantic Station.

The so-called “free money” or federal stimulus money being touted for this project along Interstate 285 is nothing more than $36 million in bonds that someone would have to pay off. That someone is DeKalb County taxpayers.

It was revealed last week that to cover the cost of the bonds of the mixed-used project offered by New Broad Street, the county would levy a 1 percent sales tax or a .12 property tax increase. The 10,000 residents of the city of Doraville also would pay a 33 percent property tax hike.

There is nothing free or beneficial about this deal at all to the residents of our county.

The audacity of county officials and the private developer is what has turned the American public against government in this age of tea parties and hostility toward incumbents. Ever since the 2008, $787 billion federal bank bailout, taxpayers have had enough of government financing of anything in the private sector.

All they hear about is bailouts ranging from a proposed $23 billion bailout for teachers; to rescue packages for Chrysler, Ford and GM’s corporate headquarters in Detroit. And let’s not forget about Bear Stearns and other financials saved by American taxpayers and the ability of our federal government to print money with no forethought of what would do to our economy and the lives of our children and grandchildren.

Here in DeKalb, our local economy is suffering just as is the rest of the nation. The county’s unemployment rate is 9 percent, and homeowners can’t afford a property tax increase for another retail, office and multi-family complex. Nor should our sales rise to the highest in the region to pay for such a development – no matter how many jobs it might create.

It used to be when the private sector wanted to build a restaurant, a dry cleaner’s or a shoe store, for example, it loaned the money to an investor who took the risk. The builder never expected taxpayers to help foot the bill. Today, too many developers are seeking corporate welfare to finance their projects. If New Broad Street or another firm doesn’t have the cash to rebuild the GM site, then it shouldn’t do it. The taxpayers are not a bank.

Drive into the suburbs or virtually anywhere in the Atlanta region and there are empty storefronts, shopping centers, apartment complexes and office buildings, thanks to this Great Recession. The last thing we need to do is use taxpayer money to add to the supply.

Economics revolves around supply and demand. For the Atlanta economy to rebound to a sustainable condition, government must get out of the way and let market forces align so it can recover on its own. The economist Friedman was also quoted as saying: “Governments never learn. Only people learn.” Let’s hope this worst recession since the Great Depression will teach elected officials a lesson. Let taxpayers keep more of their own money.

Boyer, a Republican, represents District 1 on the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners which includes Doraville and the site of the General Motors plant.

DeKalb Community Council denies Late Night application at Friday's Plaza - DeKalb BOC has final say.

Doraville Council Member, Pam Fleming - Video

The DeKalb Community Council met Tuesday night at the Chamblee Library to discuss proposed land use changes proposed for action by the DeKalb Planning Commission and the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners. There were two items on the agenda, first was the Marist expansion and the second, that I was specifically there to see was the presentation on the late night El Reventon Restaurant and Bar proposed in the Friday's Plaza which is an unincorporated island of DeKalb County which currently sits between the Cities of Dunwoody & Doraville.

City of Doraville Council Members were in attendance (Pittman, Roche & Fleming) with a city resolution in hand opposing the measure as were myself and Ms. Gerri Penn the President of the Dunwoody North Civic Association.

After the presentations, the Community Council voted to DENY the late night SLUP application and their recommentation will be referred to the DeKalb Planning Commission as well as the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners who has the final decision.

The Marist item was recommended for a full cycle deferral and I will probably post the video of that discussion tomorrow for my good friends over at the Ashford Alliance. (Personal note to Jeff, click here.)


El Reventon @ DeKalb Community Council 122209 from John Heneghan on Vimeo.

Canceled DeKalb County Parks Master Plan may hold some clues on recent events and the future of DeKalb’s Park System

It seems that ever since I was told by Ms. Marilyn Boyd Drew, the then DeKalb County Park’s Director that I was not allowed to speak at a DeKalb County Parks, Citizens Advisory Board Meeting; I have always kept a warm place in my heart for this fine County Government Department and therefore have kept a careful eye on their misgivings.

In February of 2008, I questioned if DeKalb County was wasting money on redoing a ten year parks master plan after only six years and I soon discovered that they had indeed wasted $249,600.00 on the master plan process but then intended to never publish the results, possibly because the contractor EDAW was asking tough questions, or maybe because the draft report was critical of the lack of park funding, poor facility maintenance as well as the Parks Department lack of communication from its upper management.

In light of the swim meet debacle and now the field usage charge proposal, the “Draft Parks Master Plan” from September of 2007 that was released to me in an open records request, but never published anywhere else, sheds a bit of light on these two recent events.

“Draft Parks Master Plan” from September of 2007

Some key pages to read are as follows
Pg 32 – Interviews with Department Employees
Pg 33 – Interviews with Executive Team
Pg 34 - Interviews with Board of Commissioners
Pg 36 – Interviews with Citizens Advisory Board
Pg 43 – Existing Operational Structure
Pg 46 – Joint Ventures & Partnerships
Pg 80 – Fees Recommendation (My favorite)

"Explore alternatives for reducing fees associated with activities offered by sports associations and other private partners. For example, instead of charging for facilities, the Department could require a sport association to accept a larger responsibility for maintenance. The savings could result in lower fees and lower operational cost for the department."

The WSB-TV news report on field usage fees stated that the proposed Tuesday night meeting officially informing the football sports associations of the new fee structure was supposedly canceled but at the time of the report the associations had not been informed of the change. If the meeting is canceled, maybe the affected sports associations would like to voice their opinions to the DeKalb County Parks Citizens Advisory Board which is meeting that same night, Tuesday July 28th in Decatur at 6:00 p.m.

That is if they will be allowed to speak?