Judge rules in favor of Dunwoody over HOST sales tax money - AJC

Judge's Decision

Judge rules in favor of Dunwoody
DeKalb County ordered to share sales tax money

By April Hunt for the AJC
Tuesday, March 17, 2009

DeKalb County must share sales tax revenue with the new city of Dunwoody, a judge has ruled.

Fulton County Superior Court judge Jerry Baxter denied DeKalb’s request for an injunction against state enforcement of a 2007 law that requires the county to distribute part of its 1 percent sales tax to Dunwoody.

The ruling means that $1.6 million the county had been distributing yearly to the Perimeter area’s self-taxing business district now will go to Dunwoody. Whether the city will end up turning the money over to the district, for improvements such as roads, has yet to be decided.

“We did not expect this to be resolved this quickly, so it hasn’t even been discussed yet,” Councilman Tom Taylor said of how the city will spend the money.

DeKalb can appeal the ruling. Spokeswoman Kristie Swink said Monday the county was “reviewing its options.”

DeKalb is still involved in a legal struggle with many of its other cities over the distribution formula for the homestead option sales tax, or HOST. That case has dragged on for more than eight years.

Proud day in an Irish Pub - Sláinte to all involved.

I've spent a fair amount of time in Irish Pubs and I couldn't have been prouder then the time I spent at Fado's Irish Pub on Friday Afternoon for St. Baldrick's raising money for childhood cancer research.

First and foremost the room was filled with love, it was uplifting for all involved and it made the rainy St. Patrick's Day Weekend one of my most memorable. My son Riley and I bonded over a little haircut which raised money and awareness for a great cause. We witnessed an entire DeKalb County Firehouse (I believe from Brookhaven?) being shaved as a group charity. I almost cried when I discovered that the big burly guy with Pink Hair sitting in the barber chair was the Chaplain from the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, cancer ward and he had just come from the hospital where the kids helped dye his hair. Beautiful young nurses with long hair were participating in this event honoring a specific patient that touched them deep. Person after person jumped up in the barber chair and each had a story to tell, all of which I thought were more special then my own. In honor of those good people, I lift my glass to you on this upcoming St. Patrick's Day; Sláinte.

The organizers of these St. Baldrick's events in the Atlanta area for a number of years has been Donal & Karen Fleming of Dunwoody; without whom, these events probably wouldn't happen. They are an inspiration for all the work they have put forward for this cause and I am now proud to call them my friends.

Who is going to join Riley & me next year?

YouTube Video

Thanks for your participation on proposed ordinances.

Last Thursday I asked residents to review the proposed ordinances and received eight insightful responses which I then forwarded on to the rest of the council. There is quite a bit on the agenda for this evening and it should be a good meeting tonight at 7 pm at Dunwoody United Methodist Church. Public comment is at the front of the agenda and I encourage the community to participate.

Updated Agenda

1. Boyken Status Report.
2. Report of the Overlay Task Force (as it relates to the original overlay).
3. February Financial Report.
4. Request to initiate a Zoning Code amendment to reflect internally consistent language.
5. FIRST READ: Ordinance to amend Chapter 14 - Development and Environmental code to reflect internally consistent language and EPD requirements.
6. FIRST READ: Ordinance to amend Chapter 7 - Building Code to reflect State mandated changes and complete text.
7. FIRST READ: Ordinance to adopt Chapter 28 - Illicit Discharge regulations.
8. FIRST READ: Ordinance to amend the Property Maintenance Code.
9. FIRST READ: Ordinance to adopt Chapter 26 - to establish a Stormwater Utility.
10. Discussion of Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.
11. Resolution establishing a Georgia Fund 1 account for Hotel/Motel tax.
12. Discussion on schools.
13. Discussion of SB164. Clear cutting for Signs?
14. Discussion of HB516. Mobile Homes allowed anywhere?

Father & Son Bonding for St. Baldrick's Day - video included.

Yesterday's St. Baldrick's Day event was a lot of fun & with my son Riley deciding to join me it made it even more special. About $1,500.00 dollars was raised (with a few donations yet to be posted) to help find a cure for children's cancer. If you would like to raise the total, please click here.

Please feel free to laugh out loud at the video as my wife sure did, enjoy.

Before

After


Video of the Shaving

Murder at a Dunwoody gas station - Police are looking for "Person of Interest" shown on video.

DeKalb County Police officials are investigating a shooting death that occurred Thursday shortly after 7 p.m. at a Texaco service station on North Peachtree Road, just north of I-285.

Police said they’re trying to figure out why Allen Wolfenbarger, 30, was shot. Police were examining a security videotape that showed the man leaving the store with another man. If you have any information as to the shooting or the second person in the video tape, please contact DeKalb County Police.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGRUS49xpcg

Happy St. Baldrick's Day in Atlanta - come out to Fado's at 3:30 to cheer me on. Last push for donations, please help.

Please sponsor me with a donation.

There is still time to click on the link above to donate to St. Baldrick's to help find a cure for children's cancer. Thanks again to my supporters who raised another $250 within the last 24 hours, I promise an update with photos and possibly a video from my "little haircut" at Fado which takes place today around 3:30 in the afternoon.

Fado Irish Pub - Atlanta
March 13, 2009
3:30 P.M.
273 Buckhead Ave
Atlanta, GA 30305

Previous Posts on St. Baldrick's, here & here & here.

The Story of St. Baldrick's