Monday, October 10, 2011
The Great Pumpkin Patch - All Saint's Catholic Church Knights of Columbus
Just a small sample of the pumpkins available at All Saints.
The Knights of Columbus at All Saints Catholic Church just received 1,290 pumpkins in a 70 foot trailer that was unloaded by 50 of the strongest men & women in the city. The All Saints pumpkin sale will be going on from Noon until Nine between now and October 31st. I stopped by this afternoon and the selection is huge but come early as the best carving ones always go fast. Please stop by, pick up a pumpkin and support this fine charitable organization where I am proud to call myself a member. Thanks.
All Saints Catholic Church
2443 Mount Vernon Road
Dunwoody, GA 30338
Dunwoody, GA 30338
Monsignor Marren, All Saints' Pastor, was actively present throughout the day enjoying the festivities and the joyful faces of the children. That is him mock auctioning a pumpkin and doing his own videotaping.
Dunwoody Planning Commission to discuss zoning change regarding home occupation on Tuesday.
The case of the violin teacher who wanted to give lessons in her home sparked a call to modify the zoning regulations to allow home businesses in the R-100 zoning district under specific circumstances. Though this is only being directed at R-100 in this draft, it doesn't mean that it won't be modified to other zoning codes before this process is finished. For example, I live in an R-85 zoning district and the violin teacher lived in R-75 therefore this change wouldn't affect my neighborhood nor would it helped the violin teacher, so the rational for limiting this to just one zoning code will need to be discussed. In fact the staff memo states that this proposed ordinance should be expanded into the other single family zoning districts.
This matter has already gone through the review of the Community Council and they have had a hand in crafting the attached document though I see several of their recommendations have not been completely incorporated in the final draft for the Planning Commission's meeting on Tuesday night 7 pm.
As much as I want to loosen this ordinance, I also don't want to open a loophole which will negatively affect the quality of life for the neighbors. I sat in one of the early hearings (believe it was Community Council?) on the violin teacher where a resident was literally crying at the podium because she was forced to deal with another home occupation (nothing related to a music teacher) that appears to me to be allowed under these set of rules.
I have a few questions & concerns on specific language and would appreciate a through review by anyone interested. Feel free to make comments on the blog, email the Planning Commission or Council directly.
As I am sure there will be a public hearing in front of the City Council, I will remain mum on the matter and listen to all arguments both pro and con. Thanks, John
Sec. 27-1321. - Home occupations
The following provisions shall apply to home occupations.
be required to comply with subsections (1), (2), (3), (4) and (8) of this section
(1) There shall be no exterior evidence of the home occupation.
(2) No use shall create noise, dust, vibration, odor, smoke, glare or electrical
interference that would be detectable beyond the dwelling unit.
(3) The use shall be conducted entirely within the dwelling unit.
(4) Only persons living in the dwelling unit shall be employed at the location of the
home occupation.
(5) No more than 25 percent of the dwelling unit and in no case more than 500
square feet, whichever is less, may be used for the conduct of the home
occupation.
service shall be sold on the premises other than by telephone.
occupation is located, except where such materials and equipment are stored
entirely within the residence.
(8) No vehicle other than a passenger automobile, passenger van, or passenger truck
shall be used in the conduct of a home occupation, and no other vehicle shall be
parked or stored on such premises.
(9) No home occupation shall be operated so as to create or cause a nuisance.
(10) The home occupation shall not be open to the public or receive deliveries
earlier than 8:00 a.m. or later than 8:00 p.m., excluding routine residential type
carriers.
(11) Home Occupations shall be limited to a maximum of 2 business related
visitors at any time. Business related visitors include but are not limited to
employees, business partners, contractors, subcontractors, clients, customers,
students, etc.
(12) No on-street parking associated with the business shall be permitted.
(13) No commodity shall be stocked or sold on the premises to the general public.
(14) Home occupations must exclude the use of instruments, machinery or
equipment that emit sounds (i.e. musical instruments, sewing machines, saws,
drills) that are detectable beyond the dwelling unit.
(15) Multiple home occupations may be permitted within a single residence;
however, the limitations herein shall apply to the combined uses.
(16) Business related parties/gatherings may be held no more than twice per year.
These parties shall not be advertised to the general public.
(17) Home Occupations for educational purposes are exempted from Sections
1321(1), (3), and (7).
(18) Home occupation with customer contact shall not include the use of a dwelling
unit for the purpose of operating a massage therapy, psychic, fortuneteller,
tattoo, and/or body piercing establishment.
(19) Home occupation shall not include the use of a dwelling unit for the purposeof operating any automobile repair establishment, taxi service, van service,
limousine service, wrecker service, car wash, or ammunition or firearms sales
establishment.
(20) The following are additional provisions for a child day care facility:
a. A child day care facility shall provide outdoor play areas as required byGeorgia law, but such areas shall be limited to side or rear yards outsidethe minimum yard area, and shall not occupy any yard adjoining a street.i. For the purposes of complying with this provision, family day carefacilities are exempt from Sections 1321(1),(3), and (7).b. A child day care facility shall be located at least one thousand (1,000) feetin all directions from any other such use operated as a home occupation.c. Hours of operation of a child day care facility operated as a homeoccupation shall be limited to Monday through Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to8:00 p.m.d. A child day care facility operator shall have a current, certified copy of theoperator's State of Georgia family day care home registration which shallbe filed with the business license application and renewals.
Possible Walking Path to Dunwoody Elementary School?
Proposed Walking Path to Dunwoody Elementary
Village North Court is a dead end street that ends on the edge of Georgia Perimeter College property and it sits directly behind Dunwoody Elementary School. At the Town & Gown meeting that took place last week between the City and the College, numerous traffic items were discussed and I pitched an idea whereby Village North Court could be extended for pedestrian and bicycle traffic into the back of Dunwoody Elementary School and thereby tie into Womack.
The GPC property line includes a block of land directly between DES and the neighborhood therefore an easement would be needed from the college in order to make this a reality. A number of possible paths were discussed (various colors) but an engineering study and lawyers would have to get involved before this goes any further.
Every little connection and every walking path improved opens our everyday transportation options whereby one less child might be forced to be driven to school and there would be at least one less car on Womack Road.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Lessons for Dunwoody Politicians from Steve Jobs - Peach Pundit
I have read a number of tributes to Steve Jobs in the last day or so, but the following commentary of Todd Rehm published at Peach Pundit really touched me. I have seen firsthand the inner workings of the State and Federal Government and I can honestly say that I never want to be a part of it. I have no political aspirations, none! Yet, here I sit as a member of the Dunwoody City Council, loving every minute of my service to the community. I am part of a team that works well together, where politics and political ideology are out the window and the only thing that matters is our mission of providing quality services to our citizens.
In a few weeks the Citizens of Dunwoody may be replacing three/sevenths of the council as well as deciding what core values will be leading this city for the next four years. I hope you choose those who share your personal vision for the future of the city, those who have active plans for growth and improvement, those who have distinguished themselves by active leadership in the community. I want people sitting next to me who are intrenched in the community, will research thoroughly the item at hand, will bring new ideas to the table. Yet my ultimate hope is that our new Mayor and all six members of the City Council (myself included) will always be willing to act as a team where the best idea for continuous improvement wins the day.
On Tuesday November 8th, you will be setting the values of Dunwoody, deciding what guides us, who we are, what we stand for. Vote wisely.
Todd Rehm of Peach Pundit, Oct 7, 2011
Politics is About Values
“Our customers want to know who is Apple and what is it that we stand for…. What we’re about isn’t making boxes for people to get their jobs done, although we do that well…. Apple is about something more that that…. It’s core value is that we believe that people with passion can change the world for the better. That’s what we believe.”Jobs then introduced the “Think Different” marketing campaign based not on what Apple machines did, but the core values that underlie their company and their products. Apple has not been the same company since, and the world has not been the same place.
Politicians need to understand that their voters have the same questions. They want to know not just your political positions but the core values that motivate you every day.
Too many politicians have fallen in love with self-promotion and neglect talking about and, more importantly, demonstrating, their core values. The irony is that their self-promotion falls flat because it’s not based on demonstrating their core values. You know who I’m talking about.
Voters and fellow politicians sense when a candidate’s stated values don’t match up with their personal actions, and this “BS-meter” gets more accurate with exposure.
Carmine Gallo spoke of the way Jobs talked about Apple’s mission in terms of “share what you’re passionate about.” Today, politicians have new platforms to share information with voters, but too many of them treat Facebook, Twitter and blogs as merely an extention of the traditional media. By failing to understand the power of these media to demonstrate their core values, they’re missing out on an opportuntity.
Anyone can say that they have “traditional values” or that they’re “compassionate conservatives,” but today, the social media give politicians a way of demonstrating that their actions meet their words.
Rather than simply stating you have “family values,” you can demonstrate to the voters where your values lie by tweeting about coaching your daughter’s soccer team or spending time at a piano recital. Rather than saying you’re a community leader, post a photo of you up on the roof while building a Habitat house with your church. Next time you hold a political fundraiser, ask everyone to bring a couple of cans of food to be donated to the local food bank. These day to day demonstrations say more about where your values truly lie than any piece of direct mail or 30-second TV spot and voters will take note.
Leaders don’t decide where to go based on poll numbers
When asked what market research went into the iPad, Mr. Jobs replied: “None. It’s not the consumers’ job to know what they want.”This quote highlights the difference between leadership and management. Fundamental to Jobs leadership was his belief in people and his willingness to let others make mistakes. He also allowed himself to make mistakes as long as it was done in the course of innovation.
In 1996, just before he rejoined Apple, Steve Jobs was interviewed by Louis Rukeyser and asked where Apple had gone wrong since Jobs was pushed out in 1986.
“When I left Apple… we were ten years ahead of anybody else…. The problem was that apple stood still and people caught up with it….The way out … is to innovate. That’s how apple got to its glory, and that’s how I think they could return to it.”No other political undertaking in Georgia has been so overwrought with management and bereft of leadership as the TSPLOST. The refrain of “let the voters decide” has left the metro Atlanta campaign floundering as it seeks to be all things to all people and to reconcile competing viewpoints about the role of transportation in Atlanta’s future. It has become the perfect illustration of the old saw that a camel is a horse designed by committee. It has also left the measure without any champions and with dimming hopes of passage in the Metro Atlanta region.
Failure isn’t permanent unless you let it be
One of the most-watched addresses by Jobs is his 2005 commencement speech at Stanford University. In it, Jobs discusses not only his successes but his failures, and how his greatest successes grew out of a single failure, his firing from Apple in 1986.
But the salient point isn’t just the way Jobs used his greatest failure to regroup before rejoining Apple and making it the dominant electronics company in the world. It’s the way Jobs constantly risked failure in pursuing his vision.
People laughed at the iMac, at the thought that adding pretty translucent colors to an underpowered desktop computer running a second-rate operating system would save Apple from obscurity. Others laughed at the iPod, which has come to so dominate its industry that no one remembers the Zune. Steve Ballmer of Microsoft mocked the $500 price tag of the iPhone when it was launched and predicted its failure. And the iPad has the entire computer industry running to try and catch up. Of course, few of us remember the Newton.
But with each of these bold gambits, Jobs risked not just the mocking of his peers, but the future company he built. Without Jobs’s taking risks without fear of failure, Apple might have remained a second-rate computer company and we might be stuck with crappy cell phones and useless PDAs.
Last year, Senator Renee Unterman championed a bill designed to address the sexual exploitation of minors by, among other things, “decriminalizing” underage prostitution. She found only a single co-signer and was bashed by some of the same conservatives she had worked with for years. She fought on, and earlier this year, Governor Deal signed into law a strong anti-sex trafficking statute that passed with the support of Attorney General Sam Olens, and majorities of both houses’ GOP caucus. How many other legislators can you name who have risked as much politically?
Teamwork depends on trust, the best ideas have to win
“Teamwork is dependent on trusting the other folks to come through with their part without watching them all the time…. You have to be run by ideas not by hierarchy, the best ideas have to win, otherwise people don’t stay.”This seems to be a lesson that some of us, as Republicans, have forgotten as we have attained the political power in Georgia that we long craved. Great ideas like Zero-Based Budgeting have gotten bogged down in intramural conflicts. We’ve forgotten that it’s better to be a pirate than to join the navy. Fortunately, we’ve seen Secretary of State Brian Kemp, Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black and Labor Commissioner Mark Butler implement Zero-Based Budgeting within their agencies.
Internal caucus politics and intra-house rivalries can be good when harnessed to ensure that every member is doing the most they can to move the ball forward, but when the fighting is over the emoluments of hierarchy rather than seeking the best for our citizens, it is wasted effort at best, counterproductive at worst.
I can’t help but believe that we’re leaving improvements to the way our state government functions by not looking to the example of Steve Jobs in some aspects of the way we do the peoples’ business. Here’s hoping that in our mourning over the business world’s loss, we don’t also lose these valuable lessons.
Dunwoody Council Candidates explain why they should win seats - Dunwoody Reporter
The following article was published online at the Dunwoody Reporter newspaper site and I have copied the article verbatim. Reminder that all Dunwoody residents will be able to vote for each of the Council posts shown below, as well as the Mayor.
Dunwoody voters head to the polls Nov. 8 to choose a mayor and three members of Dunwoody City Council. Council candidates will run citywide for posts representing the areas in which they live. Three candidates, including incumbent Councilman Robert Wittenstein, seek the Post 4 seat. Two seek the Post 5 seat being vacated by retiring Councilman Danny Ross. Councilman John Heneghan faces no opposition for Post 6.
The Dunwoody Reporter asked the candidates for their opinions on the chief issues facing Dunwoody and why they felt they were qualified to be chosen for the council. Here are their replies, edited for space.
Rick Callihan
Director of Operations, AmeriGlo
What do you hope to accomplish as a member of City Council? I bring a common sense approach to our fiscal responsibilities. Just like your family, Dunwoody must live within its means. While we’ll be confronted with many worthwhile projects and ideas, we must prioritize the city’s needs. Dunwoody should build and maintain a safety net of cash in our operating account. I’ll work to ensure that tax dollars are spent wisely by carefully prioritizing our city’s needs. I will work with the Perimeter business district to make Dunwoody attractive to employers, and I’ll work with our state legislators to develop a plan to create a City of Dunwoody school district.
What is the biggest problem facing Dunwoody? One problem facing Dunwoody is our infrastructure. Although the city has a paving and sidewalk plan in place, I’d like to see it accelerated. Residents I speak with want roads paved, sidewalks installed, and intersections improved; they don’t want money spent on non-essentials like expensive branding and way-finding sign projects. This year Dunwoody will have a budget surplus due to a decision made earlier this year by DeKalb County on how HOST tax dollars are allocated. This is a unique and favorable development but we can’t rely on this type of windfall every year.
Why should the voters pick you? Voters should cast their ballot for me because I will bring a conservative, common sense approach to budgeting and spending priorities. I will work to maintain the quality of life that attracts families to and keeps them in Dunwoody. My volunteer work and commitment to keeping residents informed through my blog demonstrate my dedication to our city.
Terry Nall
President of U.S. insurance subsidiary for Deutsche Bank Private Wealth Management
What do you hope to accomplish as a member of City Council? I will focus on accomplishing my key principle and positions. Key principle: small, efficient, disciplined government with accountability. Key positions: keep taxes low and protect against risks and excessive debt; maintain appropriate level of police protection; measured and balanced approach to growth and development; enhance parks incrementally with budgeted funds; stick to a plan of paving the worst first.
What is the biggest problem facing Dunwoody? Disciplined spending: Needs must come before wants. We must carefully budget and avoid decisions to spend when we do not fully understand all actual costs. If elected, I will be the only active CPA on the council.
Zoning: This next council will conduct a total re-write of our Zoning Code. I will insist on including the best zoning tools to achieve a measured approach to growth by increasing our tax base without overwhelming our infrastructure and schools with high-density development.
Why should the voters pick you? This election is about priorities. I bring conservative, comprehensive financial expertise to City Council and a belief that needs must come before wants. I believe we must carefully budget for our needs first and then our wants so that we may ensure disciplined spending at all times, but especially during the difficult economy that affects our government and our citizens.
Robert Wittenstein (incumbent)
Senior vice president, Alere Health
What do you hope to accomplish as a member of City Council? We have spent the first three years creating long-range comprehensive plans. The next four years will be focused on turning those plans into reality.
What is the biggest problem facing Dunwoody? he two biggest challenges facing Dunwoody are zoning and economic development. We have been using DeKalb’s zoning map and zoning classifications since incorporation. It is time for Dunwoody to decide how it wants to manage development.As the economy improves, we will need to work to attract high-end businesses to help revitalize the PCID and other commercial areas.
Why should the voters pick you? We have made a great start to our new city. I’ve worked with citizens across the city to understand their concerns, take their issues to the council and communicate why actions have been taken by our team. As a member of the budget committee, I helped craft budgets over the last three years that have generated budget surpluses and provided excellent city services
Lynn Deutsch
Mom/volunteer (former public policy researcher)
What do you hope to accomplish as a member of City Council? I am passionately committed to ensuring that Dunwoody is a great place to live and work now and 20 years down the road. To reach this goal, I will work with the council and Dunwoody citizens to maintain a small and efficient government that works for the good of our community; operate in a fiscally conservative manner; work to preserve the character of our neighborhoods; repair and improve roads and sidewalks; improve parks; promote Dunwoody to businesses looking to relocate; continue to support public safety and other valuable city services; bridge communication with our local school system to ensure quality education; provide outstanding constituent services to our residents; strive to be a great example of good governance.
What is the biggest problem facing Dunwoody? Traffic, both the number of cars and the behavior of drivers, creates problems in Dunwoody. We must use our public safety and public works resources to address these challenges through road maintenance, improvements, education and enforcement. Our plans must include improvements that make our city pedestrian and cyclist friendly. The adoption of the Complete Streets policy is a step in this direction.
Why should the voters pick you? My education, experience and commitment. My education and experiences have given me the skills needed to be an effective councilperson. I can competently address the challenging land use, traffic, economic and other situations that will arise in our city. I serve on the Dunwoody Planning Commission, where I have had the opportunity to listen to Dunwoody residents and to work towards building consensus. I have served on the board of the Dunwoody Homeowners Association, where I gained insight into the challenges and opportunities our community faces. As a long-time DeKalb County schools volunteer, I understand the actions that the City Council takes, especially related to land use and transportation, will have a tremendous impact on our schools.
Kerry de Vallette
Principal, The JKS Abbott Group – a Healthcare Information Technology consulting firm
What do you hope to accomplish as a member of City Council? Enhance our focus on the basic services that the citizens of Dunwoody anticipated with the move to cityhood – Police / Public safety staffed at appropriate levels, accelerate the repaving of our roads, installing sidewalks and bike lanes where appropriate, and addressing our traffic issues. And I will work closely with the business community, the Chamber of Commerce, and the PCID, to insure the stability of our tax base for the benefit of all homeowners.
What is the biggest problem facing Dunwoody? It’s not sexy, but it’s our infrastructure – our roads, storm water system, sidewalks and bike lanes, traffic flow and addressing several dangerous intersections.
I would work with the mayor and council to determine new options for accelerating these needed infrastructure improvements. We would then present all options, in detail and let the voters decide which, if any, cost to value equation makes sense. As I speak with our citizens during this campaign, there is one clear and consistent message I take away: “If council provides the citizens with the information needed to make sound decisions, they will support it!”
Why should the voters pick you? I am best qualified to serve because of my proven leadership and demonstrated ability to work with people with differing views to reach a consensus. I’ve not only served on Boards and committees, I’ve lead them. My qualifications include over 30 years of business experience and community leadership. These experiences have prepared me well to deal with the critical issues the city faces.
John Heneghan (incumbent)
Regional Director, U.S. Dept of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
What do you hope to accomplish as a member of City Council? Looking back I am very proud of my many personal accomplishments on the Dunwoody City Council but I am proudest of the group that I had the pleasure of serving with as each member brought something special to the table and it was the collective actions of the group that moved this city forward to where we are today. Looking forward to my next four years on council, I will continue to strive to make Dunwoody one of the greatest communities in Georgia.
What is the biggest problem facing Dunwoody? Traffic is a big problem, as our two-lane roads can’t handle the volume, yet nobody (myself included) would ever want to four lane residential streets like Womack, Tilly Mill or Chamblee Dunwoody. We need to work at the edges, reducing the choke-holds at the intersections, modifying the schools schedules and finding other ways to reduce the overall volume.
Why should the voters pick you? is truly my pleasure and a distinct honor serving the community on the Dunwoody City Council. I would like to say thank you for allowing me to serve for another four years, as I will promise to work with the same passion that I have in my first three years in office.
Dunwoody voters head to the polls Nov. 8 to choose a mayor and three members of Dunwoody City Council. Council candidates will run citywide for posts representing the areas in which they live. Three candidates, including incumbent Councilman Robert Wittenstein, seek the Post 4 seat. Two seek the Post 5 seat being vacated by retiring Councilman Danny Ross. Councilman John Heneghan faces no opposition for Post 6.
The Dunwoody Reporter asked the candidates for their opinions on the chief issues facing Dunwoody and why they felt they were qualified to be chosen for the council. Here are their replies, edited for space.
Post 4
Rick Callihan
Director of Operations, AmeriGlo
What do you hope to accomplish as a member of City Council? I bring a common sense approach to our fiscal responsibilities. Just like your family, Dunwoody must live within its means. While we’ll be confronted with many worthwhile projects and ideas, we must prioritize the city’s needs. Dunwoody should build and maintain a safety net of cash in our operating account. I’ll work to ensure that tax dollars are spent wisely by carefully prioritizing our city’s needs. I will work with the Perimeter business district to make Dunwoody attractive to employers, and I’ll work with our state legislators to develop a plan to create a City of Dunwoody school district.
What is the biggest problem facing Dunwoody? One problem facing Dunwoody is our infrastructure. Although the city has a paving and sidewalk plan in place, I’d like to see it accelerated. Residents I speak with want roads paved, sidewalks installed, and intersections improved; they don’t want money spent on non-essentials like expensive branding and way-finding sign projects. This year Dunwoody will have a budget surplus due to a decision made earlier this year by DeKalb County on how HOST tax dollars are allocated. This is a unique and favorable development but we can’t rely on this type of windfall every year.
Why should the voters pick you? Voters should cast their ballot for me because I will bring a conservative, common sense approach to budgeting and spending priorities. I will work to maintain the quality of life that attracts families to and keeps them in Dunwoody. My volunteer work and commitment to keeping residents informed through my blog demonstrate my dedication to our city.
Terry Nall
President of U.S. insurance subsidiary for Deutsche Bank Private Wealth Management
What do you hope to accomplish as a member of City Council? I will focus on accomplishing my key principle and positions. Key principle: small, efficient, disciplined government with accountability. Key positions: keep taxes low and protect against risks and excessive debt; maintain appropriate level of police protection; measured and balanced approach to growth and development; enhance parks incrementally with budgeted funds; stick to a plan of paving the worst first.
What is the biggest problem facing Dunwoody? Disciplined spending: Needs must come before wants. We must carefully budget and avoid decisions to spend when we do not fully understand all actual costs. If elected, I will be the only active CPA on the council.
Zoning: This next council will conduct a total re-write of our Zoning Code. I will insist on including the best zoning tools to achieve a measured approach to growth by increasing our tax base without overwhelming our infrastructure and schools with high-density development.
Why should the voters pick you? This election is about priorities. I bring conservative, comprehensive financial expertise to City Council and a belief that needs must come before wants. I believe we must carefully budget for our needs first and then our wants so that we may ensure disciplined spending at all times, but especially during the difficult economy that affects our government and our citizens.
Robert Wittenstein
Senior vice president, Alere Health
What do you hope to accomplish as a member of City Council? We have spent the first three years creating long-range comprehensive plans. The next four years will be focused on turning those plans into reality.
What is the biggest problem facing Dunwoody? he two biggest challenges facing Dunwoody are zoning and economic development. We have been using DeKalb’s zoning map and zoning classifications since incorporation. It is time for Dunwoody to decide how it wants to manage development.As the economy improves, we will need to work to attract high-end businesses to help revitalize the PCID and other commercial areas.
Why should the voters pick you? We have made a great start to our new city. I’ve worked with citizens across the city to understand their concerns, take their issues to the council and communicate why actions have been taken by our team. As a member of the budget committee, I helped craft budgets over the last three years that have generated budget surpluses and provided excellent city services
Post 5
Lynn Deutsch
Mom/volunteer (former public policy researcher)
What do you hope to accomplish as a member of City Council? I am passionately committed to ensuring that Dunwoody is a great place to live and work now and 20 years down the road. To reach this goal, I will work with the council and Dunwoody citizens to maintain a small and efficient government that works for the good of our community; operate in a fiscally conservative manner; work to preserve the character of our neighborhoods; repair and improve roads and sidewalks; improve parks; promote Dunwoody to businesses looking to relocate; continue to support public safety and other valuable city services; bridge communication with our local school system to ensure quality education; provide outstanding constituent services to our residents; strive to be a great example of good governance.
What is the biggest problem facing Dunwoody? Traffic, both the number of cars and the behavior of drivers, creates problems in Dunwoody. We must use our public safety and public works resources to address these challenges through road maintenance, improvements, education and enforcement. Our plans must include improvements that make our city pedestrian and cyclist friendly. The adoption of the Complete Streets policy is a step in this direction.
Why should the voters pick you? My education, experience and commitment. My education and experiences have given me the skills needed to be an effective councilperson. I can competently address the challenging land use, traffic, economic and other situations that will arise in our city. I serve on the Dunwoody Planning Commission, where I have had the opportunity to listen to Dunwoody residents and to work towards building consensus. I have served on the board of the Dunwoody Homeowners Association, where I gained insight into the challenges and opportunities our community faces. As a long-time DeKalb County schools volunteer, I understand the actions that the City Council takes, especially related to land use and transportation, will have a tremendous impact on our schools.
Kerry de Vallette
Principal, The JKS Abbott Group – a Healthcare Information Technology consulting firm
What do you hope to accomplish as a member of City Council? Enhance our focus on the basic services that the citizens of Dunwoody anticipated with the move to cityhood – Police / Public safety staffed at appropriate levels, accelerate the repaving of our roads, installing sidewalks and bike lanes where appropriate, and addressing our traffic issues. And I will work closely with the business community, the Chamber of Commerce, and the PCID, to insure the stability of our tax base for the benefit of all homeowners.
What is the biggest problem facing Dunwoody? It’s not sexy, but it’s our infrastructure – our roads, storm water system, sidewalks and bike lanes, traffic flow and addressing several dangerous intersections.
I would work with the mayor and council to determine new options for accelerating these needed infrastructure improvements. We would then present all options, in detail and let the voters decide which, if any, cost to value equation makes sense. As I speak with our citizens during this campaign, there is one clear and consistent message I take away: “If council provides the citizens with the information needed to make sound decisions, they will support it!”
Why should the voters pick you? I am best qualified to serve because of my proven leadership and demonstrated ability to work with people with differing views to reach a consensus. I’ve not only served on Boards and committees, I’ve lead them. My qualifications include over 30 years of business experience and community leadership. These experiences have prepared me well to deal with the critical issues the city faces.
Post 6
John Heneghan
Regional Director, U.S. Dept of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
What do you hope to accomplish as a member of City Council? Looking back I am very proud of my many personal accomplishments on the Dunwoody City Council but I am proudest of the group that I had the pleasure of serving with as each member brought something special to the table and it was the collective actions of the group that moved this city forward to where we are today. Looking forward to my next four years on council, I will continue to strive to make Dunwoody one of the greatest communities in Georgia.
What is the biggest problem facing Dunwoody? Traffic is a big problem, as our two-lane roads can’t handle the volume, yet nobody (myself included) would ever want to four lane residential streets like Womack, Tilly Mill or Chamblee Dunwoody. We need to work at the edges, reducing the choke-holds at the intersections, modifying the schools schedules and finding other ways to reduce the overall volume.
Why should the voters pick you? is truly my pleasure and a distinct honor serving the community on the Dunwoody City Council. I would like to say thank you for allowing me to serve for another four years, as I will promise to work with the same passion that I have in my first three years in office.
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