Saturday, December 28, 2013

Christmas tree recycling

DeKalb County will do curbside pick-up of trees at the usual scheduled dates, but those over 7' tall must be cut in half. Remember to remove lights, ornaments, etc. as trees are chipped and provided for mulching free of charge.

For more information and a list of Keep DeKalb Beautiful events in 2014, see http://web.co.dekalb.ga.us/beautiful/events.html

Friday, December 20, 2013

More on City of Briarcliff's community meeting

Jay Scott at the North Druid Hills Patch reports on the City of Briarcliff Initiative's meeting on Thursday December 19:
"The City of Briarcliff Initiative board used a community meeting Thursday night as another call for leaders of the Lakeside and Tucker cityhood efforts to get together with them to work out differences in their proposed maps. 
However, the group's message to the audience was more direct: "We see Lakeside as a redundant and unnecessary city," a phrase repeated in a PowerPoint slide and in discussions."  Read the rest @ North Druid Hills Patch.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

City of Briarcliff: feasibility study discussion [Dec 19]

from COBI:
The City of Briarcliff Initiative Public Meeting to Discuss City Feasibility Study Results

The City of Briarcliff Initiative has scheduled a public meeting to review the results of the Carl Vinson Institute  city feasibility studies on Thursday, December 19, 2013, 7:00 pm at Briarcliff United Methodist Church (4105 Briarcliff Rd. NE, Atlanta GA at the Shallowford Rd. intersection).  
The studies, conducted by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia have confirmed that Briarcliff  would have an $8 million annual surplus under current conditions — making it the most financially feasible city plan proposed for Central DeKalb County. 
In an earlier interview, Allen Venet, the President of the City of Briarcliff Initiative reported that "An independent study has confirmed what so many in central DeKalb already knew -- that Briarcliff is positioned to be the most sensible city for central DeKalb. Our proposed city has a strong blend of residential, commercial and industrial areas. Our map is smart and does not abandon neighborhoods. We believe the members of this community deserve the chance to vote on Briarcliff as their city."

Herman Lorenz

2532 Mercedes Drive  Atlanta GA 30345
Herman.Lorenz@comcast.net
404-325-7705 (home)
404-944-0500 (cell)
www.linkedin.com/in/HermanLorenz

Home for the paw-lidays

Bringing home a new pet requires thoughtful consideration but, if you are thinking of a holiday addition anyway...

DeKalb County Animal Services Offering ‘Home for the Pawlidays’ Adoption Promotion to Encourage Adoptions

DCAS Wants You to Take Someone Special Home for the Holidays

ATLANTA, GA -- (December 18, 2013)  Looking for an amazing holiday deal?  Forget Black Friday.  DeKalb County Animal Services (DCAS) has a better deal for you during their ‘Home for the Pawlidays” promotion!  Between now and January 1, 2014, you can adopt any dog or puppy at the shelter for only $20 and any cat or kitten at the shelter for only $10.  All adopted pets will be spayed or neutered, microchipped, vaccinated, heartworm or combo tested and dewormed – services with a retail value of over $200!  Standard adoption screening criteria still applies.

According to DCAS Director Susan Feingold, the goal of the promotion is to find homes for the animals during the holidays.  “All of our wonderful animals deserve a warm bed to lie in and a family to love them, especially during the holidays,” she says. “We hope this promotion will encourage people to come in, adopt, save lives and gain a wonderful new family member.”

Whatever your needs, likes or limitations, there is a pet (or two) at DCAS right now that is perfect for your household.  For adoption hours, location and pictures of available animals, please visit  www.dekalbanimalservices.com.  

About DeKalb County Animal Services
Managed by LifeLine Animal Project, DeKalb County Animal Services provides humane care for animals at the shelter, veterinary care, pet adoptions, pet reclaim services, pet registration services, volunteer opportunities and foster care.  

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

DeKalb County launches vacant property registration ordinance

Daniel Beauregard at The Champion reports that DeKalb County has adopted a vacant property registry ordinance, effective March 2014.
"Commissioners and officials will hold several town hall meetings to educate residents and neighborhood associations about the registry." Read the whole article at The Champion.
Going forward, owners must register vacant properties with the County or face a $1,000 fine. This will make it easier for County officials to follow up if a property is not being maintained and ensure maintenance costs rest with the property owner. A local agent can be designated by the owner as the contact person for such communications.

UPDATE 6/5/2014: Link to DeKalb Vacant Property Registry page, stating properties must be registered starting June 1, 2014.

Not mentioned in the article but also relevant: the registry offers another mechanism to help the County cross-check and rectify inaccurate homestead exemptions that deplete the County's budget. Per the County's website, "You cannot file for homestead exemption on rental property, vacant land, or on more than one property." Commercial properties are also excluded. The Basic Homestead Exemption (H-1) allows DeKalb homeowners to
"...receive an assessment exemption of $12,500 for School and $10,000 for County levies (except bonds) and $2,000 for State tax. All homeowners are eligible if they own and occupy the home on  January 1 of the year of their application. It grants the freeze for the county assessments. There are no age or income requirements."
The County already has a foreclosure registry. Why create yet another registry? GA Tech has produced a report that reviews the history of vacant property registry ordinances (VPROs)--under 100 existed in the country in 2007; more than 550 were in place by 2012--and explains the hows and whys of these registries:
"The proximate objectives of VPROs typically include providing better data on the extent and nature of vacant and foreclosed properties, having detailed and reliable contact in formation for property owners and managers, and reducing the harms and costs such properties pose to neighborhoods and local governments. Ultimately, proponents of VPROs may hope to discourage irresponsible investment by internalizing some of the social costs of vacant properties and holding owners accountable for not maintaining properties in a responsible manner."  from New Data on Local Vacant Property Registration Ordinances. Cityscape: A Journal of Policy Development and Research, Vol. 12, NO. 2, 2013, p. 259-266.
Georgia VPROs were defined by HB 110, which was signed into law in 2012.


More on the City of Briarcliff Initiative

Patch reports on the City of Briarcliff's press conference yesterday and that the Briarcliff Study Finds Surplus, 50% More Than Lakeside's.

WSB also reported on this event.

Found Cat (N. Decatur Rd.) [Dec 15]


Monday, December 16, 2013

The City of Briarcliff Initiative announces Briarcliff has been confirmed to be the most feasible cityhood plan currently proposed for central DeKalb County by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia.

Atlanta, GA, December 16, 2013 -- The City of Briarcliff Initiative has scheduled a Tuesday, December 17, 2013 press conference to officially announce the results of an independent cityhood feasibility study. The study, conducted by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia has confirmed that Briarcliff is the most financially feasible cityhood plan currently proposed for Central DeKalb County.

The press conference is scheduled for Tuesday, December 17, 2013, 2:00pm at the Toco Hills Shopping Center near 2105 Lavista Rd. A follow up public meeting to review the results of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government study will be held on Thursday, December 19, 2013, 7:00pm at Briarcliff United Methodist Church (4105 Briarcliff Rd. NE, Atlanta GA).

“An independent study has confirmed what so many in central DeKalb already knew that Briarcliff is positioned to be the most sensible city for central DeKalb,” explains Allen Venet, President of City of Briarcliff Initiative. He adds, “Our proposed city has a strong blend of residential, commercial and industrial areas. Our map is smart and does not abandon neighborhoods. We believe the members of this community deserve the chance to publically vote on Briarcliff cityhood.”

Keith Hanks, member of the executive board comments, “The Briarcliff cityhood plan is funded by local citizens. Over 99% of funds donated have come from local residents within the proposed city limits, making this a successful grassroots effort. Our next step includes refining cityhood plans, translating into necessary legal language and presenting as a proof of concept to the Georgia House of Representatives in the next session.”

For more information about the City of Briarcliff Initiative visit briarcliffga.org or facebook.com/briarcliffga.

About City of Briarcliff Initiative:
The City of Briarcliff Initiative, Inc. is a non-profit corporation chartered under the laws of the state of Georgia. The group seeks to enable residents to form a new city government in central DeKalb County that would serve all people within the community and promote the health, welfare, and safety of the general public.

Copyright © 2013 City of Briarcliff Initiative, All rights reserved. 

City of Briarcliff = most viable

The Patch reports that the City of Briarcliff proposal was deemed
 "the most financially feasible cityhood plan currently proposed for Central DeKalb County." Read the rest at The North Druid Hills Patch.
Source: The Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia (that also completed the Lakeside feasibility study).

Dog lost now found [Dec 15]

Click to enlarge.
Yay, little Tucker is safely home again.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

"Drive Through" Living Nativity [Dec 13, 14 & 15]

From the Clairmont Hills Baptist Church [1995 Clairmont Road, Decatur, GA 30033] 
The Living Nativity has become a family tradition for many in this area for more than twenty years. In fact, this will be our 25th year! Come and experience the events that surround the birth of our Savior. From the comfort of your car, you may drive through twelve scenes with live  actors, donkeys, sheep and other stable animals that tell the story of God's plan in sending Jesus.   A cast of over 100 church members and friends participate as angels, wise men, shepherds and other key characters to dramatize this historical event.  
The Living Nativity is our gift to the community; it is absolutely FREE to you! (No donations  accepted.) 
Friday, December 13
7:00-9:00 p.m. 
Saturday, December 14  
7:00-9:00 p.m. 
Sunday, December 15
6:00-9:00 p.m. 
For more information, please call our church office at 404-634-6231.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Galloway reports on recent Chamber of Commerce meeting

Summarizing a recent DeKalb Chamber of Commerce lunch meeting he moderated, Jim Galloway @ AJC reports

- on changes to the CEO position for DeKalb County: there is uncertainty as to what cityhood decisions the legislature will make next spring and thus, it's hard to envision what the County will look like going forward
"...outside of a few uncomplicated fixes, the re-making of DeKalb County’s form of government – something that both Gov. Nathan Deal and acting CEO Lee May want — will have to wait until 2015."
- on DeKalb's city hood movements: the (Republican-controlled) general assembly has supported the creation of new cities in the recent past, but the overlapping nature of the Lakeside, Briarcliff and Tucker proposals creates political land mines:
"Favor one city-building group in this Republican-rich section of DeKalb, and you’re bound to tick off the two others. In an election year, that causes second thoughts."
- on the erosion of the County's tax base: Decatur state representative Mary Margaret Oliver expects the trend to create new cities will continue but she warns against
"a Fulton County-style stampede in which the first communities to become cities grab the most lucrative tax bases – leaving the county government and other cities to survive on leftovers. 
The current land-grab craziness is bad for everyone..."
That last item reads the same whether you talk about cityhood or annexation.

See the whole article at @AJC.

Friday, December 6, 2013

Greetings from new ICS principal

Hello, my name is Alisa Bouer and I am the new interim Principal at ICS. Medlock Park is an amazing community and I would really like to build a partnership and alliance with the Medlock Park Community. We will be having three meet and greets so the community and have an opportunity to meet with me in person. I would love for your community to attend one of the meetings. Please know that I am very committed to our partnership and I look forward to working together. Thank you and have a great day.

Alisa M. Bouer
Interim Principal
International Community School (ICS)
2418 Wood Trail Lane
Decatur, GA 30033
phone # 404-499-8969       fax # 404-499-8968
Alisa.Bouer@ICSgeorgia.org

Wednesday, December 4, 2013