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MEDIA CONTACTS
Burke Brennan, Press Secretary
P: 404-371-6305 | M: 678-201-7209
MaLika Hakeem, Administrative & Program Outreach Manager, Department of Watershed Management
P: 770-724-1457 | M: 770-318-8435
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16, 2015
DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management
Launches Consent Decree Website
Site includes communication tools designed to educate, inform public
DECATUR, Ga. – The DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management’s (DWM) Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) Division announced the official launch of its new Consent Decree Program website (http://www.dekalbconsentdecree.com/). The new site features general information about the program, its associated infrastructure improvement projects, and a user-friendly, interactive Project Finder feature that allows visitors to search for active DeKalb County CIP water and sewer construction projects. The Project Finder allows users to search for projects within a half-mile, one-mile or two-mile radius of a specific address, as well as by commission district or keyword. Information available on each project includes location, budget, schedule, description and current construction phase. DeKalb County has reached a Clean Water Act settlement in the form of a consent decree with the U.S. EPA and Georgia EPD.
“The new website is one of many communication tools we are using to ensure people are educated and well-informed about the projects included in the Consent Decree,” said Kenneth Saunders, Program Director, Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) Division, Department of Watershed Management. “Continuous communication with the residents and business owners affected by the improvement activities is vital to the overall success of this program.”
The CIP also launched the Consent Decree Connection quarterly electronic newsletter and a social media campaign via Facebook. The Consent Decree Connection features articles on current and recent projects, FOG (Fats, Oils & Grease), safety tips and interesting facts and figures about the County’s sanitary sewer collection system. Social media will be used as a real-time communication vehicle to disseminate information to the public. The website, newsletter and social media are linked together online for added convenience. By implementing the aforementioned communication tools, the Department of Watershed Management’s goal is to provide advanced notification of upcoming construction activity, traffic advisories and community meeting details, and update the public on the program’s progress on an ongoing basis.
The Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) Division is a unit of the Department of Watershed Management. Currently overseeing a 5-year, $1.345 billion countywide capital improvement program, which comprises the repair and upgrade of the county’s water and wastewater infrastructure, the division’s main goal is to create sustainable growth and development of the county’s $5 billion water and wastewater assets serving the county’s more than 700,000 residents.
DeKalb County is Georgia’s third largest county with more than 700,000 residents calling it home. Known for its business and education hub, growing international community and natural wonders, DeKalb County Government is administered by Interim Chief Executive Officer Lee May and legislative policy is set by a seven-member Board of Commissioners.
Follow news from DeKalb County at @ItsInDeKalb on Twitter and sign up for additional updates at www.onedekalb.com or send a text message with the word ONEDEKALB to 22828 (message and data rates may apply).
