Patch reports that Decatur First Bank was robbed just before 4:00pm today. Thankfully, no one was hurt and no weapon was displayed.  Patch says that the suspect fled with an unspecified amount of money.

I just hope none of our good friends at DFB were too traumatized by the event!

The City of Decatur will hold another Strategic Plan Open House this coming Monday, January 31st from 6p-9p at the Holiday Inn Conference Center, where the coveted “Strategic Plan Project List” (or SPPO as no one tends to call it) will finally be unveiled to its adoring public.

As a tease for the upcoming event, the official Strategic Plan website “Decatur Next” reveals that a “circulator
shuttle”, which would transport residents between downtown, Oakhurst Village and East Decatur Station, is just one item that came out of the resident round-tables that made the list.  (The site is mum on any other projects that made the cut, hoping the anticipation will get you in the door.)

What does making the “Project List” mean?  From Decatur Next…

Actually, a lot. The adopted plan defines the focus of city leadership and staff for the next ten years, and sets out the areas where our money will be directed.

Inclusion on the list doesn’t guarantee the shuttle, or anything else, will come to fruition but it does ensure attention and resources. That means looking at the various ways such a system could be approached, who could run it, and how much the various scenarios would cost. Then, a decision can be levied one way or another based on the merits.

Shuttle Example pics ripped from DecaturNext

The AJC reports that the DeKalb School Board voted this morning to require students to attend school on February 18 and 21st to make up days lost to the Great SnOMG of 2011.

Awesome snow pic from our Eye on the (Snowy) Street thread.  Courtesy of Kate!

The DeKalb County Commission has to have its budget balanced each year by March 1st.  Its the law!

Faced with the unenviable task, CEO Burrell Ellis’ administration asked DeKalb’s Parks and Rec Dept., which Recreation Centers should be closed.

According to North Druid Hills Patch, Mason Mill’s Recreation Center – inside Mason Mill Park off Clairmont Road – was among the five recommended for closure, based on “a number of factors”, such as age, location and maintenance costs.  A bit more from Patch…

Closing the centers is estimated to save the county $500,000.

…“We asked our parks and recreation department to identify which parks and rec centers would be the most appropriate to close, based on a number of factors,” said DeKalb Chief Operating Officer Richard Stogner. “These recommendations were based on a number of factors, such as their respective service areas, age, and maintenance costs.”

Photo courtesy of DeKalb County’s website

My wife mentioned to me last night that it looked like the old Kaleidoscope space – between Sawicki’s and Cakes & Ale on West Ponce – had finally been leased due to some general renovations and clean-up in the space.  Today an anonymous tipster gave us the 411 on who it is!

Bike shop “Tri Your Best” is moving from its current Stone Mountain location to downtown Decatur next month.  From the shop’s website…

Tri Your Best will officially be closing it’s doors in Stone Mountain on Thursday, Jan 27th at 2pm. We would like to thank all of our customers for their continued support and can’t wait to see all of you in our new location in Downtown Decatur! We should be up and running over there about the 2nd week of Feb. Stay tuned for further developments. We will keep all of you in the loop!

Not sure if they’ll be sticking with “Tri Your Best” or if they will take on the “Decatur Bikes” name that is their new URL.  Lots more info about their existing business over on their website!