MANA: Decatur Not Interested in Annexing Medlock Park
Decatur Metro | September 25, 2014 | 2:19 pmIt sounds like the City of Decatur and Medlock Park have finally had an official meeting to discuss annexation.
Reporting out of a meeting between MANA board members and Decatur City Manager Peggy Merriss, Mayor Baskett and Commissioner Boykin, MANA acting President Lynn Ganim stated in a recent post on the Medlock Area Neighborhood Association website…
The gist of Decatur’s response is that they are not interested in annexing the Medlock neighborhood or any other significant residential area because of the effect on the Decatur schools. There were no qualifications in their response. That door (or should we say “gateway”) is not open to us.
So what are Medlock’s options at this point? According to Ganim…
It appears that at this point our choices include being annexed into Atlanta (assuming Clairmont Heights and Druid Hills also decide on the same course of action), being included in a new city (whatever compromise Lakeside and Briarcliff or the legislature determines,) or remaining in a possibly dramatically smaller unincorporated DeKalb County.
How does this fit in with Allen Venet’s statements to WABE a few days ago? Article previously linked, but here it is for reference. http://wabe.org/post/dekalb-cityhood-movement-affects-decaturs-annexation-plans Will CoD be the final word on what neighborhoods they do and don’t end up with or will we all be in for a big surprise a few months down the line?
A big mistake not to annex the Medlock area. The City will be surrouded by other cities and
unable to expand and this is a good area for Decatur. You need to reconsider your decision if you care about Decatur’s future.
Still waiting for someone to provide a reasonable explanation for why we need to expand.
I’m not sure it’s really necessary, but if it’s advantageous to the city then it should be considered. I think with DeKalb breaking apart there are areas that normally would’ve stayed unincorporated but no longer have that option. If Decatur can take advantage of the timing and expand in a beneficial way, then why not?
I agree. Just waiting for someone to explain the benefits. I understand cost/benefit from the annexed homeowners’ perspective – higher taxes, better schools, avoid being part of [insert other city name]. Just have not yet seen a plausible explanation of benefits for current residents.
Lower fire insurance rates. Faster 911 response time.
Current residents would have faster 911 response time if we annex Medlock? Interesting, had not heard that. Would you explain why that would be?
Decatur 911 response time for police in an urgent situation is typically 2 or 3 minutes with a second unit 2 or 3 minute later. The patrol officers only cover about 1 square mile each, vs 5 times or more for the county. Listen to the DeKalb police scanner sometime and you’ll hear that they get backed up quite often.
The fire insurance reference is from the fact that Decatur (which is the only municipality in the county with its own fire/rescue) has a Class 2 rating, next to the highest, vs the county’s class 4 or 5.
Sorry, Monday morning and I must not be thinking clearly yet. For current residents I still don’t understand how annexation will shorten 911 response time.
Wasn’t part of the concern over annexing the WalMart (let’s get real-the rest of the area is unfortunate in the way roadkill) that a new fire station and police precinct will need to be built to service an expanded Decatur?
The city of Decatur back in 2012 said that annexation of more land would make the rating for the Fire Station go from 2-3 grade to 4-5 grade. The same as the Dekalb County is. They said in 2012 for the increase in land they would have to hire more police to keep the 2-3 minute 911 calls. They said they would gain more tax revenue from the commercial property but still would have to raise the tax index to cover the rest. So why annex more commercial property? Is the mixed use concept costing the City of Decatur more money over time than expected?
Why do we want Tuxworth Springs but not Medlock? Has someone counted the children in each? They might be in for a surprise. Let’s start a movement to get Medlock too. Not all of those houses have children, and we could really use that school building and the park.
I believe that there’s a wonderful charter school in that building–International School? Or is it The Museum School? Either way, let’s not lust after the building that houses a school full of caring, involved families that worked hard to get permission to use that building–years and years of negotiation with DCSS, I believe. Dismantling a school that is working wonderful is never a good idea. (Says the parent from the old Westchester who wishes the 10 year hiatus could have been avoided.)
My children attend ICS. I support it with my time and money. I don’t think anyone is suggesting tossing ICS out on its heels. ICS has seven years left on their lease; if Decatur honored the existing lease then that would give them plenty of time to figure out the next step, which could possibly turn out to be an even better location. The idea of protecting ICS is nice, but it isn’t really relevant in this conversation. ICS is, as it stands, only as protected as the length of its charter (5 more years) and the length of its lease (7 years).
Some of Decatur’s proposed annexation, if approved, will cause some families to have to leave ICS because they will no longer be in DeKalb County.
Correction: they would still be in Dekalb County but not DCSS.
CoD position on annexation is untenable. The per capita tax base of the City is already higher than the County’s, but the city wants to cherry pick the County’s commercial tax base. Decatur is sticking it to their neighbors twice: first we don’t want you Medlock; and second we’re taking your tax base.
yup
On the other hand, is Decatur’s position really different from any other cities or proposed cities in Dekalb? Don’t they all want commercial properties over more residential?
And you could also argue Medlock residents are trying to take advantage of the city. Medlock residents have been living on the border of Decatur for years, enjoying lower property rates but virtually equal access to the city’s shops and restaurants. Now that Decatur’s school system is the most coveted in-town and property values are soaring, they want to jump in and enjoy the benefits of a school system they never paid to support. Who’s sticking it to whom?
I think everyone’s looking out for their own interests and I’m glad the city politicians actually told the truth and won’t waste Medlock’s time.
Wow, “take advantage of the city?” Did you want those outside of CoD to pay a toll before they eat at Farm Burger? How about a tax to play softball at Clairmont Baptist? You get your city schools and better police/fire/sanitation service with your taxes (among other things). But those “fringe” neighborhoods have assets to offer as well. Specifically, Medlock has tons of green space and a large elementary school building that could be folded into CoD (which you need regardless if you annex). Sure, another group is using it now but start a negotiation for the school and expand your plant. And when you cite your schools as “most coveted in town” I assume you are limiting to a small area. Like south of N. Druid Hills, east of the Connector, and north of I20. Kittredge/Chamblee Charter system is rated higher (obviously both systems are good).
Sure, all of these cities need commercial to support municipal success. And I guess most folks have a somewhat narrow vision based on where they sit on the map.
So let me share my own: I’m in Medlock and very happy with the school my children attend. It’s an energetic and diverse environment, and they’ve had excellent learning experiences at Laurel Ridge. My neighbors include many original as well as 2nd and 3rd generation residents who have specifically chosen to live here because of the feel of this place. Volunteers in MANA have spent thousands of hours advocating on behalf of the neighborhood and working with developers that are now moving along with high-dollar ventures in commercial properties that Decatur seeks to annex. Not to mention the lengthy Medline study, which seems to have developed some ideas that are very much in Decatur’s interests but at the expense of key streets in our neighborhood.
Cityhood looms, and we seek to develop a picture of what our realistic options are so that we can poll our residents about preferences. Of course, we’re also keenly aware that if we only have residential to offer, we’ve got very little leverage.
And somehow you begrudge the fact that we occasionally support Decatur shops/restaurants, thereby sending more money to your schools? I used to laugh when folks mentioned the moat on this blog, but maybe not anymore…
You’re right. I should have said “services” rather than “shops and restaurants.” But I don’t begrudge Medlock residents for using any of those services, or shops and restaurants. I just think both communities are looking out for themselves and neither should be blamed for doing so.
Most of those Medlock folk spend their money in Decatur, at least occasionally. Not annexing them could lead to a rumored boycott of Decatur businesses. Not good. They can easily go elsewhere. Like Emory Pointe.
I have an idea! Maybe CoD should annex all of the commercial property within a several mile radius of my home so I don’t have a choice but to shop at their special special retail unless I want to waste gas and drive out of my way?
“Medlock residents have been living on the border of Decatur for years, enjoying lower property rates but virtually equal access to the city’s shops and restaurants.”
Not only that, but — and I have this on the best authority — some of these moochers have been gazing upon Decatur’s physical beauty for free! That’s right, they are sometimes looking upon your town and its clean streets, lovely greenspaces, and charming homes without paying anything into to COD’s swelling coffers.
And in the spring, when the flowers bloom, they are also smelling your flowers . . . again, for free!
This why our moat is going to be built just outside the huge walls we will build to keep the freeloading moochers out.
Excellent! I’ll be able to describe myself as being literally “beyond the pale.”
Decatur’s position is significantly different than Briarcliff or Lakeside or even Atlanta which are taking residential with commercial. Decatur and Avondale just wants the gravy.
I’m not sure that Avondale should be lumped into this “gravy” grab. What’s the disincentive for Avondale to accept residential areas? There’s no school system to protect. We do get very good city services other than schools, but I think those costs would be spread out across whatever new residents we have. I guess we’ll know more about the opinions of AE after next week’s specially called meeting on the subject of annexation, but I haven’t heard anything that suggested petitions from residential areas interested in joining AE would not be entertained or that a moratorium was needed.
You make a fair point. Avondale is more inclusive, but it’s primary annexation targets are the DeKalb Farmers Market and warehouse district in-between.
Avondale has not been seeking a “gravy grab”. Avondale has been in discussions regarding both residential and commercial. The residential includes the Decatur Terrace neighborhood (south of East College to Sams Crossing), the residential developments east of Katie Kerr to Columbia; moving east and north to include Forrest Hills. Also pursuing annexation of the Avondale High School. Recently, the Stratford Green condos have expressed renewed interest in joining the city as well. Commercial interests include the Laredo/Rio corridor and YDFM on the north side of town.
HI – One thing I do not understand in all of these quests for new cityhood, what is the advantage to the folks that are incorporating? If I understand things correctly, they do not get control of their schools right? They will still be county run. I can see advantages perhaps to joining a up with APS or CSD, but why go it alone?
The big benefit I’ve heard is policing – the cities can hire their own police forces rather than rely on Dekalb County’s cops. The better to keep out undesirables with, I suppose.
Beyond that? You’re still giving money to dysfunctional ol’ Dekalb.
It’s mainly about having a more localized police force, although more (and better maintained) parks is sometimes talked about as an issue. In some areas, zoning control can be a key issue. That definitely turned out to be the case with Brookhaven (particularly around the Buford Hwy area). As for schools, I’d say there is almost no chance of any new school systems being created, so if I were a voter in one of these unincorporated areas, I would not factor that into my decision.
I believe a longterm goal is to change the law that prevents the formation of new school systems, and people behind these movements feel that establishing cities is the first step in that direction. However, who’s to say whether that will be in the near future or the far future. Dunwoody has already expressed an interest in forming their own school system somewhere down the line. There are a lot of moving parts here, a lot of “this needs to happen for that to maybe happen.”
Forming new school districts would require a change to the state constitution. This would be, at best, an extremely difficult task. The charter system, exemplified by the continuing attempt to form the Druid Hills Charter Cluster, is a far more viable route to local control.
Well, the short answer is yes, those behind the cityhood movement likely have the eventual goal of getting out from under DCSS one way or another. At least that is my understanding.
Having dealt with DCSS in the past, do you really think they will let the “cash cow” areas of the county split away from the system? The DeKalb state delegation will most assuredly be against this move.
I am definitely not a fan if DCSS. But I guess any school system wouldn’t want to lose that kind of money. I am a former DCSS employee and saw nothing but inept school leadership from the principal on up.