Decatur Commissioner Fred Boykin sends along this info that was included in the most recent Bicycle South newsletter…

Next Tuesday October 8^th at 10AM the DeKalb County Commission will consider a proposal to condemn approx 10’ (average) off the Church St edge of the CSX railroad right of way from Glendale to Erskine for the purpose of building a trail bridge over I-285 and a continuous multi-use trail along the route. If you’ve ever ridden the trail, you know this is the worst & most dangerous section between Decatur and Stone Mountain! PATH and the County have the funds, GDOT has approved the bridge, the permit is in place and the Clarkston City Council is in support and now is the opportunity to make this happen.

However, the DeKalb Commission has postponed this vote once before because the Commissioner for the district, Sharon Barnes-Sutton, has expressed some doubt about the need for a bridge. If you live in DeKalb and want a safe way to ride or walk this trail, then now is the time to contact her & the other Commissioners: Jeff Rader, Larry Johnson, Elaine Boyer, Stan Watson & Kathy Gannon. Click HERE (http://web.co.dekalb.ga.us/boc/contact.html) for contact information. Please do it now! The vote is only a few days away.

The AJC reports this morning that the DeKalb County Commission voted on Tuesday to make recycling services free to all residents, eliminating a one-time $30 subscription fee.  According to the article, DeKalb County recycling participation is only at 21% currently, and the commissioners hope to double that number by waiving the fee.

The the fee has been eliminated, residents still need to opt-in and sign up in order to participate.

Has everyone seen this map that DeKalb commissioner Jeff Rader sent around yesterday?  It’s like the Holy Grail for anyone and everyone perplexed or angry about DeKalb recent property tax assessments!   You’ll want to open the PDF to zoom in.

A cursory glance at the City o’ Decatur shows a good amount of red (i.e. increases).

As budgets have gotten tighter and tighter over the past few months/years, DeKalb County residents have repeatedly recommended that the county cut back trash pickup to once a week.  Currently trash is picked up twice a week.

Well, the AJC reports this morning that the DeKalb County Commission is finally considering cutting back on trash pickup. According to the news org…

Going to once weekly pickup would allow the fee, which last went up in 2006, to stay the same through 2015, said Ted Rhinehart, the county’s deputy chief operating officer for infrastructure.

It also would gradually let the county eliminate 100 full-time jobs, mostly through attrition, and at least 25 collection trucks. Surplus vehicles and gear would be sold.

And more workers would be free to clean up roadways of litter and debris, as well as handle the mowing and landscaping on county land along those roads.

Those opposed to the change quoted in the article cite the smell of garbage and the potential for messy sidewalks as major concerns.  As a Decatur resident with just once-a-week pickup, I can’t say I’ve noticed either of those things being a major problem.

Yesterday’s Champion Newspaper reported that the DeKalb County Commission was considering asking the state legislature to place a moratorium on “on annexation and incorporation in DeKalb County to allow an analysis by a committee.”

Commissioner Jeff Rader explained the initiative to the paper saying that recent city incorporations “seem to be formed around a political group” that adds a “tax base that has really nothing to do with their city,”

What would this study committee do?  According to the paper…

The annexation and incorporation study committee would create standards for evaluating incorporations that include criteria for determining reasonable boundaries for the existing or new cities; an analysis of the tax base within the proposed boundaries of the new city and in the remaining unincorporated areas;

In response to the article, Decatur Mayor Bill Floyd tells DM he’s “sorry to see this.”  He continues…

I think it is a reaction by the county to use the State of Georgia to stop or delay the creation of a new city when they can’t prevent it from happening themselves. It is clearly an attempt to prevent the people from having a choice. The creation of any new city requires extensive study into how a new city can be sustained and always results in a significant reduction in services necessary for the county to provide in the area affected.

The idea that people living in an area had no impact or influence on development in the area is as far fetched as contending that they should be unable to decide if they want to be part of a new city, or part of an old one for that matter, simply because it might have some perceived impact on someone not involved. People have a right to choose and that privilege should never be denied to them.

The contention that living in unincorporated Dekalb County offers less taxes is quickly dissolving. Cities by their very nature provide a higher quality of life and a higher level of services than counties. Taxes are much like anything else you buy, if you don’t think you are getting your monies worth they are too high. People who live in cities believe that what they get is worth the cost. Those who don’t live inside a city are beginning to recognize the difference that cities offer.

Hopefully the State will realize that this is an issue they do not need to get involved in.

As part of $33.6 million in budget cuts demanded by the DeKalb County Commission, DeKalb Police have decided to ground its police helicopter.  From the AJC…

DeKalb Chief William O’Brien grounded the helicopter to meet a $4.7 million budget cut, according to a memo obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“Effective immediately, helicopter response to calls for service is very limited. Aerial Support is suspending all helicopter activities, operations and call-outs,” Assistant Chief Lisa A. Gassner wrote to staff on Thursday.

The helicopter will only be used for critical public safety emergencies, such as floods and officer-involved shootings, police spokeswoman Mekka Parish said.

Sounds like DeKalb police chases may have just gotten a bit more challenging.

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