The Medlock Area Neighborhood Association reported yesterday that Commissioners Jeff Rader and Kathie Gannon recently met with neighborhood representatives to give a brief update on the Scott Boulevard Baptist Church location, which is being redeveloped by Fuqua Development.

Fuqua presented some “very preliminary” drawings at the meeting.  The MANA site summarized it as such…

•  As proposed, the development covers 5.5 acres.
• All ten homes on Barton Way are under contract.
• A natural food store would serve as anchor.
• The project is a mixed use development. In addition to retail, it would include 200 apartment units (5 stories high).

MANA states that they’re planning a larger community meeting about the development in July.  Jump over to the MANA site for more pics of the renderings and details.

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).

The AJC reports that the DeKalb County Commission “snuffed” an effort to ban smoking in public places throughout the county, including parks, bars and strip clubs.  In a 4-2 vote, both dissenting votes to dismissing the ban came from northside commissioners Jeff Rader and Kathie Gannon.

Bar and strip club owners argued that such a ban would hurt their businesses.

DeKalb County Commisser Jeff Rader’s afternoon announcement that the County will host three public hearings (Tuesday, July 5 at 10 a.m. & 6 p.m., and on Tuesday, July 12 at 10 a.m.) on the proposed 4.5 mill tax increase includes a nifty breakdown on what that will mean for the different DeKalb municipalities.  Here ’tis…

2011        Rollback Rate        % Increase

Atlanta                               10.39          8.938                      16.25%
Avondale Estates            15.41        13.464                      14.45%
Chamblee                         13.71        12.223                      12.17%
Clarkston                          15.06        13.242                      13.73%
Decatur                              10.82        10.087                        7.27%
Doraville                            13.60        12.607                        7.88%
Dunwoody                         13.35        11.357                       17.55%
Lithonia                             15.33        13.280                       15.44%
Pine Lake                          15.61        13.541                       15.28%
Stone Mountain                13.90        12.980                         7.09%
Unincorporated                19.62        18.017                          8.90%

Countywide Debt                  1.08          0.647                          66.92%
Unincorporated Debt            0.66         1.631                         -59.53%

From DeKalb County Commissioner Jeff Rader…

DECATUR – The DeKalb Animal Services Task Force and DeKalb County Animal Services & Enforcement will host a community meeting for residents to provide input on how to improve the quality of life and reduce the number of animals euthanized in DeKalb County.

Thursday, May 12, 6:30 p.m., Dunwoody High School, 5035 Vermack Road, Dunwoody, GA 30338

For more than three years, DeKalb County has experienced a significant rise in the number of euthanized cats and dogs, rising from 3,800 to nearly 5,500 between 2007 and 2009.

Citizens are also encouraged to offer input by completing an online survey at www.dekalbcountyga.gov/astf.

For more information, email dila@dekalbcountyga.gov or visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov/astf.