Author: On Common Ground News

DeKalb County’s Department of Innovation and Technology has been recognized asa Georgia leader in innovation. The department received one of nine technology innovation awards presented at the Georgia 2017 Technology Innovation Showcase for the county’s Journey to Procurement Excellence project. “It is an honor to have been recognized again this year for how DeKalb County is transforming the delivery of services to our citizens and constituents through business and technology innovation,” said John Matelski, DeKalb’s chief innovation and information officer. DeKalb’s awarded-winning project allows for online collaboration with suppliers through the procure-to-pay lifecycle. The project replaced paper processes with electronic…

The City of Atlanta has completed its sale of the Civic Center to the Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA) for $31 million. AHA will partner with Weingarten Realty Investors to develop affordable housing on the site, retail and commercial space. Weingarten is the Texas firm that began talks with the city for the purchase in 2015 but reached an impasse in 2016. Mayor Reed said with the close of the sale, he is excited about the future for the site. “Good things take time. Through its focus on affordable housing, the redevelopment of the Civic Center property will give families and…

The DeKalb County Roads and Drainage Department will host a flood hazard map open house on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 5 – 7 p.m., at the Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur. DeKalb County’s flood risk information has been revised and new flood hazard maps will be available for review. Revisions to these mapping products may affect residents and business owners in unincorporated DeKalb County, Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, and Tucker. Residents can view the new preliminary maps online at www.GeorgiaDFIRM.com. DeKalb County staff, local officials, representatives from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Federal…

The DeKalb County Public Library is developing plans to meet the future library needs of county residents. The library is seeking input from residents and asking them to participate in a survey by Dec. 9. To take the survey, go to the Library’s website at dekalblibrary.org and click on the survey link.

A single lane of Peachtree Road near the intersection of Peachtree Industrial Boulevard will be closed Monday, Nov. 27, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., as crews complete emergency sewer line repairs near 4945 Peachtree Road, Chamblee. As part of DeKalb County’s $1.345 billion Capital Improvement Program, crews working on behalf of the Department Watershed Management are assessing and repairing lines to improve sewer service to the community by increasing capacity and reducing sanitary sewer overflows in the area. Motorists and MARTA passengers who use Peachtree Road at the Peachtree Industrial Boulevard intersection should expect delays and plan for extra commuting…

Zoning Public Hearing, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 9 a.m., Assembly Hall, 901 Main St., Conyers Work Session/Voting Session – First Reading of Budget Ordinance, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 10 a.m., Assembly Hall, 901 Main Street, Conyers Work Session, Tuesday, December 5, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at the Assembly Hall, 901Main St., Conyers. Voting Session – Second Reading and Adoption of Budget Ordinance Tuesday, Dec.12, 10 a.m., at the Assembly Hall, 901 Main Street, Conyers Rockdale County Offices will be closed for the following holidays: Thanksgiving: Thursday, Nov. 23, and Friday, Nov. 24 Christmas: Monday, Dec. 25, and Tuesday, Dec. 26  

Emory Photo Lithonia resident Chelsea Jackson, a political science and African American Studies double major at Emory University, has been named a Rhodes Scholar, Emory University officials announced in a news release. Jackson is Emory’s 20th student selected for the prestigious scholarship, which provides for all-expenses-paid-study at the University of Oxford in England for two or three years. Jackson is one of 32 American college students selected for 2018 and she also is the fourth woman and first African American student from Emory College to receive the scholarship. “I am immediately blessed to be selected,” said Jackson. “Just the…

Serena L. Nowell has joined the law firm of Fincher Denmark, which serves as Deputy City Attorney for the City of Stonecrest. As senior counsel, Nowell’s areas of responsibility include public finance, complex real estate transactions, negotiating, reviewing and executing contracts, and serving as outside general counsel for governmental and institutional clients. “We are excited to add Serena to our already very talented collection of lawyers, as she brings more than 25 years of high level experience laser focused to the needs of our clients,” said Steven Fincher, senior partner. “She is a great addition to our team of…

Flat Bridge Road has undergone resurfacing, thanks to an expedited project that includes repaving five additional roads, the Rockdale Department of Transportation (RDOT) has announced. The project will cost approximately $1.5 million to complete, with approximately $800,000 of the funding coming from the Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG) program from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT). The project covers approximately eight miles of roads. Crews began patching the streets on Nov. 16, with the first street being Flat Bridge Road from Union Church Road (Bridge) to Alexander Lake Road. The other roads include: Lester Road from Sigman Road to…

As the holiday season kicks off this month, Georgia Power is inviting Georgians to “show the glow” by entering the 2017 Georgia Power Light Up the Holidays contest, hic  h runs Nov. 24 through Dec. 21. The “Light Up the Holidays” contest offers participants a chance to win tickets to top Georgia attractions each week during the promotion, as well as a VIP experience at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Jan. 1. To enter the contest:          Step 1: Take a photo of how you are lighting up the holidays at your home or business with friends and family.         …