Author: On Common Ground News

Start the New Year with a new job. The Masonic Admiration Lodge #25 and DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Irvin Johnson will present a hiring event on Jan. 18, 1 to 4 p.m., at the Community Achievement Center, 4522 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur HR managers from a wide variety of fields will be in attendance including AT&T, the Centers for Disease Control, Diaz Foods, Georgia Department of Transportation, law enforcement, logistics and customer service. Candidates should come dressed to interview, bring resumes and be prepared to speak directly with hiring personnel. The jobs fair is free and open to the public.…

Parents who are interested in enrolling their child into a Special or Choice Program in Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) for the 2017-2018 school year must apply by Jan. 9. Applications must be received by 6 p.m. For an application, go to www.rockdaleschools.org/specialtyandchoice or contact rcpsinfo@rockdale.k12.ga.us

The DeKalb Chapter of the National Association of Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) will hold its next meeting Tuesday, Jan. 10, 1 p.m., at Piccadilly’s restaurant, The Galleria at South DeKalb Mall, 2801 Candler Road, Decatur. All active and retired federal employees, their spouses, and surviving spouses who are not currently a member of NARFE are welcome to attend this free meeting to learn more about the benefits of NARFE.  For more information, visit ganarfe.org or contact Chapter President Calvin Stevens, 404-288-3604.

The 2017 East Metro Atlanta Health and Fitness Expo will be held Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Georgia International Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway, Conyers. Admission to the health expo is free and offers attendees access to health experts and physical activities for every level. There will be a 5K run/walk, a rock climbing wall and golfing. If you are interested in being a sponsor or exhibitor, visit emetrohealth.com

Rockdale County Tax Commissioner Tisa Smart-Washington has named RJ Hadley Chief Deputy Tax Commissioner, and Carol Simpson and Connie Shepperd Deputy Tax Commissioners in Rockdale. “We have operated as an effective leadership team in the Office of the Tax Commissioner for the past 4 years and I am excited our leadership team will remain in place,” said Smart-Washington. “Hadley’s appointment and Simpson and Shepperd’s reappointments ensure continuity in our operations and allow us to focus on being an office that is resident-centered, innovative and responsive with no disruption.” Hadley, who previously served as Chief of Staff and Tax Commissioner for…

By Mackenzie N. Morgan Rockdale County employees will earn a little more than expected this year, after the Board of Commissioners (BOC) approved a slight adjustment during its first meeting of 2017. In a 2-1 vote on Jan. 3, the board approved a 5 percent pay raise, rather than the 4.5 percent previously approved. The raise was pushed through after newly-elected Chairman Oz Nesbitt, who made the proposal while conducting his very first meeting, won support from Post 1 Commissioner Sherri Washington, who also is newly elected. Nesbitt had tried to get the raise last year when he was Post…

The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday adopted a $1.56 billion budget for fiscal year 2017.The adopted budget is up about 5.6 percent from 2016 and includes a $1.18 billion operating budget plus another $384 million for capital improvements. “The budget upholds Gwinnett’s history of sustainable, conservative budgeting practices while looking ahead at future implications of our decisions. I appreciate the citizen review team members, County staff and elected offices for their hard work in developing this year’s budget,” Board of Commissioners Chairman Charlotte Nash said. “The primary areas of focus for 2017 are retaining employees, supporting public…

By Valerie J. Morgan Families and friends filled the pews of the Rockdale County Auditorium on Dec. 29 to witness the installation ceremonies for Rockdale’s 11 newly-elected officials, six of whom were incumbents. Oz Nesbitt, who was sworn in to the county’s top position—that of Rockdale Chairman of the Board of Commissioners—was the last official installed. Nesbitt took the oath of office following a rousing gospel musical performance by Derrick Monk, a vocalist and songwriter who once produced for the late James Brown, the “Godfather of Soul.” Monk brought the house down, turning the program into a revival-style, foot-patting, hand-clapping…

Several inaugural events will be held in January as DeKalb CEO-elect Michael Thurmond takes the helm, ushering in a “New Day” for the county. Thurmond’s “New Day for DeKalb Inaugural Celebration 2017” steering committee, co-chaired by Greg and Betty Levett and Will and Virginia Reece, announced that Thurmond will honor DeKalb’s federal, state and local public servants as part of the celebration. In a joint statement, the co-chairs said, “We are honored and thrilled to lead this celebration of our new CEO and the dedicated men and women who serve our county. CEO-elect Thurmond will provide new leadership, new vision…

DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis says his staff has been working to transition to the county’s new administration under Michael Thurmond, who will be sworn in as the new CEO on Jan. 13. “We have made ourselves readily available and provided information as requested. Our staff is putting briefing materials together for that team,” Ellis said during a meeting with the press on Dec. 29. Ellis met with reporters to field questions and provide updates as he prepares to exit office. Ellis returned in December with only about two weeks left to serve after the Georgia Supreme Court overturned his attempted…