Author: On Common Ground News

The Stonecrest City Council unanimously approved a $650 monthly vehicle allowance for the city’s mayor and an agreement to enter into a financial services contract with Ed Wall of Piper Jaffray & Co. to help cover the city’s expenses. The council approved both on June 19. The allowance for Mayor Jason Lary, not to exceed $7,800 annually, was approved for two years—the duration of his first term. Although the allowance would start this month, payments wouldn’t be issued until the city’s funds become available. “This is not a blank check,” said Councilwoman Diane Adoma, who introduced the motion for the…

ATLANTA — MARTA is launching an ongoing initiative to overhaul its  elevators and escalators beginning with West Lake Station elevators on June 19. Elevator upgrades will continue at Hamilton E. Holmes Station on June 21 and West End on June 26.  Also, on June 26, two escalators at Peachtree Center will be closed for upgrades.  During renovations, elevators will be out for up to eight weeks and escalators up to 16 weeks. Customers can use the escalators or stairs instead of the elevators. Customers requiring the use of an elevator, such as those using wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, strollers, or traveling…

Rockdale County government plans to spend $4 million to purchase and make improvements to Costley Mill Park, a 77-acre privately-owned park on Costley Mill Road located off Georgia Highway 138. Board of Commissioners Chairman Oz Nesbitt said the county has wanted to buy the park for 30 years and recently entered into an agreement to purchase the park at an offer the county couldn’t pass up. Officials are now working on consolidating county debt to make the purchase in a way that would not negatively impact taxpayers. The consolidation includes an old loan of $5.6 million, the $2.5 million for…

The Stonecrest City Council approved a 67-month, $16 million contract with CH2M, the management company it has hired to oversee the newly-formed city’s personnel and infrastructure. The City Council passed the contract 4-1 on June 14 at a special called meeting. Councilwoman Jazzmin Cobble cast the dissenting vote. Councilman Rob Turner was absent from the meeting. The contract was scheduled for a vote at the June 12 City Council meeting but was rescheduled to allow CH2M additional time to fine-tune the contract.   Under the agreement, CH2M will receive $1.7 million for work performed from June through the end of December…

DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond is addressing what he calls the county’s most important critical issues for the remainder of fiscal year 2017: deficit spending and an inadequate fund balance. “Our number one priority is to reduce the deficit so that we can propose a balanced budget in fiscal year 2018,” CEO Thurmond said. “We are able to redirect existing funds to address two other priorities including salary adjustments for public safety personnel and continuing our fight against blight.” CEO Thurmond’s proposed midyear budget adjustment, which was delivered to the Board of Commissioners on June 12, sets aside approximately $54.6 million,…

Captain Ruth Stringer has been appointed to serve as DeKalb County’s interim sheriff while Jeffrey Mann serves a 40-day suspension mandated by Gov. Nathan Deal. The governor appointed a special panel to investigate Mann who was charged on May 6 with public indecency and obstruction (running from police) after allegedly exposing himself in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park. Mann, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges, goes to trial on July 7. DeKalb Superior Court Chief Judge Courtney Johnson appointed Stringer, a 27-year veteran of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Stringer was sworn in and began her new assignment on…

The City of Covington and Newton County are partnering with the Georgia Institute of Technology to provide a pilot program to help spur growth in the field of logistics. Residents of Newton, Rockdale, Walton, Jasper, DeKalb and Morgan counties are invited to register for the Logistics Education And Pathways (LEAP) program. Tuition is free for the first 100 participants. “The Georgia Tech Supply Chain & Logistics Institute (SCL) is pleased to partner with the City of Covington, Newton County and the surrounding counties to bring the LEAP online courses in a pilot program to those who are eager to increase…

The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved spending up to $500,000 for the preliminary design-build phase of an amphitheater at Rainbow Park on Rainbow Drive in South DeKalb. The outdoor facility will complement the existing Porter Sanford III Performing Arts and Center and auditorium, also located on Rainbow Drive. The site was formerly part of the historic Mathis Dairy farm, which was well known for providing dairy tours to school children who milked Rosebud, the cow, during their visit. The farm was eventually sold in 1995 and residential subdivisions were built on most of the land. “This is an…

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Fugitive Unit located and arrested a suspect wanted in connection with a murder in Aiken, South Carolina. Tobias Thomas, 20, was arrested on June 15. Warrants issued on May 26 by the City of Aiken allege that Thomas shot Kalief C. Bey with a handgun on Brandt Court in Aiken, causing his death. DeKalb Sheriff’s investigators found Thomas in a residence near Decatur, Georgia and arrested him without incident.  He is charged with murder and possession of a weapon during commission of a violent crime. Thomas is being held at the DeKalb County Jail awaiting extradition…

The Decatur Arts Alliance seeks sculptures to be placed in five locations within walking distance of downtown Decatur as part of the ongoing Decatur Artway celebration of public art.  The sculptures are on view for two years and easily accessible to hundreds of people each month who come to Decatur to shop, dine, work, or attend the year-round calendar of events and festivals. In addition, the art and artists are featured on the Otocast App.  Selected artists will receive an honorarium of $2,000, and in addition, the artwork may be available for sale. All submissions should be professionally constructed of durable materials that will withstand the elements.  All durable outdoor media…