Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond’s FY2023 budget, which includes $4.3 million to raise the starting salaries for police and firefighter recruits and provide increases for veteran public safety personnel, was passed today by the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners. This salary boost in the $1.7 billion budget maintains DeKalb’s status as one of the highest the -aid police and fire recruits among large local governments in the southeast and the state, respectively. “Our ability to recruit, hire and retain the best sworn personnel is essential to maintaining the quality of life in DeKalb County,” CEO Thurmond said. Effective April…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– Rockdale County government is inviting the public to provide input on the future of Rockdale Transportation by participating in the upcoming Transit Development Plan (TDP). The TDP will identify transit needs and opportunities for the county to inform the public of its future transit system investments. By aiding communities in developing a transit vision, the The TDP will lay the foundation for partnerships to address transit needs that best support the county’s continued growth and economic development. The Transit Development Plan is a 12-month study consisting of the following key phases: Evaluate current transportation conditions. Gauge current…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– Efforts to improve water service capacity throughout DeKalb County continue on Monday, March 13, with the launch of the Stone Mountain- Lithonia Road Water Line Replacement Project. Crews will replace 5,000 linear feet of crumbling water lines with new 8-inch and 12-inch ductile-iron water lines along Stone Mountain-Lithonia Road. The repair project is expected to last approximately six months (March 2023 to September 2023), barring any weather delays. Normal construction hours will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding major holidays. An increase in construction-related noise and traffic during work hours should be…

ATLANTA — Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens is establishing a new task force to further engage the community on plans for the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center site as well as the surrounding green space including the former Atlanta Prison Farm. The City of Atlanta is also relaunching www.ATLTrainingCenter.com with additional information about plans for greenspace enhancement and protection and facts on the purpose and vision for the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center. The task force will supplement the work of the Community Stakeholder Advisory Committee which will continue to provide direct dialogue with neighborhoods adjacent to the site of the future Training Center. The approximately…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA – The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners gave the green light to several new items earlier this week. Here are some highlights: Improvements to swimming pools and aquatic centers underway Big upgrades and repairs will take place at Lenora Park Pool, Collins Hill Park Aquatic Center and Mountain Park Aquatic Center. The improvements include the removal and replacement of tile, plaster and pool shell expansion joints at the indoor competition pools at Collins Hill Park and Mountain Park. Lenora Park Pool will undergo the removal and replacement of perimeter pool deck joints. Repairs and replacements will make sure there…

DEKALB COUNTY– DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will host the Summer Food Service Program from June 5 – July 21. This ongoing effort ensures school children have nutritious meals during the summer and seeks participating program sites. To qualify as a site, 50 percent of children served must meet the income guidelines for free and reduced-price meals in the National School Lunch Program. Children who are members of households that receive food stamp benefits or Aid for Dependent Children (AFDC) assistance automatically qualify. Funding for the Summer Food Service Program is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) invites the best and the brightest to attend the RCPS Teacher Job Fair on Saturday, March 4, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., at the RCPS Board Room, 960 Pine Street NE, Conyers.Participants must pre-register by visitingwww.rockdaleschools.org/jobfair or by downloading the Career Fair Plus app on your smart phone. The school district is recruiting outstanding candidates for teaching positions in the 2023-2024 school year. All 22 RCPS schools will be represented and interviews will be held during the Teacher Job Fair. To pre-register and schedule an interview, please visit www.rockdaleschools.org/jobfair RCPS has 11 elementary schools, four…

ATLANTA, GA – Attorney General Chris Carr today announced the indictment of Douglas County Chairwoman Romona Jackson Jones, Douglas County Commissioner Henry Mitchell, Douglas County Tax Commissioner Greg Baker, former Purchasing Director Bill Peacock, and Anthony Knight, owner of S&A Express. The indictment relates to a contract awarded to S&A Express for professional janitorial services for the Douglas County Annex Building. All defendants are charged with Conspiracy in Restraint of Free and Open Competition in Transactions. “Those who work for the taxpayers of Georgia are expected to uphold high ethical standards and to perform their duties in an honest and…

WEST HELENA, AR—DeKalb County resident Amos King and his family members this weekend are celebrating the legacy of the late Elizabeth Cash Green, King’s great-grandmother, who is believed to be the last survivor of slavery in America. Green, who was born on June 2,1862, died in Helena, Arkansas on Feb. 20,1975 at the age of 112, King said. Although Wikipedia reports that Peter Mills (Oct 26, 1861-Sept 22, 1972) was the last known surviving American born into slavery, King and his family say the Helena (Arkansas) World newspaper chronicled Green’s 111th birthday, more than two years after Mills had already…