Author: On Common Ground News

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA–Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a 4 percent market adjustment for eligible County employees. The move will also raise the salaries of first responders in Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Sheriff’s Office, Corrections and E911 by an additional 4 percent, bringing the total pay increase for these frontline employees to 8 percent. This decision supports the County’s goal to retain and recruit an effective workforce and underscores hiring challenges caused by an increasingly competitive job market, especially in public safety. “The 2021 budget the Board of Commissioners adopted in January focused on preserving…

DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County Public Library Board of Trustees will hold a regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 11, at 4:30 p.m. This meeting will be conducted via teleconference (Zoom).

DECATUR, GA– The DeKalb-Peachtree Airport Advisory Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 11, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will be held virtually via Zoom at https://dekalbcountyga.zoom.us/s/87357743816. The passcode is PDKAirport. The meeting can be joined by phone at 602-333-0032 or 1-888-270-9936 and using the conference code 482992. The meeting agenda follows: Approval of September 13, 2021 minutes Information/Old Business III.  Director’s Report – Mario Evans Airport Master Plan Update – www.pdkmasterplan.com Noise Report – Korey Barnes September 2021 Noise and Operations Report New Business Public Comments For more information, contact Mario Evans, airport director, at 770-936-5440 or maevans@dekalbcountyga.gov.…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– To meet increased demand, while also providing a location in closer proximity for South DeKalb residents, the DeKalb County Board of Health has resumed COVID-19 testing at Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church, 1879 Glenwood Ave., SE, Atlanta. LTS, a contracted laboratory partner with the Georgia Department of Public Health, will staff this location. COVID-19 testing is available by appointment, weekdays 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. COVID-19 testing also continues in the parking lot of the North DeKalb Health Center, 3807 Clairmont Rd., NE, in Chamblee. Staffed by Mako Medical, the North DeKalb site is also open weekdays,…

The Stonecrest City Council approved a resolution at a special called meeting on Monday (Oct. 4) to censure Mayor Jason Lary for stating that he would show his “hairy behind” the next time anyone failed to follow protocol by acknowledging his presence during city council meetings. Mayor Lary said he made the comment at the Sept. 27 City Council meeting because he was frustrated at the disrespect shown by a City  department head who greeted Mayor pro tem George Turner and the rest of the council  but failed to recognize him at the meeting. The mayor said the same…

Conyers, GA—The 41st Annual Olde Town Conyers Fall Festival takes place on Saturday, Oct. 16, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., in the streets of historic Olde Town Conyers. What began as a fundraiser by the Rockdale County Historical Society in 1980 to help fund operational costs for the Depot (which now houses the Conyers Welcome Center) and Old Jail Museum, has become an annual fall tradition for Conyers residents and neighboring communities. While the historical society still exists, the organization turned over the coordination of the festival to the city of Conyers in 2008. “More than 100 vendors are…

  CONYERS, GA– Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) has announced the top three finalists for the district Teacher of the Year with surprise visits to finalists’ schools. The district finalists for RCPS Teacher of the Year are Rachel Fisher of Rockdale County High School; Cayla Hicks of Lorraine Elementary School; and Stacey Homer of Pine Street Elementary School. Each finalist received a surprise visit at their school by RCPS Superintendent Terry Oatts, Rockdale County Board of Education (BOE) Vice Chairwoman Pam Brown; BOE members Heather Duncan, Sandra Jackson-Lett, Jim McBrayer, Akita Parmer; cabinet members and staff, who commended…

LAWRENCEVILLE– The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners today (Oct. 5) approved a budget amendment that expands existing communications resources and creates a new Communications Department, which will be led by Joe Sorenson, who as been with the County for more than 20 years. “Keeping our residents informed is a top priority,” said Chairwoman Nicole Hendrickson. “And as the way people consume news and information continues to evolve, we want to ensure vital messages about County services reach our residents and business owners where they are.” The decision supports the Board’s strategic objective to increase public access to information about…