Author: On Common Ground News

DeKalb County announces its Arts and Culture Relief Grant, funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, to support professional artists who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. District 3 Commissioner Larry Johnson allocated $250,000 to launch the program which will provide grants of up to $20,000, based on documented financial impact. The Spruill Center for the Arts and the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center will manage the program for the county’s Community Development Department and District 3. The grants are limited to professional artists who reside in DeKalb County, who are at least 18 years…

DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond will host a virtual town hall meeting to discuss the details of the modifications to the county’s 2010 federal consent decree concerning the county’s sewer system. Some of the modifications to the existing consent decree include: Increased oversight by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Georgia Environmental Protection Division and U.S. District Court. A deadline extension for completion of major repairs and upgrades of the sewer system. A civil penalty to be paid by the county. Thurmond also will unveil DeKalb’s “Decade of Renewal,” a 10-year plan already underway to upgrade the county’s sewer system. The…

Conyers’ Chief Operating Officer David Spann announced his retirement from the city of Conyers effective Friday, Oct. 23. Spann leaves a legacy of 32 years of service to the city, serving in a number of roles integral to the community’s growth and progress. Spann has served as chief operating officer since 2010, overseeing operations in the departments of Planning and Inspection Services, Public Relations and Tourism, Public Works and Transportation, the Georgia International Horse Park (GIHP) and Cherokee Run Golf Club. His career began in 1984 with the Conyers Police Department (CPD) as a police officer. In his…

STONCREST—Beginning Monday, Oct. 19, drive-thru flu shots will be available in the parking lot of the future Stonecrest City Hall(former Sam’s Club), at 2994 Turner Hill Road. The drive-through will be open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Special hours, on Tuesdays and Thursdays Oct. 13 through Oct. 29, will extend hours until 7 p.m., to coincide with early voting taking place at the same location. Flu shots will not be available during Saturday testing hours. The DeKalb Board of Health is providing the flu shots. Appointment scheduling and registration for drive-thru flu shots and COVID-19…

Under and by virtue of certain tax Fi.Fa.s issued by the Tax Commissioner of Rockdale County, Georgia, in favor of the State of Georgia and County of Rockdale against the following properties as described by their respective parcel IDs, the below listed and described properties will be sold between the legal hours of sale, 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM, for cash or certified funds at public outcry at Rockdale Auditorium, 903 N. Main Street NW, Conyers, GA 30012 on the first Tuesday in November, the same being Nov. 3, 2019. This is a buyer beware sale and all property will…

ATLANTA—Today, (Oct. 15) Gov. Brian P. Kemp signed Executive Order 10.15.01, extending current COVID-19 restrictions with minimal changes to the section on Industry, Commerce, Organizations, & Non-Profits. The new Executive Order takes effect on Oct. 16 at 12:00 AM and runs through Oct. 31 at 11:59 PM. The public health emergency remains in place until Nov. 9, 2020. The Governor’s executive orders are available to be read here  https://gov.georgia.gov/executive-action/executive-orders

ATLANTA – Members of the Georgia House Democratic Caucus (GHDC) encourage all Georgia residents to participate in the 2020 U.S. Census today, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020, by midnight. Households can complete the census online or by phone by 5:59 a.m. EST on Friday, Oct. 16, but the GHDC urges residents to participate as soon as possible. As of Oct. 13, Georgia’s self-response rate is 62.7 percent, which is behind the national average of 66.8 percent. The 2020 U.S. Census ensures accurate representation for districts at both the state and federal level. The number of Georgians counted in…

DeKalb County commissioners: L-R Larry Johnson, Mereda Davis Johnson and Lorraine Cochran-Johnson Three DeKalb County commissioners are demanding immediate action from DeKalb elections officials concerning the long waiting times voters are experiencing in South DeKalb precincts during early voting. Commissioners Larry Johnson, Mereda Davis Johnson and Lorraine Cochran-Johnson(none of whom are related) e-mailed the letter this afternoon (Oct. 15) to DeKalb Supervisor of Elections Erica Hamilton and Sam Tillman, who heads the DeKalb Board of Elections. The commissioners said that many precincts in South DeKalb, which has a predominately African American population, have experienced 4- to…

100+ clergy push for Democratic Senate frontrunner ATLANTA—More than 100 faith leaders from across Georgia have signed on to support the Rev. Raphael Warnock’s bid for the U.S. Senate. Clergy from different denominations and various parts of the state have co-signed a joint open letter urging Georgians to join them in voting for Warnock, who currently leads a crowded field of 21 candidates. “Dr. Warnock will bring a unique perspective to Washington,” said Presiding Elder Toni Belin Ingram of AME’s 6th Episcopal District. “He represents transformative change for Georgia and this nation. He is the right leader at the…

Commissioner Larry Johnson shared the following comments during yesterday’s Board of Commissioners meeting as to why he was in favor of the land exchange: This is more than a land swap. This is about bringing more access and more amenities to these long-standing communities to support their sustainability and quality of life. This land exchange provides opportunities for enhanced equity and economic advancement for neighborhoods that have been historically underserved. By working together, we’ve been able to create a model where both environmental and economic concerns can be addressed to benefit the entire community.  This will be a total green…