Author: On Common Ground News

The DeKalb County Board of Ethics will conduct a board meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 4:30 p.m.  The meeting will be held via Zoom (details below): Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://dekalbcountyga.zoom.us/j/85360021617 Or Telephone: USA 602 333 0032 USA 8882709936 (US Toll Free) Conference code: 171493 Find local AT&T numbers:  https://www.teleconference.att.com/servlet/glbAccess?process=1&accessNumber=6023330032&accessCode=171493 AGENDA: Call to Order Adoption of Agenda III.        Review and Approve Meeting Minutes from August 9, 2018 Statement from Litigation Counsel regarding disposition of pending litigation (Sharon Barnes Sutton vs. Stacey Kalberman et al) and the Ethics Board authority to hold this meeting Presentation of Open…

The Rockdale County Board of Education (BOE) was recently selected by the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) for the Leading Edge Award for the second consecutive year, which highlights school districts that are leading the way in ensuring students are competitive in an ever-changing global market. The Rockdale County BOE was recognized for its innovative Early Learning initiatives and will be honored during the Georgia School Boards Association / Georgia School Superintendents Association Virtual Annual Conference, December 3-4, 2020. “We are thrilled to be recognized for the second consecutive year with the GSBA Leading Edge Award,” said BOE Chairwoman Mandy…

Gov. Brian P. Kemp delivered the following remarks regarding the results of the 2020 election in Georgia on Nov. 20: “Good afternoon. COVID-19 has introduced numerous challenges to county and state elections officials as they work to keep Georgia elections secure, accessible, and fair. Given the record number of absentee ballots and narrow margin in the November 3rd election for president in Georgia, I joined many in backing a hand recount and urging a thorough investigation into any voting irregularities. The Secretary of State oversaw a complete audit which revealed significant errors made in several counties, including: Floyd, Fayette, Douglas,…

DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson in partnership with the DeKalb County Board of Health and the DeKalb County Department of Community Development will host two free flu vaccinations this fall for DeKalb’s homeless population. The first vaccination will take place on Saturday, Nov. 21, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at one of DeKalb County’s COVID-19 homeless hotels, the Quality Inn & Suites, 5300 Snapfinger Park Drive, Decatur. The second vaccination will occur on Dec. 5, 9 to 11 a.m., at Decatur Cooperative Ministry, 115 Church St., Decatur, and from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Threshold Ministry, 218 Sycamore St.,…

Sam Tillman, chairman of the DeKalb County Board of Voter Registrations A DeKalb County elections employee has been fired after an internal review found that the manager’s failure to follow protocols in the state mandated ballot recount verification, which resulted in an inaccurate tally. Sam Tillman, chairman of the DeKalb County Board of Voter Registration and Elections, read the following statement today (Nov. 20) at a special called board meeting, which was held virtually: “It has come to our attention that a DeKalb VRE manager, who is now a former employee, failed to follow our established protocols and blatantly disregarded the…

ATLANTA—Gov. Brian Kemp and the Georgia Department of Labor today announced that Georgia’s unemployment rate in October dropped 1.8%, bringing the current unemployment rate to 4.5%, down more than 8% since the state’s all-time high in April 2020 and below the national average. “Thanks to our measured approach to the pandemic, fighting for people and their paychecks, Georgia continues to lead the nation in economic recovery as the fight with COVID-19 continues,” said Gov. Brian Kemp. “As the No. 1 State for Business eight years in a row, we’ve been able to avoid draconian budget cuts, secure our AAA…

In observance of Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, Nov. 26, sanitation collection service for residential customers will be based on the following revised collection schedule: Monday, Nov. 23 – Normal collection day. Tuesday, Nov. 24 – Normal collection day.  Wednesday, Nov. 25 – Normal collection day. Thursday, Nov. 26 – Thanksgiving Day observed; no collection service. Friday, Nov. 27 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Thursday, Nov. 26, will be serviced on Friday, Nov. 27. The Seminole Road Landfill, and Central and North Transfer Stations will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 26, reopening on Friday, Nov. 27, during…

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, the DeKalb County Board of Health’s COVID-19 testing sites will operate on a modified schedule beginning Wednesday, Nov. 25. Wednesday, Nov. 25: All sites will close at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 26 and Friday, November 27: All sites will be closed. Saturday, Nov. 28:  The Stonecrest testing site, located at 2994 Turner Hill Road., will be open from 9 a.m. until noon. The COVID-19 Call Center will also close at 2 p.m. on Wednesday and will be closed Thursday, through the weekend.  Individuals will receive their test results via the email address they provide…

Renee Cail The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) has filed a motion to intervene in the City of Stonecrest’s ongoing case against Metro Green Recycling, LLC. SELC filed its motion on behalf of Citizens for a Healthy and Safe Environment (CHASE) in DeKalb County Superior Court on Nov. 18.   SELC is challenging the facility’s solid waste handling permit and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division’s (EPD) role in granting the permit. The SELC and CHASE contend that the plant, which is under construction at 5152 Snapfinger Woods Drive, would pose significant environmental and health risks to residents in the area. They…

ATLANTA – State Rep. Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates), chair of the DeKalb County House Delegation, along with DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Irvin Johnson and DeKalb County Clerk of the Superior Court Debra DeBerry, today announced the application process for the DeKalb County Board of Ethics. “The DeKalb Ethics Appointing Committee is in support of a transparent, uniform and coordinated process,” said Rep. Drenner. “This application process will allow us to identify DeKalb residents who represent and serve their community in a unique way. I look forward to working with our robust appointing committee as we put together a dynamic group…