Author: On Common Ground News

Residents condemned the four Stonecrest City Council members who staged a walkout on Feb. 10 after their motion failed to excuse Councilwoman Jazzmin Cobble for missing two city council meetings in 2019. Although the city announced that it was dropping its lawsuit on Feb. 18 to determine if Cobble should forfeit her seat because of the absences, tensions remain in the city. The Feb. 24 City Council meeting drew a crowd. Four residents drew applause as they each expressed their discontent over the actions of those who walked out: Council members Cobble,…

February’s record rainfall caused a 9.2-million-gallon sewer spill near DeKalb’s Snapfinger Wastewater Treatment Plant during the week of Feb. 19. To date in 2020, DeKalb County has received 18.45 inches of rain, the highest January-February total since 1936, which registered 19.24 inches. A preliminary engineering analysis indicates that the Meadow Creek Path sewer spill was caused when the plant reached its treatment and storage capacity, which has been temporarily reduced by the ongoing construction of a new plant. The spill occurred during heavy rainfall at a nearby junction box vault. It…

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved CEO Michael Thurmond’s proposed $1.4 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2020, which projects a $113.3 million rainy-day fund and prioritizes enhancements to public safety. “The FY2020 budget reaffirms our commitment to fiscal integrity, accountability and improved service delivery,” said CEO Thurmond. “I appreciate the support of Presiding Officer Steve Bradshaw, the Board of Commissioners and staff who worked to develop this budget, which is the result of prudent decision making and collaboration.” The FY2020 budget prioritizes public safety spending, including pay increases and enhancements…

Steve Paul, owner of the Lithonia Arts Center, has clashed with city officials over a mural that an army of volunteers helped to paint on the exterior of his building to express unity and welcome visitors to the city. Paul received a nuisance citation from the city on Feb. 15 stipulating that he had until Feb. 26 to get a permit for the mural or face fines, jail or community service. Paul received the citation a month after about 200 volunteers, organized by the Stone Mountain-Lithonia Graduate Chapter of…

The Atlanta Regional Commission Board has approved a major update to the Atlanta Region’s Plan that allocates $173 billion in federal, state, and local funding through 2050 to improve mobility and safety in metro Atlanta. Notable projects in Rockdale that will begin in the next decade include: Sigman Road–The widening of Sigman Road, currently under design, will be extended three miles to provide better access to Rockdale General Hospital and the Georgia International Horse Park. Funding is provided for engineering, with construction scheduled to start as soon as 2026. Courtesy Parkway– This road will…

The Community Interact Club of South DeKalb has earned the Rotary International’s Platinum Award for community service and leadership, the highest citation an Interact Club can receive. The 12-member student club is the first in the Southeast region—from Philadelphia to the Caribbean Islands—to receive the Platinum Award. There are over 500 Interact clubs in Zone 33/34(Southeast region). “We worked really hard to stay on task and we are very proud of the work we put in,” said Solomon Gaiters, a senior at DeKalb County’s Arabia Mountain High School who helped grow the club from six members to 11.…

Seminars will focus on resource, opportunities + incentives DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson is inviting entrepreneurs and small business owners to her DeKalb County Business Summit on Thursday, March 12, 2020, 8 a.m. to noon, at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation, 2500 Clairmont Rd. NE, Atlanta. The DeKalb County Business Summit will provide attendees pertinent information on infrastructure, public safety, Tax Allocation Districts (TADs), overlay districts, Opportunity and Empowerment Zones, and more. In addition, attendees will learn how these resources can…

Sean DePalma director Parks and Recreation The City of Stonecrest plans to upgrade its security surveillance system at its six parks. New security cameras will be installed at Browns Mill Recreation and Aquatic Center and license plate readers will be installed at Browns Mill, Southeast, Everett, Fairington, Miner’s Creek/Panola Sholas Trailhead and Salem parks. The new surveillance system will replace an older, outdated system, said Sean DePalma, director of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. The City Council approved spending $94,982 for the system-wide upgrades during the council’s Feb. 24 meeting. Under…

DeKalb County Superior Court Clerk Debra DeBerry and DeKalb Sheriff Melody Maddox are hosting the fourth annual “VOICES, A Women’s History Month Event” on Saturday, March 14, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur. The theme is “Valiant Women of the Vote.” The guest host will be Joyce Littel of V-103 and 1380 WAOK. This year, the Blue Table Talk  roundtable discussion facilitators will include: Maria Balais, executive director of Leadership DeKalb; Dior Brown, owner of Truth Honey; Kristy Fields, owner of KolorBar & Spa; DeKalb…

DeKalb County Superior Court Clerk Debra DeBerry and the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority are hosting two free notary training sessions on March 20 at theMaloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur. The first session is 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and the second session is 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The training workshop is open to the public and recommended to anyone who is a notary public in the State of Georgia or would like to become one. A notary public is required to follow the law. Failure to do so could result in costly lawsuits and penalties.…