Author: On Common Ground News

MARTA has named Elizabeth O’Neill as its interim general manager and CEO to succeed Keith T. Park, who announced he is leaving to become president and CEO of Goodwill of North Georgia. MARTA’s Board of Directors voted unanimously Sept. 7 to approve O’Neill, a 22-year MARTA veteran who currently serves as chief legal counsel. “One of Keith Parker’s many strengths has been his ability to assemble a world class senior management team,” said MARTA Board Chair Robbie Ashe.  “Supported by Parker and newly named deputy general manager Arthur Troup, O’Neill will help ensure a seamless transition and carry MARTA forward…

The flu season is here and the DeKalb County Board of Health is preparing to offer its first-ever drive-through flu shot clinic on Friday, Sept. 15. Health officials will conduct the clinic from noon until 6 p.m. in the Northlake Mall parking lot near Macy’s at 4800 Briarcliff Road in Atlanta. You can drive up, roll up your sleeve and get your flu shot in your vehicle. Nurses administer the vaccinations, which typically take one to two minutes to complete. Although DeKalb is conducting its first such clinic, many communities in Georgia and across the nation have been offering drive-through…

The Ludie Banks family proved that its family reunion is still going strong with a big picnic on Sept. 3, Labor Day weekend. This year marked the 65th annual gathering the Banks have held. “We always have our reunion on the first Sunday in September. Ours is the longest held reunion in the county,” Mary Lester said proudly. Board of Commissioners Chairman Oz Nesbitt, who attended the celebration along with Probate Judge Clarence Cuthpert, Jr., commended the family for its long tradition. “You’re celebrating 65 years. I love the slogan for the T-shirt this year: Staying Connected…,” said Nesbitt,…

DeKalb County CEO Michael L. Thurmond will show off his fancy footwork in the upcoming “Dancing with the DeKalb Stars,” a fundraiser and resource expo that DeKalb County Solicitor-General Donna Coleman-Stribling is hosting. Thurmond is among several notable DeKalb officials who will participate in the event. Coleman-Stribling announced the participants in the dance competition, which features 11 teams comprised of a dance professional and officials from the county’s legal, public safety, business and civic community. Performers include: Thurmond, who will be on one of the teams and will also perform a special number in honor of the two benefit non-profits…

DeKalb County this month plans to mail about 7,500 more suspended water and sewer bills to county customers, bringing the number of released bills to 26,000 or 72 percent, officials said. DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond said the county is continuing to move forward with the “New Day Project” he initiated in March to address the county’s water billing crisis. “We have made significant progress in the past six months toward addressing decades of mismanagement that led to the failures in our water and sewer billing process,” CEO Thurmond said. “We are getting closer to restoring normal billing for all…

Rockdale County’s Board of Commissioners (BOC) has named Brian Allen, formerly the Director of the Gwinnett County Department of Transportation (DOT), as Rockdale County’s new Director of Transportation. Allen began his duties on Sept 5. He will oversee the county’s road projects and maintenance of county vehicles. Allen has decades of experience in government management and administration. Prior to his 15 years at Gwinnett County DOT, he served as the Assistant County Administrator for Gwinnett County and County Administrator for Newton County. He has been professionally active with the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG), American…

Written by Rockdale Clerk of Courts Ruth A. Wilson This month, we decided to have a little fun in testing your knowledge about Rockdale County. By answering true or false to the questions below, you can determine whether you’re a local expert, well-informed resident or you need to get out more, based on your score.   Indicate whether each statement is true or false.  ____  1. All the judges in Rockdale are elected by popular vote. ____ 2. Each member of the Board of Commissioners is assigned a district in the County to represent. ____3. Rockdale is an At-Will Employment County.…

Stonecrest City Councilman Jimmy Clanton, Jr., District 1, will host a Town Hall meeting on Sept. 11, 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the Stonecrest Library, 3123 Klondike Road, Stonecrest. Clanton said constituents will have a chance to ask questions and updates will be provided on adopted measures, community development, beautification efforts, SPLOST and future goals. The meeting is open to the public.

Stonecrest City Councilwoman Jazzmin Cobble, District 3, is partnering with DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson to host a community cleanup on Saturday, Sept. 16, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Volunteers will meet at the Fairington Road Walmart Garden Center at 10:15 a.m. For more information, email jcobble@stonecrestga.gov or call or text 470-381-8525.

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal is expanding his emergency declaration to include 24 additional counties, with a total of 30 counties now included in a state of emergency in preparation of Hurricane Irma, which is being called the strongest Atlantic storm in recorded history. Deal also issued a mandatory evacuation order for all areas east of I-95, all of Chatham County and some areas west of I-95 that could be impacted by potential storm surge from Hurricane Irma. The executive order also authorized up to 5,000 Georgia National Guard members to be on state active duty to support Hurricane Irma…