Author: On Common Ground News

Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) recently celebrated the graduation of 14 members of the 2017 LEAD Academy Aspiring Leaders program. The LEAD Academy participants are RCPS teachers, coaches, and support personnel who complete hours of workshops, assessments, assignments, independent online courses, and shadow administrators during the school year in order to prepare themselves to apply for school leadership positions. The 2017 graduates are: Aja Camp – Sims Elementary; Rachel Carvalho – Heritage High; Kimberley Donaldson – Rockdale Career Academy; Kelli Dozier – Sims Elementary; Ailia Gilbert – C.J. Hicks Elementary; Antoinette Johnson – Rockdale County High; Sherea Johnson – Conyers…

ATLANTA—MARTA passengers soon will be able to enjoy the visual arts and performances at the public transit’s stations throughout the year. MARTA Authority kicked off the initiative, Artbound, with an inaugural event today featuring dance troupe performances by “Moving in the Spirit, GLOW in Motion and Men in Motion, and cellist Jenn Cornell who was accompanied by Emrah Kotzn. The event took place at 2 p.m. at the Five Points MARTA Station “From mosaics to murals, we are redefining the ridership experience here at MARTA by intentionally integrating art throughout the entire system,” said MARTA’s GM/CEO Keith Parker. “This new…

Smith Meach, who recently graduated from Heritage High School in Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) as part of the Class of 2017, earned not just one but two Associate degrees with honors from Middle Georgia State University along with his high school diploma as part of the Move On When Ready (formerly Dual Enrollment) program. Meach was recognized at Middle Georgia State University for Outstanding Academic Excellence in his Modern Language Associate’s of Arts degree and as a graduate of the Honors Program for his Associate’s of Science degree in Natural Science. Meach was also named the STAR Student by…

From the Desk of Stonecrest City Councilman George Turner, District 4 gturner@stonecrestga.gov Thank you to the 50 plus dedicated citizens who braved the heavy rainstorm and came out to support and participate in our first town hall meeting for District 4 on June 15. There was an extremely heavy rainstorm from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. causing loss of power and several downed trees. Greetings and Welcome                                        7:07 p.m. Prayer                                                                       Rotary Club Chaplin, Willie Hinton Acknowledgement of elected officials                Mayor Jason Lary, Councilman Jimmy Clanton, Judge Ronald Ramsey. We also acknowledged two of the…

The Stonecrest City Council unanimously approved a $650 monthly vehicle allowance for the city’s mayor and an agreement to enter into a financial services contract with Ed Wall of Piper Jaffray & Co. to help cover the city’s expenses. The council approved both on June 19. The allowance for Mayor Jason Lary, not to exceed $7,800 annually, was approved for two years—the duration of his first term. Although the allowance would start this month, payments wouldn’t be issued until the city’s funds become available. “This is not a blank check,” said Councilwoman Diane Adoma, who introduced the motion for the…

ATLANTA — MARTA is launching an ongoing initiative to overhaul its  elevators and escalators beginning with West Lake Station elevators on June 19. Elevator upgrades will continue at Hamilton E. Holmes Station on June 21 and West End on June 26.  Also, on June 26, two escalators at Peachtree Center will be closed for upgrades.  During renovations, elevators will be out for up to eight weeks and escalators up to 16 weeks. Customers can use the escalators or stairs instead of the elevators. Customers requiring the use of an elevator, such as those using wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, strollers, or traveling…

Rockdale County government plans to spend $4 million to purchase and make improvements to Costley Mill Park, a 77-acre privately-owned park on Costley Mill Road located off Georgia Highway 138. Board of Commissioners Chairman Oz Nesbitt said the county has wanted to buy the park for 30 years and recently entered into an agreement to purchase the park at an offer the county couldn’t pass up. Officials are now working on consolidating county debt to make the purchase in a way that would not negatively impact taxpayers. The consolidation includes an old loan of $5.6 million, the $2.5 million for…

The Stonecrest City Council approved a 67-month, $16 million contract with CH2M, the management company it has hired to oversee the newly-formed city’s personnel and infrastructure. The City Council passed the contract 4-1 on June 14 at a special called meeting. Councilwoman Jazzmin Cobble cast the dissenting vote. Councilman Rob Turner was absent from the meeting. The contract was scheduled for a vote at the June 12 City Council meeting but was rescheduled to allow CH2M additional time to fine-tune the contract.   Under the agreement, CH2M will receive $1.7 million for work performed from June through the end of December…

DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond is addressing what he calls the county’s most important critical issues for the remainder of fiscal year 2017: deficit spending and an inadequate fund balance. “Our number one priority is to reduce the deficit so that we can propose a balanced budget in fiscal year 2018,” CEO Thurmond said. “We are able to redirect existing funds to address two other priorities including salary adjustments for public safety personnel and continuing our fight against blight.” CEO Thurmond’s proposed midyear budget adjustment, which was delivered to the Board of Commissioners on June 12, sets aside approximately $54.6 million,…

Captain Ruth Stringer has been appointed to serve as DeKalb County’s interim sheriff while Jeffrey Mann serves a 40-day suspension mandated by Gov. Nathan Deal. The governor appointed a special panel to investigate Mann who was charged on May 6 with public indecency and obstruction (running from police) after allegedly exposing himself in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park. Mann, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges, goes to trial on July 7. DeKalb Superior Court Chief Judge Courtney Johnson appointed Stringer, a 27-year veteran of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Stringer was sworn in and began her new assignment on…