County News & Information
DeKalb County publishes press releases related to all county government news. Our office will make an effort to publish these releases to the Web site when they are important to District 6. If you would like to see all the current County press releases go to http://www.co.dekalb.ga.us/news.html.
DEKALB COUNTY AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES
The DeKalb County Airport Advisory Board met on Monday, June 14, 2010, at 7:00 p.m., Room 227, Airport Administration Building at DeKalb Peachtree Airport.MEMBERS PRESENT:
Joe Arrington, David Fowler, Eugene Henry, Frank Mutz, Larry Scheinpflug
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Chad Duncan, Jacq Marie Jack
OTHERS PRESENT:
Mike Van Wie, Interim Airport Director
I. APPROVAL OF APRIL 12, 2010 MINUTES
The April Minutes were approved unanimously.
II. INFORMATION/OLD BUSINESS
A. DIRECTOR’S REPORT -- MIKE VAN WIE
Monthly Lease Processing Report
April 13, 2010 BOC Meeting
Two (2) Standard Office Leases: Approved
Four (4) Standard T-Hangar Lease: Approved
May 11, 2010 BOC Meeting
Amendment No. 4 to the Lease with Peachtree Aviation: Approved
Lease with EPPS Aviation: Approved
May 25, 2010 BOC Meeting
Multiple Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Grants: Pre-accepted
Other
Mike Van Wie has asked for legal advice from the Legal Department at DeKalb County to change the length of hangar leases from two (2) years to 10 years to ease the administrative process.
B. FORECASTED BOC AGENDA ITEMS – MIKE VAN WIE
June 22, 2010 BOC Meeting
Tie Down Agreement with Signature Flight Support
July 13, 2010 BOC Meeting
Airport Layout Plan (ALP) update
C. NOISE REPORT -- Mario Evans
The reading of the Noise Report was waived.
D. OTHER
2010 Good Neighbor Day Air Show and Open House -- Mike Van Wie
Mike Van Wie stated that the 2010 Good Neighbor Day Air Show and Open House was very successful. Approximately 14,000 to 15,000 people attended the event this year, a higher figure from past years.
III. NEW BUSINESS
Frank Mutz, appointed by CEO Ellis, was welcomed to the DeKalb County Airport Advisory Board (AAB).
IV. PUBLIC COMMENTS
No public comment.
A CD of the meeting in its entirety is available in the Airport Administration Office.
Meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
SUBMITTED BY:
APPROVED AS SUBMITTED:
Yasmina Platt, Volunteer Assistant
David Fowler, Chairman
We work year-round to keep our parks green and provide exciting classes and activities for residents of DeKalb and beyond. You can be a part of all the fun that's happening at DeKalb County Parks this summer! Applications will be accepted for a variety of summer jobs including pool lifeguards, camp counselors and recreation assistants. Those applying for positions in aquatics are required to submit proof of current certification in CPR, first aid, lifeguarding and water safety instruction, provided by the Red Cross, YMCA or other nationally recognized aquatic training programs. Individuals must be at least 17 years old to apply for these positions. All applicants selected will be required to successfully complete a drug/alcohol screen and criminal background check prior to employment.
To apply for any of the summer jobs listed, simply complete the online application and return via mail, fax or in person to the appropriate office or recreation center where you wish to work. Please follow this link for the application. http://www.co.dekalb.ga.us/parks/pr-summer-employment.html
Application Background Check Information Aquatic Applications should be returned or faxed to: DeKalb County Parks and Recreation Aquatics Office
4898 LaVista Road
Room 12
Tucker, Georgia 30084
The development code in question, (which impacts two practice fields and trails, a very small part of the Marist Plan), was enacted because the Board of Commissioners found that the preservation of existing trees in a floodplain is a worthy public purpose that protects all taxpayers. In addition, the Commission found that the county’s system of streams is a valuable natural resource that requires cooperative action by the county and development community to mitigate existing flooding problems and prevent their worsening. Protection of the floodplain is a public purpose essential to the health and safety of our citizens and as recent experience has shown is an issue of great concern now more then ever before.
There are a number of incorrect statements in the article that need to be corrected. I am now in my 6th year as a commissioner and was not serving during the 2000 vote attributed to me in the article. The facts also were not checked regarding Ms Zickert’s statement on jeopardizing no fewer then 41 Parks, nor the prior conditions and impact on floodplain of the Silverbacks and New Birth developments. I understand an attorney’s ploy toward emotional rhetoric but that does not make her statements true. Ms Zickert is well aware of this issue as she states in her article of 2001 Tree Preservation Ordinances: Sacrificing Private Timber Rights on the Diminutive Alter of Public Benefit; “DeKalb County’s ordinance also requires that all trees within the 100-year flood plain be left undisturbed.”
I admire the strong advocacy on the part of District 1 appointees, Bob Lundsten and Wendy Butler, but their statements are of the same vein aimed more to scare than present facts. This is a 1999 law. There are clear procedures and assessment criteria for our County Parks, the same as for this development. The county probably could not clear cut a forested section of floodplain for a ball field today and that is taken into account in our Parks Master Plan.
No one is mentioning the rights of tax paying homeowners subjected to increased flooding due to old development practices and lax enforcement of codes. No one is mentioning the use of tax dollars to buy out homeowners who have been flooded too often to renovate, such as the $6 million to buy out the 18 homes in the nearby Gainsborough neighborhood. Add to that the ongoing maintenance paid by the county and the loss of property tax revenue.
It is my assessment that most everyone is in support of the majority of the Marist Plan. The Plan does focus most of the redevelopment in already disturbed areas and that is as it should be. It is the responsible thing to do. I too should be expected to act responsibly, and I will. I believe we can achieve a good plan but inflammatory rhetoric and incorrect assertions will not help us reach that goal.
Important Dates - District 6 Update - February 2010
BUDGET
First, I have been working hard to achieve our legal mandate to present a balanced 2010 Budget by March 1. You already know the Revenue projections are bad and getting worse. The CEO proposed budget of $583 million includes a 1.86 mil property tax increase. Approximately $30 million more would need to be cut to avoid the tax increase. Most of us on the Board are trying to maximize our revenue and make strategic cuts in order to minimize the negative impact to residents and employees. As you know our budget grew over previous years in unsustainable ways, so undoing that trend is not an easy task. Even last year, the trend continued and I could not support what included a wish list without funding sources, that was presented to some of the commissioners and the public on the day of the vote. We have made some progress to avoid that and we are continuing to evaluate all areas of the budget to determine the best way to trim more. I am not categorically opposed to a small millage increase if absolutely necessary to maintain our public safety/justice services. However, there are still options for more cuts before I would consider this measure. I want to thank everyone I have heard from for the suggestions on ways to reduce the County budget. There are ONLY three Neighborhood Budget Meetings left, if you have not already attended one please try to and make your voice heard. All meetings start at 7:00 PM.
Thursday, February 11, 2010 at St. Timothy’s United Methodist Church
5365 Memorial Drive Stone Mountain, GA 30083
Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at Torah Day School
1985 LaVista Road NE Atlanta, GA 30329
Thursday, February 18, 2010 at Berean Church
22010 Young Road Stone Mountain, GA 30088
PDK
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed to change flight patterns at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which in turn will negatively affect the flight patterns at Peachtree DeKalb Airport. The proposal is to restructure the Class B airspace surrounding Hartsfield. This would include decreasing the lower elevation of Class B airspace to 5,000 feet over PDK. This change would affect Dunwoody, Chamblee, Doraville and all surrounding
neighborhoods.
There will be a public information / comment session on March 1st at 3pm, 5pm, and 7pm at the Chamblee Civic Center located at 3540 Broad Street Chamblee, GA. The FAA will be there to present the proposal to the public and solicit written comments from homeowners and business owners who will be affected by the change.
Also, the City of Chamblee City Council work Session on February 11th at 6:00pm will feature a presentation by PDK on the proposed changes. The meeting is at 3540 Broad Street Chamblee, GA 30341.
Please check my website for any change notices to the meeting date and location.
www.kathiegannon.com
MARTA
MARTA’s budget starts on July 1, 2010 and they want the community’s ideas on what routes and services should be cut, how much should they increase fares, and what are the best ways to help MARTA financially.
The next Public Forum meeting is on Saturday February 20, 2010 at 10:00am – 12:00pm and again at 3:00pm – 5:00pm. The meeting will be at MARTA Headquarters at 2424 Piedmont Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30234.
To review information gathered at the previous Public Forum on February 6th or to read more information please visit the MARTA website at www.itsmarta.com.
TAX EXEMPTION DEADLINE
The 2010 Property Tax exemption deadline is March 1, 2010. Remember if you purchased a home for your primary residence between last year and January 1, 2010 you may apply for a Basic Homestead Exemption and Property Assessment Freeze with the county by March 1, 2010. Also special exemptions are available for citizens 62 or older, disabled veteran or their un-remarried spouses, and other disabled residents.
You may apply in person at any Tax Commission Office or online at www.yourdekalb.com/taxcommissioner. If you have questions please contact 404-298-4000 with specific questions.
As always, please contact me with your thoughts and suggestions,
Kathie