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Weekly News and Highlights
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Happy Father's Day! Father's Day is a day we tell our dads how much we appreciate them.
Best regards and congratulations to all the fathers who love and value their children, everything you do will be rewarded one day. I hope every father e
njoys their special day.
On a personal note, I want to say how much I appreciate and value all that my dad has done for me. To my hero and my role model, Happy Father's Day. And to
my loving husband, you gave our children someone to respect, admire, and honor.
Happy Father's Day to you too.
As for county news, this Tuesday we will hold a special Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting where my fellow Commissioners and I receive presentations and proposals by the Administration and set our Board of Commissioner's meeting agenda for the following week.
In our ongoing effort to make board meetings more accessible to the public, our COW meeting will be held this
Tuesday evening at 5:30 p.m. in
Stonecrest's City Hall
. City Hall is located at
3120 Stonecrest Blvd, Stonecrest, GA 30038.
Below is the brief outline of the agenda for Tuesday night's meeting. Note that a special public comment period has been added for this meeting. Public comments will begin at 6:30. For detailed agenda items, see the full COW meeting agenda at the end of this newsletter.
I.
Committee of the Whole
A.
MARTA Quarterly Briefing
B.
Mid-year Budget Update
II.
Public Comments at 6:30 p.m.
A.
Committee Reports
B.
Review of the Proposed Executive Agenda for June 25, 2019
C.
Review of Commissioners' Preliminary Agenda for June 25, 2019
It's our
hope more residents will be able to take advantage of our evening meeting time.
If you are not able to take part in this week's evening meeting, our next scheduled night meeting will be in October.
Details of the date and location of that meeting will be announce at a later date.
May everyone has a terrific week ahead. If your group or organization has an event that you would like highlighted in this newsletter, please contact me using the email button at the top or bottom of this newsletter, or by calling my office at 404-371-2844.
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With Chief John King |
Governor Kemp Makes Historic Appointment for Insurance Commissioner
Doraville Police Chief, Brigadier General John King to become Georgia's first Hispanic statewide constitutional officer
Governor Brian P. Kemp made history this week by appointing Doraville Police Chief and Brigadier General John King to serve as Georgia's Insurance Commissioner and Safety Fire Commissioner. King is the first Hispanic Insurance Commissioner and statewide constitutional officer.
"John King is a decorated soldier, passionate community advocate, and devoted law enforcement leader with decades of experience," said Governor Kemp. "As Georgia's next Insurance Commissioner and Safety Fire Official, John will put hardworking Georgians first by shaking up the status quo. He will restore faith in the Department of Insurance and will always do the right thing - even when no one is looking. Chief King has once again answered the call for public service. I know he will continue to be a bold leader and champion for the people."
"I am grateful for Governor Brian Kemp and the opportunity he has given me to continue my service to the people of Georgia," said King. "My decades of experience in law enforcement have prepared me for this important job in state government. I look forward to restoring trust in the Department of Insurance and providing leadership that protects consumers, promotes public safety, and provides a bright and promising future for all Georgians."
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Courtesy City of Brookhaven |
Brookhaven: Crews installing additional car charging stations throughout the City
The City of Brookhaven continues to "walk the walk" environmentally, expanding its sustainability landscape this month with the installation of a series of dual headed electric car smart-charger stations at select locations around the City. The move is part of the City's
Sustainable Brookhaven initiative announced earlier this year.
Crews from Stanton Electric Inc., a subsidiary of Georgia Power Company, are currently installing the stations at Brookhaven City Hall, Skyland Park, Ashford Park, Lynwood Park and near the tennis facility and new playground area in Blackburn Park. This first round of installations is due to be completed by the end of June.
Atlanta architectural and engineering firm Clark Patterson Lee, whose designs are often utilized by the City, has been instructed to include charging stations in all future designs for all park and municipal parking lots.
The commitment to be good environmental stewards didn't just happen overnight in Brookhaven. It is been a strategic part of every area of City management since the City was created and is specifically included in Brookhaven's Mission and Vision Statements. "We are always looking for ways to reduce our impact on the environment or improve our air quality, not only for today but for future generations," said Brookhaven Mayor John Ernst. "Brookhaven is helping lead the way in creating viable environmental alternatives for our ongoing sustainability initiative."
"The smart-chargers are being put into place to help residents become more energy efficient as more people in our area and community switch over to driving electric cars," noted Brian Borden, Brookhaven Director of Parks and Recreation.
Parks and Recreation is where some of the most visible examples of environmental sustainability can be found. Every park's Master Plan has built-in sustainability initiatives. New irrigation systems are being installed to prevent erosion, solar panels are being added for charging cell phones and laptops, natural playgrounds are being built, and now charging stations to allow park visitors to recharge their cars.
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Jay Vinicki |
City of Dunwoody hires Jay Vinicki as new Assistant City Manager
Mr. Vinicki has extensive experience in local government budgeting, planning and policy-making
Jay Vinicki has been named the new Assistant City Manager for the City of Dunwoody. Mr. Vinicki comes to Dunwoody from Atlanta Public Schools, where he has served as the executive director of budget services since May 2018.
"Having worked in and around the Dunwoody area for more than a decade, I appreciate the sense of community that the city offers," Mr. Vinicki said. "I can't wait to get started."
While working for APS, Mr. Vinicki directed and managed budget functions totaling $1.1 billion. He also helped develop budget policies, procedures and programs. Prior to that, he worked for DeKalb County government for 11 years, serving as the first director of the Office of Management and Budget from 2015 to 2018 and overseeing development of a $1.2 billion budget.
"Jay's dynamic leadership and extensive experience in local government made him stand out," said Dunwoody City Manager Eric Linton. "He has a proven ability to navigate complex issues with a strong background in strategic budgeting and policy research. He's a great fit for Dunwoody."
Mr. Vinicki's prior experience also includes planning and budgeting for Gwinnett County government, the city of Roswell and the Georgia governor's office. He earned an MPA from the University of Georgia and a BA in Communications from Mississippi State University.
In his free time, Mr. Vinicki puts his passion for numbers and sports to work as a statistician for Georgia Tech football and basketball. He also volunteers as an ESL teacher. He will join Dunwoody on June 24.
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Nancy Jester Reports
June 11, 2019
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DeKalb Sanitary Sewer Overflow Reports
June 8 - 15, 2019
The following SSOs were reported this week in DeKalb County:
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Judge J.P. Boulee |
US Senate Confirms DeKalb Judge Boulee to Federal Court
The U.S. Senate confirmed DeKalb County Superior Court Judge J.P. Boulee Wednesday to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia in Atlanta.
Georgia's U.S. Sens. Johnny Isakson and David Perdue, both Republican, applauded the long-awaited vote. The Senate approved Boulee 85-11.
"Judge Boulee has made Georgia and the United States proud during his service as a Judge Advocate General in the U.S. Army and as a judge in DeKalb County, where he has worked to help our country's veterans. I'm proud the Senate has confirmed him to serve on the federal level," Isakson said. "I'm confident that Judge Boulee will continue to serve our state with distinction, and I share my thanks and congratulations with him."
"As a former judge on the Superior Court of DeKalb County and JAG officer in the U.S. Army, Judge Boulee is highly qualified and well-suited for this new role. President Trump has chosen an outstanding legal professional to fill this judicial vacancy in Georgia," Perdue said. "I congratulate Judge Boulee on his confirmation and know he will continue to make Georgia proud serving our nation on the U.S. District Court."
Boulee has served on the DeKalb County Superior Court since his appointment by Gov. Nathan Deal in 2015. During his time on the bench, he founded and presides over the county's Veterans Treatment Court. Boulee previously was a partner at Jones Day. Boulee served as a captain in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps from 1997-2001. He received his undergraduate degree from Washington and Lee University and his law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law.
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Chamblee Police Completes One Mind Campaign Pledge
Chamblee Police Department (CPD) recently completed the One Mind Campaign Pledge. This campaign, by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), ensures successful interactions between officers and persons with mental illness. Some departments estimate that as many as 20% of their calls for service are related to mental health.
CPD worked with IACP to develop and implement the model policy to address officers' interactions with those affected by mental illness. The model policy also ensures officers received mental health awareness training. The 40-hour Crisis Intervention curriculum was designed to train Chamblee's specialized officers to respond to calls that involve individuals with mental health disorders, such as depression or intellectual disability. The curriculum includes education on various de-escalation techniques as well as live role-play scenarios of officers responding to persons who need mental health assistance.
"Chamblee joins only a few other agencies in Georgia completing the One Mind Pledge. CPD established a sustainable partnership with Covenant House Georgia," adds Assistant Chief Beller. "This will better equip our officers to handle these calls. One hundred percent of our sworn officers are trained and certified in Mental Health First Aid, and more than 30% of our sworn officers are trained and certified in Crisis Intervention."
For more information about the One Mind Campaign, visit
www.theiacp.org. IACP is a 30,000-member professional association for law enforcement that provides training, technical assistance and recruitment services committed to advancing safer communities through thoughtful, progressive police leadership.
For more information on the City of Chamblee, visit
www.chambleega.gov or call 770-986-5010.
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DeKalb County's 2020 Census Complete Count Committee Created
The U.S. Census Bureau is required by the U.S. Constitution to conduct a count of the population every 10 years. The population totals also affect local funding and data collected in the census help decision makers know how your community is changing. Approximately $675 billion in federal funding is distributed to communities each year.
In 2015, an independent study was conducted by George Washington University identifying that each resident of Georgia is allotted $1,339 per year for services. As part of the education process, the county could receive $985 million per year over the next 10 years with a 100 percent response rate. In 2010, for the last Census count, DeKalb County had a 72 percent response rate and therefore, failed to benefit from $275 million worth of funding.
The governing authority of DeKalb County is committed to ensuring every resident is counted. On Feb. 26, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution put forth by Commissioner Larry Johnson to create a Complete Count Committee for the 2020 Census.
The CEO's office, each commissioner's office and each municipality will appoint a representative to participate on the Complete Count Committee to help raise awareness and educate the residents of DeKalb County.
The goal of the Complete Count Committee is to ensure accurate Census data is collected which in turn will provide information critical for government programs, policies and decision making. For the first time, residents will be able to respond online, by phone or by mail.
Commissioner Larry Johnson was unanimously chosen by the Board of Commissioners to be the chair of the DeKalb County Complete Count Committee.
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DeKalb County Week in Review News you may have missed this week
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DeKalb County
Board of Commissioners
Committee of the Whole Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, June 18, 2019
5:30 p.m.
Stonecrest City Hall
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