VERGE Newsletter April 2022

Thomas Calloway Resigns as Ward B Councilmember

On March 11, Thomas Calloway resigned as Ward B Councilmember for the City of East Point. He shared at the March 21st City Council meeting that he is now seeking the State Representative, District 62 seat.

Calloway, an East Point native, served East Point residents in Ward B for six years. The City of East Point thanks Thomas Calloway for his dedication and service to the City of East Point. Details on a Special Election will be announced in the near future.

East Point Recognizes Procurement Month

The City of East Point recognized March as Procurement Month. East Point's Contracts & Procurement Director Yolanda Broome was presented with a proclamation recognizing her department for their impact on governmental purchasing for the City. Her dynamic staff ensures transparent processes are in compliance with laws, ordinances, and professional ethics which guarantee fair and competitive procurements. They were also instrumental in securing materials, resources and personal protective equipment for City employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. We thank the Contracts & Procurement Department for all that they do for the City of East Point!

East Point Contracts & Procurement Department Hosts Virtual Vendor Fair

During Procurement Month, East Point's Contracts & Procurement Department continued their efforts to inform the public about the importance of their role as procurement professionals by hosting a Virtual Vendor Fair. The Virtual Vendor Fair was held on March 23 to educate vendors on how they can do business with the City of East Point. The department plans to host more vendor fairs in the future. You can find more information on how to do business with the City of East Point in the presentation and video below!

View Presentation

East Point Virtual Vendor Fair Video

Tron Jones Receives an Award of Excellence for Contracts & Procurement Service

On March 31, Contracts & Procurement Director Yolanda Broome hosted an Eggs & Issues Breakfast with City staff as part of their programming during Procurement Month. During the breakfast, Broome presented Contract Specialist Tron Jones with an Award of Excellence for his service and contribution to the City of East Point.

Jones is the senior contract specialist on the team and has served the City of East Point for seven years. He hails from Tallahassee, Florida and has over 10 years of procurement experience including p-card management, contracts administration, and purchasing. Jones earned his bachelor's degree from Florida A&M University and maintains two procurement certifications through the state of Georgia- Georgia Certified Purchasing Associate (GCPA) and Georgia Certified Purchasing Manager (GCPM).

Select Fulton Launches New COVID-19 Small Business Loan Program

Select Fulton, in partnership with Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE), is expanding support for the Fulton County business community as the impact of the COVID-19 continues to be felt.

Starting April 4th, small business owners in Fulton County, excluding those located inside the City of Atlanta, will be able to access the newly created Fulton County Recovery Loan Program. Select Fulton, Fulton’s economic development arm, has partnered with Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE) to put together a $3.9 million fund to small businesses who experienced revenue losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Fulton County Recovery Loan Program offers up to $100,000 in loans for qualifying Fulton County small businesses. Participating businesses can also access Business Advisory Services specifically designed to assist and support loan clients to strengthen their operations, achieve growth, and improve organizational sustainability.

Minority Prioritization: The Fulton County Recovery Loan Program prioritizes loans and services to those most impacted by the pandemic, such as minority and female-owned small businesses and industries like performing arts, food service, education and accommodations.

To qualify, organizations must be in business at least 2 years. All applications will be accepted online. Businesses will be asked to provide required documentation to ACE by fax, mail, or email. A final decision will be made as quickly as possible.

Visit our website

East Point Celebrates Tri-Cities High School Boys Basketball Team as State Champions

On March 25, the City of East Point hosted a parade and celebration for the Tri-Cities High School Boys Basketball Team who were crowned as the 2021-2022 Georgia High School Association (GHSA) 5A State Champions. Mayor Deana Holiday Ingraham presented each player and coach with a proclamation from the City and proclaimed March 25-31, 2022 as Bulldog Championship Week in the City of East Point. The championship team is comprised of the following scholar athletes and coaches:

Simeon Cottle
Kory Mincy
Kyndon Wilburg
NoRicco Danner
Ryan Mathieu
Eric Smarr, Jr.
Elgin Neal II
William Norwood II
Kamiron Jones
Tramarius Jones
Andrew Jones
Davion Cooper
Tavaris Dice, Jr.
Dontravias Johnson
Head Coach Omari Forts
Assistant Coach Tony Dorsey
Assistant Coach Garrett Henry
Assistant Coach Jonathan Burke
Assistant Coach Martell Cole

The team had a record breaking 2021-2022 season which includes the following highlights:

GHSA Class 5A State Champions
GHSA Class 5A Region 3 Champions
Best overall season record in school history (23-5)
14-2 Region Record
Started and finished the season ranked #1 in the state in Region 5A and in the top 10 in Georgia regardless of classification
28-2 over the last two seasons
Four (4) players received All-Region honors (Simeon Cottle, Kory Mincy, Naricco Danner and Ryan Mathieu)
Simeon Cottle named Region Player of the Year and double honors as "Best Scorer" and "First Team"
Kory Mincy as "Second Team"
Head Coach Omari Forts named Coach of the Year

Tri-Cities High School Boys Basketball State Championship Parade 2022

Championship Parade Video

Renovations Underway at Connally Nature Park

Renovations are currently underway at Connally Nature Park for an extension and connection of the existing soft surface trail. The new look will feature bridges over streams and paths throughout the site. Construction is expected to take two months.

Community Needs Assessment Survey Underway for East Point Residents

The City of East Point is in the process of completing a Community Needs Assessment with the goal of identifying gaps in accessing services in the South Fulton area. This assessment will help guide leadership of the City of East Point and Service Providers in identifying ways to narrow barriers blocking access to services in the area. The survey will take approximately 9 minutes.

Complete Survey

Survey in Spanish

East Point Staff and Volunteers Canvass Community to Increase Survey Participation

During the month of March, East Point staff and volunteers canvassed businesses, schools, churches and apartment complexes to increase participation for the Community Needs Assessment Survey. Residents who completed the survey were eligible to receive a prize at the "Super Saturday" Block Party at John D. Milner Park on March 26. This initiative was led by Yolanda Johnson, East Point's Program Coordinator.

(L to R): Chester Gudewicz (Water & Sewer Field Technician); Yolanda Johnson (Program Coordinator); Angela Blatch (Senior Planner Neighborhood Planning); Lamonica Thornhill (Longtime East Point Resident); Shaquita Barnes (Grants Manager).

Speed Humps Installed on Prince George Street and Ale Circle

On March 7, crews completed the installation of speed humps on Prince George Street and Ale Circle.

TSPLOST Resurfacing Underway

The 2021 TSPLOST Resurfacing is underway and will last approximately 6 months. Resurfacing will take place on the following streets:

Dogwood Dr. (from Stone Rd. to Hogan Rd.)
Hogan Rd. (from the City Limits to Ben Hill Rd.)
Harris St. (from Georgia Ave. to Wadley Ave.)
Bryan Ave. (from Milledge St. to Bayard St.)
R.N. Martin St. (from Norman Berry Dr. to Milledge St.)
Westchester Dr. (from Ben Hill Rd. to Colony Dr.)
Montrose Dr. (from Semmes St. to Delowe Dr.)
Neely Avenue (from Church St. to Delowe Dr.)
Kimmeridge Dr. (from Washington Rd. to Headland Dr.)

Throughout construction, traffic control will be provided to ensure safety for motorists and pedestrians. Notices will be sent out detailing the days and times that crews will be in a particular area.

Thank you for your cooperation during our improvements to the City’s Transportation System

Ben Hill Road Sidewalks Video

Jeremy Goodwin, Transportation Engineer for the City of East Point, details the construction of the Ben Hill Road Sidewalk Project.

East Point Staff Attend Training Session On Dog Encounters

On March 9, East Point employees in various departments attended a training session hosted by Hector Hernandez entitled Preparing Yourself for Dog Encounters and Attacks. Hernandez is an author, former law enforcement officer, public speaker, active police K-9 instructor, and professional dog trainer. The session addressed how to properly assess a dog encounter, plan a defense against dog attacks and how to be protected from bodily injury, the camera and violence from the owner.

East Point Firefighters Display Random Act of Kindness

On March 10, Firefighters Scott Zoebsich, Lavell Taplis and Darion Myles greeted a family of three in front of the East Point City Hall fountain and gave their small daughter a tour of their fire engine and equipment. We'd like to thank our local heroes for always displaying random acts of kindness to our residents and visitors.

East Point Firefighters Quick Thinking Saves Patient's Life

On March 12, Firefighters Kelwin Lockhart, Coleman Lynn, Kristin Shelton and Ezroy Thompson responded to a call on Dunlap Avenue where a 35-year-old woman was found not breathing. Upon arrival, they immediately checked her pulse and found that she was very weak and was breathing shallow. They carefully moved her from her bathroom to her living room where they administered two doses of Narcan nasal spray into her nasal passage. The patient began to show signs of improvement and was assisted to a seating position.

Paramedic Coleman Lynn showed great leadership by instructing his team members on the proper steps to provide the best possible care for the patient.

EMT Kristin Shelton followed instructions provided by the ranking medic on scene to assist with establishing a good airway for the patient and IV access.

First Responder Firefighter Ezroy Thompson showed great poise during the emergency by retrieving all emergency equipment requested for EMS personnel on scene.

Firefighter Kelwin Lockhart was able to retrieve information needed from the patient after assisting Paramedic Coleman with moving the patient to a safe space.

East Point Police were also on scene to care for two young children who were removed from the scene until the patient was fully conscious and alert.

Thank you to our Public Safety heroes for your quick thinking and action!

Photo (L to R) FF Ezroy Thompson, FF/EMT Kristin Shelton, FF Kelwin Lockhart, FF/Paramedic Coleman Lynn

Public Works Officials Go "Above and Beyond"

Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia Business Manager Bronaugh Bridges recently wrote a letter to the City Manager's Office thanking a few Public Works Officials for going above and beyond for him during an incident that occurred in February. On Feb. 24, after driving 18 hours from New York City to Atlanta, Bridges parked his vehicle near a storm drain close to his friend's home in East Point. As he got into his vehicle his key fob fell out of his pants pocket and into the storm drain. Bridges scrambled to find coat hangars and other various tools to get his key fob out of the storm drain. He says his saving grace was to contact the East Point Public Works office.

Without hesitation, Cecelia Raglin, Construction Manager for the Department of Public Works, gathered her crew together to assist Mr. Bridges. She was accompanied by Francisco Garcia, Reginald Hunley and Joseph Roberts from the Roads and Drainage Division of the Department of Public Works. They worked together to pry open the cinderblock entry port that had been sealed in the storm drain. Francisco Garcia went into the extremely deep well to retrieve Mr. Bridges keys.

"Now I must say all three went above and beyond the call of service," said Bronaugh Bridges. "I cannot say enough good things about those gentlemen or Ms. CC. I felt at ease and blessed to have been around such a great set of people. Thanking them once is a serious understatement as I offered to have a small parade in their honor, but I hope I can say they are shining examples of who you would like to have in your corner at any moment's notice. "

Thank you Ms. CC, Francisco Garcia, Reginald Hunley and Joseph Roberts for going "above and beyond" the call of duty!

Photo (L to R): Joseph Roberts, Francisco Garcia, Cecelia Raglin and Reginald Hunley

A Conversation with Chief Shawn Buchanan

East Point Police Chief Shawn Buchanan discusses his journey to becoming Police Chief for the City of East Point and his goals to keep the community safe.

Councilman Lance Robertson Hosts Screening of Documentaries Produced on Black Icons

Councilman Lance Robertson explains how he produced his documentaries on Hosea Williams and Nelson Mandela.

Councilman Lance Robertson and an East Point resident at the documentary screening.

On March 22, Councilman Lance Robertson hosted a screening of the documentaries he produced on Civil Rights Icon Hosea Williams and the historic election of former South African President Nelson Mandela at the East Point Library. The screening was part of the City's Black History Movie Series hosted during the month of February. You can watch his body of work in the links below.

Detective Donna Bridges and Councilman Lance Robertson at the documentary screening of Hosea Williams and Nelson Mandela.

Hosea Williams- Unbought & Unbossed

The Election of President Nelson Mandela

East Point Residents View Concept Designs for The Commons Development Project

On March 24, the development team for East Point's downtown revitalization project, known as The Commons, hosted an Open House Design Session for the community to view concept designs for the project based on feedback from previous community meetings. Ian Hunter with TVS Design, the architecture and urban planning component of the development team, explained the concept designs during a live interview. The designs shown at the Open House are not the final designs for The Commons. The development team will use the feedback from the Open House Design Session to make revisions to create the final design.

Watch Live Interview with TVS Design

The Healthy Point and East Point Parks & Recreation Invite the Community for a Day of Health & Fitness

On March 26, Mayor Deana Holiday Ingraham launched the 4th year of The Healthy Point: 90-Day Health Initiative at John D. Milner Park. Healthy Point participants came out to learn more about the health and fitness organizations available to them in the City of East Point. They also participated in a Zumba warm-up, Yoga and walk around the park. Registration is open thru June 23, 2022.

Simultaneously, East Point Parks & Recreation hosted their Spring Block Party to highlight their upcoming Spring sports. They hosted clinics for cheerleading, flag football, baseball and softball. To register for a sport, please call 404-270-7054.