|
|
Dear Neighbor:
Do you know an individual or an organization that has made extraordinary contributions to our community? If you do, nominate them for the 2012 CEO's Community Hero Awards. This year, we have partnered with the Champion Newspaper to recognize a community servant, community organizer or an individual in DeKalb who tirelessly volunteers his or her service for the better of our county.
Volunteers play an important role in enhancing the quality of life in our community, and far too often their work goes unnoticed and unrecognized. In 2010, I sought to change that and formally honored our first set of Community Heroes. With the addition of the Champion Newspaper as a partner, our third annual ceremony promises to be the best yet. Recipients will be recognized for their achievements next month.
The CEO Community Hero Awards is one of many events we are planning to commemorate National County Government Month (NCGM) in April. We join counties across our nation in celebrating the National Association of Counties' (NACo) annual event, which aims to raise public awareness and understanding about the roles and responsibilities of county government. We are in the final planning stages for our celebration this year. Check your email and the DeKalb County website for an update on NCGM events.
As we transition from winter to spring and the weather continues to get warmer, I encourage each of you to spend time enjoying the natural resources in our community - our parks and green spaces. As a community, we can be active and be healthy together.
- CEO Burrell Ellis
|
Do You Know a Community Hero?
Nomination deadline for annual award is March 30
 CEO Ellis and the Champion Newspaper are seeking nominations for the 3rd Annual CEO's Community Hero Awards, which honor a community servant, community organization or an individual in the DeKalb community who tirelessly volunteers his or her service for the betterment of the county. Nomination forms must be received by Friday, March 30 and can be downloaded here.
Nominations are being accepted for the following award categories:
Community Champion Award - This award acknowledges an individual and non-profit organization whose work has had a positive impact in strengthening communities and improving the lives of others in DeKalb County.
Environmental Change Award - The award honors an individual or organization that works to preserve, protect and raise awareness about our environment.
Youth Volunteer Award - This award recognizes two DeKalb County youths 18 years old and younger who exemplify volunteerism and community service.
Neighborhood Empowerment Award - This award recognizes an individual or organization that fosters civic engagement and promotes community involvement.
The Vanguard Award - This award recognizes an individual or organization whose contributions most exemplify the National County Government Month theme as established by NACo each year. The 2012 DeKalb theme is "Healthy Counties, Healthy Families; ONE Healthy DeKalb".
Nominees must live in DeKalb County. Any organization nominated must be able to demonstrate a clear presence and direct impact on DeKalb County.
A panel of civic, corporate and government volunteers will select the winners. Recipients will receive charitable contributions to help further their efforts in the county. Winners will be honored at the CEO's Community Hero Awards Gala at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center on Sunday, April 29 at 4 p.m.
For more information, contact Erica M. Brooks at 404-371-3695 or John Hewitt at 404-373-7779 x110.
|
CEO Burrell Ellis and Congressman Hank Johnson lobby for I-20 East rail line
DeKalb Officials meet with US DOT leadership
CEO Ellis and Congressman Hank Johnson met with executive officials from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to discuss how DeKalb County can partner with the federal agency to support construction of rail along the I-20 East corridor.
If the Regional Transportation Referendum passes in July, DeKalb County would receive $1.3 billion in project funding that includes $225 million for an extension of the rail line from Indian Creek to Wesley Chapel Road.
CEO Ellis and Rep. Johnson met with Deputy Secretary John Porcari and other high ranking DOT officials in Washington D.C. Deputy Secretary Porcari is the DOT's chief operating officer who reports directly to Secretary Ray LaHood. Also present was Peter Rogoff, Federal Transit Administrator.
"I want to thank Deputy Secretary Porcari and other members of Secretary LaHood's executive staff for meeting with Congressman Hank Johnson and me about expanding transit in DeKalb County. We all agree if the Regional Transportation Referendum is passed, we will have the best opportunity to expand MARTA East rail line in South DeKalb," said CEO Ellis. "The federal government has been a good friend to DeKalb County and I believe they will continue to be so as we move forward."
"I will continue to support the efforts of DeKalb and other counties in my district to effectively compete for federal funds that improve transportation in our community," said Rep. Johnson. "I will stand up for MARTA and oppose efforts to cut transit funding. I applaud CEO Ellis for his leadership on these issues."
|
Fire Station 10 Reopens with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
CEO Ellis, along with DeKalb County Commissioners Larry Johnson, Kathie Gannon and Lee May, county officials and Fire Station 10 staff, celebrated the reopening and completion of improvements to Fire Station 10 in Stone Mountain with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in February.
More than 50 people attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony which marked the completion of the newly remodeled fire station. Major improvements include:
-
New apparatus bay that accommodates two emergency vehicles, which allows taller modern fire apparatus to be stationed there
-
Updated energy efficient HVAC equipment and low-flow plumbing fixtures
-
The kitchen and dayroom have been enlarged for employee comfort
-
Larger office space, sleeping quarters and the addition of a weight room
-
Fencing around the parking lock to ensure the security of vehicles
Improvements to the original station, built in 1960, totaled $1.1 million. The project is 100 percent financed with Federal grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), specifically the CDBG-R, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) entitlement funds.
|
DCTV Among Winners of 33rd Annual Telly Awards
CEO Ellis announces a major accolade for DeKalb County's Government Access Station, DeKalb County Television (DCTV) Channel 23. DCTV's special report, "The Greener Side of DeKalb," was selected for a Bronze Telly Award for outstanding achievement in the Nature/Wildlife category. The five-minute video highlights the wonderful parks, nature preserves and recreational centers in DeKalb County that attract residents and help increase local property values and businesses.
Founded in 1979, The Telly Awards is the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, the finest video and film productions, and web commercials, videos and films.
Past Telly Award winners include NFL Films, FOX Sports Networks (FSN), Discovery Channel, Harpo Studios, ESPN, Inc., Time Warner Cable, Turner Studios, Nickelodeon, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Lockheed Martin, Miami Dolphins Ltd., AEG Network LIVE, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, Johns Hopkins Children's Center, and The Lighthouse Film Company.
In addition to winning the Bronze Telly Award, DCTV has won nearly 60 national awards since 2006, including 31 Pegasus Awards, 14 NATOA Awards, nine NACIO Awards, two AABJ Awards and an Emmy® Award.
On Comcast Cable, and now online through a live video stream at www.dekalbcountyga.gov/dctv, DCTV Channel 23 serves as the sole media source of DeKalb County government events and programs.
|
|
DeKalb Sells Tax Anticipation Notes
Good credit rating keeps interest charges low
CEO Ellis announced that 10 bids were received for the county's Tax Anticipation Notes (TANS), with the winning bid coming from Bank of America Merrill Lynch. TANS are short-term debt instruments used to ensure steady cash flow during the county's fiscal year.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch's bid was the lowest interest rate of .234366 percent and an underwriter's discount of $0.10 per $1,000. The net interest cost was $290,276, far less than anticipated.
"The rapid sale and aggressive bidding is a direct result of our sound fiscal management," said CEO Ellis. "Investors know that DeKalb County is a good deal."
Last month, Moody's Investors Services announced that DeKalb's credit rating for short-term debt is MIG-1, the highest rating available. Moody's Investors Services noted the progress the county was making toward rebuilding the reserve fund in a report which said that year-end projections, "...for fiscal 2011 show a $24 million cash balance due to additional revenue generated by the recent tax rate increase, in addition to nearly $130 million in expenditure cuts that occurred over the last three fiscal years. Moody's considers these cashflows and their underlying assumptions to be reasonable."
On Feb. 28, DeKalb County approved a 2012 budget which actually restored $30 million to the reserve fund, which had previously dipped into single digits.
"We will continue to innovate, increase efficiencies and control costs," said CEO Ellis. "Our superior credit rating and low interest rates are saving taxpayer dollars and proving we are on the right track."
|
|
DeKalb Holds ONE DeKalb Works Information Forum
 DeKalb County Workforce Development held its first ONE DeKalb Works Jobseeker Information Forum for residents last month to provide work readiness information to jobseekers to prepare them for upcoming jobs as a result of ONE DeKalb Works. Items of discussion on the agenda included an overview of the program, projects and job opportunities.
An ambitious plan that leverages public spending to provide opportunities for residents to secure gainful employment, ONE DeKalb Works, launched by CEO Ellis in November, utilizes $1.35 billion in water and sewer infrastructure improvement projects to cultivate a skilled workforce in order to get DeKalb County citizens back to work.
ONE DeKalb Works will create approximately 4,700 direct jobs at peak production in implementing this local stimulus program in collaboration with multiple local, state and national partners. DeKalb County residents, as a result of this undertaking, will benefit from a total economic impact of $1.77 billion.
|
|
DeKalb Rolls out Mobile Career Center
DeKalb's first Mobile Career Center hit the road in February, taking work readiness services directly to the people. The center, also known as the county's "jobs bus," will be stationed at various locations throughout DeKalb County and support the ONE DeKalb Works initiative as a vehicle to get DeKalb County citizens back to work.
Major features of the resource center include 13 computer stations; a private interview area; high-speed satellite Internet connection; printer, scanner and copy services; and a fully accessible ADA workstation with movable table and auxiliary. Businesses will be able to use the mobile unit for recruiting, pre-employment screenings, interviewing, and training. The mobile unit will also provide residents with essential services including, job search assistance, adult workshops and training, resume writing, and interviewing tips.
Below are the Mobile Career Center's scheduled locations for the month of March:
March 12
Covington Library
3500 Covington Hwy
Decatur, GA 30032
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
March 13
Wesley Chapel Library
2861 Wesley Chapel Rd
Decatur, GA 30034
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
CEO Town Hall Meeting
Eastlake Family YMCA
275 E Lake Boulevard SE
Atlanta, GA 30317
6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
March 14
Stonecrest Library
3123 Klondike Rd
Lithonia, GA 30038
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
March 15
Tucker-Reid-Cofer Library
5234 Lavista Rd
Tucker, GA 30084
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
CEO Town Hall Meeting
Center for Pan Asian Community Services
3510 Shallowford Rd, NE
Atlanta, GA 30341
6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
March 19
Stonecrest Library
3123 Klondike Rd
Lithonia, GA 30038
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
March 20
Wesley Chapel Library
2861 Wesley Chapel Rd Decatur, GA 30034
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
CEO Town Hall Meeting
Lou Walker Senior Center
2538 Panola Road
Lithonia, GA 30058
6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
March 21
Department of Family & Children Services
178 Sams Street
Decatur, GA 30030
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
March 22
Covington Library
3500 Covington Hwy
Decatur, GA 30032
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
March 26
Wesley Chapel Library
2861 Wesley Chapel Rd Decatur, GA 30034
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
March 27
Redan -Trotti Public Library
1569 Wellborn Road Lithonia, GA 30058
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
CEO Town Hall Meeting
Tucker High School
5036 LaVista Road
Tucker, GA 30084
6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
March 28
Tucker-Reid-Cofer Library
5234 Lavista Rd
Tucker, GA 30084
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
March 29
Scott Candler Library
2644 McAfee Rd
Decatur, GA 30032
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
|
|
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Performs at Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center
CEO Burrell Ellis proudly thanks the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for its recent performances at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts and Community Center.
Nearly 1,000 students from public and private schools across DeKalb and metropolitan Atlanta attended the performances by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Students in grades pre-K to 2nd grade enjoyed the Symphony Streets Concert, which introduced the youths to the orchestra. The sold-out performance led the young audience through a colorful symphonic adventure filled with singing, dancing and beautiful music.
David Manuel, Executive Director of the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center, was excited about the opportunity to partner with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and felt privileged to have their participation in educating and entertaining DeKalb youth. The center will strive to bring additional events of this magnitude to the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center for youth and the community to enjoy.
For more information on programs and events, please visit www.portersanford.com or call (404) 687-2731.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Job Well Done!
We commend Richard Harrison, Joshua Brooke and James Matthews who work in our sanitation department for going above the call of duty to provide assistance to a citizen who drove her car into a neighbor's yard.
This is what that citizen had to say: "These gentlemen were coming up the street on their normal collection route when I waived them down to ask them for help. They were helpful in rescuing my car so that I could continue my morning drive to work.
I am so thankful for Richard, Joshua and James and I enjoyed meeting these wonderful employees of DeKalb County. I wanted to bring this to your attention as I believe we all need a little good news these days and we all need a little kindness."
Thank you Richard, Joshua, and James for a job well done.
Did a DeKalb County employee or department go beyond the call of duty to make your priorities our priority?
Please send us an email so that we can recognize him or her for a job well done.
|
|
|
