Public hearings on proposed milage rates

Comissioner Rader announces an opportunity to comment on proposed millage rate increases:

DeKalb County will host public hearings to discuss a proposed increase in property tax rates on Tuesday, July 5 at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., and on Tuesday, July 12 at 10 a.m. in the Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive in Decatur.

The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners has tentatively adopted millage rates, which will require an increase in property tax rates as listed below.

                               2011    Rollback Rate       % Increase

    Atlanta                    10.39       8.938            16.25%
    Avondale Estates           15.41      13.464            14.45%
    Chamblee                   13.71      12.223            12.17%
    Clarkston                  15.06      13.242            13.73%
    Decatur                    10.82      10.087             7.27%
    Doraville                  13.60      12.607             7.88%
    Dunwoody                   13.35      11.357            17.55%
    Lithonia                   15.33      13.280            15.44%
    Pine Lake                  15.61      13.541            15.28%
    Stone Mountain             13.90      12.980             7.09%
    Unincorporated             19.62      18.017             8.90%
    
Countywide Debt                 1.08       0.647            66.92%
Unincorporated Debt             0.66       1.631           -59.53%

This tentative increase will result in a millage rate of 21.36 mills in the unincorporated area, an increase of 4.50 mills.

These millage rates are prior to the application of the Homestead Exemptions and credits from the Homestead Option Sales Tax. In 2010, the Board of Commissioners granted a 56.6 percent HOST Credit for County operations and maintenance based upon the use of 97.3 percent of last year’s HOST receipts. In 2011, the Board of Commissioners has voted to use 80 percent for the HOST Credit.

The hearings are open to the public and citizens are encouraged to attend.

Quote above comes from

http://www.commissionerrader.com/reader-county-news/items/public-hearings-on-rate-increase-set-for-july-5-12.html

H/T DecaturMetro,

Suburban Plaza non-update

CHCA has a good summary of what is known so far, please go to http://clairmontheights.org/node/2115

MANA inquiries to Commissioner Rader resulted in a pretty much identical email as noted above.

Druid Hills Patch has a rehash of CHCA's post and adds that coy surveyors from Wolverton and Associates have been spotted at Suburban Plaza. A quick visit to W & A's website shows that they provide the following types of site survey services: site feasibility studies, preliminary planning/ value engineering, public information meetings, zoning and land use requirements, complete site and hydrology designs, project cost estimates & specifications, securing permits & assisting with bidding process, as well as transportation, traffic, structural and subsurface utility engineering surveys.

Reminder: MANA Community Meeting, June 27

Monday, June 27, 2011, 7:00 pm
North Decatur Presbyterian Church (Scott Blvd and Medlock Road)

Please be reminded we are hosting a Business Fair where you will have a chance to talk to several local business people who live in the neighborhood. MANA business will be discussed starting at 8pm.

7:00-7:45 pm Business Fair

8:00 pm MANA meeting topics

• Membership drive
• Yard Sale
• Treasurer's report
• Zoning update
• Medlock School update
• Cell Tower update
• Commissioner Kathie Gannon – update on county doings

Lightning claims Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve's tool shed

Last evening's storm certainly made for an intense downpour. Apparently water was not the only thing coming down. Per a report in the Medlock Park Neighbors facebook page, lightning hit Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve's toolshed, making it catch fire.

Screen capture from video, see link below.

Link to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QcQrqZn-HE

REUNITED Chocolate lab

Stella, the chocolate lab has been found and has been reunited with her family. Yay!

Lost Elderly Cat now FOUND: Brengare [June 20]

Update: The cat found its way back and is safely home. Happy! :)

MANA Yard Sale: Save the Date [October 1]

2ND ANNUAL MEDLOCK YARD SALE
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, from 9AM - 3 PM.

We are gearing up for our second annual Medlock Area Yard Sale. Last year we had a very successful sale with about 17 families participating. Proceeds are yours to keep or you can donate them to MANA if you would like. There is a small $10 participation fee per household to help cover costs (advertising, printing, maps, etc.). This year we are hoping to pair with Clairmont Heights to offer an even bigger sale area. More details will be coming soon about the actual sale and how to participate.

In the meantime, we are looking for VOLUNTEERS to help coordinate the overall planning of the event. In addition, we could use help with:

Advertising (newspapers, local businesses, Craiglist/online advertising, etc.)
Making signs
Putting out signs
Picking up signs
Getting printing done
Ordering balloons (for participating houses)
Delivering balloons to each participating house
Coordinating with a charity to pick up what does not sell that people would like to donate
Replenishing maps to designated areas throughout the neighborhood before and on sale day

If you would like to volunteer for any project, large or small, we would greatly appreciate any time you have to offer. It's a fun way to be involved with the community and meet your neighbors. Please contact either Deb Elkin (elkin_d@bellsouth.net, 404-320-6063) or Bev Monroe (bevmonroe@juno.com, 404-321-9683) to volunteer or with any questions or ideas you might have.