Agenda: MANA Second Quarter Community Meeting [June 16]

Agenda

1. Intro (Sharon Johnson)

2. Treasurer's Report (Judy Perras)

3. County Report: The Cityhood issues- Impact on DeKalb County if Brookhaven passes, some possible scenarios (Jeff Rader)

4. Zoning Report (Theresa Same)

5. Parks Updates (Sharon Johnson)

6. Medlock Area Tree Presentation: A look at the health of our aging tree population. (Dave Butler)

Suburban Plaza: land disturbance permit applied for

Via Deanne, some explanations about the permit process via Kathie Gannon's office:


From Commissioner Kathie Gannon's Office:
You may have heard that on Friday Wal-Mart applied for a land disturbance permit at Suburban Plaza. The engineering staff is reviewing the applicant’s engineering drawings and will provide comments back to the applicant on June 19th. After this initial review and comment meeting, the applicant will have an opportunity to revise their plans and resubmit them for further review and approval. The first set of plans and permits will only affect the demolition and land disturbance. Building design is not under consideration at this point. The land disturbance permit includes decisions affecting demolition, grading and clearing, sedimentation/erosion control, the installation of water/sewer and other utilities, drainage and the stormwater management plan, access points onto public streets, parking lot design, landscaping, outdoor lighting, and building footprints. Commissioner Gannon and Commissioner Rader have previously met with engineering staff and will continue to insist that all DeKalb ordinances and codes be strictly followed.

From Commissioner Jeff Rader's Office:
I just wanted you all to be aware that on June 8th, DeKalb County received an LDP application (A/P #17974) for demolition and land disturbance, the first steps of development of the Selig site at 2525 North Decatur Road.  The first Plan Review Comment Resolution meeting will be held on 6/19/2012.

Cyclist mugged, robbed on Medlock Rd.

Alarming report, occurred on Monday June 4 ~5pm; if you see anyone fitting the description of the assailants, please call 911.

Patch.com reports on this incident:

The 41-year-old victim was riding his bike near 800 Medlock Rd. at about 5pm when he saw two men walking in his direction, the police report said. He said he saw the first suspect whisper to the second, and as he passed them, the first suspect kicked him to the ground. ...The first suspect was described as a white male about 5 feet 6 inches tall, about 165 pounds, wearing blue jeans and a black shirt. The second suspect was described as a white male about 6 feet 2 inches tall, wearing blue jeans and a hoodie with the words "air force" on the front.

Walmart/Suburban Plaza protest

Good Growth Dekalb will resume their rally's at the six-way intersection at North Decatur Road, Scott Boulevard and Medlock Road from 5:00-6:30 p.m.: June 8, July 13, August 10
For more information see their website at http://goodgrowthdekalb.org/

DeKalb seeks volunteers for education SPLOST oversight committee

Copied in its entirety from http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/dekalb-schools-seek-volunteers-1450785.html:

The DeKalb County School District is seeking residents to volunteer for a committee overseeing the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax revenue program and related school construction.Apply online at http://goo.gl/ZfoSV. ... The deadline is June 17, 2012 at 11:59 p.m.Ideal volunteers on the 12-member panel would have experience in development-related fields or in finance, accounting, education or the law. Volunteers must meet at least two hours quarterly starting in August, and must pass a background check and sign a non-disclosure agreement.

Education SPLOST budget issues have been recently covered by The Champion.

Also see the DeKalb County School System's SPLOST IV page.

Transit of Venus @ MANA [June 5]

OK, this is a little out there but here's a photo of the transit of Venus that's happening right now, as Venus passes through the space between Earth and Sun. Photo taken by streaming sunlight through inverted binoculars (light shining in through the "wrong" end of binoculars) onto an unfortunately not very flat piece of paper...

 Photo shows sun (light orb) and Venus (dark dot around 4 o'clock). 

Commissioner Rader explains how to file a property tax appeal

Commissioner Jeff Rader offers a very informative response to the recent, confusing-to-many property tax statements that DeKalb County issued recently. In his statement, he explains how to file for an appeal:

See http://www.commissionerrader.com/reader-county-news/items/id-2012-property-assessment-notices.html

Update: AJC reports on puzzling property tax assessments in DeKalb County.