County will address damages at Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve

Last March 4, several neighbors reported work at the Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve (CSNP) that caused noticeable damage. The source of this disruption was heavy equipment operated by DeKalb Co. Watershed Management. Neither the CSNP nor the property owner were notified about the project [CSNP is privately owned but maintained by volunteers who, over many years, have invested thousands of hours into developing and maintaining trails and signage].

On March 20, MANA sent a letter to Commissioner Jeff Rader that read as follows:

Dear Commissioner Rader: 

We were greatly alarmed to learn of the recent destruction of green space within Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve, a privately-held and volunteer-run asset to our neighborhood. It is our understanding that DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management began work along the sewer easement without making any notification to the landholder. While this action alone is disturbing enough, we were utterly appalled to see the large tract cut through the preserve and across one of the newest trails. Furthermore, we observed large pits dug into spaces that are not within the sewer easement. The creation of these craters further destroyed natural habitat in a space that is dearly beloved by the neighborhood and by many who visit from surrounding areas.

It is clear that the sewer line along Peachtree Creek needed improvements and that these repairs required Watershed Management to access the space through the preserve. However, the blatant disregard for the property owner and the inability to perform the work in a manner consistent with protocol by following established easements is yet another reminder that there are portions of our County government that remain dysfunctional. 

We know that you recognize the value of the Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve to our community and appreciate the efforts of their board members and many volunteers who have worked tirelessly to maintain this green space as a vital asset to our neighborhood and all DeKalb County residents. Therefore, we ask that you give your full support to the board as they negotiate reparations from Watershed Management.

On March 21, CSNP President Chris Beck met with Commissioner Rader and the head of the Watershed Management--both were dismayed about the situation. CSNP will be filing a claim against the County outlining recommendations for restoration at the Preserve, and the County will assess the damage and then respond to the claim.

We will keep you posted on this issue.

DeKalb County Animal Services' "Adopt a Lucky Charm" special

Click to enlarge.

LIFELINE ANIMAL PROJECT OFFERS SPECIAL ADOPTION RATES DURING ‘ADOPT A LUCKY CHARM’ PROMOTION AT DEKALB COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES

 

ATLANTA (March 20, 2014) -- You don’t need a four-leaf clover to get the luck of the Irish this St. Patrick’s Day.  LifeLine Animal Project invites you to adopt your lucky charm at DeKalb County Animal Services (DCAS) and receive special adoption rates during their ‘Adopt a Lucky Charm’ promotion.  During the month of March, any dog or puppy may be adopted for only $40, and any cat and kitten may be adopted for only $25. Standard adoption screening criteria still applies.  Adopted pets will be spayed or neutered, microchipped, vaccinated, heartworm or combo tested and dewormed.  

 

According to DCAS Director Susan Feingold, there are plenty of ‘lucky charms’ waiting to fill your life with love.  “We have so many great dogs and cats who are ready to become loyal family members,” she says.  “Their luck will change for the better when you adopt one, and so will yours.”

 

To see pictures of available animals at DCAS, or for the shelter’s address or adoption hours, please visit www.dekalbanimalservices.com. 

Medline LCI Study Charrette [Mar 29]

To RSVP for this event, go to medlinedesigncharrette.eventbrite.com

via Jen, from the Medline LCI Study Team:

We’ve put the final touches on our upcoming Design Charrette for the Medline LCI.  It will be held at Masala Indian Restaurant located in Patel Plaza on 3/29.  A light breakfast and lunch will be provided.  We hope that we can count on you to help us spread the word about the event to your networks, neighbors and other interested stakeholders.  Please encourage people to pre-register at:  medlinedesigncharrette.eventbrite.com. It should be an exciting and interactive event!

The community survey will remain open leading up to the Charrette.  Please continue to encourage folks to take the online survey, especially if they cannot attend the design charrette: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MedlineLCI

You can also visit the Medline LCI website to learn more about this study and review documents from previous presentations and community meetings.

Your DeKalb Farmers Market

A Decatur Metro reader recently posted a link to plans depicting a major expansion of Your DeKalb Farmers Market. The plans linked here are dated 2012, construction is now starting. Per the document,

"The proposed expansion will be built in four phases; Phase 1 will consist of 195,692 SF of Warehouse and 352,983 SF of Retail; Phase 2 will consist of 407,152 SF of
Warehouse and 101,788 SF of Retail; Phase 3 will consist of 53,186 SF of Warehouse
and 98,774 SF of Retail; and Phase 4 will consist of 223,530 SF of Warehouse. Phase I is expected to be completed in 3 Years and the overall project is expected to be completed
in 10 years." 

via http://www.avondaleestates.org/resources/pdfs/Your%20DeKalb%20Farmers%20Market
%20Methodology%20Report_04302012.pdf
Current market space and parking appear in light grey roughly between 12 and 2 o'clock. 

You will be here! Medline study area is outlined in orange; the yellow
asterisk marks the Scott Blvd. / Medlock / North Decatur Road intersection.

That is a whole lot of edibles! Also exciting is how close Your DeKalb Farmer's Market is to our area and how much more accessible it will be through pedestrian and cycling improvements that will follow the Medline LCI study.

No mo' cities--this year, anyway

Self-consciously shaped like a stealth bomber, behold
the unholy child of that tawdry 11th-hour Lakeside and Tucker tryst.
It did not fly. 

Reporter Newspapers says that no new cities will be approved in DeKalb this year. The article quotes Senator Fran Millar (who withdrew the Lakeside bill he had sponsored) as saying

“What you’re basically telling 70,000 people is they don’t have the opportunity to vote this year,” 

You could interpret that phrase as Millar having a late but welcome flash of understanding and empathy for all the people outside cityhood an and annexation proposals but nah, he was talking about the Lakeside faithful.

Here's to hoping that with these proposals on hold, with annexations also looming, we can spend the coming year deciding who we are and where we are all going (hopefully nowhere involving a hand basket and gusting dry heat).

AJC update: cityhood initiatives and a DeKalb County task force

April Hunt at the AJC has a summary on the competing cityhood proposal debacle currently unfolding in the legislature. Elsewhere, the interim County CEO, Lee May,

"... issued an executive order to create a 15-member charter task force as early as next week. 

Among its goals will be to plot the county’s march toward municipalization, as well as review whether DeKalb should eliminate its CEO form of government. 

May and the [DeKalb County] commission had agreed on that agenda for lawmakers, but none of their joint requests have been taken up this session. 

“Unfortunately, there has been no political will to address these issues at the state level, and we’re seeing the very real problem of how unclear the right to incorporate with your own borders can be,” May said. “So we have to show the residents, the lawmakers and everyone we are serious about handling this work ourselves.” 

What’s next: The House governmental affairs committee meets at 1 p.m. Wednesday in room 606 of the Coverdell Legislative Office Building in Atlanta." Read the rest @ AJC

p.s.
Thanks to the AJC for having this important item outside the paywall.

Dog found near Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve

This dog (no microchip) was found near the Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve earlier this month.

A kind neighbor has been holding on to him (?) but will need to surrender it to animal control or rescue soon.

If you know who the owners might be, or an interested in a small, sweet "mini-pin" or rat terrier-type dog, please email medlockassoc@gmail and we'll put you in touch with the person who is taking care of this puppet.