Rader and Gannon spell out concerns about greenspace dollars being allocated to South DeKalb YMCA purchase

Commissioners Rader and Gannon have written a letter to the Metro Atlanta YMCA and the DeKalb County community explaining their reservations about using greenspace funds to enter an agreement with the YMCA. If, after reviewing the facts, you wish to contact our DeKalb Commissioners, you can find their contact information here.

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Dear YMCA Board Members and our DeKalb Community:

We appreciate all of the work across metropolitan Atlanta that YMCA’s do every day. Whether it is helping their members stay healthy and fit through exercise and recreation programs, or providing early enrichment to Head Starters or the numerous other ways that the Y helps build community – the service of the YMCA staff, volunteers and Board of Directors is of the finest American tradition.

As members of the DeKalb County Board of Commission we believe Partnerships which leverage complementary capabilities are a valuable tool and in the potential relationship with the South DeKalb YMCA, we hope to find one that is transparent, respects the taxpayers and serves the needs of the broadest group of citizens.  

With this in mind, we have reservations about the proposed Master Agreement between DeKalb and the Metro Y that would use County Green Space Acquisition Bond Revenues to purchase your South DeKalb Y facility and lease it back to you at a nominal price.  

Please consider these FACTS:
•    This Partnership agreement is exclusively negotiated with the YMCA, and nothing similar has been offered to any other non-profit, private organization or governmental partner. No terms or parameters for negotiation were authorized by the DeKalb Governing Authority, and the proposed Master Agreement was only made public when it was placed on the Commission Agenda on April 8th.  Neither the Green Space Bond Advisory Board nor the Development Authority of DeKalb County have had any input to the Master Agreement.
•    The Y brings no new money to the table.  The County has successful models for staffing facilities, and is experimenting with other partnership models. For example the Boys and Girls Club will manage the after-school program at the Redan Recreation center next fall, each entity receiving a benefit.  We should treat partners comparably, and negotiate openly.
•    The South DeKalb YMCA is in an area where significant County investments in recreation and senior services have already been made: the Y is 2.5 miles from Exchange Park Multi-Generational Recreation Center ($7.2million); 2.8 miles from Browns Mill Recreation and Aquatic Facility ($8.9 million); 4.1 miles from Lou Walker Senior Center with a heated indoor pool; 5.7 miles from Candler Road Senior Center, which will have exercise equipment when it opens this summer; 8 miles from Redan Park Recreation Center ($5.4 million); and 8.7 miles from Wade Walker Park and YMCA ($13.6 million).  In 8 square miles of this South DeKalb community, the County has already invested over $35 million in recent and ongoing Parks Bond developmental funds and additional county and federal grant dollars for the senior centers.  Investing in this location is not a good return on the citizens’ tax dollars.  It will duplicate services in this area while many areas of the county still do not have access to any recreation center. DeKalb County taxpayers will continue to pay for the operations of Browns Mill, Exchange, and Redan Centers. No current public expense will be reduced.
•    The Master Agreement provides no benchmarks or guarantees related to the health deficiencies the investment is purported to address.  Indeed, the question may be fairly asked:  why, after 40 years’ service to the community has the Y had so little effect on these deficiencies?  Why will a renovation have a transformative effect?
•    DeKalb County will purchase the existing YMCA for $5 million, using $1 million of District 3 and 7 Parks Bond Land Acquisition Funding and $4 million in County Wide Acquisition Funding.  The agreement diverts land acquisition funding to development, contrary to the Bond Referendum.   The property is appraised at $2.5 million for tax purposes, with the land appraised at $400,000.  The Appraisal provided by the YMCA estimates the value at only $3.9 million.  All appraisals supporting this proposed transaction are made using the “cost” method, which is inappropriate, given the multiplicity of similar facilities in the service area.
•    After the purchase, the County will transfer the property to the Development Authority of DeKalb County (DADC), who will lease the property back to the YMCA for $1 per year for 50 years. At the end of the lease, the property reverts to DeKalb County. The Return on Investment to the taxpayers footing this bill is $50.  The Y will book the lease as an asset, similar to the Wade Walker Y, whose lease is currently valued by the Y at over $10 million.
•    The YMCA will renovate the building to its own plan, and continue to operate the facility as a YMCA, charging a fee schedule of its own choosing, except that special benefits exclusively for residents of three surrounding zip codes, not all taxpayers, shall be provided. 
•    Appraisal documentation indicates that the SD YMCA operates with a $300,000 + annual surplus and there is no requirement to use surpluses to the benefit of DeKalb County taxpayers.  The Wade Walker Y should generate a surplus as well, yet there is no provision in either Master Agreement to account for such surpluses.
•    The YMCA has other options for renovating this facility without using taxpayer funds. Typically YMCA renovations are completed with private capital campaign contributions through the umbrella Metro Atlanta YMCA organization and through fundraising within the service area being served by the facility.  
•    The county does not have the funds to renovate the much needed repairs and upgrades at the Tucker Recreation Center, the Lithonia Recreation Center, the need for a real Recreation Center at Mason Mill and the long overdue replacement of a Tobie Grant Recreation Center in Scottdale.  There is no Parks and Recreation Plan Update that assesses the need for another recreational facility in this area whereas there is assessed need for a new Center in Southwest DeKalb County.

Where is the partnership in this proposed agreement? There is a no win for the citizens of DeKalb County, only for the YMCA.  It is clearly the wrong thing to do and should go back to the drawing board.

Please withdraw from this proposal and let us participate in a transparent process that assesses the needs of both partners to the “partnership.”

Sincerely,
Commissioner Kathie Gannon, Super District 6
Commissioner Jeff Rader, District 2
June 23, 2014

Medlock greenspace opportunity (and fire dept. training and demolition alert)

from Casey Boudreau, MANA Greenspace Coordinator...

Dear neighbors:

MANA is seeking input from the community on ideas to re-purpose current and future vacant lots on Scott Circle between Medlock Park and Willivee Rd.  These properties are or will be owned by the County, and as they lie in a flood plain there are limited options for their use.  MANA is putting together a committee to work with the county, Druid Hills Youth Sports (who also serve as the Friends of Medlock Park) and Park Pride to develop ideas and plans for re-purposing these lots into viable greenspace. The process will take many months and we would like to have a lot of active participation by the neighborhood.

Medlock Park and surrounding area. The green oval marks the location of current/future vacant lots.
The Medlock Community Garden is already located at the corner of Scott and Willivee.
Soon-to-be demolished properties are marked (1011 and 1029 Scott Cr.).

If you are interested in joining the committee and/or have ideas, please contact Casey Boudreau: csybdr at yahoo dot com.  Thank you in advance for your support to maintain and improve our greenspace!

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Related: at last evening's Community Meeting, Dave Butler (Greenspace Environmental Manager with DeKalb County) informed us that the properties at 1029 and 1011 Scott Circle have been purchased by the County and will be demolished in the coming weeks. But, before that happens (and as is often done with such properties), the Fire Department will use the structures to conduct training next week.

Update on Greg Germani's hit-and-run: "aggravated assault vehicle found"

Image via Fox 5 News; watch their report here.

Thanks for the caption, Fox 5 News, and the report that Atlanta Police has retrieved what they believe to be the vehicle involved in Greg Germani's hit and run earlier this month. Watch the report here. The vehicle was retrieved from the parking deck of the Gables Midtown apartment complex on Monroe Drive. Per neighbors interviewed by Fox 5 News, the vehicle has been seen in the apartment complex before, has been parked and not moved for a couple weeks, was covered with a tarp, and the license plate had been removed (but is remembered as an out-of-state, Michigan plate). If found, the driver will likely be charged with aggravated assault (vehicle used as a deadly weapon).

Red line marks Flagler Avenue, where Greg was hit. The small
thumbprint image marks the Gables Midtown luxury apartment complex
where the hit-and-run vehicle was found. Original image via Gables Intown.

At tonight's Community Meeting, neighbor Susan gave a brief update on Greg's condition. He remains in serious condition but is showing improvement and will be moved out of the ICU ward. A long recovery lies ahead. Fundraiser information will be posted soon.

Keep getting better and stronger, Greg! And kudos to the Atlanta Police and whoever tipped them to the vehicle's location.

A June 10 report of the attack from WSB-TV can be found here. To contribute to the reward fund to help apprehend this dangerous driver, go here. According to the Decaturish blog, the total reward is approaching $30,000.

Still looking for hit-and-run driver

Greg remains in a coma, his attacker is still at large.

For an update on this case, see the 11 Alive News update: Family pleads for leads in hit-and-run of Decatur cyclist

To contribute to Greg Germani's reward fund, click here.

Help identify cyclist's attacker: video and reward drive

Among other great reasons, Greg Germani is known for creating
 the Atlanta Time Machine, a valentine of a website that brings
 images of of Atlanta then and now. To top it off, Greg  filters air
with his own lungs while commuting to keep everyone else's air
a little bit cleaner. Let's pitch together and find the driver that
ran him down, and in doing so, be like Greg and
make things a little better for everyone. Click here to contribute!

On June 9, neighbor Greg Germani was the victim of a hit-and-run while cycling on Flagler Avenue in Atlanta.

The Atlanta Police Department (APD) has released security camera video that appears to corroborate eyewitness reports that after the driver and Greg exchanged words, the driver turned around and drove after the Greg, who remains in the ICU at Grady Hospital. The driver is being sought on charges of aggravated assault.

To encourage people to come forward and identify the driver believed to be responsible, a campaign has been launched to offer a reward for information leading to his arrest.  Please go to https://fundly.com/reward-fund-for-the-greg-germani-case and make a donation and help sweeten the pot for anyone who may be on the fence about sharing information. At the Fundly website, the APD describes the vehicle and driver as follows:  "A Bright red Dodge Nitro SUV with front damage, driven by a black male 20-30 years of age with short hair".

Chilling video shared by the Atlanta Police Department:


Decaturish notes that

People with information can submit anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers by calling 404-577-TIPS (8477), visiting www.crimestoppersatlanta.org or by texting CSA and the tip to CRIMES (274637). You do not have to give your name or any identifying information to be eligible for the reward for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the suspect.

DeKalb Code Enforcement visits vacant property

In addition to a foreclosed property registry, DeKalb now also enforces a vacant property registry that requires owners to register unoccupied vacant homes.

Responding to concerns from neighbors (who used the online complaint form, called Code Enforcement and contacted Commissioner Rader), DeKalb Code Enforcement recently visited an unoccupied home with an overgrown lawn and posted a warning that was also being sent to the owners of record.

The warning outlined property maintenance issues that were visible to the inspector, who will return in 30 days and issue a citation if said violations are not corrected by then. The warning also states that "Failure to correct will result in issuance of court summons to appear in recorder's court. Maximum fine per court summons is $1000 and/or 60 days in jail. Each day is a separate offense." Within a week, the property owner began to address the issues.

DeKalb's Code Compliance Division can be reached by phone at 404-687-3700. You may also email them at codeEnforce@dekalbCountyGa.gov.  If possible, include photos.

St. Jude's Children Research Hospital Benefit [June 12]

Click to enlarge.

17 artists are selling bowling pins today at Suburban Lanes of Georgia! ALL proceeds go to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital! This is your time to help and I know you will- Auction starts at 5pm and goes until 10pm. There will be 11 artists there on site! You should come support them! They graciously donated these hand painted pins to help children get the funds needed to fight cancer and other afflictions....and the only way we can keep this kind of event going is if we have your support! Now come on Atlanta- support the arts like I know you can!!!

FREE! ALL AGES! $1 BOWLING ALL DAY! FREE FACE PAINTING FOR KIDDOS 5-8PM! 10 ARTIST VENDORS- SCULPTURE- PAINTINGS- CLOTHING- PHOTOGRAPHY!

See additional details here.