DeKalb FreePress: 1-27-17

FREEPRESS
the DeKalb
FRIDAY, JAN. 27, 2017 VOL. 19, NO. 43 FREE
Serving East Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Stone Mountain, Stonecrest and Tucker A PUBLICATION OF ACE III COMMUNICATIONS
Tucker looks to designate areas as a historic district

by Carla Parker
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Tucker is known as one of
the historic areas in DeKalb.
Before Tucker became
a city 2016, the Tucker area
was established in 1892. The
community played a role in
the Civil Warwhen Union
soldiers camped at the Browning
Courthouse before fighting in the
Battle of Atlanta.
Now, city and the Tucker
Historical Society are hoping to
preserve the historic Browning
Courthouse, buildings on Main
Street and other areas in the city
by designating these areas as a
historic district.
Having a
district is
one part
of a larger
picture of
preservation.
Matthew Lee
President of Tucker
Historical Society
The city, the Tucker Historical

Society and Georgia State
University have partnered to
study a potential historic district
in Tucker. During the threemonth project, students from the
Heritage Preservation Masters
Degree Program will look at
areas in the city to develop
proposed historic preservation
design guidelines for selected
commercial and residential
areas.
Matthew Lee, president of
Tucker Historical Society, said
prior to the city incorporating
in 2016, the society began
discussions about a deeper
look at preservation. Christy
Atkins, chair of our preservation
Tucker hopes to preserve the historic Browning Courthouse (pictured), buildings on Main Street and other areas in the city by
designating these areas as a historic district.
committee, is a graduate of the

Heritage Preservation Masters
Degree Program at Georgia
State University and worked on
a project with Richard Laub,
director of the masters program,
to identify historic resources in
Lithonia and develop proposed
design guidelines for that city.
She contacted Richard
and he felt Tucker would be a
wonderful opportunity for his
students, Lee said.
Lee said the society has
focused on preservation since
it was founded in 2000. He said
the group gathered an inventory
of the buildings on Main Street
several years ago to identify
their age and original owners.
Weve looked at historic
homes in the area from the
1800s, done significant work on
the Browning Courthouse, but
nothing to the level of design
guidelines that this study will
provide. It will be a significant
resource to property owners in
the study area, Lee said.
If buildings or areas in the
city are designated as a historic
CHAMPIONNEWSPAPER
CHAMPIONNEWS
district, the city could receive

federal tax credits, according to
Lee.
Currently, only 26 percent of
municipalities in Georgia have
historic preservation ordinances
and just 18 percent qualify for
federal tax credits as certified
local governments, he said.
We want Tucker to be added
to the list and bring those
benefits home. Having a district
is one part of a larger picture of
preservation.
Weve all seen stretches of
road that are indistinguishable
due to underregulated
development, Lee said. We
need development. Changes
must come, but without a plan,
without understanding who we
are, its easy to lose identity
as a community. Too many
communities have lost valuable
architecture because people
didnt know the history.
Lee said the proposed design
guidelines will give property
owners within the study area a
better understanding of how to
improve their properties without
CHAMPIONNEWSPAPER
inadvertently undermining the

historic value of their buildings.
For example, if a door
needs to be replaced, masonry
repaired, or a second story
added to a building from the
1940s or 50s, there is a way to
do it that meets the functional
need of the business and
maintains the character that
attracts tenants and customers,
he said, Design guidelines will
give property owners a better
understanding of the available
options to meet those needs.
If a production company
wants to film on Main Street,
or in the downtown area, a
historically accurate faade is
of greater value than one that
mixes styles and periods poorly
and destroys the backdrop, Lee
added.
Once the study is complete,
Lee said he hopes the project
will show how to move forward
with preservation within the city.
[It] requires further
discussion and this project is
an important gateway to those
conversations, Lee said.
CHAMPIONNEWS
LOCAL
DEKALB FREE PRESS Friday, Jan. 27, 2017 Page 2
Boys & Girls Club director honored

DeKalb commissioners commend Brandon Riley for service
by R. Scott Belzer
sbelzer@dekalbchamp.com
Family, friends, coworkers,
community members and the
parents he serves joined East
DeKalb Boys & Girls Club
executive director Brandon
Riley at the Jan. 10 board of
commissioners meeting in
DeKalb County for an official
recognition and honor.
Riley recently finished his
first year as executive director
after five years with the club,
located at 1839 Phillips Road in
Lithonia. County officials and
community members thanked
him for the impact he has made
in the community in a single
year.
Brandon Riley, or Mr.
Brandon as we know him, has
had a really great impact on our
children, said parent Tawana
Hutchinson. Ive been with
the club a long time, and Mr.
Brandon has had more of an
impact in his one year than
other directors make in many
years.
According to Hutchinson,
a single mother, Riley and the
East DeKalb Boys & Girls Club
staff made sure she and her
family had a merry Christmas
by purchasing gifts for her and
her three children.
Riley specializes in
developing and implementing
programs for youth
development. Through the
clubs College Bound program,
he is responsible for making
programs that entice children at
the Boys & Girls Club to make
good grades, stay focused on

school and use every academic
opportunity available to them.
Commissioner Gregory
Adams said he wished to thank
and honor Riley for returning
to his hometown and making
a difference in the lives of
children.
Riley is a student of DeKalb
County schools, grew up in
Lithonia, and went back to
serve his community at the
Boys & Girls Club, Adams
said. We hope he continues
his great work and remains a
beacon of light for the Lithonia
community for many years to
come.
Commissioner Mereda
Johnson said the Lithonia
community commended Riley
at a recent town hall meeting.
All of the parents at the
meeting had nothing but
great things to say about Mr.
Brandon, his commitment to
youth, dedication to children
and excellence, Johnson said.
Hes admired by his coworkers
and the community in which he
serves.
Riley said he looks forward
to doing more work in DeKalb
County and bettering the
community he grew up in.
Its humbling, Riley said.
Its a proud moment, given I
can come into my community
and make an impact on it as
well as the rest of the county.
For the commissioners to
recognize that and support the
cause is very rewarding.
Riley said he challenged
county leadership to go into
other Boys & Girls Club
DeKalb Countys board of commissioners honored East DeKalb Boys & Girls Club director Brandon
Riley at its meeting on Jan. 10. Photo submitted.
locations and see the work that

is being done.
Its not just me doing this
type of work, Riley said. I have
great staff, great parents and
great kids. Its a great support
system in our communities.
Riley said he will attempt
to achieve more in the coming

year. He said he will offer
defensive driving courses
for high school students
and parents, on-location
health screenings through
a partnership with Emory
University and in-home
tutoring through Emorys

Exceeding the Mark program.
Our job is to be a support
group for the community,
Riley said. Every communitys
kids deserve that, the parents
deserve that and DeKalb
County deserves that.
IRVIN J. JOHNSON
Tax Commissioner
DeKalb County, GA
ATTENTION ALL DEKALB COUNTY

HOMEOWNERS
The 2017 Property Tax Exemption Deadline is Fast
Approaching!
If you owned and resided in a home in DeKalb County on January 1st, you may
apply for a Basic Homestead Exemption and Property Assessment Freeze with
the County by April 1st of this year. The home must be your primary domicile
and legal residence for all purposes, including the registration of your vehicles
and the filing of your Federal and State income taxes. Applications received
after April 1st will be processed for 2018.
In addition to the basic homestead exemption available to all homeowners, there
are special exemptions available for residents 62 and older, disabled veterans or
their un-remarried spouses, and other disabled residents. Eligibility for special
exemptions is based upon age or disability, total household income, and must
be applied for in person. When applying, please bring your State and Federal
income tax forms, Social Security 1099, and any other forms of income you
may receive, to one of our three offices across the County.
North Office
1358 Dresden Dr., NE

Atlanta, GA 30319
Main Office
4380 Memorial Dr.

Suite 100
Decatur, GA 30032
South Office
2801 Candler Rd. #66

South DeKalb Mall
Decatur, GA 30034
Remember, the deadline for applying for all homesteads is

April 1st!
Apply for the Basic Homestead Exemption, the Property Assessment Freeze, or
renew your tag registration online at: www.dekalbcountyga.gov/taxcommissioner
Questions? Call (404) 298-4000 or email us proptax@dekalbcountyga.gov
4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 100, Decatur, Georgia 30032 (404-298-4000)
LOCAL
AROUNDDEKALB
BROOKHAVEN
City to host daddy and daughter dance
A daddy and daughter dance will be held
Feb. 11, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Lynwood Community
Center in Brookhaven. The event will include
dinner, photo opportunities, giveaways and a
live DJ. Cost is $25 per family. To register, visit
a Brookhaven recreation center or call (404)
637-0152. The Lynwood Community Center is
located at 3360 Osborne Road.
CHAMBLEE
Theater nonprofit announces new artistic
director, resident artist
Chamblee theater nonprofit Onion Man
Productions announced in mid-January its new
artistic director Patrick Young and resident artist Jillian Walzer.
Young will be responsible for developing
seasons, managing the resident artist program
and managing the youth theater program. He
takes over from James Beck, who will now serve
as managing director.
Walzer has been an actress and model since
age 10. She has appeared in film, television and
theater. In Atlanta, shes performed with Onion
Man, Lionheart Theatre Company, Onstage Atlanta, Stage Door Players, New Origins Theatre
and Working Title Playwrights.
For more information, contact Beck at
james@onionmanproductions.com or call (404)
519-7591.
CLARKSTON
Georgia Piedmont Technical College partners
with Georgia Film Academy and Movie Magic
Georgia Piedmont Technical Collegelocated at 495 N. Indian Creek Roadrecently
announced an entertainment-based non-credit
program through the Georgia Film Academy
and Movie Magic.
Three classes offering education in production operations, lift truck operations, occupational safety and health, and other on-set skills
have been established at Georgia Piedmont and
offer enrollees a chance to network, earn certificates and build a resume tailored to the entertainment industry.
For more information, visit www.gptc.edu or
contact Gwendolyn Syphoe at syphoeg@gptc.
edu or (404) 297-9522.
DECATUR
DeKalb County Extension at (404) 298-4080,

mobilemarket@dekalbcountyga.gov or at http://
www.dekalbmobilemarket.com.
Decatur Catholic school to host open house

St. Peter Claver Regional Catholic School
located at 2560 Tilson Roadwill host an open
house on Jan. 29 from 1 to 3 p.m. School administrators, teachers and staff will provide tours
and answer questions about the schools curriculum.
St. Peter Claver offers education from prekindergarten to eighth grade. Classrooms combine grade levels and combine technology into
the curriculum.
For more information, contact Admissions
Director Joanne Doute-Cooper at jdoute-cooper@spc-school.org or (404) 241-3063.
Parks and cultural affairs to host fatherdaughter dance

The DeKalb County Department of Recreation,
Parks and Cultural Affairs will host its FatherDaughter Dance at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center at
980 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta on Feb. 2 from 6:30 to 9
p.m.
The father-daughter dance is for all ages and costs
$15 per couple and $5 for each additional child. The
event will include music, refreshments and dancing.
Guests are asked to dress to impress.
To access online registration, visit www.
dekalbcountyga.gov/parks and click register Online,
or register in person at any DeKalb recreation center.
For more information, contact LaShanda Davis,
public relations specialist, at (404)-371-3643 or
lsdavis@dekalbcountyga.gov.
VFW holding fundraiser

The VFW in Decatur will be holding a Super
Bowl party fundraiser. The party will be held Feb. 5
and admission price is $10. Those in attendance will
receive a free buffet. Doors open at 3 p.m. and will
be located at VFW POST 4706 Covington Highway.
For more information contact Randy Mcfadden
(770) 882-7676.
DeKalb County Extension accepting

applications
DeKalb County Extension is accepting
applications for the DeKalb Mobile Farmers Market
stops for 2017.
The market visits areas around the countyfour
days a week for 16 weeks. Applications for the 2017
season will be accepted online through Feb. 20.
The DeKalb Mobile Farmers Market is a program
of DeKalb County Extension with support from the
DeKalb County Board of Health. The program is
made possible with funding from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
For information regarding the application
process or other Extension programs, please contact
TUCKER
Library to host AARP tax assistance session
The 2017 AARP tax assistance session will be
held Feb. 3, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Tucker-Reid H.
Cofer Library. The AARP tax assistance session
is for lower-and middle-income taxpayers, with
special attention to those 60 years of age and
older. Service is on a first-come, first served
basis. Late arrivals may have to wait until the
next day on the schedule for service. The library
is located at 5234 LaVista Road. For more
information, call (770) 270-8234.
LITHONIA
Story time for preschoolers at library
The Lithonia-Davidson Library will have
story time for preschool-age children (12
months to 5 year olds) Feb. 7 from 12 to 12:30
p.m. There will be stories, rhymes, finger plays,
songs and more. The library is located at 6821
Church Street. For more information, call (770)
482-3820.
LOCAL
A discourse on brotherly love
Local author discusses Resurrecting

Abel, his latest book discussing lack
of fraternal love
by R. Scott Belzer
According to local author
Marcus Johnson Jr., one of
the first steps in addressing
problems in the AfricanAmerican community is
addressing a lack of respect.
Johnson released his second
book, Resurrecting Abel: A
Discourse on Brotherly Love,
on Jan. 6. The 45-page book
addresses what Johnson sees as
a lack of fraternal love in the
Black community, its causes
and residual effects.
Johnsons previous book,
Concentrated Blackness, looked
at ways in which the Black
community can come together.
He said Resurrecting Abel
suggests a step that should
be taken firstloving thy
neighbor.
The book looks at probably
the biggest cause of disharmony
within the Black community,
which is a lack of love, Johnson
said.
Resurrecting Abel is
divided into three sections:
Death, Resurrection, and
Possibility, which examine
such topics as mythology, slang,
church and literature.
In Death, Johnson
examines well-known instances
of fratricidethe killing of ones
brother or sisteraround the
world. By using examples such
as Cain and Abel, Romulus
and Remus, Osiris and Set,
Johnson writes that fratricide
can be linked to military events

(friendly fire) as well as violence
in the Black community.
Johnson said he titled the
book Resurrecting Abel after
seeing many examples of
fratricide in the Bible. He said
Cain and Abel can be used as a
parallel to the Black community
due to instances of jealousy,
differences and a failure to
appreciate differences.
Even non-Christians know
that Cain killed Abel, Johnson
said. One couldnt appreciate
the otherthe Bible says God
favored Abels offeringbut
instead of Cain figuring out
how to make his offering
more favorable to God, he just
destroyed his brother. We need
to resurrect Abel, we need to
love him back to life.
Resurrection discusses
obstacles in developing Black
fraternal love, which includes
unhealthy competition,
homophobia and self-hatred.
When you explore
those areas, you can see how
competition can be both helpful
and harmful, Johnson said.
When you look at examples of
fratricide like Cain and Abel,
the twins who found Rome or
the twins who found Egypt, you
can see its because of unhealthy
competition.
According to Johnson,
cures to such issues include
acknowledgment, validation,
encouragement and the
demonstration or articulation
of love.
Citing Joy DeGruys Post
Local author Marcus Johnson Jr. hopes to end disharmony in the Black community by promoting fraternal fellowship.
Photo by R. Scott Belzer
Traumatic Slave Disorder,

Johnson explains a dichotomy
in the Black community where
even greeting one another can
have disastrous consequences.
In a lot of places in
Africa, they have a greeting in
various languages that means
I see you, Johnson said.
Viewing each other here,
even looking at each other,
can cause discomfort as well
as other problems. When I
walk past you in the street, I
should be speaking to you and
acknowledging your existence.
When you see or pass by your
family members at home, you
speak to your family members.
Resurrection, according to
Johnson, also asks a reader to
perform exercises. The reader
will note how many Black men
are spoken to as well as how
many are validated, encouraged

and appreciated.
Validation is about more
than acknowledging an
existence, its saying Hey, I
appreciate you and you belong
here, Johnson said. Me
asking how youre doing is
just as important as me seeing
you. When one of us is doing
something right or trying to do
something right, we dont need
to tear each other downwe
need to encourage one another.
Johnson said articulating
value between males is often the
result of something negative,
such as imbibing too much
alcohol or an unforeseen death.
Why do you have to
be intoxicated to tell your
homeboy or your friend that
you love them? Johnson said.
Why do we have to be at
someones deathbed in order

to talk about how much we
appreciate them? Or at funerals
to hug each other?
Johnson said he was
inspired to write Resurrecting
Abel as a retort to those believe
police brutality is warranted in
the Black community.
Saying, Black-on-Black
violence is a problem so we
shouldnt pay attention to
Blue-on-Black violence, is
inappropriate, Johnson said.
The fact that Black-on-Black
violence is there to be used
in that way anyway is the
responsibility of the Black
community. Black-on-Black
violence and how we treat each
other is an issue.
Resurrecting Abel is available
at Amazon.com as well as
BarnesandNobel.com.
DeKalb officer allegedly leaks nude photos

by Horace Holloman
horace@dekalbchamp.com
A DeKalb County
Police officer is accused of
releasing nude photos of an
acquaintance on social media
platforms.
Audrey Francisquini
reportedly hacked into an
acquaintances social media
account and posted nude
photos of the accuser and
was charged by police in
connection with the incident.
On Dec. 30 last year, the
accuser said she

media accounts you
began receiving
are able to upload
phone calls and
any picture from
text messages from
the account holders
friends saying they
phone as long as they
saw nude pictures of
are connected to that
her that were posted
social media account
to her Instagram and
and she believes this is
Snapchat accounts.
how the pictures were
Francisquini
According to a
posted, the police
police report, the
report said.
accuser checked her email
According to the report,
and found that the passwords
Francisquini began texting the
to her social media accounts
accuser before the incident
had been changed and she was stating you aint shit and
unable to access them.
youre going to learn. The
She advised on social
report describes the two as
coworkers and acquaintances.

DeKalb County Public
Information Officer Stephen
Fore said the accuser and
Francisquini do not work
together at the DeKalb County
Police Department.
[The accuser] is unaware
of where this behavior came
from and says she talked to this
coworker several days prior
and everything was okay, the
report says.
According to Fore, the
accused is currently on
administrative leave pending
the outcome of an internal
investigation. She was hired

on April 11, 2016.
Fore said he is unaware of
whether the photos have been
removed from social media.
The accused said shes
unaware of any other
individuals who could be
involved in incident and
that shes been receiving
text messages from a phone
number that may be connected
to a Whatsapp account
belonging to Francisquini.
DEKALB FREE PRESS Friday, Jan. 27, 2017
LOCAL
Page 5
Constellations takes theatergoers

through worlds of possibilities
by Kathy Mitchell
Horizon Theatre on Jan. 17
offered an audience what it calls
a sneak peek at the its season
opening play, Constellations.
Lisa Adler, who fills many
roles at Horizon, including
producing director, introduced
Constellations saying, When
I read there was an awardwinning play with just two actors,
I thought, Ive got to check this
out.
Constellations was not
performed in full for the sneak
peek. Instead, sample scenes
were staged with commentary
from the actors and other key
production figures.
The play, which at its heart
is the time-honored boy-meetsgirl story, plays out through
the complex lens of theoretical
physics. It is a major departure
from what theatergoers may
typically see. Applying what
physicists call string theory
which suggests that every
moment has infinite possibilities
depending on decisions or
circumstancesthe play
imagines a vast number of
directions a relationship might
take.
Instead of a universe, there
is a multi-verse in which the
possibilities of a single moment
are infinite. The characters
remain true to who they are, but
their lives change dramatically
as sometimes seemingly
insignificant occurrences change
their trajectory. Although physics
is a driver of the story, no
knowledge of relativity, quantum
mechanics or string theory is
required to follow the play.
Its like playing 50 roles
in one play. It can get pretty
demanding, said Enoch King,
who plays Roland, a beekeeper
who by chance meets Marianne,
a Cambridge physics professor
played byBethany Irby.
On the sneak peek evening,
the play was in the fourth
week of a five-week rehearsal
schedule, with opening night set
for Jan. 27. Final decisions were
Bethany Irby (Marianne) and Enoch King (Roland) star in Constellations . Photo by Britt Else
being made on some aspects of

production. The audience was
brought into a discussion of such
backstage elements as music
choices, lighting and set design,
details of which the author left to
producers. Sketches and a set
model were passed through of
audience so members could see
what these look like and a play is
developing.
The unconventional concept
of the play requires simple
staging because scenes change
often and quickly; elaborate set
changes would probably be both
impractical and a distraction.
The set is largely platforms and
boxes that sometimes double
as seats with a backdrop of
discs suspended on strings to
suggest the cosmos. In other
productions, set designers have
used balloons and other objects.
Platform tiles in hexagons
suggest a honeycomb while
a chandelier of strings above

the performers suggests the
multiverse. Subtle changes clue
audience members, who are left
to feel like eavesdroppers on a s
ometimes romantic, sometimes
sexy, sometimes turbulent
relationship, that the scene
has shifted form one reality to
another.
While a two-actor play with
a simple set is easier and less
expensive to stage than one with
a larger cast and a detailed set,
the producers of Constellations
took great care with even
small facets of the production.
We really want to get it right,
explained Adler.
Getting it right meant gaining
new skills and knowledge for
the actors. With help from the
Atlanta Beekeepers Association,
for example, the staff visited a
hive to study the habits of bees.
There was one beejust one,
King insisted, that was out to

get me.
Written by British playwright
Nick Payne, the play is set in
London so both actors were
coached through British accents.
Additionally, a scene calls for
both to use sign language
British Sign Language, which
apparently is different from
American Sign Language. The
producers started a worldwide
search for a person who could
teach the language of the mute
as its spoken in the United
Kingdom. The person they found
was caring for her dying father
and communicated by Skype
from the fathers bedroom.
Constellations will be at
the Horizon Theatre Jan. 27Feb. 26. The theater is located
at 1083 Austin Ave., Atlanta.
For more information, call
(404) 584-7450 or visit info@
horizontheatre.com.
OPINION
Page 6
MLK Jr. marching band deserves an ovation

If I had the ability to make
others do as I wish, I would
make everyone in DeKalb
County watch the portion of the
Tournament of Roses parade
that was televised on Jan. 2
showing the Martin Luther King
Jr. marching band performing.
During the paradeheld in
Pasadena, Calif.200 musicians
from MLK High School in
Lithonia who had traveled to the
West Coast performed. They
were among a select groupjust
one of 21 marching bandsand
one of 12 high school marching
bands invited to participate.
However, its not merely their
performance that should be
noted but the determination and
perseverance that it took to get
Gale Horton Gay

gale@dekalbchamp.com
them there. For more than two

years these young people have
known about this momentous
event and have worked to make
what had to have seemed like a
far-off dream become a reality.
Of course, these students
had to practice, practice,
practice the music and
rehearse, rehearse, rehearse
the coordinated movements
for which they are known. At
Letter
Sheriff Jeff Manns
response to Nov.
Dec. 2016 Grand
Jury Presentments
As DeKalb County Sheriff,
I am outraged by the way the
former DeKalb County District
Attorneys administration has
blatantly misrepresented this
agency to the Grand Jury.
The allegations and
insinuations made in the
November-December Term
2016 Grand Jury Presentments
regarding the DeKalb County
Sheriffs Office are intentionally
false and misleading. It is
clear that the former DAs
administration had an agenda
in providing the Grand Jury with
misinformation about this agency
and its leadership. I believe the
former DAs administration set
out to discredit the outstanding
service of the Sheriffs Office
the same time there was also

school work, jobs, community
involvement, family life and
more. And plenty of money
had to be to raised$400,000
approximately $2,000 per
student to pay for the trip. But
they did it and when the band
and the drum majors were in
the spotlight during the parade
they didnt disappoint. More
than 1.5 million people watched
and TV hosts gushed over their
performance.
At a time when an exorbitant
amount of attention is paid to
those young people who are
engaged in bad behavior, class
acts such as these students
too often are not celebrated. At
a time, when too many of our
to the
Jeffrey L. Mann
DeKalb County Sheriff
and to impugn our reputation to

the public.
I do not fault members of the
Grand Jury but I need to set the
record straight.
The Grand Jury report
refers to two cases involving
the Sheriffs Office employees
and alleges that the employees
seemed to have received
special treatment by the Sheriff
and the agency.
In State v. Dozier, an officer
violated the Use of Force Policy
during a jail incident and was
demoted to a position where he
had no contact with inmates.
Allegations that the video
documenting the incident was
lost are completely untrue
and well-documented. In State
students are discredited due to

controversies over test scores
and how schools should operate,
these students are making
outstanding achievements. At
a time when many doubt that
the younger generation is up to
the task of being responsible
members of society, these
students demonstrate that the
future will be in good hands.
These teens represent
the vast majority of our future
leaders and community
members. They have goals and
vision, they know how to work
hard and they understand that
success isnt instantaneous.
Congrats to the MLK Kings
of Halftime, you sure made us
proud!
Editor
v. Brown, an officer violated

an administrative rule of the
Georgia Crime Information
Center (GCIC), along with
our agency policy and was
counseled and re-trained
regarding the offense.
The Sheriffs Office can and
does police itself effectively. We
have a disciplinary action policy
and a schedule of penalties
that we follow. The process
allows appeals by employees
as well as opportunities to
grieve a disciplinary action.
The processes are in place
to ensure equity and fairness
to our employees. The report
acknowledges that our Office
of Professional Standards
conducted investigations and
confirmed the policy violations.
Disciplinary actions followed
in each instance. Yet, this
information was not provided to
the Grand Jury.
The former DAs
administration misrepresented to
the Grand Jury that the agency
failed to provide information to
their office. Untrue. Our regular

and timely cooperation with
the DAs administration is welldocumented.
I sincerely hope that
reason will prevail regarding
the recommendation for an
investigation of the DeKalb
County Sheriffs Office. And, it
is my intention to share these
facts presented here with the
incoming Grand Jury.
The DeKalb County Sheriffs
Office aspires to transparency,
accountability and integrity in all
that we do for the public safety
of the communities we serve.
As I enter my first full term
as Sheriff of DeKalb County,
I will not settle for less than
operational excellence and
professionalism. Fortunately, I
believe these goals are shared
by our team of dedicated sworn
officers and civilians.
Jeffrey L. Mann, Esq.
Sheriff
January 13, 2017
Subscribe to The Champion Newspaper

To subscribe, visit TheChampionNewspaper.com or call 404.373.7779
OPINION
Page 7
Its timea mandatory minimum salary

for law enforcement
During 2016 there were
140 law enforcement officers
who lost lives in the line of duty
across the country. Of those
deaths,106 were men and women
in local city/county police and
deputy sheriffs, 19 were state
officers, six were federal officers
and the remaining nine were
college, territory or transit system
officers,Putnam County Sheriff
Howard Sills,former president
and currently 2nd vice president,
Georgia Sheriffs Association.
Despite leaving home and

placing their lives potentially
on the line every day, a POSTcertified law enforcement officer
in Georgia has no statewide
mandatory minimum salary, as
our school teachers and most
state government employees
do by job classification. Thanks
though to the leadership ofGov.
Nathan Dealand the Georgia
General Assembly, all of Georgias
State Patrol, GBI, crime lab,
corrections officers and other state
law enforcement officers recently
received a raise of 20 percent.A
starting Georgia State Patrol
trooper, after completing basic
training, will earn $46,422 per
year.
Contrast that with your local
deputy sheriff or police officer,
on the front lines of public safety,
where there is no set minimum
salary.Average starting pay for
a deputy sheriff in Georgia is
$29,900, and average starting
jailer pay is $25,300.When
it comes to law enforcement
comparisons, our average pay
is lower than that it Alabama,
both Carolinas, Florida and
Tennessee.Our current overall
law enforcement average
compensation is 36 percent
below the national average.
Even the much-touted $15 an
One Mans
Opinion
Bill Crane
bill.csicrane@gmail.com
hour minimum wage for fast food

restaurant workers produces an
annual minimum full-time salary of
$31,200.
It is long past time to better
support and thank our men and
women in brown and blue, and
though resources and tax dollars
are not unlimited, here are some
ways to increase their pay:
Mandate minimum salary
Minimum annual compensation
should be set by statute. As with
our branches of military service,
there should be pay grade parity
by office and seniority.With
the recent raise for state law
enforcement, it may take several
years to close the gap, but in time
an entry-level salary for a local
police officer or deputy sheriff
should match the starting pay ofa
state trooper, and a trained and
certified county jailer should make
as much as a Georgia state prison
corrections officer.
An L-SPLOST for funding

local law enforcementThere
are E-SPLOST for local education,
T-SPLOST for transportation
funding and a variety of other
projects such as parks, libraries
and government buildings are
funded by Special Purpose Local
Option Sale Tax. Statewide
penny, or fraction of same, can be
framed as an L-SPLOST for voter
approval, with all proceeds funding
law enforcement salaries and/or
benefits for local law enforcement
personnel.
FREEPRESS
State income tax creditA

state income tax credit of $2,500
for jailers, corrections officers,
juvenile detention officers and
others earning less than $40,000
per year from their primary
agency.
Minimum salary for
Georgias sheriffsSheriffs
are constitutional officers and
the chief law enforcement
officer in each of Georgias 159
counties.Theirsalaries are set
by statute and a funding formula
based on population, but it has
been many years since the last
compensation adjustment and
recent criminal justice reform
did significantly increase the
compensation of all Georgia
judges on State Court, Superior
Court, the Court of Appeals and
State Supreme Court.
The budget for each sheriffs
office is determined by respective
county commission. In metro
and rural areas alike, Georgia
sheriffs are hard-pressed to find
new recruits to train and swear
into office, as the costs of being a
deputy, sheriff or wearing a badge
the DeKalb
Let Us Know What You Think!

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The DeKalb Free Press,
P. O. Box 1347, Decatur, GA 30031-1347;
Send email to Johnh@dekalbchamp.com
FAX To: (404) 370-3903; Phone: (404) 373-7779.
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views. Letters should be brief, typewritten and contain
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EDITORS NOTE: The opinions written by columnists and contributing editors do not necessarily reflect the opinions
of the editor or publishers. The Publisher reserves the right to reject or cancel any advertisement at any time. The
Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts.
Publisher:
John Hewitt
Photographer:
Travis Hudgons
Chief Financial Officer:

Dr. Earl D. Glenn
Staff Reporters:
Carla Parker
R. Scott Belzer
Horace Holloman
Production Manager:
Kemesha Wadley
The DeKalb Free Press is published each Friday

by ACE III Communications, Inc.,
114 New Street, Suite E, Decatur, GA. 30030
Phone (404) 373-7779.
www.championnewspaper.com
DISPLAY ADVERTISING (404) 373-7779 x 110
just keep getting higher by the day.

Of the 140 officers killed
during 2016, 65 died as a result
of gunfire. This is an increase
of 69 percent over 2015.Just
duringNovember and December
of 2016, nine officers were shot in
Georgia, most not in major metro
areas.Five of those died.
Georgia ended 2016
rankingfourthin line of duty
deaths.This isnt one of those top
10 lists we want to be on. Law
enforcement recruiting is at a
critical stage.Finding and keeping
good talent at existing wages
becomes more difficult every day.
Lets change the metrics or watch
those statistics head in a much
scarier direction in no time.
Bill Crane also serves as a
political analyst and commentator
for Channel 2s Action News, WSBAM News/Talk 750 and now 95.5
FM, as well as a columnist for The
Champion, Champion Free Press
and Georgia Trend. Crane is a
DeKalb native and business owner,
living in Scottdale. You can reach
him or comment on a column at
bill.csicrane@gmail.com.
STATEMENT FROM THE

PUBLISHER
We sincerely appreciate the
discussion surrounding this and any
issue of interest to DeKalb County.
The Champion was founded in 1991
expressly to provide a forum for
discourse for all community residents
on all sides of an issue. We have no
desire to make the news only to
report news and opinions to effect
a more educated citizenry that will
ultimately move our community
forward. We are happy to present
ideas for discussion; however,
we make every effort to avoid
printing information submitted to
us that is known to be false and/or
assumptions penned as fact.
LOCAL
County officials, residents

ready for new day in DeKalb
by Horace Holloman
When his schedule
allows, newly elected DeKalb
County Commissioner Steve
Bradshaw, representing
District 4, heads to the gym
promptly at 5 a.m. four times
a week.
However, his gym schedule
has been a little sporadic
lately. Bradshaw, who defeated
former DeKalb County
Commissioner Sharon Barnes
Sutton, said hes still getting
adjusted to taking office.
Bradshaw, along with
Commissioner Gregory
Adams and CEO Michael
Thurmond, are a few of
the new faces in county
government.
Bradshaw said DeKalb
County residents seem
cautiously optimistic about
having new faces in the county
government.
In an interview with The
Champion Jan. 12, Bradshaw
said the county has a long way
to go to restore trust in their
government.
Im going to work on
the things that I ran on and
the first thing we have to
do is restore the publics
trust in DeKalb County,
Bradshaw said. Thats not a
one event thing. Thats going
to take place over time. Little
decisions day in and day out
and showing people that were
working on their behalf. Thats
first and foremost.
Restoring trust with
residents will be an uphill
battle, Bradshaw said.
When you mess up, fess
up, he said. Its when you
mess up and try to hide things,
thats when you get in trouble
and people start to get uneasy.
During the Board of
Commissioners first regular
meeting of the year, several
residents expressed the
cautious optimism Bradshaw
spoke of. With the addition
of Adams, the board of
commissioners have all seven
districts represented.
The Champion was unable
to schedule an interview with
Adams, after repeatead calls
were made to his office.
Im so proud today that
we have seven commissioners
at one time, said John Evans,
a longtime civil rights activist
in DeKalb County. We have
four Blacks and three Whites.
Its a new agenda. Now youre
Avondale Estates has decided to move forward with its

annexation proposal.
Avondale Estates to move

forward with annexation plans
New names are pictured on the DeKalb County Government building in
downtown Decatur. Among the new names are CEO Michael Thurmond, Commissioner Gregory Adams and Commissioner Steve Bradshaw. Photo by Travis
Hudgons
going to have to decide how

youre going to operate it...Its
a new day. The whole thing
starts today.
One issue that seems to be
at the top of the agenda for
the county government is the
water billing crisis.
Some DeKalb County
residents are still frustrated
over what some call a
systemic issue with the
countys water billing system.
Thurmond said the issue
is one of his top priorities
and offered an apology to
taxpayers.
I offer my apologies to
customers that have been
negatively impacted...its
unacceptable, Thurmond said.
Bradshaw said he will defer
to Thurmond in water billing
matters, but said the issue is at
the top of his agenda as well.
The water billing, I know,
is at the very top of the CEOs
agenda. Hes been in meeting
after meeting and Ive passed
by him in the last several
weeks or so and I know [water
billing] is at the top of my
agenda, Bradshaw said.
DeKalb County resident
Joel Edwards said he was
hopeful that the new year
would be about change in
DeKalb County government.
We hope, we the people
hope and voted for a change

in DeKalb County, Edwards
said. We voted for one
DeKalb County and were
hoping you make the right
decision moving this county
forward.
Commissioners may also
look at an increase in pay for
firefighters and police in 2017.
Adams, a former DeKalb
County police officer, ran on
a platform of increasing pay
for the countys firefighter and
police personnel.
Adams said hes worked
with Commissioner Larry
Johnson on the issue.
Bradshaw called DeKalb
Countys inability to retain
police officers and firefighters
a crisis and said he plans to
work on a pay increase for
those workers. Bradshaw said
he and Public Safety Director
Cedric Alexander have had
a long discussion regarding
retaining officers in the
county.
We need to make sure
we address what I regard as a
borderline crisis in our public
safety departments around
turnover. We need to keep our
officers here, Bradshaw said.
[Alexander] has put together
a comprehensive plan...at the
end of the day its about setting
that as a priority.
by Carla Parker
The Avondale Estates
Board of Mayor and
Commissioners will move
forward with its annexation
proposal.
During the boards Jan.
18 work session, Dr. Kris
Sikes, public service associate
at the University of Georgia
Carl Vinson Institute of
Government, presented the
feasibility study for the citys
proposed annexation. The
city wants to annex the Forest
Hills and Decatur Terrace
neighborhoods, commercial
property along E. Ponce de
Leon Ave. and Rio Circle,
property along Rockbridge
Road and the American
Legion.
Sikes did the annexation
study for the city last year
when the city was considering
annexation.
The methodology is the
same; we just updated it with
new information, Sikes said.
Sikes and her staff studied
whether the estimated
municipal revenues derived in
the proposed annexed areas
will be greater or less than the
cost to provide services in the
areas compared to the city
residents and businesses.
According to the study,
to estimate the revenues that
would have been generated
from the proposed areas,

actual numbers were collected
for revenue categories in
which data was available and
estimated other revenues using
information on the proposed
areas population, number
of households, number of
businesses and property tax
information.
The institute estimated
that if the proposed areas had
been part of the city in fiscal
year 2015, the areas would
have produced approximately
$1,487,542 in gross new
revenues or $939.70 per capita,
according to the study. The
city would receive $1,173,382
in general fund revenues if
the city were to annex the
proposed areas.
Mayor Jonathan Elmore
said the city will move forward
with the annexation and will
begin having meetings with
homeowners and business
owners in the proposed areas.
The next step is to talk
to those groups, arrange
meetings, share what the
feasibility study has shown us,
answer any questions they may
have and make our pitch as to
why we feel like they would be
better off joining Avondale,
Elmore said. But we had to
get the feasibility study first to
do that so that well have good
numbers.
Obviously, well have
to reach out to our [DeKalb
See Avondale on Page 14A
LOCAL
Water billing woes

continue to flow
The city of Gaochun in the Nanjing Province of China was officially named
Doravilles sister city on Jan. 17, after representatives from a Chinese developer
contacted city officials. Photos submitted.
Gaochun is known throughout China for its lakes and freshwater crab and holds an annual crab festival. Photos
submitted.
A tale of two cities
City of Gaochun in Nanjing Province named Doravilles sister city

by R. Scott Belzer
Doravilles current events,
city government and way of life
have not gone unnoticed on
the opposite side of the world,
according to city officials.
On Jan. 17, Doraville
officially became the sister
city of Gaochun, a city in the
Nanjing Province of China.
This is a great opportunity
for us to build community
relationships and show that
we are a city that welcomes
everyone, said Doraville
Mayor Donna Pittman. This
is a great opportunity to come
together as one. Its an honor
that they approached us.
According to the citys
official resolution, Gaochun
officials contacted Doraville
for the purpose of fostering
goodwill, establishing a
deeper friendship and mutual
understanding through
educational, cultural, sporting
and commercial exchanges.
Gaochun is the
southernmost of 11 districts in
the Nanjing Province of China
and home to approximately
430,000 residents. According
to its website, it is known

throughout China for its
freshwater crab and holds an
annual crab festival. It is also
known for its ecological strides
in development as well as its
traditional bazaar shopping
district.
Doraville Police Chief
John King said representatives
from a Gaochun development
company approached Doraville
officials approximately one
year ago about becoming sister
cities.
They said they
would really like to have
representatives from Doraville
go to Nanjing, King said.
They are very interested
in having a sister city
relationship.
King said the Chinese
company regularly keeps
up with Doraville events,
government and cultural
climate through the citys
website and DeKalb
County media. Gaochun
representatives were impressed
with the number of Asian
residents, who make up
approximately 20 percent of
the city population.
Theyre very
knowledgeable about this
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE OF MUNICIPAL OFFICE
QUALIFYING FEES
DECATUR CITY COMMISSION AND
DECATUR BOARD OF EDUCATION
NOVEMBER 7, 2017 ELECTION
Pursuant to O.C.G.A. 21-2-131 the City of Decatur
City Commission has fixed the qualifying fee for City
Commission at $ 144.00 and fixed the qualifying
fee for Board of Education member at $ 35.00.
Additional information may be obtained by calling
the City Clerks Office at 404-370-4100 ext. 6503
between 8:30 A.M. until 4:30 P.M. Monday through
Friday.
community and know we have

a very large Asian community,
King said. Theyre very
impressed with the diversity
of our community. They are
focused on the west coast, but
not on the east coast, especially
the southeast. Doraville
seemed like a natural place for
them to start a relationship.
Like Doraville, King
said, Gaochun is trying to
modernize its community
while maintaining its
traditional construction.
According to Sister Cities
International, sister cities,
counties or states are longterm partnerships between two
communities in two countries.
The partnerships typically
involve back-and-forth
volunteers, nonprofits and
other civic organizations.
Benefits between sister
cities range from cultural to
commercial and participants
often form strategic
international business links.
by Horace Holloman
For years, DeKalb County
residents have urged county
officials to take action with
ongoing water billing issues,
according to a DeKalb County
resident.
County officials have
attempted to address water
billing issues with town
hall meetings and issuing a
moratorium on water billing
disconnections, but some say
its not enough.
Molly Badgett said she
was fed up with the countys
response to water billing issues
over the years and hoped the
new administration would take
action.
In a recent board of
commissioners meeting she
addressed CEO Michael
Thurmond.
I just want to say, nothing
can win the hearts and minds
of the people of DeKalb
County in your favor as [much
as] resolving this issue of
water billing, Badgett said,
directing her comments to
Thurmond in a Jan. 10 Board
of Commissioners meeting.
People were overbilled...paid
too much for water and they
need to be reimbursed and
given credit. Water should not
cost this much.
Badgett, a member of the
Facebook group Unbelievable
DeKalb Water Bills, said she
wants the administration to
take action necessary to help its
residents.
People want answers,
they deserve answers. This

kind of crap has got to stop.
[Commissioner] Nancy Jester
is the only one handling this
issue. Where are the other
commissioners in handling this
problem? Badgett said.
Badgett also said she was
upset with the countys lack of
updates on its official website.
I have... been bugging
Burke Brennan [DeKalb press
secretary] to death. Residents
need communication. This has
been going on for two years or
longer. The only thing on the
website now is a reference to a
moratorium, which has already
ended, Badgett said. No ones
posting information about this
problem.
Jester said she would
continue to address the matter
of water billing issues. Jester,
who co-hosted a town hall with
other commissioners in 2016,
said shes hopeful the issues
will be resolved with the new
administration.
I look forward to working
with our new presiding officer
[Kathie Gannon]. We have a
lot to address this year. I want
to fix the water billing issues
and we need to communicate
with the public more robustly,
Jester said.
Thurmond said the countys
water billing issues may be
systematic. Before leaving
office, former DeKalb County
CEO Burrell Ellis wrote an
open letter late last year to the
public diagnosing the problem.
He wrote that DeKalb County
has inaccurate data in its billing
software due to switching from
outdated to new meters.
PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF BROOKHAVEN

FIXING OF QUALIFYING FEES
The date of the Municipal Election for the seats of Council Districts 2 (two) and 4 (four) is Tuesday, November 7, 2017. The qualifying fee for each council seat is $360.00, which is 3% of the total gross salary
of the preceding year (Georgia Election Code 21-2-131 (a) (1) (A). Each candidate shall file a notice of
candidacy in the office of the City Clerk of Brookhaven, 4362 Peachtree Road, Georgia between Wednesday, August 23, 2017 and Friday, August 25, 2017, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and
1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Georgia Election Code 21-2-132 (d) (3). Each candidate must meet the qualifications of the Charter and Code of the City of Brookhaven, as well as applicable State laws.
Susan D. Hiott
City Clerk
CITY OF CHAMBLEE, GA
PUBLIC NOTICE
Qualifying fees were set by the City of Chamblee Mayor and Council in
accordance to O.C.G.A. 21-2-131 (a)(1), during the regularly scheduled Council
Meeting held on December 20, 2016 for the City of Chamblee General Election
to be held on November 7, 2017 as follows: for the office of Mayor - $540.00;
for the office of Councilmember District One and Councilmember At-Large $360.00.
Emmie Niethammer
City Clerk/Election Superintendent
LOCAL
Sex in the suburbs
More than 50 arrests take place in prostitution

rings in Dunwoody, Atlanta apartment complexes
by R. Scott Belzer
An alleged high-end
sex trafficking ring made up
of more than 50 people was
broken up in late December
and early January by the
Dunwoody Police Department.
On Jan. 18, officials said
they arrested three individuals
believed to be the leaders
of the operationSamuel
and Darliene Crenshaw of
Kennesaw as well as George
Moore of Sandy Springs
who all face sex trafficking,
racketeering, prostitution and
pimping charges.
Police say the trio headed
two prostitution organizations
known as Gold Club Atlanta
Escorts and Lipstick & Shoes
Escorts.
As of Jan. 19, Gold Club
Atlanta has a Facebook page
and message board advertising
models with blurred out faces.
Both websites date back to 2011
and posts indicate it is based
out of Dunwoody. The websites
list a phone number to call for
service.
Ladies available today
and tomorrow!! reads one
Facebook post.
Check out Sloanes
reviews! reads another,
complete with a link to the
website The Erotic Review.
The websites message
board shows the latest activity
was in July 2014, with a user
by the name of acaryu
soliciting services for Casey
and suggesting they meet for
a drink at Oasis Goodtime
Emportium, located at 6363
Peachtree Industrial Blvd.
Lipstick & Shoes also has a
website with a phone number
and lists Dunwoody as its
headquarters.
Dunwoody Police also
announced the arrest of 29
females on prostitution charges
with ages ranging from 18 to
42 years of age. The police said
24 clients or buyers were also
arrested in connection to the
operations with Christopher
Quinn, a Gwinnett County
assistant district attorney,
named among them.
More arrests are expected
as the identities of the buyers
are confirmed, states a release
from the Dunwoody Police
Department.
According to Dunwoody
Police Chief Billy Grogan,
the Crenshaws and Moore ran
two prostitution rings in four
separate locations in apartment
complexes in Dunwoody and
Atlanta. One apartment, located
in the Savannah at Park Place
complex, is across the street
from the Dunwoody Police
Department at 41 Perimeter
Center East.
There is no dispute that
this was a criminal enterprise
for commercial sex operating
here in Dunwoody, Grogan
said. It was a prolonged
investigation but the detectives
did a good job Whether it
was happening in [a nearby]
apartment complex or three
miles down the road, it was still
happening. It concerns us and
it concerns the quality of life in
Dunwoody.
Grogan said police received
an anonymous tip about
the operations in the fall of
2016. Following months of
surveillance and investigation,
as well as corroboration with
the Atlanta Police Department,
Cobb County Police
Department, Clayton County
Police Department and Sandy
Springs Police Department,
seven arrests took place Dec.
29 through Jan. 2including
Moore and Samuel Crenshaw.
Our message to anyone
that would be interested in
becoming a buyer and soliciting
sex is Dont do it, Grogan
said. The people that you
deal with, you dont know
their circumstances and youre
furthering a criminal enterprise
when you do so. It damages
families.
Grogan speculated the
escort services took root in
Dunwoody due to its proximity
to interstates, Atlanta, as well as
its reputation for affluence.
Crime is no respecter of
any geographic boundaries,
Grogan said. Even affluent
areas are not immune to crime.
But thanks to a concerned
citizen, we found out about it.
Grogan also said an
unidentified woman
disappeared soon after the sting
and remains missing.
DeKalb County District
Attorney Sherry Boston called
the bust an important first
step in addressing a serious
problem.
Though this initiative was
Samuel Crenshaw, Darliene Crenshaw and George Moore are being charged
by Dunwoody police as the heads of two escort services known as Gold Club
Atlanta and Lipstick & Shoes. Photos submitted.
Dunwoody Police Chief Billy Grogan

said one unidentified woman remains
missing following the arrests and
police fear for her safety. Anyone who
recognizes her is encouraged to call
the Dunwoody Police Department.
Photo by R. Scott Belzer
centered in Dunwoody, it is
my hope that these arrests will
send a strong message beyond
this jurisdiction that these
crimes will not be tolerated in
DeKalb County, Boston said.
Both supply and demand
must be targeted if we are to
eradicate this problem.
Boston said she would
conduct an additional external
investigation once Dunwoody
detectives submit an official
report.
Dunwoody Police Chief Billy Grogan and DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry
Boston revealed 56 people have been arrested in connection with two escort
services in Dunwoody. Photo by R. Scott Belzer
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Register online at AtlantasDeKalb.com/Reunions
LOCAL
WEEKinPICTURES
Officers with the Dunwoody Police Department take part in a night shift
parking lot roll call before a 12-hour shift on Jan. 16. Photo submitted.
A dog at the Oakhurst Dog Park in Decatur leaps into action. By Horace
Holloman
The DeKalb County Choir, made up of county employees, sings during the 33rd annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration. By Horace Holloman
Volunteers at the Dunwoody Nature Center dedicate their Martin Luther King Jr. Day to service. Photos submitted.
Clarkston Community Center submitted entries into the International Crafts and
Traditions exhibition on Jan. 21 at the Colquitt County Arts Center in Moultrie,
Ga. Photo submitted.
Have you created programming youd like to air on TV?

Do you have an interest in Public Access TV in DeKalb County?
Submit your show to DeKalb Countys Public Access channel, DeKalb 25.
Drop off DVD or USB copies to the Manuel J. Maloof Center at
1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, GA 30030, or upload your content via the internet.
(404) 371-2325
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LOCAL

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Total Revenue
The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners will hold Public Hearings on the 2017 Proposed Budget at the times and
places listed below:
Tuesday
Tuesday
February 14, 2017

February 28, 2017
10:00AM
10:00AM
Maloof Center Auditorium

1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur
Maloof Center Auditorium
1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur
All interested citizens are invited to attend these hearings and have the right to present comments pertaining to the
proposed budget.
The recommended budget is available for public inspection in the Office of Management & Budget, 6th Floor, Maloof
Center, at all DeKalb County Libraries during normal business hours, and electronically at www.dekalbcountyga.gov.
Tax Funds
DeKalb County, Georgia FY17 Proposed Budget Resolution

FY16 Current
FY17 Proposed
General Fund (100)

Starting Fund Balance (Jan 1st)
Taxes
HOST Sales Taxes
Licenses & Permits
Intergovernmental
Charges for Services
Fines & Forfeitures
Investment Income
Miscellaneous
Other Financing Sources
Total Revenue
192,394,503
61,363,714
500
1,374,942
51,608,150
9,384,668
150,621
3,679,819
4,932,539
$ 324,889,456
187,489,744
52,504,504
0
1,307,432
50,080,545
9,582,853
0
5,709,528
4,262,107
$ 310,936,713
Animal Services
Board of Commissioners
Budget, Office of Mgt and
CEO/Exec Asst/Communications
Child Advocate
Citizen Help Center a.k.a. 311
Clerk of Superior Court
Community Service Board
Cooperative Extension
Debt
DEMA - Dekalb Emerg Mgt Agy
DFACS
District Attorney
Economic Dev (See Unincorp.)
Elections
Ethics Board
Facilities
Finance
Fire (General Fund)
Geographic Information Systems
Health, Board of
HOST Contributions
Human Resources
Human Services
Internal Audit
IT
Juvenile Court
Law
Library
Magistrate Court
Medical Examiner
Non-Departmental
Planning & Sustainability
Police (General Fund)
Probate Court
Property Appraisal
Public Defender
Public Works Director
Purchasing
Sheriff
Solicitor
State Court
Superior Court
Tax Commissioner
Total Expenses
3,982,740
3,465,890
1,159,431
3,754,088
2,565,239
358,416
7,599,511
1,984,057
921,939
5,337,319
295,445
1,278,220
15,088,485
1,637,500
4,342,902
300,000
17,381,090
8,717,756
8,728,585
2,595,280
4,155,634
4,891,824
3,961,254
5,224,320
1,000,000
24,442,521
7,021,701
4,561,293
16,090,421
3,480,018
2,571,654
23,685,058
1,820,199
8,744,507
1,786,053
5,411,049
9,263,672
740,650
3,079,252
82,524,100
7,605,409
15,659,020
9,605,748
8,079,976
$ 346,899,226
4,085,813
3,569,501
1,139,679
3,886,254
2,731,404
387,737
7,623,033
2,084,057
912,285
7,784,098
421,010
1,278,220
14,923,706
0
2,465,520
504,029
14,965,369
7,201,414
141,249
2,617,794
4,255,634
1,393,050
3,838,234
5,271,548
1,368,191
22,063,438
7,303,973
4,914,186
17,212,244
3,598,339
2,550,392
19,680,657
1,777,010
8,221,668
1,952,642
5,541,818
9,413,214
738,798
3,312,643
83,558,935
7,544,871
15,816,726
9,778,146
8,225,751
$ 328,054,280
Ending Fund Balance (Dec 31st)
Fire Fund (270)

54,308,822
32,299,052
1,023,507
44,393,542
13,226,461
674,833
0
15,550
58,310,386
Debt
Fire
Non-Departmental
Total Expenses
Taxes
HOST Sales Taxes
Transfer from General Fund-Fire
Miscellaneous
Total Revenue
Designated Fund (271)

40,191,087
23,073,520
2,777,937
53,408,316
11,571,716
674,833
141,249
13,800
65,809,914
0
51,174,313
5,791,146
56,965,459
280,941
60,441,288
5,757,213
66,479,442
2,368,434
2,108,409
404,643
23,622,391
4,513,481
706,781
172,096
2,189,359
14,030,040
45,234,148
6,676,198
25,023,028
6,372,171
762,900
173,995
2,500,000
4,496,531
39,328,625
Debt
Non-Departmental
Parks
Roads and Drainage
Transportation
Total Expenses
0
11,199,019
12,949,495
17,247,586
2,903,364
44,299,464
31,534
11,860,972
12,582,650
16,561,401
2,866,174
43,902,731
1,339,327
2,102,092
Unincorporated Fund (272)

2,366,367
(476,800)
Taxes
Licenses & Permits
Fines & Forfeitures
Investment Income
Miscellaneous
Trf to Designated Fund (271)
Trf to Police Fund (274)
Total Revenue
33,077,257
19,278,881
8,814,762
814
304,284
2,004,237
(14,765,289)
(36,366,599)
$ 12,348,347
4,835,983
17,162,039
8,202,876
0
47,208
3,271,101
(4,496,531)
(9,555,127)
19,467,549
Beautification
Economic Development
Plan & Sustain (Business Lic)
Traffic Court
Non-Departmental
Total Expenses
0
0
5,542,398
4,565,812
4,259,290
14,367,500
8,888,134
1,000,000
1,752,673
4,486,474
2,133,054
18,260,335
347,214
730,414
Hospital Fund (273)

1,179,954
Taxes
HOST Sales Tax
Miscellaneous
Trf from Unincorp Fund (272)
Total Revenue
Taxes
Transfer from General
HOST Sales Taxes
14,283,289
0
5,082,572
(1,582,296)
13,957,750
4,310,520
3,972,380
19,365,861
Subsidy to Grady Hospital

Grady Bond Payments
Other Professional Services
Total Expenses
12,934,952
7,476,750
0
20,411,702
134,113
22,240,650
12,934,952
7,466,188
250,000
20,651,140
$
7,214
Police Fund (274)

Taxes
HOST Sales Tax
Licenses & Permits
Anticipated Tucker Revenue
Miscellaneous
Tfr from Unincorp Fund (272)
Total Revenue
60,405,346
13,932,919
428,000
0
504,367
354,631
0
37,105,388
$ 112,730,651
76,404,869
16,480,379
428,000
0
450,000
270,000
159,080
9,555,127
$ 103,747,455
Debt (was in Non-Departmental)

Non-Departmental
Police
Total Expenses
0
8,653,500
98,457,396
$ 107,110,896
474,532
9,835,898
98,500,436
$ 108,810,866
2,643,209
Countywide Bond Fund (410)

(2,976,546)
9,404,938
4,341,527
1,685,582
1,293,103
Taxes
Total Revenue
11,375,424
11,375,424
11,209,155
11,209,155
Debt Service
Total Expenses
11,625,700
11,625,700
11,939,200
11,939,200
1,435,306
563,058
Unincorporated Debt Svc (411)

3,070,962
(136,956)
Taxes
Miscellaneous
Total Revenue
1,032,133
0
1,032,133
7,160,142
0
7,160,142
Debt Service
Total Expenses
4,114,870
4,114,870
6,829,788
6,829,788
(11,775)
193,398
61,063,291
585,286,406
605,794,817
$ 40,554,880
Tax Funds Summary

Starting Fund Balance
Revenues
Expenses
Ending Fund Balance
58,147,211
579,900,203
604,927,782
$ 33,119,632
Non-Tax Funds
Airport Fund (551)
7,266,486
5,242,902
Miscellaneous (Airport)
Total Revenue
5,021,000
5,021,000
5,021,000
5,021,000
Airport
Transfer to Capital Improvements
Total Expenses
2,835,135
4,500,000
7,335,135
2,768,170
4,000,000
6,768,170
4,952,351
3,495,732
Bldg Auth Debt Svc Fund (412)

1,344,190
53,721
2,382,504
2,382,504
3,728,754
3,728,754
3,726,694
3,726,694
3,728,754
3,728,754
53,721
Misc: Rental of Real Estate

Total Revenue
Debt Service
Total Expenses
County Jail Fund (204)
337,579
434,988
Intergovernmental
Fines & Forfeitures
Total Revenue
120,000
1,175,000
1,295,000
118,000
1,151,500
1,269,500
County Jail
Total Expenses
1,632,579
1,632,579
1,704,488
1,704,488

DCTV (PEG) Fund (203)
1,632,106
744,439
Investment Income
Miscellaneous (PEG Fund)
Total Revenue
1,500
90,000
91,500
0
90,000
90,000
PEG Fund (Less Reserve)

Total Expenses
1,048,932
1,048,932
628,657
628,657
674,674
205,782
Development Fund (201)

4,855,885
5,773,683
Licenses & Permits

Investment Income
Miscellaneous (Development Fund)
Total Revenue
7,317,000
220,000
2,500
(4,000)
7,535,500
7,548,250
250,000
0
(6,500)
7,791,750
Plan. & Sustain. (less Reserves)

Total Expenses
8,026,958
8,026,958
7,421,514
7,421,514
4,364,427
6,143,919
Drug Abuse Tre/Ed Fund (209)

197,224
181,412
Fines & Forfeitures

Investment Income
Total Revenue
225,625
150
225,775
215,000
0
215,000
Drug Abuse Treatment & Education

Total Expenses
422,999
422,999
396,412
396,412

E911 Fund (215)
Investment Income
Miscellaneous (911 fees)
5,487,830
5,500
9,800,000
4,986,329
0
10,460,000
LOCAL
Total Revenue
E911
Total Expenses

$
9,805,500
10,460,000
15,293,330
15,293,330
15,441,701
15,441,701
Foreclosure Reg. Fund (205)

Total Revenue
473,016
$
$
160,000
160,000
Beautification
Planning
Total Expenses
4,628
141,419
$
$
130,000
130,000
0
511,336
511,336
257,914
0
257,914
121,680
13,505
Hotel/Motel Fund (275)

2,159,559
2,789,603
5,645,000
5,645,000
5,400,000
5,400,000
3,414,489
1,463,350
2,926,720
7,804,559
3,582,951
1,535,551
3,071,101
8,189,603
Taxes
Total Revenue
DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bur
Tourism Product Development
Transfer to Unincorporated Fund
Total Expenses
Juvenile Services Fund (208)
Investment Income
Total Revenue
Juvenile Court (Juvenile Services)
Total Expenses
30,384
25,999
150
26,149
56,533
56,533
45,332
49,000
0
49,000
94,332
94,332
Law Enf. Conf. Mon. Fund (210)

Intergovernmental
Total Revenue
Police - Federal Drug Funds
Police - State Drug Funds
Police - Treasury
District Attorney - State Drug Funds
Sheriff- Federal Drug Funds
Sheriff- State Drug Funds
Total Expenses
8,543,790
8,543,790
4,675,984
1,424,453
621,132
300,789
1,521,235
197
8,543,790

Pub Saf Jud Ath Debt Fund (413)
Transfer from Police

Transfer from Fire
Transfer from E911
Transfer from Transportation
Total Revenue
14,068,000
6,000
14,074,000
14,964,346
10,000
14,974,346
Stormwater (Operations)
Stormwater (Capital)
Total Expenses
20,265,282
2,000,000
22,265,282
24,902,947
0
24,902,947
6,903,054
5,035,291
Street Light Fund (211)

1,406,674
1,374,544
4,350,000
300
4,350,300
4,795,700
300
4,796,000

Investment Income
Total Revenue
Street Lights (Less Reserves & Transfers)
Total Expenses
59,032
31,411
Urban Redev. Agency (414)

73,578
248,586
Transfer from General Fund Debt

Total Revenue
749,552
749,552
479,122
479,122
Debt Service
Total Expenses
737,744
737,744
726,709
726,709
85,386
Vehicle Maintenance Fund (611)

119,031
1,008,254
165,000
31,293,331
50,000
31,508,331
200,000
31,170,000
0
31,370,000
31,627,362
31,627,362
31,370,000
31,370,000
1,008,254
31,502,053
32,302,062
Intergovernmental
Miscellaneous
Total Revenue
Fleet Management
Total Expenses
Vehicle Replace. Fund (621)
Investment Income
Total Revenue
709,636
1,143,248
203,054
267,848
1,115,845
197
3,439,828
0
6,139,133
6,139,133
3,439,828
3,439,828
5,697,942
5,697,942
2,265,683

Investment Income
Total Revenue
999
24,128,000
20,000
900,000
25,048,000
27,032,878
0
900,000
27,932,878
Vehicle Replacement
Total Expenses
48,431,500
48,431,500
48,383,478
48,383,478
8,118,553
11,851,462
Victim Assistance Fund (206)

283,347
83,565
500,000
400,000
900,000
500,000
420,000
920,000
1,183,347
1,183,347
1,003,565
1,003,565
656,699
0
0
0
0
0
474,532
280,941
169,138
31,534
956,145
1,612,844
1,612,844
Water & Sewer Op Fund (511)


Miscellaneous
Transfer from Gen & San Fund
Total Revenue
263,036,332
373,082
429,196
126,668
$ 263,965,278
264,649,630
487,925
429,196
63,063
$ 265,629,814
Finance
Transfer to R&E
Transfer to Sinking Fund
Watershed (less Resv/Tran)
Total Expenses
10,024,154
149,152,056
52,860,297
143,285,385
$ 355,321,892
11,185,131
62,076,967
66,044,649
145,974,124
$ 285,280,871
7,539,693
Other Professional Services

Lease Purchase of Juv Court Bldg
Total Expenses
1,620,297
1,620,297
645,386
Fines & Forfeitures

Intergovernmental
Total Revenue
Victim Assistance
Total Expenses
98,896,307
95,654,891
Recreation Fund (207)

13,365
236,937

Total Revenue
890,000
890,000
842,300
842,300
Recreation Services
Total Expenses
853,871
853,871
1,079,237
1,079,237
49,494
Rental Motor Vehicle (280)

598,034
561,687
Taxes
Total Revenue
504,469
504,469
658,163
658,163
W&S Debt Svc Bond Fund (514)

14,713,635
Rental of Porter Sanford Center

Total Expenses
712,625
712,625
705,875
705,875
389,878
513,975
Miscellaneous
Total Revenue
30,000
53,080,297
53,110,297
0
66,044,649
66,044,649
Risk Management Fund (631)

5,146,981
8,911,529
Debt Service
Total Expenses
67,823,932
67,823,932
66,044,649
66,044,649

Payroll Deductions
Transfers in Workers Comp
Total Revenue
9,010,000
93,116,915
820,302
$ 102,947,217
10,080,000
93,000,000
0
$ 103,080,000
Risk Management
Total Expenses
102,142,835
$ 102,142,835
103,676,171
$ 103,676,171

Total Revenue
5,951,363
8,315,358
Workers Comp
Total Expenses
Sanitation Fund (541)

1,968,328
4,122,613
63,682,000
181,000
1,970,000
2,147,143
67,980,143
64,902,066
30,000
0
0
64,932,066
223,700
2,350,000
67,374,771
69,948,471
0
1,500,000
67,554,679
69,054,679

Miscellaneous
Transfer from Vehicle Fund
Total Revenue
Finance
Transfer to Sanitation CIP
Sanitation (Less Reserves & Tran)
Total Expenses
Speed Humps Maint Fund (212)
Investment Income
Total Revenue
1,522,798
1,075,709
289,000
1,000
290,000
300,000
896
300,896
Speed Humps
Total Expenses
889,901
889,901
328,656
328,656
922,897
1,047,949
Stormwater Ops Fund (581)

15,094,336
14,963,892

Workers Comp Fund (632)
76,003,834
2,011,911
174,065
4,700,000
4,700,000
6,000,000
6,000,000
6,711,911
6,711,911
6,174,065
6,174,065
Non-Tax Funds Summary

Revenues
Expenses
Ending Fund Balance
$ 199,400,320
611,749,305
770,371,757
$ 40,777,868
$ 181,768,861
626,511,211
694,554,252
$ 113,725,820
$ 260,463,611
1,197,035,711
1,376,166,574
$ 81,332,748
$ 239,916,072
1,206,411,414
1,299,482,034
$ 146,845,452
All Operating Funds Summary

Revenues
Expenses
Ending Fund Balance
LOCAL
Clark Patterson Lee took over community development services for the city of Chamblee for a
steadily increasing fee beginning at $864,000 per year. Photo submitted.
Clark Patterson Lee, an architecture firm based in New York, was

awarded a $124,500 contract for design responsibilities for the
Downtown Doraville Civic Campus. Photo submitted.
Clark Patterson Lee contract details emerge

by R. Scott Belzer
The Champion has received documents detailing
Doraville and Chamblees agreements with Clark
Patterson Lee (CPL), shedding more light on the New
York firms presence in DeKalb County.
Doraville renewed and awarded contracts to
CPL and the firm has also taken over community
development services for Chamblee. Dunwoody and
Avondale Estates currently employ the firm while
Brookhaven has used CPL in the past.
Doraville officials renewed the citys contract with
CPLan architecture, engineering and municipal
services firm based in Rochester, N.Y., with a
southeastern headquarters in Suwanneefor building
inspection services on Jan. 9.
According to the contract, Doraville pays $57.81
per hour with additional costs on an as needed basis.
Costs include $46.25 per hour for a certified building
inspector, $57.81 for a certified building official, $46.25
per hour for a certified plan reviewer and $57.81 per
hour for a certified code enforcement officer.
According to City Manager Shawn Gillen, it would
cost the city approximately $4.3 million for Doraville to
provide the same services over the next five years.
[CPL] has served us outstandingly, said Mayor
Donna Pittman at the Jan. 9 meeting. They do
outstanding work. Ive been very pleased and have not
heard any complaints about themusually the ones
complaining are the people who got citations.
On Jan. 17, Doraville awarded CPL the contract
for its planned Downtown Doraville Civic Campus
development. CPL will act as prime consultant and
lead the areas of planning, architecture building
AVONDALE Continued From Page 8A

County] commissioners and sell this case to them
because were taking land away from the county,
Elmore added.
Mayor Pro Tem Terry Giager said the city is too
late getting into the annexation process.
I know six or seven months ago I said we need
to talk to [the people in the proposed areas] now, not
when the legislature starts meeting, Giager said. Its
kind of scary whats happening. I think were too late
now to move forward. We [have] less than a month and
a half to get everything in and done.
Doraville city council members Dawn OConnor and

Robert Patrick did not seem convinced about awarding
Clark Patterson Lee a contract for the Downtown
Doraville Civic Campus. Photos submitted.
systems and utility engineering on the project, which
will completely revamp and renovate Doravilles
downtown core.
This is a very exciting time for our city, Pittman
said.
CPL was chosen out of eight respondents to
a request for qualifications (RFQ). Four were
interviewed, including CPL, Perkins Eastman, Cooper
Carry as well as Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart &
Stewart.
The interview panel was made up of Gillen,
community development director Enrique Bascunana,
economic director Luke Howe and senior planner
Brianna Rindge.
CPL scored the highest on a scoresheet gauging
civic architecture design, innovate design, streetscape
design, transit- and pedestrian-friendly design,
There is an annexation proposal being discussed for

Clarkston, as well as cityhood proposals for the cities
of Greenhaven and Prosperity, that include some of the
areas proposed in Avondale Estates maps.
The other commissioners agreed that the city
should move forward with its plan.
I think originally our thought was if we can have
all the communication done prior to and put in a
bill in 2018 then that would be the best way to make
sure everybody was communicated with, we got all
the feedback and could really reach out and say weve
done all of the homework that we needed to do,
Commissioner Brian Fisher said. Unfortunately, it
feels like with whats happening with this legislative
sessiontheres a new city of Prosperity thats been
presentation and project expertise. CPL will work

with Duluth site design firm Keck & Wood, Atlanta
designer Eric Bosman, Atlanta architects TimHaahs &
Associates, Alpharetta-based architects Pieper OBrien
Herr, New York architecture firm 720 Design and Mack
Cain Landscape Design Studio to complete the project.
Bascunana said CPLs experience, understanding
of urban design, record of projects and mixed-use
and team readiness set the firm apart from competing
firms.
We very tediously measured and recorded scores
since August, said Gillen. We sat down with Clark
Patterson Lee and negotiated a contract price.
The overall budget for the project, according to
city officials, is approximately $30 million According
to Doravile councilwoman Pam Fleming, CPL will be
paid $124,500 for its services.
Doraville City Council approved the contract
4-1, with councilwoman Dawn OConnor casting
the single opposing vote and councilman MD Naser
absent. Councilman Robert Patrick hesitated and
asked to pass before casting his vote of approval.
Documents obtained by The Champion indicate
CPL will receive $840,000 in 2017 from the city of
Chamblee for planning and zoning, the building
department as well as arborist and erosion control.
This fee will increase to $864,000, $888,000 and
$912,000 in 2018, 2019 and 2020 respectively. CPL
originally bid to receive $117,000 per month ($1.4
million) in 2017 with amounts steadily increasing into
2020.
Each year, CPL will also receive 60 percent of
building permit fee revenue which, according to its
procurement letter, is estimated to be around $60,000
per month.
talked about, annexation for Clarkston, some areas

are doing things in DeKalb County that may mean we
need to go ahead and move forward faster than what
we thought and we need to make a decision.
I support moving forward, and yes, its not going
to be easy and yes, I wish we wouldve done it a lot
earlier, Commissioner Adela Yelton said. I think a lot
of the other cities that are pursuing annexation efforts
are in the same exact boat.
Im actually supportive of it and I do hear what
Terry is saying, Commissioner Randy Beebe said. I
think were going to have some [areas] that dont want
to be a part of us and thats OK. But I think we should
move forward.
EDUCATION
Dyslexia plan revealed

at Decatur schools
First of four progress reports addresses 13 issues,
details first plan of action
by R. Scott Belzer
Following meetings, listening

sessions and research into
dyslexia, City Schools of Decatur
(CSD) officials revealed training
plans, potential partnerships and
curriculum research to address
students affected by the learning
disability on Jan. 17 during a
board of education meeting.
During the first quarterly
meeting addressing the issue,
staff provided the board with
a 13-point plan of action and
progress report.
The planprepared by Joe
Austin, Heidi Whatley, Mary
Mack and Bruce Roadendetails
how CSD can fund addressing
dyslexia, improve community
engagement, create partnerships,
study curriculums, create afterschool programs and develop
intervening tests for students
affected by the issue.
We did our best to try and
make sure we created a timeline
in addressing all questions asked,
Mack said. We have been able to
accommodate additional teachers
and students to provide additional

support. We will start completing
action steps throughout 2017.
Whatley said groups
such as the Decatur Dyslexia
Network, Special Education
PTA, International Dyslexia
Association, [Down Syndrome]
Association and Autism Society
of America are being consulted to
provide a world view of the issue
and suggestions to aid students
with disabilities.
Theres a lot of work well be
doing in the next few months that
we look forward to sharing with
you, Whatley said.
Austin told the board that
the team will monitor reading
assessment data to gauge reading
skills and identify potential
problems.
Board member Lewis Jones
said he appreciated the focus on
action in the progress report.
Board chairman Annie Caiola
said she is hopeful and optimistic
about the plan but said it was a
plan for a plan.
Its just not going to come
to fruition as quickly as people
would like, Caiola said. Some of
that may be unavoidable.
City Schools of Decatur revealed the first of four progress reports regarding dyslexia in schools on Jan. 17 following
public outcry in August 2016. Photo by R. Scott Belzer
The board also approved a

$80,880 contract with Reading
is Essential for All People
(REAP), which provides
instruction on teaching the
dyslexia-specific OrtonGillingham learning program
as well as other instructional
programs.
Eve Wyatt, a CSD parent,
said she was excited to see
the contract approved by the
board.
After all the conversations
[parents and the board] have
had, after all the comments
[the board] heard, Im excited
about the possibilities that can
come from the contract and
that relationship, Wyatt said.
According to medical
experts, dyslexia affects one
in five people. Signs and
symptoms include language
delay, difficulty understanding

words, reversals of letters
and numbers, word omission
while reading and confusion
about directions.
CSD hosted a listening
session about dyslexia on Aug.
2 where parents, students,
teachers and principals shared
thoughts and stories. Though
circumstances differed, one
thing seemed agreed upon the
district was not doing enough
to serve those affected.
On Aug. 9, the CSD board
of education responded to
the concerns and said they
would be taking a deeper
dive into the issue, including
28 questions from CSD
superintendent David Dude
that staff were responsible for
answering by October.
Questions included
whether dyslexia is
recognized as a disability
and qualifications for
individualized education
programs. Parents also asked
about the school systems
various reading programs,
teacher training, tests for
dyslexia, national statistics
with regards to dyslexia, and
how CSD addresses students
with special needs.
In addition, Dude visited
the Schenck School and Swift
School in Roswell, which
serve dyslexic students,
for advice on training and
combating dyslexia in schools.
To view the contract with
REAP and CSDs 13-point
progress report, visit https://
simbli.eboardsolutions.com/
Meetings/ViewMeetingOrder.
aspx?S=4052&MID=54631.
Local schools awarded by governors office

Sixteen schools from DeKalb County, Decatur earn Single Statewide Accountability System Awards
by R. Scott Belzer
Fourteen DeKalb County
School District (DCSD) and
two City Schools of Decatur
(CSD) schools joined others
across the state in earning
Single Statewide Accountability
System (SSAS) awards,
according to results released
Jan. 4.
Each year, the Governors
Office of Student Achievement
awards schools with high
academic performance and
high academic growth. This
year, the governors office used
three years of data from the
College and Career Readiness
Performance Index (CCRPI) to
award schools in two categories:
Greatest Gains and Highest
Performing.
Austin Elementary in
Dunwoody earned a platinum
award in both categories.
To earn the Greatest Gains
Sixteen schools from DeKalb County School District and City Schools of Decatur
earned Single Statewide Accountability System (SSAS) awards from the Governors Office of Student Achievement. Photos submitted.
award, the school averaged a

CCRPI progress score in the
99th percentile in the state for
three years, meaning Austin is
part of the 1 percent of Georgia
schools that have progressed
while still maintaining a high
CCRPI average.
Indian Creek Elementary is
the only other school in DCSD
or CSD to earn a platinum
award for Greatest Gains.
DeKalb Early College Academy
and Laurel Ridge Elementary

earned a gold award in the
category by scoring in the 97th
percentile while Cedar Grove
High School, DeKalb PATH
Academy and DeKalb School of
the Arts earned silver awards by
scoring in the 95th percentile.
Dunwoody High School
earned a bronze award in the
category by scoring in the 93rd
percentile.
To earn awards in the
Highest Performing category,

schools must earn a three-year
CCRPI Achievement Score in
the 93rd percentile as well as a
three-year CCRPI achievement
gap score in the 75th percentile.
Austin Elementary, DeKalb
Early College Academy, DeKalb
School of the Arts, Kittredge
Magnet School and Wadsworth
Magnet School earned platinum
awards by scoring in the 99th
percentile.
Vanderlyn Elementary
School earned gold in the
category by scoring in the
97th percentile while Renfroe
Middle School and Oak Grove
Elementary School earned
silver by scoring in the 95th
percentile.
Montgomery Elementary
and Decatur High School
both earned bronze awards by
scoring in the 93rd percentile.
News of the award was
circulated through social media
by Cedar Grove High School
parents, students and teachers.
Never mind what you

thought you knew about Cedar
Grove, said the schools band
director Cory Bostic. CGHS
wins another statewide award.
Thanks to our AP teachers,
our teachers, our counseling
staff and to each [community
member] for their support of
our schools programs.
I congratulate all of
the students, teachers and
administrators in Georgias
award-winning schools who
worked tirelessly toward these
accomplishments, said Gov.
Nathan Deal. The bright
minds of Georgias students
are the states most precious
resource and I commend the
schools that are exceeding
expectations in preparing their
students for future success.
For more information,
visit https://gosa.georgia.gov/
single-statewide-accountabilitysystem-ssas-awards-0.
BUSINESS
Architectural firm wins second

residential design award
by Kathy Mitchell
Architects Ed and Shawn
Alshut share a Decatur home,
a business and a professional
philosophy.
There are buildings
where you go from the
outside to the inside or even
to different spaces inside
and feel like youve entered
a different planet. We like
for it all to work togethera
single flowing experience.
The richest solutions result
from a synthesis of landscape,
architecture, interior design,
lighting, art, engineering
and construction explained
Shawn, who partners with her
husband at the architectural
firm Studio A2.
A large number of people
who appreciate building design
apparently like their approach.
Studio A2 was voted the
Atlanta Home Improvement
Magazines 2016 Best
Residential Architect Firm for
the second year in a row.
The Alshuts have won
numerous other awards
during their firms eight-year
existence, but Shawn said they
are especially proud of their
recent award.
Were really thrilled by
this because its based on a
popular vote. Its based on what
people like, she said. In every
project we undertake we want
to do everything right from a
technical standpoint, but we
also want people to really like
what weve done.
At a home the couple
recently remodeled, they
pointed out how the building
fits into a narrow space on
a densely populated Atlanta
street. Floor-to-ceiling glass
along a downstairs wall brings
the outside patio almost
seamlessly into the sitting area.
You would never notice that
from the street, Shawn said.
And from the inside you dont
get the sense that youre on
a busy city street. You see a
beautiful garden area.
Its an example of what

Shawn calls balancing
aesthetic and spatial
considerations with
marketplace realities. The
couple say that successful
projects stand the test of time,
stylistically, functionally, and
environmentally without
sacrificing design integrity.
Because I have training
and experience as both an
architect and an interior
designer, I tend to think in
terms of how a space ultimately
comes together. I believe
the exterior and interior of a
building should be conceived
and designed as one holistic
experience, Shawn said.
The Alshuts moved to
the Atlanta area because of a
career move Ed was making.
After working separately, the
couple decided to form their
own company. We realized
that our talents and interests
complement each other and
together we can offer clients
more than either of us could
individually, Shawn said.
The Studio A2 website notes
that Ed was most significantly
influenced by his time working
with Kallmann, McKinnell
& Wood whose inclusive
architecture is based on a
dedication to modernism that
references historic memory
of compositional devices,
traditional materials and
craftsmanship in building.
Shawn is a Leadership in
Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED) accredited
professional who works with
clients who want to build or
renovate with environmental
concerns in the forefront.
She explained that they
chose the name Studio A2
because were two people
named Alshut.
The award notwithstanding,
Studio A2 is not limited to
residential projects. It is a
full service architecture and
interior design firm whose
work includes commercial,
institutional, corporate and
residential architecture and
interior design. While the firm
is basically the two of them,
the Alshuts often partner with
others on large projects.
She said she and her
husband grew up with an
appreciation of beauty. Ive
always had an artistic eye.
My mother was an artist and
Ive always enjoyed beautiful
things, Shawn said.
Ed has a longtime interest
in fine art and photography. In
time, both focused their artistic
interest, on architecture. They
met as students in the master
of architecture program at the
University of Texas at Austin.
We quickly recognized
that we shared a professional
philosophy and that we liked
each other a lot, Shawn said.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The Mayor and City Council of the City
of Chamblee, Georgia will hold a public
hearing on Thursday, February 16, 2017,
at the Chamblee Civic Center, 3540 Broad
Street, Chamblee, GA 30341 at 6:00 p.m.
to receive public comments regarding
the following matters:

Text amendment to the UDO to
adopt the 2012 International
Property Maintenance Code.
CITY OF AVONDALE ESTATES

2017 GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION QUALIFYING FEES
Pursuant to O.C.G.A. 21-2-131(a)(1)(A) of the Georgia Election Code, The City
of Avondale Estates on January 23, 2017, set the qualifying fee at $3.00 for all
offices in the upcoming November 7, 2017 General Municipal Election. The fee
can be paid with cash, check or money order. Qualifying will take place from
8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. beginning Monday,
August 21, 2017 through Friday, August 25, 2017 at City Hall, 21 North
Avondale Plaza, Avondale Estates, Georgia 30002.
Ed and Shawn Alshut visit an Atlanta home that they recently renovated.
420-39511 1/26,2/2,2/9,2/16,2/23,3/2,3/9,3/16,3/23,3/30jb
STATE OF GEORGIA
COUNTY OF DEKALB
NOTICE OF SALE UNDER POWER
Because of a default under the terms of the Security Deed executed by Robert
M. Scott and Carla Catalon-Scott to Freedom Mortgage Corporation dated
January 21, 1994, and recorded in Deed Book 8090, Page 411, DeKalb County
Records, said Security Deed having been last sold, assigned, transferred and
conveyed to Nationstar Mortgage LLC, securing a Note in the original principal
amount of $80,028.00, the holder thereof pursuant to said Deed and Note
thereby secured has declared the entire amount of said indebtedness due and
payable and, pursuant to the power of sale contained in said Deed, will on the
first Tuesday, April 4, 2017, during the legal hours of sale, before the Courthouse door in said County, sell at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash,
the property described in said Deed, to-wit:
ALL THAT TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND LYING AND BEING IN LAND LOT
123, 16TH DISTRICT, DEKALB COUNTY. GEORGIA. BEING LOT 42, BLOCK
A, LAUREL POST CLOSE SUBDIVISION, UNIT THREE. AS PER PLAT
RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 91, PAGE 47. DEKALB COUNTY RECORDS,
WHICH PLAT IS INCORPORATED HEREIN AND MADE A PART HEREOF BY
REFERENCE_ BEING MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS 6487 EASTBRIAR
DRIVE, LITHONIA, GA 30058.
Said property is known as 6487 Eastbriar Drive, Lithonia, GA 30058, together with all fixtures and personal property attached to and constituting a part
of said property, if any.
Said property will be sold subject to any outstanding ad valorem taxes (including taxes which are a lien, whether or not now due and payable), the right of
redemption of any taxing authority, any matters which might be disclosed by
an accurate survey and inspection of the property, any assessments, liens, encumbrances, zoning ordinances, restrictions, covenants, and matters of record
superior to the Security Deed first set out above.
The proceeds of said sale will be applied to the payment of said indebtedness
and all expenses of said sale as provided in said Deed, and the balance, if any,
will be distributed as provided by law.
The sale will be conducted subject (1) to confirmation that the sale is not prohibited under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and (2) to final confirmation and audit
of the status of the loan with the secured creditor.
The property is or may be in the possession of Robert M. Scott and Carla
CatalonScott, a/k/a Carla Catalon-Scott a/k/a Carla Scott-Catalon a/k/a Carla
Catalon a/k/a Carla Scott a/k/a Carla ScottCatalon, successor in interest or
tenant(s).
Nationstar Mortgage LLC as Attorney-in-Fact for Robert M. Scott and Carla
Catalon-Scott
File no. 17-063499
SHAPIRO PENDERGAST & HASTY, LLP*
Attorneys and Counselors at Law
211 Perimeter Center Parkway, N.E., Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30346
770-220-2535/SJ
shapiroandhasty.com
*THE LAW FIRM IS ACTING AS A DEBT COLLECTOR. ANY INFORMATION
OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
01/26, 02/02, 02/09, 02/16, 02/23, 03/02, 03/09, 03/16, 03/23, 03/30, 2017
CLASSIFIED
The
CHAMPION
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RATES: $30 for up to 40 words, each
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DISCLAIMER: We do not knowingly accept advertisements that

discriminate, or intend to discriminate, on any illegal basis. Nor
do we knowingly accept employment advertisements that are not
bona-fide job offers. All real estate advertisements are subject
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SPORTS
Lithonia
Tucker
Dunwoody
Lakeside
Photos by Travis Hudgons
Players ready to shine this baseball season

by Carla Parker
Some DeKalb County high school
baseball players are going into the
2017 season with high hopes and state
playoffs on their minds.
Seven DeKalb County School
District teamsChamblee, Druid
Hills, Dunwoody, Lakeside, Redan,
Southwest DeKalb and Tuckeras
well as Decatur, Marist and St. Pius X
all made the playoffs last season. St.
Pius was the only team to go deep in
the playoffsadvancing to the Class
AAAA quarterfinals where they lost to Harris
Eastside.
A few players from non-playoff
several returning starters and Morris
teams are also hoping to advance
is confident his team will do well and
to the playoffs this year, including
fight for a playoff spot.
last years county leader in batting
Our team is really good this year,
averageCedar Grove senior Jenard
he said. Im feeling really good. Well
Morris. Morris, led the county with a
go far this year.
.540 average, had 29 hits, 26 RBIs, nine
Miller Grove senior Daniel Harris,
doubles and two triples.
who finished sixth in the county with a
Morris said he had a good offseason, .440 batting average, said his team can
hitting 100 balls a day to prepare for
also make a run to the playoffs.
the season. He said he wants to lead the
I definitely think were going to be
county again in hitting.
over .500 and hopefully well get to the
I also want to lead in pitching as
playoffs, Harris said.
well and have the best glove [in the
Miller Grove didnt reach .500 last
field], Morris said.
season with a 6-12 record and the
Cedar Grove finished the 2016
Wolverines have not made the state
season with a 9-11 record after
playoffs since 2010, their only playoff
advancing to the playoffs for the first
appearance in program history. Harris
time since 1991 in 2015. The team has
said hitting will be the key for the
Morris
Wolverines if they want to make the

playoffs.
We definitely have to work on
hitting, so thats what weve been
doingworking on hitting, getting
in the [batting] cages, going opposite
field, he said. Thats going to get us to
the playoffs.
For Stone Mountain junior Joshua
Christian, being successful in basic
baseball fundamentals will be the
key for the Pirates to make a possible
playoff appearance.
Fundamentals, thats all what the
game isfundamentals, Christian said.
His teammate, Roderick Hudson,
said its all about taking one step, one
game at a time.
[We cant] look forward on the
schedule, Hudson said. We have to

look at whats in front of us now. Thats
the key.
We need to work together as a
team, their teammate Jimmy Ae
added.
Stone Mountain has not made the
playoffs since 1989 and the Pirates
finished last season with a 3-18 record.
Christian, Hudson and Ae said they
spent the offseason in the weight room
to prepare for the 2017 season.
Ive been in the weight room
working on my leg [strength] and
stamina and getting my arm stronger,
Christian said.
We had tons of workouts; we really
never took a day off since the season
ended, Hudson said. Were ready to
go.
Lithonia freshman Alante
Shepherd is also ready to go this
season. Lithonia coach Samuel Marion
had nothing but glowing remarks about
the young hitter and said Shepherd
is expected to be a playmaker for the
Bulldogs.
He will be big for us, Marion said.
Shepherd, who plays for East Cobb
travel baseball team, said he doesnt
feel any pressure to lead the team to the
promised land.
Im just going to do my job with the
team and hope everyone does their job,
Shepherd said. Weve been bonding
and I think were going to have a really
good season.
SPORTS
MILLER GROVE 61, SOUTHWEST DEKALB 52
The Miller Grove Wolverines rallied back from an 11-point deficit in the first half against the
Southwest DeKalb Panthers defeating the Panthers 61-52 to improve to 7-0 in Region 5-5A.
Photos by Travis Hudgons
WEEKEND BASKETBALL SCORES
Jan. 20
Boys
Chamblee 50, Arabia Mountain 45
Decatur 73, Lithia Springs 54
Druid Hills 71, Luella 64
Dunwoody 73, Johns Creek 70
Greenforest 90, Our Lady of Mercy 27
Lithonia 69, Clarkston 44
Marist 56, West Hall 34
Miller Grove 61, Southwest DeKalb 52
Paideia 51, Atlanta International 37
Redan 64, McNair 52
St. Pius X 56, Stephens County 39
Stephenson 103, Forest Park 73
Holy Innocents 72, W.D. Mohammed 58
Lovett 61, Stone Mountain 55
Meadowcreek 60, Lakeside 49
Mundys Mill 53, M.L. King 47
Pace Academy 69, Cedar Grove 52
Westminster 55, Towers 42
Girls
Arabia Mountain 50, Chamblee 30
Cedar Grove 47, Pace Academy 44
Greenforest 48, Our Lady of Mercy 40
Lithonia 52, Clarkston 50
Paideia 52, Atlanta International 19
Redan 63, McNair 28
Southwest DeKalb 60, Miller Grove 29
St. Pius X 42, Stephens County 34
Stephenson 53, Forest Park 44
Holy Innocents 81, W.D. Mohammed 23
Johns Creek 60, Dunwoody 40
Lithia Springs 77, Decatur 59
Lovett 47, Stone Mountain 33
Luella 72, Druid Hills 54
Mundys Mill 63, M.L. King 27
West Hall 62, Marist 49
Westminster 57, Towers 40
Jan. 21
Boys
Cedar Grove 89, McNair 60
Decatur 51, Woodward Academy 49

Lakeside 59, Chamblee 51
Southwest DeKalb 74, Arabia Mountain 61
St. Pius X 51, St. Josephs Catholic 48
Towers 88, Cross Keys 26
DeMatha (Md.) 46, Greenforest 43
Forest Park 52, Tucker 43
Pope 61, Dunwoody 43
Tattnall Square Academy 49, Paideia 32
Winston-Salem Prep Academy 63, Miller Grove 60
Westminster 51, Redan 35
Girls
Chamblee 45, Lakeside 31
Decatur 49, Woodward Academy 44
Druid Hills 42, Clarkston 22
Redan 40, Westminster 33
Southwest DeKalb 63, Arabia Mountain 29
St. Pius X 59, St. Josephs Catholic 19
Tucker 62, Forest Park 52
Pope 66, Dunwoody 45
Tattnall Square Academy 43, Paideia 34
LOCAL
Chamblee-Doraville development authority considered

Doraville City Council discusses abatement transactions behind closed doors at work session
by R. Scott Belzer
Doraville City Council discussed a
possible joint development authority
(JDA) with Chamblee at its Jan. 17 work
session, which takes place one hour
before its regular meeting.
A JDA between the two cities would
allow Chamblee and Doraville to
conduct abatementincentive driven,
often involving taxestransactions
outside of the two cities respective
downtown development authorities
(DDA) jurisdiction.
According to documents related to
the discussion prepared by Doraville
Economic Director Luke Howe, a
necessity for a JDA between Doraville
and Chamblee stems from the need to
pool resources following annexations of
the cities borders.
The need for the ability to
conduct bonds for title or abatement
transactions outside of the DDA
jurisdiction has become increasingly
evident since [Doravilles] 2014
annexation, states one document.
[Doraville] needs this tool to address
properties like Fridays Plaza and the old
Georgia Pacific property. Since annexing
A joint development authority between Doraville and Chamblee would create an additional board
monitoring development in both cities and whose powers would be created by the cities themselves.
Photo submitted.
Century Center, Chamblee has come to

the same realization.
According to Howe, development
authorities that cover a region rather
than a city or county have the potential
to draw on a combined set of resources
to meet the needs of potential businesses
or construction projects.
Under the Georgia Code, governing
bodies are exempt from paying property
taxes. Development authorities
throughout the state use this loophole
to transfer property into their name and
lease the property back to the owner
tax free. Known as a tax abatement or
If I dont
have the answer,
bond for title, this tactic is often used

by development authorities to attract
developers and business to an area.
Doravilles DDA, which meets
quarterly, most recently waived 35
percent of property taxes on the
Assembly development slated to occupy
the former GM assembly plant for the
next 30 years. The value of this incentive
is estimated to be around $82 million
if the site reaches its forecasted value of
$1.5 billion.
Chamblees DDA granted an
abatement worth $11 million for 18
years to Del American Real Estate for the
Chamblee Atlanta mixed-use apartment

development.
These are property taxes that
normally go toward their respective
cities, DeKalb County and DeKalb
County School District.
The JDA would ultimately take
responsibilities of both DDAs and put
them in the hands of three Chamblee
DDA members and three Doraville
DDA members, with a rotating elected
official, according to Howe. Deals
conducted in a particular city would
grant fees to the city in which the deal
took place.
The fees associated with a deal in
Doraville, for instance, would go to the
Doraville DDA and vice versa, Howe
states. This would ensure that fees are
being reinvested in each citys downtown
and would be accomplished through
[intergovernmental agreements].
Ultimately, projects would first go
to the JDA and then be sent to either
the Chamblee DDA or Doraville DDA,
depending on the projects geography.
Howe states Doraville staff have
had preliminary discussions with
Chamblee staff and that the work session
discussions purpose was to bring the
conversation to the mayor and council.

DeKalb FreePress: 1-27-17

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FRIDAY, JAN. 27, 2017 VOL. 19, NO. 43 FREE

Tucker looks to designate areas as a historic district

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