November 2013
Jared Bailey
District 5 November 2013 Newsletter
Statesman Quote: “Re-examining our reasoning is not something that has come naturally to American statesmen.” – Samantha Power
This newsletter is intended to keep the residents of District 5 informed about community matters. If you are not receiving this newsletter and wish to do so, please contact me at Jared....@athensclarkecounty.com and I will add your email address to the list. If you have any questions or concerns about community issues please contact me by email or at 706-338-9019.
Dear District 5 Residents-
Here is another installment of news that affects the best district in Athens:
UPCOMING MAYOR AND COMMISSION MEETINGS
November 12th - M&C Work Session at 5:30 PM in the Planning Department Auditorium
November 19th - Government Operations Committee Meeting at 5:30 PM- room 103 of City Hall
November 19th- Legislative Review Committee Meeting at 5:30 PM in room 303 in City Hall
November 21st - M&C Agenda Setting Meeting at 7:00 PM in Commission Chambers in City Hall
December 3rd - M&C Regular Meeting at 7:00 PM in the Commission Chambers in City Hall
COMMUNITY NOTES
Christmas Parade
Entries are now being accepted for the annual Athens-Clarke County Downtown Parade of Lights scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 5. Entrants compete for cash prizes and awards in these categories: Most Original, Best Use of Theme, and Best Use of Lights. The best overall float is given the Mayor’s Choice Award. Awards are also given to the best Organized Performing Unit, which recognizes groups of performers. This year’s theme is “The Sounds of Christmas.”
The parade begins on the corner of Dougherty and Pulaski streets, ending in front of City Hall for the traditional Community Christmas Tree lighting ceremony. The deadline for entries is Nov. 21. The parade entry fee is $40 with checks payable to Athens-Clarke County. Parade information, entry guidelines and application forms can be found at www.athensclarkecounty.com/parade, or contact Robin Stevens at (706) 613-3620 or robins...@athensclarkecounty.com.
Bus Fare Increase Hearing
Two public hearings will be held at the Athens Transit Multi-Modal Center, 775 E. Broad Street in Athens to discuss a Proposed FY 2015 Fare Increase. The first meeting was held on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 and the second meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Comments will be accepted from October 29, 2013 - November 19, 2013. Additional information is available at: http://www.athenstransit.com and at: http://www.athensclarkecounty.com/199/Transit
Community Christmas Tree
Athens-Clarke County is making an appeal to the community for a donation of a tree to serve as its 2013 Community Christmas Tree. The ACC government needs a well-shaped cedar tree about 35 feet tall and 20 feet wide. The county will remove and transport the tree at no cost to the donor. Potential contributors should call (706) 613-3561 before Nov. 26.
Homeless Connect
The fifth annual Athens Project Homeless Connect is a one-day, one-stop shop for homeless services held on Friday, November 15 from 1:00 until 4:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church on 327 N. Lumpkin Street. Organizers expect more than 40 organizations and businesses to participate; last year, more than 300 individuals and families attended.
Free services and giveaways for the public include bus passes, take-home meals, haircuts, shoes, clothes, personal care packages, raffle prizes, employment assistance, housing searches, finance/budgeting, legal assistance, health screenings, mental health screenings, addiction services, H.I.V. testing, and more.
The event is sponsored by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and the Athens Homeless and Poverty Coalition and organized by Action Ministries Our Daily Bread, AIDS Athens, Athens Community Council on Aging, Athens Area Homeless Shelter, the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government, Bigger Vision Homeless Shelter, Community Connection, Interfaith Hospitality Network, and Salvation Army.
For more information, contact Samantha Carvalho with the Athens-Clarke County Housing and Community Development Department at 706-613-3155 or samanta....@athensclarkecounty.com.
Master Composter Program
The ACC Cooperative Extension office will be offering Mater Composter dates for classes on Wednesday evenings, January 29th – Wednesday, March 26, 2014 including two Saturday morning field trips on Saturday, February 22 and Saturday, March 15, 2014. The Classes are held from 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
At the ACC Solid Waste Department Administration Building Training Room, 725 Hancock Industrial Way, and the cost for the entire program is $145. To register for this Program please contact the ACC Cooperative Extension at (706) 613-3640.
Morton Theater Sponsorships
Morton Theater Sponsorship Applications will be accepted November 1-30, 2013. In May 2013, the Morton Theatre Corporation (MTC), a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, launched a new sponsorship program to support other Athens area non-profits for the rental of the historic Morton Theatre. Ultimately, the sponsorship program is designed to be a positive partnership on all levels: to promote the Morton Theatre as a community resource and to support an opportunity for important and diverse programming that will educate and enrich current and future Athens-Clarke County populations and communities. Read more and find the application at www.mortontheatre.com.
Neighborhood Traffic Issues
The ACCPD Traffic Unit responded to five specific neighborhoods relating to either a Commission Action/Work Request or direct citizen concerns over suspected traffic violations. During the month of October and through this week these five enforcement actions at Lenox Rd at Kings Rd; Pine Needle neighborhood behind ARMC; Cedar Creek; Rutherford Street; and the Westchester Drive areas have resulted in 73 investigative hours and issued 83 traffic citations for speeding, stop sign violations, etc.
Traffic Engineering installed video detection for the GDOT project to improve traffic flow at the Prince Avenue and Sunset Drive intersection. Two LED street lamps and video detection were also installed at the College Station Road and International Drive intersection for the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital building project. The Commission also voted to place a solar powered radar speed sign on Nowhere Road due to speeding near the entrance to Cherokee Forest sub-division.
SOLID WASTE
Leaf and Limb Schedule
Nov
11-15: Zone 2
Neighborhoods include, but are not limited to - Bar H Estates, Idylwood,
Hunter's Ridge, Epps Bridge Crossing, St. Ives, Berkley Hills, Timothy Estates,
Skyline Park, Renfrew Estates, Waverly Woods, Ansley Park, Villas at
Snapfinger, Rock and Shoals, Old Lexington Garden, Old Lexington Trace, Timber
Creek, Brookstone, Georigan Hills, McNutts Creek, Fox Trace, Brittan Estates,
Shoal Creek Farms, Wyndfield, River Oaks, and Plantation Estates.
Nov 18-22: Zone 3
Neighborhoods include, but are not limited to - Weatherly Woods, West Winter,
Winter Hills, Oakmont, East Meadow, and all households within Winterville
City limits.
Nov 25- 29 - No collection
due to the Thanksgiving Holiday (leaf and limb staff used to
collect refuse and recycling during the short work week).
Please remember that leaf and limb piles should be no more than 15 ft. from the curb and should not be stacked up against mailboxes, power poles, guy wires, telephone/cable boxes, fences, etc. They should also not be under trees with very low limbs nor under the wires running from the street to the houses, if possible. Also, piles should not cover water meters. The material should also not be placed in the street or block drainage ways and it should not be closer than 50 ft from an intersection so as to avoid obstructing visibility. For further information regarding zones call 706-613-3501.
Downtown Recycling Containers
After a nine-year hiatus, pedestrian recycling containers are making a comeback in the downtown business district. The ACC Recycling Division worked with The Classic Center, Athens Downtown Development Authority, and the ACC Solid Waste Department Collections staff to get a functional and aesthetically pleasing pedestrian recycling container without a hefty price tag. During September, there were 32 recycling containers placed in the downtown business district. Seven containers were placed around the exterior of The Classic Center, and the remaining 25 containers were strategically placed in high-traffic areas throughout the downtown district. The recycling containers are used by pedestrians to dispose of recyclables, such as plastic bottles and cups, aluminum cans, glass bottles, paper bags, and newspaper. Help Athens recycle MORE by using these containers! Please do NOT place the following items into the downtown recycling containers: diapers, food, paper cups and plates, cutlery, pet waste, Styrofoam of any kind, and plastic bags.
Recycling Happy Hour
On Thursday November 15th, the ACC Recycling Facility will be open extended hours from 5:00 – 7:00 PM (Happy Hour) to collect batteries, bulbs, TVs and other electronics at 699 Hancock Industrial Way. The special recycling event is sponsored by Coca-Cola Bottling.
ToolShed Program
Keep Athens-Clarke County Clean and Beautiful is now offering the Athens Area ToolShed Program which features a large inventory of tools, ranging from gardening to renovation tools, to assist with community improvement projects. Quantities of tools are loaned on an as-available basis, and those using the tools must schedule a time with KACCB staff to meet at the ToolShed to pick up and return the tools. Visit www.keepathensbeautiful.org to reserve your tools.
Bring One for the Chipper
Remember the Annual Bring One for the Chipper Christmas Tree Recycling Event in your holiday plans.
KACCB will host this fun event on Sat., Jan. 4, 2014, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring your undecorated tree to one of several drop-off locations throughout the county. Participants will receive a FREE tree seedling in exchange for their tree, while supplies last. To find the drop-off location nearest you, visit www.keepathens beautiful.org or call 706-613-3501, ext. 312.
STORMWATER
Ashton Drive Stormwater Project
The contractor working at the Ashton Drive Stormwater Improvement project set up detour signs to close the road, and pot-holed utilities, relayed 60 linear feet of eight inch sanitary sewer line, and installed erosion control measures. Public Utilities installed two water valves for the project.
WaterSense® Partner of the Year Award
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized the Athens-Clarke County Public Utilities Department's Water Conservation Office with a 2013 WaterSense Partner of the Year award. The Water Conservation Office was honored during the WaterSmart Innovations Conference for its commitment to water efficiency and outstanding efforts to support the WaterSense program during 2012.
In 2012 alone, WaterSense labeled products and new homes helped Americans save more than 202 billion gallons of water, or more than the amount of water needed to supply all the homes in Colorado for a year. More than 2,700 utility, manufacturer, retail, builder, organizational, and professional partners helped WaterSense realize these accomplishments, but every year a few in particular are recognized for their significant contributions to the program.To learn more about the 2013 WaterSense Partner of the Year Awards program and WaterSense labeled products, visit www.epa.gov/watersense.
Your
Commissioner,
Jared Bailey
District 5 Commissioner, Athens-Clarke County Unified Government
145 Marsha Court, Athens, GA 30606
706-338-9019,
Jared....@athensclarkecounty.com