January Newsletter

[Jared Bailey]

District 5 Newsletter

JANUARY 2013

Statesman Quote: “Never, never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.” -Martin Luther King, Jr.

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: 

IMPORTANT NEWS

REDISTRICTING-As you may know the boundaries of District 5 changed on January 1^st, thanks to redistricting by our State Legislators last spring. Several parts of District 5 such as Boulevard, Cobbham, Buena Vista, and Kathwood are now in District 3. A map of the new District 5 can be found at http://www.athensclarkecounty.com/DocumentCenter/Home/View/9669.

UPCOMING MAYOR AND COMMISSION VOTES

The next M&C voting meeting will be on Tuesday February 5^th at 7:00 PM and here are some of the key issues that will be on the agenda:

• The establishment of Athens-Clarke County Economic Development Department
• The naming of Westside police substation
• Ratification of the Mayor and Commission FY14 goals and objectives
• Proposed text amendments on the zoning of personal care homes
• Proposed text amendments on a study of the placement of electric vehicle charging stations
• Planning Commission recommendation: Approve (unanimous)
• Environmental areas map update and associated text amendments in regard to updated flood plain,wetlands, groundwater recharge area, and riparian buffer information

The BUENA VISTA HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGNATION vote has been postponed until the March 5^th meeting.

COMMUNITY NOTES

ATHENS ADDING JOBS-A recent survey by the online firm 247wallst.com, which provides analysis and information for US and global equity investors, recently ranked Athens as 9th in the nation in terms of cities with the biggest proportional increase in employment between October 2011 and October 2012. According to the survey, the number of those employed in Athens increased by 4.95% and the unemployment rate was 6.2%. The survey noted that “Over the last year, Athens added slightly more than 5,000 jobs, led by the hospitality as well as the business and professional services sectors. The additional jobs increased the total number of residents employed by nearly 5% and lowered the city’s unemployment rate to 6.2% in October, down from 7.2% the year before. In February, Caterpillar announced plans to build a plant in Athens to produce both tractors and hydraulic excavators. The company expects to hire 1,400 workers for the location in the next several years.” The other cities included in the top ten were: Odessa, TX; Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA; Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL; Elkhart-Goshen, IN; Gainesville, GA; Rocky Mount, NC; Pascagoula, MS; Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA; and Lafayette, LA. To read more about these other cities, visit 247wallst.com/2012/12/14/american-cities-adding-or-losing-the-most-jobs/2/.

COMMUNITY TREE COUINCIL-The Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County is seeking qualified candidates to fill three (3) positions on the Community Tree Council (CTC). The CTC provides information and recommendations on community tree policy and procedures to Athens-Clarke County officials, staff, and the public, and offers educational opportunities and activities promoting responsible management of community tree resources. The CTC meets monthly on the second Monday from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. and additional committee work is conducted between these meetings. See www.athenstrees.com for more information on the CTC's mission and activities.

Applicants must be Athens-Clarke County residents and registered voters. The deadline for receiving applications is 8:00 a.m. on Monday, February 4, 2013. Based upon the applications received, the CTC Nominations Committee will select a number of individuals for brief interviews. After making their final selections, a recommendation for appointments will then be sent from the CTC to the Mayor and Commission for final approval. The terms of office will begin in February 2013. Members may be nominated for additional terms.

Applications can be submitted online. Printable versions may be obtained from the Landscape Management Division office at 350 Pound Street, on the Athens-Clarke County Community Tree Program Web site at www.acctreeprogram.com, on the CTC website at www.athenstrees.com, or by calling the Landscape Management Division office at 706-613-3561. Completed applications not submitted online should be returned to the Landscape Management Division office via mail (350 Pound Street, Athens, GA, 30601), hand delivery, or fax to 706-613-3566.

For more information, contact Andrew Saunders, Community Forestry Coordinator, at 706-613-3561 or fore...@athensclarkecounty.com.

DOWTOWN MICROBREWERY-The Creature Comforts Brewhouse recently announced that it has plans to locate in the recently vacated Snow Tire building on West Hancock Avenue. The owner indicates that he will begin work on the space in February and hopes to have renovation completed by August.

GREEN LIFE EXPO-The 5^th Annual Green Life Expo will be held on Saturday, February 9^th from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at The Classic Center in downtown Athens.  The focus of this year’s event is on transportation issues and how they affect our environment. Admission is free and it is a family-friendly event that will have: Exhibits, Green Shopping, Kids' Activities, Recycling Opportunities, and Educational Sessions.

KNOTTINGHAM STORMWATER PROJECT-The Knottingham Stormwater Improvement project involves reconstructing the undersized stormwater pipes in Marsha Court to pipes that meet the current upstream stormwater demands.  The project will extend the current stormwater pipes from Marsha Court to Crestview Drive and along Glencrest Drive.  Finally, an improved outfall will be constructed at the edge of the Marsha Court cul-de-sac to safely convey the stormwater downstream.  The main purpose of the project is to alleviate the constant flooding of property that occurs along Crestview and Glencrest Drives. The work began in December 2012 and is expected to last until September 2013.  

LEAF AND LIMB

January 22 - January 25:     The Newtown, Boulevard, Hospital, Brooklyn, East Athens, Hancock, Rocksprings neighborhoods and surrounding areas

January 28 - February 1:    The Beechwood, Briarcliff, Moss Side Drive, Homewood Hills, Whitehead Road, Country Club Estates, Knottingham, and the Forest Heights Drive neighborhood and surrounding areas 
FEBRUARY
February 4 - February 8:        Zone 1
Neighborhoods include, but are not limited to, Ashton Place, Cedar Creek, Clarkdale, Crestwood, Green Acres, McDuffie Drive, Shadow Moss, Spring Lake, University Heights, Victory Estates, Wakefield Drive
February 11 - February 15:    Zone 2
 Neighborhoods include, but are not limited to, Bar-H Estates, Idlywood, Hunter's Ridge, Epps Bridge Crossing, St. Ives, Berkley Hills, Timothy Estates, Skyline Park, Renfrew Estates, Waverly Woods, Ansley Park, Villas at Snapfinger, Rock & Shoals, Old Lexington Garden, Old Lexington Trace, Brookstone, Georgian Hills, McNutts Creek, Fox Trace, Brittain Estates, Shoal Creek Farms, Wyndfield, River Oaks, and Plantation Estates

SHOEBOX RECYCLING-On January 15, 2013, the Athens-Clarke County Recycling Division kicked off a unique partnership with ShoeBox Recycling to further educate residents about shoe reuse while lessening landfill usage. By aligning their missions, the two organizations hope to educate about the power of reuse, reduce landfill usage, recycle as many usable pairs of shoes as possible, and connect people through the process of shoe recycling. ShoeBox Recycling is a for-profit recycler of shoes. All of the shoes collected are destined for reuse by those in need of affordable footwear. For more information about ShoeBox Recycling, call 888.482.5754 or visit www.shoeboxrecycling.com.

Proceeds from ShoeBox Recycling will go towards funding further education and awareness about waste reduction. Shoe collection includes all gently used, paired athletic, men’s, women’s, and kids shoes, including athletic shoes, cleats, Timberland-type work boots, dress shoes, sandals, heels, flats, and cowboy boots. Shoes that are not accepted include heavy winter boots, skates, blades, flip-­flops, Crocs, slippers, single shoes, unusable shoes, and broken shoes.

Collection boxes are currently located at the Athens-Clarke County Solid Waste Department on Hancock Industrial Boulevard, but will be distributed to other facilities around the community later this year. For more information about shoe collection and recycling in Athens-Clarke County, contact Kristine Kobyus, Program Education Specialist with the Athens-Clarke County Recycling Division, at Kristine...@athensclarkecounty.com or 706-613-3512 ext. 316.

Your Commissioner, 

Jared Bailey
District 5 Commissioner,
Athens-Clarke County Unified Government

145 Marsha Court, Athens, GA 30606
706-338-9019, Jared....@athensclarkecounty.com