May Newsletter
Jared Bailey
District 5 Newsletter
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Statesman Quote: “It is easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled.” —Mark Twain
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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
For the past several months the ACC Staff, Mayor and Commission have been hard at work on the proposed FY14 Budget. So far our meetings in the month of May have been consumed by budget talks.
· Government Operations Committee Meeting on Tuesday May 21st at 5:30 PM in room 103 in City Hall
· Legislative Review Committee Meeting on Tuesday May 21st at 5:30 PM in room 303 in City Hall
· M &C Agenda Setting Meeting on Thursday May 23rd at 7:00 PM in the Commission Chambers in City Hall
There will be discussion about the ACC FY14 Budget and opportunities for public input at this meeting.
· M&C voting meeting on Tuesday June 4th at 7:00 PM in the Commission Chambers in City Hall
There will be a vote on the ACC FY14 Budget and opportunities for public input at this meeting.
COMMUNITY NOTES
Aerial Mapping
You may have noticed a series of painted markings (chevrons) on several ACC streets (including Atlanta Highway, Prince Avenue, Oak Street, Oconee Street, and some streets downtown). These have been placed there to facilitate updating ACC’s Geographical Information System (GIS) Base Map. Updating requires that we conduct aerial photography of ACC approximately every five years so that we can accurately map new streets, new developments, changes in river channels and ground coverage, etc. The last time ACC was flown was in 2008.
Having accurate databases and maps is very important to efficient functioning of several of our departments, including Planning, Transportation and Public Works, Leisure Services, Finance, and others. The aerial photography is being conducted in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center. We anticipate that the exercise will be completed by August 31, 2013. The chevrons serve as calibration points and are painted on each side of the roadway at intervals of approximately 1,000 feet. For more information, please contact the GIS Division of the ACC Planning Department at (706) 613 3515.
Airport Tower
The ACC Airport Tower was scheduled to be closed in April as a result of
the sequestration process in Washington, DC. As part of its response to
sequestration the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) had announced that it would
eliminate funding for all 149 federal contract air traffic control towers at
smaller airports across the nation as part of the agency’s required $637
million budget cuts. However, after its initial announcement the FAA decided to
delay these closures until June 15, 2013. This is because a number of local
governments across the country have sued the Authority to prevent the closings.
The delay was intended to give the FAA time to resolve these legal issues.
Baxter Street Library Expansion
The Baxter Street Library recently hosted a series of
events to celebrate the ending of a SPLOST 2005-funded renovation and expansion
as well as the 100th Anniversary of the library itself. The SPLOST project
involved renovating 63,000 sq ft of the original building and adding an
additional 20,000 sq ft. The expansion will allow for better services for
patrons, including providing more access to computers.
Best Communities for Music Education
The Clarke
County School District was recently named one of the Best Communities in Music
Education for 2013 as part of the National Association of Music Merchants
(NAMM) Foundation Best Communities for Music Education Program. The school
district partnered with AthFest Educates and received this designation because
of its commitment to arts education. Additionally, seven Clarke County School
District students will be attending the Governor’s Honors Program (GHP) this
summer on the campus of Valdosta State University.
Economic Development Department
The ACC Commission recently voted to create a new Department of Economic
Development to replace the Economic Development Foundation (EDF) which had been
charged with doing economic development for the past decade or so. Seeking to
capitalize on recent developments in our community, the new Department will be
the first point of contact with the State of Georgia’s Department of Economic
Development for large industrial and commercial projects. It will take over
from the EDF on July 1. In preparation for this the UGACC Manager has recently hired
Ryan Moore as the Department’s first Director. Moore will report directly to
the Manager. Ryan has served as the Project Manager for the Effingham County
Industrial Development Authority (IDA) since 2006, where he was involved in
attracting over 600 jobs and over $175 million of direct community investment
to the community. He was also involved in negotiating with international firms
to encourage them to create industrial operations in the region, including most
recently the building of a Portuguese manufacturing operation’s first US plant.
Outdoor Water Use Restrictions
The local outdoor water use restrictions have been relaxed to allow three days a week outdoor watering. On March 27, 2013 the Upper Oconee Water Basin Authority (UOWBA) met and approved a recommendation by the Operations Committee to implement a Level 1 Drought Response. Level 1 Drought Response requires all member counties to reduce water usage by 2.5 %. The Athens-Clarke County Public Utilities Department believes that relaxing the current Outdoor Watering Restrictions to Step A of the Unified Government’s Drought/Water Shortage Management Plan will help accomplish this goal. Step A outdoor watering restrictions allow for outdoor water use three days per week on an odd/even basis, following the current state mandated hours of watering between 4pm – 10am. In addition, the UOBWA approved actions limiting the use of public water supply on golf courses to the odd/even schedule with the exception of tee boxes and greens. On April 17, 2013, all four member counties, Oconee, Jackson, Barrow and ACC all agreed to implement the same watering restrictions. The recommended effective date of the change to Step A was May 1, 2013.
These modifications apply to all residential, commercial, governmental, and institutional customers of the Athens-Clarke County public water supply system. Private water supplies such as wells are currently exempt from the outdoor water use restrictions, but conservation is encouraged. Groundwater supplies have also been impacted by the drought. Please call 706-613-3729, visit the Athens-Clarke County Public Utilities Department located at 124 E Hancock Ave., or visit www.athensclarkecounty.com/publicutilities for additional information.
Police Alerts
If you are interested in receiving emergency alerts on your cell phone from ACCPD relating to information concerning everything from BOLO’s (Be On the Look Out) relating to suspects the Police would like to apprehend to information about traffic accidents and road blockages, then you can do so by texting your ZIP CODE to 888777. You should check with your service provider, though, about charges that you may incur for receiving texts.
Prince Avenue Zoning Analysis
The
Athens-Clarke County Planning Department will hold a public meeting on Monday
May 20th at 7:00 PM at George Hall on the UGA Health Sciences Campus
in Normaltown to discuss the Prince Avenue
Zoning Analysis and provide input to the Planning Commissioners. Planning
Department staff will present information about this work effort, explain the
upcoming meeting schedule and answer individual questions following the
presentation.
More information about the zoning analysis and a comment form are available at
the Planning Department, as well as online at http://athensclarkecounty.com/index.aspx?NID=5372. Comments received by May
24th will be forwarded on to the Planning Commissioners for review prior
to their June 6, 2013 meeting. For updates on the review
process, please call the Planning Department at 706-613-3515.
Proposed Property Tax Increase
The ACC Mayor plans to increase the property taxes levied this year by 1.5 percent over the rollback millage rate. The budget proposed by the Mayor requires that a millage rate higher than the rollback millage rate, therefore, before the Mayor may finalize the tentative budget and set a final millage rate, Georgia law requires three public hearings to be held to allow the public an opportunity to express their opinions on the increase. All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearings on this tax increase to be held at the Governmental Building Auditorium located at 120 Dougherty Street on May 14, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. and in the Commission Chambers on the second floor of City Hall, 301 College Ave on May 21, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. and May 23, 2013 at 6:30 p.m.
The Budget is scheduled for adoption at the regular meeting of the Mayor and Commission on Tuesday, June 4, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. in the Commission Chambers on the second floor of City Hall, 301 College Ave. The FY14 Recommended Budget is available for public inspection at http://www.athensclarkecounty.com/budget and during normal office hours at the following locations: Clerk of Commission’s Office, Room 204 City Hall; the Office of the Manager, Room 303 City Hall; and the Athens Regional Library, 2025 Baxter Street.
Roll Out the Barrels
Looking for a way to conserve water, reduce stormwater runoff, and look great doing it? Come to Roll Out the Barrels at the Lyndon House Arts Center on May 17 at 5:30 PM. Unique and beautiful rain barrels have been created by local artists for the silent auction and celebration that includes food, music, and fun. Twenty-two local artists created beautiful, one-of-a-kind rain barrels to benefit environmental education in the Athens Green Schools Program. This Program assists schools with environmental education and improvement efforts that focus on conservation, preservation, and beautification of our environment. The program recognizes participating schools that implement exceptional environmental education and improvement programs. Rain barrels are a great way to conserve water and reduce stormwater runoff. A beautifully decorated, one of kind rain barrel is a beautiful addition to any garden. The unique artwork will be on display at the Lyndon House Arts Center starting on Thursday, May 9. The showing will conclude on Friday May 17 with a celebration and silent auction.
For more information and to preview the barrels go to www.rolloutthebarrells.com or call the Athens-Clarke County Water Conservation Office at 706-613-3729. This event is free and proceeds from the auction benefit the Athens Green Schools Program.
SOLID WASTE
Leaf and Limb Schedule
May 13 - May 17: Zone 6
Neighborhoods include, but
are not limited to, North Place, Cherokee Forest, Timberwood, and
Hidden Lake.
May
20 - May 24: 5 Points area
The Springdale,
Milledge Circle, Bedgood, Bloomfield, Dearing, Milledge Terrace, and the
University Drive neighborhoods and surrounding area
May
28* - May31:
The Newtown, Boulevard, Hospital, Brooklyn, East Athens, Hancock,
Rocksprings neighborhoods and surrounding areas
* - The Solid Waste offices will be closed on Monday, May 27th in observance
of Memorial Day.
STORMWATER
Glencrest Stormwater Project
A Stormwater Infrastructure Improvement project with the goal of reducing flooding in the intersection areas of Knottingham Drive and Glencrest Drive has been underway for almost 6 months and is expected to be completed by September. The contractor for this project installed storm drain pipe across Marsha Court and installed a storm drain structure at the intersection with Knottingham Drive this past week. The contractor also performed layout operations for curb and gutter along portions of Marsha Court.
Stream Walks
Stormwater staff will begin stream walks along Sulfur Springs Creek, Sandy Creek, Big Creek, and Bear Creek. During stream walks staff will be conducting watershed assessments to gauge the condition of our local waterways. The length of each stream will be walked between February and May 2013 to gather information. In this time you may see Athens-Clarke County Stormwater staff along your property if you own property that one of these 4 streams crosses through. To see what stream you live closest to visit www.AthensClarkeCounty.com/watersheds.
Stream walks are part of an initiative to compile watershed management plans for each creek in ACC. For more information about watershed management plans visit www.AthensClarkeCounty.com/index.aspx?NID=1883. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Storm...@Athensclarkecounty.com or call 706-613-3440.
Work Ready Community Designation
The Governor’s Office of Workforce Development recently designated Athens-Clarke County a “Work Ready Community.” In order to be certified as a Work Ready Community, a community must show that it has “the skilled workforce that business demands and the educational infrastructure to drive economic growth and prosperity.” Amongst other things, this involves demonstrating a commitment to improving public high school graduation rates through a measurable increase and encouraging citizens who have not received a high school diploma to successfully complete the General Educational Development (GED) process. To earn certification counties must also have a certain proportion of their existing and potential labor force in both the public and private sector attain a Work Ready Certification, must demonstrate a countywide commitment to earning certification, and must accomplish their goals within a 24 to 36 month timeframe. Typically, achieving such a designation involves a number of county-based teams working together, including local county leaders, Technical College and Adult Education institutions, local school boards, the local chamber of commerce, local businesses, Georgia Department of Labor representatives, and others. Being designated a Work Ready Community provides businesses with (at least) two advantages: job profiling and knowledge of who holds a Work Ready Certificate. Work Ready profiles identify the tasks and skills needed for a job, whilst Work Ready Certificates measure a worker’s core skills. Potential employers use the profiles to match potential employees who hold Work Ready Certificates with available jobs to ensure accurate job placement.
Your Commissioner,
District 5 Commissioner, Athens-Clarke County Unified Government
145 Marsha Court, Athens, GA 30606
706-338-9019, Jared....@athensclarkecounty.com