August 2014 Newsletter
jared bailey
District 5 August 2014 Newsletter
Statesman Quote: “It always seems impossible until it is done”– Nelson Mandela
This newsletter is intended to keep the residents of District 5 informed about community matters. If you are not receiving this newsletter, please email me at Jared....@athensclarkecounty.com and I will add your address to the list. If you have any questions or concerns about community issues 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:
ACC FACTS
· Elevation 636 feet above sea level (194 meters)
· Total land area 118.2 square miles (306.2 km2)
· Total water area 0.5 square miles (1.2 km2)
· Population in consolidated city-county limits 115,452
· Population in Athens Metropolitan Area 192,541
· Density 851.5/square mile (328.8/ km2)
ACTV
Don’t forget that Charter Communications has moved ACTV from channel 7 to channel 180 and will be grouped with The University of Georgia’s channel 15 (moving to channel 181) and the Clarke County School District’s channel 16 (moving to channel 182).
AIRPORT
Airline Ending Services September 30
SeaPort Airlines has notified the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government of its intention to discontinue subsidized commercial service from Athens to Nashville, TN after September 30, 2014. Prior to the end of service, SeaPort will contact any passengers booked for travel on or after October 1, 2014 and provide a full refund of any unused tickets, without penalty, and provide assistance in making alternative travel arrangements.
Athens-Ben Epps Airport is one of nine airports of Georgia's 104 airports considered "commercial." Commercial airports are certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to offer ticketed flights to the public. These airports also handle general aviation flights, such as business aircraft, charters, flight training, military, and government flights. Athens and Macon house the two commercial airports in Georgia whose air service is subsidized. The USDOT also notified Macon of the termination of their subsidy.
Athens-Ben Epps Airport will keep its status as a commercial airport since large charter aircraft such as collegiate athletic charters operate unscheduled passenger flights into Athens. Passengers on these charters currently outnumber the scheduled service passengers and are expected to continue to increase as the current runway extension project is completed to allow for some flights of close to 150 passengers. The airport will remain fully functional with over 100 daily general aviation flights and periodic commercial charters in addition to these athletic team charters. For more information, contact Athens-Ben Epps Airport Director Tim Beggerly at 706-613-3420 or visit www.athensclarkecounty.com/airport.
MAYOR AND COMMISSION MEETINGS
September 2nd - M&C Regular Meeting at 7:00 PM in the Commission Chambers in City Hall
September 9th – M&C Work Session at 5:30 PM in the Planning Department Auditorium
September 16th - Legislative Review Committee Meeting at 5:30 PM in room 303 in City Hall
September 16th – Government Operations Committee Meeting at 5:30 PM in room 103 in City Hall
September 18th - M&C Agenda Setting Meeting at 7:00 PM in Commission Chambers in City Hall
POLICE
Caring About Seniors
The ACC Police Department welcomes the opportunity to engage in
meaningful partnerships with law-abiding citizens of and visitors to
Athens-Clarke County. Such interactions help assist the department as they seek
to eliminate crime, the fear of crime, and general disorder in our communities.
In order to accomplishment this, the department is ever cognizant of the need
to establish ethically based problem solving partnerships that meet the needs
of our residents and the community at large. To this end, the ACCPD has created
the Seniors, We Care About You
program to allow for a manner in which to address the safety concerns of our
senior community.
This program will use ACCPD volunteers to communicate with
our senior population over the phone.
The senior population of Athens-Clarke County has experienced significant
growth; and it is believed that a proactive approach is required to identify
individuals who may be at-risk within this community. Over the years, the ACCPD
has routinely answered requests to check on seniors and special needs
individuals. These requests have often come from family or friends who are too
far away to check on them in person. Regrettably, often by the time community
members and/or the police are made aware of a need to check on a senior, the
senior’s welfare has suffered.
The Seniors, We Care About You
program will identify “at risk seniors” through a voluntary application process
which will involve the efforts of community stakeholders including ACCPD’s
Crime Prevention Unit, Athens Community Council on Aging (ACCA), and volunteers
of the ACCPD. The program will allow volunteers to place a phone call once or
twice per week to check on the welfare of the seniors and provide information
concerning available community resources and direct them to the resources. This
service will be strictly voluntary and may be discontinued by the participant
at any time. Persons 65 years of age and older and persons with special needs
are encouraged to participate in the program.
Applications will be available online (www.athensclarkecounty.com/police)
and in the front lobby of the Police Department’s Precincts (3035 Lexington
Road and 3700 Atlanta Highway) and the East Substation (325 Fairview Street). Requests
for information on the program should be sent to Lesley Moore (lesley...@athensclarkecounty.com
– 706-613-3358 X235) or
Julita Sanders (julita....@athensclarkecounty.com – 706-613-3358 X231) in the
ACCPD’s Crime Prevention Unit.
To volunteer for this program contact Mary Hamby, Volunteer Coordinator, at 706-613-3888, X272 or
email (mary....@athensclarkecounty.com).
Georgia Chief of the Year
ACC Police Chief Joseph H. Lumpkin, Sr. was recently honored
by the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police as “Chief of the Year” at their
annual meeting in Savannah. Chief Lumpkin was nominated for his continuous
unfailing and wise counsel toward developing community awareness, deliberate
dedication toward fair and impartial policing, and innovative public service
delivery. His involvement in the community was also noted. Chief Lumpkin has
always been dedicated to the mission of a safe community. Under his leadership,
2013 FBI Uniform Crime Reports Part I violent crimes decreased by 10.5 percent
and Part I property crimes decreased 11.4 percent from the previous year. Part
I crime rates continue to shrink and citizen satisfaction surveys have also
risen well above the national averages.
From a police officer assigned to a segregated patrol unit in 1972, to a
visionary leader credited with creating a 21st century professional police
organization, Chief Lumpkin has earned the honor of 2014 GACP Outstanding
Police Chief of the Year.
PUBLIC UTILITIES
Athens Water Festival
Take the plunge at the 5th annual Athens Water Festival! Meet some coastal critters, splash in the spray of a water truck, or get a demo on fly-fishing. Discover the water cycle, remove litter from our waterways, or spin the wheel of Water Truth or Dare. Enjoy the magic of Keith the Magic Man or take a swim in Lake Chapman. These are just a few of the interactive and hands-on displays, games and activities you can do to make water sparkle. This family-friendly event is sure to be dripping with fun, so bring a swimsuit! Open-ended activities mean participants of all ages can enjoy the festival. And don't tell the kids, but most activities meet the Georgia Performance Standards for science. When: September 13, 2014 Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Where: Sandy Creek Park, 400 Bob Holman Road More info: www.athenswaterfestival.com or call 706-613-3729
SOLID WASTE
Leaf and Limb Schedule
Aug 25 - Aug 29 - Zone 1 -Neighborhoods include Shadow Moss, Cedar Creek, Spring Lake, Green Acres, Crestwood, Ashton Place, University Heights, and Clarkdale
Sept 1 - Sept 5 - Zone 2 Neighborhoods include 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, Georgian Hills, McNutt’s Creek, Fox Trace, Brittan Estates, Shoal Creek Farms, Wyndfield, River Oaks, and Plantation Estates
Sept 8 - Sept 12 - Zone 3- Neighborhoods include Weatherly Woods, West Winter, Winter Hills, Oakmont, East Meadow, and all households within Winterville City limits
Sept 15 - Sept 19 - Zone 4- Neighborhoods include Glen Oaks, Holly Hills, Kingswood, Wood Lake, Wickersham Plantation, Stonehenge, Deerfield, Holiday Estates, High Ridge, Woodhaven, Westwood Hills, and Huntington Park
Sept 22 - Sept 26 - Zone 5-Neighborhoods include Chadd's Walk, Quailwood, Rosewood, Rivercliff Estates, Tallassee Oaks, Sedgefield, Hodgson Place, Jefferson Valley, Saxon Woods, Oconee Heights, Camelot, Cardinal Creek, Westgate, and Brittany Place
Sept 29 - Oct 3 - Zone
6 -Neighborhoods include Brittany's Garden, Cherokee Forest,
Country Corners, Fox Hall Farms, and Hidden Lake
For further information please
call 706-613-3501.
International Vulture Awareness Day
Join the ACC Solid Waste Department, Bear Hollow Wildlife Trail, and the Oconee River Audubon Society as they celebrate International Vulture Awareness Day on Saturday, September 6, 2014 from 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM at the ACC Landfill. Vultures are vital to healthy ecosystems and face a range of threats in many areas that they occur. This day will celebrate nature's clean-up crew, the vulture, with the following local activities: bird walks, children's activities, recycling opportunities, tour of the landfill, and a visit from a vulture ambassador. For more information, visit www.athensclarkecounty.com/recycling or call the ACC Recycling Division at (706) 613-3512. This event is a FREE fun, family event!
TRAFFIC ENGINEERING
Red Light Cameras
In order to enhance our red light safety camera program, a camera
system was installed at the intersection of Barnett Shoals Rd and Gaines School
Rd in mid-June. (Another red light camera system is located at the intersection
of W Broad St at Alps Rd/Hawthorne Ave.) On June 13,
officers began a 30-day warning phase at the new location in order to educate
drivers of this new camera.
Due to the fact that this new system was installed after schools were out for
the summer, it has been decided to extend the warning phase until August 15.
This extension will give returning and new students notice of the new system.
The cameras capture still images and video of red light running violations.
Warnings will be mailed to the registered owners of vehicles caught on camera
running the red light. At the end of this extended warning phase, motorists who
disregard the traffic signal will be issued a citation for running the red
light. The fine will be $70 in accordance with the statutory penalty. Cameras
operate 24 hours a day.
The new red light safety cameras are located at the following intersection:
• Southbound Gaines School Road @ Barnett Shoals Road
• Eastbound Barnett Shoals Road @ Gaines School Road
Your
Commissioner,
Jared Bailey
District 5 Commissioner, Athens-Clarke County Unified Government
145 Marsha Court, Athens, GA 30606
706-338-9019, Jared....@athensclarkecounty.com