December Newsletter
Jared Bailey
District 5 December 2013 Newsletter
Statesman Quote: “Mothers all want their sons to grow up to be president, but they don't want them to become politicians in the process.” – John F. Kennedy
This newsletter is intended to keep the residents of District 5 informed about community matters. If you are not receiving this newsletter, 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
January 7th - M&C Regular Meeting at 7:00 PM in the Commission Chambers in City Hall
January 14th - M&C Work Session at 5:30 PM in the Planning Department Auditorium
January 21st - Government Operations Committee Meeting at 5:30 PM- room 103 of City Hall
January 21st - Legislative Review Committee Meeting at 5:30 PM in room 303 in City Hall
January 24th - M&C Agenda Setting Meeting at 7:00 PM in Commission Chambers in City Hall
ACC FACT
The average daily water usage for ACC was 9.5 MGD (million gallons per day).
BOARD of ELECTIONS
Voting Precinct Plan
After the last Census the Athens-Clarke County Commission district lines were significantly changed by an Act of the General Assembly. As a result of the sweeping redrawing of district lines and the abolition of the two superdistrict positions, many precincts’ numbers no longer matched the Commission district numbers within which they were located.
In an effort to reduce voter confusion and to account for the growth of early voting the ACC Board of Elections developed a plan to align precincts with Commission district lines. Initially their plan was to have those new precincts in place for elections in 2014. However, during their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, November 5, 2013 the Board of Elections voted to delay the implementation of the 2014 Voting Precinct Plan. This is because recent feedback from state and local election officials indicates that there are some issues with the redistricting component of ElectioNet, the newly implemented statewide voter registration software that would be used to reassign voters to their new precinct locations.
The Board decided that it would wait until after the State of Georgia has had sufficient time to make refinements to this component of the new election software before making changes to voter data in ACC. Due to this delay, the May 20, 2014 General Primary Election will be conducted using the existing precinct boundaries and voters will cast ballots at the election day polling sites that have been in effect for several years. The anticipated In-Person Voting Period (i.e., early voting) for the General Primary Election is April 28 to May 16.
LEISURE SERVICES
Christmas Parade Broadcast
ACTV is broadcasting a video of the 2013 Downtown Athens Parade of Lights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 1:00 a.m., 7:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. through January 5.
The video runs approximately 1 hour and 16 minutes. The video of the parade is available online for on-demand viewing under "Special Events" through www.athensclarkecounty.com/videos or through the Videos button on most pages of the Athens-Clarke County website. The online video is also available for downloading from the website and can be embedded in other websites. It is also viewable on the official Athens-Clarke County YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/accgov.
Tennis Tournament at New Tennis Center
Athens-Clarke County has been chosen to host the Georgia 40 & Over League State Tennis Championship tournament in late May or early June of both 2014 and 2015. This is the first time the UGACC will host a United States Tennis Association (USTA) state adult league championship tournament, which is one of the largest amateur tennis events in the country.
The Clarke-Oconee Tennis Association (COTA) submitted the tournament bid with assistance from UGACC Leisure Services Department staff. The new Tennis Center at Southeast Clarke Park will serve as the main site for the event, with additional sites to include the Athens Country Club, Oconee County High School, Oconee Veterans Park, and Jennings Mill Country Club. UGACC Leisure Services Department staff will provide assistance to COTA to help ensure that Athens-Clarke County’s first Georgia Adult 40 & Over League State Championship tournament is a success.
A minimum of
42 courts at no more than five sites is needed to be considered as a host site.
At the time of the bid, resurfacing of the Bishop Park tennis courts had not
yet been confirmed; therefore, Bishop Park courts will serve as a practice site
(practice sessions are not allowed on tournament courts). The tournament is
expected to attract more than 750 participants to Athens for four days and
three nights. The economic impact upon the local community is estimated at
$337,500 for this type, size, and duration of tournament. Participating hotels
include: the Holiday Inn Express; Courtyard by Marriott; Hilton Garden Inn;
Hampton Inn; Country Inn & Suites; and the Foundry Park Inn & Spa.
COOPERATIVE
EXTENSION
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.
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
MLK Day of Service
ACC Housing and Community Development (HCD) staff assisted Community Connection’s HandsOn Northeast Georgia committee with preparations for the 12th Annual MLK Jr. Day of Service that will take place on January 20th, 2014. Volunteers will have the opportunity to work at one of 30 different project sites along with over 1,000 of their neighbors to fulfill Dr. King's wish for a beloved community. Volunteer registration is now open! Go to www.handsonnortheastgeorgia.org for more info.
POLICE
Catalytic Converter Thefts
In November and December there
have been at least a dozen catalytic converters stolen in Athens from Honda
CRVs (2003 to 2007 models) and Honda Elements (2007 to 2009 models). Earlier
this spring, there were over two dozen incidents reported in the Atlanta area.
These type vehicles are targeted due to the ease of removing the converters. If
you own one of these types of vehicles, please take steps to park your vehicle
in a secure location, use common sense, and follow these tips:
• Always park in well-lit areas
• At shopping centers and other similar parking lots, park close to the
entrance of the building or near the access road where there's a lot of traffic
• If you own or work at a business or factory, park within a fenced area that's
busy during the day and secured at night
• Engrave your license plate number on the converter to make it traceable
• Purchase a vehicle security system and make sure it’s set to trigger with just
the slightest motion
• Visit a local muffler shop and have the converter secured to the vehicle’s
frame with a couple of pieces of hardened steel welded to the frame
• Check out the different types of catalytic converter theft deterrent systems
at your local auto parts store or online
Please forward any suspect information to either Det. Lamar Glenn (West
Property at 706-353-4218
X138) or Det. Ron Mills (East Property at 706-613-3888 X 290).
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over
This holiday season Athens-Clarke County police officers will be out in force cracking down on drunk drivers throughout the Athens area with aggressive Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement. From December 13 through January 1, state and local law enforcement will be watching for drunk drivers to help keep roads safe for holiday travelers.
Officers will be making a lot of traffic stops and initiating
sobriety checkpoints during this highly visible enforcement period. If they
suspect anyone is driving while intoxicated, officers will show zero tolerance
for drunk driving. Unfortunately, the
excitement and celebrations of the holiday season can lead to terrible decisions
and serious legal consequences. Data shows that the holiday season is a
particularly deadly time due to the increased number of drunk drivers on the
roads.
Please follow these tips to keep the holidays safe and happy:
• Even one drink can impair your judgment and increase the risk of getting
arrested for driving drunk - or worse, the risk of having a traffic accident
while driving.
• If you will be drinking, do not plan on driving. Plan ahead - designate a
sober driver before the party.
• If you have been drinking, do not drive. Call a taxi, phone a sober friend/family
member, or use public transportation.
• Be responsible. If someone you know is drinking, do not let that person get
behind the wheel.
• If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact your local law enforcement
agency. Your actions may save someone’s life - inaction could cost a life.
For more information, visit www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov
Holiday Shopping and Safety Tips
If you are Christmas shopping (or anytime for that matter), do not
leave valuables such as cell phones, laptops, wallets, cash, and purses in
plain view. All a thief has to do is to walk up, break the window, grab the
item, and take off. In some cases, the thief does not even have to break a
window – as vehicles are often left unlocked making his/her job even easier.
If you must leave valuables in your vehicle, place them in the trunk before you park. (Thieves watch parking lots. If they see you place items in the trunk, they can pop the trunk also.) If you do not put them in the trunk, at least put them in the back, cover them up, and lock your doors. If, after shopping, you place packages in your vehicle and want to continue shopping, move your vehicle to another location so potential thieves will think you have left and not enter your vehicle after you walk away.
At night, park in well-lighted areas if possible. Dark, out of the way areas
are a thief’s best friend. Try to go shopping with a friend or family member.
As you walk to your vehicle, have your keys out and be ready to unlock the
vehicle. Immediately lock the doors once you enter. If you must place packages
in the vehicle before entering, be aware of your surroundings as you do so. Watch
for persons loitering in parking lots.
This is also the season for
holiday dinners and parties. If you plan to drink alcohol, be cognizant of how
much you drink. Better still, plan to have a designated driver. The best plan
is to not drink and drive. Local and state police will be out in force looking
for impaired drivers.
Home Invasion Robbery M.O.
The Athens-Clarke County Police continue to investigate incidents of home invasion type robberies and/or aggravated assaults, which appear to have common characteristics. Arrests have been made in two instances where both male and female offenders have worked in consort to commit these violent crimes. In both incidents, the victims had an existing association with the female perpetrator. In one instance, female offenders were allowed inside the dwelling by the unsuspecting male victim. The female accomplice gained consensual admittance to the residence and insured the victim was distracted and vulnerable to attack. Once inside the female created a diversion and an opportunity for her male cohorts to enter the residence while the victim was distracted and less likely to defend himself or call for help. In a similar instance, a female knocked on the door and when the victim answered, multiple male offenders rushed inside and attacked the unsuspecting victim. In both of these incidents, the victims were believed by the female accomplices to have drugs or valuables in the residence at the time of the attack.
Don’t be a victim of a crime; for your own safety it is vitally important that
you know and trust individuals that you allow in your home before you open the
door or allow them in. Providing or helping others possess controlled
substances illegally is a crime. Participating in other high-risk behavior
cannot only lead to criminal prosecution, but exposes all participants to
serious injury or even death.
Additionally, individuals who participate in a high-risk behavior such as drug
distribution, drug use, solicitation, and over consumption of alcohol are more
likely to be a victim of violent assault and/or robbery. Don’t allow others to
become victims either. If you see something, say something. Be a good neighbor
and look out for each other. Please call 911 to report all suspicious activity.
More Holiday Safety Tips
During this holiday season many people are ordering online and
having the items delivered to their homes. Packages are also being sent to
people who will not be able to travel and be with other family members. Thieves
are aware of this and they are riding around neighborhoods looking for packages
left at the doors of residences. If you are expecting a delivery and are not
able to be at home at that time, try to have a neighbor or friend watch and
pick up the package for you.
If you plan to leave for the holidays, make sure the doors and windows to your
residence are secured. Close the curtains or blinds. Place valuables out of
sight or, if possible, taken them with you. Have a trusted neighbor or friend
pick up mail and/or papers and watch for unexpected packages that might arrive.
If you leave your vehicle, make sure it is locked with the windows rolled up
and, again, do not leave valuables in plain sight. Take a few minutes to secure
your property. Make sure you have recorded make, model, and serial numbers of
electronics. This information is a great help in recovering your property
should be stolen.
Neighborhood Communication App
There is a new iPhone application that may be of use to your neighborhood group. Nextdoor is a social network for neighbors, letting you post messages, upload photos, blast out crime warnings, find a babysitter, ask for advice on good restaurants and more. Neighbors must verify their addresses and use their real names so everyone gets to know each other, and the service can be accessed on the web as well as through its mobile apps. Check it out at Nextdoor
SOLID WASTE
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.
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.
Leaf and Limb Schedule
Dec 23-27:
Springdale, Milledge Circle, Bedgood, Bloomfield, Dearing, Milledge Terrace,
University Drive, South Milledge Area NOTE:
Solid Waste Department is closed on Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25th.
Dec 30-Jan 3:
Newtown, Boulevard, East Athens, Hospital, Brooklyn, Rocksprings, Hancock. NOTE: Solid Waste Department is closed on New Years Day,
Wednesday, January 1, 2013.
JANUARY 2014
Jan 6-10:
Beechwood, Briarcliff, Homewood Hills, Whitehead Road, Country Club Estates,
Knottingham, Forest Heights Drive
Jan 13-17: Zone 1
Neighborhoods include,
but are not limited to - Shadow Moss, Cedar Creek, Spring Lake, Green Acres,
Crestwood, Ashton Place, University Heights, and Clarkdale.
Jan 20-24: 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.
Jan 27- 31: 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.
ACC Solid Waste Dept. will be closed on Monday,
January 20, 2014 for the MLK Holiday.
For further information regarding zones, please click on the district maps below or call 706-613-3501.
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.
Your
Commissioner,
Jared Bailey
District 5 Commissioner, Athens-Clarke County Unified Government
145 Marsha Court, Athens, GA 30606
706-338-9019,
Jared....@athensclarkecounty.com