DeKalb County Commissioners Eye Eliminating CEO

Last year DeKalb County voters approved changes to allow the County Commission to run its own meetings and set its own agenda stripping the CEO of everything except a legislative veto. 

Now a majority of Commissioners say they want to completely eliminate the CEO in favor of a professional county manager.

“We don’t need a CEO,” said Elaine Boyer of north DeKalb, the lone Republican on the commission. “We have seven elected officials who represent the county as a whole, and they could direct a county manager to get things done. It works fine everywhere.”

Lee May, a Democrat from south DeKalb, said he and his colleagues are still frustrated with “how the system is built.” The CEO still controls a lot of crucial information, and it’s not flowing to the commission, May said. “Many of us are just frustrated because we are not getting answers like we should.”

Johns Creek Settles Chicken Lawsuit

Martha Mellon will give away her chickens as part of her settlement the City of Johns Creek.  Mellon sued the City after it cited her for violating the zoning ordinances by raising poultry within 200 feet of a neighboring property line.

Roswell Restricts Smoking In Parks

Roswell City Council passed an ordinance restricting smoking in its public parks to designated areas, but did not delineate the smoking areas.  Instead, the Council charged its Recreation Commission to map out recommended smoking areas for the full Council to approve.

Master Plan for Atlanta’s Poncey-Highlands Neighborhood Unveiled

Atlanta City Councilmember Kwanza Hall and Poncey-Highlands community leaders unveiled the neighborhood’s new master plan, which will be voted on by the Poncey-Higlands Neighborhood Association in December.

You can learn more about the master plan here.

Lilburn Rejects Mosque, Lawsuit Likely

In a 4 to 0 vote the Lilburn City Council denied a rezoning request by the local Muslim congregation of Dar-E-Abbas for a 20,000-square-foot mosque, cemetery and gymnasium on about 8 acres at U.S. 29 and Hood Road.

More than 400 Lilburn residents attended the Council meeting to oppose the expansion of the eleven year Dar-E-Abbas.  The vote will likely not end the dispute.

Doug Dillard, the congregation’s attorney, called the decision “arbitrary and capricious” and plans to file a lawsuit against the city within 30 days.

“The basis of this motion to deny had no basis in fact,” Dillard said. “My recommendation is we file suit and challenge the legality of what the council did tonight.”

Dunwoody To Allow Signs On High-Rise Buildings

The Dunwoody City Council approved changes to its sign ordinance to allow exterior signs above the 12th floor of any building facing a road.

Doraville Rezones GM Plant, Clears Path For Mixed-Use Development

In a 4-2 vote, the Doraville City Commission rezoned the 160-acre former GM Plant site from a manufacturing to a commercial district clearing the way for its envisioned Atlantic Station-style mixed-used development. 

The rezoning ordinance included a restriction against an indoor recreation facility slamming the door on a relocated Atlanta Falcons stadium.

The Commission also rezoned 12 acres adjacent to the GM Plant site to attract education and science-based institutions.

Judge Rules Against Georgia in Tri-State Water Wars

U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson issued his long-awaited decision in the 18-year Georgia-Alabama-Florida water war ruling that Georgia can no longer withdraw water from Lake Lanier.  The decision finds that Georgia’s current withdrawal of water for Atlanta’s water resource violates the intended purpose of Lake Lanier – hydropower and flood control.  The ruling invalidates a 2003 settlement agreement that allocated 25% of Lake Lanier for Atlanta’s drinking water.   Judge Magnuson allows the three states three years to reach an agreement or congressional action.   Hereis a pdf of the Judge’s ruling.

Creative Loafing outlines local and regional reaction. 

Georgia’s entire congressional delegation will meet Tuesday.

Attorney General Exempts State Agencies From Municipal Storm Water Regulations

Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker, who is running for Governor in 2010, issued an opinion that state agencies – particularly the Department of Transportation – do not have to comply with city and county storm water runn-off regulations.

Here is a copy of the Attorney General’s opinion.

The opinion troubles environmentalists and led the Athens Banner-Herald to call for some limits on the state.

Possible Vote On Sembler Project

DeKalb County Development Department will meet June 18 to discuss and possibly vote on Sembler’s request for a 100 percent waiver of property taxes for the next 20 years on most of the acreage of the 54-acre development known as “Town Brookhaven.”