About The champion newspaper. (Decatur, GA) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (March 7, 2019)
LOCAL THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MARCH 7 - 13, 2019 • Page 3 A If you’d like I us to bring fc this presentation * to your community, ■ please contact ^ us at ^ >roptax@dekalbcountyga.£Oj City moves to phase II of annexation plan BY CARLA PARKER carla@dekalbchamp.com The city of Stone Mountain will move forward with its annexation plan. The city council unanimously voted at a Feb. 26 special called meeting to move forward with phase two of a proposal from Nickel Works Consulting on its annexation plan. City Manager ChaQuias Miller-Thornton said city staff received an updated proposal for annexation support services from the consulting firm. “This particular proposal provides the foundation for services such as an annexation start-up plan review,” Miller-Thomton said. “The proposal is estimated at $29,500 for those services, and this will take us through the legislative session until a bill execution by the governor.” In 2016, the Stone Mountain Annexation Task Force recommended a proposed map that would annex 1.6 square miles into the 1.8-square-mile city. The areas being considered include industrial parks along E. Ponce de Leon Avenue, properties along Memorial Drive to North Hairston Road and to Rockbridge Road, and the Walmart at Memorial Drive and North Hairston Road. The proposed annexation would bring the city’s population from an estimated 6,100 residents to more than 9,200. The annexation also would increase the commercial and industrial tax base from 20 to 36 percent. Miller-Thomton said city staff initially determined that this was the route that city council would want to take because of the push by Greenhaven supporters of a bill for the proposed south DeKalb city. Stone Mountain’s annexation plans would have been in jeopardy if a Greenhaven bill had passed the legislative session. Greenhaven’s map includes areas that are in Stone Mountain’s annexation map. “I think one of the driving forces, I know for me personally, with continued annexation this year is the possibility of the new city of Greenhavn forming,” said Mayor Pro Tern Chakira Johnson. “If that new city SEE ANNEXATION ON PAGE 16 New bridge to connect neighborhoods BY TAYLOR ROBINS Taylor@dekalbchamp.com Dunwoody has recently completed construction of a pedestrian bridge that connects Georgetown Community to Perimeter Center. The bridge, completed Feb. 27, is part of the Dunwoody Trailway. Along with a new section of the Dunwoody Trailway, it is expected to open in the coming weeks, according to Dunwoody officials. “By completing this section of the Dunwoody Trailway, we’re one step closer to connecting Brook Run Park to Perimeter Center,” said Dunwoody Parks Director Brent Walker. “The goal is to get people out of their cars so they can walk, run or bike throughout Dunwoody.” The 145-foot bridge was delivered in three pieces and was set in place by a crane. It crosses the North Fork of Nancy Creek near the Georgetown Recreation Club on Old Spring House Lane. According to Dunwoody officials, the total cost of the bridge, boardwalk ramps and walking trail on the Georgetown side of the bridge was $428,572. Perimeter Community Improvement District contributed $200,000 to the bridge’s total cost. City council originally budgeted $600,000 for the project. Townsend at Perimeter Townhomes paid for the trailway on the Perimeter A close view of the newly installed pedestrian bridge in Dunwoody. Photo provided by the city of Dunwoody Center side of the bridge. The bridge goes across the creek and continues behind the new Townsend at Perimeter Townhomes on Perimeter Center East. A future phase of the Dunwoody Trailway will connect this new section to Ashford Dunwoody Road and Perimeter Mall. WELCOME TO ffOMESTE/VPS 101 TajuY&ar VeaMCnes {hr 2019 tk ADvUbl afc Pe&alb Com-ty Tax Commssm&r Xrvm JokmsoYi Tresen+s: Join as at 1 of 6 "FREE presentations hosted throa^hoat the CoamK; to !earn how homeowners, senior citizens, veter ans and disabled veterans ran save i/vioneLj each on their home and car taxes, and be qualified on the spot! Visit oar website to learn more! Please bring the following to see if you qualify for an exemption: ♦ Your valid driver’s license ♦ Your State & Federal income tax forms. www.DeKalbTax.org
