About The champion newspaper. (Decatur, GA) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 19, 2019)
LOCAL THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19 - 25, 2019 • PAGE 5 COUNTY WIDE AMR to continue as DeKalb’s ambulance provider in ‘revamped’ contract BY ASIA ASHLEY Asia@dekalbchamp.com DeKalb County will continue to use American Medical Response as its emergency ambulance service provider despite public criticism of the provider’s response times. After more than one year of working on a contract, DeKalb County Fire Chief Darnell Fullum said the new contract is “revamped” to include an “increase in oversight, more realistic response time expectations, a well-defined penalty section, the ability to create sub-zones, a tiered response system, updated rate structure and expectations for improvement in the system.” “What this comes down to is in 2013, there was a poorly written contract,” said District 7 DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson. “One of the things that fostered that, I feel, is that there [weren’t] graduated service delivery times in terms of the level of service that was needed.” The previous contract had a single performance number of eight minutes and 59 seconds for at least 90 percent of the time for all calls. The updated contract, Fuller explained, entails response time requirements in three groups. Priority 1-3 calls, deemed the most severe emergencies, are expected to have a response time of 11 minutes and 59 seconds or less; Three additional minutes are added to Priority 4 calls; and Priority 5 calls, considered non-emergency, have a response time of 29 minutes and 59 seconds or less. District 3 DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson said some DeKalb cities have their own systems for getting calls to county’s 911 system that could affect response times. He added that unpredictable traffic and accidents can also impact response times. Fullum responded that no more than 10 percent of response times should be delayed due to traffic or other factors, as part of the new contract. This year, the county implemented several components to help decrease response times. Ten rapid response vehicles— smaller and less expensive units equipped with fire extinguishing capabilities as SEE AMR ON PAGE 8 Lithonia begins search for new police chief BY JAY PHILLIPS Jay@dekalbchamp.com Lithonia is looking for a new police chief just more than a year after the city hired its last police chief, Annette Williams. As The Champion reported earlier, Williams became DeKalb County Police Department’s first Black female lieutenant and the first Black female captain of a unit. Williams also became the first female police chief of Lithonia Police Department when she was hired Oct. 15, 2018. However, Williams has taken a position in another field, according to Lithonia City Administrator Lathaydra Sands. “[Williams] got a job offer that she couldn’t refuse,” Sands said. In the meantime, Interim Police Chief Barren Newton has stepped into the role, but Newton plans to go back into retirement once the city hires its new police chief, Sands explained. Lithonia is looking for someone to implement long-term and short-term goals and who is P.O.S.T certified. According to gapost. org, the goal of the Georgia Peace Officers Standard and Council Training is “to provide the citizens of Georgia with qualified, professionally trained, ethical and competent peace officers and criminal justice professionals.” Williams told The Champion that her goals included strengthening the relationship between law enforcement and the residents of Lithonia while finding ways to get more officers on duty. Sands said Lithonia plans to fill the opening by February. PUBLIC NOTICE - CITY OF TUCKER 2020 MEETINGS All of the meetings listed below will be held at the time indicated at the Tucker Annex Building, 4228 First Ave Suites 2 4 in Tucker, GA in the Council Chambers. City Council Meetings: Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Mtg: Community Council Meeting: Zoning Board of Appeals Mtg: Planning Commission Meeting: 7:00 PM 6:30 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM JAN 14 JAN 6 JAN 8 JAN 21 JAN 23 JAN 27 FEB 10 FEB 3 FEB 12 FEB 18 FEB 27 FEB 24 MAR 9 MAR 2 MAR 11 MAR 17 MAR 26 MAR 23 APR 13 APR 6 APR 8 APR 21 APR 23 APR 27 MAY 11 MAY 4 MAY 13 MAY 19 MAY 28 MAY 26 JUN 8 JUN 1 JUN 10 JUN 16 JUN 25 JUN 22 JUL 13 JUL 6 JUL 8 JUL 21 JUL 23 JUL 27 AUG 10 AUG 3 AUG 12 AUG 18 AUG 27 AUG 24 SEP 14 SEP 21 SEP 9 SEP 15 SEP 24 SEP 28 OCT 13 OCT 5 OCT 14 OCT 20 OCT 22 OCT 26 NOV 9 NOV 2 NOV 10 NOV 17 NOV 19 NOV 23 DEC 14 DEC 7 DEC 9 DEC 15 DEC 17 N/A The Mayor and City Council will hold a Work Session Meeting at 5:30 PM on the City Council Meeting Dates and location listed above. An Executive Session may be held by the Mayor and City Council or the DDA for the purpose of real estate, litation and/or personnel. City of Tucker 2019 Report on Projects Funded Through Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (as required by OCGA 48-8-122) SPLOST V Projects Year Approved Original and Current Estimated Cost Amount Expended Prior Year Amount Expended Current Year Total Amount Expended to Date Project Completed This Year Estimated Completion Date Project Behind Schedule Project Underfunded Excess Funds Roads & Drainage 2017 $19,500,000 $ 36,860 $ 2,853,959 $ 2,890,819 No 2024 No No 4 - Multi Modal Improvements 2017 $ 6,000,000 4 $ 251,070 $ 251,070 No 2024 No No 4 Park and Recreation Facilities 2017 $ 4,500,000 $ $ 172,321 $ 172,321 No 2024 No No $ TOTAL $30,000,000 $ 36,860 $ 3,277,350 $ 3,314,210
