Newspaper Page Text
COMMUNITY
Interim DeKalb CEO admits the
county has a lot of work to do
BVMELISSAWEINMAN
melissaweinman@reporternewspapers.net
Interim DeKalb CEO Lee May told
Dunwoody residents that plans are in
place to begin addressing many of the
troubled county’s issues.
“I try to look at what we do through
a business lens,” May said. “Getting up
each and every day to see what we can
do to fix our coun
ty once and for all.”
May was ap
pointed by Gov.
Nathan Deal to fill
the position tem
porarily after CEO
Burrell Ellis was re
moved from office
for allegedly ex
torting county ven
dors for campaign
contributions.
As part of a se
ries of meetings
with constituents
around the county,
May held a town
hall meeting at
Dunwoody United
Methodist Church
on Sept. 5.
He said
DeKalb’s issues
have been over
shadowing the
great things the
county does ev
ery day. “We are a
great county. I tru
ly believe that. But
we haven’t been op
erating great all the
time,” May said.
May said his
priority for the
2014 budget will
be improving pub
lic safety. He said DeKalb County has
had trouble keeping up with the high
level of attrition in the Police, and Fire
and Rescue departments.
“It’s been an unusually high year for
people leaving those two departments,”
May said.
Using the fire department as an ex
ample, May said there are currently
three officers on each fire truck. Howev
er, the optimal staffing level is four fire
men.
There county has authorized 783
fire and rescue positions, and 676 have
funding. However, only 600 are current
ly filled. “We have a 183-position gap,”
May said.
May said he would like for the coun
ty to address the “back door issue” of
public safety officers leaving, and begin
aggressive hiring to replace them.
“I don’t want it to be said we don’t
have the money to do it,” May said.
“We’ve got to make some tough deci
sions to put the money in place to do
just that.”
May also said it’s “an indictment” of
DeKalb County that they so often have
to hire top officials from outside the
county.
“We have to do better to devel
op leadership,” May said. “We want to
keep our leadership
here, keep them
happy ... and give
them the resources
they need.”
Many of Dun-
woody’s elect
ed officials attend
ed the gathering
and commended
May for his perfor
mance so far in his
role as the county’s
top administrator.
Former coun
cilman Danny
Ross asked if May
would consider
giving Dunwoody
the $7 million des
ignated for Brook
Run Park from a
bond referendum.
“We need that
$7 million des
perately to make
it what it can be,”
Ross said. “If you
would get us out
of the court and re
lease that $7 mil
lion to Dunwoody
so we can get the
things done we
need in Brook Run
Park.”
May said he
would like for the
city and county to have an open dia
logue about the issue.
“I’m definitely open to sit down and
have a conversation to what that looks
like,” May said. “Protracted litigation is
something we’ve mastered staying in as
long as we can.”
May said the county’s initial dealings
with the new cities have been messy.
“Our fight has always been about
money versus what’s best for the citizens
of DeKalb County,” he said.
May also talked about his desire to
do away with the CEO position entirely.
“Our form of government was intended
to be checks and balances 30 years ago.
But it hasn’t rang true,” May said.
He said though Dunwoody no lon
ger depends on DeKalb for all of its ser
vices, May said it’s important for the two
jurisdictions to maintain a strong rela
tionship.
“A strong DeKalb means a strong
Dunwoody. I can’t say that enough,”
May said.
“I try to look at what we
do through a business lens.
Getting up each and ev
ery day to see what we
can do to fix our county
once and for all.”
- INTERIM DEKALB CEO LEE MAY
Comprehensive
Womens
Health
State of the art Pelvic 8c Bladder Surgeries
Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery (SLIS)
Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy
daVinci Robotic Surgery
Services offered
» Bio Identical Hormone Therapy
» Office Procedures including Ablation & Essure
» Incontinence Testing & Treatment
» Abnormal Bleeding Treatment
» Hormone Pellet Insertions
» Contraception & Sterilization Procedures
» Annual Exams
» Nutrient Deficiency Screening & Counseling
» Saliva Testing
» Bone Density Testing
» Plus Aesthetic Services
Dr. Lynley S. Durrett grew up in Atlanta, GA. She
received her B.A. degree from Furman University
in Greenville, SC and her medical degree from Mercer
University in Macon, GA. Dr. Durrett has been voted
Atlanta Top Doctor for the past four years.
Introducing Obiamaka Mora, M.D.
Obiamaka Mora, M.D. grew up in Columbus, Ohio. She
received her B.S. degree from Kent State University in Kent,
Ohio and her medical degree from Northeastern Ohio Medical
University in Rootstown, Ohio.
Our practice’s professional expertise includes female pelvic medicine,
pelvic reconstructive surgery, symptomatic fibroid management,
endometriosis, and hormone replacement management.
We are located on the Piedmont Hospital Campus
105 Collier Rd NW, Suite 1080
Atlanta, GA 30309 404-352-2850
www.mcdanielanddurrett.com
DUN
www.ReporterNewspapers.netl SEPT.20 — OCT.3,2013 | 7
