Tom Hogan Opposes New City of Brookhaven

Over the past several months I have been asked what I think about the proposed City of Brookhaven, and until now I have been mute on the topic.  As a citizen of Chamblee, I have been a part of a city for the past 10 years, and as a member of Chamblee’s City Council, I have given the concept of self-determination and Home Rule more thought than the average citizen.  I support the philosophy of Home Rule as one of the key foundations of American governance, and in that light I support anyone that wishes to organize with their neighbors to form a city.

I don’t want to say that my support is conditional, but as the concept of the City of Brookhaven has taken shape, the effort seems to have moved far away from the concept of self-determination, and become a commercial tax base “land grab” in effort to provide economic justification to support the efforts of a small number of people in the study-area.

I live in the part of Ashford Park that also lies in the city limits of Chamblee, so I often feel that I have one foot in Chamblee and the other in Brookhaven. Also, as someone who has been extremely involved in our community, few know as well as I the brand inequity between Chamblee and Brookhaven.  Never mind the recent Atlanta Magazine cover article naming “Bramblee” as one of the top 5 neighborhoods in Atlanta.  While Chamblee continues to see positive movement in the eyes of those in the Metro area, I believe Brookhaven enjoys the benefit of being a top-tier brand in the entire Metro area (on par with Vinings, but not quite Buckhead or Dunwoody).  As such, with localized services, I am sure incorporating as Brookhaven would strengthen/increase property values. 

However, as a policy maker, I view the situation a little differently.  I am a true believer of efficient and effective delivery of government services.  Taking the “name” out of the equation, I think forcing the creation of a city where there are really only neighborhoods is not the best choice to make.  Moreover, the notion of a rallying around a brand name to me is short-sighted and presents a false sense of political representation.  I don’t think it represents the foundation that an area needs to truly grow long-term.  I believe any argument boasting a resulting increase in property values is short-sighted and harshly underestimates the value of a 3-minute 911 response time.

If the residents of the unincorporated area want to produce a truly powerful result from this summer’s activities, with leverage at the Capitol and access to state resources for real economic development and improved public spaces, I think they should envision the long-term benefits of a larger City of Chamblee, with new found political influence to parallel other Metro Area cities, instead of potentially duplicating a government administration that is already in place, resulting is 2 relatively less significant DeKalb cities.

I am not suggesting that I have a perfect solution, and this letter to the editor cannot possibly approach the many topics this raises with the depth they deserve, however, I want to put my position on the record.  While annexing a new area almost always brings a short-term financial burden to the “old area”, I also currently believe that the City of Chamblee would benefit greatly in the long-term by being a bit larger, and I would currently support an effort to that end.

I welcome your thoughts.

Thomas Hogan
thogan@chambleega.com

Chamblee Business Association Releases Roundtable Summary

The Chamblee Business Association hosted a Economic Development Roundtable at its July General Meeting.  The Roundtable was part of the City of Chamblee's continuing process to update it's Comprehensive Development Plan.

Chamblee City Council voted in December of 2010 to budget the funds necessary to produce a Major Amendment to the CDP due to the recent annexation, the changing economic climate, and the requirement that an update be provided to the 2006 document.

The summary of the Chamblee Economic Development Roundtable has been prepared by Pond & Co., and is available on the Chamblee Business Association website.

You can view the report at the site: 
http://chambleebusinessassocia​tion.com/economic-development-​roundtable-discussion/

YOUR ACTION NEEDED
Please read the report and voice your opinion.  Comments can be left on the CBA site.  The more comments, the more value!

Chamblee Fireworks Make-up Date Announced

The City of Chamblee has announced on the Parks and Recreation Facebook Page that the City's fireworks display and festivities will be made up on Saturday, July 9.   Music and food vendors will start at 7:30 with fireworks at dark.  For more information about this event, you are encrouraged to call Chamblee City Hall at 770-986-5010.

See you at Keswick!

New Wine Shop Opens in Chamblee

From NeighborNewspaper.com, Nneka M. Okona (nokona@neighbornewspapers.com)

A new nook for vino lovers has opened its doors.  Le Caveau, at 5256 Peachtree Road in Chamblee, opened May 28.  The namesake of the wine shop is French for vault, the essence of what the shop hopes to become: a gold mine of fine wines to add to patrons’ cellars.

“We focus on Old World and natural wines, which translates into an European-dominated shop,” said Daniel Crawford, who handles wine sales and consulting. “Right now we have about 240 bottles and we are growing to have 400.”  Domestic wine selections are also available, along with some South American wines. South African wines will come in soon, Crawford said. Tote bags, decanters, polish cloths, reference books and wine glass charms are also available for purchase.

The business began as a result of a collection co-owner Eric Brown had formed. Brown began to collect wine a decade ago.  Brown and his wife Carrie, approached Crawford in November about starting Le Caveau.  “We have been hanging out and drinking wine together for a long time,” said Crawford. “We always kidded around about opening a restaurant or barbecue joint.”

The Browns reside in Chamblee, so opening there was a no-brainer.  “They live five minutes from the shop,” said Crawford. “That is what the business is about, serving the local economy and building a business within their own neighborhood.”

Bottles at Le Caveau start as low as $9.99.  “Within the world of wine, if you look hard enough, you can find very beautiful wines that are made naturally and are affordable,” said Crawford.

Le Caveau is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Information: (770) 837-0710.

Town Brookhaven to open Gallery

CALLING AREA WOMEN PHOTGRAPHERS

Town Brookhaven has asked Gretchen Roberts, President of the Brookhaven Arts Alliance, to use one of their retail spaces at the development to create a gallery. She is working with "Women In Focus" to create an exhibit celebrating women in photography. If you are an aspiring amateur or a professional photographer in the area, you are encouraged to contact Gretchen at gretchen.roberts@sembler.com.

They are planning an exhibit for October, in conjunction with Atlanta Celebrates Photography.  Please let her know if you are interested in helping work the gallery during the month of October.

Chamblee Business Association June Meeting

Chamblee Business Association June Meeting

The Chamblee Business Association celebrates local education in June by welcoming Dr. Rochelle Lowery, principal at Chamblee Charter High School, and Dr. Lashawn McMillan, principal at Cross Keys High School. Both schools serve the CBA designated area, and are experiencing major physical facilities projects, and surges in test scores.  Dr. McMillan will update us on the renovation projects and new career and technology programs added to the Cross Keys curriculum, while Dr. Lowery will give us updates on the construction project of the new Chamblee Charter High School. Learn about the exciting academic achievements of both schools that continue to make our community proud.

 

The June meeting will also highlight this year's Harris Scholarships winners. The Harris Scholarship is awarded annually to 2 high achieving Seniors (one each from Cross Keys High School and Chamblee Charter High School), with exemplory records of community service. The Chamblee Business Association is proud to award this year's Harris Scholarships to Trevor Alexander from Chamblee Charter High School, and Saadia Qadeer from Cross Keys High School.

The Chamblee Business Association is supported through memberships. Meetings are open to the public, and all are encouraged to attend. The meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at the Chamblee Civic Center, located at 3540 Broad St. Chamblee, GA 30341. Doors open at 7:30am and the program begins at 8:00am. There is no charge for first-time guests, returning guest are $10, and members are $5. A continental breakfast will be served.

www.chambleebusinessassociation.com

Be a Part of the Visioning Process for The City of Chamblee

The City of Chamblee announces important meetings for citizens and area residents. Throughout the summer of 2011, the City of Chamblee will be holding meetings to allow for the community to participate in a Major Amendment to the City’s Comprehensive Plan.

What is a Comprehensive Plan?
The Comprehensive Plan is a road map for the future. This official public document provides long range policy guidance for land use, transportation, economic development, housing, public facilities, and intergovernmental agreements. It serves as a guide for elected and public officials by providing the framework for evaluating development proposals. Some consider the Comp Plan the “will of the City”.

Why is Chamblee conducting a Major Amendment to the Comp Plan?
In 2006 Chamblee prepared a complete update of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Since then, the area has undergone sever economic change and significant growth through the recent annexation of surrounding area. It is the goal of Chamblee’s City Council to have one plan that represents the vision of our entire city.

What will the Comp Plan Amendment process include?
• Assessment of the newly annexed area (data collection, analysis, issues and opportunities)
• Community meetings focused on the needs of Community Members and The Businesses Community
• City-wide data collection and assessment of economic climate relevant for updating the Economic
Development component of the Comprehensive Plan
• Consideration for existing and potentially new Character Areas
• Prepare amendments according to results and present amendments for review and adoption
• An update to the Short Term Work Program

Who Should Get Involved?
City Residents, Area Neighbors, Business Owners, Business Managers, Service Providers, Land Owners, and Real Estate Professionals, Educators, and Developers.

Where Can I Get a Copy of the Current Comprehensive Plan?
A copy of Chamblee’s Comprehensive Plan can be found on the City’s website at http://www.chambleega.com/client_resources/departments/development/Comprehensive%20Plan.pdf

How Can I Participate?
Please read the Comp Plan and bring your ideas and recommendations for change to one of the planned meetings. The meetings are being conducted by Pond & Co., the City’s contracted City Planner. All questions about the Amendment process should be directed to Michelle Alexander at alexanderM@pondco.com. Any questions about the City of Chamblee can be directed to Niles Ford, PhD, Chamblee City Manager at 770-986-5010.

Schedule:

Community Meeting - June 23, 2011 - 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Chamblee Civic Center, 5480 Broad St., Chamblee, GA 30341

Business Community Roundtable - July 21, 2011 - 8:00am to 10:00am
Chamblee Civic Center, 5480 Broad St., Chamblee, GA 30341

Council Vision Workshop - August 2011 - Details TBD
Public Hearing for submitted plan August 11, 2011 - Detials TBD
Work Session September 15, 2011 - Details TBD

New Wine Shop Opening In Chamblee

Grand Opening

Saturday, May 28th

Le Caveau, a new fine wine shop in Chamblee, is holding its Grand Opening this Saturday, May 28th, from 11:00-8:00.

Press Release:
Le Caveau Fine Wines carries a unique selection of wines to suit every budget. We've been busy tasting wines from across the world since last Fall and have curated an amazing selection of artisanal wines, most not widely available in the Atlanta market. While our focus is primarily on European wines, we also carry a fine selection of New World gems for you to choose. We are very excited to offer these wines to you at amazing prices! Le Caveau literally translates to "vault," and that is just what we have created here at 5256 Peachtree, a vault of wines for you to enjoy or add to your cellar.

Come check out our newly opened wine shop! We will have an eclectic selection of wines open for you to taste paired with artisanal cheeses from the Thomasville, Georgia based Sweet Grass Dairy Farms along with a tasty selection of house-cured meats from Atlanta's own Pine Street Market.

Le Caveau also carries a unique selection of decanters and wine glass cleaning supplies, as well as several great wine reference books not typically found in Atlanta. We also have an array of wine totes, aerators, corkscrews, cocktail napkins and other items that are necessities for all those with a passion for wine. We are your one-stop shop for great gifts for wine lovers.

We look forward to seeing you Saturday. We are located at 5256 Peachtree Rd., Ste. 102, (Chamblee, GA 30341) across the street from the Chamblee Marta station.

La Caveau can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LeCaveauWine

2011 Taste of Chamblee Introduces Poster Art Contest

 

The 4th Annual Taste of Chamblee Festival will award three prizes to poster contest entrants this year. All three winners’ artwork will be produced as posters for display at City Hall and the 4th of July Celebration. The grand prize winner will be used for marketing for the festival.

Winner to be announced at Chamblee 4^th of July Event (Keswick Park)

Grand Prize Winner: The grand prize winner will be selected by the Festival's Visual Art Committee. The winning artist will receive a cash prize from the Festival in the amount of $200, a featured blog post on the Festival's website at thetasteofchamblee.com, 3 Taste of Chamblee Festival t-shirts, and 10 printed copies of his/her poster.

Second Place Winner: The second place winner will be selected by the Festival's Visual Art Committee. The winning artist will receive a cash prize from the Festival in the amount of $100, a featured blog post on the Festival's website at thetasteofchamblee.com, 3 Taste of Chamblee Festival t-shirts, and a framed copy of his/her poster.

Third Place Winner: The third place winner will be selected by the Festival's Visual Art Committee. The winning artist will receive will receive festival foodtickets for the day of the Festival in the amount of $75, a Taste of Chamblee t-shirt, and a framed copy of his/her poster.

Contest Timeline

June 17:  Deadline for entries
July 4:  Winners announced at the City of Chamblee 4th of July Celebration
July 10:  All winners posted on www.thetasteofchamblee.com website and displayed at City Hall until the festival

Rules and Guidelines
The winning artwork will creatively represent The Taste of Chamblee Festival’s mission to connect the community to the arts and culture in Chamblee.
• All artwork must be original.
• Artwork must proportional to and no smaller than 11 inches wide by 14 inches tall.
• All entries should be in completed and finished form and the artist’s name and telephone number written on the back of the entry.  Artwork may be signed but not matted.
• All mediums will be considered: watercolor, photography, pen and ink, oil, collage, acrylics and digital image. If sending a digital image please include a print out and a file (EPS or JPEG) on CD or DVD. Files unable to be opened will not be taken into consideration. If you have a question please contact the email address below.  No entries will be accepted via email.
• Artwork must prominently incorporate the Taste of Chamblee Festival logo. The logo can be recreated or stylized to match your artwork but must be recognizable and prominent.  A position can be designated for the use of the digital logo and will be added. Go to www.thetasteofchamblee.com to download the logo.
• Do not include the Festival dates, locations, website, in the artwork. This information will be added by the Festival outside the dimensions of the artwork.
• Final winning poster will be printed in full color.

For More Information Please Contact

Jim Loser, President of Chamblee Alliance for Art & Culture
Phone: 404-786-4576
e-mail: jim@engagevision.com

For more information about the festival visit our website www.thetasteofchamblee.com

Chamblee 5K This Saturday (4/23) !!!

(Reposted from City of Chamblee Web Site)

INFO:  jrackley@chambleega.com

Chamblee Race and Rotary Roll

Course Description:


The City of Chamblee is proud to offer its 2nd annual road race for all abilities! On Saturday, April 23, starting and finishing at Peachtree DeKalb Airport, participants have a choice of a 5K route through Chamblee’s downtown & mid-city district or 1K route around one of PDK’s runways!

There is ample parking at the airport.

All entrants receive our colorful race shirt as well as plenty of food, fluids, and music at our famliy fun area in a hangar sponsored by Epps Aviation!

Lots of kids activities and a visit from the Easter Bunny makes this a great event for the whole family! Start time is 8:30am!

REGISTRATION: Early entry fee is $20. Race day registration and any entries postmarked after Monday, April 18 is $25. Race packets may be picked up on race day. NEW AGE DIVISIONS: Awards to the overall male & female and the top three finishers in the following age groups will receive awards: 10 & under, 11-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70 & over.
04/23/2011
Resident's Fee: $20.00
Non-Resident's Fee: $20.00

Chamblee Spring Camp Announced

(forwarded from City of Chamblee)

Spring Break is just three weeks away; do you have plans for your children?


We have two fun camps to offer this year. First is our Camp Chamblee Day Camp which is an all day camp for children ages 6-12 offering sports, games, arts & crafts, and a field trip to Atlanta 300 Bowling! Camp Chamblee costs just $60 for City of Chamblee residents and $90 for non-residents. This is for the whole week April 4-8!! Camp Chamblee runs from 8:30am-3:30pm with drop off starting at 7:30am and pickup running until 6:00pm. Camp is held in the Community Building at Keswick Park (3496 Keswick Dr.)

Our other option is CFC East Soccer Camp. This camp will be run on our Keswick Park Soccer Field from 9am-12pm during Spring Break. This camp is open to children ages 5-14 and is run by certified soccer coaches! It is a great opportunity for kids to improve their skills or learn some new ones! CFC Soccer Camp is $100 for the week and the registration form is attached.

YOU CAN DO BOTH! If your child wishes to attend the soccer camp but a half day camp is difficult for your schedule, we can arrange for one of our Camp Chamblee counselors to pick them up after soccer camp and join the day camp for the remainder of the day. If you choose this option, we will charge you just half price for Camp Chamblee (in addition to the $100 soccer camp fee.)

I do need to make sure I have enough staff on hand for Camp Chamblee, so if you are planning on signing up for our Spring Break Camp, please do so soon to enable me to hire my counselors in time!

Please feel free to call or e-mail with any questions!

Jennifer Rackley, Recreation Coordinator
jrackley@chambleega.com
770-986-5016

Annexation Discussion Not Over for Brookhaven

From the Dunwoody Crier
(By Rebecca Chase Williams)

State representatives Mike Jacobs (R-North DeKalb) and Tom Taylor (R-Dunwoody) introduced legislation Tuesday to “create a path to annexation” for parts of North DeKalb to become part of the city of Dunwoody. House Bill 428 allows cities formed after 2008 (Dunwoody) to be able to annex nearby areas by simply drawing up a plan, holding public hearings, and passing a referendum on the proposal.

“There is enough interest in a possible annexation to open discussions,” Jacobs told The Crier. “It is time for someone to lead this discussion forward. I certainly intend to play a role in helping that to happen.”

Jacobs said the interest stems from increasing discontent with DeKalb county government: rising tax bills, fewer services, inefficient government and a lack of confidence that things are going to get better at the county.

A committee hearing on the proposed bill is expected to be held in the coming week, but Jacobs is optimistic that while there might be some opposition from members of the DeKalb delegation, he has the support of the Georgia Municipal Association and the Association of City and County Governments, mainly because the bill is limited to the city of Dunwoody. Jacobs said he is considering amending his bill to give North DeKalb residents the option of annexation to Chamblee as well since some neighborhoods abut that city and are interested in being part of that municipality.

“The main point that needs to get across is that there would be three options: a new city of Brookhaven, annexation to Dunwoody or Chamblee, or a combination of all three, “ said Jacobs. The state representative who lives near Harts Mill Road said his goal is to start the discussion, that his bill only creates “a path to annexation.”.

“You have to put the mechanism in place before you travel down that road. My plan is to have a core group in the next few months to start the conversation about where we are going to be city wise, “ explained Jacobs, who added that there is a big gap between interest in annexation and a fully vetted plan.

Options that have been discussed include expanding the city of Dunwoody, south of the current border at I-285, to include Perimeter Summit or the rest of the PCID, going as far south as Wieuca Road or even Peachtree Road. That would include neighborhoods like Murphey Candler (including the park), West Nancy Creek, Byrnwyck, and the neighborhoods around Silver Lake including Hampton Hall, Cambridge Park, Brittany.

Dunwoody officials say any plan would have to be thoroughly researched. Mayor Ken Wright said the council has not discussed this possibility,

“I do know that Representative Jacobs says he has been getting a stronger and stronger message from residents that they want more local control of their community. If there is a desire of these areas to join the city of Dunwoody, it would be something that needs to be studied and looked at by myself, council and our community.”

Jacobs is scheduled to speak to the Murphey Candler Homeowners’ this month about the potential annexation, and plans to schedule larger community meetings once the bill is voted on this session. If the bill is passed, if there is enough interest and a specific plan can be drawn up, residents could vote within the year to move from unincorporated DeKalb County to a municipality.

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Chamblee Police Update 3/3/11

From Captain Beller, Chamblee Police Department


Homicide- March 21 7:45 pm 2175 Savoy Drive - I am sure most of you heard about the fatal shooting in the parking lot of the 300 Atlanta Bowling Alley. To update you on the investigation, the shooter has been released without charges because he was being robbed and shot in self defense. Antwan Milton, who planned the robbery along with John Williams (the decedent) has been charged with Armed Robbery and Murder. Milton was apprehended Tuesday night by members of the Dekalb Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Squad.
http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/botched-robbery-led-to-847966.html

Fatal Accident- A pedestrian who stepped onto Savoy drive was struck and killed by a vehicle.
http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/pedestrian-killed-in-chamblee-855126.html?cxtype=rss_news_82007

Burglary- 3700 block of Chamblee Dunwoody Rd. A resident returned to his house to find the back door had been forced open and several valuable items had been taken. --As far as I know, this is the only burglary to a house we have had in over a month, which is a significant decline from previous numbers. Keep calling about suspicious activity and looking out for your neighbors.

Local Club Shut Down-The Mist Lounge on Savoy Drive was investigated by agents of the Ga Dept of Revenue-Alcohol Division along with Chamblee Detectives. The establishment was selling alcohol without a state license and was also unlawfully selling tobacco products without a license. The owner was arrested and all alcohol products were confiscated. This location is not allowed to sell alcohol or tobacco products at this time.

Crime Prevention Tip:

Flim-Flams-The term flim-flam basically describes some sort of con or ruse that is used to trick people out of their money. Often these people target the elderly or the naive. There are so many different cons out there that it is impossible to describe them all, but it is helpful to be aware of a few. Most of these cons work either because of the victim’s greed or the victim’s charity. Often the victims are too embarrassed to report these incidents to the police.

1. The “found money” scam is often used in a bank parking lot. The perpetrator will pretend to find a lot of money often wrapped in a bag or bandanna in the presence of the victim. Then these two are approached by a second perpetrator who pretends not to know the first. Together they “decide” to check with the bank if anyone lost the money and if not to split it three ways. The victim will then give them cash so they know they can trust him while he holds the money bag. They then leave with the victim’s cash and he discovers the money bag has been switched for newspapers.

2. Another scam involves someone who claims to have a fortune they need your help to import or clear customs or transport. Of course they need a small amount of your cash so they know they can trust you.

3. If you ever travel internationally, you may be approached by someone who claims to be on your flight but who has too much luggage. They will pay you to claim one of their overweight bags. If you take the bait you have now become a “drug mule” and if caught might spend years in an overseas prison.

4. Last year someone successfully used a “you’ve won the lottery” scam in Chamblee. The victim was told that her mega millions lotto ticket was the winning numbers. The perpetrator agreed to help her collect the winnings for a fee. She gave him about $8,000 in cash and jewelry and he disappeared.

5. An elderly person receives a call at home from someone who claims to be “their favorite grandson.” The voice doesn’t match but the young man claims to be in jail and desperately needs bond money to get out. He says some friends will come over to pick up the money and bond him out. Of course, you know the rest.

6. The last one is similar in nature but is not exactly a crime. The victim is approached by a fast talking young man who claims to work for a high end stereo company. He is usually driving a white van and claims to have received excess inventory of the latest top of the line stereo speakers in error. He can’t take these back to the dealer because they aren’t on the manifest. These are claimed to be worth several thousands of dollars and the brand names are similar to a recognized brand name. The salesman is very excited about the product and will say something like ---“these have molybdenum tweeters and nymdium drivers!!! The victim can’t pass up a “steal” on these top of the line speakers and pays for speakers he later discovers are worth about a quarter of what he paid for them. If you see these guys in Chamblee, call the police. We can’t arrest them for selling cheap products but in the past I have written them tickets for conducting business without a license.

To avoid these scams a good amount of suspicion towards strangers is a good thing. Always be suspicious of someone who claims to be clergy, even if he has a clerical collar or documents to “prove it.” Often two people who pretend to be strangers actually are in the scam together. Be charitable through recognized official charities like the Salvation Army or the United Way or your local church. Being charitable to people that approach you on the street is either a con or at a minimum means you are encouraging them to beg other strangers for money. Here is a web site that has more information on this kind of thing ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_confidence_tricks

Chamblee Business Association To Present 2011Program/Event Showcase

For Immediate Release


The Chamblee Business Association will use its March General Meeting to give attendees a chance to get involved and get answers. Come and meet the Board of Directors, learn about the various committees, and hear how businesses and residents can get involved.

The program is scheduled to include presentations that highlight the CBA’s education initiatives, membership promotions, upcoming events, and how membership dues are put to great use.

For the past several years, the Chamblee Business Association, formerly known as the Chamblee Area Business and Professional Coalition, has given a scholarship to graduating seniors from Chamblee High School and Cross Keys High School. The scholarships are given to students that exemplify citizenship both inside the classroom through proven dedication to their studies, as well as outside the classroom through community service activities.

Complementing the State of the City Address by the Mayor of Chamblee, the CBA is very proud to sponsor a schedule of special events, including the 2011 Award of the Harris Scholarships, The 2011 Taste of Chamblee Fall Festival, and our annual can food drive, which netted almost 5,000 cans in December of 2010.

Over the past 3 years, the Chamblee Business Association has become an important source for news that may impact local businesses. From educational presentations and community events to notifications about government affairs, the CBA has proven to be a reliable source of good and relevant information.

The Chamblee Business Association is supported through memberships. Meetings are open to the public, and all are encouraged to attend. The meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at the Chamblee Civic Center, located at 3540 Broad St. Chamblee, GA 30341. Doors open at 7:30am, and the program begins at 8:00am. There is no charge for first-time guests, returning guest are $10, and members are $5. A centennial breakfast is served.

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Chamblee City Manager Finalists Announced

(From City of Chamblee)

On February 28, 2011, the Chamblee City Council selected two finalists in their search for a new city manager.  Those finalists are Gary Adams, Village Administrator of Oswego, Illinois; and Niles Ford, Ph.D., Fire Chief of Lincoln, Nebraska.

The City retained the services of Colin Baenziger & Associates to conduct a national search to fill the position vacated by former city manager Jim Gleason last November. The firm received 107 applications and recommended nine to the City for further consideration. The City Council narrowed the list to five and invited them to interviews on February 26th and 28th.

The City Council anticipates selecting the next city manager at their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday evening, March 15, 2011. That meeting will be held at 7:30 pm in the Chamblee Civic Center located at 3540 Broad Street.

The resumes of the two candidates are available on the City of Chamblee’s web site at http://www.chambleega.com/.

As required by state law, a copy of all documents in the possession of the City of Chamblee regarding the two finalists is available at City Hall for public inspection during normal business hours.

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Mayor Clarkson Suggests Tax Rate May Come Down

(from the Brookhaven Reporter)

2/24


If all goes well, the city of Chamblee may be able to reduce its tax rate this year, Mayor Eric Clarkson said in his “State of the City” message.


“My hope is that the millage number can come down,” Clarkson told members of the Chamblee Business Association on Feb. 17. “It’s a shame we’ve had to balance our budget on the backs of our property owners. I think it’s time for it to come back down.”

Clarkson said the city historically had imposed a tax rate of about 5 mills, but that in recent years the rate had risen to cover city costs. The millage now is 7.95, he said. Taxes are calculated by multiplying a property’s assessed value by the millage. A new city tax millage will be set in May or June, the mayor said.

Chamblee city officials may be able to reduce the millage, he said, because the city is rebuilding its reserves to acceptable levels. In recent years, the reserves had fallen to near zero, he said, but this year the city’s reserves reached $1.7 million.

The budget projects revenues of about $13.7 million and expenditures of about $13 million, he said, meaning the city can add about $700,000 to its reserves. Clarkson said the total could still be below the amount city officials would want to keep in reserve funds. He said the reserve should equal about a quarter of the operating budget.

“One thing the city of Chamblee has always done is be fiscally responsible,” Clarkson said after the speech. “We intend to keep it that way.”

Clarkson said the annexation that took effect Jan. 1 will increase the population of the city by about 50 percent, to about 18,000 from about 12,000. The area annexed increases the size of the city to about 5 square miles from about 3.5 square miles, he said.

The city added 12 police officers, four communication officers and employees in public works in order to provide services to the area, he said. The city now has 104 employees, he said.

Residents of the annexed area began getting city services except garbage pickup on Jan. 1. The city contracted with DeKalb County to continue garbage pickups in the area for up to three years.

Atlanta Gas Light to Stay in Chamblee

(reposted from Citybizlist.com)

Parkside Partners, LLC (member of the Chamblee Business Association) a Chamblee based development and brokerage firm, sold a building it owned in Chamblee, Georgia to AGL Resources that will serve as the new location of the gas company's Peachtree Service Center. Parkside has been hired to AGL to handle the redevelopment of the building.


The sale to AGL closed on Dec. 29 for a purchase price of $2.98 million. Parkside Partners' principal, Kyle Jenks, represented RP Partners and Jim Sanders of ICON Commercial represented AGL.

The renovation of the 20,500 square foot building, located (just two blocks from the intersection of Broad and Peachtree, and) one-half mile from the former Doraville GM Plant, will include a complete interior upgrade, exterior improvements, and new landscape and sidewalks with streetlights and street-trees (according to the City of Chamblee's streetscape plan).

The renovations are scheduled to start in March, and the Peachtree Service Center employees will occupy the building by the end of June. The center will bring more than 50 jobs to the area, and has a total capital budget of $4 million.

RP Partners, a partnership between Parkside Partners and RACO General Contractors, acquired the building in March 2008. When Ingersoll Rand, which had leased and occupied the building the past 10 years decided to relocate when its lease expired, Parkside approached AGL about acquiring and completing an adaptive re-use of the building and 2.8 acre site.

The AGL Building redevelopment is the latest of several development projects Parkside Partners worked on in Chamblee. Parkside's other Chamblee developments include 3401 Malone, a warehouse Parkside converted into a loft office space for WGSI, a division of URS Corporation, and 5256 Peachtree, another converted loft office building where Parkside relocated its offices and has attracted ten additional tenants.

Chamblee police Officer Robert Tink will be missed

By Rick Badie of the The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Chamblee police Officer Robert Tink whistled when he went to work. He did whatever he was asked to do on his shift, and if told to do something once, the patrol officer figured the job was his for the duration.

"He was extremely motivated and always in a great mood," said Capt. Michael Beller, Tink's field training officer. "He would come in and do all the things the other officers didn't want to do, such as go get prisoner meals, feed prisoners and do transports from other counties. He had a servant's heart."

Family photo A funeral for Chamblee police Officer Robert "Bob" Everett Tink of Stone Mountain will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday in the chapel of A.S. Turner & Sons.

On Feb. 2, Robert "Bob" Everett Tink of Stone Mountain was in the gym working out when he experienced chest pains. He was transported to St. Joseph's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He was 67. A funeral will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday in the chapel of A.S. Turner & Sons, which is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Tink was born in Montclair, N.J., an only child. Before he became a police officer, he was a certified public accountant who spent years working in the software and computer industry.

The Green Beret served two years in Vietnam with the U.S. Army's 5th Special Forces Group. He was awarded the combat infantryman badge and Bronze Star. He belonged to two Special Forces Association chapters, No. 33 in Cleveland, Tenn., and No. 59 in Atlanta.

As member of the South Carolina State Guard, he could be counted on if called, said Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott, the group's provost marshal.

"Whenever we had an assignment, he was there," he said. "He was very dedicated to the state guard and law enforcement in general."

In 1982, Tink met Lisa, his wife of 27 years, at the Vietnam Memorial in Washington. They moved to metro Atlanta and settled in Stone Mountain.

In 2005, Mr. Tink joined the Chamblee police department at age 62. He was believed to be one of the oldest active law enforcement officers in the state. Retirement was not something he even discussed, Capt. Beller said.

"He had no plans, ever, of leaving law enforcement," he said. "He was going to work this job. He was a conscientious, motivated officer."

A few years ago, the officer competed in the Georgia Police and Fire Games, an annual contest for law enforcement officers held in Hall County. He won his division because no one else entered in his age category.

"It's 10 minutes of strenuous activity," Capt. Beller said. "He won a gold medal. He was extremely fit. He's the last person anybody thought would have a heart attack."

Survivors include his wife, Lisa Tink of Stone Mountain, and other relatives.

State Legislators

Local Representatives to the Georgia General Assembly (above)

Local Seantors to the Georgia State Senate (below)

Chamblee 101 Class Announced

Chamblee, GA est. 1908

The next Chamblee 101 Class will be held from April 13th through May 11th on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 until 9:00. The final session will be the City Council meeting on May 17th.

Chamblee101 is designed to inform and educate citizens about local government. It includes discussions and interactive activities on topics such as Chamblee’s history, form of government, city services, budgeting and finances, volunteer boards, and volunteer organizations and opportunities in the City. The class also offers a chance to tour City facilities such as City Hall, Public Works, and the Police Department, and to meet various department heads for question-and-answer sessions.
This is an exciting chance for all citizens of Chamblee to learn more about their government and how you can help to make Chamblee a place where we are all proud to say we live, work, and play.

For more information, please contact City Hall at (770) 986-5010

Leadership DeKalb Infoformation Open House To Be Held In Chamblee

Leadership DeKalb is now accepting applications for the Leadership DeKalb Class of 2012 that will begin next fall. Upon successful completion of the 10-month program, you may become an active member of Leadership DeKalb, a non-partisan not-for-profit organization that has fostered networking and connections among its 950 distinguished graduates to positively impact DeKalb County for 25 years.


To learn more about Leadership DeKalb, you are invited to attend a Prospective Members Open House hosted by the City of Chamblee on March 3 at the Civic Center, 3540 Broad Street, Chamblee. The Open House begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m. and potential members will hear from graduates about the value of the Leadership DeKalb experience from 6-7 p.m. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about us! For reservations, e-mail info@leadershipdekalb.org or call 404-373-2491.


A Selection Committee comprised of Leadership DeKalb graduates will determine the members of the Class of 2012. If you are selected, you will be asked to commit to attending two overnight retreats and seven full-day program sessions. Additionally, Class members meet monthly in a study group and participate in other enrichment activities. These sessions give Class members an opportunity to meet face to face with key decision makers as well as to develop a valuable network of friends and colleagues.


UPCOMING DATES


• Applications Due – Wednesday, March 16, 2011 (*If mailed, postmarked by March 16, 2011)


• Class Member Notification – mid-April, 2011


• Tuition Due – Monday, May 16, 2011


• Class of 2012 Orientation – August 2011


• Class of 2012 Program – September, 2011 – May, 2012


• Opening Retreat – Friday to Saturday, September 9-10, 2011


• Closing Retreat – Thursday to Friday, June 7-8, 2012


Visit our website at www.LeadershipDeKalb.org to learn more about how participating in Leadership DeKalb can positively impact your future and our community. Please plan to attend and RSVP today!

Town Hall Meeting for DeKalb County Budget

DeKalb County Commissioner Jeff Rader is hosting a Town Hall Meeting to review the Proposed 2011 DeKalb County Budget.  The public is invited to come share its concerns.
DATE & TIME
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
6:30 pm -8:00 pm

LOCATION
Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Annunciation
2500 Clairmont Road
Atlanta, GA 30329

Commissioner Jeff Rader represents District 2 on DeKalb County's Board of Commissioners. He was re-elected in November of 2010 (terms are 4 years).

Please forward any correspondence to jrader@dekalbcountyga.gov

Doraville GM Study to be unveiled at Open House

The City of Doraville is holding an open house to unveil the recent LCI Study for the GM Plant.  The event is scheduled for Wednesday 1/26, 6:00pm to 9:00pm at the Doraville Civic Center, located at 3770 Central Avenue, Doraville, GA 30340.

LCI stands for Livable Centers Initiative. Since 1999 the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) has been providing funding for planning studies and transportation projects across the Atlanta region. This program of studies and projects has become known as the Livable Centers Initiative (LCI). The focus of the program is to encourage increased residential development, mixed-uses and connectivity in different community types.

A portion of the GM Study includes an area that is now part of the City of Chamblee.  Chamblee citizens are encouraged to attend the meeting if they wish to learn more about the study.  A copy of the flyer and information on the plan can be found here:  FLYER.

Anyone with further questions about this issue are requested to contact Doraville online at http://www.doravillega.us/ or by phone at 770-451-8745.

2011 Taste of Chamblee Seeks Fresh Programming Ideas

The 2011 Taste of Chamblee is seeking fresh ideas.  As in the past, the Taste of Chamblee is turning to the community for programming suggestions in effort to build upon our success and continue to make improvements to the festival.  We are continually trying to think of ways to make the Taste of Chamblee Fall Festival better, and are very interesed in new and fresh ideas. We have listed the preliminary theme areas below. Please let us know if you have an idea we should consider:


Preliminary Theme Areas for 2011 Taste of Chamblee Fall Festival

The Main Stage: live music 11-9, including local talent to be highlighted between 1-3.

Chamblee Showcase: special area with booths featuring Chamblee city services:  Parks & Rec, Area Development info, police, and public works

Kids Zone: climbing wall, jumpers, carnival games, gyro, face painter, crafts, etc.

Touch a Truck: fire, ambulance, police, tow truck, GA Power bucket truck, etc.

Beer Garden: selection of 6-8 craft beers and premium wines

Sustainability Fair: New this year is an industry theme to atrract companies to showcase sustainable products, such as consumer products, cars, and building materials (or companies with major sustainable practices)

Note:  Due to a lack of demand, last year's feature theme area, The Wine Garden, will not return for 2011.  We will have a nice selection of wines, but will sell them through more efficient channels such as at the Beer Garden, and other beer booths.
The organizers of the festival are very interested in hearing from you if you have an idea we should consider.  The deadline for submissions is February 28.  Please send ideas via e-mail to thogan@chambleega.com.

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Chamblee State of the City Address

2011 State of the City Address Chamblee, GA


Mayor R. Eric Clarkson to give State of the City Address at February Chamblee Business Association Meeting.

The Chamblee Business Association is proud to present Mayor R. Eric Clarkson, Mayor of the City of Chamblee, as guest speaker for the February 2011 general meeting. Mayor Clarkson is scheduled to deliver his third annual State of the City address at 8:15 a.m. on Thursday, February 17th, at the Chamblee Civic Center, located at 3540 Broad St. in Chamblee.

The Mayor will review the accomplishments and challenges of 2010, and look ahead to the future of Chamblee. Topics scheduled to be discussed include the recent annexation, the financial health of the City, the accomplishments of the police department, the services of public works, the status of recent and planned developments, and important personnel issues.

Brent Morris, President of the Chamblee Business Association, stated "Chamblee has expanded its boundaries, population, and number of new businesses have come into the City. We at the CBA are looking forward to hearing about the City’s plan for addressing the new opportunities that we have."

The event will include a brief question and answer session. In the interest of time, the CBA respectfully asks that all questions be submitted in writing in advance. All questions should be sent to Brent Morris, President of the Chamblee Business Association, at bmorris@peachtreebenefitgroup.com.

The State of the City Address is being hosted by the Chamblee Business Association, and while it is open to the public, there may be a cost for attending the meeting. The Chamblee Business Association is supported through memberships. Meetings are open to the public, and all are encouraged to attend. The meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at the Chamblee Civic Center, located at 3540 Broad St. Chamblee, GA 30341. Doors open at 7:30am, and the program begins at 8:00am. There is no charge for first-time guests, returning guest are $10, and members are $5.

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New State Rep Elena Parent to Host Town Hall Meeting

I am excited to announce that next Wednesday, Jan. 26 from 7 to 8 p.m., Elena Parent will be hosting her first first town hall meeting since becoming District 81's State Representative.

Ms. Parent's special guest for the evening will be Sarah Beth Gehl, Deputy Director of the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute. Ms. Gehl is scheduled to discuss the state's budgetary outlook and will detail the proposal that was just released by the Tax Council charged with recommending revisions to Georgia's tax code.

The meeting will be held in the Media Center at Chamblee High School, located at 3688 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, Chamblee, 30341.

There is no cost to attend this event and it is open to the public.  If you would like more information about Representative Elena Parent, please visit her website at http://www.elenaparent.com/.

DORAVILLE PLAN FOR GM PLANT TO BE DISCUSSED AT CHAMBLEE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION MEETING

Caleb Racicot to Present LCI Planning Process for GM Plant at January Chamblee Business Association Meeting
Mr. Caleb Racicot, AICP, is an award winning city planner and Senior Principal with Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates. He has over 10 years of experience in community planning, design-based zoning codes, and public outreach. Before joining TSW, he was a planner with the City of Atlanta Bureau of Planning working on urban design studies and leading community workshops.

The 2010 Doraville Downtown Master Plan is a community-based effort to prepare a plan for the GM Plant and surrounding area, including parts of the City of Chamblee. The plant’s redevelopment and its ripple effects provide opportunities to further connect these neighbor communities by filling housing and economic voids, fostering quality growth, and expanding public spaces. The study’s goal is to capitalize on these opportunities and ensure that future redevelopment benefits Doraville, Chamblee, other surrounding communities, and the region.

This current effort is the second LCI (Livable Centers Initiative) undertaken by the City of Doraville in recent years. The first, completed in 2005, focused on the Buford Highway corridor inside I-285. The previous LCI, along with several other initiatives impacting the study are, have been carefully studied and incorporated into this effort.

Throughout fall and winter of 2010/2011, a consultant team led by Caleb Racicot of Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates has orchestrated the effort to define a plan for realizing the transformative potential of the Doraville Assembly Plan redevelopment. Through a series of community meetings, stakeholder interviews, and advisory team meetings, a draft plan has been developed that incorporates:

• A vision for establishing a quality, mixed-use employment center on the GM site

• Concepts for the existing Doraville town center,

• Sidewalk, roadway, and transit upgrades

• Open space and greenway projects

• Economic development strategies

• Zoning, land use, and design concepts

• And much more!

The Chamblee Business Association is supported through memberships. Meetings are open to the public, and all are encouraged to attend. The meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at the Chamblee Civic Center, located at 3540 Broad St. Chamblee, GA 30341. Doors open at 7:30am, and the program begins at 8:00am. There is no charge for first-time guests, returning guest are $10, and members are $5.

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DeKalb Schools Redistricting/Consolidation Meeting

The DeKalb County School System is in the process of a potentially major redistricting and school consolidation process for the 2011–2012 school year.  There are 5 public meeting scheduled to hear input about the Centralized Plan, the Decentralized Plan, and/or other ideas the public may have that could result in a thrid option.  This meeting is part of the public input workshops, which will be followed by the formal public hearing, and the presentation and approval of the redistricting and school consolidation recommendations by the School Board.

Of particular interest:  The Centralized Plan would remove the magnet program from Kitridge, Chamblee Middle and Chamblee High, and move them to Avondale Estates.

Meeting Place:  Chamblee High School
Meeting Time:  6:30

Maps of the Centralized and Decentralized options can be found on the DCSS website at http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/redistricting.

Clairmont Bridge

Comments regarding Clairmont Bridge from City of Chamblee

Please be advised that DeKalb County is responsible for the maintenance of the roads within the City of Chamblee as well as most of the other municipalities in DeKalb County. There have been multiple reports by different news media regarding the Clairmont Road bridge and one this morning commented something about the city making one pass at the bridge.


(In inclement weather) the bridge ices over immediately and the Chamblee PD is forced to close it and place the barricades until DeKalb County is able to make it passable. This time is no different.  DeKalb County has been advised more than once about the (Clairmont) bridge and I can only assume that they will get to it when they are able and in order of priority.

By law, counties and their municipalities are required to agree on a service delivery strategy in which each jurisdiction agrees which services they are responsible for in order to prevent double taxation for the same services. DeKalb County and it's cities just signed a renewed agreement and pursuant to that agreement DeKalb County is responsible for the maintenance of the roads within the City of Chamblee. In spite of that agreement, and recognizing the severity of this winter storm, Chamblee’s Public Works Department has been working to clear up some of the smaller more manageable road hazards with the equipment we have. The Clairmont Road bridge is far beyond the capabilities of any of the equipment Chamblee has at its disposal.

The City of Chamblee is proud of the services that we offer and I don’t believe it is fair at all to be criticized for the quality of a service which we are not responsible for providing. I am also not going to criticize DeKalb County for the level of service they are providing, as I don’t know how they are prioritizing the problem streets.

If you have any questions about the operations of the City of Chamblee, please call City Hall at 770-986-5018

Job Posting for Atlanta, GA

(forwarded on behalf of Alan Urech, Stoney River Capital)


SoloHealth continues to experience rapid growth and is preparing to scale our new SoloHealth Station (Vision Screening, Blood Pressure, BMI, etc.). As such, the Company has an immediate need to fill three additional positions, based in Atlanta. If you know anyone in your network who might be a good fit, please forward this along and encourage them to apply. They can send their resume directly to Patty Hopper, phopper@solohealth.com who is managing our recruitment process.

1. Director of Field Operations
Lead and manage the day to day operations of SoloHealth kiosks, the internal field teams, as well as 3rd party vendor-partners. The ideal candidate will have 7+ years experience in operations management, project mgt, supervising field teams. BS in engineering preferred. More info

2. Key Account Manager - Retail
Responsible for managing key retail accounts with multiple touch points, including: purchasing, merchandising, marketing, training, store operations, supply chain, etc. The ideal candidate has had headquarter responsibilities for a retail chain (Food, Drug, Mass Merchandisers). More Info

3. Key Account Manager - Advertising
Lead primary customer facing activities for SoloHealth with key Advertising Customers. The ideal candidate has an established track record of successful leadership in maintaining customer loyalty with brand marketers and agencies in any of the following industries: CPG, Pharma, OTC. More Info

Good luck and happy job hunting!
Tom