By DOUG NURSE / http://www.ajc.com/
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
A Superior Court judge is considering whether to order Fulton County or the new cities in north Fulton to let sign companies set up about 70 billboards in the area. County officials and city leaders are asking the judge to toss out the sign companies’ lawsuits.Judge Melvin Westmoreland is reviewing motions for summary judgment and responses. A hearing date has not been scheduled.It’s a heated issue in the new cities, whose self-images do not include a horizon full of billboards.
For the billboard companies, a victory could mean millions of dollars.The billboard companies have asked for 31 billboards in Johns Creek, 15 in Milton, 23 in Sandy Springs, three in Alpharetta and three in south Fulton. Johns Creek currently has one billboard, Milton none.Several billboard companies filed for permits from Fulton County while the communities of Sandy Springs, Milton and Johns Creek were still unincorporated. Fulton County said no, but then the state Supreme Court threw out the county’s sign ordinance as unconstitutional.The billboard companies filed suit against the county, saying the denials were based on bad law and they should get their permits. If the companies couldn’t get the permits, they wanted the county to pay them about $6 million to cover their lost revenue.
In the meantime, Sandy Springs residents voted to become a city, starting Dec. 1, 2005. The northeast part of the county became the city of Johns Creek and the far northern area became the city of Milton on Dec. 1, 2006.In December, Fulton County negotiated a settlement in which the commissioners agreed to issue backdated permits. City officials hit the roof. Fearing a glut of billboards, city officials asked to become a part of the court case.In their motion for a summary judgment, filed in August, the cities say Fulton County’s proposed settlement was out of bounds because it can’t issue permits for other jurisdictions.
They also maintain there are other provisions of county law that cover the denial.The billboard companies’ motion argues that the county ordinance was invalid and they should get their signs.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
New Fire department Takes Reins in GA. County
By Doug Nurse / www.ajc.com
On Tuesday, the new Johns Creek Fire Department takes over from Fulton County firefighters the protection of 65,000 residents and businesses.
It's a process almost two years in the making, with launch dates pushed back time and again as organizers worked through funding needs, staffing requirements, equipment availability, and contractual obligations with Fulton County.
The latter has provided fire coverage for the city until the municipal Fire Department was ready.
The Johns Creek department plans to do things a little differently from Fulton County. Instead of responding to emergency calls with just pumper trucks, it may send rescue vehicles and pumpers, depending on the severity of the situation. Staffing will be increased for safety and effectiveness, and most of the time, paramedics will ride on each vehicle.
Employee experience ranges from two to 28 years of service. There will be 24 paramedics and 12 Georgia Search and Rescue firefighters, including three instructors.
"I was very happy with that," said Chief Joey Daniels, a former Fulton County battalion chief who served north Fulton. "We bring a lot to the table. We have a lot of experience and skills, including firefighting, medical care and technical rescue. That's good for us."
The department will have newer and more equipment. Each vehicle will have advanced life-support equipment that provides the highest level of pre-hospital emergency care. Each vehicle also has sophisticated heart monitors that can send EKG readings to the hospital so the doctor knows what to expect.
The rescue vehicles will carry special equipment for respiratory emergencies.
On Tuesday, the new Johns Creek Fire Department takes over from Fulton County firefighters the protection of 65,000 residents and businesses.
It's a process almost two years in the making, with launch dates pushed back time and again as organizers worked through funding needs, staffing requirements, equipment availability, and contractual obligations with Fulton County.
The latter has provided fire coverage for the city until the municipal Fire Department was ready.
The Johns Creek department plans to do things a little differently from Fulton County. Instead of responding to emergency calls with just pumper trucks, it may send rescue vehicles and pumpers, depending on the severity of the situation. Staffing will be increased for safety and effectiveness, and most of the time, paramedics will ride on each vehicle.
Employee experience ranges from two to 28 years of service. There will be 24 paramedics and 12 Georgia Search and Rescue firefighters, including three instructors.
"I was very happy with that," said Chief Joey Daniels, a former Fulton County battalion chief who served north Fulton. "We bring a lot to the table. We have a lot of experience and skills, including firefighting, medical care and technical rescue. That's good for us."
The department will have newer and more equipment. Each vehicle will have advanced life-support equipment that provides the highest level of pre-hospital emergency care. Each vehicle also has sophisticated heart monitors that can send EKG readings to the hospital so the doctor knows what to expect.
The rescue vehicles will carry special equipment for respiratory emergencies.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Love Shack Closes In Johns Creek, But Suits Continue
Owner says he was losing $40,000 a month because city wouldn’t let him put up a sign
By DOUG NURSE / www.ajc.com
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Adult video store owner John Cornetta has closed the Love Shack in Johns Creek, but he has vowed to seek $1.7 million in damages from the city. “I couldn’t take the losses any more,” Cornetta said. “I’m still opening new stores in other states, and I still have pending court cases that I’m going to win.”
He said he was losing about $40,000 a month.
The store, located at States Bridge and Jones Bridge roads in the heart of the city, has been the object of scorn and dismay by many residents, and city efforts to regulate the store have generated piles of litigation.
Cornetta blamed the city’s unwillingness to give him a sign for running him out of business. The city has said it won’t give a sign permit or a business license for an adult business in an area not zoned for that.
The Love Shack opened just a couple of days before the city was born Dec. 1, 2006, which Cornetta argued meant he existed before the city and it couldn’t regulate him. After losing in Fulton Superior Court, Cornetta cleaned out all but a few of his adult items to become a non-adult store.
Cornetta said the city gave signs to other businesses that didn’t have business licenses.
“If the judge finds that they illegally caused a business to fail, they’re facing huge fines,” he said.
Cornetta and the city have cases pending in federal and state appeals courts.
By DOUG NURSE / www.ajc.com
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Adult video store owner John Cornetta has closed the Love Shack in Johns Creek, but he has vowed to seek $1.7 million in damages from the city. “I couldn’t take the losses any more,” Cornetta said. “I’m still opening new stores in other states, and I still have pending court cases that I’m going to win.”
He said he was losing about $40,000 a month.
The store, located at States Bridge and Jones Bridge roads in the heart of the city, has been the object of scorn and dismay by many residents, and city efforts to regulate the store have generated piles of litigation.
Cornetta blamed the city’s unwillingness to give him a sign for running him out of business. The city has said it won’t give a sign permit or a business license for an adult business in an area not zoned for that.
The Love Shack opened just a couple of days before the city was born Dec. 1, 2006, which Cornetta argued meant he existed before the city and it couldn’t regulate him. After losing in Fulton Superior Court, Cornetta cleaned out all but a few of his adult items to become a non-adult store.
Cornetta said the city gave signs to other businesses that didn’t have business licenses.
“If the judge finds that they illegally caused a business to fail, they’re facing huge fines,” he said.
Cornetta and the city have cases pending in federal and state appeals courts.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Johns Creek Police To Use Pedal Power
By DOUG NURSE / www.ajc.com
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Johns Creek police are going old school. The department is planning to use two officers mounted on bicycles to patrol parks, shopping centers and various neighborhoods.
The program, called Police and Community Together or PACT, heightens the profile of the department and makes the police – and the city – more accessible to residents and business owners, said police spokeswoman Rosemary Taylor. That builds trust, she said.
Bikes give police more mobility in some circumstances by allowing them to go places cars can’t go, such as park trails, she said.
The pedaling police should be on the road sometimes this fall.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Johns Creek police are going old school. The department is planning to use two officers mounted on bicycles to patrol parks, shopping centers and various neighborhoods.
The program, called Police and Community Together or PACT, heightens the profile of the department and makes the police – and the city – more accessible to residents and business owners, said police spokeswoman Rosemary Taylor. That builds trust, she said.
Bikes give police more mobility in some circumstances by allowing them to go places cars can’t go, such as park trails, she said.
The pedaling police should be on the road sometimes this fall.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Creek Indian Descendant Building Authentic Hunting Lodge
By DOUG NURSE / http://www.ajc.com/ Sunday, August 24, 2008In a couple of weeks, visitors to Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center in Johns Creek will be able to walk down a trail and back into time. About 50 yards down a path into the woods, a Creek Indian hunting lodge is being built by a man of Creek descent using mostly authentic techniques.
“We want it to be like someone just stumbled on it 200 years ago,” said Cheryl Bowlin, an Autrey Mill board member. “We want Autrey Mill to be a ribbon of time, and this is another part of the ribbon.”
The lodge is being constructed by Tom Blue Wolf, also called Tom Goodman. Blue Wolf, 62, grew up on the Poarch Creek Reservation near Atmore, Ala. He said his grandfather named him Blue Wolf. He said he learned how to build lodges from the old men on the reservation. He said he received the blessing of Creek and Cherokee elders before building the lodge at Autrey Mill.
Autrey Mill, about 46 acres, features several buildings from the early 1900s and trails through native forest. The lodge originally was planned to be built near water, but endangered lady-slipper orchids were growing in abundance on the proposed site.
Blue Wolf said there is no set way to construct a hunting lodge, which would have temporarily housed several men in a hunting party. “I was going to use cedar, but we couldn’t find it, so we went to poplar bark,” he said.
Blue Wolf, who has built similar lodges at Georgia botanical gardens and universities in Europe, said he envisions the lodge as a place visitors can learn about natural ways of living.
Creek and Cherokee Indian hunters would range for weeks, collecting barks and herbs for medicine and killing game and preserving meat to bring back to their village, Blue Wolf said.
When finished, the structure will be about 10 feet wide, 12 feet long and 8 feet high. The face of the lodge will be open.
He and his four helpers are using native materials, and occasionally non-native tools, such as power drills or a Japanese handsaw. Blue Wolf said doing it authentically with a small set of people would take a long time. He said he’s compromising with some material, such as modern-day screws, because otherwise the lodge would soon fall into disrepair without his being there to maintain it.
Blue Wolf said he also plans to build a kiln so Autrey Mill volunteers can demonstrate how the Creeks used to smoke meat to preserve it. “We want people to get a sense of what a day in their life would’ve been like,” Blue Wolf said. “We wanted to do something educationally that was visually stimulating.”
The lodge has two rows of four posts with each row topped by a long log. The sides will be made of river cane weave filled in with clay, sand and straw. The roof will be shingled with poplar bark.
On the other side of the path will be a tepee reminiscent of those of the Great Plains Indian tribes. Bowlin said that even though the Creek and Cherokee didn’t live in tepees, mill officials included the tepee to show a contrast between the various ways of Indian life.
The tepee, 24 feet in diameter, will be made of canvas instead of buffalo, but it will get the idea across, Blue Wolf said. People will be able to rent out the tepee for birthday parties to raise money for the mill, Bowlin said. “Some children have no idea there was anything before the subdivisions,” Bowlin said. “We’re hoping we can give them an ‘Aha!’ moment.”
Friday, August 22, 2008
900 Households Can't use "Johns Creek" in Address
City officials want to take up issue in Washington, D.C.
By DOUG NURSE / www.ajc.com
Friday, August 22, 2008
Johns Creek officials met with representatives from the U.S. Post Office this week to explore ways for 900 households to be able to give Johns Creek as their address instead of Suwanee and Roswell. City leaders were shot down at every turn.
The city is served by five ZIP codes based in other municipalities. Most the 65,000 residents and businesses can use Johns Creek as long as the street address and ZIP code are correct.
The city would like for everyone within its boundaries to be able to proudly give Johns Creek as their home address.
The council raised these questions:
Could Johns Creek have its own ZIP code and post office? No, says the Post Office. It’s expensive, and reconfiguring routes doesn’t make business sense.
Could these Johns Creek residents be switched to a ZIP code that can use Johns Creek? Nope, says the mail service. Again, reconfiguring routes and re-mapping of areas would be problematic.
City officials say they’re not giving up. They’re going to try to meet with postal officials in Washington D.C.
By DOUG NURSE / www.ajc.com
Friday, August 22, 2008
Johns Creek officials met with representatives from the U.S. Post Office this week to explore ways for 900 households to be able to give Johns Creek as their address instead of Suwanee and Roswell. City leaders were shot down at every turn.
The city is served by five ZIP codes based in other municipalities. Most the 65,000 residents and businesses can use Johns Creek as long as the street address and ZIP code are correct.
The city would like for everyone within its boundaries to be able to proudly give Johns Creek as their home address.
The council raised these questions:
Could Johns Creek have its own ZIP code and post office? No, says the Post Office. It’s expensive, and reconfiguring routes doesn’t make business sense.
Could these Johns Creek residents be switched to a ZIP code that can use Johns Creek? Nope, says the mail service. Again, reconfiguring routes and re-mapping of areas would be problematic.
City officials say they’re not giving up. They’re going to try to meet with postal officials in Washington D.C.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Johns Creek Delays Launch of Fire Department
By DOUG NURSE / www.ajc.com
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Johns Creek firetrucks won’t roll out this month as hoped. Instead, the target date has been pushed back to Oct. 7. As late as June, city officials weren’t sure whether vehicles and equipment would arrive by the original August date for starting city fire service.
By the time the arrival dates for equipment were nailed down, any date in August would have been less than the 90 days notice the city has to give Fulton County Fire Department that the city would take over fire safety, said Public Safety spokeswoman Rosemary Taylor.
Fulton County is providing fire protection until the city launches its own fire department.
Fulton County stuck to the 90-day notice requirement, which meant the city had to push back the start date for Johns Creek Fire Department, she said.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Johns Creek firetrucks won’t roll out this month as hoped. Instead, the target date has been pushed back to Oct. 7. As late as June, city officials weren’t sure whether vehicles and equipment would arrive by the original August date for starting city fire service.
By the time the arrival dates for equipment were nailed down, any date in August would have been less than the 90 days notice the city has to give Fulton County Fire Department that the city would take over fire safety, said Public Safety spokeswoman Rosemary Taylor.
Fulton County is providing fire protection until the city launches its own fire department.
Fulton County stuck to the 90-day notice requirement, which meant the city had to push back the start date for Johns Creek Fire Department, she said.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Fired 911 Dispatcher To Appeal Dismissal
(WSB Radio) She's accused of botching a 911 call that led to a woman's death. Now, Gina Conteh wants her job back.
Conteh's attorney confirms he has filed an appeal of her dismissal, in the wake of the mistake that contributed to the death of a Johns Creek woman. Darlene Dukes called the Fulton County 911 center on August 2, complaining of breathing problems. She told Conteh, who was working as a dispatcher, that she lived on Wales Street. But Conteh sent EMT's to Wells Street, in Atlanta, instead.
It took almost 30 minutes for police to get to Dukes' home. But Conteh had not dispatched an ambulance, and it took another 30 minutes for EMT's to arrive. By that time the mother of two had died. Conteh was fired after 12 years at the 911 center on August 6.
Conteh's attorney, Rory Starkey, says his client has filed a formal notice of appeal, challenging the decision to fire her. This week, Conteh's employment history came to light, showing repeated transgressions in the past.
Twice before supervisors had tried to fire her, and both times failed when Conteh appealed.
She has been suspended at least seven times, for insubordination, fighting with co-workers, showing up late for work, and falling asleep on the job.
In one incident, supervisors say Conteh fell asleep at her desk and fell out of her chair. But she claimed she was leaning over to pick up some paper when she tumbled out of her chair, scraping her ear. She filed a worker's compensation claim for her injury. Supervisors say they never believed her story.
Under county rules, Conteh is entitled to an appeal of her termination. No date for a hearing has been set.
Conteh's attorney confirms he has filed an appeal of her dismissal, in the wake of the mistake that contributed to the death of a Johns Creek woman. Darlene Dukes called the Fulton County 911 center on August 2, complaining of breathing problems. She told Conteh, who was working as a dispatcher, that she lived on Wales Street. But Conteh sent EMT's to Wells Street, in Atlanta, instead.
It took almost 30 minutes for police to get to Dukes' home. But Conteh had not dispatched an ambulance, and it took another 30 minutes for EMT's to arrive. By that time the mother of two had died. Conteh was fired after 12 years at the 911 center on August 6.
Conteh's attorney, Rory Starkey, says his client has filed a formal notice of appeal, challenging the decision to fire her. This week, Conteh's employment history came to light, showing repeated transgressions in the past.
Twice before supervisors had tried to fire her, and both times failed when Conteh appealed.
She has been suspended at least seven times, for insubordination, fighting with co-workers, showing up late for work, and falling asleep on the job.
In one incident, supervisors say Conteh fell asleep at her desk and fell out of her chair. But she claimed she was leaning over to pick up some paper when she tumbled out of her chair, scraping her ear. She filed a worker's compensation claim for her injury. Supervisors say they never believed her story.
Under county rules, Conteh is entitled to an appeal of her termination. No date for a hearing has been set.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Fulton 911 Center Falsely Claimed Accreditation
Publicbroadcasting.net / Odette Yousef ATLANTA, GA (2008-08-14)
Contrary to claims made on its website and by its former director, Fulton County's 911 Center is not accredited. The center has come under scrutiny after a 911 operator mishandled a call earlier this month, resulting in the death of a woman in Johns Creek.WABE's Odette Yousef reports.
Emergency response experts in the community say they've long known that County officials were falsely claiming accreditation. As recently as last week, the 911 center's webpage touted that it was, quote, Nationally Accredited 1st in Georgia, 28th in the world! But Fulton County's Emergency Communications Center hasn't been accredited since 2002.Carlynn Page is with the National Academies of Emergency Dispatch, which accredits roughly eighty 911 Centers in the world. She said accreditation is voluntary, but it ensures quality. If you call 911 where they're using a standardized protocol, you're going to get the same consistent, high level of care. Whereas if you call some agency that's not doing quality assurance or not using protocol correctly, it's just kind of hit and miss.
You don't know if you're going to get that same standard of care.The idea is to ensure that call-takers properly identify the nature of a medical emergency, dispatch the right resources in response, and give sound medical advice to callers.Accredited agencies have to pay a fee of $2 to 3 thousand dollars.Page does not know why Fulton County decided not to renew its accreditation, but said many agencies fail to renew:PAGE: It's usually due to a change in personnel, or someone that doesn't value that process as much.But one emergency dispatch expert in Atlanta said, if the county didn't value accreditation, why did it continue propagating the notion that the center was accredited long after it wasn't? Fulton County failed to respond to WABE's questions by airtime.
Contrary to claims made on its website and by its former director, Fulton County's 911 Center is not accredited. The center has come under scrutiny after a 911 operator mishandled a call earlier this month, resulting in the death of a woman in Johns Creek.WABE's Odette Yousef reports.
Emergency response experts in the community say they've long known that County officials were falsely claiming accreditation. As recently as last week, the 911 center's webpage touted that it was, quote, Nationally Accredited 1st in Georgia, 28th in the world! But Fulton County's Emergency Communications Center hasn't been accredited since 2002.Carlynn Page is with the National Academies of Emergency Dispatch, which accredits roughly eighty 911 Centers in the world. She said accreditation is voluntary, but it ensures quality. If you call 911 where they're using a standardized protocol, you're going to get the same consistent, high level of care. Whereas if you call some agency that's not doing quality assurance or not using protocol correctly, it's just kind of hit and miss.
You don't know if you're going to get that same standard of care.The idea is to ensure that call-takers properly identify the nature of a medical emergency, dispatch the right resources in response, and give sound medical advice to callers.Accredited agencies have to pay a fee of $2 to 3 thousand dollars.Page does not know why Fulton County decided not to renew its accreditation, but said many agencies fail to renew:PAGE: It's usually due to a change in personnel, or someone that doesn't value that process as much.But one emergency dispatch expert in Atlanta said, if the county didn't value accreditation, why did it continue propagating the notion that the center was accredited long after it wasn't? Fulton County failed to respond to WABE's questions by airtime.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Personnel File Shows 911 Operator Slept On Job
Courtesy Cbs46.com
POSTED: 6:19 am EDT August 13, 2008
UPDATED: 8:23 am EDT August 13, 2008
ATLANTA -- A CBS 46 News review of the personnel file of 911 operator Gina Conteh's file found that she was on the verge of being fired before she made a mistake that led to a woman's death.
Last week, Conteh misheard the name of the street given by Darlene Dukes, who called 911 after experiencing some breathing problems. Conteh sent paramedics to the wrong address. Crews did not get to Dukes' apartment in Johns Creek until an hour had passed. CBS 46 learned Tuesday that this incident was not the first time Conteh had been disciplined for delays in dispacthing an ambulance.
A letter from her former boss, Rocky Moore, showed plans to fire Conteh in 2004, but she was only suspended for five days after being cited multiple times for falling asleep on the job, failing to respond to units and having an unsatisfactory work quality.
On one call, the file revealed, Conteh's response led to a 22-minute delay in response.
As recently as April, Conteh was cited for displaying "major difficulties navigating through the system."
And in 2003, Contech was written up for being "habitually in violation of county and departmental policies". The letter went on to say that Conteh "requires frequent supervision to perform routine tasks."
Perhaps the most startling allegations found by the CBS 46 review was the numerous times Conteh fell asleep on the job. In one incident, the file indicated, Conteh hurt herself when she fell from the chair after falling asleep. The records indicated other employees fell asleep as well.
The documents also show cases where Conteh failed to respond to multiple requests for an ambulance, failed to dispatch the closest unit, and failed to be attentive to details.
Records showed that on one date, Conteh was cited for failing to failing to properly respond six times in one night. According to the file, on that date, Conteh gave the wrong address twice, and for responding as if she was awakened from her sleep on two occasions.
POSTED: 6:19 am EDT August 13, 2008
UPDATED: 8:23 am EDT August 13, 2008
ATLANTA -- A CBS 46 News review of the personnel file of 911 operator Gina Conteh's file found that she was on the verge of being fired before she made a mistake that led to a woman's death.
Last week, Conteh misheard the name of the street given by Darlene Dukes, who called 911 after experiencing some breathing problems. Conteh sent paramedics to the wrong address. Crews did not get to Dukes' apartment in Johns Creek until an hour had passed. CBS 46 learned Tuesday that this incident was not the first time Conteh had been disciplined for delays in dispacthing an ambulance.
A letter from her former boss, Rocky Moore, showed plans to fire Conteh in 2004, but she was only suspended for five days after being cited multiple times for falling asleep on the job, failing to respond to units and having an unsatisfactory work quality.
On one call, the file revealed, Conteh's response led to a 22-minute delay in response.
As recently as April, Conteh was cited for displaying "major difficulties navigating through the system."
And in 2003, Contech was written up for being "habitually in violation of county and departmental policies". The letter went on to say that Conteh "requires frequent supervision to perform routine tasks."
Perhaps the most startling allegations found by the CBS 46 review was the numerous times Conteh fell asleep on the job. In one incident, the file indicated, Conteh hurt herself when she fell from the chair after falling asleep. The records indicated other employees fell asleep as well.
The documents also show cases where Conteh failed to respond to multiple requests for an ambulance, failed to dispatch the closest unit, and failed to be attentive to details.
Records showed that on one date, Conteh was cited for failing to failing to properly respond six times in one night. According to the file, on that date, Conteh gave the wrong address twice, and for responding as if she was awakened from her sleep on two occasions.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Fulton EMS Director Reassigned As Part of 911 Call
ATLANTA (MyFOX Atlanta) -- EMS Director Alfred Rocky Moore has been reassigned as part of Fulton County's 911 Call Response investigation, say Fulton County officials.Fulton County Manager Zachary Williams announced the reassignment Tuesday.
Moore will continue to serve as Director of the Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency until the completion of both the internal and independent investigations into the response of the incident. Moore's duties will be limited to oversight of the Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency until the conclusion of the external audit of Fulton County's 911 operations, said Williams.The incident in question began Saturday, August 2, when Darlene Dukes called 911 for help because she was "in respiratory distress."
Moore said the 911 operator misheard the address Dukes gave and sent City of Atlanta Fire and Grady EMS to Wells Street in Atlanta when Dukes was actually at home on Wales Street in Johns Creek, north of Atlanta. Fulton County Emergency Services said the dispatch screen showed the call came from a cell phone in Johns Creek. Officials said when the dispatcher realized the mistake, she sent crews to the correct address. The patient was taken to North Fulton Regional Medical Center and later pronounced dead. Moore said the operator should have noticed that the call was coming from a cell tower in Johns Creek, not Atlanta. The mistake caused a 25-minute delay in response.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Johns Creek's Jackson Wins Fulton Sheriff's Runoff Election
Courtesy Appen Newspapers
August 05, 2008
Fulton County residents will pick a new sheriff to replace incumbent Myron Freeman, who lost a runoff election to Johns Creek resident and former interim Sheriff Ted Jackson.Democrat Jackson will face Buckhead Republican Mike Rary, a former Fulton County Marshal and Mountain Park City Council member, in the November General Election."Who would have thought with nine candidates in the race, and I looked at myself as myself as the bottom of the heap, that we'd be here today?" Jackson asked.With 340 of 341 precincts reporting, Jackson lead with 22,142 (64 percent) to 12,525 votes (36 percent) for Freeman, the incumbent sheriff. More than 99 percent of the precincts have reported."Remember, there were nine candidates in the primary," Jackson said. "[Freeman] came out with 30 percent of the vote. But that meant 70 percent wanted him out of office, so the candidates united with the goal of a new Sheriff."
Jackson got about 9,000 more votes in the runoff than he did in the primary.He spent 33 years with the FBI and last served as special agent in charge of the Atlanta Office. Jackson served as interim Sheriff for four months in 2004 after Gov. Sonny Perdue ousted former Sheriff Jacque Barrett.
Just three months into Freeman's tenure, prisoner Brian Nichols allegedly broke loose in the Fulton County Courthouse and shot the judge of his trial and three others. In addition, the Fulton County Jail was placed under a federal court order regulating how many inmates can be housed there.In response, the Fulton County Commission has bandied about the idea of privatizing jail and courthouse security, essentially doing away with the office. However, it never pursued the legislation."People want change. They want to restore dignity, pride, confidence and commitment to the Office of Sheriff," Jackson said. "This race is larger than Fulton County, we're on the state and world stage because of the March 11 tragedy."
In other runoff news, incumbent Cathelene "Tina" Robinson's 6 percent lead held in the Democratic runoff election for the office of Clerk of Fulton County Superior Court. Robinson's 17,655 votes easily topped challenger Lewis Pittman's 15,915 total.All vote totals are unofficial.
August 05, 2008
Fulton County residents will pick a new sheriff to replace incumbent Myron Freeman, who lost a runoff election to Johns Creek resident and former interim Sheriff Ted Jackson.Democrat Jackson will face Buckhead Republican Mike Rary, a former Fulton County Marshal and Mountain Park City Council member, in the November General Election."Who would have thought with nine candidates in the race, and I looked at myself as myself as the bottom of the heap, that we'd be here today?" Jackson asked.With 340 of 341 precincts reporting, Jackson lead with 22,142 (64 percent) to 12,525 votes (36 percent) for Freeman, the incumbent sheriff. More than 99 percent of the precincts have reported."Remember, there were nine candidates in the primary," Jackson said. "[Freeman] came out with 30 percent of the vote. But that meant 70 percent wanted him out of office, so the candidates united with the goal of a new Sheriff."
Jackson got about 9,000 more votes in the runoff than he did in the primary.He spent 33 years with the FBI and last served as special agent in charge of the Atlanta Office. Jackson served as interim Sheriff for four months in 2004 after Gov. Sonny Perdue ousted former Sheriff Jacque Barrett.
Just three months into Freeman's tenure, prisoner Brian Nichols allegedly broke loose in the Fulton County Courthouse and shot the judge of his trial and three others. In addition, the Fulton County Jail was placed under a federal court order regulating how many inmates can be housed there.In response, the Fulton County Commission has bandied about the idea of privatizing jail and courthouse security, essentially doing away with the office. However, it never pursued the legislation."People want change. They want to restore dignity, pride, confidence and commitment to the Office of Sheriff," Jackson said. "This race is larger than Fulton County, we're on the state and world stage because of the March 11 tragedy."
In other runoff news, incumbent Cathelene "Tina" Robinson's 6 percent lead held in the Democratic runoff election for the office of Clerk of Fulton County Superior Court. Robinson's 17,655 votes easily topped challenger Lewis Pittman's 15,915 total.All vote totals are unofficial.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Woman On Phone Dies After 911 Operator Mistake
By D.L. BENNETT, MARCUS K. GARNER / http://www.ajc.com/ / on: 08/05/08Darlene Dukes died waiting for help that was delayed 25 minutes because a 911 operator sent emergency crews to the wrong address, Fulton County officials said.
And her family, flown down from New York, was angry Tuesday night to learn of the mix-up from local media and not from officials.
The 911 operator has been fired, said Alfred "Rocky" Moore, Fulton's 911 director. And county officials are apologizing for an error they say should not have been made. The incident occurred Saturday about 1 p.m. when Dukes called 911 for help.
The operator, whose name was not released, dispatched crews to Wells Street in Atlanta when Dukes was at home on Wales Street in Johns Creek north of Atlanta. Moore said the operator misheard the address spoken by Dukes, 39, who was "in respiratory distress."
Moore said the operator stayed on the phone with Dukes for 25 minutes waiting for the ambulance to arrive. Dukes fell silent 17 minutes into the call. The remaining eight minutes the operator spends imploring Dukes to respond, Moore said. Johns Creek authorities responded within five minutes once the error was discovered, Moore said. By then, though, it was too late.
Dukes has two sons, ages 15 and 11, but neither was at home at the time. A Web designer for Verizon, she moved to Atlanta from New York City 4 1/2 years ago.
Her father, Levern Dukes Sr., and mother, Ida, were told she died of a pulmonary embolism, but they did not know that 911 was responsible for a delayed response to her call until reporters began calling them Tuesday evening. A press release from Fulton County's Office of Community Relations was sent to news media at 6 p.m. Tuesday describing the incident and noting that an investigation into the incident is under way.
Ida Dukes, her mother, asked, "What happened to my daughter? Something went wrong and I would like to find out. If they had responded timely, would she be alive today?" Darlene Dukes' family -- her parents, two bothers and a sister -- came down from the Bronx on Sunday to learn more about her death, which they found puzzling because she was otherwise healthy. Levern Dukes, her father, said "If she was sick, she never complained." Derrick Dukes, her brother, said, "To say that Darlene could still be here, I would really hate to think that something went wrong."
Darlene Dukes will be buried Saturday in New York. A memorial service for her friends in Atlanta will be announced later, her family said.
Moore said his operator was distraught about the mistake and her long phone call with Dukes.
"She's not taking it well," Moore said. "We are taking action against the employee regardless of how hard it is."
The mistake, Moore said, is one that should not have happened. Operators, he said, are trained to listen to folks in distress but also to focus on where cell calls come from. The operator, he said, should have recognized the discrepancy and asked questions, Moore said.
Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker called the situation "sad." "Anytime you have loss of life it's sad," Bodker said. "You can move that out to the parents, the loved ones, the friends. It's just sad for everyone."
The case also underscores one of many areas of potential conflict for Fulton as new cities spring up and services have to adjust. Two years ago, Fulton was pushing the consolidation of all 911 services among the county and its cities. But they couldn't get enough jurisdictions to agree.
Johns Creek, Bodker said, should vote within the next few months on taking over 911 services for its residents. He hopes a city-run call center could be up by early 2009.
Bodker said he's long believed a consolidated service makes more sense but doesn't have faith in Fulton County to control it.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Villas Open In Johns Creek
by Scott Sowers / Gwinnett Herald
July 31, 2008 09:21 AM JOHNS CREEK – A lot of new housing developments continue to rise around the metro area, but few of those claim to be much more than housing. The new Villas of Johns Creek claim to offer an entire lifestyle to residents as they bring maintenance-free living and offer scores of amenities.This new 70-unit ranch style quadruplex community situated near the intersection of Abbots Bridge Road and Medlock Bridge Road recently celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting event July 20 attended by Johns Creek mayor Mike Bodker and members of the North Fulton Chamber of Commerce.
"The response has been tremendous," said Tylar Bacome, the builder of the community. "They say there are problems with the housing market, but there have been plenty of people here to look at our models who are seriously interested in purchasing a new home."The difference that Dublin, Ohio-based EPCON Communities brings to the area, Bacome said, is that they offer much higher quality homes and amenities than their competitors. The units come in either 1,861 square-foot three bedroom homes or 1,720 square-foot two bedroom units. Prices start in the $250,000 window and go up based upon size.
"We knew we wanted to build in the North Fulton area because it is such a great area," Bacome said. "We don't just go anywhere – this is our first community in the area with another one south of Atlanta. This location gives us close proximity to all kinds of amenities and activities," he said.
Mayor Bodker agreed that it will be great having this new community in the city."These are fine new homes in a fine new community," Bodker said during a tour of a three-bedroom model.
July 31, 2008 09:21 AM JOHNS CREEK – A lot of new housing developments continue to rise around the metro area, but few of those claim to be much more than housing. The new Villas of Johns Creek claim to offer an entire lifestyle to residents as they bring maintenance-free living and offer scores of amenities.This new 70-unit ranch style quadruplex community situated near the intersection of Abbots Bridge Road and Medlock Bridge Road recently celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting event July 20 attended by Johns Creek mayor Mike Bodker and members of the North Fulton Chamber of Commerce.
"The response has been tremendous," said Tylar Bacome, the builder of the community. "They say there are problems with the housing market, but there have been plenty of people here to look at our models who are seriously interested in purchasing a new home."The difference that Dublin, Ohio-based EPCON Communities brings to the area, Bacome said, is that they offer much higher quality homes and amenities than their competitors. The units come in either 1,861 square-foot three bedroom homes or 1,720 square-foot two bedroom units. Prices start in the $250,000 window and go up based upon size.
"We knew we wanted to build in the North Fulton area because it is such a great area," Bacome said. "We don't just go anywhere – this is our first community in the area with another one south of Atlanta. This location gives us close proximity to all kinds of amenities and activities," he said.
Mayor Bodker agreed that it will be great having this new community in the city."These are fine new homes in a fine new community," Bodker said during a tour of a three-bedroom model.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Storm Water Pollution Project Gets Grant
By MICHELLE E. SHAW / www.ajc.com / Published on: 07/30/08
A storm water pollution project at Chattahoochee High is getting overflowing support from a county commissioner.
A $75,000 grant check was presented to the Chattahoochee Cougar Foundation Inc., a nonprofit organization affiliated with the high school, Wednesday by Fulton County Commissioner Lynne Riley.
The grant will be used for the construction of the ARCH project, an effort to remedy a growing community problem of storm water pollution, to be housed at Chattahoochee High.
The proposed project incorporates a constructed wetland detention pond for storm water runoff, amphitheater and environmental education stations, officials say. The wetland detention pond will retain and clean storm water through a bioremediation filtration process before it enters Johns Creek. Drainpipes entering the ARCH will be fitted with engineering devices for the removal of macro-pollutants and sediments.
Chattahoochee's grant is one of three presented to environmental nonprofits in North Fulton County. Earlier this month, Riley presented the Mountain Park Watershed Preservation Society Inc. a $91,700 grant to purchase approximately 20 lots on the shore of Lake Garrett for environmental green space in the city of Mountain Park. She also presented Keep Roswell Beautiful Inc. with a $68,000 grant to fund tree replacement and education markers in Roswell Area Park and intersection beautification.
A storm water pollution project at Chattahoochee High is getting overflowing support from a county commissioner.
A $75,000 grant check was presented to the Chattahoochee Cougar Foundation Inc., a nonprofit organization affiliated with the high school, Wednesday by Fulton County Commissioner Lynne Riley.
The grant will be used for the construction of the ARCH project, an effort to remedy a growing community problem of storm water pollution, to be housed at Chattahoochee High.
The proposed project incorporates a constructed wetland detention pond for storm water runoff, amphitheater and environmental education stations, officials say. The wetland detention pond will retain and clean storm water through a bioremediation filtration process before it enters Johns Creek. Drainpipes entering the ARCH will be fitted with engineering devices for the removal of macro-pollutants and sediments.
Chattahoochee's grant is one of three presented to environmental nonprofits in North Fulton County. Earlier this month, Riley presented the Mountain Park Watershed Preservation Society Inc. a $91,700 grant to purchase approximately 20 lots on the shore of Lake Garrett for environmental green space in the city of Mountain Park. She also presented Keep Roswell Beautiful Inc. with a $68,000 grant to fund tree replacement and education markers in Roswell Area Park and intersection beautification.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Gadget Showcase Comes To Johns Creek
July 24, 2008 Gwinnett Herald
JOHNS CREEK – The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce will present the 2008 Gadget Showcase Thursday, July 24 at Emory Johns Creek Hospital.The showcase will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., and will feature technology innovators, manufacturers and distributers who will exhibit the latest products.
"As business brokers we have the opportunity to talk with a lot of individuals with great ideas and products that struggle to make it to market. I am looking forward to being a participant in the Chamber's 2008 Gadget Festival and to presenting an innovative, award winning golf tool, The MarkMender," said Carol Yurick of AccuBrokers Inc."The purpose of the showcase is to allow local technology innovators, manufacturers and distributors the opportunity to exhibit and showcase their latest and greatest products," said Sarah Christenson, event coordinator.Emory Johns Creek Hospital offers more space for the event, she said.
The exhibitors's list misses only a couple from last year, but many other vendors have been added."Beyond the expected new telephones and new banking services, we will have tables on elevators, patent law and email control. Our title sponsor, Intelligels, is showcasing a new gel wrist pad for laptops, once only for table top computers," she said.
Sponsorships are available for $500 to $1,000. Exhibitors can purchase booth space for $50 that will include one table with the company name and electricity.This event also will include the monthly Business After Hours for the chamber, with food provided by Glorious Events Catering.The cost to attend is $10 for GNFCC members and $20 for non-members. For more information, contact Sarah Christenson at 678-397-0532 or e-mail schristenson@gnfcc.com.Emory Johns Creek is at 6235 Hospital Parkway in Johns Creek.
JOHNS CREEK – The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce will present the 2008 Gadget Showcase Thursday, July 24 at Emory Johns Creek Hospital.The showcase will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., and will feature technology innovators, manufacturers and distributers who will exhibit the latest products.
"As business brokers we have the opportunity to talk with a lot of individuals with great ideas and products that struggle to make it to market. I am looking forward to being a participant in the Chamber's 2008 Gadget Festival and to presenting an innovative, award winning golf tool, The MarkMender," said Carol Yurick of AccuBrokers Inc."The purpose of the showcase is to allow local technology innovators, manufacturers and distributors the opportunity to exhibit and showcase their latest and greatest products," said Sarah Christenson, event coordinator.Emory Johns Creek Hospital offers more space for the event, she said.
The exhibitors's list misses only a couple from last year, but many other vendors have been added."Beyond the expected new telephones and new banking services, we will have tables on elevators, patent law and email control. Our title sponsor, Intelligels, is showcasing a new gel wrist pad for laptops, once only for table top computers," she said.
Sponsorships are available for $500 to $1,000. Exhibitors can purchase booth space for $50 that will include one table with the company name and electricity.This event also will include the monthly Business After Hours for the chamber, with food provided by Glorious Events Catering.The cost to attend is $10 for GNFCC members and $20 for non-members. For more information, contact Sarah Christenson at 678-397-0532 or e-mail schristenson@gnfcc.com.Emory Johns Creek is at 6235 Hospital Parkway in Johns Creek.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Johns Creek Has Heart: Defibrillators In Every Police Car
By DOUG NURSE www.ajc.com
According to the American Heart Association, a person dies of heart attack every minute nationwide. Officials of Johns Creek are taking steps to improve victims' chances of survival.
A program to put defibrillators in each of the city's 29 patrol cars has prompted the AHA to name the Johns Creek as Georgia's First "Heart Ready City." The city also is placing the lifesaving devices in municipal buildings, and city parks. Firetrucks also come equipped with heart resuscitation device.Defibrillators send an electrical shock to the heart to restore the heart rhythm to a normal pace.
"This designation is due to the hard work and dedication of the city's leaders in their commitment to training governmental employees in CPR, hosting community CPR events, the proliferation of automated external defibrillators for public access in the community, and providing life saving public services at the highest level," AHA Senior Director of EMS Mike Willingham said in a prepared statement.
Public Safety Communications Manager Rosemary Taylor said that last year a life was saved by a defibrillator owned by Newtown Park Athletic Association. Later this year, interested citizens also may learn how to use it through a community-wide defibrillator-CPR training program through the Johns Creek Fire Department, the American Heart Association and Emory Johns Creek Hospital.
Emory Johns Creek Hospital donated $10,000 to the program. Georgia Power Corp., Rural Metro EMS, Ciba Vision and Olde Taylor Farms also helped raise $34,800 to outfit every police patrol car. The American Heart Association contributed $11,400 to provide six defibrillators to other city facilities.
An awards ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Emory Johns Creek Hospital.
According to the American Heart Association, a person dies of heart attack every minute nationwide. Officials of Johns Creek are taking steps to improve victims' chances of survival.
A program to put defibrillators in each of the city's 29 patrol cars has prompted the AHA to name the Johns Creek as Georgia's First "Heart Ready City." The city also is placing the lifesaving devices in municipal buildings, and city parks. Firetrucks also come equipped with heart resuscitation device.Defibrillators send an electrical shock to the heart to restore the heart rhythm to a normal pace.
"This designation is due to the hard work and dedication of the city's leaders in their commitment to training governmental employees in CPR, hosting community CPR events, the proliferation of automated external defibrillators for public access in the community, and providing life saving public services at the highest level," AHA Senior Director of EMS Mike Willingham said in a prepared statement.
Public Safety Communications Manager Rosemary Taylor said that last year a life was saved by a defibrillator owned by Newtown Park Athletic Association. Later this year, interested citizens also may learn how to use it through a community-wide defibrillator-CPR training program through the Johns Creek Fire Department, the American Heart Association and Emory Johns Creek Hospital.
Emory Johns Creek Hospital donated $10,000 to the program. Georgia Power Corp., Rural Metro EMS, Ciba Vision and Olde Taylor Farms also helped raise $34,800 to outfit every police patrol car. The American Heart Association contributed $11,400 to provide six defibrillators to other city facilities.
An awards ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Emory Johns Creek Hospital.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Three Teens Rescued After Getting Stranded On A Rock In River
By MARCUS K. GARNER www.ajc.com
Fulton and Gwinnett county emergency teams rescued a group of teens Tuesday night trapped on a rock in the Chattahoochee River.Rescuers were called about 9:30 p.m.
The three youth, ages 17, 16 and 15, had been swimming near Medlock Bridge Road in Johns Creek, when one of the river pumping stations began raising the water level, Fulton County officials said.
"The water got a little too high for them," Fulton County Fire Department Lt. Gregory Chambers said. "They were stuck on a rock, screaming for help."
Residents at a nearby apartment complex heard the teens and called the fire department. Fulton County rescuers called Gwinnett to assist.
"They had a boat," Chambers said of the Gwinnett County swift water rescue team.
The teens were brought ashore after telling rescuers they had been on the river "for hours," Chambers said. They were treated on the scene for minor injuries and released, he said.
Fulton and Gwinnett county emergency teams rescued a group of teens Tuesday night trapped on a rock in the Chattahoochee River.Rescuers were called about 9:30 p.m.
The three youth, ages 17, 16 and 15, had been swimming near Medlock Bridge Road in Johns Creek, when one of the river pumping stations began raising the water level, Fulton County officials said.
"The water got a little too high for them," Fulton County Fire Department Lt. Gregory Chambers said. "They were stuck on a rock, screaming for help."
Residents at a nearby apartment complex heard the teens and called the fire department. Fulton County rescuers called Gwinnett to assist.
"They had a boat," Chambers said of the Gwinnett County swift water rescue team.
The teens were brought ashore after telling rescuers they had been on the river "for hours," Chambers said. They were treated on the scene for minor injuries and released, he said.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Roberts Realty Investors close $60M Deal
July 10, 2008 09:21 AM
Appen Newspapers
JOHNS CREEK – Roberts Realty Investors closed the sale of its 403-unit AddisonPlace apartment community for $60 million. Though shareholders and unitholders will receive 66 cents per share/unit, that's a far cry from the $2.50 announced in January and April press releases. The company blames the weakness in the U.S. economy and the continued stress in the banking system."Despite the aggressive actions taken by the Federal Reserve during the past year, the economy continues to struggle and credit is still difficult to obtain," said Charles R. Elliott, company CFO. "In this weak and uncertain economy with no improvement in sight, our priority is to prudently manage our balance sheet for maximum liquidity."
The distribution will be paid Aug. 5 to shareholders and unitholders of record on July 10.The sales price is equal to $148,883 per apartment unit or $102 per square foot and resulted in net cash proceeds of approximately $29.3 million to the company. The buyer was not disclosed.Addison Place is in Johns Creek and consists of 118 townhomes and 285 garden apartments. The first phase of Addison Place consisting of 118 townhomes was completed in 1999 and the second phase of 285 garden apartments was completed in 2001.
Addison Place was designed, developed, and constructed by Roberts Properties Inc., a non-owned affiliate of the company.Charles S. Roberts, the company's founder and CEO, said: "Since 1994, our investment strategy has been to buy well-located land in high-growth neighborhoods and then develop, construct, and manage these high-quality apartment communities."
Elliott said they believe the best way to create shareholder value is to periodically sell its apartment communities to make distributions to shareholders from the proceeds.The company has paid dividends and distributions totaling $8.84 per share/unit since 1996. In 2003, Roberts Realty Investors sold its Highland Park apartment community and paid a distribution of ¢55 cents per share/unit. In 2004, the company sold a portfolio of five apartment communities and paid a distribution of $4.50 per share/unit.With Addison Place distribution payments, the company will have paid dividends and distributions totaling $9.50 per share/unit since 1996, which is equal to an average of 73 cents per share/unit per year for each of the past 13 years.
The company moves forward with development and construction of apartment communities in Forsyth County and in Sandy Springs totaling 374 residential units.Sawmill Village is a 22-acre site that is zoned for 154 residential units. The property is located at the intersection of Ga. 9 and Old Atlanta Road in Forsyth County, an area that is experiencing rapid growth. This community will be similar in size to Rosewood Plantation and Ivey Brook, two other 150-unit communities the company previously developed and sold for a substantial return.The company's Northridge property is an 11-acre site located in Sandy Springs, and is adjacent to its Northridge office building.This property is zoned for mixed-use and will include 220 residential units consisting of one- and two-bedroom homes along with covered parking for the residents.
Appen Newspapers
JOHNS CREEK – Roberts Realty Investors closed the sale of its 403-unit AddisonPlace apartment community for $60 million. Though shareholders and unitholders will receive 66 cents per share/unit, that's a far cry from the $2.50 announced in January and April press releases. The company blames the weakness in the U.S. economy and the continued stress in the banking system."Despite the aggressive actions taken by the Federal Reserve during the past year, the economy continues to struggle and credit is still difficult to obtain," said Charles R. Elliott, company CFO. "In this weak and uncertain economy with no improvement in sight, our priority is to prudently manage our balance sheet for maximum liquidity."
The distribution will be paid Aug. 5 to shareholders and unitholders of record on July 10.The sales price is equal to $148,883 per apartment unit or $102 per square foot and resulted in net cash proceeds of approximately $29.3 million to the company. The buyer was not disclosed.Addison Place is in Johns Creek and consists of 118 townhomes and 285 garden apartments. The first phase of Addison Place consisting of 118 townhomes was completed in 1999 and the second phase of 285 garden apartments was completed in 2001.
Addison Place was designed, developed, and constructed by Roberts Properties Inc., a non-owned affiliate of the company.Charles S. Roberts, the company's founder and CEO, said: "Since 1994, our investment strategy has been to buy well-located land in high-growth neighborhoods and then develop, construct, and manage these high-quality apartment communities."
Elliott said they believe the best way to create shareholder value is to periodically sell its apartment communities to make distributions to shareholders from the proceeds.The company has paid dividends and distributions totaling $8.84 per share/unit since 1996. In 2003, Roberts Realty Investors sold its Highland Park apartment community and paid a distribution of ¢55 cents per share/unit. In 2004, the company sold a portfolio of five apartment communities and paid a distribution of $4.50 per share/unit.With Addison Place distribution payments, the company will have paid dividends and distributions totaling $9.50 per share/unit since 1996, which is equal to an average of 73 cents per share/unit per year for each of the past 13 years.
The company moves forward with development and construction of apartment communities in Forsyth County and in Sandy Springs totaling 374 residential units.Sawmill Village is a 22-acre site that is zoned for 154 residential units. The property is located at the intersection of Ga. 9 and Old Atlanta Road in Forsyth County, an area that is experiencing rapid growth. This community will be similar in size to Rosewood Plantation and Ivey Brook, two other 150-unit communities the company previously developed and sold for a substantial return.The company's Northridge property is an 11-acre site located in Sandy Springs, and is adjacent to its Northridge office building.This property is zoned for mixed-use and will include 220 residential units consisting of one- and two-bedroom homes along with covered parking for the residents.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Officer Poses As Patient, Fake Dentist Arrested
A Johns Creek woman was arrested last week for operating an illegal dental clinic out of her home, police said. Claudinette Varon-Castro, 45, was charged with five felony charges on July 2, including three counts of practicing dentistry without a license. She was also charged for illegally having several medical drugs, including antibiotics, anesthetics and muscle relaxers."This was very unexpected," said Johns Creek police detective Capt. Brian Weaver. "This was a regular subdivision."
Police said Varon-Castro had certificates from her home country of Colombia saying she was a dentist, but was not licensed to practice in the United States or in Georgia, a felony.
She was taking cash only to see patients, police said.
She was taking cash only to see patients, police said.
Authorities were tipped off about Varon-Castro in May, and began a month-long sting.
Undercover officers set up appointments at Varon-Castro's home at 4790 Ogeechee Drive.
She examined one officer's mouth and suggested taking X-rays and applying local anesthesia before a procedure.
Undercover officers set up appointments at Varon-Castro's home at 4790 Ogeechee Drive.
She examined one officer's mouth and suggested taking X-rays and applying local anesthesia before a procedure.
Varon-Castro told the officer she would charge $180 for her service. When the officer declined and asked only for pain medicine, Varon-Castro offered 22 Amoxicillin pills and charged the officer $60 cash."I'm delighted that this hit the public eye," said Dr. Peter Trager, former president of the Georgia Board of Dentistry, the agency that regulates dentists. "Hopefully, it will put the fear of God in some of these other people that police and the board don't know about."
Trager said many underground dentists like Varon-Castro prey on undocumented immigrants who either can't afford or are afraid to go to a conventional dentist."Most of the time, they get hurt, and they don't report it because of their illegal status," the Marietta dentist said. "Fortunately, the state Legislature made it a felony" in 2005.
Varon-Castro was released from the Fulton County Jail last week on $25,000 bond, according to jail records.
Weaver, the lead detective in this ongoing investigation, said more charges could be pending, "once we determine what was taken out of there."
He said police are trying to determine how she got Amoxicillin, antibiotics, the muscle relaxant Flexoral and three different anesthetics, including Lidocaine. "She could've gotten them online, or she could've gotten them through a regular dealer, since she has some medical connections," Weaver said.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Incorporating Cities: Tired Of Services Not Matching Tax Burden
By Jeffrey H. Dorfman www.ajc.com
Georgia has more than 500 cities. It would seem that we don't need more local governments, yet that is just what we are getting. Fulton County has added four cities (Sandy Springs, Johns Creek, Milton and Chattahoochee Hill Country) in the past few years. There has been talk of a new city in DeKalb. There is even talk of splitting Fulton County in two (by bringing Milton County back). Additionally, there was recent discussion of the Buckhead area of Atlanta becoming a city.When these new cities are proposed, there is much discussion about the economic consequences. Some effort is spent to answer the question "Will the new city be economically viable?" However, much more effort is usually spent on the horrible economic damage that will be done to an existing local government.When a county or city advances the argument that the formation of a new city will cause economic hardship to the existing government, resulting in service cutbacks or tax increases, it is admitting to overcharging the area considering forming a new city.
Atlanta doesn't want Buckhead to leave because Buckhead residents pay far more in taxes and fees than the value of city services received. Sandy Springs, Milton and Johns Creek were all similar cases.Citizens pushing for new cities sometimes talk about local control, different zoning policies or other customer-service-type issues, but these are window dressing. Cities are forming because their would-be residents are being overcharged by their current service provider(s).There is no single definition of "fair taxation." However, the national consensus is that the federal government should be funded by a progressive tax system based on one's ability to pay. State government funding is generally less progressive, but still somewhat weighted in that direction.
We do not appear to have a similar consensus that city and county governments should be funded based on "ability to pay," with many people favoring paying based on services received.Cities and counties in Georgia typically get 30 percent to 50 percent of their revenues from property taxes, and that means the owners of more expensive houses are paying more taxes.Since it is rarely more expensive to provide services to those more expensive houses, local government collects a surplus from them and uses it to offset the shortfall from owners of less expensive properties. (Businesses also generate a surplus for local governments.)Some will feel that city and county governments should be trying to charge their citizens an amount equaling services received, which they generally do for some services, such as trash, water and sewer. Others will think the current system is fair, with wealthier citizens bearing a heavier burden. Who is right doesn't matter (it's both, since these are opinions).
What counts is that there are large numbers of people and neighborhoods that can have lower taxes by forming their own city.We might try solutions such as a property tax cap, more reliance on sales taxes or more reliance on user fees and charges for services.In the meantime, as long as we have a system where taxes are not tied to services received in a manner that people deem fair, new cities will continue to become reality.
> Jeffrey H. Dorfman is a professor of agricultural and applied economics at the University of Georgia.
Georgia has more than 500 cities. It would seem that we don't need more local governments, yet that is just what we are getting. Fulton County has added four cities (Sandy Springs, Johns Creek, Milton and Chattahoochee Hill Country) in the past few years. There has been talk of a new city in DeKalb. There is even talk of splitting Fulton County in two (by bringing Milton County back). Additionally, there was recent discussion of the Buckhead area of Atlanta becoming a city.When these new cities are proposed, there is much discussion about the economic consequences. Some effort is spent to answer the question "Will the new city be economically viable?" However, much more effort is usually spent on the horrible economic damage that will be done to an existing local government.When a county or city advances the argument that the formation of a new city will cause economic hardship to the existing government, resulting in service cutbacks or tax increases, it is admitting to overcharging the area considering forming a new city.
Atlanta doesn't want Buckhead to leave because Buckhead residents pay far more in taxes and fees than the value of city services received. Sandy Springs, Milton and Johns Creek were all similar cases.Citizens pushing for new cities sometimes talk about local control, different zoning policies or other customer-service-type issues, but these are window dressing. Cities are forming because their would-be residents are being overcharged by their current service provider(s).There is no single definition of "fair taxation." However, the national consensus is that the federal government should be funded by a progressive tax system based on one's ability to pay. State government funding is generally less progressive, but still somewhat weighted in that direction.
We do not appear to have a similar consensus that city and county governments should be funded based on "ability to pay," with many people favoring paying based on services received.Cities and counties in Georgia typically get 30 percent to 50 percent of their revenues from property taxes, and that means the owners of more expensive houses are paying more taxes.Since it is rarely more expensive to provide services to those more expensive houses, local government collects a surplus from them and uses it to offset the shortfall from owners of less expensive properties. (Businesses also generate a surplus for local governments.)Some will feel that city and county governments should be trying to charge their citizens an amount equaling services received, which they generally do for some services, such as trash, water and sewer. Others will think the current system is fair, with wealthier citizens bearing a heavier burden. Who is right doesn't matter (it's both, since these are opinions).
What counts is that there are large numbers of people and neighborhoods that can have lower taxes by forming their own city.We might try solutions such as a property tax cap, more reliance on sales taxes or more reliance on user fees and charges for services.In the meantime, as long as we have a system where taxes are not tied to services received in a manner that people deem fair, new cities will continue to become reality.
> Jeffrey H. Dorfman is a professor of agricultural and applied economics at the University of Georgia.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Roberts Realty Divests Suburban ATL Community for $60M
From The Atlanta Business Chronicle
Roberts Realty Investors Inc. has sold the 403-unit Addison Place apartment community in Johns Creek, Ga., for $60 million.
The buyer was not disclosed.
Addison Place was designed and built by Roberts Properties Inc., a non-owned affiliate of Atlanta-based Roberts Realty Investors (AMEX: RPI). The development has 118 townhouses and 285 apartments.
Roberts Realty Investors also said Tuesday it will give a dividend of 66 cents a share to shareholders and 66 cents per unit to unitholders. The distribution will be paid on Aug. 5 to shareholders and unitholders of record on July 10.
The company had planned on a distribution of $2.50 a share/unit, but given the weakness in the U.S. economy and continued stress in the banking system, the company said it believes the safest course of action is to distribute only 66 cents a share/unit.
"Despite the aggressive actions taken by the Federal Reserve during the past year, the economy continues to struggle and credit is still difficult to obtain," said Charles R. Elliott, Roberts Realty chief financial officer. "In this weak and uncertain economy with no improvement in sight, our priority is to prudently manage our balance sheet for maximum liquidity."
Roberts Realty Investors Inc. has sold the 403-unit Addison Place apartment community in Johns Creek, Ga., for $60 million.
The buyer was not disclosed.
Addison Place was designed and built by Roberts Properties Inc., a non-owned affiliate of Atlanta-based Roberts Realty Investors (AMEX: RPI). The development has 118 townhouses and 285 apartments.
Roberts Realty Investors also said Tuesday it will give a dividend of 66 cents a share to shareholders and 66 cents per unit to unitholders. The distribution will be paid on Aug. 5 to shareholders and unitholders of record on July 10.
The company had planned on a distribution of $2.50 a share/unit, but given the weakness in the U.S. economy and continued stress in the banking system, the company said it believes the safest course of action is to distribute only 66 cents a share/unit.
"Despite the aggressive actions taken by the Federal Reserve during the past year, the economy continues to struggle and credit is still difficult to obtain," said Charles R. Elliott, Roberts Realty chief financial officer. "In this weak and uncertain economy with no improvement in sight, our priority is to prudently manage our balance sheet for maximum liquidity."
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Johns Creek Mayor Elected As GMA Chairman
Appen Newspapers
JOHNS CREEK - The Metro Atlanta Mayors Association elected Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker as its 2008-09 chairman during the Georgia Municipal Association's 75th Annual Conference June 23 in Savannah.
Bodker replaces Douglasville Mayor Mickey Thompson, who rotated off after serving a one-year term as chairman of the Association."Mike's enthusiasm and commitment to not only his citizens but also to the residents of the entire metro area make him the perfect choice as tnext MAMA chairman." Thompson said.MAMA, formed in 2003 to increase communications between cities in the metro Atlanta region, consists of mayors from the 66 cities in 10 counties in the metro area. The association supports policy decisions that are beneficial to local governments, organizes activities among the cities that are beneficial to the region and relates needs to federal, state and regional agencies and citizens.Bodker recently completed a term as the chairman of the newly formed North Fulton Municipal Association, which brings together the six cities of North Fulton County.
Additionally, he led both the North East Fulton Study Committee and the Committee for Johns Creek, which ultimately led to the creation of the City of Johns Creek."The first thing I'm planning on doing as chairman is to develop a plan to address the highest level items that we can truly affect change on within this year," Bodker said. "If we are to continue to enjoy success as a region, MAMA must continue to work cooperatively, communicate broadly and think creatively. I look forward to working with the other 65 member mayors, as well as our partner organizations, to address these common issues facing us."
JOHNS CREEK - The Metro Atlanta Mayors Association elected Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker as its 2008-09 chairman during the Georgia Municipal Association's 75th Annual Conference June 23 in Savannah.
Bodker replaces Douglasville Mayor Mickey Thompson, who rotated off after serving a one-year term as chairman of the Association."Mike's enthusiasm and commitment to not only his citizens but also to the residents of the entire metro area make him the perfect choice as tnext MAMA chairman." Thompson said.MAMA, formed in 2003 to increase communications between cities in the metro Atlanta region, consists of mayors from the 66 cities in 10 counties in the metro area. The association supports policy decisions that are beneficial to local governments, organizes activities among the cities that are beneficial to the region and relates needs to federal, state and regional agencies and citizens.Bodker recently completed a term as the chairman of the newly formed North Fulton Municipal Association, which brings together the six cities of North Fulton County.
Additionally, he led both the North East Fulton Study Committee and the Committee for Johns Creek, which ultimately led to the creation of the City of Johns Creek."The first thing I'm planning on doing as chairman is to develop a plan to address the highest level items that we can truly affect change on within this year," Bodker said. "If we are to continue to enjoy success as a region, MAMA must continue to work cooperatively, communicate broadly and think creatively. I look forward to working with the other 65 member mayors, as well as our partner organizations, to address these common issues facing us."
Monday, June 23, 2008
Many Johns Creek Businesses To Pay More In Taxes
By DOUG NURSE www.ajc.com
The Johns Creek City Council voted 5-0 Monday to keep the same property tax rate as last year, but many businesses are still going to pay more in taxes.
The council kept the millage at $4.614 per $1,000 in taxable property, which is the same rate residents paid to Fulton County before the community incorporated into a city Dec. 1.
For many, the city portion of the taxes will remain steady. But those who had their property reassessed by the county which will see their taxes change, mostly upward because property tends to be more valuable. Most of the land in Johns Creek re-assessed was commercial property. Only 14 percent of the residential property was reassessed countywide, according to the Tax Assessor's Office.
Major Thompson, a Johns Creek resident, asked the City Council to cap the tax increase at 3 percent for seniors and poor people.
The reassessments make up most of the city's $875,000 growth in the budget. About 49 percent of the increase in the tax digest – the log of total property values citywide – came from reassessments. The rest comes from new development since last year.
In 2007, the city collected $15.25 million in property taxes. The total budget is about $44 million for general government services.
The Johns Creek City Council voted 5-0 Monday to keep the same property tax rate as last year, but many businesses are still going to pay more in taxes.
The council kept the millage at $4.614 per $1,000 in taxable property, which is the same rate residents paid to Fulton County before the community incorporated into a city Dec. 1.
For many, the city portion of the taxes will remain steady. But those who had their property reassessed by the county which will see their taxes change, mostly upward because property tends to be more valuable. Most of the land in Johns Creek re-assessed was commercial property. Only 14 percent of the residential property was reassessed countywide, according to the Tax Assessor's Office.
Major Thompson, a Johns Creek resident, asked the City Council to cap the tax increase at 3 percent for seniors and poor people.
The reassessments make up most of the city's $875,000 growth in the budget. About 49 percent of the increase in the tax digest – the log of total property values citywide – came from reassessments. The rest comes from new development since last year.
In 2007, the city collected $15.25 million in property taxes. The total budget is about $44 million for general government services.
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