Joint 911 service coming to North Fulton cities

By APRIL HUNT
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Emergency response is about to go local in Sandy Springs and Johns Creek.
The cities are building a joint $3.5 million 911 center that will come online Sept. 1.

“The expectation in these two communities is extraordinarily high, and we will deliver on them,” said Noah Reiter, the assistant city manager in Sandy Springs who oversaw the project. “We expect crews dispatched within 60 seconds of a call, arriving in minutes.”

That hadn’t been happening for years when the north Fulton County cities began talking about starting their own 911 network about two years ago.

Residents in both communities complained of delays in getting emergency services to a scene and of delays in getting dispatchers to the phone.

Lack of training for dispatchers and problems with retention came to light after a tragedy a year ago. Darlene Dukes, 39, called an ambulance from her Johns Creek home, but the dispatcher sent the crew to an address in Atlanta 28 miles away. Dukes later died.

“The level of service we’re getting was just not acceptable, and that was before the Dukes incident,” Johns Creek City Manager John Kachmar said. “We wanted to do better.”

The new 911 center will help dispatchers map the best routes, calculate response times and track emergency crews. Just as important, there will be 54 full-time dispatchers. By comparison, Fulton’s 911 call center authorizes 109 but typically has about 75 to 80 people on staff, according to a 2008 report.

City officials pushed back plans to launch the new call center on Aug. 1 to give the new hires more training, including police ride-alongs to acquaint them with the layout of the cities.
In keeping with policies to outsource services, the cities have a joint contract with iXP Corp. to set up and run the 911 network. Sandy Springs paid $2.5 million for the work, with Johns Creek paying $1 million, based on population.

The iXP contract contains penalties for bad service, such as speed in answering calls and getting crews to accident scenes.

“We all have a vested interest in ensuring success,” Reiter said.

Arts Center faces financial crisis

by Hatcher Hurd / Appen Newspapers

July 08, 2009 Despite statewide recognition for its adult programs, after-school enrichment classes and summer arts camps, the Johns Creek Arts Center (JCAC) — a wholly nonprofit organization — is facing its greatest financial crisis ever and may close its doors.

It has served a population of more than 100,000 residents in North Fulton, South Forsyth and Gwinnett counties for 11 years, while constantly expanding its facilities and scope of service.

During that time it has made do with surprisingly little corporate or public support other than the fees for its programs. But in today's climate of economic belt-tightening, it has experienced shortfalls in the spring and summer enrollments as families cut back on expenses. JCAC officials say they must raise $75,000 in 60 days or shut down by the end of the year.

JCAC Executive Director Gail Hisle said the financial crisis has been heightened by a more than 50 percent reduction in grant money since 2005 from the Fulton County Arts Council, which in turn has faced reduced funding from the county.

"That is the only source of government assistance we receive. Now with families cutting back, we are making an appeal to corporate or public assistance or we won't survive the recession," Hisle said.

A letter urging support of the JCAC has gone out with the signatures of state Rep. and House Speaker Pro Tem Mark Burkhalter, Fulton County Commissioner Lynne Riley and Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker.

Meanwhile the JCAC has done all it can to cut back on expenses without reducing its commitment to artistic excellence. The JCAC Board of Directors is working to provide long-term stability, but in the meantime it is calling on the community to help "provide a financial bridge to the future."

The crisis became apparent when spring and summer enrollments dropped off. These are the JCAC's biggest sources of revenue and pay the bills for its leaner months in the fall and winter, Hisle said.

"We are very seasonable. The summer camps are our main revenue driver. But we were hit with a double whammy when both spring and summer enrollments were off by a third," she said.

Another problem has been a lack of community awareness. The center relies mostly on schools and libraries to get its schedules out to the public.

"Many people still don't even know we're here," said Board President Linda Mauldin. "We have always relied heavily on our programming for revenues – more so than most similar arts centers – but we have hit a wall here.If we go away, that will leave only the Roswell Arts Center to provide programs north of the Chattahoochee."

The JCAC not only provides an important addition to the community's quality of life through its programs, it also provides many "extras," such as providing a source for Scouting merit badges, programs for assisted living residents and other "special projects."

"We had a request from a parent to paint a mural in their basement, which we were able to do," Hisle said. "They had an invalid child and they wanted to make it attractive for other children to come to their house to play since their child could not go to theirs."

The JCAC has been able to trim its budget from $500,000 annually to $400,000, but there are many fixed costs, including mortgage, insurance and utilities, that can't be cut, Hisle said.Materials for classes are costly as well. Still, the JCAC is finding more ways to design programs to fit the needs of residents.Drop-In Painting is one of those. This is a short, four-week art class designed mostly for retirees who travel a lot. The shorter class, about half as long as usual, lets retirees come when they can – all their materials are kept on site for their convenience – and is easier to schedule.Classes for all ages include painting, jewelry making, photography, storytelling, ceramics and pottery-making, theater, home-schooling, guitar for adults and teens, mosaics and stained glass work.

"We believe we are an important part of the area's economic vitality as well. Many businesses consider the quality of life for their employees when they make a big decision to locate," said Mauldin. "That is a point we plan to make when we call on corporate sponsors."

To date, the JCAC only receives about 3 percent of its revenue from corporations, despite many large companies, including those on the Fortune 500 list, being nearby. "We have relied a great deal on our own reserves in the past, but now we have to ask the business community and residents for help," Mauldin said.Meanwhile the center has been nominated for Nickelodeon's award for the "Parents' Picks" for art centers in the Atlanta area and leads all other nominees in balloting."It would be a shame if the last thing we do is win that award and then close down," Hisle said.

Johns Creek Police debut new bikes

by Jennifer Chapman / Appen Newspapers

July 09, 2009

Johns Creek - Johns Creek Police officers are now pedaling through the streets of neighborhoods, parks and shopping centers.Two JCPD officers, M.D. Meberg and J.T. Ware, are patrolling Johns Creek on two new TREK bicycles.

"The bikes make us more approachable," said Meberg. "People don't always say hi when you're in a patrol car."

The bicycles allow easier access to situations and to areas that patrol cars can't always get to, such as trails, yards and alleys."It's very effective when we're pursuing a suspect on foot, for example," Densmore notes. "It's also less obtrusive than a patrol car, so in certain situations, a bicycle officer can provide a necessary low-key response."

The two TREK bikes - which cost $1,100 each - are decorated with police emblems and have a bag attached that holds ticket books, First Aid kits, tools, towels and bike chains.The new bicycle patrol is part of the PACT (Police and Community Together) program and officers will participate in neighborhood meetings, city events and bike safety rodeos.

Notice - City of Johns Creek

CITY OF JOHNS CREEK PLANNING COMMISSION, PUBLIC HEARING:TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2009 AT 7:00

P.M.CITY OF JOHNS CREEK MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, PUBLIC HEARING:MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2009 AT 7:00 P.M.

CITY OF JOHNS CREEK COUNCIL CHAMBER
12000 FINDLEY ROAD, SUITE 300
JOHNS CREEK, GEORGIA 30097

The following Land Use Petition/Special Use Permit proposals located within the City of Johns Creek are scheduled for Public Hearings as stated above.

LAND USE PETITION: RZ-09-008
PETITIONER: Ms. Jan Tung
LOCATION: 11300 Block of Jones Bridge Road4800 Block of Bridge Place Way
CURRENT ZONING: AG – 1 (Agricultural District)
PROPOSED ZONING: O – I (Office and Institutional District)
PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT: Daycare facility
CONCURRENT VARIANCES: VC-09-008-1
PETITIONER: Ms. Jan Tung
LOCATION: 11300 Block of Jones Bridge Road4800 Block of Bridge Place Way
CURRENT ZONING: AG – 1 (Agricultural District)
REQUEST: To allow for encroachment of driveway into the 25 ft side zoning buffer and 10 ft improvement setback.
CONCURRENT VARIANCES: VC-09-008-2
PETITIONER: Ms. Jan Tung
LOCATION: 11300 Block of Jones Bridge Road4800 Block of Bridge Place Way
CURRENT ZONING: AG – 1 (Agricultural District)REQUEST: To allow parking encroachment in the front yard setback

A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE CITY OF JOHNS CREEK ZONING ORDINANCE IS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING AS STATED ABOVE. A COPY OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES IS LOCATED WITHIN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT FOR PUBLIC VIEWING. Zoning Text Amendment A-09-005 – Amendment to the City of Johns Creek Zoning Ordinance to amend Article XVIII – Off Street Parking and Loading to revise parking standards.

Burkhalter Presented Historic Framed Picture

ATLANTA - Speaker Pro Tem Mark Burkhalter (R-Johns Creek) was presenteda framed copy of the old Milton County Courthouse from Mr. WilliamBates, Representative Jan Jones (R- Milton) and the AlpharettaHistorical Society at the first meeting of the Milton County LegislatorsAdvisory Committee on June 11, 2009 at Johns Creek city hall.The frame was crafted by Mr. Bates out of original wood from thedemolished Milton County Courthouse. The courthouse was built in 1895and located on South Main Street in Alpharetta. Alpharetta City Hall isnow located on the same site of the Milton County courthouse which wasdemolished in 1955.

Off-duty APD cop wounds man in Johns Creek

By CHRISTIAN BOONE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wednesday, July 01, 2009

An unidentified man was seriously wounded early Wednesday evening in a Johns Creek subdivision after a shootout involving an off-duty Atlanta Police Department officer and two local officers.

The Atlanta cop heard gunfire outside his home on Abbotts Station Drive a little before 7 p.m., said Johns Creek Police Department Chief Ed Densmore. Identifying himself, the APD officer ordered the man, said to be in his 50s, to drop his weapon. The man refused, gunshots were exchanged and the armed man was plunked in the leg, Densmore said.

As he was confronting the man, the APD officer alerted 911. Johns Creek officers arrived in a “dynamic situation,” Densmore said. More bullets were exchanged, and the suspect was shot again and transported to Emory Johns Creek Hospital.