Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Wreck

Possible wreck at Hwy 5 & Douglas Blvd.




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Friday, February 16, 2007

Chase In Progress

Chase in progress on I-20.  Suspect is throwing drugs out the window.
 

Thursday, February 15, 2007

City Of Douglasville Meetings Tonight

The Douglasville Police Department is finally doing something about the gang problem and hiring more police to control this growing problem.  If you support this, go to the meeting tonight.
 
In other news, do we REALLY need ANOTHER pawn shop??
 
CITY OF DOUGLASVILLE CITY COUNCIL

Special Meeting   February 15, 2007 7:30 p.m.

AGENDA

1. Call to Order

2. Invocation

3. Pledge of Allegiance

4. Presentation of Key to the City and Proclamation to United States Army Major Adam B. Frederick.

5. Adopt resolution to recognize and honor United States Army Major Adam B. Frederick of Douglasville.

6. Parks & Recreation Committee/Roy Mims
a. 23-07-04 - Authorize the Mayor to sign the 2007 Loan Agreement between the National Museum of the United States Air Force and the City of Douglasville for the period of April 1, 2007, through March 31, 2008, for display of an F-105D aircraft at the Airplane Memorial in Hunter Park.

7. Personnel & Organization Committee/Roy Mims
a. 28-07-06 - Adopt an ordinance to amend Subsection 11-31. 1.c. (5) (A) of the City of Douglasville Personnel Policies and Procedures Ordinance to extend from 18 days to 30 days the period for "pay while on military leave" for any employee called to active duty in the event the President of the United States declares an emergency.

8. Other Business

_________________________________________________________________________

CITY OF DOUGLASVILLE
CITY COUNCIL

Legislative Work Session

February 15, 2007
7:30 p.m.

AGENDA

1. Call to Order

2. Invocation

3. Pledge of Allegiance

4. Public Safety Committee/Dennis McLain
a. Request for an alcohol beverage license for LSAA, Inc., DBA Sam's Mart #551-Shell for the retail package sale of wine and malt beverage at 5652 Fairburn Road (Georgia Highway 92). Application by LSAA, Inc.

b. Adopt an ordinance to amend Sections 10-1 and 10-149 of the City's Alcoholic Beverages Ordinance to prohibit serving alcohol at pouring establishments for private parties outside the legal approved hours.

5. Community & Economic Development Committee/John Schildroth
a. Reappoint to the City's Downtown Development Authority for new four-year terms extending to March 22, 2011: Patricia Smith in Post 4 and LaShun Danley in Post 3.

b. Adopt a resolution designating March as Douglas County Habitat for Humanity Month.

c. Authorize the City Manager to have a property appraisal report prepared on the City-owned property at 6694 Broad Street which currently houses the City's Community Development Department, including the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

d. Authorize the City's Downtown and Community Services Director to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to qualified consultant firms for the creation of "A Master Plan" for the Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) area, which includes downtown Douglasville.

6. Planning & Zoning Committee/Michael Carter
Tabled from January 4, 2007:
a. Request for an amendment to the DCD (Design Concept Development District) of The Villages of Riverview in order to re-configure the existing DCD concept plan to relocate the R-2 (Single Family Detached Residential District) base zone to the south, to relocate the R-3 (Single Family Detached Residential District) base zone to the midsection and to the northeast, and to relocate the R-6-T (Single Family Attached Townhouse Residential District) base zone to the northwest corner on approximately 888.438 acres located at Georgia Highway 92 (Fairburn Road) and South Riverside Parkway. Application by Falling Water, Inc.

New Business:
b. Request approval of a final plat for William Steve Lawler at 8703 and 8707 Bowden Street. Application by William Steve Lawler.

c. Request for a change in zoning from R-2 (Single Family Detached Residential District) to CN (Neighborhood Commercial District) for approximately 1.85 acres at 7051 West Strickland Street. Application by Jimmy McLeod.

d. Request for a change in zoning from CG (General Commercial District) to CG (General Commercial District) with a Special Land Use Permit for an elementary school on approximately 1.91 acres at 6218 Hospital Way. Application by Wilfred Rohling.

e. Request for a change in zoning from CG (General Commercial District) to CG (General Commercial District) with a Special Land Use Permit for a church on approximately .76 acre at 6472 East Church Street (Suite K). Application by Christ Centered Church.

f. Request for a change in zoning from CBD (Central Business District) with a Special Land Use Permit for a pawn shop on approximately .17 acre at 6800 West Broad Street. Application by Rick Bittner.

g. Adopt an ordinance to amend Subsections 372.03b. and 372. 03c. of the City's Zoning Ordinance to prohibit animated signs and signs lit with liquid crystal display, and to enact Subsection 3.72.06 of said Ordinance to prohibit unused sign structures.

h. Refer to the City Zoning Board a proposed amendment to the City's Zoning Ordinance to prohibit commercial automotive uses within Douglasville's historic districts, to provide for privately owned charter schools and their accessory uses as a special land use with the Design Concept Development (DCD) and residential districts, and to require a central point of payment for indoor vendors of used goods.

7. Parks & Recreation Committee/Roy Mims
a. Authorize the Mayor to sign a service agreement with Kim Banks for presentation of a Black History program at the Alice Hawthorne Community Center on February 23, 2007.

8. Finance Committee/Henry Mitchell III
a. Authorize the Mayor to sign a Second Modification Agreement to Rental Agreement for space occupied by the State Board of Pardons and Paroles at 8473 Duralee Lane.

9. Information Technology Committee/Henry Mitchell III
a. Authorize the Mayor to sign a Professional Services Agreement, a PremierPro Support and Maintenance Agreement, and a Software License Agreement with Selectron Technologies, Inc., for VoicePermits products.

10. Maintenance & Sanitation Committee/Charles Banks

11. Transportation Committee/Michael Carter
a. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate for acquisition of parcels needed for the Bright Star Road Connector project, subject to final approval of sales contracts by the Mayor and City Council.

12. Personnel & Organization Committee/Roy Mims
a. Establish the respective positions of Detective Sergeant and Detective in the Police Department's new Gang Intelligence and Investigations Unit, adopt a job description for each of these said two positions, and establish one job slot in the department's Gang Intelligence and Investigations Unit for the position of Detective Sergeant and one job slot for the position of Detective, effective February 20, 2007.

b. Establish the position of Communications Assistant in the Communications Department, adopt a job description for said position, and establish one job slot in said new position.

13. Ordinances & Intergovernmental Committee/Callye B. Holmes

14. Other Business

15. City Attorney/Joel Dodson

16. Chief Assistant City Attorney/Suzan Littlefield

17. City Manager/Bill Osborne

18. Comments from Citizens and Delegates

Thieves Caught In Lithia Springs

Photo by Stephen Barrett

Two men who robbed the Douglas County Bank in Lithia Springs Thursday were soon arrested.  Deputy Brad Sparks blocked the thieves' vehicle with his car and held the two men until other deputies arrived.  The police recovered a weapon and a large amount of cash from the car.  The men are facing armed robbery and possibly additional charges.  The two men's identities have not been released.

 

Sunday, February 11, 2007

Man Wanted In NC Now Faces Charges in Douglas County

A wanted man is in Grady Hospital in stable condition and his female companion is also under arrest after a high speed chase in Douglas County last night. 
 
A deputy stopped 18 year old Gigi Popperwill on I-20 and was giving her a ticket when her passenger, 25 year old Rusty Dickerson, switched places with her and began speeding to Cobb County.

The deputy used his car to stop Dickerson's car, crashing both cars in the process.  Dickerson, the deputy and the deputy's K-9 partner Rudy were injured in the crash.  All are recovering at hospitals in the area.

Douglas County police discovered almost five pounds of marijuana in Dickerson's car.  Dickerson is wanted for a shooting and automobile theft in North Carolina.  Once he is released, Dickerson will face charges in Douglas County before being sent back to North Carolina to face charges there.

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Body Identified

From The Sentinel:
 
Body found in creek identified
By Winston Jones
Douglas County authorities have identified a body found last Saturday in Bear Creek as a College Park man and have ruled the case a homicide.

`The state crime lab found trauma to the body consistent with homicide,` Chief Deputy Stan Copeland said Wednesday.

Copeland would not elaborate on the type injuries found and exact cause of death, pending further investigation of the case.

`We've assigned it to our CID (Criminal Investigation Division) unit as a homicide,` he said.

The victim was identified through fingerprints as Obia Mahoi, 28, a native of Sierra Leone in west Africa, who had been living in College Park.

`It appears he traveled extensively around the eastern United States,` Copeland said. He said the next of kin, a brother in Pennsylvania, has been notified.

Copeland said investigators believe Mahoi was killed elsewhere and his body dumped into the creek, either at the South River Road or Highway 166 bridges.

`He'd been arrested several times around metro Atlanta on an assortment of charges, including fraud and assault,` Copeland said.

He said Mahoi was wanted on felony charges at the time he disappeared. Mahoi wasn't reported as missing at the time because he was on the run from the law, Copeland said.

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

February 6 Board Of Commissioner's Meeting Summary

Invocation
Pledge of Allegiance
 
Citizen's Business--none.
 
Minutes of Jan. 16, 2007 approved.
 
Proclamation Feb. 12-16 Career and Technical Education Week
    Mike Mulcare--Is glad to see the interest in technical schools in Douglas County.
   Charley Camp--"The harder you work, the luckier you get."
Proclamation was adopted.
 
Plat approvals
The Terraces (tabled at last meeting, item is taken off table)
210 lot subdivision of townhomes, formally 250 lot apartment complex on Factory Shoals Rd
    Camp says zoning was made by another administration
Plat is approved.
 
House and Senate bills are approved (all deal with annexation).  Copies will be sent to Douglasville, Villa Rica, and Austell.
 
Mike Mulcare--"I've never hidden my disgust for annexation and the problems it has caused...I think this is a good step in the right direction...it truly effects my district..."
 
Charley Camp--"I think it's four good moves and I hope the legislature adopts these..."
 
Tom Worthan--"Presently having mediation for 12 acres on Dorris Road in Douglas County which we are objecting to...It's been a managed growth issue in Douglas County...I am ready and willing today...not to oppose any annexations in Douglas County" if cities agree to density on Comprehensive Land Use Plan.  "We've turned down a developer or two who asked for higher densities." 
 
Mike Mulcare--"These cities can essentially ignore the Comprehensive Land Use Plan."
 
Freddie Ashmore, Jr.--"The annexation is just going to make it a lot worse." (Talking about subdivisions sending 80 instead of 20 children to school)
 
Tom Worthan reminds Ashmore there is a school board member on the BOC and who provides input on how many students a prospective subdivision could hold.
 
Consent Agenda approved.  Consent Agenda includes a new park and ride lot for the western area of the county, two promotions within the police department, new phone service at Sheriff's Department, right-of-way for Duralee Lane extension, using more SPLOST money to complete Aquatic Center (over $1 million), and new paralegal position for solicitor's office.
 
Appointments made to Cemetery Preservation Commission and motion to approve appointments is approved by districts.  Six appointments are approved.
 
One new member appointed to Board of Assessors. 
 
Five appointments made to Development Authority.  Appointments approved.
 
Three names given to Hospital Authority to choose a person to appoint.
 
One new member appointed to Hospital Authority.
 
Five members appointed to Tourism and History Commission.
 
Two members appointed to Tourism and History Commission.
 
Approval of new fees for Aquatic Center.  Swim teams now have to pay $5 per hour for lane fees.

New Business--no new business.
 
Announcements
 
Mike Mulcare says we are not "in a crisis situation" involving gangs, but admits it is a problem.
 
Commissioner Comments
 
Freddie Ashmore, Jr. says improvements to South Sweetwater project (a new park) will be finished eventually.
 
Recess until 6:00 p.m. tonight.
 
 

Monday, February 05, 2007

BOC/P&Z Board Meeting Agenda

The meeting is February 7 at 6:00p.m. ET.  For once, no subdivisions are up for final approval!!
 

APPROVAL of MINUTES

 

January 2, 2007

 

AGENDA

 

Z2007-05

Eastwest Venture, LLC – Request for a rezoning from C-G to C-H for restaurant and retail sites at the property located at Thornton Road:  Land Lot(s) 520, District 18, Section 2, Parcel(s) 20.  Lot size:  5.931 acres.

Tab [1]

 

 

 

S2007-06

Cornerstone Baptist Church – Request for a Special Use Permit to allow a school with grades pre-K – 12 in association with the Church at the property located at 7167 South Sweetwater Road:  Land Lot(s) 531, District 18, Section 3, Parcel(s) 5.  Lot size:  12.13 acres.

Tab [2]

 

 

 

M2007-01/

Z2007-07

Placid, LLC – Request for an amendment to the Future Land Use Map from Urban Residential to Community Village Center and a rezoning from R-LD to OI-L for orthodontist and other professional offices at the property located at Brookmont Parkway:  Land Lot(s) 76, District 1, Section 5, and a portion of Parcel(s) 36.  Lot size:  2.17 acres.

Tab [3]

 

 

 

M2007-02/ Z2007-08

Brighten Academy, Inc. – Request for an amendment to the Future Land Use Map from Urban Residential to Community Village Center and a rezoning from R-LD to OI-L for a daycare facility to be used in conjunction with a Charter School at the property located at Brookmont Parkway:  Land Lot(s) 76, District 1, Section 5, and a portion of Parcel(s) 36.  Lot size:  5.85 acres.

Tab [4]


OTHER BUSINESS:

 

Consider updates to the following:

 Article 3, Section 305 Outdoor Storage, of the Unified Development Code;

Article 6, Section 610 Prohibited Parking, of the Unified Development Code;

Article 7, Section 705 Prohibited Signs, of the Unified Development Code.

 

Consider overlays for the following area:

                        Highway 5

 

 ADJOURN

Sunday, February 04, 2007

New Business Licenses January 2007

New Business Licenses Issued In January in Douglas County:
 
A&E Imports, A & S Appraisals, All Phases Contracting, Arnold Painting, ASAP Auto Brokers LLC, A-T Commercial, Baby Blessings, Blossoms From Heaven, Bonilla Gardening, BParker's Carpet Cleaning, BVF Sweetwater, C & J Automotive, Canmore Homes LLC, CBM Systems LLC, Charmed Marketing LLC, Customize Cleaning, David's Performance, Delta Electric Service, Discount Travel Solution, Doug Bailey Construction, Durham Cleaning Service, Dynamic Mom Enterprises, Envision Capital, Gemini Investment, Got It, Graceful Work Agency, Grady's Marble & Granite, Home Team Promotions LTD,  Jeff Thorpe Contracting, Kidz 4 Money LLC, La Zacatecana, Mr. Western's Janitorial, Nevaeh Gift Baskets, Neway Investigation, Nikki's Closet, Noel's Personal Services, Phillips Trucking, Platoon P31 Ministries, Reflections Cleaning, RJ Cleaning Service, RNDM Properties Inc, SCS Financial Recovery, Signature Nails, SIPP-N-Smile, Skytalk Communications, South Metro Computers, Soverain Janitorial, Stone Enterprises LLC, The Children's Dental, The Works Professional, TJAC's Educational, Trena's Trinkets, Triple A Recycling, Tutor To You, Yellow Gloves Cleaning

Body Found In Bear Creek

One of the Atlanta news stations had a report last night that a woman and her child found a body in/near the banks of Bear Creek near Hwy 166 yesterday afternoon while they were walking along the creek.  Police say they have been unable to identify the body and, after unable to find any report of missing persons up to six months ago locally, will now be looking at missing persons reports from other counties.

Thursday, February 01, 2007

BOC Meeting February 6 10:00 a.m.

WORK SESSION AGENDA FEBRUARY 5, 2007 10:00 A.M. – BOARD ROOM
 
CITIZENS' INPUT
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Regular Commission Meeting of January 16, 2007.
PROCLAMATION
2. Declaring February 12 – 16, 2007 as "Career, Technical and Agricultural Education Week" in Douglas County.
PLAT APPROVALS – PRELIMINARY PLAT APPROVAL (Cynde)
3. The Terraces (TABLED 1/16/07)
PLAT APPROVALS – FINAL PLAT ACCEPTANCE
4. Jean Warren Subdivision
BUSINESS
5. The Fire/EMS Department received donations in the amount of $11,500 for secondary communications and equipment. Amend the budget by increasing Donations by $11,500 and Fire/EMS Minor Equipment by $1,500 and Fire/EMS Telephone by $10,000. (Jennifer)

6. Acceptance of $3,000 for sponsorship on dctv23, amend the budget for the Department of Communications and Community Relations. (Wes)
7. Approval of the updated, revised Drug and Alcohol Fitness for Duty and Testing Policy for Rideshare. (Gary Watson)

8. Acceptance of GDOT grant award for funds for west Douglas County Park and Ride lot and vans for expansion and replacement of Rideshare fleet and authorize the Chairman to sign all necessary documents. (Gary Watson)
9. Approval of the following upgrades in the 2007 budget due to restructuring of the Criminal Investigation Division and creation of a Major Case Unit at the Sheriff's office: One Deputy Sheriff to Investigator Lieutenant and one Deputy Sheriff to Investigator. (Stan)
10. Approval of revised employment contract and new pay schedule for Mary Geiyer in Juvenile Programs Administration. (Jenny)
11. Approval of employment contract and transfer of new pay schedule for Pam Roberts in Juvenile Programs Administration. (Jenny)
 
12. Authorization to apply for a grant to serve children 0-3 in deprivation proceedings through the Office of Administrative Courts. Also, approve the necessary financial step to implement the grant with reimbursement of 100% to the County for any funds expended. (Jenny)
13. Approval of US LEC agreement for phone service at the Sheriff's Office.
14. Authorization to enter into an agreement with GDOT for right-of-way acquisition services for Project MSL-0004-00(425), Duralee Lane extension, and authorize the Chairman to sign agreement documents. (Randy)
15. Approval of proposed changes to the Boundary Waters Aquatic Fee Schedule. (Gary Dukes)
16. Authorization to create a Project Manager position for County construction and transfer salary/benefits and operating accounts from Building Inspections to the Board of Commissioners Department. Eliminate the
Building Official position; reclassify the Chief Building Official to Grade 35/01 and transfer salary and benefits from Development Control to Building Inspections.
17. Authorization to create a Paralegal position (29/02) for the Solicitor's Office and transfer $45,235 from Finance and Appraisal for salaries/benefits.
18. Appointments to the Cemetery Preservation Commission.
19. Appointment to the Board of Assessors.
20. Appointments to Development Authority.
21. Submittal of three names to the Hospital Authority for Board appointment.
22. Appointment to the Hospital Authority of Douglas County.
23. Appointments to the Tourism and History Commission.
24. Appointments to the Douglas County Community Services Board.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS
EXECUTIVE SESSION - Personnel, Litigation, Land Acquisition