C I T Y O F F O R E S T
P A R K
TO: Mayor and Council
FROM: John Parker, City Manager
DATE:
SUBJECT: INFORMATION BULLETIN -
FEBRUARY, 2008
The
following is a department by department status report of priority activities, projects
and initiatives for the month of February, 2008.
DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION / FINANCE
Expenditures
(preliminary totals) for the General Fund for the month of February are
$1,293,403 or 7.24% of the budget.
Year-to-date preliminary expenditures for the General Fund are
$10,738,261 or 60.09% of the budget (fiscal year July 2006 – June 2007). For
comparison purposes, the period of July through February represents 66.67% of
the budget year. Total expenditures for the General Fund remain under budget
for the eight month period of July through February.
Local
Option Sales Tax revenue received in February was $441,594, compared to
$468,668 for February of the prior year. The fiscal year-to-date total received
is $3,344,981 or 63.11% of the budget. The percentage of the budget year
through February is 66.67% of the year; therefore, revenue from Local Option
Sales Tax remains under budget through February. The state of the economy is
contributing to this.
Business
license payments for 2008 licenses were due by February 28. As of the end of
February, $513,519 (79% of budget) of collections had been posted to the
accounting system. This amount does not represent all license collections. An
additional amount of fees had been collected but not posted to the accounting
system as of the end of February.
Licenses for
new business for the month of January 2008:
Name Description
Katherine
Florist Florist and Gift Shop
Los Amigos
Restaurant Restaurant and Billiards
Pink Pony
South Restaurant and Adult Cabaret
A.K. Surplus
Beauty Supply Beauty Supplies
Rodeway Inn
& Suites Hotel Accommodations
Texaco Food
Mart Convenience Store and Gas
Daizy’s
Beauty Salon Beauty Shop
Neighborhood
Family Games and Billiards
Alex’s
Lunex Express Coinstar Money Transfer
Shell Food
Mart Convenience Store and Gas
HD – TV Electronics: TV, Cameras, DVD
Taqueria Y
Tupuseria La International Restaurant
Ceasar D.
Richbow Law Practice
Mike Blandenburg, Director
(404) 366-4720
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING, BUILDING AND
ZONING
Building Plans Submitted
1. O’Reilly Auto Parts
2. Clorox 17
3. Rainwater Construction 316
Cash Memorial Blvd.
Building Permits Issued
1.
2. 826 Sherwood Cir. Fire
repair; 1,760 sq. ft. JC $80,000
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Certificate of Occupancies Issued
1. Frontera Imports
2. Chef Reye’s Express 4496 Jonesboro Rd.
3. Pkwy. Bottle Shop 11
4. Surface Prep Solutions 105
5. Mike’s Signs & Advert.
6. Ari’s Tax Svc.
7. Clinical Medical
8. Jacobson Wilpak
9. D’Voted Agency 519
10. Tasty Treats Bakery 1067
11. Cakes by L’Meeka 1067
12. Waters Edge Apts.
13. The Awards Ctr.
14. Jackie’s Boutique 4436 Jonesboro Rd.
15. White Star Comm. 4140 Jonesboro Rd. Ste. 500A/B
Affiliate Board Activity
Planning and Zoning
Board
The
Planning and Zoning Board held a Public Hearing on
A
second Public Hearing was held on
Special Interest
Please
join me in congratulating two Planning, Building and Zoning associates for
reaching significant milestones in their tenure with the City of
Nancy Callahan, Permit Clerk has completed twenty
(20) years of service. She has been responsible for the issuance of virtually
each and every permit for every phase of building development to include;
building, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, grading, land disturbance, etc. for the
last two decades.
V.L. “Jenny” Johnson, has completed twenty-five (25) years
of service. She has served as the “only” Animal Control Officer the City has
ever employed. For the last quarter century, she has devoted her abilities,
talent and extraordinary capabilities to achieve outstanding performance in the
Animal Control arena.
Thank
you, ladies, for your commitment and loyalty to the Planning, Building and
Zoning Dept. and the City.
Steve
Pearson, Director
(404)
608-2303
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
Street
Division:
Street crews had a busy month with
right-of-way clean-ups of debris in ditches, cutting bushes, and opening
blocked storm drains. Crews also cleaned
the retaining pond behind police headquarters which entailed removing the
fence, cutting down and removal of dead trees and bushes. Crews assisted
Georgia Power in cutting down and removal of dead trees located at
Building
Maintenance:
Major projects for the Maintenance
crews have been the repair of the senior building from a busted water
line. An 80 foot section of wall was
removed for the repair of the water line.
All carpet and hardwood flooring was removed and replaced, sheetrock was
re-hung and painted. The final renovations on the T-Ball restroom were
completed. Gutters and drains were
cleaned of leaves and debris at City Hall, Planning, Building, & Zoning,
and Recreation buildings. New carpet was
laid in the Administrative Office and the Recreation building. Other projects completed by Building
Maintenance crews included work orders for all buildings and departments.
Parks
Division:
Parks crews were maintaining park
areas and right-of ways along with their regular daily duties of Recreation and
Leisure set-ups revolving around the recreation facilities and
Mike
Gippert, Director
(404)
608-2310
DEPARTMENT OF
FIRE/EMS
- The
Fire Marshals Office spoke at the Georgia Power Monthly Safety Meeting.
Captain Sam Batten made a presentation on Risk Assessment.
- Chief
Buckholts presented at the Forest Park Business Coalition on
- All
City departments were involved in a presentation by Clayton County
Emergency Preparedness (Board of Health) and Clayton County EMA on the County Business Continuity
and Pandemic Planning Process. All City departments will be meeting
regularly on developing the final phases of the City of
- 25
personnel at the State Farmers Market were trained in CPR and AED use by
Fire Department personnel.
- Sgt.
Kevin Milton, Sgt. Rust Hicks, Sgt. Conway Ferguson and Sgt. David Flagg
received training and certification as Advanced Cardiac Life Support
Instructors to enhance the Department’s ability to train others – internal
and external to the Department.
- Chief
Buckholts attended the
Run Activity
Private Dwelling Fires 2
Apartment Fires 2
Outside
False Alarm 5
Mutual Aid Assist 1
Haz-Mat Response 1
Hazardous Condition 7
Other Fire Calls 8
_____________
Total Calls 397
Chief Eddie Buckholts
(404)
608-2382
DEPARTMENT
OF RECREATION AND LEISURE SERVICES
WHAT”S
HAPPENING
·
Youth
Basketball- Youth Basketball continued the month of February 2008. Games are
played on Friday nights, starting @ 6 pm and Saturdays from 9 am – 9 pm. This
programs focuses on teaching the Basic fundamentals of basketball along with
teamwork, good sportsmanship and maintaining a positive attitude. The Pee Wee
division (ages 5-7 yrs) jumpstart the league every Saturday morning with the Senior ( ages 14-16 yrs) winding up the evening.
·
March
of Dimes Coaches Game – The March of Dimes Coaches Game was held Wednesday night February 27,
2008. The First Game started at 6:15 pm, the Pee Wee coaches played the Shorty Coaches.
The second game started a 7:30 pm between the Junior/Senior Coaches playing the
Midget Coaches. The turnout for the games was good. Everyone had fun and
supported a great cause.
·
Lifeguard
Training – The Lifeguard training screening was held on Wednesday February 13,
2008. Eleven of the fifteen registrants were able to pass the requirements. The
requirements which consist of being able to swim 500yards using various
strokes, treading water 2 minutes and securing a 10 lb. object off the bottom of the pool. The class will meet
on Wednesday night from 5-9 pm.
·
Registration
– Registration for our spring/summer programs started on February 1, 2008.
These programs included girls softball & basketball T-ball, Pee Wee
Baseball, Boys baseball, youth soccer Start smart t-ball and soccer.
·
Forest
Park Runners Club- The runners & walkers of all ages and Abilities met on
Saturday mornings at 11am.This program is for those who would like to partner
with others to stay fit.
·
Swim
Lessons – This Learn to swim program is held on Saturdays Mornings starting @
11am for ages 6 and up and 12:30 pm for preschoolers ages 3-5 years old. The
program is based on American Red Cross guidelines with emphasis on safety.
·
Daily
Gym use (527) for the month of February 2008 .
·
Wellness
Programs
Water
Aerobics- Monday & Wednesday 6pm-7pm
Yoga
– Wednesday evenings 6:30pm-8pm
Water
Exercise – Monday, Wednesday, Friday 12noon-1pm
Teen
Weight Lifting – Tuesday & Thursday 5-6pm
Swim
for Fun – Tuesday & Thursday 1:30pm-2:30pm
55
and up
Exercise/Weight
Room – Monday thru Friday 9am-8pm
Saturday
10am-4pm
SENIOR
ACTIVITIES
·
February
started off pretty busy. We had our annual Super Bowl Party and everyone had
plenty of food to eat. It seemed that everyone had something to cheer about and
at the end of the game all 30 seniors went home winners.
·
The
Red Hatters- went out to eat and showed off their red hats. They all like to
shop and eat and it gives everyone a chance to have a special day out.
·
Valentines
Day – The dinner was a success. Our couples enjoyed being together for this
special occasion. The other seniors just enjoyed all the company and being
special that night and all the ladies received a rose.
·
The
Circus- was a fun trip for all of us but the seniors really enjoyed this trip.
We had dinner @ the food Court at Phillips arena. The Circus Pageantry and
spectacular daring performances were enjoyed by all. We had 26 seniors go on
the trip or should I say kids.
·
Line
Dancing- These classes are always fun.
The dancers are always learning new routines to dance by. They also go out once
a month to Governors Glenn to entertain the Seniors there.
·
We
ended the month with a special covered lunch to celebrate leap year February
29, 2008. Some of the seniors brought some odd things & new recipes they
tried so we could sample them.
·
Regular
programs are doing really great. The card club, Knitting
Exercising
, dominoes, and our new game WII.
UPCOMING
EVENTS
·
Soup
and Cornbread lunch Wednesday March 12, 2008 from 11am-1:30pm @
·
Easter
Egg Hunt / Safety Fest Saturday March 15, 2008 from 10am – 2pm @ Baker Field.
Egg Hunt will start promptly at 12noon. Ages 10 years and under.
·
Defensive
Driving Course Saturday March 15 @ Fire Station #2 must be registered in advance to take class.
·
Youth
Soccer draft March 13 &15, 2008
·
Adult
Softball and Basketball League start Spring Games week of March 24, 2008.
Elaine Corley, Director
404-363-2908
DEPARTMENT OF POLICE
SERVICES
In response to recent burglaries in the City of
Triad
On February 15th TRIAD members met at the
Community
Oriented Policing
Community
Oriented Policing is a philosophy based on the notion that community interaction and
support can help control crime, with community members helping to identify suspects,
and bring problems to the attention of police. The focus of community oriented policing is
not simply on responding to crime, but on preventing crime and resolving
community problems. The philosophy rests on the belief that the police and the
community must work together as partners to solve the contemporary challenges
faced in today's society. This approach requires officers to be open minded,
unbiased, and sensitive to the concerns and problems of others. In the past, the
delivery of police services was accomplished in a reactive and unscientific
manner, with little attention given to proactive policing. At the heart of
the police transition to community policing is the question: "How do the
police identify and deliver high-quality services to the community?".
Today, Forest Park C.O.P.S Officers work closely with the community to educate them about
potential hazards they may encounter and how to reduce the likelihood of
becoming a victim of crime and to improve the overall quality of life in the
community. Through programs such as the Citizen’s
Since
the beginning of 2008 the C.O.P.S Division has attended 17 Business and
Neighborhood Watch Meetings and spent over 67 hours organizing such events. The
C.O.P.S Division has already scheduled several activities for the next upcoming
months. If you would like additional information on any of the programs offered
through the C.O.P.S. office contact Officer Whitehead or Officer Turnage at
404-366-2232.
Chief
Dwayne Hobbs (404)
366-7280
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
Sidewalks
to Schools, Phase III and Transit Oriented Pedestrian Improvements Projects
The
City is waiting for the Final Construction Documents from Pond & Company.
Livable
Centers Initiative (LCI)-
The
property owners have responded favorably to the
State
Farmers Market Project
The
final deliverables have been received and are available for viewing. The City reviewed the Marketing Brochure for
approval.
The next meeting of the Forest Park Business
Coalition is Tuesday, March 18, 2008 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at Community Services
Authority 1000 Main Street.
The Forest Park/Fort Gillem Local Redevelopment
Authority approved John Westervelt as Chairman.
Other
2007
Deal of the Year Award – REHAB/RENOVATION
The Forest Park/Fort Gillem Local Redevelopment
Authority’s
The City of
The Clayton County Public School System Celebrity
Read Across America Day was held Friday, March 7, 2008. Officials from across the County were asked
to read to fourth grade students. Forest
Park Officials were at the following locations:
Councilwoman
Maudie McCord
Councilwoman
Linda Lord
Angela
Redding Kemp Elementary
John Parker, City Manager
Angela Redding, Management Analyst
(404)
366-4720