CI T Y   O F   F O R E S T   P A R K

 

 

TO:                       Mayor and Council

 

FROM:                  John Parker, City Manager

 

DATE:                   March 25, 2009

 

SUBJECT:            INFORMATION BULLETIN  - FEBRUARY , 2009

 

The following is a department by department status report of priority activities, projects and initiatives for the month of February, 2009.

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF FIRE/EMS SERVICES

 

Calls

 

Private Dwellings                       1

Apartments                                2                                           

Vehicles                                     2

Rubbish/Dumpster                   3

Other Fires                                2

EMS Assist                              99

False Alarms                            10

Mutual Aid                                 4

HAZ-MAT                                   2

Hazardous Conditions               5

Other Responses                     18

 

TOTAL FIRE CALLS                 148

 

EMS CALLS                                       197

 

          TOTAL CALLS                          345

 

 

135 patients transported to area hospitals

 

7 Paramedics were trained as Pediatric Advanced Life Support Instructors.  They will be teaching this class to all Fire Department personnel in the coming months.

 

February 1st thru 7th  was promoted as Severe Weather Awareness Week. Emergency Preparedness Guides were passed out at the community meetings at FPPD. All City Departments were contacted to review severe weather policies and participate in a State wide drill on February 4th. Schools were also contacted and reminded of the drill.

 

February 3rd – Engine 2 was assigned to participate in a State Wide GMAG deployment and Staging Exercise at Turner Field’s Gold Lot. After staging all apparatus proceeded to the State Capitol for Firefighter Appreciation Day ceremonies. A lunch was provided by Ga. Firefighters Burn Foundation in which Forest Park Fire Dept. received an award for 20 years of support. In attendance were Chief Buckholts, Major Halcome, Capt. Batten, Capt. Brackett, FAO Williams, FF Register, and FF Hornsby.

 

 

 

                                                          Chief Eddie Buckholts

                                                          (404) 608-2382

 

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING, BUILDING AND ZONING

 

Building Plans Submitted

 

 

Business Name

Address

Details

There were no building plans submitted in the month of February 2009

 

Building Permits Issued

 

Structure Type

Address

Details

 

Commercial

 

3907 Jonesboro Rd.

Interior remodel; JC $45,000

 

Residential

 

954 Astor Ave.

Partial roof; 255 sq. ft. JC $3,200

 

Residential

 

356 Fourth St.

Interior/exterior rehab; 1,008 sq. ft. JC $18,000

Residential

1182 Lloyd Dr.

Fire repair; JC $3,000

 

Residential

 

4685 Courtney Dr. A-2

Fire repair; 875 sq. ft. JC $40,000

 

Residential

 

777 Dennis Dr.

Enclose porch; 90 sq. ft. JC $1,000

 

Residential

4685 Courtney Dr. Bldg. A

Fire ruling; JC $1,500

Residential

1182 Lloyd Dr.

Fire ruling; JC $3,000

 

 

Certificate of Occupancies Issued

 

Business Name

Address

Date of Issue

Mercadito El Taxi

4581 Jonesboro Rd.

02/02/2009

AC/DC Power Tech

300 Cash Memorial Blvd.

02/02/2009

A & M Soundz

4660 Jonesboro Rd.

02/03/2009

Chidad Latina Mix

5000 Old Dixie Hwy.

02/04/2009

Arko Veal Meats

406 Main St.

02/06/2009

Intown Suites

363 Forest Pkwy.

02/05/2009

New Millenium OB/GYN

4990 Phillips Dr.

02/10/2009

Dollar World

4589 Jonesboro Rd.

02/11/2009

MA De’s Kitchen

4700 Jonesboro Rd.

02/11/2009

Alba’s Beauty Salon

4095-A Jonesboro Rd.

02/17/2009

Piggly Wiggly

4769 Jonesboro Rd.

02/18/2009

Fashion Plus

4921-F Jonesboro Rd.

02/19/2009

Shared Vision

690 Main St.

02/19/2009

V.A. Auto

198 Main St.

02/23/2009

Rosetown Recreation Ctr.

5124 Springdale Rd.

02/23/2009

Trane

5021 Old Dixie Hwy. 500

02/08/2009

Beautiful-U Hair Salon

821 Main St.

02/24/2009

Family Nutrition Club

4438 Jonesboro Rd.

02/24/2009

Air Traffic Service

3000 S.Corp. Pkwy. 300

02/25/2009

Event Productions

1089-A Forest Pkwy.

02/26/2009

 

 

AFFILIATE BOARD ACTIVITY

 

There were no meetings of the affiliate Boards for the month of February 2009.

 

 

                                                          Steve Pearson, Director

                                                          (404) 608-2303

 

 

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND LEISURE SERVICES

 

WHAT’S HAPPENING!

 

Youth Basketball – Continued during the month of February with games played on Saturday 9am-9pm.  Practices are held Monday, Tuesday, and Thursdays 6pm-9pm.

 

Public Swimming – The indoor pool is open to the public on Tuesday and Thursday from 7pm to 9pm and Saturdays 1pm-4pm.  The public interest is steadily increasing.   

 

Lifeguard Training – The screening for Lifeguard Training was February 14, 2009.  We had 16 interested participants, but only 8 were able to pass the screening.  The classes began February 26, 2009.

 

Registration for our Spring/Summer programs started on February 2, 2009.  These programs included Youth Soccer, Youth T-ball, Pee Wee Baseball, Girls Softball, Girls Volleyball, Adult Basketball and Adult Softball.  Registration ends March 12, 2009.

 

Gym use:  4,281 for the month of February 2009.

 

Wellness Programs

          Water Aerobics – Monday & Wednesday 6pm-7pm

          Yoga – Wednesday evening 6:45pm-8pm

          Water Exercise – Monday & Wednesday 1pm-2pm

          Teen Weight Lifting – Tuesday & Thursday 5pm-6pm

          Swim For Fun (ages 55 & Over) – Tuesday & Thursday 1:30pm-2:30pm

Exercise/Weight Room – Monday-Friday 9am-8pm, Saturday 10am-4am

          Martial Arts (Tai-Chi, Kung Fu) – Tuesday 6pm-7pm

 

 

SENIOR ACTIVITIES

 

*        The Super Bowl started and the Seniors will be busy for the month.  Our fun started when the whistle blew and the yelling began.  They all had a team to cheer for and it got louder as the night went on.  It was more fun and excitement than I thought.

 

*        Bingo stays busy and having breakfast or lunch with it brings more seniors. The regulars are here every Bingo.  This month we are having a White Elephant Bingo where they each bring a gift in a bag for a prize.  It should be interesting.

 

*        The Seniors went on a trip to the Circus.  It was really fun and everyone enjoyed it.  Some had never been to a Circus and had a great time.

 

*        Dominoes are growing and last week we had 3 tables!  They really do enjoy playing. 

 

*        Cards are played almost everyday but Thursdays is the Day.  We now have 4 tables on some Thursdays and growing.  We all get together for lunch between morning games and afternoon, so it is a full day for them.

 

*        Computers, WII games and WII Fit stay busy as other new games get started all the time.  Puzzles are popular with some and being with friends or just visiting is good for everyone.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

*        March 4, 2009 – Youth Basketball Coaches Game starting @ 6:30pm – Gym 

 

*        March 11, 2009 – Soup & Cornbread Lunch @ Senior Center 11am-1:30pm – advanced tickets required

 

*        March 16, 2009 – Youth Soccer Draft – ages 4-7 years old

 

*        March 19, 2009 – Youth Soccer Draft – ages 8-12 years old 

 

 

 

Elaine Corley, Director

404-363-2908

 

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF POLICE SERVICES

 

TRIAD

 

TRIAD held a monthly meeting February 20th with approximately 50 people in attendance. The focus of the meeting was computer use for seniors and how to make operating a PC easier.

 

Citizens Police Academy

 

Recruitment for the March 17th Citizen’s Police Academy class is currently underway.

 

Patrol

 

MPO S. Jackson attended and passed Marijuana examiners course at GPSTC 16hr course

 

SGT Cloud and MPO Freeman Completed a 16 hour Drug Tools Class through HIDTA in Atlanta

 

In the last 6 months the total money seized from drug arrests by VIPER is $94,338.60

 

A total of 8 vehicles were seized in the last 6 months. Total money pending in federal seizures is $22,985 dollars.

 

VIPER Team conducted a sting operation regarding day laborers at Home Depot. A total of 4 arrests were made.

 

Officer Kennemur successfully completed FTO program.

 

Officer Simmons and Officer Hill completed Marijuana ID class at Forsyth.

 

There were no reports of graffiti taken by Delta Team during the first two weeks of February – There has been a great effort by the team to reduce graffiti in their areas.

 

CID

 

Detective Sara Craig completed Homicide Investigation training.

 

 

 

                                                          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 City Attorney to deliver the remaining preliminary title search files for these projects.  The City Attorney has delivered 21 Preliminary Title Search files to City Hall.  There are a total of 51 easements.

 

Livable Centers Initiative (LCI)-Main Street Streetscape Project

The City of Forest Park is waiting for the Notice to Proceed with construction from the Georgia Department of Transportation.

 

State Farmers Market

The City is working with the Department of Agriculture to identify funding sources for Phase I of the Implementation Plan.

 

Georgia Cities Week

The Georgia Municipal Association is sponsoring Georgia Cities Week April 19-April 25, 2009 to showcase and celebrate cities and the many services they provide.

 

In recognition of Georgia Cities Week, the Forest Park Business Coalition will be held at City Hall Tuesday, April 21, 2009 from 11:30 am until 1:00 pm.  Networking begins at 11:30 am and the program begins at 12 noon.

 

Also, this year the City will work with Babb Middle School and Forest Park Middle School in requesting and encouraging sixth graders to participate in the essay contest, If I Were Mayor, I Would….”  If you have any suggestions/recommendations for Georgia Cities Week activities, please contact John Parker or Angela Redding.

 

Community Development Block Grant Funds

The City of Forest Park received $147,864 in FY 2008 Community Development Block Grant funds.  The projects awarded are as follows:

 

·        $25,000     Patio enclosure and commercial dishwasher for the Senior Center

·        $122,864   Playground equipment and ground cover in both the large and small playground areas

 

 

 

John Parker, City Manager

Angela Redding, Mgt. Analyst

                                                          (404) 366-4720

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION / FINANCE

 

Expenditures (preliminary totals) for the General Fund for the month of February are $1,261,797 or 6.55% of the budget.  Year-to-date preliminary expenditures for the General Fund are $11,011,884 or 57.17% of the budget (fiscal year July 2008 – June 2009). 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 $467,486, compared to $441,594 for February of the prior year. The fiscal year-to-date total received is $3,798,201 or 73.89% 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 above the budget through February. This is unusual considering the state of the nation’s economy.

 

Business license payments for 2009 licenses were due by February 28. As of the end of February, $632,080 (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 February 2009:

 

          Name                                                 Description

 

 Mercadito El Tate                                       Grocery Store

AC & DC Power Tech                                   Power Equipment

Sonria Smiles Dental                                  Dentistry / Dental Care

A V Auto                                                      Repair service on automobiles

Arko Meat Outlet                                        Meat Market

Dollar World                                               Retail merchandise

Ma De’s Kitchen                                          Restaurant

Quick Pick Food Mart                                 Convenience Store

New Millenium OB / Gyn                           Medical Practice

Piggly Wiggly Grocery                                 Grocery store

Certifit Auto Body Shop                              Sale of auto body parts

                            

 

 

 

Mike Blandenburg, Director

(404) 366-4720

 

 

 

 

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 removed 3 large pine trees on Scott Boulevard and 13 large pine trees from Evergreen Terrace due to growth damage done to street. A sinkhole was repaired at Ash Street and Linda Way that entailed replacing 30 feet of sidewalk.

 

Special Paid Sanitation Pick-ups:

          4509 Ridge Drive, 1034 Ponderosa Park Drive, 5013 Courtney Drive, 4476 Jonesboro Road, and 1118 Grace Drive

 

Building Maintenance:

          Major projects for the Maintenance crews have been the painting of personnel offices and archives, and replaced ceiling tiles in archives due to water damage. The storage room at Public Works was cleaned of old files and material, ceiling tiles and lighting was replaced, and room was divided in half to create a separate area for inmates. A water line was installed to the chemical room. Crews replaced wiring in the junction box at fire station 1 and replaced door lashes.  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 Senior Building activities.  Crews also prepared all City flower beds for spring planting. Park crews helped Building Maintenance Division personnel with the building of the inmate room at Public Works and Street crews with tree removal.

 

 

                                                          Mike Gippert, Director

                                                          (404) 608-2310