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:                       December 15, 2008

 

SUBJECT:               INFORMATION BULLETIN  - NOVEMBER, 2008

 

The following is a department by department status report of priority activities, projects and initiatives for the month of November, 2008.

 

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION / FINANCE

 

Expenditures (preliminary totals) for the General Fund for the month of November are $1,249,152 or 6.57% of the budget.  Year-to-date preliminary expenditures for the General Fund are $7,010,150 or 36.85% of the budget (fiscal year July 2008 – June 2009). For comparison purposes, the period of July through November represents 41.67% of the budget year. Total expenditures for the General Fund remain under budget for the month of November and for the five month period of July through November.

 

Local Option Sales Tax revenue received in November is $531,159, compared to $412,291 for November of the prior year. The current amount is an increase from the prior month of the current year. The fiscal year-to-date total received is $2,478,407 or 48.22% of the budget. The percentage of the budget year through November is 41.67% of the year. Revenue from Local Option Sales Tax remains more than budget through November.

 

The preparation and mailing of 2008 property tax bills was completed in October. Payment of property taxes is due by December 20. Collections posted to the accounting system as of the end of November are approximately $915,000.

 

A draft of the City’s annual Financial Report, including the audit report, is currently being reviewed. An unqualified (top level) audit report is expected for fiscal year 2008.

 

New business licenses issued for the month of November:

 

 

                        Name                                                             Description  

 

American Deli & Wings                             Restaurant

Salon M 315                                                 Hair Salon

Sunny Wholesale                                        Wholesale and distribution

F.L. Internet Cafι                                       Internet service

U.S. Services                                                Container trucking

Bastian Electronic                                      Car audio retail store

Twin Pic                                                        Convenience store

Person to Person Counseling                   Alcohol and drug counseling

 

 

Mike Blandenburg, Director

(404) 366-4720

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES

 

  • Fire personnel participated in a fire apparatus display for Little Ones Day Care Center on Forest Avenue.

 

  • The Fire Marshals Office (Major David Halcome and Captain Sam Batten) conducted a Holiday Fire Safety meeting for employees of Georgia Power.

            Run Activity

Fires:

Residential                           2

Rubbish                                 4

Other                                     2

 

EMS Assist                           92

False Alarms                        9

Mutual Aid (given)            2

Hazardous Condition         3

Other Responses                 12

                                                                        _______

126                 Total Fire Responses

303                 Total EMS Responses

_______

429                 Total Responses

 

 

                                                                        Chief Eddie Buckholts

                                                                        (404) 608-2382

RECREATION AND LEISURE SERVICES

 

Youth Basketball Clinic – The Youth Basketball Clinic was held on November 17, 18, 2008 starting at 6pm.  The clinic was for boys and girls ages 5-7 years of age.  The clinic teaches the basic fundamentals of basketball.  This is an introductory program in to our youth basketball league.  There were 22 participants.

 

Youth Basketball Registration – Was held the month of November 2008.  The draft is scheduled for December 6, 2008.  The program is for boys and girls ages 5-16 years of age.  Practice will be held in December with games being played starting in January 2009.

 

Public Swimming – The indoor pool is open to the public on Tuesday and Thursday from 7pm to 9pm.    

 

Swim Lessons – Swimming lessons are taught on Saturdays starting at 11am.  We have beginner and a preschool water orientation class.

 

Chess Club – Meets on Wednesday nights starting at 6pm.  The club meets in the dining room at the Recreation Center.

 

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 and Saturday 10am-4pm

            Martial Arts (Tai-Chi, Kung Fu) – Tuesday & Thursday 7:30pm-8:30pm

 

Gym/Weight Room – 578 participants

 

SENIOR ACTIVITIES

 

*          Our month began with Red Hatters having a high tea and kept everyone busy until Thanksgiving, then the parade.

 

*          The crosses and flags were displayed for our Veterans Day Ceremonies to honor all veterans.  It was a great day for our ceremony with Michael Glanton as our guest speaker, the Forest Park High School AFROTC Color Guard, and Veterans of the past wars.  The ceremony was held at City Hall November 11, 2008.

 

*          Callaway Gardens was a very nice trip.  The lights were beautiful and they all enjoyed the singing carols on the trains.  We stopped to eat on the way down there and were able to see the lights and shop and the gardens.

 

*          We decorated our trees at the Center and everyone had to put on some ornaments.  The tree is full and everyone enjoyed it.

 

*          Thanksgiving was our big event for everyone.  Cooking, eating and the fellowship was good.  They all seemed to have enough to eat.

 

*          Of course we had the regular events during the month:  cards, dominoes, exercise, line dancing, computers, games, luncheons, Bingo and Breakfast, and Bingo and Lunch.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

*        December 1, 2008 – Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting starting @ 6:30pm

 

*        December 2, 4, 2008 – Call From Santa

 

*        December 6, 2008 – Basketball Draft

 

*        December 12, 2008 – Pictures with Santa 6pm-8pm @ Senior Center 

 

*        December 13, 2008 – Breakfast with Santa 8:30am-11am @ Senior Center 

 

 

Elaine Corley, Director

404-363-2908

 

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF POLICE SERVICES

 

TRIAD

TRIAD held a holiday potluck luncheon on 11/21/08 with approximately 60 people in attendance. A speaker from the Clayton County Extension Office gave a presentation on how seniors could save money on their utility bills.

COPS

Attendance continues to be high at the Neighborhood Watch program meetings that have been held for north and south side residents.  Average meeting attendance has been between 80 and 100 residents which is a dramatic improvement in community involvement.

 

Patrol

Sgt. Armstrong completed Supervision III

 

Officer Consalvo has completed taser and OC training and is progressing well in the FTO program

 

Sgt. Cloud attend the public safety appreciation day at Ash St Baptist Church

 

MPO Jackson and MPO Waltrip attended intox recertification class.

 

The Graduation ceremony for CPA Class #23 was held on 11-11-08 with 26 Graduates.  The guest speaker was Jackie Zappacostas, the Senior Agent in Charge of the Atlanta FBI Office.

 

Ofc. Kennemur attended ASP Training and In-house training

 

Adam Team welcomed Officer C. Simmons to shift (OC & TASER Certified)

 

Officer Freeman attended Survival Tactics at GPSTC. (40 hour course)

 

Sgt. Cloud conducted an OC class for the newly hired officers.

 

CID

Detective Jackson and Detective Hiers assisted MPO Presley with experiment at Clayton State University criminal justice class.

 

Detective Craig attended the south side NHW meeting on 11/04/08

 

Detective Sergeant Henry attended the Field Training Officers course and received her FTO certificate

 

Captain Cotrell Attended the CPA graduation where he received the Top Gun Award for a perfect score of 300 out the holster.

 

Administration

MPO Lisa Presley conducted a 40- hour orientation course for newly hired officers and recent police academy graduates.  The training covered topics such as ethics and professionalism, report writing, bias based policing, vehicle pursuit policy, traffic enforcement & crime prevention and dealing with the mentally ill.

 

 

                                                                        Chief Dwayne Hobbs

                                                                        (404) 366-7280        

 

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING, BUILDING AND ZONING

 

 

Building Plans Submitted

 

Business Name

Address

Details

Calvary Refuge

4265 Thurmond Rd.

Bathroom addition.

A.J. Wright

4851 Jonesboro Rd.

Interior remodel.

Jonesboro Car Wash

4150 Jonesboro Rd.

White box.

 

Building Permits Issued

 

Structure Type

Address

Details

 

Commercial

 

14 Royal Dr.

Racking system; 4,500 sq. ft. JC $800,000

 

Commercial

 

4265 Thurmond Rd.

Bathroom addition; 36 sq. ft. JC $5,000

 

Residential

 

966 Astor Ave.

Int/Ext rehab; 1,350 sq. ft. JC $17,000

 

Residential

 

4794 Tanglewood Ln.

Roof; 1,188 sq. ft. JC $2,600

 

Commercial

 

14 Royal Dr.

Foundation; 3,500 sq. ft. JC $500,000

 

 

Certificate of Occupancies Issued

 

Business Name

Address

Date of Issue

Sunny Wholesale

103 Forest Pkwy.

11/07/2008

DS Services LLC

87 Royal Dr.

11/10/2008

Bastain Electronic Car Audio

 

4095 Jonesboro Rd.  – I

 

11/12/2008

Pacific Insurance Agency

4666 Jonesboro Rd. - 103

11/13/2008

Black Tattoo (Recording Studio)

 

697 Ruskin Dr. - D

 

11/19/2008

Twin Pic Grocery

4869 West St.

11/19/2008

Person to Person Consulting

 

532 Forest Pkwy. – E

 

11/20/2008

 

 

AFFILIATE BOARD ACTIVITY

 

There were no meetings of the affiliate Boards for the month of November 2008.

 

 

 

                                                                        Steve Pearson, Director

                                                                        (404) 608-2300

 

 

 

 

OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER

 

Sidewalks to Schools, Phase III and Transit Oriented Pedestrian Improvements Projects

The City is waiting on the Right-of-Way Preliminary Title Search from the City Attorney.

 

Livable Centers Initiative (LCI)-Main Street Streetscape Project

The Easements have been recorded with the Clayton County Clerk of Court.  Pam Black Local Government Coordinator with the Georgia Department of Transportation will review the Easement files Thursday, December 11. 2008.  The reviewing of the easement files is a necessary step in moving towards a Notice to Proceed for construction.

 

State Farmers Market

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

 

 

Forest Park Business Coalition

The Forest Park Business Coalition Holiday Networking Gala will be held Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at The Royal Palms 850 Main Street from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm.

 

Community Information – Clayton County Foreclosure Resource Center

The Clayton County Foreclosure Resource Center is a partnership of several non-profit organizations in Clayton County, united to reverse the trend of the increasing number of foreclosures in Clayton County by providing Foreclosure Prevention and intervention Programs for citizens in need.

 

For more information on the professional services available to Clayton County homeowners free of charge through the Clayton County Foreclosure Resource Center, citizens can all the hotline at 404-260-3149.

 

                                                           

                                                                        John Parker, City Manager

                                                                        Angela Redding, Mgt. Analyst

                                                                        (404) 366-4720

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

 

Street Division:

             Major projects for the month of November included the cleaning and removing of leaves from ditches, storm drains, and right of ways.  Crews also helped with the Building Maintenance Division with the installation of Christmas decorations.  The guardrail was replaced on West Street at the creek. Low limbs and bushes were cut from the right of way at Pine Valley Drive and Hillpine Road and a fallen tree was removed from the roadway at Old Jonesboro Road.  Preparation and arrangements were made for the City barbeque.

 

Completed Court Ordered Abatements:

            1169 Evelyn Drive, 5327 Sharon Street, and 5437 Lee Circle

 

Special Paid Sanitation Pick-ups:

            4140 Jonesboro Road and 87 Royal Drive

 

Building Maintenance:

            Public Works crews together with the Building Maintenance Division installed Christmas decorations throughout the City, and exterior decorations to all of the main city buildings. Crews also located and checked for water leaks at City Hall Annex and Police Headquarters. Gutters were cleaned, a roof leak over the supply room was repair, and new electrical lines were place at the Fire station.  The main gas line was rebuilt at the Public Works along with the start of printing for all city residential street address signs. Maintenance crews also completed numerous work orders for all city departments.

 

Parks Division:

            Along with the daily cleanup around the park areas and city buildings and the interior cleanups of the recreation building and park buildings, Park crews were busy removing leaves from side parks and median areas and right-of-ways, which included Forest Parkway and Jonesboro Road.  The Parks Division with help from the other Public Works Divisions was also responsible for the setup on Main Street and the Starr Park area for the Annual Christmas Parade and Grand Lighting of the Park Area.

 

 

 

                                                                        Mike Gippert, Director

                                                                        (404) 608-2300