Commissioner Rader Digest

Green Space

The commissioners approved my request to obligate $77,222 for improvements at the Mary Scott Nature Preserve, to supplement $108,000 already committed to this project. The current improvements were prioritized at a community meeting this spring, and implement an earlier master plan. The park consists of 10.6 acres on Briarcliff Road (30345), which was purchased by the county in 2003.

The Mary Scott investment includes crushed slate walking trails, park furniture, a small playground and improved entry points for public access, along with invasive plant removal, and natural plantings. To see a master plan for the Mary Scott project:
http://www.co.dekalb.ga.us/parks/pdf/maryscott.pdf

With the completion of a new county-wide parks and recreation master plan this summer, the county is on the hunt for green space in District Two. The master plan documents inadequate green space relative to the number of people in west central DeKalb, and inventories the need for facilities, active recreation, and passive green space improvements. This plan will be the topic of one of my future commentaries.

To read more about my 2009 goals:
http://www.commissionerrader.com/issues/issue32_files/Rader-Postcard-p1.pdf

HOST Projects

Money was reallocated for several HOST (Homestead Option Sales Tax) infrastructure projects. Of interest to District Two is the $125,000 approved for a train crossing "Quiet Zone" at Frazier Road. The new allocation allows the county to contract with the rail line's owner, CSX, to complete the project, which is intended to make that rail corridor safer and quieter for surrounding communities.

However, the bigger picture, as it relates to HOST infrastructure spending is not good. This year, the commissioners voted to raise the millage rate, which I opposed. To offset the millage increase for homeowners, $10 million in the county budget was shifted from infrastructure funds to HOST tax relief funds. Those lost infrastructure dollars were previously used to match state and federal dollars for maintenance and construction of roads and sidewalks in the county.

Already, DeKalb is more than 300 miles behind on street repaving. The share of HOST dollars set aside for infrastructure projects this year dropped from 20 percent down to 10 percent, and the county continues to fall farther behind on its needed infrastructure maintenance and repairs.

We should change the county's ongoing pattern of focusing on the short term to the neglect of the long term. For more, see my commentary on the 2009 budget:
http://www.commissionerrader.com/news/news239.html

Hotel/Motel Tax

There was little support among the county commissioners to raise the hotel/motel tax rate. As a result, a proposal originally brought forth by the DeKalb Convention and Visitors Bureau was withdrawn. This is not the time to further burden an already struggling industry.

Police Equipment

The police department requested the grant-funded purchase of specialized equipment, several of which were approved by the Board of Commissioners. Among the approved purchases at the August 25 BOC meeting were GPS systems, infrared cameras and vehicle warning lights. The combined price tag of those three items was just under $1.9 million.

With the recent reorganization of the police department that eliminated some upper-echelon positions, the department is now pushing more of its resources down to the precinct level. Putting more patrol officers on the street and giving them better equipment will help the department to better protect the citizens' life and property.

We should expect the police department's restructuring to improve efficiency within the existing public safety budget, one of the reasons I support the new Chief Public Safety Officer position. I discussed the need for fiscal efficiency among public safety departments in my July update: http://www.commissionerrader.com/issues/issue39.html

Power IT Down

August 27 marked the second year of a national one-day event, "Power IT Down," to promote energy conservation. The Board of Commissioners and CEO Burrell Ellis asked all county employees to save energy and money by turning off their computers, monitors, and printers at the end of that workday.

This event is the joint creation of technology-related companies, HP, Intel, and Citrix (The "IT" in the event's name is an acronym for information technology.) The three collectively donated money to the Wounded Warrior Project to reflect the money saved in energy costs during this event.

I've been a cheerleader for this event for two years now, and we're picking up momentum. Let's make it Power IT Down day every day, everywhere in DeKalb!

(Commissioner Jeff Rader represents District Two on DeKalb County's Board of Commissioners. He was elected to the position in 2006 for a four-year term.)

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