Your Monday morning roundup for June 28, 2021

by Robin Kemp

Good morning! We’d like to extend an official welcome to Linda Crissey, who has retired as director of Arts Clayton after more than three decades of service there, and who has joined The Clayton Crescent’s board. Linda brings heavy-hitting fundraising expertise, which we hope will help us expand operations. People like you keep The Clayton Crescent going–please consider a monthly or one-time gift at https://donorbox.org/clayton-crescent at the level of support that works for you budget. While many for-profit publications have started asking for donations during COVID-19, we are a nonprofit news service and your gift is both tax-deductible and (in many cases) eligible for a matching donation from your employer. Thank you!

Here’s what to look out for this week in your local governmental bodies:

Monday, June 28

• 2 p.m.: A Community Development meeting is reportedly scheduled with or at the Housing Authority of Clayton County. HACC told The Clayton Crescent it was not aware of any meeting. We left a message with Clayton County Community Development to clarify the meeting information.
• 5:30 p.m.: The City of Jonesboro’s Beautification Committee meets, according to Mayor Joy Day’s city newsletter. No location was given for the meeting but City Manager Ricky Clark told The Clayton Crescent the committee, whose members are appointed by the mayor and city council, will meet at Lee Street Park. Members include James Raymond, Cameron Dixon, Sheila Brooks, Cindy Haire, and Daniel Millwee.
• 6 p.m.: The City of Riverdale has cancelled its scheduled meeting due to a lack of a quorum, according to a notice posted on the city’s website. There had been public notice of a special land use petition, SLUP2021-0005, to allow a used car dealership at 640 Valley Hill Road, which county tax records show is owned by Kimco Properties, Inc., a Fayetteville-based company owned by Keith P. Kimbell of Jonesboro. The next regular meeting is scheduled for July 12 at 6 p.m. at Riverdale City Hall, 7200 Church Street, Riverdale, in the first floor council chambers.

Tuesday, June 29

• 4:30 p.m.: The Jonesboro Promotions Committee meets, according to Mayor Joy Day’s city newsletter. No location was given for the meeting. City Manager Ricky Clark told The Clayton Crescent, “The Promotions Committee generally meet at City Hall and is comprised of volunteers from in and around the City.” Those volunteers include Jule Segner, Allen Roark, Dana Holmes, Mitch Johnson, and Charlton Bivins.
• 7 p.m.: The East Conley Zoning Committee is holding a meeting at Cedar Grove United Methodist Church, 3430 Bouldercrest Road, Conley. Organizers urge residents to bring signs. There will be updates on zoning court cases, bridge reconstruction, “and a possible solution to trucks and railroad issues.” Call (770) 298-4017 for more information. Reginald Banks is calling for a strong turnout and says the meeting is an important one: “Please bring everyone you can we have to show our lawmakers our numbers. The bridge, the trucks, and the railroad are cutting us off.” Because Conley is unincorporated and crosses county lines, its residents have had to organize and stage protests to push back against illegal businesses, heavy truck traffic, and other negative impacts to their quality of life.

Wednesday, June 30

• 6 p.m.: The City of Forest Park will hold a town hall meeting for all residents of Holland Park (the Park at Fort Gillem) Apartments in City Hall Council Chambers, 745 Forest Parkway. City Manager Dr. Marc-Antoine Cooper announced the town hall during the June 21 city council meeting. Residents of the troubled housing development have been asking for help since The Clayton Crescent reported in March on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ request for public comment about cleanup at the FTG-01 toxic waste site on the northeast side of the base. Residents have had problems with maintenance and dirty water backflowing into their tubs, sinks, and dishwashers, and say the property management company did not inform them of how close they are living to several toxic sites associated with the former military base. A patchwork of ownership and jurisdictions at the local and federal levels (the management company, the City of Forest Park, and the U.S. Army) have made it difficult for residents to get answers about whether it’s safe to live there. Several residents who live or lived in the apartments, which were once base housing, or who worked in the warehouse or commissary at Fort Gillem, have either died of or been diagnosed with cancer, according to residents who spoke with The Clayton Crescent.

Thursday, July 1

• 1:30 p.m.: The Clayton County Water Authority Board meets at CCWA Headquarters, 1600 Battle Creek Road, Morrow. No agenda was available as of press time. According to the June meeting’s post-summary minutes, Robin Malone and Teresa Worley were appointed to the board (Malone, who is chairman, abstained from the 6-0-1 vote.) You can see previous meetings’ agendas, minutes, and post-summary minutes at https://www.ccwa.us/board-meeting-agendas-and-minutes/.

Friday, July 2

• Clayton County tag offices will close at 3 p.m. and Property Tax Offices will close at 3:30 p.m. going into the July 4 weekend. Government offices will be closed Monday, July 5 in observance of the holiday.

As always, if we missed something–or if you hear of a sudden special-called meeting–please let us know! You can call or text (404) 547-1171 or e-mail KempWrites@gmail.com directly. Feel free to send us tips.