Happy Teacher Appreciation Week, you apple-polishers! The kids are entering final exams, high school graduation, and summer vacation. Keep an eye out for wild energy and early dismissals in school zones over the next couple of weeks.
In case you missed it: Forest Park has installed former Clayton County Sheriff’s Office assistant deputy chief, Brandon Criss, as police chief and Jonesboro’s former city manager, Ricky Clark, as its own; a federal judge has denied former Clayton County sheriff Victor Hill’s request for a get-out-of-jail-free card during his appeal (Hill is due at federal prison in Forrest City, AR on Monday, May 15); District 1 Commissioner Alieka Anderson has done a 180 on her previous public endorsement of the Roman United boondoggle; Invest Clayton recently got two new board members, Donald “Dee Cee” Craddock and C. H. Braddy, who are closely allied with the Hill-Bickers political machine; and homeowners are infuriated with the county’s new property assessment estimates. Details enroute.
The Clayton Crescent notes it gave the public fair warning about millage rate hearings that have resulted in the current property tax assessments, and that, on several occasions, few or no citizens showed up to let their elected officials know what they thought about proposed changes. Reminder: lower millage rates generally do not equal lower property taxes if home values go up. Also, you should consider whether you are taking the right tax exemptions for your situation; ask the Clayton County Tax Assessor’s office for help figuring out whether you are getting the largest exemption possible, especially if you are a veteran, a senior citizen, on a fixed income, or disabled. We’ve explained the process before so you can get help with keeping your home as affordable as possible. And take note: a local real estate expert confirmed what others have said, which is that property values are almost certain to keep rising in Clayton County over the next several years. That’s because it’s still the lowest-priced housing stock in metro Atlanta. Look ahead to the next round of millage rate hearings in late summer. It’s too late to fight the current millage rate, but if you want to have a say about your 2024 property tax bill, pay attention and show up for those hearings.
That’s why The Clayton Crescent exists. We do our very best to bring you information you need to make informed decisions about how you want to be governed. Please read and share our news stories with your friends, neighbors, and social media channels. Discuss the issues with each other. We’re just the messenger.
It’s not too late to be proactive about your local government this week. Here’s what’s coming up:
Monday, May 8
- 6:30 p.m.: Lake City’s City Council holds its monthly work session, followed by the monthly meeting, at City Hall, 5455 Jonesboro Road. On the work session agenda:
- Project Updates
- Discuss ARPA Funding
- Small Cities Conference
- Discussion of City Events
- Upcoming Holidays
- On Lake City’s regular agenda:
- Single Family Residential Ordinance
- Updated Ordinance pertaining to Transient Merchant Permit
- Resolution Recognizing Court Clerks Week
- Police Report
- 6 p.m.: The Jonesboro City Council meets at City Center. On tonight’s agenda (supporting docs in 305-page agenda packet):
- Presentations honoring Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, academic recognitions for the Jonesboro High School Class of 2023, and the Clayton County Public School All County Musical “Matilda JR.”
- public hearings on a private motorcycle club meeting space at 258 S. Main Street, Suite D (Conditional Use Permit application 23-CU-007, owner Herman Santamaria and applicant Cedrick Mack) and on a dance studio at 242 Stockbridge Road (Conditional Use Permit application 23-CU-008, owner Patricia Okwusa and applicant Vanessa B. Gibson)
- unaudited financial statements through March 31
- Nouveau Bar and Grill’s rental fee for City Green
- 150 garbage cans (95-gallon size) at $9,600
- March 21, 2023 Special Election cost
- retroactive ratification of the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta-Clayton County’s May 6 Bridging Ceremony at Lee Street Park
- a minor subdivision plat at 100 Pine Circle, 23-SUB-002
- “appointing the City Clerk as the Official Records Clerk and the Assistant Clerk as the alternate Records Clerk – Chapter 2 (Administration), Article I (in general) Section 2-1 Records Management”
- landcaping contract and maintenance agreement for Jonesboro City Center grounds
- establishing a Jonesboro Youth City Government
- naming the park at 102 N. McDonough Street after Hugh Dickson “for 46 years of service to the City of Jonesboro”
- an executive session on “personnel related matters”
- 6:30 p.m.: The Clayton County Ethics Board meets in Conference Room Two at 112 Smith Street.
Tuesday, May 9
- 5:15 p.m.: The Clayton County Board of Commissioners holds a special called meeting at 112 Smith Street, Jonesboro to consider a resolution by District 1 Commissioner Alieka Anderson to support the celebration of CLC (Christian Life Center) Fest on July 1. As of 1:39 p.m. Tuesday, no copy of the draft resolution had been published.
- 5:30 p.m.: The Clayton County Board of Commissioners holds its work session at 112 Smith Street, Jonesboro. On the agenda: preliminary items for the May 16 regular business meeting; a presentation on the Clayton County Public Schools Volunteer Program by Dr. Shakira Brown Rice; updates from the Police Department and Fire and Emergency Services on public safety enhancements; an “Introduction to Zoning” by the staff attorney; and updates from Building and Maintenance on county SPLOST projects.
- 5:30 p.m.: The Morrow City Council is scheduled to holds its work session, followed by the regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. No agenda was available as of press time Monday.
- 6 p.m.: Invest Clayton (Development Authority of Clayton County) meets at the Lake City Community Center, 5471 Jonesboro Road. Major items on the agenda: Larry Vincent will discuss the Roman United project, and members will elect a secretary/treasurer. The board also will consider ToTo’s expansion bond application and an inducement resolution, and Vincent will have an update on development in Mountain View. The board also will hold an executive session on real estate, personnel, and potential litigation.
Wednesday, May 10
- 9 a.m.: The Clayton County Board of Tax Assessors meets at the Tax Assessors Office in Annex 3’s 4th Floor Conference Room at 121 S. McDonough Street, Jonesboro (that’s the modern building behind the Historic Courthouse). The Clayton County Board of Assessors’ regular meeting follows immediately after.
Thursday, May 11
- 5:30 p.m.: The Forest Park Urban Redevelopment Authority meets at City Hall Council Chambers. On the agenda, one seemingly nondescript item marked “Army property turnover” bears close attention. The Clayton Crescent has, since 2021, reported extensively on conditions at the Park at Fort Gillem apartments, which the city is slated to take over in 2025:
- National Economic Development Week at Gillem
- URA Property List
- Water tank painting and maintenance
- URA Insurance Renewals
- Department of Community Affairs Registration
- Stop signs and striping on Anvil Block Extension
- Guard shack removal and Amazon intersection redesign
- Road repair at Anvil Block and Metcalf
- Anvil Block- Lake City extension repairs
- Old Fire Station Evaluation
- Intersection redesign at Metcalf and Jonesboro
- Army property turnover
- New Fire Station Opening 5/12/2023
Friday, May 12
- TBA
MORE TO COME
