Due to an unforeseeable delay, we are publishing this partial roundup for Monday and updating as we add the rest of this week’s events. Refresh your browser periodically for updates as we post them. Here’s a look at what your local government is up to this week:

Monday, July 17

  • 4 p.m.: Once again, the City of Riverdale has cancelled its city council meeting. The special called meeting for July 17 would have discussed MARTA. We are investigating why the council has been unable to make quorum in recent weeks.
  • 6 p.m.: The Jonesboro City Council meets at 1859 City Center Way. Tonight’s agenda contains several items related to the city running its own election. Previously, we reported that Mayor Donya Sartor said the city would have to use paper ballots. Late last week, Sartor told The Clayton Crescent that the city is covered by a current MOU for the use of county ballot marking devices in the upcoming election. The agenda includes a reconsideration of last week’s proposed IGA that the council voted down, as well as new items on appointing an election superintendent for the November 7 election, as well as appointments of an absentee ballot clerk, an alternate absentee ballot clerk, compensation of poll workers, and a budget amendment to cover the costs of the election. We will have more on this ongoing story. Watch live.
  • 6 p.m.: The Forest Park City Council holds its work session (agenda) followed by the regular meeting at 7 p.m. (agenda). Zoning hearings will take place on several items, including the
  • For the first time, the city will issue a proclamation recognizing its Muslim residents. Watch live:
YouTube video

Tuesday, July 18

  • 11 a.m.: The Clayton County License Review Board holds a Process and Procedure Meeting at 112 Smith Street, Jonesboro.
  • 6:30 p.m.: The Morrow Planning and Zoning Board Meeting “has been canceled due to lack of business to address,” according to Zoning Administrator Marti Tracy.
  • 6:30 p.m.: The Clayton County Board of Commissioners meets at 112 Smith Street. On the agenda is a recommendation to award commissary services for the Clayton County Jail (RFP 23-13) to Keefe Commissary Network, LLC of Jacksonville, FL. The county makes 47% on the deal, which is to go to the County Inmate Fund. The BOC also will consider a resolution to require certain county vehicles to bear county branding. Other agenda items of note include:
    • $493,500 in work authorization requests (RFP 21-04) for renovations at the Behavioral Health Crisis Center by Jericho Design Group LLC of Cumming
    • Annual contract (ITB 22-106) for beautifying landscapes and rights of way to Russell Landscape, LLC of Sugar Hill and Mariani Enterprises, LLC dba Ed Castro Landscape Inc., of Lake Bluff, IL
    • $123,270.24 to restore windows on the second floor of Annex 3 (ITB 23-71) to Mid America Specialty Services of Ozark, MO
    • $145,147.35 for new furniture for the Clerk of Superior Court’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office, via Sourcewell Cooperative Contract #121919 with Staples Contract & Commercial LLC, through authorized dealer HiTouch Business Services, LLC of LaVergne, TN.
    • Zoning matters include recommended denials for a proposed townhome development for 1565 Highway 138 in Jonesboro, as well as for 1535 Highway 138 and a request to rezone 1580 Highway 138 from mixed use (MX) to multi-family residential (RM)
    • a request to open a convenience store without gas pumps at 1004 Mt. Zion Road in Morrow
    • a request for a conditional use permit for a vehicle window tint sjhop at 759 Highway 138, Jonesboro
    • a request to rezone 2774, 2784, 2794, 2804, and 2814 Forest Parkway in Ellenwood from RS 110 to general business (GB) and a conditional use permit for a convenience store with gas and diesel sales and a restaurant
    • a future map amendment and a rezoning request from general business (GB) to mixed-use industrial (MXI) for 9298 Tara Blvd. on Jonesboro for a travel plaza. Staff and ZAG recommend denial because “it will adversely affect the usability of adjacent properties.” The property’s owners are also seeking a conditional use permit for a convenience store there. ZAG and staff recommend approval if the store puts in 16 instead of 8 EV charging stations and that the fueling canopy go behind the building in accordance with the Tara Blvd. Overlay District. That address also seeks CUPs for a drive-thru restaurant and a service station with gas sales, vehicle maintenance and repair, and a truck and trainer service.
    • a CUP, requested by Creative Community Concepts, LLC, for a 50-room “boutique hotel” and another CUP for a special events center, at 3140 Anvil Block Road in Ellenwood

Wednesday, July 19

  • TBA

Thursday, July 20

  • TBA

Friday, July 21

  • TBA

Please send additions and corrections directly to editor@claytoncrescent.org with “Roundup” in the subject line.

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Robin Kemp is executive editor and CEO of The Clayton Crescent, which she founded in 2020. She has worked for Gambit, CNN, The Weather Channel, Clayton News, Henry Herald, and numerous freelance outlets....

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