Defining Public Expression

Consider this unexpected find as I cruised North Peachtree through Kingsley at lunchtime:

What is it?

Is it inappropriately placed trash?

A code violation?

A practical joke?

House flipping debris?

A First-Amendment-protected expression regarding the state of the world or our community today?

Or even a public art installation?

Who decides?

Who enforces the decision?

Who is allowed to express their emotions about the subject and who is required to stay quiet?

Food for thought for your Monday in advance of tonight's City Council meeting.

RIP Father Peek

Almighty Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep:
O hear us when we cry to thee
For those in peril on the sea.

O Trinity of love and power,
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them whereso'er they go,
Thus evermore shall rise to thee
Glad praise from air and land and sea.

Ill priest answers the call to heal

Beloved Dunwoody priest with leukemia passes away

The Dunwoody Homeowners Association has NOT voted to endorse the Crown Towers Proposal as of March 15.

The article printed in last week's Crier was disputed the moment the exec board became aware of it.

The DHA posted the following statement to its website and social media:

http://www.dunwoodyga.org/Corrections-to-Reports-of-DHA-Meeting-of-March-6-by-Dunwoody-Crier

The Dunwoody Homeowners Association (DHA) wishes to correct errors reported in an article published today in the Dunwoody Crier newspaper.
The DHA has been negotiating with Crown Properties the terms by which the DHA may or may not endorse a zoning change which would allow for the construction of two residential towers on property that was formerly the home of the Gold Kist company. These negotiations are ongoing and no conclusion has been reached as of this date.
The Crier incorrectly reported that the DHA board voted to endorse the residential construction.
The Dunwoody Homeowners Association wishes to correct this report. The DHA has not voted to take any action to endorse or oppose the zoning changes that would allow the residential additions.
The DHA voted to develop a list of potential conditions. The DHA’s approval was and remains contingent on reaching an agreement with the developer on those conditions. Some of these conditions involve concessions it is unlikely that the developer will agree to make.
When the DHA board takes a vote on this matter, it will distribute a statement of the result on its website, social media, and via email.
For further information, please contact the DHA.

A letter was printed in today's Crier repeating this statement but the Crier has decided to stand by the story.

A more accurate account was posted in the Dunwoody Reporter newspaper.

http://www.reporternewspapers.net/2016/03/07/dunwoody-homeowners-association-compiling-list-conditions-crown-towers/

The DHA's intent has always been to determine if the developers were willing to negotiate standards that would enable the DHA to endorse the development.  To date, that has not happened.

Any reports in other outlets claiming the DHA has issued endorsement or approval of this project based on the Crier's report are just as inaccurate.

Meet the Developers and the Neighbors at Dunwoody Homeowners Association this Sunday

Last month, the DHA heard from Crown Developers, who had the Goldkist property (on I-285, just south of Best Buy and Rooms to Go on Hammond) zoned for office towers prior to Dunwoody's incorporation.

Their plan for that new development is in place and they intend to go forward with what they have already obtained by right from DeKalb county.

Now that the economy is back they wish to add two residential towers to the development (visualize The Manhattan in Perimeter Place).  This will require a zoning variance and they will go through that process just like anyone else.  Crown came to the DHA first to show the community what they intend.

This Sunday, they're back to review their presentation and answer questions from the community.

This is your chance to be part of the conversation and make your voice heard before the official rezoning and development request goes through its government process.

Come out on Sunday, March 6 at 7:30 pm to meet Charlie Brown and Doug Dillard in person, hear their proposals and tell them what you think.  Everyone is welcome to visit and participate in the public portion of the Board Meeting.

In addition, the DHA will hear requests from Kingsley ES, the Dunwoody Preservation Trust, and the Dunwoody Nature Center for funding.

See you there!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dunwoody Homeowners Association

Board of Directors Meeting

Sunday, 6, 2016 @ 7:30 P.M.

1. Announcements and introduction of distinguished visitors


2. Approval of minutes for February 15, 2016 meeting—Lindsay Ballow


3. Discussion – Crown Holdings development proposal for 244 Perimeter Center Parkway (Goldkist site)—Charlie Brown (to answer any questions)


4. Discussion – Dunwoody Farmers Market— Bill Grossman


5. Discussion – October Chili Cook-off – Bill Grossman


6. Funding Requests:
Dunwoody Nature Center – Alan Mothner
Kingsley Elementary – Erika Harris and Ana Crisbilbao
Dunwoody Preservation Trust (Lemonade Days)— Hope Follmer


Board only session: Votes as needed on any motions including:

Support (with conditions) or Oppose Crown Holdings development proposal. (If with conditions, what conditions?)

Bike/Walk Dunwoody support and funding request

Nature Center funding request

Kingsley Elementary funding request

Dunwoody Preservation Trust funding request.

Stage Door Players funding request

Adjourn


Next meeting: Sunday, May 1, 2016, 7:30pm (no meeting in April)

Watch out, Thumbtack! LinkedIn is about to debut Profinder

About a year ago, TV commercials for a contractor-finding service entitled Thumbtack started popping up in our sitcoms.  Thumbtack was innovative (as compared to Yelp, Angie's List, or Kudzu) because it was more than just a directory with feedback from customers.  Thumbtack also offered an interactive marketplace where customers could be matched with willing contractors based on the type of work needed, location, and price range.

This week I was in a phone conference with some developers from LinkedIn who are rolling out their own service, Profinder.

Profinder works on a similar principle.  It is easier to use than the other directories because Profinder draws on your currently-available LinkedIn profile information.    Customers can submit their job information, price, etc, and professionals in that field can bid on their work.  Or, a customer can visit a LinkedIn member's Profinder page and request a bid for free.

Here's my Profinder page:  https://www.linkedin.com/pro/sdocpublishing

Profinder is currently live in San Francisco and New York.  SDOC was asked to test-drive the new service in Atlanta and chat with the developers as they fine-tune the user interface and features.  In my phone conference, the folks in charge say they will be expanding Profinder to the Atlanta area in about a month-ish.

If you're on LinkedIn, keep your eyes open for this new way for your enterprise to connect with customers.

Learn more now:  https://www.linkedin.com/profinder

Donate to the Lemonade Days Flea Market Finds and Support Dunwoody Preservation Trust

Your donation will be sold in the Flea Market Finds at our Country Store during Lemonade Days. One-hunded percent of proceeds go toward the Donaldson-Bannister farm restoration.

Suggestions of carry away items include plant stands, side tables, rocking chairs, stools, benches, chairs, lamps, chandeliers, sconces, frames and decorative accessories.

Deliver your finds on Saturday, March 5th from 9am to noon to the Donaldson-Bannister farm at 4831 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road.

Nancy Jester Reports: The Pension Legacy Tax - Bad for DeKalb

Nancy's office distributed the following item this morning.

A DeKalb legislator wants to financially penalize DeKalb cities for incorporating.  But not ALL cities.  Just the ones that incorporated in this century in order to stem the financial hemorrhage due to corruption and mismanagement.

I wonder what Mary Margaret Oliver stands to gain from this little trick if it is allowed to pass....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

The Pension Legacy Tax
Punitive and Based on False Assumptions

I am writing to alert you to a potential property tax increase coming from the Georgia General Assembly. House Bill 711, sponsored by Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Druid Hills), seeks to add a special tax district to cities formed after 2005. Rep. Oliver believes that newly formed cities owe, what she refers to as, "pension legacy costs". The notion that these legacy costs exist is false and here's why.


1. Newly formed cities continue to pay fully into the General Fund and the Fire Fund. Embedded in these funds are the costs for benefits, including pensions for the employees providing these services.


2. Newly formed cities continue to pay fully into the self-sustaining funds of Sanitation and Watershed. Embedded in these funds are the costs for benefits, including pensions for the employees providing these services.


3. DeKalb County lowered the millage rate for the Police Fund (a fund newly formed cities do not pay into) in the 2015 budget.


4. DeKalb County did not reform the pension benefit system until December 2015 - 7 years after the formation of Dunwoody.


5. DeKalb County used unrealistic actuarial assumptions that negatively impacted funding.


If DeKalb County believed there was a crisis in the pension plan, chiefly driven by the new cities no longer paying into the police fund, why would the county lower the police fund millage rate in 2015? If the county believed that the crisis was caused by newly formed cities, why did pension reform not occur until just a few months ago in December of 2015?


House Bill 711 is only directed at newly formed cities. It is punitive, based on false assumptions, and is not congruent with the facts. Make no mistake about it, it is a discriminatory tax aimed at Brookhaven and Dunwoody. It is a bailout that would allow DeKalb County to continue poor fiscal management.


Read the full post - with facts on Understanding DeKalb's Millage Rate System here: http://ow.ly/YAgSH

And the Winner is.... (Win Two FREE VIP Tickets to Taste of Dunwoody 2016)

This afternoon, right around dinner time, we had the official drawing. Names on pieces of paper in the Tupperware bowl and the winner was ceremoniously chosen by my 5 year old son (who has the least amount of interest in this contest, so he is clearly unbiased.)

And the name he chose is........

Rick Callihan!

Rick - email or call me I have to submit names to the guest list tonight.

Thanks everybody for playing. Please try again next year when SDOC will be sponsoring again.

Taste of Dunwoody 2016 is coming up THIS Saturday, February 20. SDOC is offering two FREE VIP tickets to our supporters. If you are in the Dunwoody/North Atlanta area and would like to attend the community event of the year here's all you have to do:
1) Like SDOC's Facebook page

2) Post your name to the page

3) I will pick a winner at random from the list of visitor posts.

(Required disclaimer: I acknowledge that this giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.)

And... GO!!!






SDOC is proud to support Taste of Dunwoody and Dunwoody Friends of CHOA as a platinum sponsor

DeKalb Super Visits Dunwoody HS February 9

Tuesday, February 9
5:30 PM

Dunwoody High School

Do we have a volunteer to webcast the meeting via Meerkat / Periscope / YouTube?

Dunwoody Town Hall January 21 - LIVE

UPDATE:  Meeting and broadcast ended at 7:50 EST.

Thank you John Heneghan for installing Periscope.

https://www.periscope.tv/w/aXFlIjEyMDI3MDUxfDFaa0p6YXpRV0JyR3YaqkFIkZnAPIHA-WkN7wl84p234QbEPWnt2fl9lDv8vQ==

Periscope video just won't embed in a frame - I tried.

Hit the link and listen in.

Commenting is available if you watch on your iPhone or Android via the app.

City of Dunwoody Meetings and How to Participate

Last night, Dunwoody held a meeting to discuss an updated plan for our city's parks and the outreach that would go along with that.

It was at exactly the same time as the Planning Commission meeting at City Hall where several zoning variance requests were discussed, including those involving a proposed townhome development in Dunwoody Village.

Next week is the first Town Hall of this administration.  Topics for discussion are being accepted at www.connectdunwoody.com.

These meetings have some traits in common:

1)  They are all held in the early evening during prime commuting or family care hours.
2)  There is no live broadcast of the meetings so those unable to attend cannot observe and be informed.**
3)   There is no mechanism for remote feedback from the community outside the meeting room.

**City Council meetings and other meetings held in council chambers are streamed online via the city's SIRE system which organizes official calendars, agendas, and minutes.  However, SIRE's video encoding permits the live feed to be viewed only on Internet Explorer, on a standard laptop or desktop.  It is not possible to view it on any other browser, including the new MS Edge.  They also cannot be viewed on any tablet or smartphone.  The technology is so limited it is almost obsolete in 2015.

Meetings or other informal gatherings (eg, Coffee with a Cop) in the afternoons or evenings are an essential part of soliciting feedback from the public.  But as I have posed elsewhere in DWG, meetings at this particular time frame self-selects for only that part of Dunwoody citizens that are not caring for families at home.  Their time is their own.

Those of us who are meeting buses, running carpools, shuttling kids to activities and doctors' appointments, preparing dinner, managing homes, helping with homework and projects, getting younger children bathed and in bed, as well as working our tails off to earn and provide are not able to share their input in the context of the event because they cannot be in THAT place at THAT time.

I have made requests to city hall to make meetings and live feedback available via social media and streaming video.  Others have done the same via Facebook.  I haven't the foggiest idea whether that will happen or not.

In the mean time, SDOC has a solution.

I would like to contribute SDOC's infrastructure and social media assets to the cause of making public meetings available online to families unable to attend. 

This effort will require some collaboration and logistic testing to determine the best method to stream events.  There are options for streaming video via website and social media, as well as live chat for feedback.

If any Dunwoody citizen is interested in collaborating on this effort, please contact me at duncan@sdocpublishing.com.  

Let's make Dunwoody's official events accessible to more of Dunwoody's citizens!

Water will be shut off temporarily as part of Dunwoody Mt Vernon water main upgrade

From Reporter Newspapers:


Mount Vernon Road’s ongoing water main work requires water to be shut off on Fri., Jan. 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for those homes and businesses on Vernon Ridge Drive, Vernon Ridge Court and Thornhill Court in Dunwoody.

The city of Dunwoody began working with DeKalb County on the water main pipeline replacement project in March. The project is part of a rehabilitation program by DeKalb County to address the aging water pipelines within Dunwoody and throughout the county. The Mount Vernon Road project will involve the replacement of two aging water mains with one new 16-inch diameter main.