Government Archives - Page 15 of 16 - South Fulton Observer

Fire Chief Few Retires after 38 Years of Service

28Feb

By cosfobserverNo Comments

Government, Public Safety

Fire Chief Few Retires after 38 Years of Service

Fire Chief Larry Few is retiring after 38 years of service. He was honored with a proclamation at the City of South Fulton's regular meeting on February 26. Chief Few joined the South Fulton Fire Rescue Department in 2018 after serving with Fulton County since 2006. “I am a blessed man to have the opportunity to serve as the Fire Chief for the City of South Fulton,” he said, addressing all in attendance as his friends. In his remarks, he announced that the city will soon take delivery of two new fire engines and a ladder truck and that he will be submitting documentation to lower the ISO rating. He also shared that the EMS response time has dropped from 30 to 11 minutes, an achievement that resulted as part of his ongoing advocacy and efforts. During the presentation of the procla...

City Names Permanent CDRA Director, New City Clerk, Clerk of Court

19Feb

By cosfobserverNo Comments

Government

City Names Permanent CDRA Director, New City Clerk, Clerk of Court

Earlier today, the City of South Fulton officially announced its permanent Director of Community Development and Regulatory Affairs and two additional department hires. A new City Clerk and Clerk of Court have also been named. Shayla Reed will assume the permanent role of Director of the Community Development and Regulatory Affairs Department (CDRA). Her resume includes over 12 years of experience in community and economic development and roles with Atlanta, Fulton County, Jonesboro and Union City. During her tenure with South Fulton as the deputy director and interim director of the department, Reed led the administration of a number of short and long-range planning activities, including the development of the land disturbance permit review processes and code enforcement initiatives, and...

Edwards to Deliver Opening Address at 17th Annual SMDO Conference

4Feb

By cosfobserverNo Comments

Events, Government

Edwards to Deliver Opening Address at 17th Annual SMDO Conference

Mayor William “Bill” Edwards has been tapped to deliver the opening remarks at the 17th Annual South Metro Development Outlook (SMDO) Conference on February 21 at the Georgia International Convention Center. SMDO is the south metro region’s largest economic development conference. The event convenes experts and government and business leaders to discuss trends, strengths, challenges and opportunities in the region and to highlight economic development initiatives. “The south metro area of Atlanta continues to grow and be a great location for economic development,” said Michael Hightower, founder of SMDO and managing partner of The Collaborative Firm. “I am excited to have the SMDO conference highlight many of the key projects and companies that continue to flourish here on the south si...

Reality TV Series to Follow Women of South Fulton’s Municipal Court

29Jan

By cosfobserverNo Comments

Courts, Entertainment, Government

Reality TV Series to Follow Women of South Fulton’s Municipal Court

Last June, the Atlanta Voice first shared the story of South Fulton’s municipal court, the first to be run exclusively by African-American women. The story and accompanying photo became a viral sensation and now a reality television series is in the making. Good Caper Content, the true crime programming division of ITV America, has inked an exclusive development deal with Chief Judge Tiffany Carter Sellers, solicitor LaDawn Jones and public defender Viveca Famber Powell. The series, tentatively titled “Women in Black,” will be executive produced by Kathryn Vaughan, Good Caper Content’s president. It will follow court cases and provide a glimpse into the women’s lives. “Being the first court run by all women, and the first court run by all African-Americans, gives us the unique opportunity...

South Fulton Takes Steps to Minimize Black Ice

29Jan

By cosfobserverNo Comments

Government

South Fulton Takes Steps to Minimize Black Ice

Members of the City of South Fulton’s Public Works Department and Jacobs Engineering are confident in their ice management plan. The city’s offices and facilities are closed today, but crews reported at 7:00 a.m. and have an ample supply of materials to address icing issues. Crews are monitoring four zones to ensure that priority roads are pretreated in advance of freezing temperatures expected this evening. Four sand spreaders are on standby. Operations and maintenance staff with an extended subcontractor will be on watch and ready to respond until the threat of inclement weather has passed. The mix of rain and snow expected is currently falling in the northern parts of Georgia. And while snow in South Fulton is unlikely, the city’s public works director does have concerns about black ic...

South Fulton Passes ‘Ban the Box’ Legislation

23Jan

By cosfobserverNo Comments

Government

South Fulton Passes ‘Ban the Box’ Legislation

The South Fulton City Council passed Ordinance 2019-004, its "Ban the Box" legislation, at the regular meeting on Jan. 22 with a vote of 6 to 1. Sponsored by Mayor Pro Tem and District 7 Councilman Mark Baker, the legislation prevents prospective city employees who have previously been convicted of a crime from being automatically disqualified during the selection process. The legislation does not prohibit the city's hiring managers from asking questions about an applicant's criminal history during the interview stage. Additionally, background checks will still be used to screen applicants where there is a statutory duty to do so. The legislation also extends to companies that enter into a contract with the city in the amount of $25,000 or more. It requires them to extend the same grace t...

Bryant Re-Elected School Board President; Next Community Meeting Jan. 15

9Jan

By cosfobserverNo Comments

Government, Schools

Bryant Re-Elected School Board President; Next Community Meeting Jan. 15

The first official school board meeting of 2019 resulted in newly elected officers, with outgoing School Board President Linda Bryant being re-elected to the post for a two-year term. “It is my pleasure to continue as president of our school board, especially now when strong, steady leadership is needed,” said Bryant. “The board is charged with selecting the district’s next superintendent and this is our highest priority. We will soon be asking our community for input through a survey and seeking feedback through other channels.” Bryant, who represents District 4, joined the school board in 1993 and is in her seventh term of office. She represents areas in the City of South Fulton, as well as Chattahoochee Hills, College Park, Fairburn, Palmetto, Union City and southwest Atlanta. Brya...

Mayor Edwards Delivers First ‘State of the City’ Address of 2019

8Jan

By cosfobserverNo Comments

Government

Mayor Edwards Delivers First ‘State of the City’ Address of 2019

Earlier today, Mayor William “Bill” Edwards gave his first “State of the City” address of 2019 hosted by the Cascade Business and Merchants Association. He proudly announced that South Fulton is “successfully moving forward.” The mayor shared a long list of the city’s accomplishments, including the hiring of a permanent city manager and executive leadership team, the adoption of a $109 million budget, and the onboarding of 38 new police officers and 15 firefighters. Edwards celebrated the completion of the city’s transition away from the county, thanking county officials for their efforts in helping the city to get to where it is today. He also announced to loud applause that the city has repaid its $12 million tax anticipation note and is now debt free. During his address, Edwards ...

Councilwoman Gumbs Collects over 500 Dolls for Underserved Children

20Dec

By cosfobserverNo Comments

Community, Government

Councilwoman Gumbs Collects over 500 Dolls for Underserved Children

This year, more than 500 dolls were collected for underserved children at Bring Out the Dolls. Hosted by Councilwoman Carmalitha Gumbs and AIME, LLC Founder Tracy Rolle, the annual event rallies the South Fulton community around the “reason for the season.” The dolls will be distributed through a partnership with Help a Child America. “Knowing that you have made a child's Christmas a little brighter is one of the best gifts you can receive,” said Gumbs. “We are grateful to all of our partners and donors who make this annual event a success. The generosity and compassion shown by our community members are what make South Fulton a wonderful place to live.” Residents of South Fulton and neighboring municipalities joined Gumbs and Rolle at St. James Live! on December 12 for the “party with a ...

18Dec

By cosfobserverNo Comments

Events, Government, Public Notice, Sandtown

Loch Lomond Townhall Set for Dec. 20

On Thursday, December 20, Mayor William "Bill" Edwards and District 1 Councilwoman Catherine Foster Rowell will host a townhall meeting to welcome Loch Lomond residents into the City of South Fulton. In 2016 Loch Lomond, a community of about 700 residents located between I-285 and Camp Creek Parkway, was annexed into the City of Atlanta. On October 26, 2018, the Georgia Court of Appeals ruled that it was improperly annexed into Atlanta, making the community part of the City of South Fulton. “We welcome the Loch Lomond community to the City and we applaud the efforts of the residents who worked together to bring this to fruition,” said Edwards. “Their accomplishment is a testament to what the voice of the people can do.” The townhall will be held at the Southwest Arts Center, located at 91...

Pin It on Pinterest