Police to arm with TASERS
The Sandy Springs Police will have some new weapons in their fight against crime: TASERS. Donations by Bruce Weiner ($50,000) and the Friends of Sandy Springs (about $10,000) will equip the department with the weapons, which are designed to incapacitate a target without causing permanent harm. The device sends an electrical charge that disrupts neuromuscular control and allows for immediate recovery. The department will have 68 TASERS in operation by the end of August. Training began in July.
For information on TASERS and their proven safety in use-of-force situations, click here.
Massive resurfacing finished; phase II to begin
The City of Sandy Springs finished up its first resurfacing project in early July and a second will begin Aug. 13. The seven roads included in the new project are Glenridge Drive, Long Island Terrace, Huntcliff, Huntcliff Trace, Breakwater Ridge, Heathfield Drive and Landsdowne Drive.
For more details on the paving locations, click here.
New EMS vehicle on order
The Sandy Springs Fire Rescue Department will obtain a new paramedic response unit vehicle this fall. It will be at Station #4, serving the area south of I-285. Six paramedics, three on each shift, will staff the vehicle. A local assistance grant through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs is funding $25,000 of the vehicle's cost, with the remainder coming out of the 2008 fiscal year budget.
Mount Vernon Parkway sidewalk project approved
The City has chosen Urey Companies, Engineers and Constructors as the contractor for the Mount Vernon Parkway sidewalk project. The Mayor and City Council approved the awarding of the project in July.
The contractor will install a five-foot wide concrete sidewalk along the eastern edge of Mount Vernon Parkway from Mount Vernon Highway to Crest Valley Drive. Traffic-calming measures will include narrowed traffic lanes and a median island at the intersection of Mount Vernon Parkway and Mount Vernon Highway. Construction activity is set to begin in August and is expected to take 120 days.
Youth, adult sports among fall offerings
Registration for youth and adult Recreation and Parks Department programs is now underway. The department is offering an assortment of programs this fall. A soccer program and basketball program are available for boys and girls. Offerings also include volleyball leagues for adults. Boys and girls can participate in gymnastics, Artsy Smartsy, karate and SporTykes classes.
On Sept. 10, the fall adult volleyball league play will begin for men and women. Registration is ongoing and will close on Aug. 28. The Coed Power and Coed Intermediate teams will play on Mondays. Women's Power will play on Wednesdays and the Men's Power and Coed Beginner teams will play on Thursdays. Tuesday nights will feature Volleyball Open Play nights.
For complete information, visit the Recreation and Parks page here.
Meetings for August
Meetings for August include a joint Town Hall meeting by Councilmembers Karen Meinzen McEnerny and Ashley Jenkins at 7 p.m. on Aug. 13 at Holy Spirit Preparatory, 4820 Long Island Drive. The Sandy Springs City Council will have a work session at 6 p.m. on Aug. 14 and a regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Aug. 21, both at City Hall. The Board of Ethics will meet at 9 a.m. on Aug. 8 at City Hall and the Design Review Board will meet at the same time and place on Aug. 28. Other meetings at City Hall include the Zoning Board of Appeals (7 p.m. on Aug. 9), the Planning Commission (7 p.m. on Aug. 16) and the Comprehensive Plan Impact Fee Advisory Committee (3 p.m. on Aug. 27). There will be a CompStat meeting at 6 p.m. on Aug. 8 at Police Headquarters.
Visit our Web site calendar for more meetings.
Fire officers apply for designation
Five officers in the Fire Rescue Department are in the application process for obtaining the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation. Recipients of this status have demonstrated a sufficiently high degree of job skill, education and leadership ability within the industry. The program involves a review board that either grants the status or lays out coursework necessary for attaining it. The CFO designation must be renewed every three years. Three Sandy Springs officers currently have the designation: Chief Jack McElfish, Deputy Fire Chief Dennis Ham and Deputy Chief Fire Marshal Jeff Scarbrough. They also have received the Executive Fire Officer designation.
Find out more on this program here.