City launches EMS program
Sandy Springs rolled out its Emergency Medical Service (EMS) program Jan. 18, which gives the City an emergency response consistent with American Heart Association guidelines. Under the new program, all City emergency vehicles are equipped with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for effective first response to cardiac arrests. The City is also helping residents and visitors save lives by offering them access to AEDs and CPR training. .
Read more here.
Fire Department logs 615 calls
The new Sandy Springs Fire Department responded to 615 calls in its first month of operation. The first call came 40 minutes after the department’s launch on Dec. 29, 2006. January calls included EMS, fire, general service and hazardous materials incidents.
To learn more about the Sandy Springs Fire Department, click here.
Council to decide tree ordinance
The City Council will decide on Feb. 6 whether to adopt the new Tree Ordinance. If adopted, the new ordinance will help residents identify boundary trees (those whose root systems or canopies extend into neighboring lots). It also details proper planting and pruning procedures, along with other conservation guidelines. The City Council vote comes after an extended period of public input and committee recommendations.
Read the proposed ordinance here.
Greenspace project moves forward
A fact-finding meeting in January gave consultants from engineering design firm PBS&J some public input into plans for a 20-acre park. The Abernathy Greenway linear park will run along a mile stretch of Abernathy Road from Johnson Ferry to Roswell Road. The meeting was in an open-house format, with attendees circulating and reviewing plans and drawings. Attendees took surveys to help determine whether they are interested in sculptures, playgrounds, gazebos and other elements.
For more information, click here.
Local company donates batteries, shavers
Spectrum Brands, a Fortune 1,000 company based in Sandy Springs, donated five cases each of Rayovac AAA, AA, C and D batteries to the Fire Department. David Jones, CEO of Spectrum Brands, presented the items Jan. 16 at Fire Station #3 at 6025 Heards Road. The Fire Department will use the batteries in flashlights and other equipment. Spectrum Brands also donated Remington shavers, hair dryers and grooming items.
Click here for the complete release.
Homeless advocate wins MLK honor
Nancy McCord has won the 2007 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award for her work with the homeless. McCord received the honors Jan. 15 during the Sandy Springs Martin Luther King Day celebration at City Hall. Her ministry at Sandy Springs United Methodist Church offers encouragement, mentoring, food and other necessities, with a goal of helping them become self-sufficient. A volunteer committee made the selection from a group of three finalists, which also included Randi Passoff and Dr. Dennis Turner Jr.
Read more here.
Refunds available for sale tax overage
Residents of Sandy Springs report that vendors within the City limits sometimes charge them a sales tax of 8 percent instead of 7 percent. Those who believe they have been so overcharged can check their refund eligibility for a refund by visiting www.etax.dor.ga.gov/salestax. Follow the link that reads “1% City of Atlanta Municipal Option Sales and Use Tax,” and go to “City of Atlanta Address Locator.” This Web site will verify that your address is not subject to the additional 1 percent sales use tax for the City of Atlanta. Print a confirmation and remit this to the establishment that charged you the 8 percent in error for a reimbursement of the sales and use taxes they collected.
Send inquiries to taxpayer.services@dor.ga.gov.
Meetings for February
Councilmember Karen Meizen McEnerny will hold a Town Hall meeting at 7 p.m. on Feb. 12 at the Inglett Room, Holy Innocents Episcopal Church. The Sandy Springs City Council will hold its regular meetings at 7 p.m. on Feb. 6 and 20 at City Hall, with a 6 p.m. work session on Feb. 13. Comprehensive Plan meetings for February include a Visioning Workshop at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 1 (Council Chambers), Advisory Committee meetings at 7 p.m. on Feb. 12 and 26 (Council Chambers), and an Impact Fee Advisory Committee meeting at 3 p.m. on Feb. 28 (Administrative Boardroom). A Tree Ordinance training session will be at 1 p.m. on Feb. 12 in the City Hall Training Room.
For more meetings, including the Planning Commission, Design Review Board and Board of Zoning Appeals, visit the Sandy Springs calendar.
Study: Signal timing can save $3.1 million
Traffic studies show a recently completed retiming project for traffic signals can save drivers in the Perimeter area an annual total of $3.1 million. The savings come from fewer traveler delays, emission, wear and tear of start/stop driving and infrastructure costs, according to a study by the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts (PCID). The PCID joined Sandy Springs and DeKalb County to complete the retiming project, which included Glenridge Connector, Abernathy/Perimeter Center West, Mt. Vernon Highway and Peachtree-Dunwoody Road.
Visit the PCID Web site at www.perimetercid.org.