Election to fill council seat Nov. 6
A special election on Nov. 6 will fill the vacant District 1 seat on the Sandy Springs City Council. Councilmember Dave Greenspan resigned on Aug. 27 to take an out-of-state job. If a runoff is necessary, it will take place Dec. 4.Voters who wish to cast a ballot in this election must be registered by Oct. 9.
The following individuals have completed Notices of Candidacy and Affidavits for Sandy Springs City Council District 1:
- Elizabeth W. Huffner
- Douglas J. MacGinnitie
- Mark D. Thomas
- Vicki R. Willard
For information, including voter registration, click here.
MLK award nominations open
Nominations are open for the 2008 Sandy Springs Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award. Residents are asked to nominate a living resident of Sandy Springs who instills pride within the community and inspires others. Current Sandy Springs staff and elected officials are not eligible. The nominee must have been a resident of Sandy Springs for the past three years or longer. The deadline for submitting nominations is Dec. 3.
For a nomination form, visit www.sandyspringsga.org.
Council OKs adoption of park plan
The Mayor and City Council voted Sept. 4 to adopt the master plan for the Abernathy greenway linear park. The park is planned to run along both sides of Abernathy Road between the Chattahoochee River and Roswell Road. The master plan is the work of landscape architecture firm PBS&J. The plan includes picnic and seating areas, a plaza and patio, playgrounds, well-lighted trails, and gardens.
The Abernathy linear park master plan can be viewed on the City's Web site at www.sandyspringsga.org.
Sandy Springs honored for financial reporting
The City's comprehensive annual financial report has earned the Certificate of Achievement of Excellence in Financial Reporting, the highest honor for government accounting and financial reporting. The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada bestowed the award on Sandy Springs in September. The City also received the Award of Financial Reporting Achievement.
Click here for complete information.
More paving to begin Oct. 8
Sandy Springs will begin another phase of paving during October. Roads are as follows: Glenridge Drive from Roswell Road to Royervista Drive; Long Island Terrace from Long Island Drive to the cul de sac; Huntcliff from Roswell Road to Hightower Road; Huntcliff Trace from Huntcliff to the fifth green; Glenridge Drive from Abernathy Road to Glenlake Parkway; Breakwater Ridge from Johnson Ferry Road to the end; Heathfield Drive from Wyndham Drive to Landsdowne Drive; Landsdowne Drive from Castleton Drive to the end. Also beginning this fall will be the capital paving project for 2007-2008.
Click here for a complete list of roads included in this project.
Fire rescue enhancements boost service
Sandy Springs Fire Rescue Department has bolstered its quick-response service by adding a rescue unit and advanced life support capacity to an existing vehicle. The new unit, working out of Station 4 at 4697 Wieuca Road, includes a new quick-response vehicle and six new Fire Rescue employees. The advanced life support equipment added in September to Quint 3, also at Station 4, offers enhanced treatment for cardiopulmonary resuscitation in cardiac arrest and related medical problems.
Read more here.
Study: Signal retiming saving motorists millions
A recent study reveals that signal retiming on Roswell Road has saved motorists nearly $12 million in fuel and time during the past year. Geostats, a private firm, released the findings in September. The study bases its numbers on $3-per-gallon fuel costs and time valued at $10 per hour. Drivers going south during the afternoon rush and north during the morning rush hour are cutting their travel times up to 40 percent, the study shows.
Click here for the complete release.
Assistant fire chief completes FEMA program
Assistant Fire Chief Dennis Ham has completed the Executive Fire Officer Program, a program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Fire Academy. Ham was required to write an applied research project that connects theory to real-life situations. "This is a very tough program," said Fire Chief Jack McElfish, "and it is a testament to his character that he works hard everyday here in the City and then goes home and works hard to study and further his knowledge in his chosen field."
Click here for more.
City seeks emergency team members
As part of its emergency preparedness initiative the City is developing a Citizen Emergency Response Team (CERT) and will be conducting training over the next few months. If you are interested in becoming part of the CERT team please E-mail Captain Kareem Fannin with Sandy Springs Fire Rescue or call him at 404-886-9310. You can also submit your name using our electronic form. If you live or work in Sandy Springs and are already CERT trained, we would like to get in touch with you.
Fire Prevention Week keys on escape plan
The 2007 Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 7-13) theme is "Practice Your Escape Plan." Sandy Springs Fire Rescue will hold an open house at all of the fire stations on Saturday, Oct. 13, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Residents can stop by the fire stations, get free literature, and have questions answered about home escape planning and fire safety.
For complete information, click here.