From the Dunwoody Crier
A new telephone poll conducted by State Rep. Mike Jacobs (R-North DeKalb) found that a large majority of those polled would favor leaving unincorporated DeKalb to be part of an existing city or even forming a new one. In fact, forming a new city of Brookhaven was the favorite over joining the existing city of Dunwoody or Chamblee. The poll contacted 227 residents who live near the Murphey Candler park, off West Nancy Creek Drive or surrounding Silver Lake, the areas considered most likely to be part of an potential annexation or cityhood solution.
When asked “Would you favor or oppose legislation that would allow residents of unincorporated North DeKalb County to choose whether to annex into an existing city?” 63.5 percent said they favored such legislation. About 18 percent would oppose and 18.5 percent had no opinion. When asked if legislation were to pass the General Assembly so as to allow residents to determine whether to stay in unincorporated DeKalb County or opt for another solution, the poll found that 30.8 percent favored creating a new city of Brookhaven. 21.6 percent wanted to remain in unincorporated DeKalb County, 19 percent wanted to join Dunwoody, 10.3 percent would join Chamblee and 18.3 percent had no opinion.
“The only possible way to interpret the polls,” said Jacobs, “is that there is a clear mandate in the neighborhoods surrounding Murphey Candler, West Nancy Creek and Silver Lake to move forward with a municipal solution.”
Jacobs has already introduced legislation to allow the cities of Dunwoody or Chamblee to annex an adjacent “unincorporated peninsula” it within four miles of its boundaries. The bill passed the House Governmental Affairs committee but Jacobs decided to hold it until next year’s General Assembly to give the communities affected time to discuss the issue.
Jacobs said he wasn’t surprised that the creation of a new city of Brookhaven was the most popular outcome of his poll.
“The Brookhaven brand has a nice ring it,” Jacobs told the Crier. “Our area which is not in Dunwoody, Chamblee or Brookhaven has historically been referred to as North Brookhaven.” Jacobs added that the advantage of a new city of Brookhaven is that “it’s completely a blank slate. We can set it up in whatever way citizens are interested in setting up a city.”
The poll results have prompted Jacobs to draft legislation for a city charter for a city of Brookhaven, to be introduced before the end of this year’s session. Jacobs said his purpose to place all the options on the table as well as allow the possibility that a new city could be created by 2012. Because of legislative committee rules, if Jacobs waited until next year to introduce a charter, it would be 2014 before a new city could be created.
“If I don’t introduce at least a skeletal charter for a city of Brookhaven before the end of this legislative session, then we will have to wait a full three years before passing a city charter,” said Jacobs. “There is no downside to passing a city charter at time. We will work on improving it if we move forward before next session. If there is no interest in a city of Brookhaven, the bill doesn’t have to move at all.”
Jacobs along with State Rep. Tom Taylor (R-Dunwoody) will host a community meeting, Tuesday, March 29 at Chamblee United Methodist Church to discuss the poll results and the options available.
Jacobs and Taylor answered questions last week before the Murphey Candler Homeowners’ Association. Jacobs told the audience that “city government is proving more efficient, more nimble and closer to the people,” adding that, “you get more for paying the same amount,” without adding another layer of government or paying higher taxes.
Taylor talked about the hard work that went into the creation of the city of Dunwoody but that it has “worked out great.” Taylor pointed out that Dunwoody after its second year in operation ended the year with a reserve and surplus. With only five city employees, most city functions are outsourced, except for the police. Taylor said the difference in services was “night and day.” For example, while in unincorporated DeKalb, Dunwoody contributed $13 million a year for police protection of one to two patrols a shift. Now the city pays $5.1 million and has seven patrols a shift. With local elected officials who live in or near your neighborhood, Taylor laughingly said now residents, “can reach out and strangle someone.”
In response to resident’s concerns that his annexation bill could allow Dunwoody or Chamblee to cherry pick commercial areas that produce more tax revenue but leave behind residential areas, Jacobs insisted that he would control the bill to make sure that an entire area that wants to be annexed would be included in the new boundaries, adding “I will pledge that a final bill will not enable cherry picking.”
