From the Dunwoody Crier
By Rebecca Chase Williams
On the road to a possible vote on a new city of Brookhaven, a study group has modified the city’s proposed boundaries and a DeKalb County commissioner has called for a moratorium on the incorporation of new cities.
The Citizens for North Brookhaven (C4ND), the non-profit group that has commissioned a feasibility study of a new city, announced that it has removed the commercial area of Century Center from the proposed city’s boundaries. The group explained in a press release that, after listening to the concerns of residents in the neighborhoods adjacent to Century Center, the Board of C4ND decided to make the change to better preserve the ability of those residents to explore their own municipal options in the future.
State Rep. Mike Jacobs (R-north DeKalb) further explained that when the city of Dunwoody was being formed, he worked with the state Sen. Dan Weber and (then) state Rep. Fran Millar to exclude Perimeter Summit, just south of I-285, from the city of Dunwoody. He argued that the commercial area would be important to the adjacent citizens if those neighborhoods were to ever incorporate. In an email to constituents, Jacobs explained that Century Center is to the adjacent neighborhoods what Perimeter Summit is to the Murphey Candler/ Nancy Creek neighborhoods.
After listening to the affected neighborhoods, C4ND made a decision in the interests of fairness and equity to exclude it from the Brookhaven study area, wrote Jacobs.
The feasibility study being conducted by the Carl Vinson Institute of the University of Georgia is expected to be completed by the beginning of November.
“We are eager to receive the report from the Carl Vinson Institute so that we can review it and release it to the community. That has been our mission from the beginning and we are pleased to see our goal within reach,” said Doug Dykhuizen, president of Citizens for North DeKalb.
In another development, DeKalb County commissioner Jeff Rader plans to ask the county commission this week for a moratorium on new cities in DeKalb County. Rader’s resolution calls on the General Assembly to form a study commission to address a method for determining reasonable boundaries, taking into account the fiscal capacity of the annexing/newly incorporating areas and the remaining unincorporated area to provide basic public services.
In an interview with The Crier, Commissioner Rader said he is not against the incorporation of new cities, but is worried that the unincorporated areas left behind may or may not be viable.
“Our tax base is not evenly distributed,” said Rader, explaining that areas like south DeKalb have a low tax base. “Our goal should be to find a new state of equity.”
Rader added that he understands the trend towards incorporation, and can’t defend the administration of the county.
“I understand the dissatisfaction that has sparked this movement. People are tired of not getting their money’s worth.”
Rader wants any feasibility study to measure the impact on the rest of the county, and adjacent areas, but adds, “if there are rational boundaries, it might be okay.”
District One commissioner Elaine Boyer said she would not support Rader’s resolution. “People have a right to organize their government,” said Boyer. “If everyone wants to be in a city like in Fulton County, so be it. My constituents are not children. We are here to represent people, not dictate how they should do stuff.”
Rep. Jacobs called Rader’s efforts a delay tactic by those who oppose incorporation and predicted it will go nowhere in a Republican-dominated state house. State Rep. Tom Taylor (R-Dunwoody) agreed, and called it, “a desperate grab to stall the inevitability of citizens looking for smaller, more responsive governments.”
Taylor added that while the county has raised the millage rate, the new cities have proven they can deliver efficient services at a lower rate, pointing out that Dunwoody has the lowest tax rate in the county.
Rader’s proposal was to introduced at Tuesday’s board of commissioners meeting.
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