City denies drive-thru, approves missing middle subdivision
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden.sumlin@gmail.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Sandy Springs City Council denied a permit to allow a Whataburger drive-thru facility at 8721 Roswell Road Aug. 19 after a discussion about future land use and planning priorities.
Sandy Springs Council of Neighborhoods President Rhonda Smith told elected officials that residents have serious concerns about the 24-hour drive-thru restaurant on the south end of the Dunwoody Place shopping center. She asked elected officials to deny the application.
“I hope you’ve taken a very hard look at this application and that these remarks precipitate you taking an equally hard look at drive throughs in general as future requests come forward,” Smith said. “Future proliferation of drive-thrus will continue to inflict more impact that pushes Roswell Road in the wrong direction in the effort to create a more walkable, or simply just a more desirable public realm anywhere on Roswell Road.”
The 1.36-acre site is zoned for commercial use up to three stories (CX-3) and the new fast-food chain requires the approval of a permit for its drive-thru facility.
Placing a popular 24-hour drive-thru restaurant on one of the city’s busiest roadways raised initial alarm at a series of community meetings the city held with developers in March. But company representatives say motorist access to the restaurant will be via a side street off Roswell Road.
Whataburger is a unique and growing fast-food chain based out of Texas with 24-hour drive-thrus at its locations,
A map of a proposed 24-hour Whataburger drive-thru at 8721 Roswell Road shows car circulation options from Ga. 9 and Dunwoody Place. Sandy Springs council members voted 3-3 to deny the permit application Aug. 19 with Mayor Rusty Paul casting the deciding vote.
according to the applicant.
Some residents of the Huntcliff neighborhood across Roswell Road (Georgia 9) from the site are opposed to drive-thru because of existing traffic concerns at the Dunwoody Place shopping center.
Council members Jody Reichel and Melody Kelley also said they had concerns over traffic flow through the parking lot of the shopping center during the mid-August public hearing.
Kelley said a drive-thru on the site is in compatible with ongoing North End
revitalization and redevelopment plans, which look to build more sidewalks and connectivity between commercial areas and neighborhoods.
Adrianne Murchison, a longtime North Fulton reporter and resident of the Huntington Place townhome community abutting the southern end of the proposed Whataburger location, said she and her neighbors are concerned about drive-thru noise and headlights disturbing them overnight.
See SUBDIVISION, Page 7
by HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — Four members of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted Aug. 20 to approve a $1.23 billion package to renovate the Rice Street jail and construct a new 1,800-bed facility.
The Fulton County Jail system is under its second federal consent decree of the century, requiring the county to improve the facility’s reportedly inhumane and unconstitutional conditions.
Commissioners Khadijah Abdur-Rahman, Bob Ellis and Bridget Thorne voted in favor with Chairman Robb Pitts, who announced the proposal during an Aug. 18 press conference at Assembly Hall.
During public comment, some county residents said they are opposed to an increase in the footprint of the county’s jail system, placing blame on either Sheriff Pat Labat’s management of jail operations or the Board of Commissioner’s lack of funding allocations.
Other speakers said they have concerns about what will happen to existing inmates while jail renovations are occurring, opposing any plan to ship incarcerated people to neighboring states.
While the county has been housing some inmates at the Atlanta City Detention Center since 2023, that partnership is set to end in 2026. Meanwhile, Atlanta has not indicated it will renew the agreement with Fulton County for use of 700 beds at its jail.
See JAIL, Page 7
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Georgia Senate eyeing need-based college scholarships
By DAVE WILLIAMS Capitol Beat
ATLANTA — The state’s lottery-funded HOPE Scholarship program has been highly successful, covering most or all of college tuition for more than 2.2 million Georgians since its inception in 1993.
But Georgia lawmakers are considering expanding state aid to public college and university students beyond the merit-based HOPE program to a need-based scholarship initiative. The newly formed state Senate Study Committee on Higher Education Affordability will hold its first meeting on Monday at the state Capitol.
“In my conversations on both sides of the aisle, there’s been a recognition that getting more students into college is a must,” said Sen. Nan Orrock, D-Atlanta, who will chair
the committee. “[But] we have not turned our attention to need-based support.”
“I’m very concerned about the level of debt students come out of college with,” added Sen. Max Burns, R-Sylvania, chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee and a member of the new study panel. “The study committee is designed to explore as many avenues as we can to expand our graduation rates.”
The University System of Georgia’s sixyear graduation rate has increased significantly during the last decade, surpassing 80% for the system as a whole and surging beyond 90% at the system’s research universities including the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech.
The university system has taken various steps to boost graduation rates. The system has participated in the Complete College
America program since 2011.
In 2022, the system launched the website Georgia Degrees Pay to show the value of a degree. The following year saw the start of GEORGIA MATCH, a direct admission program that involves sending letters to high school seniors listing the public universities, colleges and technical colleges they are academically eligible to attend and explaining how to claim a spot being held for them at the institution of their choice.
But Orrock said there remains room for improvement.
“Our workforce shortages are well documented,” she said. “More college graduates are a way for our state to attract businesses looking for the skill sets of college graduates.”
Georgia and New Hampshire are currently the only states that don’t offer a need-based scholarship program in their four-year
public colleges and universities. But bringing need-based scholarships to Georgia will have to overcome an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality.
University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue noted that the system’s Board of Regents has held the line on tuition for seven of the last 10 years.
Decisions by the General Assembly eliminating the special institutional fees the system began charging students during the Great Recession and restoring the funding cuts to HOPE made during the same economic downturn have helped keep tuition in check, he said.
“We welcome the discussion,” Perdue said of the upcoming study committee. “We’ve got a great story to tell.”
Sandy Springs officials adopt 2025 property tax rate
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Since it became the first city in the state of Georgia to incorporate in half a century, Sandy Springs has maintained a property tax rate of 4.731 mills.
A tax rate of 1 mill represents a tax liability of $1 per $1,000 of assessed value on property.
A rollback millage rate is one where, due to increased property values, the city would collect the same amount of money as it did the prior year.
For the city to generate the same property tax revenue as last year, it would need to set the millage rate at 4.697 mills. By proposing to keep the rate flat, property owners will see an increase of city tax bills by 0.71 percentage over the rollback millage rate.
City Councilman John Paulson said he supports the idea of keeping the millage rate flat, rather than rolling it back to collect the same revenues as last year.
“I’ve talked to folks in the community who’ve said, ‘just leave it
alone,’” Paulson said. “If it costs me another $60 to $80, or however much it costs a typical house, build me another sidewalk.”
The proposed tax increase for a residential property with a homestead exemption and a fair market value of $685,000 will be around $91. For a non-homesteaded property with the same fair market value, the tax increase would be around $96.
Because the city charter caps the property tax rate at 4.731 mills, elected officials could only adopt a higher rate a citizen referendum.
Across the DeKalb-Fulton County line, some elected officials in Dunwoody floated the idea of raising its relatively low tax rate without a citizen vote. Since this spring, Dunwoody officials have not spoken about charter changes.
The Sandy Springs City Council adopted this year’s millage rate at a third and final public hearing Aug. 19, estimated to raise property tax bills by less than 1 percent.
No residents spoke during the public hearings.
Because Sandy Springs’ fiscal year runs July 1-June 30, the property taxes collected this fall fund the 2026
budget.
In 2020, property taxes generated around $42.5 million for the city’s general fund. This year, it is expected to generate around $52.4 million.
Most of the increase in property tax revenue came amid higher reassessments from 2021-24, but revenues are expected to increase by less than half a percent this year.
The city says because the 2026 budget adopted by the mayor and City Council requires revenue higher than the rollback millage rate would produce, it is not proposing to keep the amount of property taxes it collects the same as last year.
Like Fulton County, the city of Sandy Springs adopts a budget before adopting a property tax rate to fund it.
Some other Metro Atlanta cities adopt a budget after setting the tax rate.
City Councilman Andy Bauman said the city will take in an additional $400,000 this year by keeping the rate flat.
“I largely agree with what I heard, although I do know that our residents are deeply concerned about taxing coming from all places,” Bauman said. “We all pushed back on the Fulton County tax increase, and I’m glad they didn’t do that.”
The Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted 6-1 to keep the property tax rate flat at 8.87 mills Aug. 6 after hours of strong debate.
County residents sent thousands of emails to commissioners and spent hours explaining their opposition to a proposed 12.5 percent increase during public comment this summer at Fulton County Assembly Hall.
The evening before county
commissioners’ final vote, the Sandy Springs City Council approved a resolution opposing the tax hike.
Bauman said he spoke with City Manager Eden Freeman about this year’s property taxes, confirming that adoption of a rollback rate could impact the city’s triple A bond rating.
The Sandy Springs City Council and Public Facilities Authority approved issuing $50.5 million in revenue bonds Aug. 5 for reconstruction or renovation of three of its fire stations.
“A change in our credit rating would be much more costly than $400,000 for the city,” Bauman said. “So, we just need to be mindful of the dollars that we raise in our taxes, [and] we need to continue to deliver more and better services for those dollars.”
Mayor Rusty Paul announced that Moody’s, a leading credit rating agency, recently gave the city a triple A bond rating at the conclusion of the meeting.
“Great news for the city … that’s the gold standard for financial accounting and credit worthiness of the community,” he said. “Very few cities, counties and states qualify for the triple A.”
The city is yet to receive an updated rating from Standard & Poor’s (S&P Global).
Paul said one of Moody’s concerns is the city’s capped millage rate, which prevents elected officials from raising the property tax rate above 4.731 mills.
“They did highlight the fact that we are revenue constrained by the millage rate,” Paul said. “That is a particular issue that we need to be cognizant of.”
on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, with each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
YE, GODS!
1. Norse thunder god. Pismire. Union demand.
2. Lampblack. Poker hand. Egyptian solar god with the head of a falcon.
3. Pillow covering. Cluttered. Roman god of passages.
4. Greek god of darkness. Moppet. Decree.
5. Ten-armed mollusk. Supreme god of Ancient Greece. Spanish port city.
6. Half-moon tide. Cougar. Roman god of fire.
7. Have a drink. Norse god of discord. Bad to the bone.
1 Norse thunder god. Pismire. Union demand
2. Lampblack. Poker hand. Egytpian solar god with the head of a falcon.
How to Solve: Each line in the puzzle above has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, which each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
3. Pillow covering. Cluttered. Roman god of passages
4. Greek god of darkness. Moppet. Decree.
5. Ten-armed mollusk. Supreme god of ancient Greece. Spanish port city
6. Half-moon tide. Cougar. Roman god of fire
7. Have a drink. Norse god of discord. Bad to the bone.
Community Assistance Center schedules annual thrift store sale
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Community Assistance Center calls all bargain hunters, thrifters and eco-conscience consumers to score major deals Sept. 2-6 at Canopy Thrift’s biggest sale of the year.
The local nonprofit says shopping at Canopy Thrift is creating real impact in communities of Central Perimeter and north Metro Atlanta. The store features weekly new inventory of designer and name-brand clothing and accessories for all ages, plus furniture, tableware, gifts and toys.
Every purchase and donation supports CAC’s mission to prevent hunger and homelessness in Sandy Springs and Dunwoody. Proceeds fund vital services including emergency financial assistance, mini-market food pantries, children's programs, adult education and career assistance services.
City
Sale Schedule
• Address: Canopy Thrift, 8607 Roswell Road in Sandy Springs
• Store Hours:
- Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, Sept. 2 and Wednesday, Sept.
3:50 percent off all summer clothing, shoes, purses and scarves
The semiannual sale runs Sept. 2-6, and the one-day Fall Reveal is Sept. 9.
This September, shoppers can stretch their dollars even further and support local families. All proceeds benefit the Community Assistance Center (CAC).
Now in their 20th year, Canopy Thrift’s Semi-Annual Sale and Fall Reveal offer shoppers end-of-summer prices and
- Thursday, Sept. 4 – Saturday, Sept. 6: Everything summer is $1 each! Clothing, shoes, purses and scarves.
- Monday, Sept. 8: Store closed for Fall Reset.
- Tuesday, Sept. 9: Discover the best of the best in fall and winter wear at Canopy Thrift’s Fall Reveal with fresh inventory, name brands and one-of-a-kind finds.
early access to the thrift boutique’s fall collections for men, women, teens and children. Canopy Thrift features a wide selection of popular brands including Dylan, NICK+ZOE, Maeve, Lululemon and Peter Millar.
Named the 2025 Best in Perimeter thrift store, Canopy Thrift is operated by CAC. Staffed by volunteers, all store revenue
directly funds CAC's programs in basic needs assistance, education and career development.
Thrift store manager Debbie Olson said the semi-annual sale and Fall Reveal have become a highly anticipated shopping experience in Metro Atlanta.
“We’re excited to welcome hundreds of customers from across the metro area who not only find incredible deals but also support our neighbors in need,” Olson said. “Every purchase has purpose at Canopy Thrift.”
In 2024 alone, Canopy Thrift distributed more than $190,000 worth of free clothing and essentials to more than 1,900 local families, all thanks to community donations and dedicated volunteers.
To learn more, visit ourcac.org/ canopythrift.
— Hayden Sumlin
Springs Theatre Company’s 8th season returns with ‘The Producers’
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The City Springs Theatre Company is opening its eighth season at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center Sept. 5-21 with Mel Brooks’ musicalcomedy “The Producers.”
“The Producers: A Mel Brooks Musical” at the Byers Theatre is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI), a leading New York-based licensing agency granting local theaters access to Broadway classics.
In 2001, American comedy legend Mel Brooks changed the face of Broadway forever with the musical version of his own 1967 film, “The Producers.” Hailed as an instant classic, the musical won a record 12 Tony Awards and has kept audiences across the globe laughing ever since.
One of Brooks’ collaborators, James Gray, is directing and choreographing “The Producers: A Mel Brooks Musical,” having
Scholarships:
“We have some of the highest quality education at the lowest cost in the nation,” Burns added. “That’s a positive for Georgia.”
A key issue shaping the upcoming debate over higher education affordability will be whether the state should focus more on helping deserving high school students who can’t afford college gain access to postsecondary education or on students who are nearing a degree but struggling to pay for the final credits they need to graduate.
Orrock said high school counselors have told lawmakers that some high-achieving high school students are not enrolling in college because their families can’t afford it. While the GEORGIA MATCH program has
appeared as an actor in the show on both Broadway and in London’s West End.
In the stage adaptation of the 1967 satirical comedy, a down-on-his-luck New York producer teams up with his mild-mannered accountant to produce the biggest disaster in Broadway history, allowing them to run off with the surplus of money they raise.
Together they do everything in their power to make sure the show, titled “Springtime for Hitler,” is a sure-fire flop, only to have their efforts spectacularly backfire. Brooks, 99, has been vocal over the years, defending his comedy.
“After all the people that he was responsible for killing and after utterly destroying half the world,” he said in a widely quoted 2012 interview with Salon. “I just thought the only weapon I’ve really got is comedy. And if I can
helped, she said many students receiving letters informing them of university system institutions they are qualified to attend don’t end up enrolling.
Orrock said the late Hank Huckaby, who as a senior staff member helped thenGov. Zell Miller launch HOPE and later served as university system chancellor, was a proponent of need-based scholarships.
“He said, ‘If you want the biggest game changer to make your workforce, economy, and families thrive, it’s need-based,’ ” she said.
But state Rep. Chuck Martin, RAlpharetta, chairman of the House Higher Education Committee, said giving a financial boost to college students nearing a degree is more important. Martin was the lead sponsor of legislation the General Assembly passed in 2022 offering students who have earned at least 80% of the credits
make this guy ludicrous, if I can make you laugh at him, then it’s a victory of sorts.”
The Producers: A Mel Brooks Musical contains adult language and situations, also including mention and depictions of Adolf Hitler and Nazis. It is recommended for audiences aged 13 and older.
Tony-award winner Shuler Hensley is City Springs Theatre Company’s Artistic Director, and has had the pleasure of working with Mel Brooks on stage. Hensley said calling the legend a friend is an unqualified privilege.
“He’s a one-of-a-kind voice, a true craftsman of comedy, finding humor in impossible situations and maddening injustices,” Hensley said. “Nothing unifies an audience like the kind of outrageous, gut-busting laughter that has been Mel’s hallmark for decades. It’s his superpower, and it’s why he is still thriving at 99!”
required for their college degree grants of up to $2,500 to help pay their tuition.
“If you want to start a need-based scholarship, you start at the end,” he said. “At that point, students have proven they can do the work.”
Another factor lawmakers will have to consider is the cost to Georgia taxpayers of launching a need-based scholarship program.
The HOPE program is currently running a surplus of $1.6 billion, according to the resolution that created the study committee. But Martin said the legislature shouldn’t put those funds toward needbased scholarships without careful consideration.
“Just because there’s money doesn’t mean you spend it,” he said. “We shouldn’t put any new program in because we happen to have a surplus in the lottery or
The cast includes New York-based actor Adam B. Shapiro, making his City Springs debut as the larger-than-life producer Max Bialystock; Tyler Pirrung (CSTC’s Jersey Boys, Spamalot) as the timid accountant Leo Bloom; Atlanta favorites Jeff McKerley as Roger DeBris, Blake Fountain as Franz Liebkend, and Frankie Marasa as Carmen Ghia. City Springs Theatre Company productions take place in the Byers Theatre at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center, 1 Galambos Way.
Individual tickets to “The Producers: A Mel Brooks Musical” are on sale now. Prices range from $70 to $172, including all fees with discounts for seniors, students, groups, as well as active and retired military personnel.
For more information, visit cityspringstheatre.com.
— Hayden Sumlin
otherwise.”
While Martin and other conservative Republicans are wary of the potential fiscal impact of offering need-based scholarships, Orrock said there’s been GOP buy-in to at least giving the idea serious consideration.
Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who presides over the state Senate, got behind Orrock’s resolution to form the study committee and appointed the Democrat to chair the effort, a rare opportunity in the legislature for a member of the minority party.
“There’s interest in it by leadership,” Orrock said. “If we can put together a goodfaith grant program, it will be win-win for Georgia and a win-win for bipartisanship.”
This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.
Subdivision:
Continued from Page 1
(Murchison also writes a food column for Decaturish, a sister publication to the Crier.)
The applicant’s representatives included Dale Freidly, an associate with Warner Summers Architecture & Interior Design, and Harrison Parker with local Whataburger franchisee Made to Order Holdings LLC.
They said the design of the new building and drive-thru facility prevents headlights from shining toward the townhome community. Because the franchisee has opened several locations around Metro Atlanta, they said there’s confidence that neighboring properties will not be negatively impacted.
“We did hold three community meetings,” Friedly said. “We were certainly open and willing to discuss any concerns that they had, [and] we believe we did address those concerns that were available.”
The Sandy Springs Planning Commission and city staff recommend approval of the permit with conditions, requiring the property owner to accommodate a minimum number of
Jail:
Continued from Page 1
Rather than building a new jail, estimated to cost $1.75 billion to $2 billion in the second half of 2023, the Board of Commissioners is building an 1,800-bed “medical and mental health facility.”
The new facility is designated for inmates with mental illnesses, addictions and special needs, which the county estimates is between 40 percent and 70 percent of inmates.
County staff, including Justice System Programs Director Steve Nawrocki and representatives from the county’s consultant ACR Partners updated commissioners Aug. 20 with a recommendation on how to proceed with the Rice Street jail’s Capital Improvement Program.
In May, Nawrocki told commissioners the average monthly inmate population across all county jail facilities continues to rise each month. However, the Rice Street jail population was around 1,700 after the first quarter of 2025, down from the estimated 3,200 inmates incarcerated there in summer 2023.
The update comes after commissioners directed staff in June to conduct a condition assessment of all county jail facilities, including Rice Street, the Atlanta City Detention Center, the South Annex and the one in Marietta. Conditions at Rice Street stand out with the roof, interior finishes, plumbing, electrical
vehicles in each lane and adhere to submitted site plans.
Across the Fulton-DeKalb County line in Dunwoody, city staff is not recommending new drive-thrus, fast food or otherwise. Elected officials in Dunwoody and Sandy Springs have not reached a consensus on drive-thru facilities in recent land-use cases.
City Councilman John Paulson said he traveled to the Whataburger off McFarland Parkway in Alpharetta twice before the public hearing. During his 2 a.m. visit, Paulson said no one was at the restaurant.
No residents spoke in favor of the conditional use permit.
Council members Tibby DeJulio, Paulson and Reichel voted in favor of allowing the drive-thru, and councilmembers Andy Bauman, Melissa Mular and Kelley voted in opposition.
After the split vote, Mayor Rusty Paul decided to deny the permit, initially stating that he did not vote against the conditional use permit because of language in the charter preventing him from doing so.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Paul said he made a mistake during the public hearing vote. City Attorney Dan Lee sent him a clarification, leading him to correct the record.
and fire protection labeled “critical.” The only system in good condition at Fulton County’s main jail are the stairs, consultants said.
The jail, originally built to house 1,250 inmates, is projected to hold 1,600 after the $552 million renovation is complete. The 1,800-bed new facility has a smaller price tag of $536 million.
The rest of the $1.23 billion is set to go towards outsourcing some inmates to additional facilities while construction and renovation occur, estimated to take around 9 years, which concerned most commissioners.
AECOM Senior Vice President Roger Lichtman, a representative of the joint venture ACR Partners, said the scope of work includes replacing all facility condition deficiencies, constructing a facility to accommodate behavioral care and special needs, comparing an accelerated versus standard schedule and reviewing the county’s lease of Atlanta jail space.
“The important point of this, I believe, is that within the first five years, we have 1,800 beds complete as a part of new special purpose facility,” Lichtman said. “Then, once that is complete, then the renovation of Rice Street starts … To me, this is the best of both worlds … it won’t be as overcrowded and as dangerous as it is right now.”
The county’s Chief Financial Officer Sharron Whitmore said the $1.23 billion plan to address the jail system will be primarily funded with a bond issuance through the South Fulton Regional Mu-
“When I make a mistake in public, I want to make sure I correct it in public,” Paul said. “I want to make sure that the minutes reflect that I voted negatively on the on the item that was tied … I will promise not to make that mistake again.”
In other business at the Aug. 19 City Council meeting, elected officials approved a rezoning at 5375 Northland Drive to subdivide the 1.98-acre property into three residential lots. The rezoning is from a residential estate with a 1-acre lot minimum (RE-1) to residential detached with a 7,500-square-foot minimum (RD7.5).
The property, west of Ga. 400 and south of I-285 in the High Point neighborhood, has an existing postWWII ranch home and is largely wooded, according to staff’s analysis.
The three new parcels will range from 0.42 acres to 0.73 acres, representing a mild increase in density. The approved rezoning adds missing middle housing between a residential neighborhood and commercial area.
A group of nearby residents, two of whom spoke at the public hearing, said they oppose changes to character of the neighborhood and transitional areas for missing middle housing. One resident spoke in favor.
City staff told elected officials the
nicipal Jail Authority.
The third option requires more than $1 billion in capital costs, and an estimated annual debt service of $84.3 million.
Whitmore said the property tax rate would have to increase by 0.83 mills if that were the only mechanism to fund the capital costs
“The combination of tax allocation district (TAD) roll-offs and the reduction in pension contribution generates about $107 million,” Whitmore said, referencing potential funding sources after 2030. “So, we have resources that will become available in the future that would help offset this difference that we currently have.”
The balance to cover debt service is around $65 million.
During discussion about property taxes and the millage rate this summer, some commissioners expressed a desire to take in more funding from residents to cover jail improvements and potential funding cuts.
County Commissioner Mo Ivory, elected in 2024 to serve midtown and downtown Atlanta in District 4, said she thinks the county will need to increase its millage rate to fund the $1.2 billion proposal. County Commissioner Dana Barrett abstained from the vote.
Charles Rambo, a 34-year veteran of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, said he urged the Atlanta City Council Aug. 18 to continue leasing space to house county inmates at the City Detention Center off Peachtree Street.
“Why? Because the majority of pre-
proposed parcels, two of which are flagshaped lots, fit with the city’s Next Ten Comprehensive Plan.
Because the lot abuts an age-restricted residential multi-unit site to the north and residential detached from the south, staff said they think the proposed rezoning properly manages land-use transitions. Also, the increase in singlefamily lots increases opportunities for homeownership, which is a goal of city planning documents.
City Councilwoman Jody Reichel, the only to vote against the rezoning, said she does not want to set a precedent of increased residential density.
City Councilman DeJulio said he thinks around 90 percent of District 5 residents in the area support the measure because of a nationwide housing crises and expensive land south of I-285 in Sandy Springs. DeJulio motioned to approve, adding sidewalks and requiring the house closest to Northland Drive to face the roadway as conditions.
“Two acres is really not economic in Sandy Springs anymore, because the size of a house you have to put on 2 acres is so astronomical that you know you’re talking about $3 million to $5 million homes,” DeJulio said. “If we want to have more housing in Sandy Springs, we’ve got to make it more affordable for people.”
trial defendants in this county jail come from their districts, and they too must share responsibility and resolve our constitutional crisis,” he said. “Their choice to send the resolution back to public safety and legal committee shows even they recognize unanswered questions about ending the lease.”
Rambo has run for Fulton County Sheriff five times, failing to garner enough votes as an independent last November to unseat the incumbent Labat.
He pointed to comments in 2020 from former District 3 County Commissioner Lee Morris, who said the Board of Commissioners would come to regret approving $21 million in federal funds for jail expansion and improvement. At the time, the political climate was in favor of defunding law enforcement and reducing incarcerated populations.
Justice System Programs Director Nawrocki said next steps include working with the Sheriff’s Office on operational needs, defining the square footage required at the new facility and updating cost estimates and the project schedule.
“We’ll also be coordinating with the County Attorney’s Office to provide updates to the monitoring team to confirm our plans for the specialpurpose facility do align with compliance requirements of the consent decree,” he said. “And looking ahead to the coming months, we’ll begin the special-purpose facility solicitations of our key project vendors like the design and construction teams.”
Importance of skin checks for mature skin
Brought to you by - Dr. Kehinde Olumesi of Epiphany Dermatology - Brookhaven
As skin matures, it undergoes various changes that necessitate regular skin checks to ensure overall skin health. Differentiating between age spots, healthy moles and potential skin cancers is crucial. Age spots, often appearing as flat, brown, or black spots on sun-exposed areas, are generally harmless but can be mistaken for more serious conditions. Early detection of skin cancer, including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, significantly increases the chances of successful treatment. Therefore, routine skin examinations are essential for mature skin to maintain health and catch any issues early.
Addressing skin conditions and rejuvenation procedures
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In addition to treating conditions, dermatologists offer rejuvenating procedures to enhance the appearance and health of mature skin. Treatments such as chemical peels, laser rejuvenation and injectable treatments like BOTOX® Cosmetic and dermal fillers can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, improve skin texture and promote collagen production. These procedures not only rejuvenate the skin but also boost confidence and overall wellbeing. Establishing a relationship with a dermatologist ensures that your skin receives comprehensive care tailored to its evolving needs, promoting long-term skin health and vitality.
Daughter follows parents’ entrepreneurial footsteps
By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga. — Nestled underneath her parents’ coffee shop, guests can find Macy Pettet piecing together clothing to create the perfect outfits in her store, Bungalow 1088.
The smell of coffee and pastries seep into the playful atmosphere of the boutique, where Pettet creates content and working in the store.
Pettet has been raised to be an entrepreneur, helping her parents with their coffee shop, Crazy Love Coffee House, which opened in 2017.
“I worked up there since we opened and did socials and a lot of different creative things,” Pettet said.
She continued her passion for running a business and went to Kennesaw State University to study culinary sustainability and hospitality.
“It's just kind of helped transfer into this,” she said.
Her father introduced the idea to Macy, encouraging her to open a clothing boutique underneath the coffee shop.
“They thought, ‘why not open up a clothing boutique,’” she said.
While her parents technically own the space, Pettet runs and manages the boutique.
Like her parents coffee shop, Bungalow 1088 was founded on Christian principles. Guests can find Bible verses sprinkled throughout the store.
Pettet wants the store to be like a ministry that reaches out to the community for Jesus. She said the goal for the boutique is to make customers feel confident and feel good about what they’re wearing, while also showing
Christ’s love.
“A lot of people feel very intimidated by church and different stuff,” Pettet said. “This is providing an environment to welcome people.”
Her inspiration for the store comes from places like Anthropologie and Free People. Pettet uses Pinterest to research the newest trends.
“We try to pick out a lot of clothes that would look good on everyone,” she said. “[We pick] not as much confusing styles, but more simplistic, fun colors, more solids, not as many patterns.”
When designing the store, Pettet and her mother drew inspiration from other boutiques, picking bits and pieces of their favorite colors and designs.
Although the store just opened in June, Pettet said business has been “really good and really busy.”
“We've had a lot of good support from the community, but also from our church and our friends,” she said.
Pettet has two favorite parts to owning a boutique, picking out the pieces of clothing and meeting people.
“I love getting to pick out stuff for people to try on, and just help people find things,” she said.
Bungalow 1088 also offers free personal styling sessions for customers to get their new favorite outfits. Customers can come in to give Pettet a vision and favorite colors, so that she can pick out some new pieces for them.
“I just thought fashion was really fun to just express yourself,” Pettet said.
The boutique also sells devotionals, purses, shoes and even hand-made furniture.
To learn more about the boutique, visit bungalow1088.com.
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Macy Pettet’s boutique offers unique pieces for customers to feel confident in.
Shade perennials add color, texture to wooded yard
When my family first moved into our home, our backyard was filled with tons of trees, invasive English ivy and not much else. I loved the privacy and shade that the trees provided but really felt the yard was lacking visual interest. I’m drawn to abundant, dense landscapes and find a lot of inspiration in naturalized-looking English gardens. I had the opportunity to work with a landscape designer on my yard a few years ago and was introduced to several plants that helped achieve that exact vibe in my North Fulton yard. Now that the yard is firmly established, here are the plants I would definitely use again:
1. Autumn fern
There are a few other ferns in my backyard, but these are my favorite. They are low maintenance and offer a unique leaf shape, which stays in the garden year-round. And what is better suited for the woods than a fern?! These plants are used as a border and tucked into a rock garden in my yard.
2. Azaleas
Yes, azaleas seem like a boring, played-out option… everyone has an azalea bush, right? That’s what I thought, mostly because I was used to seeing them planted in a row as a hedge alternative in front yards. Tucking this shrub in among dense trees gives it a chance to pop like a specimen plant, and because the plant grows tall, the flowers get to make a big show. I also like growing azaleas away from the house so they can grow with little to no pruning. Left on their own, the growth habit seems much airier and more natural. Azaleas come in a variety of colors to choose from; the plants in my yard are George L. Tabor.
3. Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’
Most of my plants had dark-colored foliage, and this lime-green mounding grass is a beautiful contrast. It doesn’t die back in winter, and because the leaves grow long and droop a bit, it makes quite a statement along the borders. I have this planted in my much sunnier front yard, and it does just as well as in the shade. Acorus was outcompeted by the lawn it was planted near, but the rock garden and borders in the shade garden have proved to be a perfect placement. Some trim the leaves in the fall/winter, but I leave it alone year-round.
4. Ajuga reptans ‘Chocolate Chip’
Ajuga reptans is hands down my favorite plant in the yard. This variety has deep purple/emerald, evergreen leaves that form an extremely dense mat. The flowers pop up bright purple and last for months. I think it just looks so unique. I’m actually in the process of adding more of this to my yard; that’s how obsessed I am. This is planted as ground cover around my walkways and rock garden. It dies back a little in winter, but I have no bare spots, which I like. Ajuga comes in several varieties with different leaf and flower colors. The foliage is very tolerant of being walked on, the flowers not so much. Pollinators also love these flowers.
5. Hosta Halcyon
There are many hostas to choose from, but Halcyon stands out to me because of its leaf color and size. Growing up to five feet in diameter, these plants cover a large
amount of space, and the blue-green color of the leaves makes for an interesting addition to the landscape. Hostas do have a couple of caveats. They die back to the crown in the winter, so you will need to mulch over the area during the cold months to avoid bare dirt.
Hostas are also a favorite food for deer. Unless you have a fenced yard, you will need to protect them by continually spraying with repellant or cover with a layer of bird
About the author
This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Ashley Jones Brodkin, who has been a Master Gardener since 2024. Her passion is recreating naturalized landscapes for entertaining and has recently been devoted to learning more about herbalism, permaculture and edible landscapes.
netting. The bird netting is barely visible from a distance and is a great deterrent.
6. Aucuba japonica Variegata (Gold Dust)
This shrub has dense, evergreen foliage and is great as a backdrop or a screen. I love the dark green foliage with golden flecks, and it thrives in full shade. In fact, I have one plant that sits in mid-day sun, and it really struggles. My full-shade plants are doing much better.
This list of shade perennials has transformed my wooded yard into a vibrant and textured oasis. With careful planning and consideration of each plant's needs, you too can create a lush and inviting outdoor space even in the shadiest of areas.
Happy Gardening!
North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at https://appenmedia.com/opinion/columnists/ garden_buzz/.
ASHLEY JONES
PHOTOS BY ASHLEY JONES BRODKIN/PROVIDED
Wooded shade garden in mid-April
Halcyon hosta, chocolate chip ajuga and autumn ferns along a rock border
PAST TENSE
Remembering Bud Crews and Mildred Blackburn Crews
VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF
Columnist
Freeman Crews, who went by the name Bud, was born Feb. 1, 1918, to John and Hannah Murrow Crews.
The family is listed in Cobb County on the 1920 census. He was remembered as the person who helped amateur baseball become a reality in Dunwoody in the 1940s and 1950s.
When a large group of longtime citizens of Dunwoody gathered in 1994, David Chesnut remembered that Bud Crews was a painter. He painted houses and was an employee of the DeKalb County School System. He also ran Dunwoody’s amateur baseball team.
“Dunwoody was a big baseball town,” said Chesnut. (DeKalb History Center archives “I Remember Dunwoody,” 1994)
Ken Anderson, who lived his entire life (1937-2023) in Dunwoody, shared his memories of Bud Crews and the amateur baseball team with me a few years ago. Anderson recalled, as an 11-year-old, watching Crews grade the land and “put in a baseball field.” The field sat along what is now Dunwoody Village Parkway. Crews built wooden bleachers for local fans.
In 1950, some teams in the Atlanta Amateur Federation had installed lighting, making night games possible. Dunwoody had not added lights, but Chamblee, Sandy Springs and Roswell all did. Bud Crews is listed as the Dunwoody manager, M.E. Rucker for Sandy Springs and D. H. Brantley for Roswell’s team.
DEATH NOTICES
George Dear, 78, of Roswell, passed away on August 9, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
(Atlanta Constitution, April 2, 1950, “Amateur nines follow trend to night ball”)
Bud Crews married Mildred Inez Blackburn, whose family had a long history in Dunwoody, and prior to that in Brookhaven at Silver Lake. Mildred’s parents were William Blackburn and Mary Copeland Blackburn, adding another layer of Dunwoody history to her family. The extensive Copeland family once had a dairy at Jett Ferry and Dunwoody Club Drive, a farm where Dunwoody Springs Elementary School sits, and a store where Dunwoody Village is located.
Blackburn family members were neighbors of Bud and Mildred Crews in 1950. Census records list neighbors B.C. and Ola Spruill, Elizabeth and Manget Davis, Charlie and Myrtice Loyd Blackburn, and C.E. and Doris Blackburn. The Crews’ daughter Patricia is listed as an 8-year-old on the census.
A 1963 plat shows that Bud Crews purchased land at the intersection of Mt. Vernon and Chamblee Dunwoody Road. The 1957 and 1963 purchases add up to about 2 acres. This history can be seen on a plat map of the former Dunwoody School property on Chamblee Dunwoody Road.
Bud Crews died June 29, 1972, and is buried at Arlington Memorial Park. His wife Mildred died in 2003 and is buried alongside her husband.
Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Atlanta. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.
Mark Herak, 78, passed away on August 7, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Ida Muller, 82, of Roswell, passed away on August 5, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Gloria Shenk, 73, of Alpharetta, passed away on August 6, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
George Walters, 94, of Milton, passed away on August 9, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Andrew YaSenka, 83, of Roswell, passed away on August 10, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
“THE STORY OF DUNWOODY,” BY ELIZABETH DAVIS AND ETHEL SPRUILL This 1940s Dunwoody baseball photograph includes, standing from left: Eugene Wilson, Rembert Sykes and Bud Crews. Kneeling, from left, are: Dorris Martin and Paul Manning.
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NFCC is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the full-time Administrative Assistant position. The responsibilities of this critical role are to provide a wide variety of administrative tasks primarily to the President and other department leaders as needed. Duties include board meeting preparation, report preparation, general correspondence.
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