City of Cedartown Year in Review 2015

City of Cedartown Year In Review

2015

A publication from the City of Cedartown Š2015 Public Information Office 201 E. Avenue Cedartown, Georgia 30125 www.cedartowngeorgia.gov

A message from the

City Manager

Nearly 10,000 people call Cedartown their home -- and it’s a town as special as the people who live here.

With a historic Main Street that houses decades-old mom-and-pop shops that continue to flourish, to a business park that creates hundreds of local jobs and clean energy via a state-of-the-art solar farm, Cedartown is a perfect mix of modern progress meets quintessential “Small Town, USA.” It is the City of Cedartown’s mission to provide excellent, comprehensive services to our citizens and our businesses. Our residents and businesses are the heart of our community, and we aim to support them in any way possible. Additionally, we strive to provide ongoing stimulus for sustainable economic development and growth. We know that smart expansion paired with careful planning is the key to Cedartown’s future success. Lastly, we will uphold these goals while remaining as fiscally responsible stewards to the taxpayers of our city.

Serving as Cedartown City Manager is a responsibility that I take seriously.

It is an honor to lead and serve alongside the great employees of the City of Cedartown and to work closely with our Board of Commissioners, ensuring that the absolute best decisions are made for the ultimate good of all our residents.

Whether you are a resident or a visitor in our wonderful city, we hope you find Cedartown to be a perfect place to spend your time. Explore our website to find out more about what Cedartown has to offer. We may be a small town, but we have a rich history, a surprising number of local attractions and exciting plans and projects on our horizon.

If I can be of assistance to you, please don’t hesitate to contact me using the information listed below.

Bill Fann

City Manager, City of Cedartown 770-748-3220 ext. 222 bfann@cedartowngeorgia.gov

City of Cedartown Year in Review 2015 — 2

Cedartown City

Commission

2015 Cedartown City Commission Dale Tuck, Chairman Larry Odom, Chairman Pro-Tem Jordan Hubbard Gary Martin Matt Foster

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Table of Contents Operations & Administrative PAGES 6 -14 During 2015, the City of City of Cedartown executed day-to-day operational tasks while implementing new policies and procedures designed to better serve our residents and our employees.

BUDGET & FINANCE 2014 Budget Savings 2014 Financial Audit Report Property & Liability Insurance Negotiations Healthcare Insurance Negotiations Online Bill Pay Growth LICENSING, PERMITS & CODE ENFORCEMENT Business License Issuances Building Permit Issuances Fight Against Blight PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS AND REC, CEMETERIES LMIG Paving Grant Hawkes Childrens Library Improvements Carving at Big Spring Dizzy Dean World Series PUBLIC SAFETY Cedartown Police Department Patrol Car Purchase Kai the K9 Officer Retires Bulletproof Vest Grant LGRMS/GMA Safety Grant Award Additional Code Enforcement Officer WATER & WASTEWATER CDBG Grant Meter, Sludge Pumps, Gear Box and Sampler Replacements 2015 Watershed Protection Plan 2014 Water Audit 2014 Sanitary Survey Inspection New Lift Station Pumps PUBLIC INFORMATION & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Social Media Accounts Media Releases City of Cedartown Website Updates Front Lobby Digital Announcement System Cedartown Recreation Department Website Creation Employee and Resident Newsletter

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Table of Contents Special Projects & Events PAGES 15-19 During 2015, the City of City of Cedartown participated in several special projects beyond the scope of normal operations.

Bert Wood Youth and Athletic Complex Park Renovations Big Spring Park Renovations Lankford Event Center at Silver Comet One Door Polk Georgia Initiative for Community Housing Cedartown Sports Walk of Fame Living Tree Memorial Project Community Event Sponsorship/Hosting

Employee Spotlights PAGES 20-22 Kyle Watters Hollis Jackson Lisa Barker Martin Arguello Kai Zuker Bruce Lay

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BUDGET & FINANCE Financial Standing: The City of Cedartown continues to keep fiscal responsibility and planning at the forefront of all operations. The City received a clean audit report for FY 2014 and reports their revenues exceeded expenditures by$1,583,702. The City did not increase taxes and did not reduce services. Department heads continue to bid out goods and services and make wise planning decisions in order to keep costs in line. For the first time in ten years the City did not take out a Tax Anticipation Note (TAN) in 2014 and management has determined that one will not be necessary in 2015.

Healthcare, Property & Liability Insurance Negotiations: The City of Cedartown was successful in negotiating $30,000 worth of savings when compared to last year’s property and liability insurance rates. This was done while also increasing the amount of coverage. In health insurance, the City negotiated from a 10% proposed increased to a 1.78% increase, for a total of $70,000 saved.

Online Bill Pay Customers Increasing: The City was able to implement an online bill pay option for water and sewer services last year. This service had been requested for many years by our customers. We are pleased to report that 674 customers are active users of our online bill pay interface, accessible at www.cedartowngeorgia.gov.

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LICENSING, PERMITS & CODE ENFORCEMENT Business & Alcohol Licensing: The City issued 418 business licenses resulting in $88,607 of collected fees. Thirty alcohol licenses were issued and resulted in $49,500 worth of fees paid to the City.

Building and New Construction Permits: The City issued a total (as of Dec. 1, 2015) of 242 permits, including building, addition, remodel and renovation, demolition, electrical, plumbing, roofing and signage permits.

Total valuation of the permits totaled $8.1 million and $38,667 in permit fees were paid to the City.

Fight Against Blight: The City of Cedartown has made notable advancements in its effort to clean up neighborhoods marred by blight. In the last three months, two structures – 211 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and 214 Turner Street — have been demolished.

The two recent demolitions can be deemed as successful in more than one way, said City of Cedartown Building Inspector and Code Enforcement Officer Joseph Martin. “Not only did it rid neighborhoods from unsafe and dilapidated structures, but it was done at no cost to taxpayers.” The City of Cedartown had received a court order on one of the properties and legally, the City was authorized to tear it down.

However, demolitions can run upwards of $7,000, much more if asbestos is involved. Demolition of blight is an expense that the City would rather not incur. “Demolitions can be very costly; the City always has the bottom line in mind when spending any money, and so, in both cases, we were able to successfully negotiate with the property owner so that the demolition expense was done at their cost.”

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214 Turner Street

211 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS AND REC & CEMETERIES LMIG Paving Grant A LMIG Paving Grant in the amount of $220,000 [$90,00 from the DOT plus an additional $130,000] for one of Cedartown’s most heavily-traveled roads: East Avenue.

Photo: Kevin Myrick/Polk County Standard-Journal

Cherokee Indian Stump Carving An old tree stump jutting out from the ground at Cedartown’s Big Spring Park served as an unlikely canvas for local artist Jeremy Smith.

There were no paint brushes or palates in his artistic arsenal. Rather, he used a chainsaw to masterfully carve detailed, breathtaking wooden sculptures. Carvings were completed in Spring 2015.

So how did this stump go from an eyesore to work of art? A group of residents, led by a City initiative to renovate Big Spring Park, met in October 2014 to perform basic clean up of the site. Discussion began on what to do with the unsightly tree stump.

An innovative idea was born -- instead of removing the stump; why not turn it into a work of art that pays homage to the park’s original inhabitants? The Big Spring, the South’s second-largest limestone aquifer, produces four million gallons of drinking water for the City per day.

The Cherokee knew this land was fertile, a perfect choice to call home when they first arrived here nearly 200 years ago. Their forced removal from this land in 1838 was filled with heartache, anger and fear. These three hauntingly realistic faces, meticulously carved into wood, serve as a constant tribute to the Cherokee Nation.

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Drainage and Landscape Improvements: A landscaping and drainage project was completed at Hawkes Children’s Library. This project entailed the removal and replacement of concreted areas around the building, the replacement of roof drain pipes and the addition of a new storm drain.

Bert Wood Youth and Athletic Complex Renovations: Positive changes continue for our Bert Wood Park. The City is nearing completion of Phase II which is a new concession area, restrooms and scorekeepers booth at Field 1, a new equipment building, two picnic area pavilions, batting cage turf, sodding of infields and new pitchers’ mounds.

Phase III will include paving of the parking lot and striping of the parking areas. Total renovations over the last one and a half years has been nearly $1 million with about $750,000 of that coming from the Trippe Trust. New bleachers were paid for by Polk County and completed by Cedartown High School teacher Todd Tillery and his students.

Dizzy Dean World Series Celebration: Our Girls 10 and under softball team celebrated a third-place win in the Dizzy Dean World Series. The girls and their coaches were honored at the August City Commission meeting and during our downtown Fourth Friday Concert Series.

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PUBLIC SAFETY

GMA Safety Grant: The Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) awarded the City of Cedartown with a Safety Grant check in the amount of $3,911.47. These funds will be used by the City to purchase turnout gear for firefighters.

K9 Officer Retires: Kai, Cedartown Police Department’s former K-9, retired on September 11, 2015.

He was honored during the City’s annual September 11 Remembrance Ceremony.

A seven-year veteran of the force, Kai is a 10-year-old Belgian Malinois. He assisted his human partner, Sgt. Jon Zuker on a daily basis.

Kai was trained to track, alert to narcotics and aid in suspect apprehension.

Kai will live out the rest of his days with Officer Zuker’s family in Cedartown.

For more on Kai and his service, please see page 22.

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Bulletproof Vest Grant: The City of Cedartown Police Department received a $5,000 bulletproof vest grant in 2015.

New Patrol Car: Using SPLOST funds, the Cedartown Police Department purchased a new patrol car.

Additional Code Enforcement Officer: The City of Cedartown Police Department welcomed the addition of a new code enforcement officer in 2015. Don Matthews was hired to assist current code enforcement officer Joseph Martin. Matthews will tackle code violations like grass overgrowth and trash on property.

Joseph Martin and Don Matthews. Matthews was hired in the summer of 2015.

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WATER & WASTEWATER Completion of 2014 Water Audit and 2015 Watershed Protection Plan: The Watershed Protection Plan serves as an action plan that the City of Cedartown will follow in partnership with the community to protect local water resources and sustain a high quality of life for its citizens. The Watershed Protection Plan is based on the results of a comprehensive watershed assessment of local streams as well as consideration of current and future land use, and other sources of pollutants to local streams.

Successful implementation of the watershed protection plan will result in improved water quality, increased protection of stream buffers and aesthetic improvements of the City’s critical water resources for future generations.

Equipment Replacements: • Global water capacity meter at Big Spring • Refrigerated composite samplers at wastewater plant • Pump replacement at Main lift station • Sludge pumps at wastewater plants • New backflow preventer at wastewater plant • Gear box on clarifier at wastewater plant • Two new pumps for North Main lift station and two new pumps at Pine Street lift station 2015 Sanitary Survey Inspection/Report: A sanitary survey is defined as “an onsite inspection of the water source, facilities, equipment, operation, and maintenance of a public water system” and is required by the EPD. The City achieved a ranking of 89.1%.

CDBG Grant: The City of Cedartown was awarded a CDBG grant in the amount of $500,000 that will be used for additional sewer line improvements in Cedartown.

The funding will help pay for the replacement of about 6,000 linear feet of sewer lines, replacement or rehabilitation of manholes and reduction of storm water inflow/infiltration into the sewer system in an area with some of the oldest, most fragile infrastructure in the city primarily in a residential area south of Goodyear Park near Cedar Creek.

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PUBLIC INFORMATION & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Update of City’s Website: The City of Cedartown’s website continues to undergo routine maintenance and updating. Most recently, an interactive FAQ section was added to the site, as well as an online work order form.

Mobile-friendly Site Creation: According to statistical data from Google Analytics, 63 percent of www.cedartowngeorgia.gov viewers access the site via Smartphone or tablet. The City’s mobile site was launched in May 2015 by analyzing the top viewed and visited pages on the desktop version of the website. These pages include the City’s online work order form, the code enforcement and zoning page, the employment page and the news page.

Website Stats: PAGEVIEWS (Year to date): 65,000 USER INFO: 28 percent of site users are located in Cedartown

Creation of Rec Department Website: www.cedartownrec.org was launched in the summer of 2015. The website features schedules, rosters, sign-up information and forms.

Social Media Stats: FACEBOOK: 3,000 followers; highest post reach to date: 250,000 people TWITTER: 266 followers; 440 tweets to date YouTube: 51 subscribers; more than 14,000 video views

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Electronic Lobby Sign: The Information Technology Department installed a flat-screen television monitor in the lobby. The monitor features scrolling announcements that can be viewed quickly by customers in the lobby area.

Media Releases: The Public Information Office prepared and disseminated 58 press releases in 2015.

Many of those releases included photographs, videos and supporting documents.

Resident and Customer Monthly Newsletter: After rolling out a monthly City of Cedartown employee newsletter in 2014, the Public Information Office implemented a monthly resident and customer newsletter in 2015. This newsletter reaches 150 subscribers, and the list continues to grow.

The newsletter has a open rate of more than 50%, surpassing the 24% average for government mass emails.

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SPECIAL PROJECTS Big Spring Park Renovations A treasured historic site, Cedartown’s Big Spring is on the cusp of receiving a makeover that will ensure the local landmark will continue to stand for generations to come.

The City has applied for a recreational trail program grant through the Georgia DNR. If received, the grant would be used to help fund the Big Spring Park Project and create a nature trail from the Big Spring to the Goodyear Park through the Trail of Tears encampment area. Cedartown’s Big Spring is the South’s second largest limestone spring and provides water to the City’s residents every day. The area surrounding the spring is classified as a Trail of Tears National Historic Site.

DNR Commissioner Mark Williams (far left), State Rep Trey Kelly and City Manager Bill Fann, take a look at plans for the Big Spring Park.

Lankford Event Center at Silver Comet The City of Cedartown has embarked on an ambitious project to bring a top-of-theline event center to downtown Cedartown. Dubbed as the Lankford Event Center at Silver Comet, the facility will be located in the heart of historic downtown Cedartown.

The only one of its kind in Polk County, the 3,000 square-foot facility will play host to a large variety of community gatherings, annual events and private functions. The center will be located adjacent to Georgia’s largest paved trail system -- The Silver Comet. Several grants have been applied for to keep local expense low.

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One Door Polk One Door Polk Network Project includes the renovation of a 52,000 square feet hospital building to accommodate the One Door Polk Network, improving access to health and wellness services for residents of the Polk County community. The project is expected to bring approximately 75 jobs into downtown Cedartown and serve an estimated 5,500 individuals in the first full year of operation. The reuse project for the building is a critical step in developing a system that serves Polk County’s community’s most vulnerable and disenfranchised members by providing integrated, coordinated, and linguistically competent activities and programs. Expected completion date is winter 2015. More than $900,000 in grant money has been awarded for this project.

The Polk County Chamber of Commerce Education Workforce Development Committee toured One Door Polk in October 2015.

Georgia Initiative for Community Housing The City of Cedartown was selected to participate in the University of Georgia/ Georgia Municipal Association Georgia Initiative for Community Housing Program. The Georgia Initiative for Community Housing (“Initiative” or “GICH”) offers communities a three-year program of collaboration and technical assistance related to housing and community development. The objective of the Initiative is to help communities create and launch a locally based plan to meet their housing needs.

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Cedartown Biz Builder Program Now in its second year, Cedartown Biz Builders was born out of the 2013 Downtown Cedartown Renaissance Vision and Planning Initiative. Cedartown Biz Builders strives to match current business owners and budding entrepreneurs with top-notch education -- the premise being that educated business owners with a solid business plan increase their chance of survival in today’s market. The City invested $10,000 in the program, partnering with Georgia Northwestern Technical College, so that we could provide these eager entrepreneurs with college-level instruction. Our instructors are high-caliber, high-energy and highly knowledgeable in business planning and development, as well as marketing. There were three graduates of the 2015 Cedartown Biz Builder Program. This class featured the youngest student so far -- a high school senior -- and also broke the online People’s Choice voting record.

(L-R) 2015 graduate Elizabeth Erwin,center, earned more than 900 votes to become this year’s People’s Choice Award winner. She is pictured with Jim Powell, GNTC, and Biz Builder Organizer Britt Madden Jr. Cindy Roberson (middle) and Colleetoe Sanders (far right) received graduation certificates for completing the 6-month long program.

Living Tree Memorial Program (Cedartown Tree Commission) Members of the Cedartown Tree Commission have worked closely with City administration and formed a unique way for residents to honor loved ones and contribute to the beautification of our parks. The Living Tree Memorial Program allows residents to purchase a tree and plaque that is placed in one of four City parks. There are five tree species available through the living memorial program. They include Dogwood, Magnolia, Grancy Greybeard, Chalk Maple and South Red Oak. All are species that are commonly found in the Southeastern United States. The living memorials, planted by the Cedartown Parks Department, can be located at Bert Wood Youth and Athletic Complex, Goodyear Park, Peek Park or Turner Street Park. The living memorial program is open to individuals, families, businesses and civic groups.

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Downtown Cedartown Fourth Friday Summer Concert Series The Georgia Municipal Association, the Georgia Cities Foundation and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government came together in December 2013 to assist the city in creating a strategic vision, plan, and short-term work program. Work still continues today on that plan, with the Downtown Cedartown Fourth Friday Summer Concert Series being one of those ongoing projects. Local businesses and industries donated a combined total of $5,000 to pay for costs associated with the series in 2015. Events included live music and food. Concerts were held in June, July and August in downtown Cedartown.

Cedartown Sports Walk Hall of Fame Several City officials serve on the Cedartown Sports Walk of Fame Committee. Funded by private donations and grant money only, the project will feature statues of six citizens of Cedartown who distinguished themselves in major league sports: Ray Beck and Edgar Chandler, NFL football; Doug Sanders, golf; Whitlow Wyatt, major league baseball; Doc Ayers, a college football coach and Jimmy Hightower, also a college football coach. The City was pleased to assist the committee this year in securing a $15,000 tourism grant from the Department of Community Affairs. The first complete statue was delivered to City Hall in August. The six life-size statues will be displayed in a sculpture park, located at the Polk County Courthouse.

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Community Event Hosting/Sponsorship The City of Cedartown plays an active role in helping local organizations prepare for community events. Two very popular events that we assist with include the International Wheelchair Athlete 5K Race and Training Camp, held annual in June, and the Cedar Valley Arts Festival, held annually in the spring. The City assists these organizations with in-kind services as well as marketing efforts. The City of Cedartown also hosts the annual Christmas Parade, a small-town tradition that brings thousands of residents -- and Santa Claus -- to downtown Cedartown.

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2015 Employee Spotlights

KYLE WATTERS When he’s not busy putting out flames, Cedartown Fire Captain Kyle Watters passes the time on his farm, looking after a herd of 34 cows and one somewhat stubborn bull.

Kyle, a 1995 graduate of Cedartown High School, also enjoys spending time with his wife, Shannon, and son, Hunter.

But as most firefighters can tell you, they spend a lot of time at the fire hall and all places in between – from saving lives and property to answering medical calls and attending special training. In fact, Kyle recently wrapped up 160 hours of specialized arson classes with the state. This recent training will equip Kyle with the skills needed to accurately determine the cause and origin of a fire. Though his arson classes were highly specialized, Kyle says that firefighters are always taking part in training and continuing education, and the outcome produces two benefits: better firefighters and a better department. And he should know, having been a Cedartown fireman for 15 years. He’s worked his way up the ladder (pun intended) from firefighter to engineer, and from lieutenant to captain.

With his nearly two decades of service, he’s seen a lot. The Zartic fire of 2011 was one of those calls that he won’t soon forget. When firefighters arrived on the scene, more than 70 percent of the building was engulfed in flames. Two plant workers became trapped on the roof of the burning building and were quickly rescued and moved to safety by firefighters. It took an estimated 5,000 gallons of water per minute and roughly six hours of combating the flames in order to get the fire under control. But it’s all in a day’s work for Kyle, who says the best part of his job is getting to protect and serve the residents of Cedartown.

HOLLIS JACKSON Five-year City of Cedartown employee Hollis Jackson’s office is pretty big -- 60,000 square feet to be exact. Hollis oversees building maintenance at One Door Polk (formerly Polk Medical Center).

And while we’re kidding about his actual office being so huge, he really does have a lot of ground to cover in his day-to-day duties. He began his new role at One Door Polk in January 2015. Prior to that, Hollis worked in the Cedartown Parks and Rec Department.

As far as specific job duties go, if it’s not working right, it’s his job to fix it. “I pretty much maintain the entire building and keep everything running like it should. I repair anything from electrical outlets to light fixtures.”

It’s a job that’s very important as the building will soon be occupied by dozens of social service providers and community resource centers, all of which come together to form One Door Polk.

When he’s not working for the City, Hollis has a lawn care business that keeps him busy and he likes to fish. He is a lifelong resident of Cedartown and is married with two step-children.

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LISA BARKER We’d like to introduce you to Lisa Barker.

Lisa is the Human Resources coordinator and manages the Accounts Payable Department at City Hall.

A native of Forney, Ala., Lisa received a four-year business degree from Coosa Valley Technical College (now Georgia Northwestern Technical College). Her main duties include completing payroll (a very important job!), managing and maintaining health and insurance policies for Cedartown employees. She handles benefits and worker’s compensation claims as well, and is in charge of the City’s accounts payable. But she hasn’t always had those duties.

She began her employment with the City of Cedartown in 2000 as a front office clerk and has held other positions at City Hall like issuing business licenses and outside fire protection services. Even with the different duties over the past 15 years, Lisa said the best part of her career here at the City has been working with the employees. When she’s not at work, you’ll more than likely find Lisa spoiling her four-year-old granddaughter, Crisalyn.

MARTIN ARGUELLO We want to introduce you to Martin Arguello, the City of Cedartown’s “Jack of All Trades” and “Mr. Can-Do-Everything.” And though he laughs off those two broad job descriptions, it’s really not too far from the truth.

Martin works in our Parks and Rec Department, cheerfully doing whatever is asked of him, but a wide grin spreads across his face when asked what his favorite job duty is: baseball field maintenance. His dedication and pride of making sure Cedartown’s ballfields are cared for properly is evident, as is his love for baseball.

A native of Mexico, Martin grew up in a small town where baseball was the only sport they were allowed to play. “I would feed the cattle and do my chores, then I would walk about four miles to the baseball field to play,” he said.

He passed that love of baseball on to his son, who is entering into high school this fall and as his dad said, “is already taller than me.” In fact, supporting his son’s love of the baseball diamond introduced him to the Cedartown Rec Department. “I volunteered and coached baseball for about 10 years and then I became part of the recreation staff.”

In addition to maintaining the ball fields, Martin, who lives in Cedartown with his wife, also assists in upkeep of public park areas and fixes any malfunctioning equipment. “I try to do as much as I can and if something breaks, I can fix it.”

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KAI ZUKER The goal of every police officer is to end their career with years of retirement ahead of them, and on September 11, 2015, that’s how one career came to an end in Cedartown.

Except this four-legged cop won’t be spending his golden years on fishing or golf, but will instead be looking toward his partner on the force for affectionate scratches behind the ears and treats at the end of the day. Kai, who has served the Cedartown Police Department faithfully for seven years, finished his duties with the force in September and is being replaced by a new K-9, “Baro” (pronounced like Barrow.)

Police Chief Jamie Newsome said the two Belgian Malinois will remain with their handler, Sgt. John Zuker. Zuker said he was sad that Kai will no longer be working with him day to day. But having chosen Baro from the same training facility - K-9 Concepts out of Louisiana, Newsome said - will make it an easier transition. “Kai’s a big part of the family,” Zuker said.

Kai joined the Cedartown Police Department seven years ago following the untimely death of the department’s former K-9, Dan, from a gastric bloat. His day to day duties with Zuker mainly revolved around using his nose to sniff out illegal drugs or things like explosives, and to track suspects fleeing from police or to locate missing children -- what is called active and passive searching according to Newsome. Kai was also trained to subdue suspects who flee from officers who might be too dangerous for law enforcement to approach, and to get into places where police might not be able to fit during search and rescue operations in hunting for survivors. (Story by Kevin Myrick/ Reprinted with permission)

BRUCE LAY Meet Bruce Lay. Bruce works at the Cedartown Water Plant on Wissahickon Avenue.

A City of Cedartown employee since 1990, Bruce has worked for 25 years in varying roles including water meter reader and water maintenance. Currently, Bruce serves as an operator at the water plant, making sure that Cedartown’s water is crisp, clean and delivered to City residents every time they turn on the faucet.

His love for his job is evident as he points out the numerous control panels and equipment that he uses to perform his duties. It’s apparent that he is very knowledgeable about his job and also water in general. “The water here in Cedartown is very clean in its natural state. When we get it here, there is very little we need to do to it. Our water source comes from an underground aquifer, not surface water, so nature has already filtered it before it reaches the plant. Personally, I think it’s the best water around,” he says with a smile.

A Cedartown High School graduate in 1979, Bruce went into the military, proudly serving his country in the Navy with four years of active service. After his service, he worked at a few other jobs before landing here at the City. “I enjoy my job here, and I don’t think there’s really one thing over another that I enjoy most. I take the whole role, all of my duties, very seriously.”

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