YEAR IN REVIEW
2018
A publication from the City of Cedartown ©2018 Public Information Office 201 E. Avenue Cedartown, Georgia 30125 www.cedartowngeorgia.gov
A MESSAGE FROM THE
CITY M NAGER 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. 3045 bfann@cedartowngeorgia.gov
City of Cedartown Year in Review 2018— 2
CED RTOWN CITY COMMISSION
2018 CEDARTOWN CITY COMMISSION ANDREW CARTER MATT FOSTER, CHAIR PRO-TEM JORDAN HUBBARD, CHAIR JESSICA PAYTON DALE TUCK
3 — City of Cedartown Year in Review 2018
TABLE OF CONTENTS CITY HALL ADMINISTRATION P. 6 BUILDING AND CODE ENFORCEMENT P. 7 CEDARTOWN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER P.8 DOWNTOWN CEDARTOWN ASSOCIATION | DDA P. 9 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY P. 10 PUBLIC INFORMATION P. 11 PUBLIC SAFETY P. 12-14
City of Cedartown Year in Review 2018 — 4
Table of Contents PUBLIC WORKS P. 15 RECREATION P. 16 WASTEWATER P. 17 WATER P. 18 SPECIAL PROJECTS AND EVENTS P. 19 - 23 EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHTS P. 24
5 — City of Cedartown Year in Review 2018
CITY HALL ADMINISTRATION CLEAN AUDIT
The City of Cedartown’s Finance Office received a ‘clean’ audit report for FY 2017.
BUSINESS LICENSES ISSUED
In 2018, 464 business licenses were issued by City staff. These licenses accounted for $97,560 in revenue.
ALCOHOL LICENSES ISSUED
Thirty-six alcohol licenses were issued in 2018, resulting in $55,350 in fees collected.
NEW ORDINANCES
In 2018, a tattoo shop ordinance passed allowing tattoo studios to locate in the historic downtown district.
INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY SITE PREP GRANT City administrative staff secured a $328,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission for the purpose of site prepping 240 acres of land in the Cedartown North Industrial Park.
GRANT WRITING PARTNER
Administrative staff partnered with the Cedartown Performing Arts Center to apply for the Doc Ayers/Ray Beck Community Foundation Grant. The $1,000 grant was received and helped fund our annual summer art camp.
GEORGIA DNR GRANT
$100,000 in grant money was awarded to the City of Cedartown to make ADA improvements on the Silver Comet Trail.
LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND GRANT
City administrative staff, along with Northwest Georgia Regional Commission representatives, penned a Land and Water Conservation grant application in 2018. The application was accepted and $87,500 was granted. The City will use the grant funding to construct two youth-sized soccer fields in Goodyear Park.
NEW SOUND SYSTEM IN COUNCIL ROOM
In 2018, a new sound system was installed in the City Council Meeting Room. This upgrade included improved sound quality, new microphones and added the capability to record meetings digitally.
City of Cedartown Year in Review 2018 — 6
BUILDING & CODE ENFORCEMENT PERMITS ISSUED
The City issued 215 building permits since January 1 through December 1, 2018. The valuation of these permits totaled $7 million dollars, resulting in $30,000 in collected fee revenue.
VACANT PROPERTY REGISTRATION
With assistance from the City Administrative Department, a vacant property registry was established. The registry ordinance states that if an individual is listed as the owner of a property that stays vacant for more than 30 days, the new ordinance requires the owner to register their name and contact information with the City. The goal is to cut down on the amount of out-of-town “absent” property owners that do not perform routine upkeep.
ABANDONED SHOPPING CART ORDINANCE
Commissioners passed an ordinance that makes stores responsible for clearly marking their carts and penalizes residents for removing carts from the store property. Any type of abandonment of a shopping cart inside the City Limits is prohibited. The ordinance also allows the commission to sell carts via surplus auction if carts are not claimed by the owner within 60 days.
BLIGHT
Over the past four years, 18 blighted structures within the City Limits have been demolished.
NEW CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
In June 2018, local resident J.P. Foster was hired as the City of Cedartown Code Enforcement Officer. He replaced retiring officer Don Matthews. Foster previously worked for the Cedartown Police Department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
7 — City of Cedartown Year in Review 2018
CEDARTOWN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER SECOND ANNUAL ART GALA
The Cedartown Performing Arts Center hosted their second annual art gala, “A Night With Local Artists.” The gala featured work from local and area artists. Many of the pieces were for sale during the gala. A silent auction, benefiting the Cedartown Civic Arts Commission Children’s Enrichment Fund, also took place. Hundreds of pieces of locally created art were on display, and guests were given the opportunity to paint their own canvas as a keepsake.
SUMMER THEATRE CAMP
The CPAC hosted their annual summer theater camp. This year’s production was “101 Dalmations.” More than 40 children participated in the summer camp that culminated with a public performance.
PERFORMANCES
Comedian James Gregory performed at the CPAC again in 2018, followed by Katie Deal and Jason Petty’s “Classic Nashville Road Show.” In the fall, CPAC was pleased to welcome WILKES along with The Voice friends Pryor Baird and Kaleb Lee.
ADDITIONAL EVENTS
•Proudly presented “School House Rock” for Polk School District Students and teachers, followed by a successful public performance •Housed HBO for the filming of a television show in downtown •Displayed “En Plein Air” art exhibit •Worked with the Tourism Resource Development Team during their October visit •Assisted in facilitating a special ceremony for the 1-108th A Troop Cavalry deployment •Presented “Elf The Musical” which featured young adults from Cedartown and surrounding areas •Displayed “Fall Into Winter,” a winter art exhibit
City of Cedartown Year in Review 2018 — 8
DOWNTOWN CEDARTOWN ASSOCIATION | DDA MAIN STREET PROGRAM RE-ACCREDITED
The Cedartown Main Street Program was re-accredited as a 2018 National Main Street Program. This accreditation was earned by meeting the 10 standards of performance as required for a Main Street Program during the previous year.
REGIONAL DESIGNATION
The Cedartown Welcome Center received Level 5 Regional Visitor Information Center designation status by the State of Georgia Department of Economic Development. More than 7,000 visitors stopped by the Cedartown Welcome Center in 2018.
MARKETING MATERIALS
The DCA ordered 1,000 calendar of event postcards that were delivered to local businesses and City Hall. The downtown Cedartown brochures were updated and 5,000 of them were distributed to Regional Visitor Information Centers and Welcome Centers throughout Georgia.
FACADE GRANTS AWARDED
Two facade grants were awarded by the DCA -- a side facade improvement for Southern Sass and a front facade grant for Gammon, Anderson and McFall. These grants totaled $3,000.
NEW BUSINESSES and DCA MEMBERS
Five new businesses opened in downtown in 2018. They include: Craftsy House, Barn Finds, Nikki’s Dress Up Boutique, Hometown Realty and Elite Rehab and Wellness. New DCA members include Nikki’s Dress Up Boutique and Georgia Rails Into Trails.
9 — City of Cedartown Year in Review 2018
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY NEW SURVEILLANCE INSTALLED
The IT Department installed an eight-camera surveillance system at the Cedartown Police Department. The surveillance system also includes a public exchange area. This allows Internet-based sellers to meet buyers at a location where actions are continually recorded.
UPGRADED SECURITY SOFTWARE
New security software installed during 2018 will provide more protection from malware and ransomware. This software is protected by a secure password, which prohibits users from changing, deactivating or uninstalling the security measures.
NEW WIRELESS NETWORK OFFERS MORE SAFETY
The IT Department implemented a new wireless network policy at the Cedartown Fire Department. City Hall and the Cedartown Police Department will adopt the same policy at a later date. The change isolates personal devices from our network, which better protects us from malicious software and activities.
ADDITIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Installed and connected Internet at the wastewater maintenance shop and installed new router, Switch, PC and printer • Consolidated the water department’s back window and desktop PCs, and installed a new dual monitor stand • Changed domain password policy for the police department to allow for increased security; users must change their domain password every 90 days and increased password complexity requirements • Installed monitor stands for the front window desktop PCs at City Hall • Installed a new Panasonic Toughbook tablet for fire department to allow for mobile incidents • Changed phone system to send email when users voicemail box is almost full • Installed a new PC in the digital sign • Installed a new router, switch, and wireless network at the water plant and connected a web-based water monitoring system. • Installed two new desktop PCs at the front window in City Hall • Installed a new network printer in the booking area at the police department • Replaced all battery backups for desktop PCs at City Hall • Replaced the mobile printer on the police department’s motorcycle to allow printing through Wi-Fi • Ran three ethernet cables for remote phones at the wastewater plant. • Installed new router, switch, and wireless network at Bert Wood Park Gym; also installed new laptop and receipt printer for the Recreation Department to allow billing through INCODE • Replaced 2 mobile printers in police cars • Installed a new printer at the fire department • Replaced the ethernet switch at the Cedartown Welcome Center • Ported all remote phone numbers into VOIP circuit at City Hall, installed remote VOIP phones at the remaining locations; all locations are now VOIP based • Eliminated six analog phone lines (approximately $25 per line per month) • Reprogrammed all lift stations to use our current on-call phones, eliminated unused and outdated numbers • Re-routed Wastewater alarm to share a fax line • Setup a new laptop, docking station, and dual monitors for Thomas Dooley at Bert Wood Park gym. • Received quotes and demo for surveillance systems at Peek and Turner Street parks • Replaced the DVD-ROM drive in police department’s laptop
City of Cedartown Year in Review 2018 — 10
PUBLIC INFORMATION SPLOST EDUCATION CAMPAIGN
In the fall of 2018, the City of Cedartown public information office worked with the Polk County Government, City of Rockmart and the City of Aragon in the creation of marketing materials for a public SPLOST education campaign. More than 20 offices were involved in the county-wide collaboration. Thirty informational pieces were produced for the campaign. The City of Cedrtown’s campaign reached 25,400 Facebook page followers. The project took roughly 30 hours to complete.
HANDS-FREE LAW CAMPAIGN
The Public Information Office’s educational campaign regarding Georgia’s new hands-free cell phone law launched on June 25 and continued until June 29. Nine informational posts were created as part of this campaign, reaching a total of 9.7K followers.
DISPLAY YOUR DIGITS CAMPAIGN
The Public Information Office worked with the Cedartown Fire Department to create a “Display Your Digits” campaign. The campaign was designed to educate residents on the importance of having street addresses clearly displayed along the roadway. The campaign reached 4K viewers, with 1,113 of those impressions made by the “Display Your Digits” video.
WALK AROUND OUR BLOCK The Public Information Office designed a marketing piece focused on downtown Cedartown’s walkability in relation to historical and entertainment points of interest. The piece was created in conjunction with the Ga. Dept. of Economic Development’s Tourism
FOURTH FRIDAY SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
The Public Information Office hosted the fifth annual summer concert series in 2017. These three concerts take place in historic downtown and an average of 200 to 250 residents attend each concert. The Public Information Office asks local businesses and industries to financially support the event. This year, $2,000 was raised to cover the cost of band performances, security and promotional items.
11 — City of Cedartown Year in Review 2018
PUBLIC SAFETY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FIRE SAFETY CLOWN EDUCATION
Nearly 4,000 elementary school children benefited from our Fire Safety Clown program. Every year, several of our firefighters dress up as clowns and teach fire safety in a fun yet educational environment. Our fire safety clowns teach “stop, drop and roll,” how to design a home emergency exit plan, how to escape fire using a bedroom window and other life-saving tips.
EDUCATING RESIDENTS AND EMPLOYEES
The Cedartown Fire Department conducted fire extinguisher training for 131 Cedartown residents. Cedartown Fire also conducted a CPR class for all 22 fire department employees and conducted a CPR and AED class for City wastewater and City transit employees.
NEW AIR PACKS
The Cedartown Fire Department purchased four new G1 MSA air packs, two of which have built-in thermal cameras.
SAFETY TESTING
The fire department inspected 45 buildings. They tested 15,500 feet of fire hose and 400 fire hydrants in the City, ensuring that when needed, our equipment is ready to perform.
NEW HIRE AND ROOKIE SCHOOL GRADS
Firefighter Trystan Ferrell graduated from rookie school in Rome in September 2018. Firefighter Dustin Kerr graduated from rookie school in Rome in April 2018. Dakota Pruitt was hired and certification reinstated after passing the State test TRYSTAN FERRELL
DUSTIN KERR
City of Cedartown Year in Review 2018 — 12
ADVANCED EMT CERTIFICATION EARNED Firefighter Jerry Jackson obtained his Advanced Emergency Medical Technician certification. His certification was earned in March..
‘CABOOSE” JOINS CLOWN PROGRAM
Firefighter Deric Jones was known by elementary school kids as “Caboose” during fire safety week in October. Jones is the latest firefighter to join the fire safety clown unit.. JERRY JACKSON
DERIC JONES
NEW SKILLS ACQUIRED JASON SHUMAN
LANCE GREEN
Firefighters Jason Shuman and Lance Green completed a 24-hour rope and rigging class held in Rockmart in April 2018.
EMT CERTIFICATION EARNED
Firefighters Alex Lawrence and Trystan Ferrell earned their basic EMT certification in September of 2018.
TRYSTAN FERRELL
ALEX LAWRENCE
SAFETY CLASS
Firefighters Felix White, Kyle Watters and Trystan Ferrell attended a 12-hour safety coordinator class in September 2018.
FELIX WHITE
KYLE WATTERS
13 — City of Cedartown Year in Review 2018
TRYSTAN FERRELL
PUBLIC SAFETY BODY CAMERAS
The Cedartown Police Department was able to obtain body cameras in September 2018 for approximately half of the patrol staff. The equipment was purchased utilizing a safety grant from the Georgia Municipal Association. The police department will work on equipping the rest of the patrol staff in 2019.
NARCAN IN USE
The Cedartown Police Department has equipped each officer with Narcan, an opioid overdose rescue nasal spray. The spray was obtained with no cost to the City, thanks to a grant from Atlanta Harm Reduction Coalition. So far, officers have had one event in 2018 where an officer used Narcan in an opioid emergency.
SCHOOL SAFETY
Officers of the Cedartown Police Department who serve the Polk School District have been equipped with a school safety application for Smartphone devices called “Hero 911.” Each PSD teacher has the “teacher app” and each officer has the “officer app.” In the case of an active shooter or other life-threatening event at a PSD campus, officers notification times in information availability will be almost instantaneous.
K9 OFFICER RECOGNIZED
K9 Officer Jon Zuker was recognized by “K-9s of West Georgia” for his many years of service as a police dog handler. His contributions serve not only Cedartown and Polk County but all of Northwest Georgia.
City of Cedartown Year in Review 2018 — 14
PUBLIC WORKS STREET DEPARTMENT
In 2018, the street department: • Prepared for the 2018 LMIG paving project that included .47 miles of West Girard Avenue, .20 miles of Philpot Street, .11 miles of Blanche Road, .12 miles of North Second Street, .14 miles of LaDue Street, .14 miles of Slusser Street, .10 miles of Stubbs Street, . 17 miles of Third Street, .24 miles of Cleo Street and .25 miles of Jones Street •Worked with Polk County on the Silver Comet Trail Grant for upgrades and repairs to the trail and continued in our contract agreement with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for a work detail program for the street and cemeteries department for cleaning right-of-ways, the Silver Comet Trail and city cemeteries and buildings •Operated the transit program that benefits the elderly and other residents of the City of Cedartown • Put the new 2018 Ford Pac-Mac knuckle boom truck in service • Assisted with the Cedartown Wheelchair 5K event, including course repairs
WATER MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT
In 2018, the water maintenance department: •Installed 600+ feet of 8-inch sewer main line addition along Valley Drive to service the new St. Bernadette Church on Evergreen Lane •Installed the new Flygt pump sewer lift station and new sewer force main line installed to service the Vinings at Oxford Complex • Replaced nearly 800 feet of 8-inch sewer main line and six new manholes through the wooded pasture off Georgia Lane that connects with the Cave Spring Road sewer lift station • Employees Matthew Wray and Ryan Tidwell passed testing and received a State of Georgia Water Distribution System Operators license •Installed a new 50 horsepower motor at the Spruce Street MATTHEW WRAY RYAN TIDWELL flood pump station
TRANSIT DEPARTMENT
Both part time transit drivers and one full time driver completed their HS CPR training and received their new certification cards. Jacki Bunch, Matthew Wray and Ricky Wilson all attended training for the new Q-RYDE transit software department changes in Gainesville.
RECREATION AND CEMETERY DEPARTMENTS
JACKI BUNCH
MATTHEW WRAY
RICKY WILSON
In 2018, the recreation and cemetery departments: •Oversaw the completion of the new pavilion at Big Spring and installed six new tables with attached seats •Oversaw the building of the new pavilion at Turner Street Park and installed six new tables with attached seats •Added seven new picnic tables to the Peek Park Pavilion and three new concrete picnic tables in the park area
15— City of Cedartown Year in Review 2018
RECREATION DEPARTMENT FOOTBALL AND CHEERLEADING
Cedartown Rec Department’s 10U team took second place in the Kiwanis Bowl in the last quarter of 2017. During the 2018 season, there were 85 tackle football and 40 Flag football participants. There were 63 cheerleaders during the 2018 season.
BASKETBALL
For the 2018 season, the City’s rec department had four 12U teams, three 10U teams and three 8U teams. One team from each age group was entered into the GRPA District 5 Tournament with our 8U team taking second place. Twenty-one children participated in the 2018 summer basketball clinic.
SOCCER
During the 2018 spring soccer season, the rec department had more than 200 participants. During the fall season, 98 children participated, totaling 10 teams. There were six participants for the 2018 soccer clinic.
SOFTBALL
During the 2018 spring season, the rec department formed two 12U teams, two 10U teams, three 8U teams and one 6U team. All games were played with teams from Rockmart. The rec department entered one team in each age (with the exception of 6U) in the GRPA 5 th District tournament. The 8U team advanced to GRPA state and took second place. For the 2018 fall season, we increased from one team in 2017 to six teams for a total of 72 participants. Our summer clinic had 28 participants.
TOTAL REGISTRATION FOR ALL FALL PROGRAMS AND SUMMER CLINICS
City of Cedartown Year in Review 2018 — 16
WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT EARNED AWARD The City of Cedartown Wastewater Department received the Georgia Association of Water Professionals Award for NPDES Permit Compliance Award for 2017. ROOM REMODELED The wastewater department remodeled a room at the plant in order to house the water lab.
EMPLOYEE ACCOMPLISHMENT Wastewater employee Seth Carter obtained his Class B driver license.
ADDITIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Installed new pumps for phosphorus removal • Replaced motor and controls on the No. 2 Clarifier • Replaced the motor and control panel bucket on the thickener • Set up a preventive maintenance program for the aeration blowers and digester blower • Set up a preventive maintenance program for the chlorine system • Replaced effluent sampler pump • All wastewater employees went for a two-day training course for first aid and CPR; all obtained a certificate • Purchased a new chlorine regulator for a backup • New local limits reevaluation for Industrial Pretreatment Program • All generators at the lift stations were serviced • Renewed Operator 10 software for wastewater DMR report • Sent operators to class to obtain certification points for renewal of licenses for 2019 • Purchased needed tools for the maintenance department • Replaced pumps and controls at Haney’s Lift Station; replaced with chopper pumps • Finished up the watershed testing and received the report for 2017-2018 • Passed the yearly DMRQA 38 proficiency test for 2018 for the wastewater lab • Purchased a Class B chlorine repair kit for chlorine system • Refurbished motor at Walmart Lift Station • Purchased life rings for employee safety around aeration tanks and clarifiers • Refurbished pump at May Street Lift Station (storm water pumps) • Finished industrial pretreatment report and submitted report • Results for industrial pretreatment was in compliance
17— City of Cedartown Year in Review 2018
WATER DEPARTMENT REMODELS AND UPGRADES The water plant’s lab was remodeled in 2018, this included wall repair, installation of a new stainless steel counter top and sink, repairs to the floor and a new waterproof laminate floor was installed. The control room was also renovated with a new counter top for additional work station room. New fixtures and new laminate flooring was installed as part of a total overhaul to the plant’s restroom. The plant’s exterior lights were replaced with energy- efficient (LED) bulbs that match the historic facade. Security camera systems were also installed around the plant.
ADDITIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Purchased and installed backwash meter • Installed all new lines for online turbidimeters • Installed a new sample pump on filter No. 1 for online turbidity meter • Installed new solenoid valve on air scour for clarifier No. 1 • Purchased and installed new finish flow transmitter • Purchased new study material for operators and operators in training and continuing education • Purchased and installed new sodium hypochlorite pump • Purchased and installed new eight-channel paperless graph to replace four circular paper chart (this saves money on price of charts and ink) • New maintenance schedule and log implemented for repairs and replacement of equipment • Rebuilt No. 1 and No. 2 actuators on filter effluent valves • Purchased new 12-inch butterfly valve for filter No. 2 effluent • Chemicals were moved to the chemical room of the water plant • Relocated emergency shower and eyewash station to the chemical room
City of Cedartown Year in Review 2018 — 18
SPECIAL PROJECTS AND EVENTS
CEDARSTREAM GROUNDBREAKING
On April 19, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for Cedarstream’s new $4.5 million company headquarters and printing facility. The company’s headquarters, currently located at 225 North Main Street in Cedartown, will move across town to a new facility in Cedartown’s North Business Park. The new location will feature a modern glass front 38,800 square-foot building. Along with the move comes new jobs and an investment of $4.5 million dollars into the local economy.
NORAX EXPANSION
Norax Supplements, currently located at 910 South Main Street, announced intentions to relocate their operation inside the Cedartown South Industrial Park. The move, which will see the construction of a new facility nearly twice the size of the current building, is an estimated investment of $1.5 million. The relocation and expansion will see the retention of 75 jobs, plus an additional 20 jobs for the dietary supplement facility.
19— City of Cedartown Year in Review 2018
SPECIAL PROJECTS AND EVENTS
ELECTRIC CAR CHARGING STATIONS
The back parking lot of the Cedartown Museum of Coca Cola Memorabilia now serves as an electric car charging station. Most of the new charging stations are designed for use with Tesla vehicles, but two on each end of the strip of parking spaces can be used for other types of electric vehicles, and have multiple plug-ins .
APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION OFFICIALS TOUR ONE DOOR POLK
Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Federal Co-Chair Tim Thomas and Georgia’s Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Christopher Nunn visited Cedartown’s One Door Polk facility in October . Thomas and Nunn toured the facility along with other state and regional stakeholders. Nunn applauded City of Cedartown leaders in their forward-thinking plan to reuse the facility, rather than have it stand empty. “It’s exciting to see a project like this coming to fruition. You deserve to be proud.”
City of Cedartown Year in Review 2018 — 20
SPECIAL PROJECTS AND EVENTS
GOVERNOR DEAL VISITS POLK COUNTY
Governor Nathan Deal flew in to the Polk County Airport on March 9 to officially sign the State of Georgia’s amended budget. Our very own State Rep. Trey Kelley accompanied Gov. Deal. While here, Gov. Deal made an exciting announcement regarding funding to expand the Polk County Airport. He also announced that the recently closed Georgia Department of Labor’s Cedartown Career Center will now be utilized by the Technical College System of Georgia.
CEDARTOWN HOSTS WHEELCHAIR ATHLETE 5K
Once again, Cedartown helped host the annual International Wheelchair 5K in the summer of 2018. Dozens of wheelchair athletes from around the world took part in the annual race. Residents lined the streets in support of the athletes and cheered them across the finish line.
21— City of Cedartown Year in Review 2018
DOWNTOWN CEDARTOWN FALL FESTIVAL
Thousands of residents attended the annual Downtown Cedartown Fall Festival. Arts, crafts and food vendors lined Main Street in the Historic Downtown District. A dog show, sponsored by the Cedartown Humane Society took place that afternoon, and the Polk County Historical Museum held a special open house during the festival.
DOWNTOWN CEDARTOWN USED FOR HBO FILMING
Cedartown was transformed into a 1920s version of Tulsa, OK., during the spring of 2018. HBO tapped Cedartown as the “perfect” downtown area to film a pilot TV series with the working title of “Brooklyn.” Transforming Cedartown into Tusla in 1921 required about a week’s worth of preparatory work from the production’s art department. It also required around 300 extras, livestock and period vehicles for the scenes.
City of Cedartown Year in Review 2018 — 22
SPECIAL PROJECTS AND EVENTS
PUBLIC SAFETY PARTICIPANTS IN INDUSTRIAL SAFETY DRILL
On May 15, the Cedartown Police Department, Cedartown Fire Department, Redmond EMS, LifeFlight and HON members took part in a disaster drill. The drill was set up as an initial active shooter with multiple casualties in addition to a propane tank explosion and subsequent fire. HON members served as actors in the drill. Corporate office members (dressed in blue safety vests) observed and took notes while the event unfolded.
LEAD POLK TOURS CEDARTOWN FACILITIES
LEAD Polk, a program offered by the Polk County Chamber of Commerce and comprised of local residents, were led on a tour of the City’s water treatment plant, wastewater treatment plant and City Hall in September. The group’s first stop was the wastewater treatment plant, where they learned the complicated process of treating the City’s nearly 2 million gallons of daily sewage. Next stop was the City’s water plant. One million gallons-plus of clean drinking water is produced by the Big Spring. While visiting, they learned about the stringent water testing and 24/7 operation of the plant. The last stop was City Hall. At City Hall, City Manager Bill Fann led a discussion about the services the City provides and information about budget and operational costs.
23— City of Cedartown Year in Review 2018
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHTS BRAYDEN STEPHENS
Meet Brayden Stephens. He’s got a good head on his shoulders and a good attitude to match. He’s a City employee that enjoys the challenges that come with a job in our public works department. As a part of the City of Cedartown family for almost three years, Brayden likes walking into the city shop everyday not knowing what the day will bring. “I love that this job can be different every day. It keeps it interesting and I just enjoy it,” Brayden said. His typical duties involve operating the city’s boom trucks, but he’s done everything from taking out beaver dams to fixing water leaks and vehicle maintenance. A 2014 graduate of Cedartown High School, he furthered his education at Georgia Northwestern Technical College earning a degree in horticulture. Brayden also studied HVAC at the college as well. Aside from working here at the City, Brayden enjoys spending time with his large family and working with his dad (longtime fire chief Sammy Stephens).
J.P. FOSTER
BRAYDEN STEPHENS
J.P. Foster’s life has taken him many places. Atlanta, Calhoun, Canton, South America, Northern Virginia — but he’ll be the first to tell you that his home has always been Cedartown. “I am a product of the Goodyear Village. 237 Third Street to be exact. Born and raised here. My love for this city runs deep,” said Foster. So, it stands to reason that his passion for this place he calls home led him to accept a job designed to improve the quality of life for those that live here. Foster was recently hired as the Cedartown Police Department’s Code Enforcement officer. A title he inherits from retiring officer Don Matthews. His first day on the job was June 11. He’s undoubtedly familiar with the ins and outs of law enforcement and the court system. As he defines it, he began as a rookie cop with the J.P. FOSTER Cedartown Police Department in 1979. “W.M. Moss hired me and I spent a lot of time shaking doors — a term used for making sure local businesses had their doors locked. It was a good time to be a rookie in Cedartown. That was back when a car chase was big news. A lot different from these days.” Foster explained. “I did that for about a year or so, then I had some college friends of mine convince me to apply for a job with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.” That friendly peer pressure sparked a nearly 30 year career in law enforcement. Foster spent the next three decades dealing with homicides and drug dealers, money laundering and corruption cases. In 2008, he traded all of that for Bermuda shorts, sunglasses and flip flops and headed south, all the way to Cartagena, Colombia, and began to enjoy retirement. 2012 rolled around and Foster found himself moving again, this time to Northern Virginia. A responsibility to provide care and comfort for his parents led him back to Cedartown in 2013. He’s enjoyed being back in his hometown. “My wife Sherri and I have loved being here. We’ve done some renovations to our home and are ready to settle in,” Foster said. Of course, for Foster, settling in doesn’t mean being idle. “I saw on Facebook where the code enforcement job was being offered, I applied and here I am, ready to get back to work.” His focus? Helping people. “You know I am under no misconception that this will be an easy job. My career with the GBI and every other aspect of my career has allowed me to relate to people from all aspects of life. I want to help people find solutions to their problems. In this job, I will not be able to please everyone but I will be fair and I will be honest. I want to be a cheerleader for people that are having issues with the current state of their home or their property and I would much rather see them spend money to improve things rather than spend money on fines or court fees,” Foster said. Foster is a 1974 graduate of Cedartown High School and graduated from Jacksonville State University with a degree in criminal justice/law enforcement. He and his late wife, Danna Edwards Foster raised two children, Matt and Zach. Foster and his wife, Sherri, have one son, Gabe.
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHTS THE MONTGOMERYS
The dynamic duo of Cynthia and Charles Montgomery keep City of Cedartown residents connected from point A to point B. They’ve worked for the City of Cedartown a total of five years. Always friendly and always smiling, they perform their job with pride and realize that their service is an important one. Many residents take for granted their ability to hop into their personal vehicle and travel wherever and whenever. For many Cedartown residents, driving is not possible. That’s where the Montgomerys step in and serve. They serve as drivers of the Cedartown Transit van, serving an average of 14 riders daily. The transit van gives residents with limited or no means of transportation a way to travel to doctor’s appointments, grocery stores and pharmacies. The Montgomerys consider it an honor and
RICKY WILSON
THE MONTGOMERYS privilege to service the citizens of the City of Cedartown. Our system is safe, clean, reliable and responsive to the needs of residents. Their aim is to serve the community with dignity, honor and gratitude.
We would like you to meet Ricky Wilson. He’s a 1999 graduate of Haralson County High School, played baritone in the school band, is a diehard Metallica fan and as anyone that works at City Hall can attest -- he gives the most thoughtful and unique gifts at the annual office Christmas party. Hired in August of 2000, Ricky has spent nearly two decades reading water meters. With the exception of a short stint working in the City’s transit department, Ricky has been dedicated to providing accurate and timely meter readings for the City’s Water Billing Department. One might think that not a lot could change when it comes to reading water meters, but as Ricky can tell you, technology has made quite a difference in how he performs his job. “When I first started working here, I read meters with another person. It was RICKY WILSON a two-person job and it would take us eight days to cover the whole City. Eventually, we got that down to six days, but still, it was a long process,” Ricky explained. Nowadays, meter reading is a job he does solo. Thanks to advances in technology, a job that used to take more than a week to complete, now takes roughly six hours. Ricky uses a specialized piece of equipment installed into his vehicle that “talks” to the meter boxes. That equipment is hooked into a laptop which records the readings and then is imported into the City’s billing system. Of course, with any computerized gadget, hiccups can be expected. “Sometimes I can’t get a digital reading for whatever reason, and so I will go back and manually get a reading and then enter that into the computer.” Ricky also stays busy by helping residents when they have unusually high readings. High reads -- as they are called -- alert Ricky to potential problems. When that happens, he will make a special trip to a customer’s meter box to figure out what’s going on. As August 2018 approaches, and his 18th anniversary as an employee with the City is reached, Ricky is busy learning about upgrades to already existing technology designed to streamline the process of meter reading even more. Whatever the future holds for meter reading, Ricky is ready for it.
25— City of Cedartown Year in Review 2018
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHTS TOMMY DOOLEY
With nearly 20 years of experience in parks and recreation management under his belt, Tommy Dooley is bringing his skills and capability to the City of Cedartown. Dooley was selected as the new head of the Cedartown Parks and Recreation Department as long-time director Lee Hayes retired from his 20 years of service last week. Dooley, a current resident of Dallas, Ga., began his duties on August 27. “It is an honor and privilege for the opportunity to serve and provide recreational activities to the citizens of Cedartown,” Dooley said. He comes to Cedartown from the Paulding County Parks and Recreation Department where he served as the Superintendent of Athletics for Paulding County. During his time of service there, Dooley was able to challenge and TOMMY DOOLEY guide his staff into developing multiple athletic opportunities for youth and adults alike. The program at Paulding grew from youth basketball, adult softball and tennis lessons to girls slow and fast-pitch softball, youth baseball, youth and adult flag-football, adult basketball and the National Alliance for Youth Sports Start Smart program. With a self-described passion for providing recreational opportunities, Dooley also brings with him a love of organizing and planning events that highlight the beauty of municipal parks. In Paulding County, he organized events that hosted more than 10,000 patrons, including concerts, firework shows and seasonal activities. We’re excited to have someone with Tommy’s extensive background in recreational programs and projects join our team,” said Cedartown City Manager Bill Fann. “He brings excellent administrative skills as well and a passion for community involvement that made him stand out in the selection process. I look forward to working with him to continue our progress. In addition to his duties in the recreation department, Dooley will also be responsible for recreational grounds and facilities, including the City’s five public parks. Dooley is a graduate of Paulding County High School. He received a bachelor’s degree in sport management from Kennesaw State University.
A publication from the City of Cedartown ©2018 Public Information Office 201 E. Avenue Cedartown, Georgia 30125 www.cedartowngeorgia.gov