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2021 YEAR IN REVIEW
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C I T Y W I D E ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor William “Bill” Edwards and City Council supported many initiatives, and in 2021 kept public safety, economic development, public works, and community development top of mind. The following initiatives were implemented:
PUBLIC SAFETY •
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The City of South Fulton implemented a camera-driven school zone enforcement effort to cut speeding in school zones across our city. As a result, the number of issued speeding tickets decreased by 82% during the first five months of the 2020-21 school year. According to data provided by Blue Line Solutions, the number of drivers cited for speeding decreased by 82% across school zones in our city, from 38,315 to 6,917. Eight of the 10 active zones had decreases of at least 75%. Additionally, overall traffic across school zones decreased by 18% – or just over 25,000 vehicles – during the same reporting period.
Department launched a dedicated website created and managed by CryWolf that requires residents and businesses to register their alarms. Alarm permits are free and must be renewed each calendar year. If your alarm is not registered with the city, please complete the free online registration at https://www. crywolfservices.com/southfultonga/ to receive a permit number. While there is no cost associated with registering your alarm, owners who fail to register their system(s) or keep updated information on file are subject to a $100 civil penalty fine.
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The City of South Fulton Police Department answered more than 10,000 alarm calls in 2020, nearly all of them – 96% – were false alarms. In March of 2021, the COSF Police
COSF Fulton officials are making good on the commitment to improve safety on Fulton Industrial Boulevard, with a $3 million investment for new police hires to actively pursue drug sales and other illegal activity, and $3 million in funding for police and fire vehicles to serve the area. The City Council approved the purchase of 40 police sport utility vehicles and two fire pumper trucks
which replaced our oldest engines that were purchased by Fulton County in 2002.
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Police Chief Keith Meadows and Detective Joseph King were honored at the 1st Annual Heroes Behind the Mask Ball hosted by the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office.
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For the fourth straight year, there has been a decrease in crime across the city. There has been a 38% decline in crime over the last three years. Hats off to our city’s police personnel for their unwavering commitment to the safety of our citizens and city.
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The city purchased 50+ acres on Cascade-Palmetto that will be used to construct a state-of-the-art public safety training facility and fire headquarters in District 2. The city also purchased the Red Oak Renaissance Center which will be used as a community center and garden, Main Street office and police mini-precinct in District 3.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT •
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Led by the National League of Cities (NLC), South Fulton became one of 23 cities part of the Cities of Opportunity initiative which aims to help local leaders address holistic, interconnected factors that affect residents’ health, and embed equity and resiliency in all communities. Backed by city’s Fight resulted in demolished
a $200,000 budget, the Against Blight program seven properties being or abated this year. Eagle
Demolition and Environmental, a local contractor, managed the process. The city has identified 63 vacant, abandoned, and blighted structures that need to be demolished or abated across the city.
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South Fulton joins a list of other municipalities and community improvement districts as the recipient of an Atlanta Regional Commission LCI Grant. An injection of up to $120,000 in federal grant funding will help South
Fulton expand efforts to revitalize the Old National Highway corridor.
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The city updated its comprehensive plan, a zoning text amendment attained Community Development Block Grant Entitlement Status, and secured its Qualified Local Government Status.
C I T Y W I D E
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT • Mayor
and City Council responded to citizen requests for increased access to health services: Walmart Health, located off Cascade Road; and CenterWell Senior Primary Care on Old National Highway are now open.
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Focused on providing access to needed social services, two national nonprofits – Habitat for Humanity Restore and Goodwill Industries – have opened stores on Old National Highway.
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Two Main Street Programs have been launched with dedicated economic development staff focused on the redevelopment of Roosevelt Highway and Old National Highway.
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In March, the South Fulton Convention & Visitors Bureau (SFCVB) boosted tourism and got the word out about a hidden gem in the Sandtown community frequented by rock climbers from across the Southeast. The Southeastern Climbers Coalition (SCC) hosted the 2021 Float the Boat Rock Climbing Competition in our city.
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Our city’s economic development staff is working to bring in high-quality, mixed-use development:
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The South Fulton Convention and Visitors Bureau (SFCVB) hosted Savor SOFU Restaurant Week, June 21-28, 2021. The week of festivities featured several District 1 businesses offering a variety of delicious dishes, including Milk & Honey, Gocha’s Breakfast Bar, and Baltimore Crab.
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During the pandemic, the city invested $4.1 million in CARES Act funding and $11 million in Rescue America Plan dollars through innovative mortgage and rent assistance, small business loan and hazard pay programs are being launched.
pedestrian paths, an assessment of their connectivity, and a review of their condition. With that assessment complete, the city partnered with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) on a half-million-dollar joint effort to acquire right-of-way along Old National Highway. The second phase of the Old National project stretches from Flat Shoals Road to Jonesboro Road and calls for 5-to 6-foot sidewalks along both sides of the 2.6-mile stretch of highway, along with landscaping and signal upgrades at several intersections. Construction is set to start in 2023 with a price tag of about $3.5 million, which will be covered by local and federal funding.
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Through a joint venture with the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), the city completed a study to improve pedestrian safety and walkability along Washington Road between Roosevelt Highway and North Commerce Drive.
COSF City Council approved a plan to apply for GDOT’s 2022 Transportation Alternatives Program to build 8-footwide sidewalks and install pedestrian lighting along Boat Rock Road between Campbellton Road and Fulton Industrial Boulevard.
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» Cascade Palmetto Riverfront, modeled after Vickery Mills in Cummings, Georgia, will bring live, work, and play along the Chattahoochee River. » Sandtown Crossing II: Expansion of this retail center includes Publix as the anchor amongst several new tenants, including Arden’s Garden, Direct Elite Catering, the Freshest Salad Bar, Batteries Plus, UPS Store, AT&T Store and KALMAC Home Decor. » Town Center @ Wolf Creek Conceptual Plan has been developed and will feature mixed-use development, city hall, cultural attractions, along with retail and fine dining.
Annexed Fulton Industrial Blvd, adding over $9 million in tax revenue annually to the city’s tax rolls, and welcomed the Loch Lomond neighborhood into the city. Dough in a Box and Taco Bell are providing additional eating options for locals and the over 25,000+ commuters who work along Fulton Industrial Blvd.
PUBLIC WORKS •
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COSF Public Works staff oversaw the use of TSPLOST I funds that resulted in the paving of 170 miles of city roads in 60 neighborhoods. A number of aging bridges have also been replaced. TSPLOST II referendum passed and will allow for continued investment to rebuild the city’s aging infrastructure with road repaving and bridge replacements. Local Maintenance & Improvement Grant (LMIG) funds were used to cover the cost of the change order for the construction agreement with AM Construction for the Cascade Road Over Utoy Creek Bridge. The COSF Public Works Department and Georgia Tech launched a study of sidewalks throughout the city. Funded by Georgia Smart Communities, the project includes a list and map of current
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Residents can purchase flood insurance now that the city has been accepted as eligible for the federally backed National Flood Insurance Program. For singlefamily dwellings, the building coverage limit is $250,000, and the contents coverage limit is $100,000. Renters can also protect their belongings by purchasing contents coverage. For commercial properties, both the building and contents coverage limits are set at $500,000. Traffic improvements call for an extra left-turn lane to be added from Oakley Industrial Boulevard onto Jonesboro Road. There are currently two left-turn lanes and both will be lengthened to improve traffic congestion in the area. 03
GOOD THINGS HAPPENING IN THE CITY OF SOUTH FULTON
THE PLACE YOU WANT TO BE! •
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City of South Fulton Fire Captain Andrea Hall made history when she led the Pledge of Allegiance while also interpreting in American Sign Language (ASL) for the deaf and hard of hearing, at the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
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Citywide feeding program organized by Mayor William Edwards and Councilwoman Helen Willis helps to address food insecurity and promote healthy eating. The city also distributed garden grow boxes and provided meal kits for 800 families for Thanksgiving.
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The Westlake Lady Lions High School basketball team are state champions claiming their fourth straight title last March. The Lady Lions defeated the Carrollton Trojans 64-46. The City of South Fulton Mayor and City Council partnered with Fulton County Commissioners, and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office to proclaim Friday, April 16, 2021 as the National Champion Lady Lion Day.
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City Clerk Corey Adams, Sr., has earned the designation of Certified Municipal Clerk, a professional certification awarded by the International Institute of Municipal Clerks. The designation is only granted to municipal clerks who have completed demanding education requirements, and have a record of significant contributions to their local government, community, and state.
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In May, Fulton Industrial was annexed into the City of South Fulton and significantly increased the tax base with over 700 businesses coming into our city limits. Special thanks to the efforts of the South Fulton State Delegation and Mayor Edwards for bringing the largest industrial area East of the Mississippi River into our city.
A number of new businesses have landed in District 1 at Sandtown Crossing, including Arden’s Garden, UPS Store, the Freshest Salad Bar, AT&T, Kalmac Home Furnishings, Direct Elite Catering and Batteries Plus.
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Damacia Howard of the City of South Fulton, the daughter of James and Regina Howard, was crowned the 2021-2022 National American Miss Teen, at the 2021 I am Pageant Powerhouse Convention in Orlando, FL on Sunday, November 28, 2021. Howard along with 35 other teens from across the U.S. competed for the coveted National title.
N E W FAC E S AT CI T Y H A L L TRAVIS LANDRUM was named as the City of South Fulton’s Director of Park, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. Prior to joining the city, Landrum served as the Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Douglasville. In 2020, under Landrum’s leadership, the Douglasville Parks and Recreation Department obtained the Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies designation from the National Recreation and Parks Association. Douglasville is one of only 11 accredited park and recreation agencies in the state of Georgia. In addition, Georgia Recreation and Parks Association (GRPA) named the City of Douglasville as District 5 Agency of the Year. Landrum also received the honors of GRPA Distinguished Professional of the Year and GRPA District 5 Distinguished Professional. He also served as the Director and Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Smyrna and as Deputy Director for Columbus Consolidated Government Parks and Recreation Department. He began his career as a recreation professional with Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation in Charlotte. The City of South Fulton Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department plans and organizes activities for 13 parks, five recreation centers, two tennis facilities, and two art centers. This includes an indoor natatorium, gymnasiums, fitness centers, theaters, community buildings, athletic fields, outdoor pavilions, playgrounds, walking trails, a community garden, and a dog park. STEVEN MAXWELL has joined the City of South Fulton as the Deputy Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. An experienced Facilities Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the government administration industry, Maxwell is skilled in facilities management, budgeting, program evaluation, grant writing, and conflict management. Previously, Maxwell was employed for over six years with the Clayton County Board of Commissioners, first serving as a Program Coordinator and later promoted to a Facilities Manager. He earned a Master of Science in Public Administration from Troy University and a Bachelor of Science in Recreational Leadership from Jacksonville State University. Maxwell is a Certified Youth Sports Administrator (CYSA) for the National Alliance for Youth Sports and holds Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED certifications from the American Red Cross.
The City of South Fulton elections ushered in new leadership to take the helm of the City in 2022, Mayor Elect Khalid Kamau, Councilwoman Carmalitha Gumbs (District 2), Councilman Jaceey Sebastian (District 4) and Councilwoman Natasha Williams (District 6). They will join the incumbents which include myself Councilwoman Dr. Catherine Rowell (District 1), Councilwoman Helen Zenobia Willis (District 3), Councilman Corey Reeves (District 5) and Councilman Dr. Mark Baker (District 7). For our outgoing Mayor William “Bill” Edwards and Councilwoman Naeema Gilyard, thank you for your service to our city.
FIRE CHIEF CHAD JONES has over 25 years of experience in fire service. Jones began his career in public safety in 1990 when he became a state-certified emergency medical technician. In 1994, he became a nationally certified paramedic and joined the Atlanta Fire Department in 1995. Jones advanced through the ranks in the Atlanta Fire Department before retiring in 2020 as the Deputy Fire Chief over Support Services. Prior to assuming his position with the city, he served as the Deputy Fire Chief of the Coweta County Fire Department and oversaw the department’s day-to-day operations. Chad Jones, a fire service veteran of more than 25 years, Jones became Chief March 1, serves as the chair and co-chair of committees with the Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs. In 2018, he was elected to the Georgia Fire Chiefs Association as third vice president. He is a member of the Metro Atlanta Fire Chiefs Association, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation. KAREN SLATON-DIXON has joined the City of South Fulton as the Finance Director. She possesses over 34 years of experience in City Government to include 25 years of management experience in governmental accounting. Prior to joining the city, Mrs. Slaton-Dixon served as the Administrative Services Director/Finance Director for the City of Norcross, GA. Over the past 14 ½ years at Norcross, she managed accounts receivable and payable, payroll, property tax, business license, cash collections, utility billing, customer service and accounting, budgeting and audit. Karen began her career as an Assistant Finance Director for Putnam-Clay-Flagler Economic Opportunity Council, Inc. in Palatka, FL before transitioning to municipal government. Her career path also includes serving as a Senior Accountant with the City of Albany, GA. Karen has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Albany State University and Master of Business Administration degree with a specialization in Accounting from Georgia Southwestern University. She has completed all requirements for the Certified Local Government Finance Officer Program through the Carl Vinson Institute of Government (Level I and Level II), to be designated as a CFO in the State and Local Government field. Along with this certification, Slaton-Dixon has also completed all requirements through Georgia State University Center for State and Local Finance to be designated as a Certified Public Financial Manager (CPFM). Karen is a member of the Government Finance Officer Association (GFOA), Georgia Government Finance Officer Association (GGFOA), Georgia CityCounty Management Association (GCCMA), and American Public Power Association (APPA). Thanks to the resilient spirit of our community, we have made progress amid the pandemic through open communication, connection, and collaboration. I look forward to continuing to be your voice in City Hall in the upcoming year. Honored to serve, Councilwoman Dr. Catherine Rowell City of South Fulton – District 1
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2021 A T - A - G L A N C E
K E E P I N G YO U I N T H E K N O W SPOTLIGHT ON DISTRICT 1
I’ve been busy on your behalf, and remain committed to moving our city forward to become a world-class city.
L E A D E R S H I P & A D V O C A C Y AT W O R K •
Serve as Co-Chair of Urban Redevelopment Agency overseeing over $17 million in capital improvement for fire stations and parks
the community. The second phase is slated to open in June of 2022. In addition, the Mary Searles Foundation will offer market rate senior housing with a full package of amenities at Sandtown Center along Westlake Parkway with construction projected to commence in Spring of 2022.
» Completed $500,000 renovation of South Fulton Tennis Center » Completed waterproofing, roofing, and mold remediation at Sandtown Recreation Center and the installation of an HVAC system is forthcoming. » Purchased the Red Oak Renaissance Center which will include a community center and garden; Main Street office; and police precinct.
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Spearheaded partnership with the Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE) to set up COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites across the city.
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Held Community Field Day with free food and prizes in partnership with The Sheldon Williams Foundation to promote health, well-being and family bonding through recreation.
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In 2021, Councilwoman Dr. Rowell, was selected to complete two leadership programs offered by the Atlanta Regional Commission: Art Leaders of Metro Atlanta (ALMA) and the Regional Leadership Institute (RLI).
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City of South Fulton police launched an ATV tip line (470) 552-TIPS (8477) to report illegal use of all-terrain and offroad vehicles on public roads and highways, as well as private property throughout the city.
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Championed in 2017 by Councilwoman Rowell, the Local Small Business Enterprise Program embraces entrepreneurs by including them in the city’s supply chain of goods and services. The program defines a small business as having less than $500,000 in annual sales and a city address. Data from fiscal year 2019 shows our city utilized minority firms at a rate of approximately 15% of total spending on professional services. That number doubled to 30% in FY20 with over 168 local small business enterprises registered for the program.
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Councilwoman Rowell has been working in partnership with the Southeastern Trust for Parks and Land and SOBRA to develop the Campbellton Creek Nature Park, which will offer trails on 81-acres, nestled in the heart of the Sandtown Community. A Friends of the Park group has been formed and several trail build days were held in 2021. It is projected that the first segment of the trail will open in Spring of 2022.
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Honored to do a ride along with the COSF police department on Memorial Day Weekend as police services for Fulton Industrial and Loch Lomond transferred to the city.
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Held over 12 community clean-up days in partnership with the Cascade Business Merchants Association (CBMA) to keep the Cascade Road Commercial Corridor at I-285 clean and aesthetically appealing.
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Advocated for and secured $200,000 in funding for the maintenance of Cascade Road medians, the right of way along Campbellton Road between Enon Road and Camp Creek Parkway, and other state roads in our city.
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Secured $30,000 grant from Crow Holding to invest in Sandtown Park, and advocated for a grant to work in tandem with a generous donation from Adams & Company to install a new playground.
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Increased the number of senior housing units in the area with the first phase of Anthem at Riverside which opened in Summer 2021, the second phase is under construction and will add an additional 80 units of senior housing to
L EG I S L ATI V E I N ITI ATI V E S ORDINANCES
RESOLUTIONS
Ordinances are laws enacted at the local level by the city council. The city council has to read the ordinance two times prior to consideration for adoption. All of the following ordinances were sponsored or co-sponsored by Councilwoman Dr. Catherine Rowell and passed in 2021:
A resolution is an official expression of the opinion or will of a legislative body (city council), they can be adopted after being read once by the city council. All of the resolutions shown below were sponsored by Councilwoman Rowell and passed by the City Council.
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Ord 2021-02 – (Rowell, Gumbs, Willis, Gilyard, Reeves and Baker) Prohibits smoking at outdoor park facilities and places of employment. This does not apply to private clubs, residences, outdoor areas, restaurants, patios, cigar bars and hookah bars. In addition, advertising and posting of signs is also required. This law addressed the lack of a state law protecting people at such facilities from the dangers of second-hand smoke. Savannah adopted a similar measure in 2010, with Canton following suit in 2018 and Atlanta adopting its own ordinance in 2019.
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Ord 2021-04 – (Rowell and Reeves) Makes it illegal to be a participant or spectator of streetcar racing. In April of 2021, a weekend of street racing in South Fulton ended with city and state police arresting more than 90 people and impounding 45 cars.
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Ord 2021-017 – (Rowell) Established a partnership with Trees for Atlanta for the One Million Trees Initiative to protect and plant at least 1,000 trees over the next three years in parks and the public right-of-way.
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Ord 2021-018 – (Rowell) Effective January 1, 2022, imposes a requirement that multifamily dwellings be subjected to an inspection that at a minimum imposes the International Property Maintenance Code, the Life Safety Code, and the International Fire Code. A property must be inspected a minimum of every five years. A fraudulent report can be subjected to a $1,000 fine for each dwelling unit.
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Ord 2021-022 – (Rowell) No developer or builder shall develop or construct a subdivision of new detached or attached residential homes for rental or lease purposes.
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Ord 2021-028 – (Rowell and Gumbs) Provide guidelines for conducting blasting in a safe and responsible manner within the city.
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Ord 2021-032 – (Reeves, Willis, Rowell and Gumbs) Provides for the selection of an ethics panel and provides compensation of $50 for each panel session or meeting attended.
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Ord 2021-033 – (Rowell) Amended the South Fulton Zoning Ordinance to require a special use permit for approval of a gas station; establishes a 1,000 feet distance requirement between the gas station and an adjacent residential area; and prohibits another gas station from operating within 3 miles of another gas station.
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Res 2021-03 – (Rowell) Waived the annexation and survey fees through September 30, 2021, to make it attractive for Fulton Industrial Boulevard to annex into the City of South Fulton from unincorporated Fulton County.
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Res 2021-021 – (Rowell) Established a fee schedule and protocol for the employment and management of outside counsel for conflicts of interest, specialty areas of law, and other matters not contemplated by Georgia Interlocal Risk Management (GIRMA).
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Res 2021-027 – (Rowell, Reeves and Willis) Protects cemeteries from vandalism, defacing and/or desecration of gravesites by making it a criminal offense.
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Res 2021-036 – (Rowell) Established the month of October as Agritourism month and highlighted 15 agribusinesses in our city.
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Res 2021-040 – (Rowell) Seeks to have the city’s community development staff secure historic markers for cemeteries within our city limits and add those sites to the statewide cemetery inventory maintained by the Georgia Secretary of State. Additionally, staff will identify and share information on historic cemeteries with genealogy societies.
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Res 2021-049 – (Reeves, Willis, Rowell, and Gumbs) Resolution adopted that acknowledges the city council subscribes to the five ethics principles to recertify as a Georgia Municipal Association City of Ethics.
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City of South Fulton 5440 Fulton Industrial Blvd., SW South Fulton, GA 30336 www.CityofSouthFultonGA.gov
WAY S T O C O N N E C T Councilwoman Dr. Catherine Rowell catherine.rowell@cityofsouthfultonga.gov FB/Instagram: @CatherineDistrict1 Twitter: @Rowel70 Ruth Prophete, Legislative Specialist ruth.prophete@cityofsouthfultonga.gov OFFICE: (470)
809-7701
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