FEBRUARY 2 - 15, 2018 • VOL. 12— NO. 3
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Sandy Springs Reporter
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► Cities asked to join regional affordable housing policy PAGE 4 ► Fulton leaders agree on bus transit expansion PAGE 13
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Water system leak dispute with Atlanta boils over BY JOHN RUCH johnruch@reporternewspapers.net
Guard Keyrah Smith sets up against defenders before sinking a two-point jump shot for the Riverwood International Charter School’s Lady Raiders in their 60-19 win against the Carver High Lady Panthers on Jan. 26 at Riverwood. The crucial regional win kept the Lady Raiders in fourth place in their district with a 6-5 record.
Amazon made clear what corporate relocations of NCR, State Farm and others have tipped off to state leaders: The recruitment and retention of high wage corporate employers will follow the tracks of transit. Those counties and municipalities without transit need not apply. CHARLIE HARPER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF POLICYBEST
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Shooting his way to award-winning heights
See STANDOUT STUDENT on page 6
PHIL MOSIER
OUT & ABOUT ‘Dead Man Walking’ author to speak at death penalty panel Page 8
A dispute is boiling over the leaky local water system, with Sandy Springs threatening to sue for control of the Atlanta-owned pipes, and Atlanta replying that official criticisms are all wet. What both cities agree on: There are a lot of leaks that can take Atlanta more than a month to repair, and Sandy Springs customers are paying rates about 21 percent higher than those in Atlanta. With half-joking talk about a “water Bill of Rights” and a “water Tea Party,” Sandy Springs officials dove into the dispute at the Jan. 23 City Council Retreat at Lost Corner Park, where the water war became a 2018 city priority. The water system was built out by Atlanta decades ago, long before Sandy Springs’ incorporation in 2005. Now Sandy Springs wants a better deal with Atlanta or control of its own system, likely to be run by a contractor. Mayor Rusty Paul called the water system’s condition “the greatest threat to our See WATER on page 22
North Springs High meeting stalled by calls for new school BY EVELYN ANDREWS evelyn@reporternewspapers.net
A team hired by the Fulton County School District to recommend renovations for North Springs High School struggled to move a Jan. 23 community meeting beyond questions and confusion from residents who want instead a brand new school to be built. Patrick Burke, the chief operating officer of Fulton Schools, said at the meeting it is very unlikely a new school would be built. But many residents say that can still See NORTH on page 15