Chatt Hills City News ~ July 2022

Official Publication of the City of Chattahoochee Hills, GA

CHATT HILLS NEWS

Issue 7 Volume 3 www.chatthillsga.us

JULY 2022 Features

Events

Arts in Chatt Hills

City Government

Our Community Page 3

What’s Happening Locally?

Page 12

Local Artists Page 14

Stay Informed Page 18

4TH OF JULY PARADE AT SERENBE

Photo by Rebekah Michaels

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MAYOR TOM REED

Hello, Chattahoochee Hills!

No central theme this month, just a collection of topical news that is floating around.

Many of you may be aware of the issues surrounding garbage collection that were front of mind for many Chatt Hillsians earlier in the month. GFL had been providing service to quite a few folks in Chattahoochee Hills, and without warning around the start of the month cut that service off again, without warning—leaving many residents in the lurch. We never did get an official answer as to why, but based on what we did get in talking to them, they (like many companies) are having a hard time finding employees and so are short staffed. Because of that, they made an economic decision to focus on areas where homes are closer together—where their drivers can make more revenue in less time—at the expense of sparsely populated areas like most of Chatt Hills.

When we heard of the trash issue, City Manager Robbie Rockovitz, Councilwoman Laurie Searle, Public Works Director Darold Wendlandt, and I all sprang into action to try to help find solutions. While trash removal is not one of the services that Chattahoochee Hills provides, we absolutely recognized the need to do something to help folks get this sorted out. Luckily, we were able to share information on several smaller local providers that cover different parts of the City—notably, Reliable and Worldwide Disposal Service—and it seems that all of the affected families have been able to get their service from the new vendors. Special thanks to Laurie Searle here; since many of the affected folks were in her district, she took the lead on communications on this issue to be sure folks knew what to do!

There are also a couple of “new” things going on that should improve internet access and communications in the City.

After many delays with federal permitting issues, it looks like Verizon’s new cell tower at the edge of Cochran Mill Park will be going in soon. This should fill in a huge hole in the City’s cell service (and coincidentally, we’ll leverage their work to add some “permit-only” parking to the park, making it easier for residents to access!).

Many of you know, too, that I’ve been working on getting better internet access to our rural areas for years. Good news there: Charter Communication has received a federal grant to provide high-speed internet to Chattahoochee Hills!

The good news is that it’s coming; the bad news is that they have 5 years to complete the work. More good news is that they’ve already started running wire! I’m trying to get a better handle on what their schedule is (more on that as I get the details), and also to fill in some gaps in the federal program’s mapping (which seems to leave some gaps in coverage inside of the City). But in any case, high-speed internet is on the way!

Most of you will also have received your property tax notices by now. Once you’ve picked yourself up off the floor (!), please remember that these notices show taxes based on the current millage rate, which was based on last year’s assessment! We do not have the data yet from the Assessor’s Office that we need to set our millage rate for this year, but it’s safe to assume that there will be some significant level of rollback from both the City and (based on what I’m hearing) the County (I can’t speak for the School Board at all), so you can expect your bill to look better than the notice that you received. And if you would sell your house for less than your assessment, by all means, file an appeal! Remember that the appeal deadline is August 1st, so if you’re going that route, don’t delay!

I hope you all enjoy a safe and happy July 4th, and celebrate the founding of our great nation with your family and friends.

Please be safe, stay cool, and have fun!

Mayor Tom Reed

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OUR COMMUNITY 4TH OF JULY PARADE AT SERENBE

Date: Monday, July 4 Time 10:00 a.m.

Location: 9055 Selborne Lane Free.

For visitors, the best place to park is in the parking lot at the top of Selborne Way (turn right off Selborne Lane when you get to The Hill Restaurant), or at the parking lot on Q Loop (turn right before the white townhomes).

Anyone can enter a float; all they have to do is show up at the Wildflower Meadow by 9:30am that morning.

Thank you to Rebekah Michaels for all parade photos.

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OUR COMMUNITY

Mayor Tom Reed talking at the meeting.

Chattahoochee Hills Riverlands Community Planning Meeting

Chatt Hills Parks Commissioner Pat Lesko, Photos by Chatt Hills Parks Commissioner Chip Denton On May 21, the Chatt Hills Parks Commission hosted a community planning meeting of nearly 40 people at Riverlands Park, the newest of our city’s five parks. This 260acre park is located at 8661 Campbellton Redwine Road, just over half a mile north of its intersection with Hutcheson Ferry Road. The park has approximately 40 acres between the road and the Chattahoochee River to the west and 220 acres to the east of the road. Those who attended enjoyed the opportunity to see a bit of the west side of the park, including a lovely view down to the river from an overlooking bluff, and, for the more adventuresome, a stroll down through the woodlands to the river’s edge.

RiverLands Park is currently closed to the public while the city develops a master plan for the park. The purpose of the May 21 community planning meeting was to obtain input and ideas for the master plan. We are fortunate to be receiving guidance and financial assistance from the Trust for Public Lands (TPL) in this process. TPL, a nationwide non-profit, was founded 50 years ago on the conviction that all people need access to nature and the outdoors that is close to home, in the cities and communities where they live. To that end, TPL in Georgia has been working for decades to preserve land along the Chattahoochee

River from Helen to Columbus. TPL was instrumental in acquiring two parcels of land that now are public parks in Chattahoochee Hills. TPL previously owned both the Campbellton Park/Beavers House property and a second large piece of land along the river that was later exchanged for the current Riverlands Park. Walt Ray, the Chattahoochee Program Director for TPL, was present, as were several representatives from Pond & Co, an architecture, engineering, planning and construction firm hired by TPL to assist with the Chattahoochee Riverlands project.

In his opening remarks, Mayor Tom Reed outlined the strategic vision for the future of Chattahoochee Hills to be a city whose 40,000 acres will ultimately consist of 10,000 acres of developed land, 10,000 acres of farmland, 10,000 acres of forest, and 10,000 acres of public parks. He also provided a summary of how the city acquired this park. It was pointed out that one very advantageous feature of the current RiverLands Park’s location is that a paved road, Campbellton Redwine Road, comes within a quarter mile of the Chattahoochee River, giving relatively easy public access to the river.

Walt Ray then gave an overview of TPL’s plans for a 48-mile demonstration paddling, hiking, and camping

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OUR COMMUNITY

trail along the Chattahoochee River between Peachtree Creek in Atlanta and McIntosh Reserve in Carroll County.

It is to include three campsites accessible by canoe and kayak, of which two are located within our city: one at Cambellton Park and one about 17 miles downstream at Riverlands Park. The campsites will be designed to have the smallest possible footprint while providing the easiest possible access to the river and will include kayak/canoe launches, primitive tent sites, and small restrooms. The demonstration camp and paddle trail is an outgrowth of the comprehensive Chattahoochee Riverlands Greenway Study that was completed in 2020. The study found that people expressed the most interest in having two activities along the Chattahoochee River: a camp and paddle water trail and a place to sit and enjoy nature. In 2022, the 48-mile demonstration Chattahoochee Camp + Paddle Trail proposed by TPL was awarded one of the first Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program grants for $2.1 million, and TPL has made good progress in raising $1 million in matching funds. Grant money will be used for the two campsites in Chattahoochee Hills as well as a campsite at Buzzard Roost (in City of South Fulton), a launch at Standing Peachtree Greenspace (city of Atlanta), and a take out at McIntosh Reserve (Carroll County).

The Camp + Paddle Trail campsite in Riverlands Park will cover only a small fraction of the park’s acreage. At the planning session there were posters with maps of the park on both sides of Campbellton Redwine Road; the greenway, blueway, tributary trails, and guiding goals for the Chattahoochee River Greenway between the Buford Dam and the Chattahoochee Bend State Park; and a wide variety of amenities that might be of interest in the 6

Walt Ray of Trust for Public Land talking at the meeting.

Chatt Hills 260-acre RiverLands Park. Those attending the planning meeting were asked to vote on their preferences for potential amenities for the park and to fill out comment cards with any other comments, ideas and concerns.

Mayor Reed emphasized that TPL was assisting in developing a master plan for the entire park, not just the Camp + Paddle Trail area, and thus public input was being sought for all areas of the park.

For more information about the Chattahoochee Riverlands Greenway Study, go to chattahoocheeriverlands. com, then Project Vision, then Downloads. There you can download everything from an executive summary to the entire 294-page study (page 168 and following cover our Chattahoochee Hills Riverland Park) to various maps and subtopics. There is also a new tab on the Chatt Hills City website’s homepage with links to the parks and other spaces such as the Cedar Grove Community Center, the Barn Quilt Trail, bike routes, and the South Fulton Scenic Byway. Go to chatthillsga.us then City Parks.

If you would like a voice about this park, please fill out the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ChattRL

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OUR COMMUNITY Old Glory Newest Barn Quilt

By Laurie Searle

Announcing the newest addition to the Chatt Hills Barn Quilt Trail featuring “Old Glory” hosted by Stephen Farr at his Farr Away Farm, 10340 Hutcheson Ferry Rd., Chattahoochee Hills, GA 30268.

Americana collector Showcases Old Glory Stephen Farr lives in the Goodes Community of Chattahoochee Hills in a modest farm house built by his family in the 1900s. His Farr Away Farm is known in the community for the firewood and produce he sells on the honor system, and for the many vintage signs displayed throughout his property.

Among his many signs and collectables, one Americana icon stands out among the rest. The American flag is Stephen's favorite, for it sums up his love of family, community, and country.

When selecting a pattern for his new barn quilt, Stephen requested a patriotic flag pattern, which we named "Old Glory."

Signs of a Country Boy Stephen Farr was born and raised in Goodes and is the sixth generation of the Jackson family to live in this rural community. When he was born in the house up the road, six out of eight of his great-grand parents were still living, as well as both sets of his grandparents, and his parents.

Since then, Stephen has added to the family line with two children, who are now adults.

As a young boy, Stephen began collecting baseball cards. Then he became fascinated with signs, eventually collecting more than 200 automobile signs and license

plates. Today, his vast collection of signs showcase his many interests and read like the lyrics to the Sound of Music song, "My Favorite Things."

A wall of license plates shows his love of travel and the many places he's visited. Tractor silhouettes, a John Deer wall clock, and store signs from farm equipment suppliers illustrate his farming heritage. Signs for Ducks Unlimited and Remington, along with the trophy deer heads displayed in his den, show his passion for hunting.

And the American flag displayed in each collection shows his patriotism and love for family, community, and country.

Stephen's grandfather, Charles Jackson, also had an affinity for signs. Stephen said his granddad took care of the iconic Goodes sign as a way of honoring his community. Stephen honors his community in his own way by selling fire wood and tomatoes & blueberries on his Farr Away Farm through the honor system. Neighbors may purchase those items while he is away by leaving their payment in the honor box. When asked if anyone ever forgot to pay, Stephen said, "No, not ever. They are all good neighbors!"

For more photos, and to read more about the host and the barn quilt on Farr Away Farm, visit: https://www. chatthillsbarnquilttrail.com/farr-away-farm.html

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OUR COMMUNITY City Promotes Tourism with Donation to Bear Creek Nature Center

By Laurie Searle Ask nine out of ten tourists and residents what brought them to Chattahoochee Hills and the answer is likely Nature. Whether they come to tour our Scenic Byways lined with canopies of trees and sprawling farm vistas, or bring their hiking shoes, horses, bikes, and canoes to explore our many parks, or discover Chatt Hills by accident while visiting our popular Serenbe Community, it is nature that brings them here, and nature that brings them back.

In 2020, Bear Creek Nature Center opened in Chatt Hills as a private non-profit with the goal of spreading the joy of nature and the outdoor world. Since then, the Center has become a natural destination for tourists, residents, and school groups desiring to learn more about environmental sciences and wildlife, or just enjoy the great outdoors.

On June 7, 2022, the City of Chattahoochee Hills acknowledged Bear Creek Nature Center by making a $10,000 donation to help fund its programs and secure its place in Chatt Hills as a Natural Tourist Attraction.

BEAR CREEK NATURE CENTER – A VALUE-ADD FOR TOURISTS & RESIDENTS When it comes to Nature, Chatt Hills residents spell it with a capital “N,” giving it all the respect of a proper noun.

They love their Nature and fully appreciate the value Bear Creek Nature Center brings to the City. This is not only demonstrated by their participation in programs and their many visits to the Center for hiking, canoeing, or picnics; it is demonstrated each time residents volunteer to support the Center.

For example, last month a swarm of volunteers from the Serenbe Art Farm rolled up their sleeves to help restore the Center’s Pollinator Garden in anticipation of its Pollinator Party Festival. Last year, community volunteers brought their carpentry tools and skills to refurbish the board walk alongside the Center’s pond. And back in the late 1980s, volunteers built the 6,000 square-foot lodge that is now home to the Bear Creek Nature Center today.

As for tourists, on any given day the Center receives its share of visitors from those who wander off the beaten path or decide to extend their hike from Cochran Mill Park, 8

Chattahoochee Hills Mayor Tom Reed presents a $10,000 donation to Bear Creek Nature Center Director Norma Lewis and Board Member Ray Hannah in support of the Center’s environmental programs and exhibits for tourists and residents. which adjoins the property. Once there, first-time visitors discover many reasons for returning, including the Center's environmental exhibits and education, and outdoor recreation areas ideal for family picnics, larger gatherings, or day hikes.

The Center’s special events also attract large crowds including families with children and seniors alike. Reptile Rally offers a day to meet and learn about native and exotic reptiles, amphibians, and insect species. Children especially love the hands-on experience of petting the Center’s resident snakes, under the supervision of expert staff and volunteers. Batstravaganza offers workshops to learn about bat habitats and build a bat house. Many families make a day of this popular event, bringing a picnic lunch to enjoy after a nature hike, and then borrowing a canoe to paddle around the Center’s pond.

But it is the Center’s park, trails, and exhibits that made it possible for the City of Chattahoochee Hills to make its generous donation. In 2008, the Georgia legislation authorized the use of a limited amount of the hotel-motel tax revenue for capital projects and operations costs helpful or necessary to attract tourism. Of the 7% tax Chatt Hills collects on hotel/motel stays, 39.30% is restricted and must be spent on Tourism Product Development as listed by the State. Up to date, the City has spent some of those funds on wayfinding signs, park improvements, exhibit space at city hall, and the Chatt Hills Barn Quilt Trail. When Bear Creek Nature Center asked if the City could offer support, the city manager confirmed it qualified in the Tourism Product Development list. A recommendation was then sent to the city council and unanimously approved for the $10,000 donation.

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The Center's 6,000 square-foot lodge was constructed by volunteers in the 1980s and adorned with a barn quilt by volunteers in 2021.

Above: Volunteers from the Serenbe Landscape Committee and The Art Farm at Serenbe help restore the Pollinator Garden.

Below: The pond boardwalk was restored by volunteers in 2021.

The Center offers live exhibits, special events, and a park and trails, meeting the State’s requirements BEAR CREEK NATURE CENTER Conservation, Education, Community Location:

Phone: Website: Facebook: Hours: Admission:

6300 Cochran Mill Rd. Chattahoochee Hills, GA 30268 770-306-0914 www.bearcreeknaturecenter.org www.facebook.com/bearcreekATL Tuesday-Saturday, 11 AM – 4 PM $2 per vehicle. $3 per person aged 3 and up.

Check Facebook for changes in dates and times.

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Chatt Hills Community Outreach Special Events Sponsorship The City of Chattahoochee Hills hosts a variety of special events throughout the year, coordinated by the Chatt Hills Community Outreach (CHCO) initiative. The City shares a common goal with CHCO to offer events that foster camaraderie and help build a strong community by connecting residents with each other, city services, and local businesses.

Our FREE special events would not be possible without the support and partnership of volunteers, local community businesses, and organizations.

We invite you to join us in supporting our 2022 line-up of special events.

As a sponsor of our special events, we will acknowledge you in our promotional material and offer a half-page ad in our municipal monthly newsletter. You will receive a letter to share with your accountant as a qualified deduction for 2022 tax return to the Internal Renenue Service.

Sponsorship Opportunities Harvest Festival October 15 at Town Green

Christmas in Chatt Hills December 3 at City Hall For more information contact: Robert Rokovitz, City Manager, robbie.rokovitz@chatthillsga.us 770.463.8881 or Ruby Foster, ruby.foster@chatthillsga.us - Chatt Hills Community Outreach

Thanks to our Community Outreach Sponsor!

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OUR COMMUNITY Reptile Rally Attracts Crowds of Enthusiasts Mother Nature cleared the overnight storms and brightened the sky with glorious sunshine to create a picture-perfect day for the Reptile Rally at Bear Creek Nature Center on June 25.

More than 400 family members and nature enthusiasts attended the event, which promised animal encounters, games & activities, balloon animals, face painting, hikes & canoe rides, crafts, food, and the main attraction – reptiles.

Throughout the day, volunteers and partners created quite the fashion statement by wearing or carrying a variety of docile reptiles. Guests were invited to touch or pet the reptiles while hosts offered information.

The lodge’s main room featured a wide variety of live snakes, lizards, and turtles. Partners from Georgia reptile groups shared their enthusiasm and knowledge about each reptile, as children visited each station as part of a scavenger hunt.

Outside on the back deck, curious families gathered for the educational talk, “Choose a Reptile Fit for Your Family.”

As if to say, “Pick me, pick me,” a large turtle sauntered around the main area, stealing the show. The presenter, an expert in her own right with over 70 reptile pets of her own, cautioned families that they should consider the adult size and life span of a reptile when making a choice for a pet.

On other parts of the campus, visitors enjoyed canoe rides and close encounters with the many turtles in the pond. Children enjoyed the many crafts, and families gathered at the picnic area to enjoy the tasty offerings by the truck vendors, Snacks on the Go, and Me Lumpia Long Time.

Bear Creek Nature Center reported that Reptile Rally was a huge success. They thank the visitors that attended, their many volunters, board of directors, and staff that planned and worked the event, and the vendors and parters that supported the event including: Georgia Herpetological Association and Rescue, Georgia Reptile Society, Me Lumpia Long Time, Tim and Chris Smith, The Snacks on the Go. For more information on Bear Creek Nature Center visit: www.bearcreeknaturecenter.org

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EVENTS

Sat & Sun, 2:00pm - 5:00pm Weekend Wine Flights at The Wine Shop at Serenbe 9135 Selborne Lane, Chattahoochee Hills, GA

Saturdays in July, 2022 | 9:00am - 1:00pm Farmers Market

July - October 29, 2022 Saturdays, 9am-1pm, Selborne Green in Serenbe Serenbe Farmers Market is proud to bring Chatt Hills residents and visitors the best local produce, meats, prepared foods, and artisans.

The mission of the Serenbe Farmers Market is to support the development of the local agricultural economy and to provide a platform in which to support small businesses to sell their products. Serenbe Farmers Market offers a variety of healthy food and artisan goods on a large green space surrounded by magnificent tall trees, giving you an immunity boost that you just won’t find in an asphalt parking lot.

If you’re interested in becoming a Serenbe Farmers Market vendor, CLICK HERE to read the guidelines and apply.

Excited to announce Weekend Wine Flights at the wine shop! Each week 3 new wines will be featured and paired with light bites. Served Saturday and Sunday, 2-5pm, $30 per person, no ticket or reservation needed. Stop by and see us!

Sat , 4:00pm Wine Tastings at the General Store

10642 Serenbe Lane, Chattahoochee Hills, GA 30268 Join me to taste wines from around the globe every Saturday $35/person with tasting notes and small bites.

Please email nadine@generalstoreatserenbe.com with any questions.

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EVENTS

July 13, 6:30pm - 10:30pm "Movies that Made Me" Series Halsa, 11090 Serenbe Ln, Chattahoochee Hills, GA 30268 Tickets $15 - $55: https://bit.ly/3O6KC1T Movie Only: 15$ Dinner and a movie: $55

July 9, 7:30pm Barnaby Bright WILD FERN RANCH 12000 Hutchesons Ferry Rd, Palmetto, GA 30268 Tickets $30: https://bit.ly/3xpdP0B Becky and Nathan Bliss make up the critically-acclaimed duo Barnaby Bright and have accumulated a dedicated following that feeds on the group’s ability to spin storytelling into sonic treasures. Nathan’s melodic acoustic guitar finger tapping and Becky’s effortless soaring vocals over her hypnotic harmonium push the boundaries of today’s indie folk landscape. The couple has received the grand prize at NYC’s prestigious Songwriter’s Circle, taken home “Best Music Video” awards from multiple film festivals, have been elected to Amazon’s Top 100 Albums of the Year, and most recently were hailed in the New York Times Top 20 Christmas Albums of the Year.

Art Farm at Serenbe proudly presents the first in their new series "Movies That Made Me," films presented by industry professionals about movies that shaped their lives.

Come spend this evening with Wes Chatham (actor, writer, producer) as we watch and discuss one of the greatest cinematic films of all time, the 1981 classic movie from Stephen Spielberg and Harrison Ford, Raiders of the Lost Ark. Movie ticket includes admission, a glass of wine or beer, and lavender popcorn.

-Those individuals purchasing the "Movie Only" option should arrive at 8:00 pm.

Additional Dinner and a Movie Option: Start your evening with a fantastic prix fixe menu curated by Chef Nic and Chef Demetrius, featuring new seasonal items complete with your choice of an appetizer, entrée, and dessert. This option also includes admission to the movie, a free drink (Beer/wine), and popcorn for your enjoyment.

Dinner will begin at 6:30 pm.

Please note this will be family-style seating.

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Arts Section July Selections from Hills & Hamlets Bookshop and Underground Books: Hills & Hamlets Bookshop is a charming neighborhood bookstore in the Serenbe development of Chattahoochee Hills and was founded by the couple behind Underground Books in Carrollton.

Hills & Hamlets Bookshop is open Thursdays through Sundays from 11am to 5pm, and we’re open 24/7 online at www.bookshop.org/shop/undergroundbooks and www. bookshop.org/shop/undergroundbooks and info@hillsandhamlets.com.

New in Fiction: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin In this exhilarating novel by the best-selling author of The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry, two friends—often in love, but never lovers—come together as creative partners in the world of video game design, where success brings them fame, joy, tragedy, duplicity, and, ultimately, a kind of immortality. Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a dazzling and intricately imagined novel that examines the multifarious nature of identity, disability, failure, the redemptive possibilities in play, and above all, our need to connect: to be loved and to love. Yes, it is a love story, but it is not one you have read before. A limited number of signed copies are available in-store only!

Buy online: https://bookshop.org/a/45/9780593321201 New in Paperback Nonfiction: How to Catch a Mole by Marc Hamer In this charming, peaceful memoir, a traditional molecatcher shares the mysterious tricks of his trade, alongside poignant moments from his personal life, including his experience as a homeless teenager, his work as a professional gardener, and all that he has learned about our own humanity from a life spent outdoors. Beautifully written, life-affirming, and highly original, How to Catch a Mole offers a gorgeous portrait of one man's deep, unbreakable bond with his natural surroundings, and offers hope and inspiration for anyone looking to improve their relationship with the natural world.

Buy online: https://bookshop.org/a/45/9781771649940 New in Young Adult: Our Crooked Hearts by Melissa Albert Secrets. Lies. Super-bad choices. Witchcraft. This is Our Crooked Hearts, a darkly gripping contemporary fantasy rom Melissa Albert, the New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood about 17-year-old Ivy in the suburbs facing a string of increasingly unsettling events now and her mother Dana in the city when she was a teen in the midst of a heady fling with the supernatural. Years after it began, Ivy and Dana's shared story will come down to a reckoning among a daughter, a mother, and the dark forces they never should’ve messed with. A limited number of signed copies are available in-store only!

Buy online: https://bookshop.org/a/45/9781250826367

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Arts Section

Adrienne Anbinder

Ann Jackson

Robert Lederman

Judy Walker

Eileen Wilson

Gail Foster

GW Harper

Mary H Johnson

Brandon Murphy

Ken Shepard

Julie McKinney

Logynn B Ferrall

Malinda Lively

Greg Blount

Tom Swanston

Wanda Hughes

Vinayak Godbole

Renae RD Simmons Walker

Karin Slaton

Morgan Boszilkov

Adrienne Anbinder, Malinda Lively-Arnold, Greg Blount, Morgan Boszilkov, Logynn B Ferrall, Gail Foster, Vinayak Godbole, GW Harper, Wanda Hughes, Ann Jackson, Mary H Johnson, Robert Lederman, Julie McKinney, Brandon Murphy, Ken Shepard, Karin Slaton, Tom Swanston, Judy Walker, Renae “R.D. Simmons” Walker, and Eileen Wilson 9057 Selborne Lane & Paint Space, 10625 Serenbe Lane Unit A.

www.chatthillsgalleryserenbe.com CHATT HILLS NEWS - JULY 2022 - SUBSCRIBE TO CHATT HILLS NEWS

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Memorials

FRANKLIN COOK March 21, 1933 - May 28, 2022

CLARA MAE CLARK MCELREATH March 15, 1927 - June 7, 2022

Mr. Franklin D. Cook, age 89, of Fairburn, Georgia passed away Saturday, May 28, 2022. He served for the Atlanta Police Department for 35 years and rose to the rank of Major. After retiring he went to work at Bouckaert Farms, in Fairburn, GA, as the farm manager. Frank was also a GA Mason for over 60 years. He is preceded in death by his son, Larry Cook. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Pauline Cook; daughter, Laurie Cook of Newnan, GA; daughter-inlaw, Deborah Cook of Carrollton, GA; grandchildren, Jason Cook (Whitney), Melissa Cook; great-grandchildren, Abigail Cook, Willow Cook, Rexton Cowart; and special friend, Clay Culpepper. Frank never met a stranger and knew all about someone soon after they met. He loved to hunt, fish, garden, and spend time with his family and friends. A graveside service was held at Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 1:00 pm at Holly Hill Memorial Park with Chaplain Adrian Neely officiating.

Sign the online guestbook at www. parrottfuneralhome.com. The family would like to express their sincere thanks to Touching Hearts Care Givers and Brightmoor Hospice. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Can’t Never Could, Inc., a nonprofit for assisting people facing cancer.

Send donations to www.e.givesmart. com/events/pcy/.

Mrs. Clara Mae Clark McElreath of Fairburn passed away June 7, 2022.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Calvin George McElreath and is survived by her daughters, Venice Hall and her husband Ron of College Park; Betty Teal and her husband Robert of Fairburn; son, David McElreath and his wife Kim of Fairburn; grandchildren, Missy; Jennifer; Tara; Keri; Nick and Jacy; great grandchildren, Erica; Alec; Will; Tyler; Maren; Kayson; Nathan; Aiden; Emilee; Addi; Brooklynn and Paisley and great, great grandchildren, Jasper and Iris.

A graveside service was held Thursday, June 9, 2022 at 2 o’clock at Holly Hill Memorial Park with Rev. Mike Emeott and Mr. Troy Winslett officiating. In lieu of flowers those desiring may make donations to Southwest Christian Care, 7225 Lester Rd., Union City, GA 30291. Those wishing may sign the online guestbook at www.parrottfuneralhome.com. Parrott Funeral Home and Crematory, 770964-4800.

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VIRGINIA BUSEY BRYANT JARRARD April 21, 1930 - June 7, 2022 Mrs. Virginia Busey Bryant Jarrard, age 92, of Palmetto, GA, passed away Tuesday, June 7, 2022. She is preceded in death by her first husband, Boyd J. Bryant; second husband, Charles L. Jarrard; parents, William Busey, Sr. and Mattie Peeler Busey; brothers, William Busey, Jr. and Alton Busey.

She is survived by her daughter, Lynn Griffies (Pat) of Newnan, GA; sons, Rick Bryant (Jan) of Douglasville, GA, Ron Bryant (Theresa) of Douglasville, GA, William “Bill” Bryant (Nesha) of Palmetto, GA; grandchildren, Melissa Barnett (Paul), Richard “Scott” Bryant (Sey), Cory Rumbaugh (Caleb), Joshua Bryant (Felicia), David Wright (Jennifer Goodson), Michael Bryant, Jacob Bryant, Latisha Reed, Jessica Griffies; 10 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews. A funeral service was held Friday, June 10, 2022 at 11:00 at the Chapel of Parrott Funeral Home with Pastor Mike Emeott officiating. Interment will followed at Melwood Cemetery, 5170 E. Ponce de Leon, Stone Mountain, GA 30083. Those wishing may sign the online guestbook at www. parrottfuneralhome.com. The family will receive friends Friday morning from 10:00 until the time of service at Parrott Funeral Home and Crematory, 770-964-4800.

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Community

OUR CHURCHES Campbellton Baptist Church 8660 Campbellton Fairburn Rd

Providence Baptist Church 6402 Campbellton Redwine Rd www.pbcrico.org

Friendship Baptist Church 6090 Cochran Mill Rd www.friendshipbaptistchatthills.com

Rico United Methodist Church 6475 Rico Rd

Interfaith Fellowship at Serenbe www.facebook.com/ groups/1964824926878340/

Rivertown United Methodist Church 9325 Rivertown Rd

New Hope United Methodist Church 7875 Atlanta Newnan Rd

Sardis Baptist Church 8400 Sardis Rd www.sardisbaptistch.com

Southside at Serenbe 915AM & 11AM at One Mado. We'd love for you to join us and invite your friends and family! If you have questions contact Cathy Gailey at cgailey@ remax.net or 404-456-6347.

Southern Crescent Unitarian Universalist Fellowship www.facebook.com/SouthernCrescentUUFellowship/ Vernon Grove Baptist Church 8440 Vernon Grove Rd.

Sardis Baptist Church We would like to invite you to join us on Monday Evening July 18th at 6:30pm for your Ironmen Fellowship Dinner. We will just enjoy spending time together with good friends, good food, and a good Word. We will have a guest to share with us about different things going on around us. Now this is open to every man in the community, young and old. Father's bring your sons. Son's bring your Dads.

This month we'll be having Fried Chicken with the fixings.

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City Government Update on Sanitation Services Available in Chatt Hills

By Laurie Searle

We have good news to report on Sanitation Services available in Chatt Hills.

In addition to learning that Worldwide Sanitation Services has announced they are once again operational and accepting customers in Chatt Hills, we followed up on another suggestion and learned about a nearby Convenience Center our residents can use.

Camp Road Convenience Center (Operated by Douglas County) is very close to the west side of Chatt Hills.

It's located in the Fairplay community on Camp Road, just south of GA Hwy 166, and near the intersection of Georgia Highway 166 and Post Road.

We called the center to ask if residents outside of Douglas County could use the facility, and they said YES! The center accepts residential-only refuse and limited recycle items. Fees are $7 per load without recycle items,

Art Room Renovation at City Hall Update The HVAC system, donated by Ken McNeese, was installed by Ken Hose, electrician, Scott Grey of Chatt Hills Heating & Air. Now the room will get a facelift!

The Chatt Hills Artist Co-op Inc. (CHAC) is organizing this fundraiser. We are member-supported and consists of The Chatt Hills Gallery at Serenbe and The Paint Space.

After attaining nonprofit designation in 2018, we immediately embarked on a mission to help Chattahoochee Hills residents explore their creativity and express their own voices through art.

Your tax-deductible financial contribution can make all the difference. The completed renovation will provide an artistic space that will offer a variety of art classes and workshops for Chattahoochee Hills residents.

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or $5 per load with recycle items. Cash only, and exact payment is preferred.

The maximum size load allowed is a pick-up truck bed loaded evenly with the top of the bed. No trailers are allowed at this facility. Large loads have to go to the landfill.

No commercial disposal is allowed, and no construction/demolition or vegetative waste is accepted at this location. Recycle items accepted are mixed paper and aluminum cans.

Phone: 770-920-7190. Hours: Monday-Friday, Noon-6:00 pm, and Saturday from 8:00 am - 5:00 p.m.

The Informational Document is attached and has been updated on the City's Website and is on the home page and at this link: https://cms3.revize.com/revize/chattahoochhillsga/Sanitation%20Services(061422).pdf Please share this news with your neighbors.

And please let me know if you are aware of elderly or house-bound residents who had their sanitation service cancelled and are in need of a helping hand while they select another provider.

Just $10,000 to go! We can do it! https://donorbox. org/chattahoochee-hills-city-art-room-renovation

let’s vote

9057 Selborne Lane | Chatt Hills GA 30268 | www.chatthillsgallery.com | admin@chatthillsgalleryserenbe.com

DONATE HERE

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City Government DISTRICT 3 SUPER STARS We have so many “do-gooders” in District 3 that we often take for granted the number of super stars that go that extra mile by giving of themselves through volunteerism, community building, or supporting our city. But the stars shone brightly on June 7, when three of our stars were formally recognized at the city council meeting.

KAY LONG, a long-time resident of the Rico Community, was recognized for her years of dedication to her church, community, and the city.

As a member of Providence Baptist Church, Kay has shared her wellness experience by offering CPR classes over the years, which has also extended to her Community Emergency Response Training (CERT), as she and her husband Pat stand at-theready to help our community in the event of emergencies. But perhaps Kay’s most notable gift to the church and the community is the incredible display she creates on Memorial Day and Veterans Day to honor veterans.

She decorates the inside of the church with her extensive collection of military memorability, places crosses on the church's front yard, and lines the road in front of the church with small American flags.

Kay’s dedication to the community pre-dates the formation of the city.

Before city hall was established in the building at 6505 Rico Rd, that building served as a Fulton County Recreation Center, offering a smorgasbord of arts & crafts classes, afternoon school programs, and community functions led by paid staff and volunteers. Kay worked part-time there when the Rec-

reation Center first opened, and then continued her support with volunteers and Community Brickworks over the years.

Kay was recognized for her support of the city in the three different rolls she has played. As a volunteer, she and her family often prepare and deliver full meals to city staff and to the Community Brickworks-sponsored community luncheons. As an employee at the Chattahoochee Hills Charter School, she has served as the school nurse and has also been instrumental setting up a music program, together with her husband and the school’s staff. And most notably, as a long-time member of the Chattahoochee Hills Parks Commission, Kay took special interest in supporting Rico Park, a family legacy that was established by her father when she was a child. Mayor Reed said he had been proud to recommend Kay’s appointment to the Parks Commission, and after she served one term, he encouraged her to stay on, and on, and on – until finally she asked to

Mayor Reed recognizes Kay Long for her years of dedication to Chattahoochee Hills. retire from the commission to spend more time with her family and to allow others to serve on the commission.

We thank Kay Long for her patriotism and for her long-time service to Chattahoochee Hills.

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City Government PROCLAMATION BISHOP SHIRLEY WRIGHT COTTON WHEREAS, because of the many important contributions that Bishop Shirley Wright Cotton, Senior Pastor and General Overseer of the Pentecostal Churches of God, Fairburn Mission, has made to the residents and neighbors of this community, she is deserving of special recognition; and WHEREAS, Bishop Cotton loved her family and served with a fervent spirit of long suffering.

WHEREAS, Bishop Cotton’s spiritual journey began at the Pentecostal Church of God, Fairburn Mission in what is now Chattahoochee Hills, where she was ordained in 1979 as District Missionary and later consecrated as a Gospel Minister and Elder; and WHEREAS, prior to becoming pastor at Pentecostal Church of God, Fairburn Mission, Bishop Cotton served as Vice President of the Missionary Department Association and a Minister and Secretary of the Minister’s Council of the Northeastern District #109 for Church of God by Faith of Newark, NJ; and WHEREAS, Bishop Cotton was known to many as “A Woman of Destiny” who mentored and trained countless leaders, marketplace ministers, executives, chaplains, dignitaries, and the laity; and WHEREAS, during her time as a faith leader, Bishop Cotton served as a leader in various roles and activities in Chattahoochee Hills and around the world, including: founding member of the Georgia Chapter of the American Clergy Leadership Conference, former President of Southside Ministerial Association, former Chaplain, Fulton County, Georgia Sheriff’s Office under the Honorable Sheriff Jackie Barrett, former Member of the Ministerial Alliance under the Honorable City of Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, Member,

Georgia Executive Committee, Member, Concerned Black Clergy, Delegate, 2001 NGO Forum of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, Certified Counselor, Atlanta’s Council on Battered Women, and Ambassador for Peace, Universal Peace Federation; and WHEREAS, Bishop Cotton was a champion for many issues impacting, and conducted many outreaches to improve the quality of life of, citizens of rural communities like ours, including hosting seminars and workshops on health and wellness, financial literacy, education, etiquette, and international relations; and WHEREAS, Bishop Cotton was a great community leader, has caused a deep void of sadness in the community marked by her passing on Saturday, March 12, 2022.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, I, Tom Reed, Mayor of the City of Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia, do hereby posthumously recognize and honor Bishop Shirley Wright Cotton for her 43 years of spiritual leadership and lifelong commitment to faith, good works, and service to our community and her valued contributions to the City of Chattahoochee Hills.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City of Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia to be affixed this 7 th day of June, 2022.

Bear Creek Nature Center was honored by the City with a grant to support tourism. See page 8.

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City Government COMCAST INTERNET – GOOD NEWS ON THE HORIZON FOR CHATT HILLS

By Laurie Searle

Mayor Tom Reed shared the following update at the June 2nd City Council work session. While an official public announcement by the city may be coming soon, I received permission to share the transcript from the meeting’s ZOOM Recording.

[Mayor Tom Reed said] Charter Communications was seen putting cable in Chattahoochee Hills recently. We followed up with the State and learned that Charter has recently been granted the license under the Federal Rural Broadband Act (See the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF). They’ve been authorized funds to fund high-speed internet, which ends up being about two-thirds of our city.

The way the mapping works is kind of silly, but long story short is a about two-thirds of the city is programmed to get high-speed internet, and the deadline for that service is 5 years from now.

It turns out though, that the government services rep from Charter is someone I know, and I called her spoke to her for a while and we’ll be meeting next week.

There are a couple of grants out there that would really help them to have the city be a co-applicant on. Some of those might help get funding in here sooner and will also help us fill in those gaps that aren’t in the Federal program.

She sounds very committed to trying to do what she can to lever up what they are already doing. The fact that they are already putting in wires (in our city) means they probably are not going to take 5 years anyway. I don’t know the answer yet, but I may know by Tuesday what their current plan is, and we’ll also have a plan for filling in the gaps between locations where they are already commitment and where they aren’t.

One of the things she wasn’t aware of was the development plans down here. In the same way Fulton County is running (sewer) services to our development nodes in anticipation, because they make a lot of money from that

stuff when it comes, they (Charter) would also be interested in running those bigger (internet) pipes to them (the development nodes.) Again, with the Federal funding, they can kind of write off doing the stuff in-between, which is something AT&T had not been doing yet.

So, some good news, but no (official) public announcements ahead of schedule.

There is a map based on where there is service and no service. We (the city) just signed an MOU to get a map of every house that doesn’t have service, so we can go to Charter and say, if you’re running service here, run it across the street too, where there is no service.

As a follow-up, I asked Mayor Reed if a map was available showing the two-thirds of Chatt Hills scheduled to receive Comcast high-speed internet over the next five years. That map is available at: RDOF Auction 904 Update App (Winners, Authorized, Defaults) - Updated 5/12/2022 (arcgis.com) (Click on RDOF Fully Authorized in the left column, and then zoom into see Chattahoochee Hills.)

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City Government Georgia Environmental Protection Division Announces Annual Ban on Open Burning Beginning May 1, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) open burning ban went into effect for 54 Georgia counties. The open burning ban has been in place during the summer ozone season since 2005.

The ban prohibits citizens and businesses from burning yard and land-clearing debris during the summer ozone season, which runs from May 1 through September 30.

This is in addition to the rule that prohibits the burning of household garbage. Burning household garbage is never allowed anywhere in Georgia. Recreational activities such as campfires and grilling are exempt from the open burning ban.

“We typically see air quality issues in Georgia during the summer because the hot weather helps to create ground-level ozone,” said Karen Hays, Chief of the EPD Air Protection Branch. “Ozone pollution can cause inflammation of the lungs and can lead to other health-related issues. Smoke from fires contains fine particles that can aggravate asthma and chronic heart diseases.”

Citizens can access more information on the open burning ban by visiting https://epd.georgia.gov/air-protection-branch/open-burning-rules-georgia, or by calling the EPD District Office serving their area.

Counties included in the ban and contact information for the corresponding EPD District Office are as follows: • Mountain District Office (Atlanta): 404-362-2671 Carroll, Clayton, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Heard, Henry, Rockdale, and Spalding counties.

• Northeast District Office (Athens): 706-369-6376 Banks, Barrow, Butts, Clarke, Hall, Jackson, Jasper, Madison, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Putnam, and Walton counties.

• East Central District Office (Augusta): 706-667-4343 Columbia and Richmond counties.

• West Central District Office (Macon): 478-751-6612 Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones, Lamar, Monroe, Peach, Pike, Twiggs, Upson, Meriwether, and Troup counties.

• Mountain District Office (Cartersville): 770-387-4900 Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Dawson, Floyd, Forsyth, Gordon, Haralson, Lumpkin, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, and Walker counties.

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For more information about alternatives to burning, such as composting and chipping, please visit https://epd.georgia. gov/air-protection-branch/open-burning-rules-georgia/ alternatives-burning.

Debris can also be hauled to a commercial processing/ grinding/composting operation or to an inert or construction and demolition landfill. For a list of landfills in your area, please call EPD’s Solid Waste Management Program at 404-362-2692 and/or visit the Land Protection Branch website for more details: http://epd.georgia.gov/land-protection-branch.

Some Georgia counties and cities have burning restrictions that are more stringent than the EPD open burning ban. EPD recommends that citizens check with their local Fire Marshall before conducting any burning.

Open Burning After the Burn Ban Ends For citizens seeking to burn hand-piled, natural vegetation collected onsite (e.g., yard debris and leaf piles) after the EPD open burning ban concludes, the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) no longer requires permits for this activity. Instead, the following five safety precautions are required: 1. Burn location must be no less than 25 feet from any woodlands, forestland or field that contains brush, grass, or other flammable material.

2. Burn location must be no less than 50 feet from structures, which includes homes, outbuildings, sheds, and barns.

3. Burning must take place between sunrise and sunset.

4. Person responsible must attend burning at all times until the fire is completely extinguished and there is no risk for burning to escape control.

5. Person responsible must take reasonable and necessary precautions to prevent fire escape or spread from the original location.

GFC Permits for any other types of burning (e.g., silviculture, agriculture, and land-clearing) should be obtained by contacting your county GFC office. You can find your county GFC office here: https://gatrees.org/about/county-contacts/.

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City Government COMMUNITY BRICKWORKS UPDATE Lisa Remley, from Community Brickworks, shared the following update with the mayor and city council, and asked that we, in turn, share with our constituents.

I am writing to let you know that we have some changes coming to our Community Brickworks organization.

As of July 1, after over five years as our fearless leader, Carla Carrabino is stepping into a new role. She will still be on our board, but will be in charge of the food bank and will be pet liaison for Coco’s Cupboard. Jane Strickland, who has put in thousands of hours as Library Director, will be retiring from the board. You will still see Jane, but as a library volunteer. These women have given both their hearts and their time to keep the memory of Judy Henderson alive at Brickworks. They have helped to grow the organization into what it is now. We know that Judy would be proud of what they have accomplished.

Nan McGuffey will step into the role of Library Director.

Nan has been a volunteer, working tirelessly with Jane to “clean up and clean out” our library. She is very excited to start her new role and has already put summer programs in motion. I will attempt to fill Carla’s shoes as Chairperson, and will be in charge of Community Outreach for our organization.

As you know, Brickworks has grown substantially over the last few years. Thanks to the generosity of the people of Chatt Hills, we are now able to offer much more than we could in years past. What we are asking of you, as representatives of the people you serve, is to help us help your constituents.

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free? In addition, there is a Little Red Library outside the library with free reading material for kids to keep.

The library has computers with wifi that are free to use during library hours?

The library provides classes? Just let us know what class you would like to see or lead, and we will try to make it happen. We have a GOT CAUGHT READING summer reading program starting June 7 for preschool and school-age kids.

We partner with Coco’s Cupboard to help the city humanely re-home stray dogs in our area?

We provide sign-ups for Chatt Hills Little League and provide funding to cover registration fees for families in need?

We give annual donations to other 501C3s that are doing important work in our area? Last year we gave to the Chatt Hills Artist Co-op to remodel the room in city hall for use as an art space for our citizens.

Please share with your constituents all that we provide, but also let us know what more you would like for us to be involved in. Brickworks is here to serve the people in our area, but we depend on you to get the word out to those in your districts who might need us.

Lisa Remley Community Brickworks CommunityBrickworks.org

Do your constituents know that: • We have a food bank that offers both monthly food and once yearly emergency assistance to families? This summer we are offering bags of non-perishable lunch items twice monthly for families with kids at home. We also have milk vouchers to use at Smith's Grocery and Piggly Wiggly for free gallons of milk for the kids.

• We provide Christmas shopping for kids? We pair families to shop with families in need to provide gifts under the tree. All is done with elf-like secrecy. Last year we served over 100 kids.

• The library is restocking shelves with current reading material, both fiction and nonfiction, to check out for CHATT HILLS NEWS - JULY 2022 - SUBSCRIBE TO CHATT HILLS NEWS

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Community

Community Brickworks 6505 Rico Rd., Chatt Hills, GA 30268, 770-463-6600

BRICKWORKS REPORT

Our summer is busy at Community Brickworks!

Food Bank We are giving nonperishable items to our food bank clients so that kids can make lunch themselves. Clients may receive biweekly supplies for their kids in addition to their monthly food bank groceries. The lunch program will end when school begins. We are also partnering with Southside Church to provide back packs and school supplies to our area kids. Come by in August for supplies and backpacks for your school-age children.

Library The GOT CAUGHT READING program is in full swing with Nan McGuffy at the helm. There are 14 children enjoying stories and projects every Tuesday from 10-11 a.m. Thanks to our volunteers for making sure the program runs seamlessly. Remember that families can check out books and

Jane Strickland 24

Carla Carrabino

DVDs free of charge at the library! M,T,Th. 12-6 p.m.

Are you a homeschooler? Would you like to meet other homeschoolers at the library for some together time with other kids? Give us a call or post on our FB page to find other homeschoolers in the area interested in meeting.

Chatt Hills Community Library and Food Pantry on FB. Chatt Hills Library (770) 463-6600 (just leave a message for Nan).

Thank you to some wonderful volunteers from Community Brickworks We would like to thank our own Carla Carrabino for her years of service as the fearless leader of Community Brickworks. Carla is now following her true loves! She is stepping into the role of Brickworks liaison to Coco’s Cupboard, helping to secure safe homes for stray dogs found in our community. You will continue to see Carla’s smiling face as head of the food pantry on Wednesday afternoons.

Carla has been a guiding force for our organization. We are glad she is still on board to help us navigate the coming years.

We would also like to thank Jane Strickland for her many years as head of the Library. Jane stepped down from that position on June 1st and will now be enjoying her time as a volunteer at the library. Jane has been an integral part of modernizing our library in the past few years. We don’t know what we would have done without her!

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City Government Chattahoochee Hill Is No Stranger to the Film and Tourism Industry Many of you who live, work, play and drive around Chattahoochee Hills have encountered some roadway closures and detours while also witnessing a lot of vehicles and equipment lining the roadways. This is because our City, like many other Georgia jurisdictions, is very popular with the film industry. And the film and television industries are very popular with the State of Georgia since they generate over $10 billion a year. But the economic impacts extend much further.

Countless jobs are created in the process. Everything from electricians and lighting to stage construction and real estate. There's a reason why the entertainment industry in Georgia is attracting a record number of productions. In Georgia, you'll find one of the most competitive tax incentive programs in the country, along with a broad network of production and recording facilities, a large and skilled workforce, the latest production equipment and suppliers, gaming and interactive media developers, and technology and support services.

Robert T. Rokovitz, MPA, ICMA-CM

The use of city streets, sidewalks, parks, right-of-way, or any other Cityowned property by a movie, television, advertising, or Production Company filming in the City shall be permitted through the City’s Community Development Department. Over the last year, the City has permitted over 17 film productions which include movies, television series and streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu. Some of the titles of these films/TV shows include: Emergency, MacGyver, Long Slow Exhale, Heels, Secret Headquarters, Summer Break, Dog Gone, Ozark, Continental Tires, The Out-Laws, Class of ‘09, Carousel, Amazon Yellow, Grasshopper, Road Trip, and Heels, and Innocent. The fees associated with permitting these activities were close to $30,000.

While many of these films take place on private property, many of them require City resources for traffic control, fire and life safety approvals, right of way use consent, and a lot of administrative time and effort to facilitate the permitting process. The City has done this with the current staff level and has not added any new employees to address this increase in demand on City services.

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Action Minutes ~ Regular Meeting of the Mayor and Council City of Chatt Hills June 7, 2022 / 6:00 p.m.

City Government Call to Order Members present: Reed, Foster, Schmidt, Searle, Lowe Member(s) absent: Bettis Review and Approval of Agenda Amended as follows: 1. Add Agenda Item No. 22-027, approval to give the Mayor authority to sign the agreement to hire Smith Welch Webb & White to represent the city in the Local Option Sales Tax negotiations.

2. Add Agenda Item No. 22-028, approval to increase the purchase price of Public Works Ford F150 to $35,300 Passed 4-0

2.

2.

3.

Approval of Minutes 1. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of May 3, 2022 Passed 4-0 Presentations / Proclamations 1. Recognition of Kay Long for her service on the Parks Commission 2. Proclamation recognizing Bishop Shirley Wright Cotton Staff Reports Financial Update: Robbie Rokovitz Fire Department Report: Greg Brett Police Department Report: Jim Little Public Works/Parks Report: Darold Wendlandt Community Development Report: Mike Morton

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Public Hearing 1. Item 22-015: Public Hearing on an Ordinance to Adopt the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget for Each Fund of the City of Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia Appropriating the Amounts Shown in Each Budget as Expenditures, Adopting the Several Items of Revenue Anticipations, Prohibiting Expenditures to Exceed Appropriations, and Prohibiting Expenditures to Exceed Actual Funding Available. No action taken.

5.

Unfinished Business (None) 3.

New Business 1. Item 22-016: Resolution to initiate an amendment to the Charter of the City of Chattahoochee Hills amend26

4.

ing Section 2.07 changing the compensation of the Mayor and each City Council Member. Passed 4-0 Item 22-017: Ordinance to amend the Charter of the City of Chattahoochee Hills amending Section 2.07 changing the compensation of the Mayor and each City Council Member. No action taken.

Item 22-018: Resolution accepting the dedication of certain rights of way in the Estates at Cedar Grove.

Passed 4-0 Item 22-019: Ordinance to amend the Charter of the City of Chattahoochee Hills, so as to amend the Corporate Limits of the City of Chattahoochee Hills by annexing property under the 100% method and so as to amend the Voting Districts of the City of Chattahoochee Hills and to amend the Zoning District of the City of Chattahoochee Hills; and for other purposes – the property is 5.04 acres on White Oak Trail in Coweta County. No action taken.

Item 22-020: Ordinance for a variance to the minimum depth of required buffers in the HM-MU (Mixed-Use Hamlet) District – the request is to reduce the required minimum district buffer from 150 feet to 50 feet for 5.04 acres on White Oak Trail in Coweta County. No action taken.

Item 22-021: Ordinance for a variance to the limitations on the location of accessory structures in the RL (Rural) District – the request is to allow an accessory structure in the first layer (front yard) at 8440 Hearn Road. No action taken.

Item 22-022: Ordinance for a variance to the limitations on the location of accessory structures in the HM-MU (Mixed-Use Hamlet) District – the request is to allow an accessory structure in the first layer (front yard) at 44 Swann Ridge. No action taken.

Item 22-023: Ordinance for a variance to the limitations on the number of entrances to farmette subdivisions in the RL (Rural) District – the request is to allow multiple farmette lots to have individual driveways connecting directly to the public road for property located at 12575 Hutcheson Ferry Road and 12200 Hutcheson Ferry Road. No action taken.

Item 22-024: Agreement for electrical services for a well serving Rico United Methodist Church. Passed 4-0 Item 22-025: Consideration of a proposal for Chat-

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5.

6.

7.

tahoochee Hills RiverLands Park master planning

by Pond & Company for an amount not to exceed $14,500. Passed 4-0 Item 22-026: Resolution approving a donation to Bear Creek Nature Center in the amount of $10,000.

Passed 4-0 Item 22-027: Approval to give the Mayor authority to sign the agreement to hire Smith Welch Webb & White to represent the city in the Local Option Sales Tax negotiations. Passed 4-0 Item 22-028: Approval to increase the purchase price of Public Works Ford F150 to $35,300 Passed 4-0

Mayor and Council Comments Executive Session (None) Adjourn Meeting The meeting adjourned at 7:16 p.m.

Town Hall Session (None) In June the Fulton County Board of Assessors issued 2022 Notices of Assessment. Because of surges in the real estate market in Fulton County and around the nation, property owners should be prepared to see increased values reflected on their 2022 notices of assessment.

Congratulations to Marcy Queen who was just promoted to Corporal.

Employee & Cyclist is Also a Lifesaver After being five miles in on her gravel bike ride through the dirty sheets of Chattahoochee Hills on Thursday, June 2nd around 6:00 pm, City employee Sandy Sargent, an avid cyclist, encountered a man down on Upper Wooten Road in Cochran Mill Park. He was in and out of consciousness, and in need of immediate medical aide. Sandy immediately rendered aide while calling 911 and getting the Chattahoochee Fire and Rescue team enroute, under the leadership of Chief Brett. Sandy also used the phone of this fallen patient to speak with wife to let her know what was happening, how help was on the way, and giver her directions to her husband's location. Sandy is our local hero!

A few key points: • Georgia law requires annual Notices of Assessment, which must reflect each property’s fair market value.

• Notices will be dated June 17. Property owners will receive notices in the mail (or email if they have opted into email delivery). Notices will also be posted online at www.fultonassessor.org. Property owners should carefully review their notice as soon as possible.

• Many Fulton County homeowners receive property tax relief through homestead exemptions. Importantly, every property in Fulton County with at least a basic homestead exemption in place also benefits from at least two “floating” homestead exemptions. Floating homestead exemptions are specifically designed to insulate homeowners from rapid increases in value, and cap the annual increase in taxable value at around 3% per year (or CPI, whichever is less).

• Property owners have the opportunity to appeal their notice of assessment if they do not believe their notice reflects fair market value. Appeals may be submitted online, by mail, or in the offices of the Board of Assessors. The appeals deadline for most property owners is August 1, unless another date is specifically printed on the notice of assessment. https://files.constantcontact. com/72e6e7df701/b3463ce6-225e-43a7-b24bceeefa276664.pdf

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Trending Topic

Community & City

City of Chattahoochee Hills, City Hall, 6505 Rico Rd, Chattahoochee Hills, GA 30268, Phone: (770) 463-8881, www.chatthillsga.us

City of Chatt Hills: www.chatthillsga.us Chatt Hills Charter School: http://www.chatthillscharter.org/calendar Community Brickworks: www.communitybrickworks.org Serenbe Community: www.serenbe.com Acton Academy at Serenbe: http://actonacademyatserenbe.com/#ourstory

Event We will be scheduling Special Called City Council meetings as dictated by circumstances. These will be virtual and open to the public.

The City will take the following safety precautions: • The City Council room will be set up so that the council and staff are all at least 6’ apart.

• Any citizen attendees who want to attend in person will also be separated by at least 6’; capacity will be limited to the number of seats that can fit in the room under those conditions.

• The meeting will be streamed live. Check details on the City’s website.

About Chatt Hills News The official newsletter of the City of Chattahoochee Hills, Chatt Hills News, is published monthly. This publication is compiled from submissions from the community and is available in public locations around the City, at City Hall, or via email subscriptions.

Email Subscriptions: To subscribe via email, visit the City’s Website: www.chatthillsga.us Or subscribe directly at this link: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/w9cGwxA Print Copies: Residents of Chatt Hills who do not have Internet may request mailed copies by calling City Hall (770) 463-8881.

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City Council Work Session - Thurs., July 7, 6:00 pm City Hall - 6505 Rico Road, Chatt Hills, GA 30268 City Council Meeting - Tues., July 12, 6:00 pm City Hall - 6505 Rico Road, Chatt Hills, GA 30268 Planning Comission Meeting - Thurs., July 21, 6:30 pm City Hall - 6505 Rico Road, Chatt Hills, GA 30268 Parks Commission Meeting - Tues., July 19, 6:00 pm City Hall - 6505 Rico Road, Chatt Hills, GA 30268

Article / Event Submissions: If you have a story, event, or suggestion for future articles, we’d like to hear from you. Please submit your information by the 15th of every month for publication on the 1st of the month to: chatthillsnews@chatthillsga.us

2022 PARKING PASSES NOW AVAILABLE The parking passes for Cochran Mill Park are now available. Visit City Hall for your application. The fees are as follows: • Residents – free • Annual car/truck - $25 • Annual 3+ axels - $35

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