DeKalb County PECS Committee Meeting - March 10, 2026
DeKalb County PECS Committee Meeting - March 10, 2026
The Planning, Economic Development and Community Services (PECS) Committee of the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners met on March 10, 2026, at approximately 2:30 PM. Chair Nicole Messiah presided, joined by Commissioners Robert Patrick (District 1), Michelle Longspears (District 2), and Ted Terry (Super District 6). The agenda included appointments to county authorities, financial updates on Tax Allocation Districts (TADs), several contract renewals, a presentation on a proposed data center health and environmental impact study, and deferrals of other items.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of minutes from previous meetings (moved, seconded, passed unanimously).
- Appointment of Dr. Sarah Patatunde (Patnod) to Post 2 of the DeKalb Regional Land Bank Authority (interviewed, then voted approval later).
- Appointment of Reverend Dr. James Todd Speed to Post 1 of the DeKalb County Hospital Authority (interviewed, then voted approval later).
- Contract renewal for pressure washing services for county parks (first renewal, $63,000 to Facility Maintenance and Services Group, motion to approve passed).
- Contract renewal for tree cutting and removal services for parks (second renewal, $250,000 to TES MOS Tree Services LLC, motion to approve passed).
- Change orders for asbestos abatement, demolition, and debris removal contracts (three contracts extended through December 31, 2026, total not to exceed $480,525, motion to approve passed).
- SPLOST funding appropriation for Lou Walker Center kitchen equipment repair/replacement ($265,000–$276,000 from SPLOST 1, motion to approve passed).
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comment period was held; however, appointed candidates and presenters provided testimony during their respective agenda items.
Discussion Items
-
TAD Financial Status Update (Tiffany Wills, Decide DeKalb): Wills reported a combined TAD fund balance of ~$36 million across five districts, with $8.5 million held by DeKalb County from prior years. Net income for the year totaled $8 million (Avondale $382k, Briarcliff $3.6M, Kensington $2.4M, Market Square $444k, Southwest DeKalb $1.2M). Ten pending TAD applications represent $85 million in total development costs and ~$25 million in requested TAD funds. Commissioners discussed disparities in TAD awards by district and the pending dissolution/assessment of Avondale and Kensington TADs, with a recommendation expected in May from a ULI technical assistance panel.
-
Data Center Ordinance and Study (Items 2026-0244 and 2026-0245): Amy Sharma, Executive Director of Science for Georgia, presented a proposal for a countywide health and environmental impact study to be conducted before issuing land disturbance permits for data centers. The proposed study would cost $13,900 (plus $2,000 for an optional town hall) and take about 14 weeks. Dr. Lynn Paxton from DeKalb County Public Health confirmed willingness to assist with data but noted the department lacks capacity to manage the project. Commissioners discussed stakeholder identification, methodology, baseline data, and enforcement. The items were deferred to the April 14 PECS meeting with a possible vote by the full Board on April 28.
-
Facility Improvements for Health Facilities (Item 0458): Administration presented a substitute plan to use ~$13.5 million from SPLOST 2 for roofing and HVAC repairs at eight county physical and mental health facilities, based on a facility condition assessment. The item was held in committee pending review by the facilities management team.
-
Noise Ordinance Amendment (Item 2025-0015): Commissioner Patrick raised concerns about enforcement. The item was deferred to April 14 PECS and April 28 BOC.
-
Electric Landscape Maintenance Device Rebate Program (Item 2025-0017): Deferred in tandem with the noise ordinance.
-
Resolution on Unhoused Support Service Plan (Item 0385): Sponsored by Commissioner Longspears, deferred to the next PECS meeting due to her absence.
Key Outcomes
- All appointments (Land Bank Authority, Hospital Authority) were approved by unanimous voice votes.
- All contract renewals and change orders (pressure washing, tree cutting, demolition, Lou Walker kitchen) were approved unanimously.
- The data center study items (0244 and 0245) were deferred to the April 14 PECS meeting with a target BOC vote on April 28.
- The noise ordinance and rebate program were deferred to the same April calendar.
- The health facilities funding item was held in committee for further review.
- The unhoused resolution was deferred to the next PECS meeting.
- No formal votes on the TAD update; it was informational.
Meeting Transcript
Great afternoon, everyone. My name is Nicole Messiah, and I have the distinct honor and pleasure of serving as your DeCab County Commissioner and Chair of PECS, Planning Economic Development and Community Services Committee. I have the pleasure to serve alongside my new PECS committee members. One, Commissioner Robert Patrick from District One, but then also Commissioner Michelle Longspears from District 2 was in committee with us last year. Also with us today serving as a part of this meeting is Commissioner Ted Terry from Super District 6. And if you've had an opportunity to review the minutes, I will entertain a motion. Thank you so much. Second. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. Thank you so much. That item has been approved. The next is appointments. We have two appointments presently. One of our interviewees is here. And so read off the agenda item for those following along. We're at the top of page one. That's agenda item 2026-0302. All commission districts appoint Dr. Sarah Petatunde. Pat nod. Pat nod. All right. Patna, there we go. To post two of the DeCab Regional Land Bank Authority. Thank you so much, Ms. Pat N for being here with us today. We have some uh basic questions. As we typically at potential appointees, that's being passed out to my colleagues. But I always start by asking, you know, um just general questions in terms of your desire to serve in this capacity and any experience or work history, anything you have that you want to share in terms of um what makes you qualified and what you hope to actually accomplish or bring as a part of um being on this board. Yeah, my pleasure. Thanks so much for having me, and great seeing you all. Um, I'm Dr. Sarah Pat Nodd. I serve right now as the director of policy solutions. And I'm sorry, is your microphone on? Yes. Okay, alrighty. Yeah. Um I'm the director of policy solutions for the Southeast at Reinvestment Fund. Um so reinvestment fund is a national CDFI. We do have an office here in Atlanta, and I focus on our work in the Southeast region, which we say is Virginia to Texas, so very wide Southeast. Um my background is in housing, though now I also get to work on issues related to other aspects of community development, including healthy food access, um, early childhood education, commercial corridors, and other um aspects. And my job is really about helping people make data-driven decisions. So bringing informed decision making and coming up with strategy based on that data. Um, my background's in housing. Uh, previously I worked for the Decatur Housing Authority and Tapestry Development Group, which is a nonprofit housing developer. So I'm experienced in the multifamily affordable housing space. Um I've also uh prior to that worked in a consulting firm, KB Advisory Group, which is known here in DeCab County.
openpublica.com