Good evening, committee members, fellow residents joining us here on online.

County staff, thank you for uh attending.

And this is my pleasure to call our June meeting to order.

Today we're here joined by county leadership.

Uh Chief Operating Officer Zach Williams, SPLOSS Manager Chris Kingsbury, Director of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs, Christopher Bass, and Sanitation Director Eugene McKinney.

One of the most valuable assets a county has is its parks and recreation.

This is where teens find a safe outlet to go play.

This is where my kids get to go enjoy a pool.

We tear down these walls, right?

There are so many benefits to parks and rec.

And one of the biggest, again, is to promote a healthier DeCab County.

Right.

So I'm I'm really uh it's a pleasure again.

Um we will start with uh uh doing our normal business as uh as usual, then we'll get into our 40 minute presentation.

After that, we'll have a 20-minute QA.

Uh lots of residents here today, so however many cards get passed out, we'll try to divide that time equally um because we do want to hear from everybody.

Um so following the um presentation, we're gonna allot some time so we can ask specific questions to the presenters as well.

Um and again in the public comment section.

If you have questions that are not necessarily SPLOSS related or parks and rec related, um the CAB County website is newly renovated.

Um, and please reach out to your commissioner or your appointee um and and they'll get you to the right place.

So with that being said, uh we have a quorum, so let's uh let's go ahead and take roll.

We'll go um this way.

State your name and your appointment.

Rebecca Perkins, District One.

Jamie Dutro, District Two.

Stephen Benny, CEO.

Gerald Alston, CEO.

James Koch, District Six.

Teresa Hardy, District Three.

Taha Dow, District Four.

Larry Lowe, District Seven.

Excellent.

A quorum is present.

Um so our first order of business is to adopt the June meeting agenda.

Um, so does everybody have their copy of the June agenda?

Is there any motions to adopt the agenda?

I motion that we adopt the agenda as printed.

Second.

I'll second.

All in favor.

Raise your hand.

So move.

Agenda adopted.

Um next is to approve the uh April meeting minutes.

Um, so does everybody have that copy?

Um, this was uh our April meeting on the roads and drainage.

Is there a motion to accept the April meeting minutes?

I move that we uh April's minutes.

We have a second.

I second all in favor, say aye.

Raise your hand.

Aye.

All righty.

April meeting uh minutes are approved.

Um so with that, our procedural items are complete.

Um, as we previously mentioned, our our previous meeting was all about roads and drainage, and the committee has been feverishly looking at roads and drainage um and taking these two, you know, two-week cycles to uh or two month cycles to get a good understanding because the difference in SPLOSS is the spending categories, right?

We want to have at the end of the year a good report on our end of um our spending categories as well as per district.

Um so with that being said, uh Coach Chair Austin has prepared um a presentation um about some community outreach he completed in Deer Creek Neighborhood District 4 and Super District 7.

Um like to share some observations and highlights from from that event.

So with that being said, Coach Air Austin.

Well, I'll say good evening and uh welcome to uh our committee uh meeting, the SPLOSS committee meeting tonight, and uh to the staff and also the uh SPLOSS team and uh fellow committee members.

It is an exciting opportunity to be able to go out and visit the communities and represent uh our CEO's commitment to transparency, and uh so Mr.

Benny and I uh have been very busy, and we did the inaugural outreach into District 4 and District 7, and we had the pleasure of having Commissioner uh uh Dr.

Delena Bolton and uh her appointee Larry Lowe, uh who's on the committee here, and to uh Mr.

Uh Taha, I'd apologize for not being able to uh connect up with you, but uh your district was represented, and we had a great attendance that was well received, and uh Mr.

Benny and I uh was very very pleased with the uh turnout and also the staff did a great job.

And uh uh uh Chris uh your team, uh Ernest was there to represent uh SPLOSS and the information was well disseminated.

And so we're really uh excited about moving on, and we have actually uh submitted a written record to the uh staff that will be a part of the minutes, and there are some follow-up requests.

Also, uh at this particular time, I'm gonna ask uh uh my colleague, uh Stephen Benny, uh, to uh share a few thoughts.

And it's impossible to do all of this, especially as a minister given five minutes to talk.

That is something uh that is a task in itself.

But also we have one of our residents that's gonna uh come to that mic in just a moment and uh share as well.

But Mr.

Benny, well, as all of you know, I can speak in three minutes or less.

But I want to thank you, Dr.

Austin.

Uh, the residents raised several critical infrastructure and safety concern concerns in their neighborhood.

They are all concerned about Blandon Boulevard, which has severe deterioration after 30 years.

Uh residents request an evaluation or resurfacing priority or pothole repair.

I don't think it's on the splosh list, but there could be something done about it.

Uh speed and child safety on Blantyre and Malvin.

Uh, they say a near-fatal accident left a child disabled for life.

Um we have informed them about how to get the speed bumps done process, and we hope that they are getting in contact with you all now.

There's a dangerous blind spot exit onto Bermuda Road worsening into the West Park Place development.

We and they request a visibility solution, such as a traffic mirror.

I'm not sure if the uh neighborhood can purchase a traffic mirror and have help in installing it or not, but I believe that that is something that perhaps the county can help the neighborhood with.

Um North Deshaun and Bermuda has been sites of major serious accidents, and there needs to be some kind of reform done around there.

And uh that is what the meeting basically, those were the four basic points of the meeting.

Thank you very much.

And uh thank you, uh Mr.

Benny.

And uh so now we have uh just comments from uh one of the uh residents there that represents uh the district four and seven.

This is uh okay, go ahead, uhway.

Good evening, everybody.

My name is Dwayne Cole.

I'm a resident of Deer Creek Community.

I live at 6819 Blandyre Boulevard, uh, right in front of the worst part of the street, by the way.

Um you'll see pictures of that.

Uh it's clearly in need of repair.

Uh but on behalf of my neighbors, I want to thank Madam CEO uh Lorraine Johnson for her genuine commitment to transparency.

Uh her appointees uh brought SPLOSS to, as uh Mr.

Gerald mentioned, Dr.

Gerald mentioned directly to us for the first time.

Uh many of us truly got to understand how the program works.

I didn't know two met that it's the second year and all those things, but they express explained uh how they assess the streets, et cetera, and how those uh pennies from SPLOSS actually get invested.

Uh that kind of access builds trust, and we're grateful that you all took the time to come visit us.

I just want to echo that as a resident who lives with these conditions every day, the urgency of the concerns just outlined, especially the safety of our children, and that dangerous exit onto Bermuda Road is super important to us.

We have to deal with that every day on our way to work, hoping we don't get hit by somebody flying down the street in that blind spot.

Um, we respectfully ask that the county to partner with us on a follow-up meeting so that these emergencies can be addressed.

Uh I'd like to thank you for listening.

Have a great evening.

And thank you, uh, Dwayne.

In fact, the voices of uh the residents of Decab County is exactly what this SPLOSS committee is all about in and in terms of oversight and hearing from you is very, very important.

And hearing from you is very, very important.

And so we have respectfully asked, uh requesting a follow-up meeting so that the community, the community can be directed to where the resources are and how to address these problems.

And so we look forward to uh having that follow-up meeting with the appropriate staff and also the elected officials as well that represent those areas.

So again, we thank you, and uh it is a pleasure as a committee member representing the CEO's office, uh, and Mr.

Benny and I, we've been very busy, and you know he's the uh what I call the no uh the knowledgeable intelligence guy.

He makes every meeting.

But uh, but uh but we appreciate the opportunity, and I will yield now.

Uh Mr.

Chair.

20 seconds.

Sure.

I just wanted to ask everyone in attendance that if you have neighborhood associations, please try to set up a meeting.

If you do, I know I will come.

I can't guarantee anyone else will, but we will come and listen.

Okay, thank you.

And I will say finally, we are committed to uh we represent the CEO's office, and we don't have a specific district, it's all of the districts, and we are working with each of the committee uh members, and we are real willing to share the information that we have learned, lessons learned.

And there is a report for all of the committee members that's in your packet of the details of what was covered in that particular outreach.

Thank you.

Thank you, Coach Austin.

So at that now, we are going to transition to our next SPLOS category parks, recreation, cultural affairs, and sanitation.

Solid waste now.

Um so Mr.

Bass, the floor is yours.

Thank you, sir.

All right, make sure we're on the right slide there.

Skip a few.

All right, uh, so good evening.

Uh again, my name is Chris Bass, and I have the pleasure of serving as the director of recreation parks and cultural affairs for uh DeCap County.

Um I've been on the job now four months.

So uh uh it's been quite an experience.

But um uh here I'm today I'm gonna give an overview of our parks department, um, just so you all can see from a high level what all assets we have within our department.

Um, and then I'll pass it over to Mr.

Kingsbury, who will speak specifically to uh Sploss Projects.

If there are specific questions that you all might have, um I do have a backup.

Uh I have uh deputy director uh Kevin Bufer here, and I also have Ms.

Paige Singer, who is who oversees our Office of Park Planning and Design.

Um so a lot of the information that we're sharing today falls with under her preview.

So we have a our team here, so if there are some questions that I can't answer specifically, then I can yield to the team here.

So uh but getting into the presentation, uh, this is the only slide uh that uh I'll read word for word.

Um Mr.

Chair has already told me we got uh we're on timeline, so I'm gonna do my best to uh kind of get through this information because Mr.

Kingsbury has a lot of the pertinent information that we want to go over today.

Um but just to give a department overview.

Um we uh oversee um 116 parks, which is about 6200 acres, um, 76 playgrounds and 62 park pavilions.

Um we have two public golf courses, um 31 tennis courts, um, and two tennis centers, um, 10 recreational facilities.

That's our recreational community centers, nine aquatics facilities, um, 104 athletic fields.

Uh, then we have um some very um diverse uh facilities uh like our horse farm, a little creek horse farm, uh Davidson Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, which has several different components with that operation, um, and then our cultural arts facility at Rainbow Park and the Port of Sanford Performing Arts Studio.

So that just gives you a snapshot and I'll kind of give a quick overview of each of those major divisions.

Um as you mentioned, in the name itself of our department, we are recreation parks and cultural affairs.

So those are three major divisions of our department.

So I kind of uh go through and give overview from that standpoint.

Uh so first with our our um our uh special facilities, um, again our uh we oversee the CAB Tennis Center, um, Sugar Creek Golf Tennis, Sugar Creek Golf and Tennis Center, um, then uh Mystery Valley Golf Course, again, Arabia Mountain and our horse farm, and then we have a naturalist program that goes on throughout several of our parks, um, uh specifically held at Mason Meal.

Um, and then Embark Youth Farm, which is the um former Bransby Park uh YMCA.

Uh next slide, our division of recreation.

This is where you see our pools and our recreation facilities.

And that is product of a SPLOS of the SPLOS program.

So I know Mr.

Kingsbury will talk a little bit more about that.

But I'm here you'll see the list of all of our 10 recreation facilities as well.

Getting into our cultural affairs over at Port of Sanford, we have again our performing arts facility, which holds about 500 in the main auditorium.

And then Rainbow Park, which is adjacent to that facility.

It's about a thousand for outdoor amphitheater opportunities, concerts, those types of things.

We've held several memorials in that space.

So that's one of our prior positions when it comes to our cultural art space.

We own and operate that facility.

We have a partnership with that organization.

We own the facility.

So I won't um read that the list, but these are parks of ours that are spread out throughout the Cab County.

All right.

And one thing to mention beyond parks, recreation and cultural affairs, we also have a number of uh lakes, dams, and streams that we maintain.

Um here's that list.

Um that is uh an important piece to note because these part, these um areas do play a major part um in the Cap County watershed.

So um all of these things go in tandem.

Um, and our department does maintain and manage those areas.

So definitely wanted to make sure we we we made mention of those.

Um and then last but not least, um, we also have several trails that uh we maintain throughout the county.

Um we have a trail network um that uh we oversee through the Cab County.

Um there are several organizations that we partner with to develop these trails, but these are the specific trails that we uh maintain throughout.

Um and there are they're continuing to grow.

Um there's uh new trailhead that we're establishing at Entrenchment Creek Park, which is also going to be uh maintained by our department, so this will be added to the list, and that connects to the South River Trail.

So there you just see a snapshot of what that trail network looks like and how we've been able, Chris can speak to how we've been able to utilize SPLOSS funds for um all of these particular special art uh areas.

So that is all that I have in terms of our asset inventory, and I'm gonna pass it over to Chris to give an update on the SPLOSS program.

Thank you, Mr.

Bass.

So I'll go as fast as I can.

I'll put my uh lawyer disclaimer uh TV radio voice on.

Uh before I start though, I just want to uh back up a minute and just generally I think I said this at the Q1 Town Hall that uh the CEO hosted at uh at the Porter Sanford Center, keep three things in mind.

One, but for Splosh, none of the projects, or very few of the projects we're gonna go through very quickly here on SPLOST one.

We'll just see in the light of day, because the county just didn't have the capital funds at their discretion to do major repairs, renovations, or build new structures.

Two, as Mr.

Bass said, we have to work hand in hand.

Your pennies, which about 40% come from people who don't live in the county, come to a segregated account.

It's not part of the annual budget in the county's line item, their annual appropriations.

But we have two things to keep in mind.

Anything we build, they have to maintain.

So we work closer to make sure we're building things that are in their system standards.

And anything new we build, they have to operate.

So we've got some big rec centers coming online in SPLOS 2.

So they go through the construction and bidding process the next years.

They're gonna have to start budgeting the staff up.

And then the final thing is uh the uh already mentioned it, the dollars are segregated.

So SPLOS lives outside of the county's annual budget program.

And then to pick up where Mr.

Bass left off with the uh outside money on the uh uh the program.

So for SPLOS as a whole, in SPLOST one, 34.4 million dollars is is where the line items came out by referendum.

Five million of that, we were able to get outside funding.

And for those of y'all are at the NH Scott pool opening, two million of that came from the state.

44 million dollars becomes a total amount we've invested in the park system, 38 million dollars authorized, 32 has been expended, and the handout I gave you all, it's not part of the presentation, it's too fine a print to put on the slides.

You'll see the major categories by each referendum and the balances remaining.

So many of the projects take multiple years to go to construction.

Shameless plug.

The next slide is as uh Mr.

Bass said, their website's been updated.

I think Mr.

Coke, you mentioned that too.

The map, we try to keep it up to date every week, but put your address in and it'll show you not only the roads in your neighborhood, but major other capital projects, including parks, trails, fire stations that are all funded with SPLOS dollars.

I'm not gonna go through all these slides, but but you've got them in the handout, so you can see SPLOST 1 for parks and rec had a lot of categories.

3A athletic fields, and this just as a listing goes on for a page or two of all the fields uh back up.

I think one of the first things we were proud of is again outside money.

The Braves Foundation was able to put money into Gresham Park Athletic Complex, which was largely built back from the 87 bomb program.

So we were able to do no new restroom renovations, new lighting, new artificial turf, new fencing, new drainage improvements.

So a significant amount of the Sploss 1 dollars went to athletic field renovations because obviously that's where all those kids play.

But also with that, you look at the the next page.

If you read the fine print and your handout, we put a lot of money into renovating 30 and 40 and 50-year-old buildings, plumbing upgrades, ADA access upgrades, new roofs, and and so forth, roof repairs.

Uh NH Scott Pool, if you are uh is a good example.

NH Scott Park is about $9 million in round numbers of Sploss.

Eight million plus or minus for the pool, but quarter million dollars for a new roof on the gym, quarter million dollars for new basketball courts, lighting, surfacing, another quarter million dollars to upgrade the tennis courts.

So it truly touches every aspect of uh of uh the park system.

I'll go to the back and see pictures here.

Yeah, so again, the county has standards, so we try to uh for cost savings, we order products, shelters, playground equipment from statewide contracts, so the products are uniform throughout the park.

We get a discount.

The vendors know we're gonna be buying a lot of them, they give us a good price.

And again, everybody's familiar with them, they know how to fix them, how to paint them, how to repair them.

Same thing.

You've got page after page of all the playground structures we've renovated, and these are some of the they don't get a lot of press, but when we do a grand opening in the neighborhood for a playground, uh you get a big crowd, Cedar Park.

Last year we had Hidden Hills, and you get all the kids lined up, shoal Creek the year before.

Uh kind of like the pool opening on Saturday, they can't wait to climb on the climb on the equipment.

So SPLOST and aquatic facilities.

You know, swimming pools are expensive.

Uh so here's an aerial photo during construction, and I think the photos of the grand opening are probably posted online by now.

But uh this is a state-of-the-art pool from the filtration system to the brand new bathhouses, a diving well, a 25-yard recreational swim team, and a zero-depth entry pool for exercise.

Uh and as Mr.

Bass said, we've got a lot of trails and paved areas in the parks, so spLOS dollars were able to renovate those.

Anyone play golf?

Sugar Creek.

Yeah, sugar creek golf course.

One of the early items was convention and visitor bureau money to help was to replace the golf cart path bridges and update some of the tennis courts.

And then, of course, here's some uh some pictures, fine print, skip the fine print, skip the fine prints, and then the new tennis court surfaces.

And these aren't just paint jobs.

We scrape them down, repave, state-of-the-art coatings, new fencing, new lighting, make sure the drainage and the access around them is is in good shape, so they don't uh they don't wear out from from uh flooding and whatnot.

Uh Jackie Steele is has been our program manager on this on the SPLOSS side, uh working with Paige and her folks, and she's uh I'm getting text from her, she's listening to us via the uh via the uh the uh the wonderful world of the world wide web.

And then finally, I'll just touch again, although you asked for SPLOST one, SPLOS two category, just give you an update.

The total SPLOSS two rec uh uh estimates are 500 million dollars for revenue.

We're about a third of the way through that collection, two years into the program.

So we're on track, and Parks and Rec has about 48 million dollars of that, with 24 million already budgeted.

Oh, sorry.

Yeah.

Yeah, that's the the the just a highlight of Splosh 2 category.

And again, the handout I gave everybody has a specific line item details.

And then with that, we've got um beautification.

There we go.

Another newbie, he's even newer than Miss Bass, Mr.

Bass.

Good evening, everyone.

Good evening.

It is a pleasure and honor to serve the CAB County in this capacity and the community.

Um I've got everyone here as a backup for me since I'm born, right?

So I'll be leaning on staff heavily as I navigate my way through.

But again, I'm Eugene McKinney.

I'm the director of our solid waste department uh slash sanitation.

I'm going backwards.

Okay.

There we go.

So just wanna I want to go through this and not be be verbatim in and reading everything, but it's a few things we must kind of must cover.

Um, you know, we have a strong mission statement that aligns with our core values to promote a clean, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing to CAB communities through environmental stewardship, community partnership, and resident engagement.

And that ties right into our E3, education, empowerment, engagement.

That's for all stakeholders.

Um there's 86 employees in this line of business, uh, keeping the cab beautiful in different aspects.

There's a director, myself, superintendent, and several other leadership personnel.

Um, some core things that we're doing, we're doing more in litter abatement.

It's curved bumping.

Absolutely.

Um management team, uh, Ricky Crockett's our superintendent now.

He does a wonderful job leading this team in these efforts.

And there's several employees, again, not to go verbatim, um, that do a wonderful job taking care of all the aspects of business in the county.

So we want to get a little bit more in detail on some things that we're doing, some gateway beautification projects.

You know, we've um, you know, we're beautifying about 20 20 acres along the um I-20, I-85.

It was an eight-year flight eradication and beautification initiatives.

Some of the things you probably heard of through the initial phase.

Um, some things started in uh 2017, totaling 20 million dollars, that investment into back into our communities.

There's been some demolition of many uh um abandoned properties, increased mowing, uh herbicides, tree trimming, litter, and a variety of other things.

We're working with MARTA along the bus stops to make sure those areas are clean.

We're going outside, we're going in some other cities.

I'm sorry, um, outside the CAP proper, um, doing um Chamberly Tucker, Flash Rose Road, and Channel.

Let's move over into a GDOT project over I-825.

Project, this project was completed with Glenwood Road, Cumberton Highway, uh, Red Wing Circle, um the bridge area.

Uh additionally, GI gateway landscaping design, the wildfowl project, right?

That's been a conversation, right?

Um, was approved, but it's kind of still in the in the holding pending status.

Again, this talks about the wildfire program.

There's a contractor.

There we go.

It's a contract that's been approved.

Um, we got some costs associated.

Um it to go through um through several other phases.

There's a multi-year landscape enhancement um things going on.

Um the project standard is awarded, but not yet executed.

Russell landscape and desire, uh um landscape via contract.

These things are ongoing, uh, which includes pruning, planning, um, uh planted um access plants and new trees, sod and a variety of other things.

LED street lights.

I think this ties right into some of our environmental conservation concerns.

It's you know, less energy.

There's a project going on with that as well.

Some key contacts for our offices just in case uh there's some things that need to be going on.

You need to contact us got administrative building.

Um won't go through everything, but if you need to uh anything, you know how to contact us.

That's all I have.

Oh sorry.

Well, that's about my contacts.

That's all I have.

Um it's a QA.

Thank you.

I'll pass it back to you.

Yes, sir.

Thank you, uh, presenters.

Um, so now we are a little ahead of schedule, so thank you.

Um and that'll give us more time to ask questions and um, you know, maybe give some more time back to the residents um for for questioning too.

So um with that being said, um we could start to the right and go go around just like we did on the first meeting.

Thank you.

Uh regarding the parks uh land in total, the total numbers that you gave us, is it possible?

Do we have those per district as divided in the county?

Okay, great.

Yeah, we can get that for you, and we'll send you back to the entire committee.

Um we can use DIS and find out if we can get that.

Very helpful.

And ditto on the trails, I guess.

Uh okay, great.

Thank you.

And thank you for the improvements in the entire Shambley Tucker Road corridor.

Thank you.

Uh did I understand that you you also handle the recycling program?

Yes.

You do, okay.

I'm sorry, yes.

Yeah, okay.

Um I guess it's just a question.

Will we ever start recycling glass?

You know, glass is an interesting stuff.

Is that a bad question?

Sensitive.

Yeah, we want to, as we move forward, we want to be creative in how we handle glass.

Um, so we'll be exploring some some some opportunities.

We understand the importance of it.

Uh it just has to be managed in the proper way.

Okay.

I know not about a lot of my neighbors, I end up hauling their glass over to uh Brookhaven or to the farmers market.

And that's I think it's a really shame that we don't.

Glass is 100% recyclable.

So that's one of my questions.

The other question is more a little financial.

I know that's there were some questions earlier on about unspent funds.

So in some cases, projects come in under budget, perhaps you have allocated a certain amount of money and then you bid it out.

It's probably rare that it comes in under budget.

Uh do those funds go back into like a contingency fund, or do they go to fund, say, projects that are are on the list but not funded?

Yeah, that's a great question, Mr.

Dutro.

So by law, the dollars stay in the categories identified in a referendum.

So as we close out some categories, and again, I'd call your attention to that previous spreadsheet I gave you.

Some categories are down to a few hundred thousand dollars.

So it's projects that are underway now, finish up those extra dollars can cover contingencies, and generally what we'll do is say, say in athletic fields and splotch one, we end up with 117,000 left.

We would ask the board to reallocate that to Splosh 2 athletic fields.

I guess the flip side of that is do the funds, uh some of these projects probably go over.

Those funds come to is the.

That's why we never allocate 100% of the funds to the comedy, the actual bid value when it hits the street and contingencies during the okay.

So there's a like a three percent contingency or it's closer to 15 to 20 percent from a practical standpoint to have a rolling fund in the background.

Okay, thank you.

Are any of the 10 lakes um residential friendly?

I mean, is there fishing or swimming?

I know that like in Pine Lake, they have a little area cordoned off where or used to where you could swim.

I don't know if it still is.

Um well, fishing, yes.

Yes, we are our lakes, uh, for example, um, Harrison Park, uh, we have lakes over at uh Embark, which is the Bransman Park.

Those are uh fishing suitable, but uh not swimming.

So, yes, sir, definitely fishing.

And one last question about trees.

When you remove trees from Lake Park and you replace them, you're often uh removing very old trees, and they're being replaced with maybe 10, 12 foot or or even less.

How long does it take them to actually grow back?

I mean, to be honest with you, former truth, you're talking about at least 20 years.

So we're planning for in some instances uh a future that we will never see, but the goal is to put uh those trees back in place for our future generation.

And they have the potential to some longer than 20 yeah.

Well, they have the potential to grow.

Yes, correct.

Correct.

And I would have to Mr.

Pass and Page can correct if I'm wrong, but generally, say a 60-inch diameter oak tree.

It's been there for a century.

It would be replaced on e on a caliper replacement.

So at four-inch caliper, four in the 60s.

So that one sixty-inch tree that might have to come down because of disease or old age, or it's in the way, would be replaced with at least what eight or nine more trees, right?

When I moved into my house 30 years ago, I planted a little six and a half foot white oak tree, and it's now like seventy feet.

So yeah, I know it'll happen.

Thank you.

Well, I I appreciate the uh presentation on uh the uh recreation and sanitation, those are very important areas uh that for our communities.

And uh we know that many of our homeowners live in uh HOAs, and also the resources that's available from the county in terms of when I look at some of the HOAs uh that we have worked with in district seven and four, uh some of them have deteriorating uh recreation uh uh facilities and amenities for the homeowners in terms of is there a way that uh we can actually tap into uh resource, even just from a consulting point of view in terms of helping some of the homeowners uh associations.

And I'm not sure, I know that's kind of uh I'll defer to attorney Phillips and Jack, but the Splosh law is very clear.

Yeah, expenditures must be on county-owned, leased or operated property.

Okay, very good answer.

Okay, we don't like uh illegal uh processes.

Uh however, uh also I want to say take a point of personal privilege because uh I see so many homeowners here in the audience.

And uh Mr.

Zach, uh you're our COO, and I would like for us to formally recognize the homeowners that are out there in the audience right now.

And uh just a word of uh thanks for them being here, and uh they are here in support of uh the initiative of community outreach.

And I see many faces that I recognize, but Mr.

Zach, if you would uh just recognize them.

If you would you guys stand up, please.

And thank you.

How about a round of applause?

Just for the the turnout, and and Dr.

Austin, thank you, and and thank everyone for your your effort to encourage residents to come out to uh be informed to stay engaged, it's critically important, and I would say now more than ever, an engaged community is what we need.

And so we're definitely happy to share any information that we can, any insights that we can provide.

Um, because as we say, we're all on the same team working for the same goal.

So thank you everyone uh for you know for coming out, all the residents, and we look forward to just engaging in conversation.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh Teresa, you have the floor?

So I have questions.

So well, first of all, do thank you to all our residents for coming.

Um last month, thank you, uh Chris, and all of the staff of DeCab County for taking an initiative to uh work on uh Wesley Chapel's um uh lining.

So we appreciate that being done.

And uh I got a lot of calls uh about that.

So people are watching whether they're here or not, but we do appreciate that.

Uh so um my question is I have a couple of questions as related to the presentation.

So one, thank you uh for the presentation in the way that it was uh put together and compiled, giving us the overview, and then how splash is uh interconnected.

We did hear the parks part, but we didn't hear the sanitation parts of SPLIS.

Do we have sanitation as part of SPLOT?

Let me answer that for you.

Yes, the answer for sanitation is no.

But Mr.

Cook had asked to talk about beautification, and again in the spreadsheet, I'll call your attention to there are two line items in both Splosh 1 and Splash 2 for gateways and beautification.

And as uh we spoke, the bulk of the money went toward the beautification.

Again, it has to be capital project.

So Georgia DOT came in the county and said we're replacing three bridges.

The county would like a decorative railing splash paid for the decorative railing.

But that's that's about the limit.

And then there's a the been ongoing discussions with transportation and CEO's office and Georgia DOT on the upcoming renovations and managed lanes in 285 and the high-2028 interchange.

They may again ask for contributions to capital improvements for their landscape plans.

Okay, be it signage or lighting or fencing.

Okay.

But that those that's the about the only place splosh will go toward beautification as a category.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you for that clarification.

And I'm sure other people wanted to know that as well.

Uh the other part to the um splash two.

Um, since I was on splash one, I knew about what we did there, but on the splash two updates, um in the allocation that has already started.

Um, are there other areas or other parks that's going to be included in splash two, or are we waiting until we get certain monies and that list is pretty much all spLOS two's capital improvements?

Okay.

Look at the map, Mason Mills in the center of the county, Lucia Sanders will be in the eastern part of the county, southeast part, the new Alice Busy Center be the first of its kind in the southwest part of the county, Pleasant Dale Parks in District One.

Uh so it's SPLOS 2 has pretty well been programmed out.

And again, it follows Paige and Chris's and and uh the uh the adopted master plan for parks and recreation facilities.

Okay.

So I did notice that they're all designed.

So is there any construction on this piece?

Yes, fashion.

Okay, that's it's it's uh it's coming.

So Lucia Sanders uh is in the bid phase right now.

I think it's uh bids will open a week from now, maybe two weeks.

Uh and so there you'll see a lot of things in the coming years.

It's coming.

Well, I just want to make sure that we understand what's being reported.

Um, because if I look at this and I didn't know that there's a whole thing, um, I would only think that we've allocated the um amounts that we're showing on the report for design.

So you're just telling us that it is in design.

Yeah, generally the budgets reflect the total cost of the project.

Okay, design and construction.

And I would go back to Splosh One.

People ask where'd the money go?

Well, we're pretty much spent 94% of it.

It's on the ground.

So Splosh 2, the expectation is we'll be pretty close, six, seven years finished.

Well, I want to personally uh welcome Chris and uh Eugene to the Cab County.

Welcome.

Um we these two areas are the areas where we get a lot of um, let's say interest uh from our community.

Uh one, we do want to keep the cab uh beautiful.

Uh, but we also use a lot of the initiatives in sanitation for community, not just engagement, but we are also working together in collaboration.

And I think that's where Dr.

Austin was thinking about for the opportunities for some of our communities to work with the cab in uh keeping that together.

Whether we are HOA or not, we are uh citizens of the Cab County, and anything that you guys need uh from that, we are here to help.

So that is what I'm gonna stand with right now, but I have other questions.

Uh thank you so much for those presentations and residents.

Thank you guys for being here this late at night.

Um dinner will be served, so it's hang around.

That was a joke.

Um two questions though.

Um, number one, um Eugene, this may be in in your wheelhouse.

Um, the scope beautification, is that something ongoing?

Is there a set schedule?

It does it happen once every quarter, or is it a once and one and done, or is it an actual schedule?

Well, from the beautification perspective, that's ongoing.

And certain things, you know, we have schedules.

We have mowing schedules for certain areas, we have curb bumping, we have different things.

Um, those schedules are set based on growth and you know, vegetation growth and things like that, but it's ongoing process.

Okay.

I guess I understood beautification as like people littering and all that debris being collected.

So that's not that's one scope.

Okay, I guess there's multiple facets of this that compiles one pot, which is beautification.

Gotcha.

Okay, that makes sense.

And if I could just dovetail momentarily on the comment, because when you mentioned um, you know, the understanding that it is picking up litter and such, which which is a key component, um, as uh Director McKinney mentioned, and in many ways it's unfortunate.

The fact that we allocate millions of dollars on an annual basis, picking up litter because why?

Because someone threw it down.

And so, as citizens, which we all are the Cab County residents, citizens, um, to the extent we can help promote keeping the cab clean and beautiful.

Kind of the whole, like they have the don't mess with Texas, don't mess with the cab, because the monies could be spent in other places, but it is our effort.

Uh the governing authorities, CEO and the board of commissioners recognize that if we don't do it, then it's going to look much worse.

So that's why we invest in the beautification business unit, probably about five million dollars a year that goes into whether it's picking up tires, picking up debris or landscaping and things like that.

And I'd piggyback with Zach, we've got Director Gordon here for public works, picking the trash up helps stormwater control.

And the um uh thank you for the feedback.

Um the second question that I think maybe this may be um for Chris.

Um the money man, all right.

Um second question is um are we expediting any of the any of the esplos work to support all the FIFA activities?

And if so, uh how's that being funded?

I would say no.

These are long-range capital improvements.

So FIFA's happening right now.

I drove through Decatur on the way here.

They had the streets blocked off, they had their watch party there, and people in their Mexican banners, like it was Mexico versus South Africa.

They had a big crowd down to Nicator, even with the rain shower.

But no, Splosh would not contribute to operations and maintenance.

But the buzz, some of y'all might remember 1994.

Was anybody here in 1994?

What did Atlanta host?

Yeah.

No, 1996 was the Olympics.

1994, Atlanta hosted one of nine cities.

World Cup came to North America.

So the buzz from that, some of the park projects, even predate page, suddenly the old Little League ball fields at 285 and Memorial Drive.

What's that road?

We bought the DOT property last night.

Yeah, anyway, it's a uh uh uh the parallel road of 285 between Kensington and Memorial, Belvedere Park, I think it was called at that time.

The little league fields, my wife's little brother played there.

Mid-90s, they got converted soccer fields because the demand went was exponential.

So I think in the cab, Chris Baskin, we got a lot of soccer fields.

Okay.

Thank you.

All right, thank you all for that presentation.

Um, and also thank you, Dr.

Austin, for that question about the HOAs and improvement in that area.

Um, I want to point out that Dr.

Bolton, um, Commissioner Bolton has a beautification program that's offered grants, so that might be able to cover that.

Um, I do have questions about connecting our parts to trails, um, particularly around Shoal Creek 1, 2, and 3.

Um, we met with part pride a couple of years back, and we were concerned about connecting those parts, and I want to know does splash cover um connections between parts and trails.

It does, or it it has and it will, but because trails are expensive, the trail systems that are budgeted and one we hope will get underway this year.

I think we've got the Donzi Road easements worked out, we'll connect Custer, Moorland Avenue, Belt Line Area down to Gresham Park eventually.

Phase one will get you to Crestdale and Bouldercrest.

And then the last two pieces of then there's another piece, Michelle Obama connection from Crestdale down to Bouldercrest, will go to design this year, and then there's a missing piece of the South River Trail from Waldruck to MLK High School.

So that will those South River Trail pieces are funded with Splosh.

And in the northern part of the county, Splosh is helping with was it uh Northford Peace Ray Creek and one other trail uh connection.

So we're possible, and oh full disclosure, I forgot.

The board has approved uh the uh we're gonna go to bid for the medlock park to Lula Hills, formerly known as North Decad Mall Trail.

That'll go to construction probably this year or early next year.

So it's connecting parks to trails is a big part of the parks and transportations master plan.

Okay.

Um so there are some private developments.

I believe there's something behind the charm recycling.

I think that's supposed to be some type of part.

And then we have the soccer field off of Glenwood.

Is there I guess the word is coordination to kind of connect all of those private facilities with the Cab County facilities, or is that not legally feasible?

We'll put Paige on the spot.

I'm we can take a look, but I'm thinking the property behind the charm, we still own that.

Correct.

It's under construction, yeah.

Right.

Okay.

Um the Glenwood Soccer field, that is private.

And I think you're speaking of master planning for three.

So that is a design slide that Chris had a little earlier.

So that is it's going to come, it's just not something that's in the splots program now.

Like there is a central corridor up through the Shul Creek.

Oh, thank you.

I was gonna say, would you mind repeating that whole thing?

Yes.

So yes, the corridor that you're speaking about was part of the master plan for Shul Creek One, two, and three, which has now been renamed.

Um so that is still that is in the trails master plan.

And so, yes, that will come to fruition in the future.

It's not currently in design.

The Glenwood property that you're speaking of, the soccer, that is private, but you're correct, the connection would come through there.

So, yes, there would, that's what we're doing, is connecting that community to the trail system.

Belvidere park, which is the Columbia Drive Soccer fields that we were talking about, that is park property, and the Belvedere Park is um making that sort of, you know, that's kind of come in phases.

So it's sort of stepping through that.

So that Belvedere portion that's under construction now does have a pedestrian access back through that neighborhood.

And eventually all that's gonna be continuous.

That's the goal.

Okay.

And I do want to point out I think it would be cool if it can all can connect also to the South Pick the Cab Mall, but I know that's probably more of a transportation question.

Um I did have another question.

You mentioned beautification with Marta.

I know people would probably have a lot of questions about where beautification stops and where MARTA takes over that.

Um do you have any clarification on that?

I'm sorry, I know we're taking care of some some baskets at some locations, but I would refer to that from a historical perspective.

And then just to share um one of the issues and that we had negotiated a few years ago with Marta, and we will be revisiting is uh maintenance of bus stops.

Um and that is a responsibility that Marta has uh and we will continue to encourage them to uh um take care of that.

Okay.

So another question I have is a years back we did a Columbia Glenwood small area plan, and I know it's non-binding, um, but there was a suggestion about road diet dieting the road to Glenwood, and I wanted to know if Splosh would cover beautification of essentially creating a more tree-lined um road where Glenwood and Columbia meets.

Is that covered under splash and is there a project that we can expect to see?

The beautification aspects are not part of a current splash project, but splost is completing the sidewalk on Glenwood from Columbia to Covington to match what was built a few years ago from Columbia to the west of the city of Atlanta.

Okay.

Um I believe that's all the questions I have.

Thank you all.

Thank you, Larry.

Um, so um I was at the NH Scott pool opening as we met.

Um, and some things that stood out to me was just you know how the deferred maintenance and how it took 20 years to get the project done, right?

So I guess my first question is what are we doing to make sure that our current our current pools, our current infrastructure is not going to take 20 years to complete?

Yeah, yeah, that's a great question.

Um, and what we've been developing a plan to do internally is revisit our parks master plan, um, identifying where that deferred maintenance is, which parks, which ones we need to focus on, prioritize them, and then look at funding sources.

Um, as Chris mentions, was two has already been allocated, so it's up for us to to now once we've identified the projects where we need to focus our uh our attention now try to find the funding source.

So it's a ongoing conversation that we're constantly having, but we're gonna use that master plan update to help guide us.

So that will will involve community engagement and then we'll hope to make sure that none of our other uh facilities take 20 years, but um that is an ongoing challenge that we're always addressing.

Awesome.

So with that being said, is there a scoring system that you guys have in place for parks and facilities?

Yeah, so so there's a mechanism.

Um we like to lean on our consultants because a lot of times our our maintenance team, they're um tracking internally, but then when we have an outside consultant to come in and rate our park system, um, it helps us to determine where we need to focus our efforts.

So that is the goal.

And you spoke of NA, Scott, and I'll use that as a great example.

Um, through the design process, our team may ensure that all of those maintenance things that we need to consider going forward is taken care of so that we don't have an issue where we're coming back five years from now talking about major repairs.

So we're doing that.

We just gotta make sure we have the funding allocated to be able to make sure that we're addressing all of our um new facilities throughout.

So, what contractors are involved with that?

With uh with the master plan, we can master plan and organization.

Um so we have uh on calls, um, we work with a lot of architect and engineer firms that we can utilize.

So we're going through the process now of selecting someone to do our master plan update.

We've narrowed it down to what two firms, I believe.

Yeah, we narrowed it down to two firms.

They're gonna give us a proposal because what we're gonna look at is making sure that we have a plan that we can actually utilize and looking at other plans that these firms have uh put together for other jurisdictions in order to make sure we have something that's a working plan for our department that's looking at every park, every rec center, every facility that we own and operate, so that we can make sure that we're we're set for the future.

Because this is a 10-year plan.

Does the county not have the resources to perform those actions themselves, or is it an additional cost that we're occurring by going to consultants?

Yeah, so that's that's another great question.

And I can tell you, I have seen it done both ways.

I've seen an internal plan that's been created, and I can tell you when you lean on such a matter of experts to come in and go in and look, do that inventory and take a hard look, it's a more viable plan for your park system versus internal staff trying to put that together.

And it takes a lot of time.

I can tell you right now at another presentation I share from a maintenance standpoint.

We we got about 25 to 30 park members on our maintenance team who are making sure they they they're mowing each park, making sure they're maintaining each park.

So to have them stop from doing that to go in and start trying to do uh a deep dive and defer maintenance is going to be challenging.

So that's why we like to lean on those um subject matter experts, so consultants to help take a deep dive and give us an outside look on our parks to make sure that we're able to address everything that we might not see.

So the answer is no, we do not have the resources that we would be able to do the those type of things ourselves.

Right.

I don't think the resources to do the daily tasks and that the whole beauty of the SPLOSS effort, which is why we we sought to get the SPLOS is because we recognize we weren't able to do it all.

And so, in order to optimize the use of our resources, we keep our folks just like bringing in Atlas to manage the SPLOS program overall.

We figure if we have our staff focused on the daily work, and then we can augment our staff with consultants, that's the way we can get more done.

Thank you for explaining how uh we're leveraging consultants.

Um, you know, at NH Scott, you know, the biggest question somebody asked me who was one of the presenters was um, you know, from a maintenance perspective, um, like the county has a maintenance department, parks and rec has a maintenance department, I assume.

How do we manage the responsibility of maintenance?

Like, you know, there is a ton of destroyment between roads and drainage and uh public works where things overlap and their projects are you know not cohesive.

What is the relationship you guys have with the maintenance, the county maintenance?

Yeah, we have a relationship with our internal facilities department.

I I want to make sure I understand what what you're referencing.

Are you saying ongoing routine maintenance?

Is there a direction of duty between who maintains so if if somebody says, hey, the bathhouse is broken, do they call parks and rec maintenance or do they call Yeah, I'll take that.

Yeah, I'll take that.

So no, there's not a derelictive duty.

Okay.

Um our facilities management department manages approximately one million square feet.

Okay.

Um and so they do that between their internal staff, trades personnel, L cleaning personnel and so forth, and a number of contracts.

Um as Mr.

Bass entrant uh mentioned earlier, I think what was it, 62,000 acres of park uh facilities.

So that requires um, you know, some consultants to manage to plan, some contractors to help maintain, and internal staff.

So, you know, our feeling, quite frankly, is by doing the combination, in many instances, what we find is we don't have to pay benefits for certain, you know, employees.

And in many instances, there are specialized skills that it would be not it wouldn't be cost effective if we kept them on board um full time.

So, you know, on a case by case basis, we determine what is the best way of delivering service, and you know, in many inch instances, it's some internal and some external okay.

Um I don't have too many more questions.

Um then do we have access to those design documents at all um for the SWOS two projects?

Are are those going to be made available to the public or to the committee?

We generally don't publish those.

They're available exactly, you know, come by visit the office, is there any development?

And of course, once they go to bid, they're public records for contractors to bid on.

Yeah.

Okay.

Mr.

Binner.

Um yeah, that uh and my last question, just again, you know, being fairly new to the county.

What is what what are some experiences that um you're bringing from your past experiences?

Um, what what is a successful beautification um department look like?

What is a successful parks and rec department look like?

Does that mean that bathrooms are unlocked and functioning?

What does it mean to you?

I'll say that's some it's a great question, kind of across the industry.

I've I've lived and operated in what we call some clean cities or beautiful beautified cities or very attractive cities.

And I've looked at some of the components would make them considered uh the clean city, right?

I think the CAB is a very well-maintained beautification program.

We have a lot of dedicated employees.

Um, you know, from the sanitation side, not say from the beautification side, I want the CAP County to be the cleanest most beautiful city in the Southeast United States.

So that's the strategy, right?

Now the goals are that we're on top of everything as schedule.

We're networking and engaging with the community.

We're getting feedback and we're responding.

Again, um, COO mentioned litter.

We're putting, you know, we're spending all this on litter, maybe education and awareness on that and how it slows progress down from getting other things done because we got to backtrack and do things like that, right?

So there are some model cities out there and communities, but the cabs right there as well.

So it's like for me, it's a well-baked cake and putting a little sweet icing on it.

Yeah.

So thank you for the question.

When you're done, Chris, I'll respond to you.

And and I'll just share for me uh personally, what I see as a successful um community is one that has parks that regardless of what part of the county you live in, you have safe, clean, and accessible parks, and all of them have that same level of service, a high level of service throughout.

So yeah, and and just to to kind of put a bow on it, um, as it relates to to parks, a lot of and really all the services we provide, we like to look at what what's our real objective, right?

So when we talk about parks, not only do they need to be clean, safe, and open, um, they need to have the type of programming that young people want to participate in.

Because when we look at parks, we see we're in competition, right?

We're competing with drug dealers with gangs and all the other things that young people can be attracted to.

So our parks not only do they have to be inviting, we have to program them in a way that they're attractive to young people.

Okay.

As it relates to beautification, we see a lot of our responsibility kind of look at the broken window theory, right?

So if you allow communities to look neglected, people will treat them as if they're neglected.

And then that will invite and allow for crime to fester.

So what we've tried to do with the beautification unit with code enforcement and with all of the other efforts surrounding addressing how the community aesthetic, we believe it's important that people, when they drive into their neighborhood, it looks like something they can be proud of.

And it doesn't look inviting to criminals and to nefarious conduct.

So that's kind of the philosophy behind what we're doing.

Does that make sense?

Yes, sir.

Love that reduce crime and promote health.

So thank you, presenters.

Um, again, looking forward to uh many years to come.

Hopefully, you know, we have um many more of these types of presentations and learn learn more about the future of parks and rec and sanitation.

Um so with that, we are ready for our public comment section.

Um were cards already passed out.

Do we have the cards collected?

Yeah, thank you.

Would you like uh Mr.

Coke?

We have uh a little feedback from last time.

Uh Deputy COO Brown can just report out on some of the things that uh were part of last public comment.

Just a little follow-up before you hear other.

Would you like to hear?

Okay.

Okay, we're good.

All right.

Good evening, all.

So we received a three comments or inquiries from public comment.

And one of them was what is the rationale for filling in the large circular area surrounding manholes uh after the rest of the road has already been resurfaced.

And the response is this process allows for the ability to adjust manhole liz after resurfacing.

Okay.

Next, what is the timeline to have old McDonough, not McDonald's, roll between Transport City Drive and Lancaster Road rehab, reclaimed, and repaved.

Uh the road is currently being reduced to gravel and dust.

Currently, Meth was Metro South CID fills many of the larger potholes with stones as a short-term remedy to the road's deterioration.

And the response is currently there is no project or timeline for this segment of road.

Uh the road will need to undergo a design reconstruction and funding.

And the final question was what is the timeline to have Wesley Chapel restriped?

Uh, this is a main thoroughfare utilized by many members of local church, and it will be helpful to know and share.

And the response is striping on Wesley Chapel has begun.

Okay.

Thank you all.

One quick question.

There's also just today we've had some conversations with South Metro.

Mr.

Kaiser's here.

So in the coming weeks, I think there'll be some discussions between the county and the CID.

Remember, CIDs exist to self-tax and leverage their local money for larger state and federal.

So not to get too far off topic.

The spreadsheet talks about Constitution Road Roundabout.

That's a project.

The board just approved the final condemnation for a difficult property owner.

So it's three million dollars in splost, two million dollars for state of Georgia to improve traffic connectivity in that Constitution Road Bouldercrest area, Moreland Drive.

And any day now, Cedar Croke Cedar Grove Bridge over the railroad should open.

We had the final punch through today.

Handful of items have got to clear up before they open the traffic.

So we have soft opening and a larger grand opening this summer for a ribbon cutting.

So since since you brought up the comments from last uh meeting, um, was there anybody addressing Mr.

Rod uh Fearson's um concerns about the sanitation vehicles depositing debris and residue um over newly surfaced roads?

Was that on your list of follow-ups?

No, sir.

I didn't have that from his public comment statements.

I don't know if that was something he said in addition to what he said at the microphone.

Yes, sir.

We'll share um the comments uh from the previous meeting.

Okay, so we can follow up with the Mr.

Farrers.

Of course.

Um for backstory, um, the gentleman was and it happens in in several neighborhoods where you know they leave a big old streak of that whatever that fluid is that leaks out the back, or even worse, when a trash truck will start turning their wheel before they start moving, that digs this the asphalt up, and now we have big old turn spots.

So, like, you know, again, if if we can make that notice to the drivers, that would be the deliverable.

It's just like, hey, let's not grease up the roads.

Yeah.

Is that an issue that you guys see frequently?

Well, so a couple things built into that.

One of the things um that we started an initiative checking tailgate sales.

That seal is very important.

I think we went back to the conversation with glass, right?

When you start putting glass in those trucks, and it's the compaction process, that glass will nick that seal.

Now it's leaking, right?

But every truck is built with orfices, it's built to breathe.

So there's going to be some degree of leaking.

There's going to be some degree.

Um, we just had a lot of rain in a short period of time, right?

And it's been a somewhat of a drought, right?

That gets in there, there's tunnels on the top of the truck.

This did they breathe, right?

It gets in, so you're gonna have some of those things.

Now we want we want to work diligently to avoid those things like that.

Now, is it come it it comes to the kind of start turning the truck before you driving?

I've seen some things like that, especially on a freshly paved road.

So that's more of an education thing.

We'll take out take that information back home, and it'll be an education piece.

Hey, that's what it's all about.

Appreciate that.

Just let them know.

All right, so I think we're up to the public comment.

So I think we're up to the public comment.

Would you like me to read off the names?

Yes, please.

Okay.

And we'll be keeping time in the back.

Uh each uh if we're gonna keep with the historical three minutes.

The first speaker is Mr.

Larry Kaiser.

A familiar face, board agenda, a proposition to my board members uh to fund 100% of the design plans, construction plans, right-of-way plans, utility plans uh for design of Old McDonough Road and Lancaster Road.

For developing those plans contingent upon two parts.

Part one.

The Ceb County would agree to acquire the necessary right-of-way on Lancaster Road and on McDonough Road, which will equate to be about two acres in totality in order to improve the roads to about a 60-foot of rideway and 24 to 26 foot of pavement.

No need for curb and gutter, uh rural dirt and ditch section we find.

Um part B would be that the developer on Lancaster Road would agree to perform all of the improvements to both roads.

That developer has agreed to do so.

So part B of that is already done, at least verbally to us.

And I suspect uh with the county saying yes to this, I hope in terms of acquiring the right-of-way, uh, they would go ahead and proceed forward with the work once the right-of-way is acquired.

So that's about a million and a half dollars worth of road work.

3,600 linear feet in totality, uh, and what a deal.

What a rate on free or what an ROI on that.

Um, and so the hope is uh that when I send the invitation, or I should say the request uh to the board of commissioners, send it to CEO and our district three industries commissioners, Mr.

Gordon, uh, Mr.

Kingsbury, and everybody else that needs to be uh copied, which is Mr.

Mr.

Zachary Williams as well.

Uh hopefully we'll get a response back so that we can begin the design work right away as a CID.

And if it takes a few months uh for it to go through subcommittees, et cetera, then we're willing to wait and we can proceed on with design work until that that approval occurs for the Cab County.

Obviously, there has to be a number of agreements assigned from the developer, which I suspect they would do it tomorrow if if the county would say yes to this now.

Uh so we're anxious to get this done as we talked about last time, and as I mentioned at our my board meeting, uh, how many dirt roads exist in industrial areas in a metro Atlanta area?

None that I'm aware of, unless I'm wrong.

Are there a few?

Okay.

So anyway, uh that's the that's the situation.

Thank you so much.

Good evening.

Thank you.

Next speaker is Jeanette Dunbar.

Good evening, everyone.

Good evening.

Yes, I'm Jeanette, and I live in the Belladere area.

I'm a community advocate in that area.

And I see where uh the roads have been torn up.

Work has been done on Rupert Road and some other roads in the area, but they have not been repaid.

So my question is when will we get them repaid?

Because they are rough and trying to drive through there to get to where we need to go, might be tearing up my car.

But anyway, that's my question.

When will they be repaid?

Thank you.

Yes, ma'am, thank you.

Okay.

Next speaker is Jocelyn O'Neal.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Uh I left my glasses at home, so I'm gonna struggle through this.

Uh, Mr.

McKinney, I definitely need to uh no, I don't think so.

I don't think so.

No, no, no, no, no.

I I appreciate it.

He's so kind.

I love him.

Uh uh, Mr.

McKinnon, I want to meet you, and I got my card.

Greater Towers Community Association.

And uh some of the things with sanitation that I'm dealing with is we have people in the community that rake their yards, they rake their leaves and their debris to the corners to the curbs close to the drains.

And I just love it.

They came through this past week, seven days, and they did.

They bumped my curves, and and it's just simply beautiful.

I can't believe it.

So thank you all so much for that.

Um, in my community park, it's a little small park's beautiful park, well kept.

I want to say that they keep it up really well, but we have had vandalizing going on this week.

Summer camp just started, and twice this week we've had some damage.

I'm gonna look for the lady's truck who took our stuff.

I'm not gonna confront her, but I'm going to find out where she lives in my neighborhood because we have problems with our children.

We have stuff for our small children.

We have a nice basketball court for our older children, but that 11 to 14 age, we don't have anything for them to do, and they are very destructive.

And I'm gonna play this 32-second thing here that I want you all to hear.

Um, the lady says um they did a grand thing when they took discipline away from our schools.

Hopefully, I can make this play very well.

We found out the teachers we're making the rest of the business.

This is the kids.

I've shared that with a lot of folks because that's true.

I worked in the school system and I fight for them, but I'm not going back in the classroom with anything that looks like two legs.

Okay.

So I just want to say uh that's one of the issues that we're having.

And these are not kids, these are children.

We want to stay away from that word kids because that's a baby goat.

And if you ever been on the country and I'm a country girl, the head is real hard.

We don't want them to think that they are goats.

We want them to know that they're children, youth, and you can't even look in the Bible.

The word kids is not there.

It's either babes or children.

So I just want to say we need some uh equipment in our little park because we have stuff for the young ones and the older ones, but there's nothing there for our seniors.

Our seniors need at least two or three pieces of equipment.

I'll go down to Kirkwood and I've seen what they have down there, down on Moorland and um whatever that is, Memorial.

There they have a couple of nice pieces that are for seniors.

I don't know how we can do that, but we need to do that.

Um that's the main thing.

Um, I just want to say thank you to Mr.

Gordon for coming out.

We do need some street, uh, some speed humps in our neighborhood.

Many of you probably saw the news report where the new where the postal worker was killed two doors away from me.

I was probably the first person that realized what was going on because they go up and down our streets so fast that you can't tell if it's a man or woman.

You don't know if it's red from a stone in the car.

But we need some help with the speed humps, whatever we can do.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mr.

Chair, I have no other speakers.

I was on alert.

Okay, no, no.

I'm sorry.

Um it's okay, Mr.

Yeah, come on up.

Yep, if you just state your name.

State your name and call on it.

My name is Eric Madden.

I'm a resident of the Stonewood uh neighborhood and south of Stone Mountain Park.

I've lived there for almost 37 years.

Um the reason for my visit tonight is ever since day one.

I moved to my neighborhood 37 years ago.

The entrance has been very bumpy.

It's been like a pig trail.

Well, I've never complained about that.

My problem is is I've had paving equipment in my neighborhood three times in the last couple of years.

And they're paving roads, which I feel are not as bad as the one that I feel like needs to be paved.

Um my thoughts is when you have limited funds, you should be serving the most amount of people with the least amount of money.

Currently, what I'm saying is we're spending the most amount of money to service the least amount of people.

Um I feel like I've been patient, waiting for 37 years.

That being said, um, there's other priorities in the county, more important than my neighborhood.

Y'all should not even be in my neighborhood paving a call to side.

There's other needs that are higher priority than those.

And even the road that I'm complaining about.

So I feel like y'all need more citizen input on what should be done.

I tried talking to one of your representatives for they came out and visited me and we talked for over an hour, and I still don't know how your grading process works of how y'all determine what road needs to be gone next.

So I'm a confused citizen.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Please fill out that card.

What was the name of your road?

I have everything right here in paper that I was handed from the man.

This evening's been very helpful.

I think he may take care of me, but uh okay.

The road in question is Mince Road.

Y'all y'all came in uh I think uh two years ago and paved the good half of the road.

You didn't pay the bad half of the road.

Uh the intersection that I would like to fix, because I live right by Stone Mountain.

There's a big three three thousand acre blockage there, and there's roads around that are the that are choke points.

There's one road in particular that goes by the old airport.

We can get that information to you.

Okay.

Okay.

Yeah, um the road that goes by the airport, that's a choke point.

There's you have three thousand acres, you can't get in there.

There's fences all around.

So this road gets backed up every afternoon, every day it gets backed up.

I used to spend a lot of time near their intersection.

There was wrecks, bad wrecks there.

So I mean yeah, used to be a dangerous intersection.

So it's a three-way intersection, and you could take Sir that there's a three-minute time limit.

So we will be happy to get the information.

Okay.

Thank you.

Next speaker is Nina Sheath.

Hello, everyone.

Uh thank you for beautifying our neighborhoods.

Um, I just have one uh two questions, actually.

One is uh I see a lot of overflowing trash cans where the the sh the lid doesn't even come down.

And if it's a windy day, the trash blows everywhere.

So that's why we have a a lot of litter created by that.

Uh that's one.

And the second one is uh the lady from Belvedere Park was asking about when the roads are going to be paved.

Uh my street has been um they've replaced all the water lines, which is great, but uh just uh one strip that's been uh there's a strip in the middle of the street that's new, and then the rest of it is old, and it just kind of looks stacky.

Uh so that may be something you want to beautify also.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Karen Douglas.

Good evening, everyone.

I'm not sure if you were the body to address this to, but I'm gonna put it out here.

We have been very pleased with the paving of ISEP of 78 up until the point where you get to Memorial Drive.

They paved the part that needed it the least.

The part from Memorial Drive to Park Place is a disgrace.

There are craters, there are areas where the road has been gouged out, and I'm wondering why have they stopped the paving right before they got to Memorial Drive?

And what when is the that part going to be paved?

Thank you.

Thank you.

I'm not sure, madam, but I think that might be a federal road.

Okay.

Mr.

Chair, there are no other speakers.

All righty.

Um, so uh with that being said, the last thing we wanted to just uh talk about um the uh CO Williams has instructed us for any documentation, for example, these design um documentations um for us to compile those and to put them in writing.

Um, for example, uh one of the questions we asked was how uh the road scoring system, right?

Is that publishable?

Um every time Dr.

Allen is you know putting together um specific road scores when we do these inquiries, but we're wondering um again, what do we have to do?

We're not asking for the documents themselves.

We are just asking simply when you tell us that there is an ecological study done, there should be some sort of documentation.

Like what is that file?

Um, and we're not even asking to view the file.

We are asking for is it available?

Do you have when you do a $90,000 design phase on a sidewalk?

Do you have documentation and proof that that study has been done?

Um so the the again um CO Williams has asked that we um for specific projects, we give them um written notice of what those documents are, and it is a little bit unclear of what the obligation um of um the the the uh the county staff to provide that documentation again.

We just want to know if these documents exist.

Mr.

Chair, you're asking me a question.

Yes.

Um what uh well again, so what is going to be the next process when we ask for design documentation?

Sure.

Here's what I would suggest.

Okay, and then I will let the attorney but when the board or when the uh committee has a specific request, I think as a matter of course it would be good to take it up in a form just like this, and you know, whether it's in writing or not, I don't know how necessary, but and you vote.

You know, if this is something that you want as a body, um, just make the request.

Um if it's public information, I'm going to provide it or have staff provide it.

So, you know, our our goal is to be as disclosive and transparent as possible.

So if there are specific things that this body would like, just make the request.

Okay, so I guess that's the homework, right?

So, Chair James, you suggesting that we come up with a list of projects in which we want the documentations for studies and um consultants, though those type of documents, we come up with a list and then we present it on agenda.

I think that would help our end of the year report immensely.

Um as a point of clarity, I think that uh listening to um um COO, basically, if we as a body want that information, then we come together and agree on whether that is something we need to collect, as opposed to us unilaterally or individually asking for information because it becomes cumbersome and confusing if it's not if we're not speaking as one body.

I think that's what I heard.

And if you can point, make clarity on that.

Yeah, yeah, in large part.

And then I think the the whole purpose is to ensure we're transparent, right?

So if there's information that this body would like, you make the request.

And we can we can you know talk about it, we can put it on the agenda.

Um, but I think uh for the benefit of this whole effort, um, to the extent we have conversations in this setting, it's all recorded.

Yes, you know, people can go back and watch it, can review, and then we are all have the same understanding.

But you know, our role is to ensure that if there's information that is available and appropriate for release, that that's what we are going to do.

Mr.

Presiding Officer, are you you talking about information before a contract is let out?

Because if a study is being done, it is my thought that the commission has to vote in order for the study to be done.

Now I don't know if the process has changed, but years before, you could click on the number of the agenda item, and a preliminary report, maybe three or four pages would come up of the actual document and and what is being bid on.

Now, if you want to go further from there after reading that, then I think you're perfectly, you know, welcome to go through and like ask for more information, but there is a lot of preliminary information.

If you just click on the side of the agenda item, does that still work, Zach?

Uh yes, so that that is the uh, you know, that definitely works.

Additionally in many instances with like master plans and things, we bring those to the board for approval.

Um so that there's already a public record of those, but we're we're happy to provide or or you know show you how to get information, whatever is necessary.

But I think just having the conversation in this forum keeps us all on the same page.

Mr.

Chair, I'd like to be recognized, please.

Yes, sir.

Um I'm Terry Phillips, interim county attorney, and I'd like to assist you with this discussion.

I'm reading from your resolution that created this body.

Paragraph nine.

The CEO or her designee shall attend each meeting of the SPLAS 2 residence committee and she'll make available all information, input, and assistance that is reasonable and necessary for the SPLAS 2 residence committee to perform its duties.

You decide what you want.

You decide as a body what's reasonable and necessary.

If the county can make it available, it will.

A very simple example is in the middle of a competitive procurement, we cannot provide documents to you.

That is closed.

Once that is available, it would be provided to you.

If you ask for something that the county thought was not proper, we would have a discussion with you.

If you ask for something that could not be provided, we would identify the fact that it's not available because of a competitive procurement or some other reason.

That is the basis for how you will get a response from the county.

I hope that helps.

If I may.

So uh this is perhaps just an example.

So let's say you have a SPLOSS uh initiative for design of a specific project.

At the end of that design, before it goes out to bid, those design documents exist.

Is it proper for are those are those generally public, or is that something that we might reasonably request?

Those are not generally public.

If you think through the process, any document that's going to be internal to a competitive procurement package, releasing that could contaminate that process.

If there was an accusation that a bidder got their hands on it before others did, they have a competitive advantage.

That would be an example where we may not be able to release it even to you as a body to protect the county's process.

Okay.

Mr.

Chair, can I ask a question?

Of course.

Um so we do have teamworks.

Is it possible?

What I would like to see is to share a splash funds being spent towards studies versus implementation.

Is that possible to see?

Okay.

Absolutely.

All right.

I guess I should clarify, I did hear Mr.

Koch explain two different requests.

One is confirmation that something exists.

Confirmation that something exists is different than a copy of it.

Right.

So you have to be precise in your request so the county understands what you're seeking.

I just want to note that we've had over a month a request to understand if specific documentation has been created for the design phase of the Fraser Road sidewalk and bridge expansion in the county has not responded.

So that's why we bring this up, but we do appreciate the clarity on, you know, you guys don't seem like you want ad hoc requests from this body.

You want us to come up with a list.

Just to clarify, Mr.

Chair.

So this request that you're speaking of, this this was made in this forum?

This body made the request?

Yeah, this was this was emailed to you.

Um, so it was not made in this forum?

Correct.

Okay.

So you do not want ad hoc emails when people hit us up and say, hey, what's going on with this project?

You would prefer us not to ask you, you would prefer it to bring up in this format.

Yes, we would like we would prefer to get the request as a body.

Heard, yeah.

Okay, thank you for the clarity.

Again, that's why we wanted to go over this at the end of the meeting.

Sure.

Um, but this was educational as well.

I I want to add one piece that I offered to this group when you were starting.

Any one of you can make a motion that you ask for something, look for a second, and have a vote.

So if an individual thinks that the body should support their request, that is the way to solicit that support and have the collective decision made.

Okay.

Thank you.

Sorry, can could I make a follow-up question?

Um the question of the of the design.

Uh let's say, for example, the county was designing a new swimming pool for a neighborhood or for a new swimming pool, and they completed the design.

Would it not be in the interest of the county to make that design public for public comment?

For example, that's just an example.

I understand.

It's hard to answer a hypothetical.

Let me start there.

But if it is available publicly and there is no reason that the county would have for withholding it, we would likely share it.

It's a matter of timing more often than not.

That's that's typically the issue.

The example I offered you up front was one where it's going to be a part of a competitive procurement, and we wouldn't want people to see it at a different time.

So using that example for your benefit, once the package is published, and that design is a part of the package, anyone can get a copy of that from the procurement team.

So we would obviously provide that to this body if this body wanted to review.

Okay.

Wouldn't it be too late at that point for public input?

By the time you go out to bid, it's generally just too late.

I'm not sure what you mean too late, too late for what.

Too late.

Let's say the let's say the design is not acceptable to the community for, for example, or it's something that uh uh that just that that you would want public input on a design.

I mean, you don't want to build uh a facility that the public didn't want and say you can't see it because it's too late it's gone out to bid, for example.

Yeah, thank thank you, Mr.

Chair.

So Mr.

I'm wondering maybe we'll come back at a future discussion and kind of talk through the master planning process so that you can you know so that the body can see here is how when designs are done and and plans are laid out.

This is the process for getting compute community input because I think without having an understanding of that, it would be easy, quite frankly, to have the impression that we could or that we would design something in a vacuum, but I think once we share here's what the process is, and the the parks professionals will be able to do that, it may give you a sense of comfort.

Would that be helpful?

No, I think we're talking about pro progress development that that during the process of design, do you would get public input?

Yeah.

Yes, that's understand that.

Okay, thank you.

So with that, is there a motion to adjourn?

Uh Jamie, did you want to bring forth a motion to have Fraser Row looked at to get the information on Fraser Road?

Row?

I would like to make a motion.

Um I would like to request somebody else make the motion to request the documentation on Fraser Road.

Well, I'll request the I'd like to make a motion to request the information on Fraser Row.

Is there a second?

I was second it.

You made the motion?

So I do make the motion.

Okay.

Pardon me for being too polite.

Steve, is I move that.

Yes.

Okay.

Isn't that something a soul singer would say?

It may be, but just because I like it, don't mean I want to do it.

That's all.

Sorry if you do we know what that information is, or is it uh just um I think if you're going to make a motion, it needs to be a little more specific.

It would be helpful.

Uh that's my suggestion.

Yes.

Um, we are running a little long if we if um there's no objection to um continuing this conversation for another 10 minutes.

But is that is that okay?

No, we're in the middle of so is that okay to uh ask if there's further discuss uh it could there be further discussion?

But first somebody has to second.

Somebody oh, you second?

Sorry, sorry, didn't hear that so discussion um uh for the project um Fraser Road sidewalk concept, um conceptual designs and layout for sidewalk shoulder improvements have been in um created.

Um the committee in district again, this is a district two project, um super district six.

We're asking what documentations was produced.

Was there a CAD file or was there, and again, the main three questions we're not asking to actually view these files, we're asking for what exists, where is it stored, and where can it, and if it could be retrieved.

Um the specifics are the conceptual design for layout of the shoulder improvements.

What is that document?

Um evaluation of the east-west alignment alternatives and associated, what documentation did you create to determine if the sidewalk is going on the north or south side of the road?

Is the question that again um site distance analysis?

Uh what formal analysis has been performed, right?

These are all basic questions.

If you're gonna spend 90,000, we want to understand where these assessments were made.

Um, the environmental screening, finding um the GIS and delineation data, where is that report?

Where is that GIS data?

Um, general bridge assessment results from the burnt fork creek crossing.

Bird Fort Creek is one of the most intricate and uh important waterways in all of the Cab County, right?

So if an EPA study was done, where is that study, what exists, where is it stored, where it could be retrieved.

We're not asking for those documents.

We're asking for a motion for you guys to tell us if those things exist.

Does that make sense?

It makes sense to me if it will help your neighborhood what is going on.

Yes.

That's precisely right.

I'm just not sure what the motion is.

I mean, I understand that what you just said, but if you want to make a motion, you're gonna say a motion, reference this document, and then we can all say great.

Say again?

I don't know if I can allow how to do that.

I'm just re-state that we've done.

Okay.

Go for it, Charlie.

Uh Mr.

Attorney.

Can you uh advise and consult as far as to clear this up so we can get to the point?

I cannot advise you, but what I will say is what I heard is he has a list of things he wants confirmed, he wants this body to support him in getting the county to confirm they exist.

For Fraser Road.

That's right.

That's what he's asking.

If you guys want to get confirmation that that stuff exists.

Okay, thank you.

Okay, I move that according to eight 1B 4.3, Frasier Road Bridge evaluation and sidewalk concept about a month ago, it was requested of Chris and Jennifer confirmation of A through G.

One, what exists, two, where it is stored, and three, whether it can be retrieved by committee.

A, conceptual design and layout for the sidewalk and soldier shoulder improvements.

What documents, files were produced, plans, exhibits, CAD, et cetera?

Are these available and where are they stored?

B evaluations of east-west alignment alternatives and associated impacts.

Is there analyst or is there analysis or comparison documentation supporting this evaluation?

If so, where is it located?

C, site distance analysis and RRFB placement considerations.

Were formal analysis or supporting calculations produced?

Are these materials retrievable?

D, pedestrian bridge sitting, concept details, and cost assumptions.

What documentation supports the sitting decision and cost assumptions?

Are there concept exhibits or estimate backups available?

And E, environmental screening findings and any GIS are delineation data.

Second the motion.

Discussion?

No discussion.

So all in favor say aye.

Aye.

So moved.

So make a motion to adjourn.

Make the motion that we adjourn.

Is there any other comment before we adjourn?

Motion to adjourn?

No.

I second so be it.

All right.

Meeting adjourned.

Meeting is due.