OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

DeKalb County Public Works and Infrastructure Committee Meeting - July 7, 2026

Board of Commissioners & Committees — Tuesday, July 7, 2026
BodyDekalb County, Georgia
SessionBoard of Commissioners & Committees
DateTuesday, July 7, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:00:57

Transcript — Verbatim
0:08

Good afternoon, everyone.

0:09

I'm Commissioner Robert Patrick, Chair of Public Works and Infrastructure.

0:13

I share the greatness of this committee with my very invaluable colleagues.

0:19

Commissioner and Presiding Officer Shakira Johnson, as well as uh Commissioner and Fab Chair, Fab for Fabulous, uh, Commissioner Ted Terry.

0:28

And joined today, we have our ERPS committee chair as well.

0:32

Thank you, madam, for being here.

0:33

We appreciate the company.

0:34

Uh we have lots of good things here.

0:36

Um we have a very short time frame.

0:40

Commissioner Terry has told me five o'clock is a dead stop for him.

0:44

Um if we're able to go through a little bit further, and Commissioner Terry doesn't mind, we may tackle some additional items after that.

0:50

Uh I know that uh Public Works has a presentation for the 225 ish million dollars that may be ready for today for a present uh discussion that we'll have at the end.

1:00

That said, uh I think something that um uh is important and is gonna be a good conversation for us to have.

1:07

I believe this was through Commissioner Terry's office.

1:10

Youth Commission proposal, sidewalk maintenance and installation update.

1:14

I will say that sidewalks are super important.

1:17

Uh in my first term, I think we put about a hundred thousand dollars into identifying trip hazards within unincorporated district one sidewalks, as well as uh a company that could go down and grind those those trip hazards down.

1:29

Uh they in turn gave us, I think uh a fairly extensive GIS file of every panel within District One that has a broken sidewalk.

1:37

Again, this is the uh unincorporated area.

1:40

So sidewalks and walkability and connectivity is a high priority.

1:43

Uh if y'all are the youth commissioners, come on up here.

1:46

We want to please introduce yourselves.

1:56

Hello, everyone.

1:57

Oh, try it one more time.

1:59

Hello.

2:03

Hello.

2:07

There you go.

2:08

Oh, there we go.

2:09

Okay.

2:10

Hello, everyone.

2:10

Thank you so much for taking the time to listen to us today.

2:13

I am Anna Connors, and this is Riley Peret, and we will be talking to you all about improving the sidewalk infrastructure in DeCab County.

2:22

Oh, it's right there.

2:26

Riley Peret is a graduate from Decatur High School and will be attending the University of Georgia with plans to study international affairs.

2:34

Ms.

2:34

Peret got involved with DeCav's Youth Commission because she believes it is important to understand policies closest to home before addressing international legislation.

2:42

She is particularly interested in issues surrounding transportation and mobility.

2:48

Anna Connors is a rising junior at Midtown High School with a passion for international policy and advocacy.

2:54

Ms.

2:54

Connors intends to continue this passion in her undergraduate career.

2:58

One of her recent blogs recently explored how access to menstrual products impact school attendance and educational attainment in Uganda.

3:06

Anna became a youth commissioner because she is at heart for community and education.

3:13

Lack of sidewalk installation and analysis poses safety and health risks.

3:17

Sidewalks help improve mobility for residents and increase accessibility to essential services across DeCAP.

3:23

Though SPLOSS is working to install more sidewalks, they are unable to fund maintenance, creating maintenance concerns.

3:30

Maintenance can cause issues when it comes to mobility for people in wheelchairs with things such like such as tree routes growing in sidewalks or other forms of uneven pavement that can cause safety concerns.

3:41

In general, it's important to improve mobility using non-car dependent methods by doing analysis of sidewalks.

3:47

DeCAP will be able to locate areas in high need of repair or installation of sidewalks, allowing the issue to improve.

3:56

According to a variety of studies, sidewalks have improved sorry.

4:00

Sidewalks have improved to have numerous health benefits by encouraging physical activity and increasing pedestrian safety.

4:07

Furthermore, sidewalks encourage walkability, which can decrease traffic congestion and automobile pollution, therefore improving the county's environment.

4:15

Our research shows that there were 40 pedestrian casualties in DeCab County in 2024 and 59 the year before that.

4:22

Many of these can be prevented.

4:23

In fact, the Department of Transportation has revealed that walkways can reduce walkwalking along the roadway crashes by 88%.

4:31

There are also economic benefits when improving walkability boosting traffic and sales about 30, 15 to 30 percent in areas considered walkable.

4:39

We also found that people in walkable neighborhoods are 47% more likely to be active for at least 39 minutes a day, which is 30, which is nine minutes more than the minimum physical activity that is recommended.

4:54

We do not just see the need for sidewalks from credible studies, but also from our own community.

5:00

Our team conducted a survey on 75 Jacob residents.

5:02

Um 90% of respondents said sidewalks were important to them, and 54% said it wasn't difficult to access essential goods by walking.

5:11

Additionally, 72% of residents said that they would support a program that altered the current method of sidewalk installation and maintenance.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Water And Wastewater Management████████████████████████████████32%
Active Transportation███████████████████████████████31%
Procedural██████████████████18%
Transportation Safety████████████12%
Public Engagement███3%
Youth Programs██2%
Engineering And Infrastructure██2%
Summary of Proceedings

DeKalb County Public Works and Infrastructure Committee Meeting - July 7, 2026

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee, chaired by Commissioner Robert Patrick, met on July 7, 2026, to discuss sidewalk infrastructure, a major water treatment plant project, and approve several contracts. Commissioners Shakira Johnson and Ted Terry were also present. The meeting lasted from approximately 3:00 PM to 5:31 PM.

Youth Commission Presentation on Sidewalk Infrastructure

  • Youth Commissioners Anna Connors and Riley Peret presented a proposal to improve sidewalk maintenance and installation in DeKalb County. They highlighted pedestrian safety statistics (40 pedestrian casualties in 2024, 59 in 2023) and cited studies showing that walkways can reduce walking-along-roadway crashes by 88% and increase property sales by 15-30%. Their survey of 75 residents found 90% considered sidewalks important and 72% supported altering current sidewalk funding methods.
  • The Youth Commission recommended increasing SPLOST III transportation funding by $20 million specifically for sidewalks and other mobility infrastructure, and implementing a sidewalk analysis and grading system to prioritize maintenance. They acknowledged limitations in funding maintenance through SPLOST and proposed a mapping system similar to one previously developed by Commissioner Patrick.
  • Commissioners expressed strong support for the proposal. Commissioner Patrick noted the importance of sidewalks for mental health. Commissioner Johnson suggested adding a safety-based rating for new sidewalk installation. Commissioner Terry and others discussed alternative funding mechanisms such as a special service tax district for pedestrian improvements. Commissioner Bolton asked about integrating trails and noted that water system projects sometimes yield sidewalk repairs as a byproduct.

Scott Candler Water Treatment Plant Project (Agenda Item 2026-0854)

  • Staff presented a $233 million contract award to Ruby Collins for construction of two 10-million-gallon clear wells, a new transfer pump station, and a high service pump station at the Scott Candler plant. The project aims to eliminate a single point of failure that could compromise water delivery to over 700,000 residents. Ruby Collins' bid was approximately $100 million lower than the next bidder, and they proposed a three-year construction schedule rather than the specified four years.
  • Commissioner Johnson inquired about early procurement, change order risks, and community outreach. The director confirmed that a construction management firm is being procured and that early procurement will be used to lock in prices. The committee agreed to hold the item pending audit approval from Mr. Campbell's office. Commissioner Johnson requested a town hall for nearby residents, which the director supported.

Discussion of Other Agenda Items

  • Agenda Item 2026-0950 (South River Trail Phase 6 design, Kimley Horn, $3,124,930.28): The committee approved a substitute motion that will address an additional $220,000 fee identified by audit. Motion carried unanimously.
  • Agenda Item 2026-0197 (SCADA contract increase, $5 million): Held in committee awaiting audit.
  • Agenda Item 2026-0861 ($18 million project): Held in committee awaiting audit.
  • Agenda Item 2026-0680 (North Decatur Road pedestrian hybrid beacon, $11,035): Approved unanimously.
  • Agenda Item 2026-0884 (Herbicide growth regulator services renewal, $176.80): Approved unanimously.
  • Agenda Item 2026-0955 (Fire truck replacement, Sutphin Corporation, $2,439,812.95): Approved unanimously.
  • Agenda Item 2026-0986 (Anti-freeze renewal, $108,000): Approved unanimously.
  • Agenda Item 2026-0976 (StarCraft transit bus for senior center, $138,916.13): Approved unanimously.
  • Agenda Item 2026-0994 (Two Kenworth rollback trucks and one electric GM Charger, $784,165.18): Approved unanimously. Committee members expressed enthusiasm about the first heavy-duty electric truck deployment for fleet operations.

Key Outcomes

  • The Youth Commission's sidewalk proposal was received favorably; commissioners discussed next steps including potential funding mechanisms and incorporation into SPLOST III planning. No formal vote was taken.
  • The Scott Candler water treatment plant contract (item 0854) was held in committee pending audit results.
  • Items 0197, 0854, 0861, and 0949 were held in committee for further review.
  • Items 0950 (conditionally), 0680, 0884, 0955, 0986, 0976, and 0994 were approved by unanimous voice vote.
  • The committee adjourned at approximately 5:31 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Commissioner Robert Patrick, Chair of Public Works and Infrastructure. I share the greatness of this committee with my very invaluable colleagues. Commissioner and Presiding Officer Shakira Johnson, as well as uh Commissioner and Fab Chair, Fab for Fabulous, uh, Commissioner Ted Terry. And joined today, we have our ERPS committee chair as well. Thank you, madam, for being here. We appreciate the company. Uh we have lots of good things here. Um we have a very short time frame. Commissioner Terry has told me five o'clock is a dead stop for him. Um if we're able to go through a little bit further, and Commissioner Terry doesn't mind, we may tackle some additional items after that. Uh I know that uh Public Works has a presentation for the 225 ish million dollars that may be ready for today for a present uh discussion that we'll have at the end. That said, uh I think something that um uh is important and is gonna be a good conversation for us to have. I believe this was through Commissioner Terry's office. Youth Commission proposal, sidewalk maintenance and installation update. I will say that sidewalks are super important. Uh in my first term, I think we put about a hundred thousand dollars into identifying trip hazards within unincorporated district one sidewalks, as well as uh a company that could go down and grind those those trip hazards down. Uh they in turn gave us, I think uh a fairly extensive GIS file of every panel within District One that has a broken sidewalk. Again, this is the uh unincorporated area. So sidewalks and walkability and connectivity is a high priority. Uh if y'all are the youth commissioners, come on up here. We want to please introduce yourselves. Hello, everyone. Oh, try it one more time. Hello. Hello. There you go. Oh, there we go. Okay. Hello, everyone. Thank you so much for taking the time to listen to us today. I am Anna Connors, and this is Riley Peret, and we will be talking to you all about improving the sidewalk infrastructure in DeCab County. Oh, it's right there. Riley Peret is a graduate from Decatur High School and will be attending the University of Georgia with plans to study international affairs. Ms. Peret got involved with DeCav's Youth Commission because she believes it is important to understand policies closest to home before addressing international legislation. She is particularly interested in issues surrounding transportation and mobility. Anna Connors is a rising junior at Midtown High School with a passion for international policy and advocacy. Ms. Connors intends to continue this passion in her undergraduate career. One of her recent blogs recently explored how access to menstrual products impact school attendance and educational attainment in Uganda. Anna became a youth commissioner because she is at heart for community and education. Lack of sidewalk installation and analysis poses safety and health risks. Sidewalks help improve mobility for residents and increase accessibility to essential services across DeCAP. Though SPLOSS is working to install more sidewalks, they are unable to fund maintenance, creating maintenance concerns. Maintenance can cause issues when it comes to mobility for people in wheelchairs with things such like such as tree routes growing in sidewalks or other forms of uneven pavement that can cause safety concerns. In general, it's important to improve mobility using non-car dependent methods by doing analysis of sidewalks. DeCAP will be able to locate areas in high need of repair or installation of sidewalks, allowing the issue to improve. According to a variety of studies, sidewalks have improved sorry. Sidewalks have improved to have numerous health benefits by encouraging physical activity and increasing pedestrian safety.

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