Politics & Government

City Council Preview: 911, Park Land Purchase Decisions Expected

City Council is likely to go into a sales contract to buy the 'PVC Farm' property for $5 million, and is also expected to vote whether to go into contract with ChatComm for 911 service

 The Dunwoody City Council will likely make a decision Monday night about who handles the city’s 911 service.

After months of discussion, negotiation and deliberation, tonight’s agenda includes a vote on whether to accept a deal with ChatComm, a private 911 service, which already provides for Sandy Springs and Johns Creek.

The council has spent the past several months weighing the pros and cons of staying with DeKalb County 911 service or going with ChatComm.

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At the council’s last meeting, earlier this month, it appeared at least four council members were in favor of going with ChatComm.

However, Monday's agenda also includes a presentation from Major J. Conroy, who heads DeKalb County’s 911 call center.

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The ChatComm agreement, as written, would run from March 1 to Aug. 31, 2014, with an ability to opt out with six months notice.

The city would pay $1.075 million annually, paid in twelve monthly payments. The majority of that cost is expected to paid with fees already collected from local mobile and home phones, but it isn't clear exactly how much of that cost those fees would cover (estimates put that income somewhere between $900,000 and $1.2 million).

The city would also pay a one-time start up fee of $570,000.

 

‘PVC Farm’ Purchase

The council is also expected to vote to enter into a sales contract for the ‘PVC Farm’ property, a 16.18-acre lot at 4000 Dunwoody Park, for $5 million. Negotiations on the deal were completed last Tuesday.

Going into contract will mean the city has 45 days to do due diligence and 60 days to finalize the purchase.

The property, if bought, would likely be used for a park, though some of the land could be used for municipal buildings, such as a city hall or police station.

There will be a public hearing before the vote with a presentation from City Manager Warren Hutmacher, as well as a time for public comments.

 

Among other items on the agenda:

• an amendment to give Hutmacher, the city manager since November 2008, a three percent merit increase, which would be retroactively effective Jan. 1, 2011.

• a proclamation of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Day. The proclamation will be accepted by L. Max Lehmann, a volunteer advocate and Dunwoody resident, who invites those interested to join him in accepting the proclamation.

• a resolution to fill the former position of Al Alberghini on the Dunwoody Community Council. The seat will be filled by Clayton Coley.

• a resolution to appoint Debbie Gordon to the Sustainability Commission, to the seat formerly held by Monet Diamante.


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