The majority of the SAND meeting was devoted to our invited elected official, Fulton County Commissioner Natalie Hall. Formerly the chief of staff for former commissioner Joan Garner (deceased)/, Ms. Hall spent some time outlining various programs initiated or supported by the Fulton County Commission. These included: clean-ups, Be Award Foundation, senior yard work, senior tours of the Beltline, health fairs, Starline (respite, legal and housing services), rain barrel workshops, a youth conference, and the co-operative extension service.
She brought several other individuals to present information from the Fulton County Sheriff’s office, Victims’ Assistance, and library services – the One Book, One Read program will discuss The Personal Librarian, by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray, on September 30.
The floor was opened for questions which focused on tax assessments, tax liens sold on the courthouse steps, the Fulton County Jail, the pre-arrest diversion program (PAD), the future of health services (given the closing of Well-Star), and especially, the issue of the Development Authority of Fulton County giving tax abatement to projects located in burgeoning growth areas.
Other SAND business included a report on the upcoming Makers Festival, a 2023 Community Impact Grant update, a SMAWG report of two proposals that are being considered for funding. Two locations in Ormewood requested variances from the Land Use and Zoning committee (1109 Eden – taking off a stoop and putting up a front porch; 1063 Ormewood – subdividing a lot). SAND agreed with the acceptance of both by the LUZ. Jeff Klenc presented information on Red’s Farm Preservation Group, Inc. (listed as a Georgia Domestic Profit Corporation). Independent from Red’s family or Urban Farm Ormewood, the group is raising money as a Plan B if the work of the Conservation Fund and Red’s family does not make it to the finish line.
