Latest from Councilman Shortal

The following update was provided by Dunwoody City Councilman Denis Shortal late Thursday evening.

Fellow Citizens .... A brief update on our City:

1. Lemonade Days ... The annual Lemonade Days celebrations started today at Brook Run Park and goes thru this Sunday, 18 APR. If you haven't been in the passed years you have missed a great time. It is a family event with fun things to do for all ages. All the profits goes back into our City and thus it is a win/win situation. Go to www.dunwoodylemonadedays.org for complete info. I would like to emphasize the second annual BRAD (Bike Ride Around Dunwoody) starting at Brook Run Park this Saturday ... Registration starts at 9 AM and the ride commences at 10 AM. This is a family oriented event with a two and an eight miles ride. We will be using one of our new bike route within Dunwoody. We will have police escort so everything will be safe. You can register at the above website in advance (preferred) ... advanced registration is $10 and registration at the park that morning will be $15. Everyone dust off the old bike and come ride with your fellow citizens ... non-residence are welcome.

2. Census Forms .... Please ensure you fill out your Census Form as our population number is an important factor when it comes to receiving federal and state funding. The basic rule of thumb is the higher the population the higher the funding received. Meredy did our Census Form it only takes about five minutes to complete. Please ensure you complete and mail this important document ASAP. Thanks3. City Branding Survey .... As you have probably noted we have initiated a "branding process" for the City of Dunwoody. To get your input there is an on-line survey on our city website ... www.dunwoodyga.gov. This survey has been open for a while and closes tomorrow night - 16 APR - at midnight. Thus time is short but please go to our website and give us your input. 4. Dunwoody High School ... The major renovation and additions to DHS will start on 25 MAY 2010. In total this is about a $20 million project. I attended most of the public meetings on this subject and I think the consensus of the majority of the citizens attending the meetings is very positive. The money for the project comes from the SPLOSH referendum. The project will take over a year to complete.

3. City Branding Survey .... As you have probably noted we have initiated a "branding process" for the City of Dunwoody. To get your input there is an on-line survey on our city website ... www.dunwoodyga.gov. This survey has been open for a while and closes tomorrow night - 16 APR - at midnight. Thus time is short but please go to our website and give us your input.

4. Dunwoody High School ... The major renovation and additions to DHS will start on 25 MAY 2010. In total this is about a $20 million project. I attended most of the public meetings on this subject and I think the consensus of the majority of the citizens attending the meetings is very positive. The money for the project comes from the SPLOSH referendum. The project will take over a year to complete.

5. Street Paving Plan ... We have completed a 5-year paving plan based on fixing the "worst first" with emphasis on our heavily travelled main roads. About 70-80% of the funds are going to be used for these roads, 10-15% for neighborhood streets and 10-15% for major patching of roads throughout the city. For you viewing this plan is on our Dunwoody website. So far, we have budgeted approx. $730,000 for this years work. Paving should commence mid to late summer. Allocations of funds for future years will be done on a year to year bases with the intent of increasing the funding . The information in the Crier about $2.75 million being allocated for each of the next five years was a miss statement ... however that would be a good number if the budget will allow. All of this is positive for two reasons ... first we have a plan and in the 20+ years prior to cityhood that I have lived here there hasn't been a plan to do anything and secondly when we campaigned for cityhood we told everyone there would not be any funds for paving in the first two years and thus we have exceeded our own expectations.

6. Sidewalk Plan .... We are in the final stages of completing a 5-year sidewalk construction/enhancement plan. Like paving the streets there is more need than the budget will allow. The overall plan is to fix the "worst first" with the initial emphases going to the school routes for our children. This plan is also on our city website ... it was an agenda item on the 12 APR Work Session ... but is not finalist or approved. The "sidewalk policy" will be on the agenda at the 26 APR meeting.

7. Dunwoody Volunteer Coordination Committee (DVCC) ... We have a big project day on Saturday, 24 APR from 9 - 11 AM at the Dunwoody Nature Center (DNC). The DNC is one of the "crown jewels" of Dunwoody so bring your work gloves, shovel, rake, etc. and come out and put your talents to good use with your fellow citizens. For your long range planning there are plenty of project that we need volunteers for so contact Bill Tobin at williantobin@comcast.net. Pitch in and make your City the best! Speaking of the DVCC, last Saturday I had the privilege of working with 20 + volunteers from the Teen Group and the Young Adult Group from North Atlanta Church of Christ (NACOC). It was impressive to work with these young folks who gave up their Saturday afternoon to enhance the beauty of our City by picking up trash and doing minor repairs. I came to the conclusion that I am not as tough as I used to be as after 2 1/2 hours of using a hammer a large blister appear on my hammering-hand. My thanks to Bill Tobin, Ron Wood and all the members of these two groups that organized and participated in this work project.

That about all for tonight ...it is bed time. Thanks for all your support and involvement in our City. Please pass this to all your friends and neighbors and we will see you at Lemonade Days this weekend and at the DNC on 24 APR. Let me know if you would like to be added to my email list. Denny Shortal, City Councilman, District One, Post-1, Mayor Pro Tem