[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6633164,"mediaKeyId","2665920-ecc819d546e33763135e55bdd7da0a23","parentId",2665920,"title","Change Center founder says city offered limited support for grand opening and alleges political bias; councilors respond","audioSeconds",708,"startMs",1488000,"endMs",2196000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2665920-ecc819d546e33763135e55bdd7da0a23&start=1488&end=2196","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2665920-ecc819d546e33763135e55bdd7da0a23/thumbnail_1488000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6633164/Forest-Park/Clayton-County/Georgia/Change-Center-founder-says-city-offered-limited-support-for-grand-opening-and-alleges-political-bias-councilors-respond","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6633164-0ec6a2cb218e7cd072ea3159f275dcc7/orig.mp4?Expires=1775589673&Signature=UmNMSRbw6NhJV6rbkkjCNFpfby9pJu6nIXQ4uqUWraOSeCofDpk1bOw2UuQsdV8hegmppbCCpkytfSqwcKIRzTX-fn6CUpJito6ItjltUuOBIDNtATzyAhPSUHi1arpKHqyfVZ26sED~d85wrtjDHv7JeR46yt979MilMw7cOtcyOX9cAamt3orNIDyKOGvSgdq760ICE7urrFLDkXZR9jE65j2IP3-h0kQMA6oUxlEAYg2yvdYVtIHpT07VqPgYSwM5Tyox-sCR9jCdrpn-d4AxH~IydAbM4lbrSwSp5W~k2FOzceYMgFOJY5KioneSQxRdnllXP1ELOD5t1~rHUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Forest Park ","date","2025-03-18T00:10:13.787Z","article","Thomas, the founder of the Change Center and a Forest Park employee, used the public-comment period to thank supporters and to criticize the level of city assistance his organization received for a March 2 grand opening. He told the council he expected city outreach similar to other business openings — including photography and promotion on official social media — but said the city did not provide that assistance until a council member intervened.

“As a business owner, I am making a significant financial contribution to the city… I am paying taxes, fees, and licensing costs just like every other establishment in Forest Park,” Thomas said. He added that he was told by “some officials and employees subliminally that they won’t support my organization because I have the intent to run for office,” and he urged residents to “hold all of your city officials accountable.”

Council members addressed the comment in closing statements. Councilwoman Kimberly James said she attended the ribbon-cutting and thanked Thomas for his work with youth, while also noting that some staff attendance at events may be limited by timing and employees’ personal time. Council member Gutierrez encouraged Thomas to reach out to him directly and praised the program’s work with young people. Council member Akins Wells apologized that the business did not receive expected recognition and asked staff to ensure consistent outreach to new businesses.

City Manager Clark said he heard the concerns and that staff would work to address issues raised in public comment. The manager’s earlier departmental report noted staff would follow up on public-comment concerns.

Thomas urged residents to hold officials accountable and to be attentive during the election period; council members and staff reiterated support for youth programming and said they would review outreach practices for new businesses.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Forest Park Council Meeting 3/17/2025","oneSentenceSummary","A Forest Park business owner and city employee said the city provided little outreach or official recognition for his organization’s grand opening and alleged some staff opposed support because he intends to run for office. Council members and the city manager acknowledged the comments and said staff would follow up.","taxTitle","Forest Park, Clayton County, Georgia","taxId",55072,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6633166,"Forest Park manager and staff present February departmental and financial updates to council",736,1772000,2508000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2665920-ecc819d546e33763135e55bdd7da0a23&start=1772&end=2508","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2665920-ecc819d546e33763135e55bdd7da0a23/thumbnail_1772000.jpg","/articles/6633166/Forest-Park/Clayton-County/Georgia/Forest-Park-manager-and-staff-present-February-departmental-and-financial-updates-to-council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6633166-2c15cde4a59ee54f66b98dda27769d66/orig.mp4?Expires=1775589673&Signature=KqG1EvSx2EGwYYEYT1cReUEKPPwC9mQY7aePTGP~268OjgepTKqe3Bs00xNVExG32GtHWqbRlyS8XTxVMPjt69nZZiN8Pfv38OD3LMxd2o3UnQg3eARRClW8z5els9TEbWyh-q0-l-sph7BWHbK9fuWRqPaUTy5-586POl1EAFqSC5y5hXVoQSMQl8Wo5uw7v7cJL-ThjsLnZof2tMJWsD-XSywL8NEmc7pOOCbmRzNdrSv~VGvfAgR9S6faSIcz-pU-mTAU9Qni35Ah3SqauIX4d06IsokIlH8c-gjVc47mHQVHN~HGHD~wGLRde9~ln0dc~79-m2aX232vdZSt2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff presented the city manager’s monthly report for February at the March 17 Forest Park Mayor and Council meeting, summarizing department activity, financial snapshots and program updates.

City Manager Clark and staff reported a range of departmental metrics and initiatives. The manager said the city had issued 17 contracts under a home program and was near completion of phase 1 participation; staff acknowledged concerns raised during public comment about outreach to a newly opened business and said they would work to address those issues.

The finance presentation listed a budgeted total for revenues and expenses of $43,752,003.59 and said the monthly receipts were $941,026. The finance presenter reported year-to-date revenue and expense figures but portions of those figures were unclear in the audio record; staff provided department-level snapshots showing cumulative budget usage across departments at about 61 percent of budget at that point in the fiscal year.

Other department highlights included:
- Clerk’s office: 215 open-records requests received, 147 completed (68 canceled).
- Code enforcement: 96 junk-vehicle trainings and 26 business-license inspections in the month.
- Finance: approximately $708,000 in receipts and 185 purchase orders processed in February.
- Fire department: mutual aid provided to 10 outside agencies; 27 annual inspections and ongoing canine training for a new canine named Ally.
- Municipal court: 1,291 cases on the docket for February and a new partnership with a local mock trial program.
- Planning and community development: 66 business licenses issued and 31 permits issued in February.
- Police department: 1,712 traffic stops and 586 citations issued for the month; one internal-affairs case and 11 background checks in process.
- Recreation: roughly $26,000 in revenue for the month and upcoming events including a spring festival on April 19.

The city’s communications staff said official renderings for a redesigned city website were approved and the new site will support multiple languages and is targeted for launch before the third quarter. Staff also highlighted a partnership with Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity on a two-home project.

Manager Clark told the council he heard concerns raised in public comment and said staff would work to address them.","City staff reviewed February activity across departments, including finance figures, permit and licensing counts, mutual aid, court dockets and community programs; staff said they would follow up on public-comments concerns about business outreach.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6633171,"Forest Park council approves public sale of unclaimed firearms from police evidence room after debate",184,2875000,3059000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2665920-ecc819d546e33763135e55bdd7da0a23&start=2875&end=3059","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2665920-ecc819d546e33763135e55bdd7da0a23/thumbnail_2875000.jpg","/articles/6633171/Forest-Park/Clayton-County/Georgia/Forest-Park-council-approves-public-sale-of-unclaimed-firearms-from-police-evidence-room-after-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6633171-fc11c773315abd6c00874e84b4073923/orig.mp4?Expires=1775589673&Signature=Z6C~EaqX~isXLFsB0V3N42fbxeVd4LWYchkheSwA~9VyTFfjg19cIAeZXuDOl~tpkZen46jTAaXZQdPtTxbcanM3wIdJFselaus0edwYqWalofgjqFp6sgH65Dnj0WNZ6JAysVBVo7vfy9T0TwLGcl21icyn7n-S3rM6YobNSkctEMb5rFJ1PEhHUzqGpqbQ6gU0Z-a4UhEoaPL0wNEndxiKbdlqWfvmwn~Gl0lCkxYUKm-tmT6YRc1FW1JCo7FRJRc2eutFh2ug8SwIIdYGqCEYWi65ivHJT44ZsK6ftsu3R4B4~H3akbPE0jQfxcJ6s~~JhZsUUD7c0X7bqx4UsQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Forest Park Mayor and Council voted to dispose of unclaimed firearms held in the police department’s evidence room through public sale, following a discussion about safety, revenue and legal requirements.

Council members debated whether selling recovered or unclaimed weapons risked returning firearms to circulation or represented a practical way to recover taxpayer value. Officer Daniels, identified in the meeting as the department’s evidence custodian, told the council the inventory “ranges the gamut” from firearms recovered in poor condition to “highly collectible, antique” weapons and that the inventory totals more than 800 items.

The discussion turned to legal constraints after Associate Attorney Daniel cited state law. “There is a citation 17-5-54 that states that unclaimed firearms in possession of law enforcement agencies must be disposed of through public sale to licensed firearms dealers unless certain exceptions apply,” he said, adding that firearms deemed unsafe or prohibited may be destroyed or transferred for training or experimental purposes.

Council members expressed differing views. Council member Gutierrez, describing himself as a veteran, said he would prefer disposal but would consider the fiscal benefits: “I want to make the most fiscally responsible decision for our department, but I personally don’t… want to put the guns back out there.” Council member Akins Wells said she opposed selling firearms because she did not believe the city should profit from “putting guns back into the street.”

City legal staff explained the disposal process would be a sealed-bid public auction and could not be directed to a specific individual; sales typically go to licensed dealers, possibly out of state, if the city uses a third-party auction service such as propertyroom.com. The council approved the sale by roll-call vote called by the clerk: James—Yes; Gutierrez—Yes; Akins Wells—Yes; Meyers—Yes; Mayor Butler—Yes.

The council did not adopt a specific purchaser restriction during the meeting; staff said firearms deemed unsafe, heavily damaged or otherwise prohibited by federal or state law may be destroyed instead of sold. City staff agreed to provide the statutory citation and a proposed disposal protocol for council review at a later date.

The outcome leaves the mechanics of the auction and any department reinvestment of proceeds to follow-up by city staff and legal counsel.","The Forest Park Mayor and Council voted to dispose of unclaimed firearms held by the police department through public sale, after a discussion about safety, fiscal impact and statutory requirements that such guns be auctioned to licensed dealers.","actionData","errors"]

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Change Center founder says city offered limited support for grand opening and alleges political bias; councilors respond

Forest Park manager and staff present February departmental and financial updates to council

Forest Park council approves public sale of unclaimed firearms from police evidence room after debate