[{"_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",6493443,"mediaKeyId","5569064-725f0cea114b5ca33912d2c516ff0ccb","parentId",5569064,"title","Votes at a glance: DeKalb Board approves bond sale, midyear budget changes and multiple contracts; several items deferred","audioSeconds",390,"startMs",7140000,"endMs",7530000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5569064-725f0cea114b5ca33912d2c516ff0ccb&start=7140&end=7530","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5569064-725f0cea114b5ca33912d2c516ff0ccb/thumbnail_7140000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6493443/DeKalb-County/Georgia/Votes-at-a-glance-DeKalb-Board-approves-bond-sale-midyear-budget-changes-and-multiple-contracts-several-items-deferred","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6493443-4180dd30622eb269abf8c6e99620e5fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189530&Signature=POTw5iNaed7ofLJmwPe0JubCmevUyVZELh5kS7CGG6f4whvethHzpGakyNGJ0nnHF~Tn64Yr2IKS-f-OF8BBY~JZuVTXv7NW~w8SqBfUuSD0KYu~vBFaq2nWi1b~fUbwevxkGDA20fJFyVK-h3voacZLfKVjIGwUt3gDV0nJDzYc-TXAD79VOBI0x1etHtKCo4jb6m7yZkZbgYHdbnkMu~Qe1Uj6hOeen1i2lO56Re4Ed1-M1uRCth6TqfWa0m-Yw6lC0GzmrN-hOCRuRRKfBNy6wc8OIvWmOlpRcefUrINzq~HoTKAnucMmbtn1R4RSoVpOqIHOI5G4tGhUNx6AMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","DeKalb County","date","2025-08-12T00:00:00Z","article","The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners took dozens of actions during its Aug. 12 business meeting. Highlights below list items the board approved, deferred, tabled or amended on the public record.

Votes at a glance

- Water and sewer revenue bonds (item 0912): Board adopted a supplemental bond resolution and awarded the competitive sale to Jefferies; true interest cost reported at approximately 4.65%; final par roughly $433.1 million (within the board's $450 million authorization). Outcome: approved (closing scheduled next week).

- FY 2025 midyear budget amendment (item 1060): Board approved a substitute midyear amendment that included targeted allocations for juvenile-court staffing, animal-services spay/neuter programs and other departmental priorities. Outcome: approved.

- Lifeline Animal Shelter contract change order (item 1012): Board approved an amendment to the Lifeline contract and accepted a floor amendment adding funding for a feral spay/neuter project ($15,000) and a litter-registration public-education campaign ($65,000). Outcome: approved.

- Glenwood Road sidewalk right-of-way (public hearing item 2025-1013): Staff recommended approval of a resolution and a right-of-way action for the Glenwood Road sidewalk project. After discussion about district boundaries, commissioners approved the staff recommendation. Outcome: approved.

- Appointments and reappointments: The board approved multiple appointments and reappointments listed on the consent agenda, including the appointment of Jocelyn C. O'Neil to post 11 of the Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs citizens advisory board and the reappointment of Dennis McConnell filed for deferral to the Sept. 9 BOC meeting. Outcome: mixed (some approved, some deferred as noted).

- Purchasing and contracts: The board approved multiple contract awards and change orders across fleet, public-works and public-safety procurements (examples include vehicle and equipment purchases, street-sweeping contracts and parts services); multiple procurement items were deferred to the Aug. 26 meeting for committee review. Outcome: mixed (many approved; several deferred).

- Planning and zoning decisions: The board deferred several land-use and rezoning applications for two weeks or more and approved deferrals or denials where indicated by the motion on the floor. Example: rezoning application 0625 (2381 Snap Finger Road) — initial motion to deny failed to get a second; the board instead deferred the application for two weeks. Outcome: deferred/varied.

- Other committee referrals and deferrals: Numerous items were sent back to committee (PECS, PWI, FAB or IRPS) for additional review, including the ADA transition plan (withdrawn to allow the vendor to complete work) and other capital and grant items. Outcome: deferred/withdrawn.

What the votes mean

- Large debt issuance: The bond approval authorizes a major financing move that will fund water-and-sewer capital projects and refinance short-term notes. The board approved a supplemental resolution and authorized staff to complete closing steps.

- Budget priorities: The midyear amendment reallocates county funds to a mix of near-term priorities (public safety, juvenile-court staffing, animal services and water-infrastructure resilience) while scheduling some CIP and long-range requests for future budget cycles.

- Procurement and oversight: The board approved multiple routine contracting items but deferred several large procurements to committees to allow additional review and stops (PWI, PECS, FAB, IRPS). Several items were specifically tabled or deferred for the Aug. 26 meeting or the Sept. 9 meeting with committee stops.

How to find records

Detailed roll-call results, staff memoranda, contract documents and the final bond-sale closing papers will be posted to the county’s procurement and clerk-of-the-board pages after final execution. If a specific vote detail is needed (e.g., a named yes/no for a contract item), the clerk's official minutes and the electronic board vote record should be consulted; the meeting included several instances where the electronic voting console required backup hand votes or clarified recorded speakers.

Selected actions (structured)

1) Glenwood Road sidewalk resolution (2025-1013)
- Motion: Approve staff recommendation to authorize right-of-way actions associated with Glenwood Road Sidewalk Improvement Project, Phase 3 (Columbia Drive to Covington Hwy).
- Mover: Commissioner Messiah (initial motion), final motion credited to Commissioner Davis Johnson.
- Outcome: approved.

2) Water-and-sewer revenue bonds (0912)
- Motion: Approve supplemental bond resolution and award bonds to winning underwriter (competitive sale).
- Mover: Motion made on the floor; second recorded.
- Outcome: approved (Jefferies; TIC ~4.65%).

3) FY 2025 midyear budget amendment (1060)
- Motion: Approve substitute midyear budget amendment as distributed on the floor.
- Mover: Commissioner Terry.
- Outcome: approved.

4) Lifeline Animal Shelter contract change order (1012)
- Motion: Approve change order; include floor amendments for feral spay/neuter and public education campaign funding.
- Mover: Commissioner Davis Johnson.
- Outcome: approved.

5) Appointment — Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs board (post 11)
- Motion: Approve appointment of Jocelyn C. O'Neil to post 11.
- Mover: Commissioner Messiah.
- Outcome: approved.

6) Multiple procurement approvals and deferrals
- Motion: Various motions to approve purchase and contracting items; items 1002 and 1067 deferred to Aug. 26 with committee stops; others approved.
- Outcome: mixed (see clerk's vote ledger for itemized results).

7) Rezoning application 0625 (2381 Snap Finger Road)
- Motion: Motion to deny failed for lack of second; substitute motion to defer for two weeks carried.
- Outcome: deferred.

8) ADA transition plan (RPCA item 1520)
- Motion: Withdraw item to allow vendor completion; bring back when project ready.
- Outcome: withdrawn.

9) Other committee referrals: multiple items were referred to PECS, PWI, FAB, IRPS or stopped for additional review (see meeting minutes for itemized list).

Notes and next steps

Commissioners used committee stops and two-week/30-day deferrals frequently to request more information before voting on complex procurements and planning items. Several large-dollar contract awards and the bond closing will require standard post-sale filings and closing memos. For official vote tallies and to identify named yes/no votes for each motion, consult the clerk's posted minutes and vote ledger for Aug. 12, 2025.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","DeKalb County - Board of Commissioners on 2025-08-12 9:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","The Board of Commissioners approved the water-and-sewer bond award and the board's midyear budget amendment, approved dozens of routine contracts and appointments, and deferred or tabled several planning and procurement items for committee review.","taxTitle","DeKalb County, Georgia","taxId",3571,"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},6493448,"DeKalb approves up to $433 million water and sewer bonds; Jefferies wins competitive sale with 4.65% true interest cost",319,5226000,5545000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5569064-725f0cea114b5ca33912d2c516ff0ccb&start=5226&end=5545","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5569064-725f0cea114b5ca33912d2c516ff0ccb/thumbnail_5226000.jpg","/articles/6493448/DeKalb-County/Georgia/DeKalb-approves-up-to-433-million-water-and-sewer-bonds-Jefferies-wins-competitive-sale-with-465-true-interest-cost","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6493448-4704069c421da20744c2bd41937f9711/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189530&Signature=fXtLYg2yqWsaCroIV47iDyS-S~nnpkb76rGrcrgYFO9Z1ZfC8S~XTT2rvZnbDECsLFUvplNDCL0PKLAWQzmcxIkm8JE7Iw7kqLOTYaFqUWNJy1KAxBlwSOyupcPbQ0Kspa-ZpsfA7Mx2LOHw1bkJ~bKPBQoYhR3MKm5aYLgZrQuN9z2HdXZXxeJUkiYkCb~XfhbQ00-mII62LvhgZthEsk2mk34140E13Mc9w4VD-An96QhqLIYoVU-GJi21gwJY54bwQQzv6-MNKjiw0StFZyaB1nyevM~F~hz19j7vXmjqEisCKDlKp2Q5Lz0QhBxhGGBHpfP6Qnu1DW0s7wFjQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners voted Aug. 12 to authorize the issuance of water and sewer revenue bonds that will fund the county's capital program and replace short-term notes due Sept. 1.

Financial adviser PFM and county bond counsel reported the county received five competitive bids that morning. Jefferies submitted the winning bid with a true interest cost (TIC) of 4.654 percent; the final par amount to be issued is about $433.1 million, below the board's not-to-exceed authorization of $450 million.

Elise Lamon of PFM told the commission the sale followed earlier steps this spring — validation of the bonds by the superior court and rating-agency calls in June — and that Moody's and Fitch affirmed the county's ratings (Moody's assigned a negative outlook; Fitch assigned a stable outlook). Lamon said the bond sale produced highly competitive pricing: the difference in TIC between the top and bottom bidders was fewer than six basis points.

\"Based on the foregoing and our knowledge in the issuance of tax-exempt debt, it is our recommendation that we award the bonds to Jefferies,\" Lamon said during the presentation. Tom Loth, bond counsel, described the supplemental resolution as setting the final principal amortization and interest terms within the parameters the commission previously approved.

Under the financing plan presented, the bonds will close next Thursday and the county will use proceeds to pay down water-and-sewer anticipation notes on Sept. 1. The bond documents will include routine cost-of-issuance items such as counsel, financial advisor and rating-agency fees, and the underwriter discount.

County officials said the sale's proceeds support large capital needs in the county's water and sewer system, including upgrades required by the county's capital-improvement plan. Commissioners approved the supplemental resolution and bond award during the business meeting; staff said a pre-closing will be held next Wednesday and the formal closing next Thursday.","The county awarded a competitive bond sale to Jefferies for its water-and-sewer revenue bonds after Moody's and Fitch affirmed ratings; closing is scheduled next week and bond proceeds will fund the county's capital plan and pay short-term notes on Sept. 1, 2025.",{"_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},6493454,"DeKalb begins demolition of blighted Walden Pond condos after court order; county estimates $91,000 cost",100,870000,970000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5569064-725f0cea114b5ca33912d2c516ff0ccb&start=870&end=970","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5569064-725f0cea114b5ca33912d2c516ff0ccb/thumbnail_870000.jpg","/articles/6493454/DeKalb-County/Georgia/DeKalb-begins-demolition-of-blighted-Walden-Pond-condos-after-court-order-county-estimates-91000-cost","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6493454-5b822ff8bd9047690da79c00d48130d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189530&Signature=ndofXKYvWaAUykcmQz625npbXW7CZwQoEMrXtrTrzR6LeaApgiEYAERznRFXvrN82kRXrfyCyxjoJGvY~5-VxY1Qnxw1dTUS2TN0G0UWSmvs0LQiF5LZ-d4jZJE33~wl5S~PHrWtUmyRmM0cv9MWyvqHIh-nWXJukvpcdhe-F~tEcazbzdri9tmv~XZv6rUdE6MArmRlKvCr~olBorhfu2z6P-ujoUJlUd8H41gfeb6HfRUoCkXUtY5kxU30PWQYRtKJ7gfkA-Md6C3qIxo6kVMqnpUlan2kIw~2MpDvyXZDa~K5aureQvVtJyfIaL0nirZrIkca8ckpEgOy8IDsHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","DeKalb County officials on Aug. 12 began tearing down four condominium units at a long-troubled Walden Pond complex in unincorporated Decatur, saying the buildings were vacant, unsecured and posed health and safety risks to residents.

\"Because the owners did not demolish the property, the county is exercising its right as petitioners to take the property down,\" said Allen Mitchell, director of community development. Mitchell told the Board of Commissioners that the county filed a complaint in August 2024 and that a final order was issued by Judge Holly Man Hymer on Dec. 20, 2024.

County code enforcement director Tonja Clark described years of inspections, sewer leaks and safety hazards at the site. \"We've had lots of support from our apartment departments, the police department,\" Clark said, and recalled a period when police helped inspectors access steep ravine behind the buildings for safety and sanitary concerns.

Resident Leslie Johnson, who said she has lived at Walden Pond for 26 years, told commissioners demolition is bittersweet for longtime tenants who still live in units. \"If you were to come in here and destroy these properties, you would be destroying my home,\" Johnson said. She said residents have formed a board of directors and are trying to make improvements on remaining buildings.

Mitchell identified Diversified Environmental Management as the contractor selected for the work and said the county's cost for demolition and fees is roughly $91,000. He thanked Diversified representatives Elaine, Jerome and Maurice for their participation and said Maurice would begin the mechanical process at the site that day.

The county's law office handled the court process, Mitchell said, naming Gabriel Daniel, Esquire, as the law department attorney who took the case to the judge. County staff emphasized the demolition followed a legal process after the property owner failed to bring the buildings into compliance.

Commissioners and county staff framed the work as part of a broader push to remove long-standing blight across unincorporated DeKalb. \"DeKalb County is moving forward,\" CEO Lorraine Cochran Johnson said earlier in the program of remarks that introduced the demolition team. Commissioners Ladina Bolton and Marita Davis Johnson also spoke in support of removing unsafe units and said the work opens space for future reinvestment.

County staff said the demolition affects four units and that temporary easements or driveway access required for construction do not change property ownership. Officials said the action does not preclude further negotiations in other cases but that, for this property, the court order authorized the county to proceed.","DeKalb County on Aug. 12 began demolishing four condominium units at a blighted Walden Pond site in unincorporated Decatur after a court-ordered final judgment. County officials say the property had been vacant, unsecured and a public-health hazard; demolition was awarded to Diversified Environmental Management.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: DeKalb Board approves bond sale, midyear budget changes and multiple contracts; several items deferred

DeKalb approves up to $433 million water and sewer bonds; Jefferies wins competitive sale with 4.65% true interest cost

DeKalb begins demolition of blighted Walden Pond condos after court order; county estimates $91,000 cost