[{"_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",6425788,"mediaKeyId","5906952-5aed4c2d587a5f17edc08bf5cb329ca3","parentId",5906952,"title","County staff outline timeline to respond to operational assessment; departments to present plans in November","audioSeconds",657,"startMs",2069775,"endMs",2727317,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5906952-5aed4c2d587a5f17edc08bf5cb329ca3&start=2069&end=2727","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5906952-5aed4c2d587a5f17edc08bf5cb329ca3/thumbnail_2069775.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6425788/DeKalb-County/Georgia/County-staff-outline-timeline-to-respond-to-operational-assessment-departments-to-present-plans-in-November","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6425788-d7950deaf56471c4c972e400e2cd9b20/orig.mp4?Expires=1770480306&Signature=F570OUBT9cXhrKYMDCF1c~aKVlpiYxhSmq~Ud54R3WoIrq-gq~oC32SbDNDANchUco0yDO1B23iLDSMu17Ngr~4w9fHhCkx0wJXaJ1UXqqK-WfGcoCDU3p9tDaX2vSQqVaRihL1KO5eWu2g~qGUFtpSsBbCLLDNqn28NQM5JiSJHBqWuilxIhP8JyGDJYRy52YyJzzL0QQSZUROXnKeQkir6pidg3EDJ2J9u~zHYBHV3SL04FiFsV5eNbg52AyxMKVEkHd4~jlQ25f-yuTumxj23CMo2uTeOnOmx4712D2GrRDo3Bjh6Z2xLR62KW04p4ZqbCP0Ju63cBFfmAtNxsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","DeKalb County","date","2025-10-07T00:00:00Z","article","Zack Sheeran and county staff briefed the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on the county's plan to respond to the recently completed operational assessment and described a multi‑month schedule for departmental responses and implementation.

Sheeran said the county has engaged a consulting firm (Momentum) \"to assist us in not only a review of the assessment but putting together a timeline and a strategy for dealing with each of the issues.\" He outlined the near‑term schedule: October will focus on confirming departmental expectations and establishing a timeline; in November departments will present their assessments and proposed responses to the board; in December the county intends to complete action plans for each finding; and starting early next year staff will report quarterly to committees on progress. Sheeran said budgetary needs identified through the process will be considered for the 2026 budget or, if timing requires, the 2027 budget or mid‑year requests.

Commissioners asked for more operational detail and sample reporting. Sheeran and other staff said they will provide examples of the reports currently produced at the department level and are developing interactive dashboards so commissioners can more readily see metrics such as miles of pipe installed, sanitation misroutes and other performance indicators. Commissioner Shakira Johnson said those examples would help commissioners communicate to residents precisely what work the county is doing.

Committee members also discussed the procurement of further assessments for specific departments. For watershed management, staff said they are talking with the firm that performed other county assessments (Malden and Jenkins) about the scope and pricing; implementation support is expected from Momentum, while other firms (MGT, Arcadis) will assist on targeted reviews such as fines and fees, sanitation and other operational topics.

Sheeran said the county will present department responses at the November meeting and that committees will have an opportunity to provide input as staff report on findings and planned actions.

Ending: County staff committed to returning to the committee with department presentations in November and with examples of regular operational reports and dashboards to support ongoing oversight.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","PWI Committee Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","DeKalb County staff described a timeline to respond to an operational and performance assessment, including department presentations in November, action‑plan completion in December, and quarterly reporting beginning next year.","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},6425795,"DeKalb officials review I‑285 “Top End” station‑area study and urge local planning for Memorial Drive",728,30910,759355,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5906952-5aed4c2d587a5f17edc08bf5cb329ca3&start=30&end=759","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5906952-5aed4c2d587a5f17edc08bf5cb329ca3/thumbnail_30910.jpg","/articles/6425795/DeKalb-County/Georgia/DeKalb-officials-review-I285-Top-End-stationarea-study-and-urge-local-planning-for-Memorial-Drive","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6425795-95aa6392b905b2fa7fd6db1d472fcc54/orig.mp4?Expires=1770480306&Signature=MGKuZyGXTjFDQlccBmf~BcOVM7EyraqCrx~n8IGOwvxwIHLO1iVYEanQw8OgxvOOq-Nx3nV~oSZRq69h~hoPEOQgW205LGa0IpJzUKPNQw4J4hdsWyF02bFljTxwXkA62kkZcvL2hEutqX1DIlD4gk1TT~8l4PT9~POHlXHnrWWSFDjhs32eCHRIQDRLm~AnAMYCNm~4zPd8l3HCCvJLsBbyESLWrn95wOf-TEM6javqataUFapRIZcerf6zt2XTmR8t2PcA5OG7xDZ8z68ietBlTp6srXVCBIPbz~KO8vGoKu1TIbLPTInA80QohXj7vGgwEhjnTGJ2a-OHeGGHGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioners at the DeKalb County Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on Monday reviewed a station‑area analysis tied to the I‑285 “Top End” transit planning effort and discussed local steps DeKalb can take to prepare for future transit service.

Eric Bozeman, who led the presentation for the Top End Transit effort, said the study grew out of feasibility work that began in 2019 and moved from an initial rubber‑wheel vs. rail analysis to a station‑area focus. \"Transit works best when people can walk to and from their destination to a transit station and not have to get into a vehicle first,\" Bozeman said while describing development and connectivity analyses for potential stations around the top of I‑285.

The study examined existing municipal comprehensive plans and small‑area/TOD plans, used tax parcel data to identify parcels \"susceptible to change,\" and evaluated first‑and‑last‑mile needs for walking, bicycling and micromobility connections. Using Memorial Drive as an example, the team reported that within a one‑mile radius of the potential station area the analysis covers roughly 530 acres and about 200 acres within a half‑mile; if parcels were developed to their local policy maximums over a 20‑ to 25‑year horizon, the consultants estimated potential capacity to accommodate about 21,000 additional residents and 2,500 employees.

Commissioner Shakira Johnson said she was \"personally, very excited\" that Memorial Drive was emphasized in the presentation and asked for clarification on the map markers; Bozeman explained that darker blue circles indicate stations with higher short‑term potential in MARTA's operational analysis, while lighter blue circles are studied locations not slated for near‑term stops. Commissioner Terry and others pressed for near‑term local planning work so county projects and right‑of‑way investments can align with the long‑range transit option.

Patty Hanson, identified in the briefing as the director of strategic partnerships for the City of Brookhaven and the Top End Transit executive committee liaison, said the plan will be posted on the City of Brookhaven website in the coming weeks and encouraged commissioners to attend MARTA and project meetings. Eric Harris, MARTA's project manager for the Top End initiative, and other project team members said MARTA now is the lead agency on the transit service side and that they are coordinating with GDOT's separate I‑285 express‑lane construction and procurement work.

Bozeman and project staff emphasized that the study is intended as a local policy and advocacy tool that can help jurisdictions prepare land use policy changes and project lists for sidewalks, bike lanes and streetscape work that would make future stations more accessible and increase the likelihood of ridership. They recommended prioritizing access points to and from the express lanes, orienting land‑use policies to support transit‑oriented development, and targeting pedestrian and bicycle connectivity projects in station areas.

Commissioners asked about next steps. Project staff said the procurement and technical design work with CDM Smith and MARTA is ongoing, and that county officials can be added to the project's contact list; they noted that some express‑lane segments are being advanced by GDOT and that timelines for the Peach‑Pass lanes and a final station selection will depend in part on GDOT procurement and construction schedules.

The briefing concluded with county officials agreeing to maintain engagement and to explore near‑term projects in areas the county controls—Memorial Drive and Shallowford Road were singled out as opportunities where DeKalb's plans and capital projects can be phased to support future transit.

Ending: The project team said the corridor‑wide executive summary and the station‑by‑station recommendations would be available soon on the Brookhaven site and invited commissioners to follow MARTA and project‑level meetings as the procurement and design work moves forward.","DeKalb County commissioners heard a briefing on a multi‑jurisdictional station‑area study for potential transit service in the I‑285 Top End corridor, with officials urging local planning and first/last‑mile improvements around Memorial Drive.",{"_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},6425783,"PWI committee approves road, safety and utility contracts; several watershed chemical and meter items deferred for audit",2531,2536585,4630,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5906952-5aed4c2d587a5f17edc08bf5cb329ca3&start=2536&end=4","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5906952-5aed4c2d587a5f17edc08bf5cb329ca3/thumbnail_2536585.jpg","/articles/6425783/DeKalb-County/Georgia/PWI-committee-approves-road-safety-and-utility-contracts-several-watershed-chemical-and-meter-items-deferred-for-audit","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6425783-bc28f7e5a7cbf4cb62430c8851160838/orig.mp4?Expires=1770480306&Signature=JPQc6I6U1AnzhXSj8shM1syhPeQ0d810HLs8jf0-w1H3I50RpiPX5P4gr8dhGYyZ92mnPe7qBJ9ne5Uydq1vbqbBMlZfeWL-9qJKorzl1n~voUihforySdSKp0n4Ik2HdTwSUU~z1qjPw5ExjW5A91W5PP7O4dsTbbYTjS8WR1zJTt5Y4C2Q9mStHNzWWIm0f1AABOl0lzq9aumKj1uteet0TbpnMaO8MpuLJhpsCYZgOGyNHgWwlyLcQsl~le1eUcXv2L6M0aVzjuK3eeMK2SlTOKvMV836RI5aSXv~hBf9z14XPgQAVs~8dkno7X5TjDaLj3uPo~byNKfs0ZVjpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The DeKalb County Public Works and Infrastructure Committee took a series of formal actions on multiple procurement and capital items during its meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Minutes (Item 2025‑1390): Motion to approve by Commissioner Shakira Johnson; second and approval by voice vote.

- Right turn lane, Briar Lake Road at Briarcliff Road (Change Order, Item 2020‑512‑11): Extended contract term (no additional funds) due to utility delays (Georgia Power easement). Motion to approve by Commissioner Shakira Johnson; seconded; approved by voice vote.

- East Rock Springs roundabout at Beach Valley Way (Change Order, Item 2020‑512‑12): Contract term extended through 12/31/2026 because of utility delays; motion to approve by Commissioner Shakira Johnson; seconded; approved by voice vote.

- North Decatur Road at Parkdale traffic signal and pedestrian hybrid beacon (Low Bid, Invitation 20‑512‑69): Award recommended to Reedwick LLC, amount not to exceed $410,442.50. Motion to approve by Commissioner Shakira Johnson; seconded; approved by voice vote.

- On‑call concrete and retaining walls multi‑department contract (Change Order, Item 2025‑0950): Increase contract term and funds to support facilities maintenance and roads/drainage work. Awarded to Construction 57 Inc. and DAF Concrete Inc.; total not to exceed $600,000. Motion to approve by Commissioner Shakira Johnson; seconded; approved by voice vote.

- Fire‑system inspection, testing and certification cooperative agreement (Contract 24‑6789, Item 2025‑1061): Cooperative purchase from Cobb County contract; awarded to Cliffs Fire Extinguisher Co., amount not to exceed $200,000 for watershed facilities. Motion to approve by Commissioner Shakira Johnson; seconded; approved by voice vote.

- Electrical switchgear inspection and repair rescission and reaward (Item 2025‑1268): Rescinded award to TRC Engineers Inc. for failure to provide required documentation; reawarded to second awardee Brown Electric Services LLC, amount not to exceed $1,000,000. Motion to approve by Commissioner Shakira Johnson; seconded; approved by voice vote.

- On‑call water and sewer contract (Change Order, Item 2025‑1191): Funds increased to replenish an on‑call contract after work to replace existing mains tied to the Avondale Estates streetscape project; awarded to GS Construction, amount not to exceed $9,326,533. Motion to approve by Commissioner Shakira Johnson; seconded; approved by voice vote.

Items deferred or continued for audit/review

- Water meter installation and cul‑de‑sac renewal program (RFP 24‑500674, Item 2025‑1214): Recommended award to Metals and Materials Engineers LLC, amount not to exceed $12,158,975. Committee moved to defer the item for two weeks to allow additional review and to provide commissioners with prior activity and locational context for the reactive meter/cul‑de‑sac work.

- Multiple watershed chemical contract extensions (Change Orders, Items 2025‑1266; 2025‑1271; 2025‑1283 and related items): Staff requested extensions through 12/31/2026 while rebidding chemicals. Committee moved to defer three identified items for two weeks so audit staff and commissioners can review contracts and dollar thresholds.

Other notes from the meeting

- Directors and commissioners repeatedly cited utility easements and coordination with Georgia Power and other utility companies as recurring causes of construction schedule extensions.

- Commissioners asked for examples of departmental reports and dashboards to track work (sanitation misroutes, miles of pipe installed, project status). County staff said dashboards are under development and will be included in quarterly reporting.

Ending: The committee approved most construction and service items by voice vote and deferred several high‑value watershed chemical and meter items to allow audit review and additional commissioner briefing before final award.","DeKalb County Public Works and Infrastructure Committee voted to approve construction and service contracts for roadway and pedestrian safety projects, on‑call concrete and utility work, and rescinded/reawarded one electrical contract. Several large watershed chemical contracts and a water‑meter award were deferred for additional audit and review.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County staff outline timeline to respond to operational assessment; departments to present plans in November

DeKalb officials review I‑285 “Top End” station‑area study and urge local planning for Memorial Drive

PWI committee approves road, safety and utility contracts; several watershed chemical and meter items deferred for audit