DeKalb staff proposes code changes, registry and surveillance to curb illegal scrap-tire dumping; action deferred

DeKalb County staff on Tuesday laid out a multi-pronged plan to address widespread illegal scrap‑tire dumping, proposing amendments to county code, a county-managed registry of tire handlers, new reporting requirements and expanded use of license‑plate‑reader (LPR) surveillance — but commissioners deferred the measure for 30 days to allow more work by administration and staff.

Marcus Allen, the county staff lead on the project, framed the presentation around a draft code amendment dated 11/18/2025 and a supporting policy paper prepared for Commissioner Patrick’s proposed resolution (agenda item 20250683). Allen said the county has identified roughly 42 persistent dumping locations across DeKalb and warned of the fiscal and public‑health toll: “Cleanup for scrap tires can range well into the tens of the thousands of dollars,” he said.

The staff recommendations include: reducing the personal storage limit in county code from 100 scrap tires to 25 to align with Georgia Code Title 12; clarifying and aligning penalties so the county’s maximum administrative penalty remains a fine (not to exceed $1,000) and up to six months’ imprisonment per violation; allowing state or federal agencies to pursue separate or concurrent enforcement (including state fines and felony charges where applicable); designating the DeKalb County Director of Public Works (or designee) as the enforcement lead and creating a high‑level program coordinator; establishing a registry of tire‑handling businesses and requiring quarterly transport/manifest reports to the public works director; and expanding surveillance options (including LPRs) at identified hot spots.

Allen also outlined longer‑term considerations, including studying whether DeKalb could register as a scrap‑tire processor with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD), pursue EPD grants (staff noted an EPD tire products grant that can fund research up to about $250,000) and evaluate whether producing crumb rubber for local road projects could be feasible and cost‑effective over time.

Commissioners pressed staff on implementation details and timelines. Commissioner Ted Terry said he submitted five policy recommendations by email on Oct. 19 and had received no reply: “I have not received a response to that email, since October 19,” he said, urging clearer communication and faster follow‑up. Commissioner Robert Patrick, sponsor of the resolution, described recent cleanups in District 1 and said county engagement with property owners has yielded results, noting fences installed and large truckloads removed at one site.

Presiding officer Michelle Long Spears asked staff whether the proposed ordinance would require placing LPRs at chronic dumping sites; Allen said the board’s recent $19 million investment in fleet cameras and LPRs would be used and staff would be open to drafting ordinance language to ensure LPR deployment at hotspots. Several commissioners urged longer and broader public education and outreach than the two‑week blitz staff described for the litter‑registry communications plan.

With outstanding questions about surveillance scope, staffing for a program coordinator, municipal coordination and whether the county should seek processing capacity, the board voted to defer the item for 30 days and reconvene discussion at the IRB committee meeting on Dec. 16. No formal changes to code or penalties were adopted at Tuesday’s meeting.

What’s next: staff will take commissioner feedback, provide follow‑up responses to questions (including the Oct. 19 policy suggestions), and return with refined language and implementation plans at the December committee meeting.