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Forest Park council approves Airport South CID boundary expansion and appoints local business representative
Summary
The council approved a resolution acknowledging an Airport South Community Improvement District expansion into Forest Park and appointed Steve Lackey as the city's CID board representative; presenters said CID projects (including a 2.6 million-dollar micro-transit grant) will not use city general‑fund dollars.
The Forest Park City Council voted on May 4 to approve the Airport South Community Improvement District boundary expansion into parts of the city and to appoint Steve Lackey as the city's representative to the CID board.
Gerald McDowell, executive director for the Aerotropolis/ATL Airport Community Improvement Districts, told the council the CID is a property‑owner funded quasi‑governmental partner that focuses on infrastructure, public safety and mobility. McDowell said the CID identified about 200–250 commercial properties in Forest Park and has begun recruiting property owners to join. "This service is a free service that is offered to those who work in the district," McDowell said, describing a micro‑transit pilot supported by a 2.6 million dollar grant from the Atlanta Region Transit Link Authority that required a CID match.
Danielle Bass, the ATL Airport CID community outreach director, said the CID drives projects by commercial property owners and does not request city general‑fund dollars. "So again, we're not asking for any money from you all. No general fund dollars requested. No city financial obligation," she said.
Steve Lackey, introduced by presenters as the proposed appointee and commercial operations director with SD Heating & Air, told councilmembers he supports CID goals for public safety and traffic relief and described his company's TechBuilder workforce training program. "We bring people in that have not been through HVAC school... we pay these students while they go through school," Lackey said, urging collaboration with city workforce initiatives.
The council adopted the expansion by resolution and approved the appointment by voice vote during the regular session. Staff noted the CID submitted required paperwork to the county as part of the expansion process and that the city's action is to acknowledge and appoint a local representative.
What happens next: presenters said CID outreach to property owners will continue through 2026 and into 2027, and that additional CID projects (micro‑transit, coordinated public safety and beautification) will roll out as recruitment succeeds.
