City rebids services contract and saves $7 million
The city that did things differently by hiring a private company to do the city’s business went a step further in 2011, when it rebid its services contract for the first time. Sandy Springs opened the bidding to companies who wanted to do only a piece of the city’s work, not the whole job. After the bids were opened, CH2M HILL, the company that had been the sole contractor for the city’s first five years, was out and a group of new faces was in. The city says it saved $7 million by using multiple contractors.
What’s next: The new contractors continue to provide city services in 2012.
New face joins City Council
City Councilwoman Ashley Jenkins, who had been one of the original council members, resigned in January to take a new job she said would require her to travel. In a special election in March, Gabriel Sterling collected 75 percent of the votes cast in a three-way race to claim the District 4 seat on the council.
What’s next: Sterling is up for re-election in 2013.
Residents pack City Hall chambers to fight Gwinnett Tech pitch
A proposal intended to lure a Gwinnett Tech campus to Sandy Springs touched off an email firestorm and brought hundreds of opponents to City Hall to complain. Despite the protests, a deeply divided City Council voted 4-3, with Mayor Eva Galambos casting the tie-breaking vote, to bid on the campus. The city offered $2.5 million, to be matched by another $2.5 million from the business community, and suggested the school be built near the North Springs MARTA station or an alternative site near the Perimeter. Several other north Fulton County communities bid on the campus.
What’s next: The winning bid won’t be selected until the state Legislature puts money in the budget to build the new school.
Fighting City Hall
Several business owners were up in arms when the city began trying to buy up land for a future civic complex that could include new facilities for a City Hall, police station and municipal court. The city bought the old Target store in 2008 and began in 2011 to move on other properties nearby to consolidate the block bounded by Roswell and Johnson Ferry roads and Sandy Springs Circle and Mount Vernon Highway. “The main thing is the city is taking prime real estate for government use,” said Will Smith, owner of Master Kleen dry cleaners. “Not only are they taking it, they’re deleting money from the tax rolls.”
What’s next: City officials continue to consolidate the property for the proposed civic complex.
Putting the ZIP in Sandy Springs
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Prodded by city officials who object to the symbolism, the U.S. Postal Service decided to reconsider its long-standing policy that Sandy Springs is really part of Atlanta. Postal officials now say that if residents and business owners agree to the change, they’ll make “Sandy Springs” the default address for mail sent to ZIP codes in the city, except for one small part of the eastern portion of the city that gets its mail from the Norcross station.
What’s next: Postal officials will survey residents and business owners to see what they want.
Bring in the Road Runner
Residents scattered across Sandy Springs reported seeing and hearing more coyotes moving into the area. Fearing for the safety of their pets, alarmed residents hired trappers to catch the critters.
What’s next: Coyotes should look out.
Popular principal resigns
Eddie Echols, the popular principal at Riverwood International Charter School, resigned suddenly in September after a school system audit found he mismanaged funds. Echols had been principal of the school since 2002. The audit report said Echols had used a credit card for personal and school purchases. He repaid the district for personal items bought with the card, but did not submit a detailed list of the reimbursements.
What’s next: Chris Triolo, former principal at John Motley Morehead Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Academy in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, N.C., takes over as the new Riverwood principal.
Busy year for a busy road
Hammond Drive took center stage this year as the new “half-diamond” interchange opened to traffic. The interchange, a new, nine-lane bridge carrying Hammond across Ga. 400 and a pair of ramps connecting Ga. 400 to Hammond from the north, cost $18 million. Officials said it created the first new access point onto Ga. 400 since 1993. Meanwhile, city officials lobbied successfully to add the widening of the two-lane portion of Hammond Drive to the list of projects to be financed if the 1-cent regional sales tax for transportation is approved.
What’s next: The regional transportation sales tax, usually called the T-SPLOST, goes to the voters in 2012.
Halloween is a holiday after all
The city discovered it forgot to include Halloween among the holidays during which businesses are allowed to display large outdoor decorations. Halloween fans complained and city officials were forced to rethink their policy on inflatable outdoor displays. The policy was suspended so giant inflatable Halloween decorations could return.
What’s next: The city is revising its rules and is expected to consider new policies in 2012.
Charter redo
For its fifth birthday, Sandy Springs took a good look in the mirror. The city charter required the creation of a commission to review the city’s founding document to see whether it needed to be rewritten, tweaked or just left alone. A nine-member commission reviewed the charter line by line and recommended state lawmakers make a few changes, including limiting to two the number of consecutive terms for City Council members and giving the mayor more control over the city manager and the budget.
What’s next: The Legislature considers the commission’s proposals.
