FOR THE RECORD
November/December 2009
Compiled by Donna Soper
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
New commissary to serve active and retired military
What happened: The Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness approved the building of a military commissary on Dobbins Air Force Base.
What it means to you:
U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) and Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) along with U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey had been working for more than a year to ensure the seamless transition between the closure of existing commissaries serving metro Atlanta and construction of the new commissary. Fort Gillem and Fort McPherson in Atlanta, as well as the Naval Supply School in Athens, are scheduled to close in 2011. At that time, Fort Benning, which is located two hours southwest of Atlanta, will be the closest commissary serving the metro Atlanta military population.
According to Gingrey, the latest approval was the final step in a five-step process. "This approval is welcome news for the thousands of military personnel, their families and veterans in metro Atlanta area, and it has been a long time coming," Gingrey said. "I applaud the Department of Defense for recognizing that those men and women who have served our country so honorably should not be left without convenient access to these critical facilities. I look forward to continuing to work to make this become a reality."
"I'm extremely pleased the Department of Defense has given final approval of the commissary at Dobbins, and I will now work with my colleagues to ensure Dobbins receives the necessary funding for the commissary," said Isakson, a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee.
STATE OF GEORGIA
State approves infrastructure project loans
What happened: Gov. Sonny Perdue announced the approval of 22 environmental infrastructure project loans totaling $41 million. Sixteen of the projects were either fully or partially financed by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act at a total of $33.7 million. Several Southern Arc communities were among those scheduled to receive water or sewer infrastructure projects, which were approved by the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA).
What it means to you:
GEFA provides financial assistance and administers programs that encourage stewardship of the environment and promote economic development statewide. GEFA is the lead state agency for energy planning and alternative fuels; manages the Governor's Energy Challenge and the Georgia Land Conservation Program; maintains state-owned fuel storage tanks; and offers financing for reservoir and water supply, water quality, storm water and solid waste infrastructure.
Carroll County Water Authority - The authority will replace 17,000 water meters to transmit information to a new automated meter reading system. The total project cost is $4.675 million.
City of Stockbridge - The city will replace asbestos-cement water mains and relocate service connections. The total project cost is $4.167 million.
City of Villa Rica - The city will install new water mains. The total project cost is $425,000.
Cities and counties interested in more information regarding GEFA loans should visit gefa.org or call 404.584.1000.
TYRONE
Residents to vote on alcohol by the glass
What happened: The Tyrone Town Council voted in favor of allowing citizens to decide on the Nov. 3 municipal ballot whether the town should allow establishments to serve alcohol by the glass on Sunday.
What it means to you: If voters approve the measure, restaurants that at present have been prohibited from serving alcohol by the glass on Sunday, will be allowed to serve alcoholic beverages between 12:30 p.m. and midnight. Peachtree City has a similar restriction in the city's alcohol ordinance.
HENRY COUNTY
County establishes DUI Court
What happened: The Henry County Board of Commissioners approved a motion to accept a $79,000 grant to create and operate a DUI Court through the State Court of Henry County. The grant will cover expenses of the court for the first year. Subsequent years will be funded by participant fines, drug seized funds, donations and other available grants. The program is expected to be in place by the end of the year.
DUI Court will specialize in handling individuals who qualify for the program by incurring two DUI offenses in five years or three DUIs in a lifetime. The program is designed for an intensive, comprehensive and structured environment to modify DUI offenders' behavior, including unannounced home and work visits by law enforcement, random and frequent drug and alcohol testing, weekly group meetings, individual counseling, AA or NA meetings, bar sweeps, curfew enforcement, a weekly status conference with the judge and court team and compliance with all other conditions of the sentence.
What it means to you: According to Henry County officials, the Henry County State Court currently sees an average of 78 DUI cases every month, which does not include cases handled by the four municipalities. And, under the current system, second-time DUI offenders are sentenced to 10 days in jail, face license suspension, DUI School, fines, probation and community service, with no provision for rehabilitation.
The DUI Court, which is already proven to be successful in several other Georgia counties, will benefit the community in several ways, officials said. It will reduce costs by lessening jail and court time; it will reduce DUI and drug-related offenses, such as domestic violence; it provides increased accountability and increased public safety, particularly on the road; and it will improve the likelihood of offender rehabilitation, helping to return the offender to the community as a more productive member. Participants will spend a minimum of 12 months in the program.
"I think it will help," said Judge Ernest D. Blount of Henry County Sate Court. "It won't be a cure-all, but it will make a difference. And if we can save a life and turn a life around, we have accomplished a lot."