Dunwoody remains deadlocked on a decision to adopt a new sign ordinance.

After 18 months of public forums, committee meetings and staff research, the City Council voted 3-3 Monday night on what was supposed to be a final draft of the law. The tie vote means the matter will be sent back to the city's planning department, which will develop a revised draft with the seven-member community council and seven-member planning commission.

The draft ran into trouble from the get-go. Councilman John Heneghan, noting late changes in the document, asked why the matter needed to be approved immediately. He said the draft, complete with more than three dozen recent alterations made late last week, should be presented for public review before being adopted.

But Councilman Robert Wittenstein observed the ordinance had gone through the most thorough vetting process imaginable, and there was no need to delay. Besides, he added, the ordinance could be amended as needed in the future.

Opponents who spoke during the public hearing outnumbered proponents by more than 2-1. No one spoke directly against a specific provision, only the late changes that the public had not had time to review.

DeKalb County will have a few more weeks to decide whether $36 million in federal stimulus bonds should be used to redevelop the old GM plant or build a new convention center.

On Tuesday, the county commission decided to wait until Aug. 24 before voting on a proposal to redevelop the vacant Doraville plant. Part of that delay is so the county can consider a last minute proposal by Commissioner Lee May to build a convention center near Stonecrest Mall using the bonds and hotel tax. Florida developer New Broad Street has proposed building a mix of office space, housing units and retail at the GM plant using the bonds and property tax money.

The city of Doraville, which must approve the GM plan, has said it cannot afford to contribute tax money to the proposed development.

DeKalb County residents will soon be able to find the location of the county’s 13,900 foreclosures.

The county commission voted 6-1 Tuesday to require creditors to register foreclosed properties with the county. Commissioner Elaine Boyer, the board’s only Republican, voted against the registry.

The registry, which will require a $175 fee, will be available online and include the owner’s contact information, Commissioner Connie Stokes said.

Stokes, who drafted the resolution, said the registry will require financial institutions to maintain the properties and prevent blight. "This is not to be a penalty to financial institutions. This is to make sure they know they have to take care of these properties," she said.

The City of Dunwoody's newest city council member, Doug Thompson, was sworn in on Monday.

Thompson, a local attorney, was the only person who qualified in May for a special election to replace Tom Taylor. Taylor's postition became available in April when he resigned to run for the state House.

An election for the seat had been scheduled for July 20, but the election was canceled when only one candidate qualified.

After disappearing on her way to track practice on Thursday, Catherine Hoyos, 15, has been found safe in Mexico City, according to Dunwoody Police.

"Hoyos' family members stated that arrangements are being made for her return to Georgia," police said in a news release issued Saturday morning. "This information has not been confirmed through authorities; therefore, we are reserving any further comment until we have additional information on the situation."

Hoyos is a student at Dunwoody High School. She's been missing since early Thursday morning when she was dropped off at Peachtree Middle School for track practice but never actually made it to the track. Instead, police said it appeared she went to the airport and boarded a nonstop plane to Mexico City.

DunwoodyNow.com obtained a copy of an e-mail sent out by Hoyos' cross country track coach at Dunwoody High school.

"Cathy Hoyos has been found and is safe," wrote Bryan Boucher. "Her parents wanted to pass along their thanks for any support offered and prayers given during this time."

The Dunwoody City Council will hold a public meeting Monday July 26 at 7:00PM in City Hall.

The agenda includes:

• Resolution establishing park facility rental fees 
• Proposed Text Amendments to Chapter 20, Signs, and Chapter 27, Zoning, Article III, Overlay District Regulations
• Resolution Authorizing the Acquisition of North DeKalb Cultural Arts Center and Library
• Ordinance Amendment to Chapter 4, Alcohol, for modifying the requirements relating to package sale distances from private dwellings

Additional information about the meeting is available on the city website (Adobe Reader required)

Only about 83,000, or 23 percent, of DeKalb’s 347,000 registered voters turned out for Tuesday's primary.

Of that total, about 8,400 DeKalb voters chose to vote early either at advance voting sites, by mail or absentee in recent weeks, records show.

The highest turnout was at the Tucker precinct, which saw 86 percent of those registered to vote there cast ballots. Other high percentages were shown at Lakeside (46 percent) and Austin (40 percent).

Lowest turnouts were recorded at Covington Highway Library, with 5 percent, and Stone Mountain Middle and Stone Mill precincts, each with 9 percent turnout.

A steering committee last week presented Dunwoody’s City Council with a cost outline for a new fire department.

Between $6,229,752 and $6,475,528 is needed to pay for a ground-up operation, according to the committee’s memo.

The city currently gets emergency services from DeKalb County, which receives funds from Dunwoody through millage rate tax revenue.

An increase in these rates, from 2.54 mills to a range of 2.71 to 2.82 mills, will be needed to finance a new fire department, the study revealed.

The timeline for the city council to decide has not been set. Under the terms of its contract with the county, Dunwoody must give six months notice if it intends to go elsewhere.

A handwriting expert with the U.S. Secret Service is one of several federal agents assisting the Dunwoody Police Department with its investigation into the killing of an elderly Dunwoody couple.

In addition to the Secret Service, investigators from the FBI and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are assisting as well as the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the DeKalb County Fire Department and the Sandy Springs Police.

"The Secret Service can help us with calligraphers and stuff like that," said Dunwoody Police spokesman Sgt. Mike Carlson.

Police have not released many details regarding the crime scene and the investigation, but Carlson said the department is planning to meet with members of the community to discuss the case. However, he said no new information will be given at the meeting.

Dunwoody police are seeking the public's help in locating a missing 15-year-old girl.

Catherine Hoyos, who goes by Cathy, was last seen at 7 a.m. Thursday when she was dropped off at Peachtree Middle School for track practice, a news release said.

Hoyos is described as 5-foot-3 and 125 pounds. She has brown eyes and dark brown hair. She was wearing a red T-shirt, black cotton shorts and white tennis shoes, police said.

Anyone with information about the girl's whereabouts should contact Det. Andrew Thompson of the Dunwoody Police Department at 678-382-6921.

Urged by voter feedback, legislators again will consider changing DeKalb County’s government leadership from its elected CEO to a professional county manager.

More than 16,600 Republican voters -- 80 percent of the voters in Tuesday’s Republican primary -- said the county should alter the format at the top. The DeKalb Republican Party placed the inquiry as part of an eight-question straw poll on the ballot.

On Wednesday, state Rep. Howard Mosby (D-Atlanta), chairman of the DeKalb delegation, said legislators will convene next month to discuss possible changes to the county’s Organizational Act, which is similar to a charter.

"Seeing that [the straw poll] out there, it may be time to bring it to the table," Mosby told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "The first step is to look at the Organizational Act and make sure there is a better flow of information between the CEO and commissioners."

Mosby and several commissioners said they will ask that a similar straw poll is placed on the Democratic ballot and they will consider a referendum question. DeKalb is the only county in Georgia with the CEO form of government.

The Georgia Department of Education has announced the award of a grant totaling $691,109 to be shared by Peachtree Charter Middle School and Dunwoody High School.

The purpose of the grant is to create a STEM lab (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and provide teachers, administrators, and staff extensive professional learning opportunities to increase STEM awareness and achievement.

The grants will be used to: (1) increase community STEM awareness, (2) develop model STEM classroom-based or mobile labs focused on interdisciplinary, hands-on, inquiry-based learning aligned to GPS and Common Core Standards, (3) provide STEM professional learning through face-to-face, online, and blended learning, (4) increase student engagement and success in STEM, (5) increase student technology literacy, and (6) increase number of students pursuing STEM post-secondary education, training, and careers.

GaDOE has specified that each school will allocate these funds as follows: (1) $86,389 for professional learning from KETC (television) (2) $241, 278 for equipment , and (3) $17,887 for evaluation by a GaDOE-selected outside evaluation.

The Dunwoody Woman’s Club scholarships are awarded annually to high school seniors based on scholarship, leadership, character and service. At a recent meeting, the Club presented scholarship awards to DeKalb residents Mary Pate Mills and Nicole Morrison.

Ms. Morrison is a recent graduate of Dunwoody High School and will be attending the University of Southern California. She is the daughter of Caren and Jim Morrison.

She won the Coca-Cola Academic Award at the end of her junior year for earning the highest GPA in her class. She was on the varsity swim team for three years, in the National Honor Society for two, and on the Student Government Association for four years. Ms. Mills recently graduated from the Wesleyan School in Norcross and will be attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the fall. She is the daughter of Sloane and John Mills of Atlanta-DeKalb.

Experience was the theme of the night in the state Senate and House races in the primary election on July 20.

Fran Millar, who spent 12 years representing District 79 in the state House of Representatives, was on his way to an easy win for the Republican nomination in Senate District 40. With more than 60 percent of the precincts reporting by press time, Millar had more than 66 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff. James Sibold, a former DeKalb County GOP chairman, was second with 28 percent and Jim Duffie had about 10 percent.

Millar will face Democrat Eric Crist, who ran unopposed in the primary, in the November general election.

Most metro school systems hire lawyers based on price and the needs of the district. DeKalb schools hired its attorneys based on race.

DeKalb school board members admit they voted last year to spend almost $1 million more on attorneys to ensure they had a black female attorney working with them.

Like other area districts, DeKalb solicited bids and selected three finalists: Sutherland, BrockClay and Alexander & Associates. Despite the first two firms offering to do all of the legal work, some board members advocated hiring two firms – and paying more.

The board voted 5-4 to hire Sutherland and Alexander. Board members Eugene Walker, Jay Cunningham, Jim Redovian, Zepora Roberts and Sarah Copelin-Wood all voted in favor of the additional spending. All are on the ballot in November.

Alexander, which is owned by a black female attorney, was awarded the contract to handle only human resources issues.

The two other firms – which also have African-American, Indian and Hispanic attorneys on staff – offered to do the human resources work for about $500,000 less.

During the heated debate, board member Walker argued that to him diversity is only black and white.

"I am a very, very race-conscious person," Walker said in October 2009. "I will never ever try to lead you to believe that I am race-neutral. I see color. I appreciate color. I celebrate color and I love color."

An overnight police standoff in Dunwoody ended shortly before daybreak Monday when SWAT officers entered an apartment only to find that the suspect had apparently jumped out a third-story window.

Dunwoody police Sgt. Mike Carlson told the AJC that the incident stemmed from "domestic violence" that occurred late Sunday afternoon at the Two Blocks apartment complex in the 4000 block of Dunwoody Park.

A responding officer saw the 37-year-old suspect go into an apartment, and when officers tried to talk the man into coming out, he refused.

Police evacuated nearby units, and the SWAT team was called to the scene.

When the SWAT team entered the apartment, they found that the door had been barricaded, but there was no one inside the unit.

"Apparently, he did jump from the third floor," Carlson said. Police were searching Monday morning for the suspect, whose name has not been released.

At the City Council Work Session Monday evening, Dunwoody Police Chief Billy Grogan asked for four additional uniformed officers for the Dunwoody Police Department.

Although a possible grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) would defray part of the cost of the additional officers and equipement, it may cost the taxpayers an additional $500,000 over the next three years.

According to a memo from Chief Grogan:

"The current grant being offered is a three year grant. The grant funds the creation of a HEAT traffic enforcement unit. It will pay for 100% of two officer positions and equipment up to $250,000 the first year. The local municipality is required to pay for at least one additional position and equipment. The grant will pay 75% of salaries and benefits for the two officers positions the second year and 50% of the salaries and benefits of the two grant positions the third year."

At Monday's meeting, the chief requested a fourth officer, a Sergeant to manage the three new officers required by the grant.

According to Grogan, the HEAT unit would focus on DUI arrests and aggressive driving because current staffing levels are insufficient "to get necessary enforcement to certain areas to change drivers' behaviors."

Because the Dunwoody Police Department's current staff size and budget already exceed the levels recommended by the Carl Vinson Institute in its 2008 feasibility study, some Dunwoody residents are questioning how big a police force the city actually needs.

Commuters who travel the I-285 and Ashford Dunwoody Road interchange may soon experience a new traffic concept: the diverging diamond interchange.

The Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank last week awarded an $800,000 grant to the Perimeter Community Improvement District to help fund the concept’s design. If built, the interchange will follow one in Springfield, Mo., as the only two in the United States.

A statement issued by Gov. Sonny Perdue’s office said the project was chosen because, "The DDI would provide additional capacity without reconstructing new lanes by restriping, altering signal timing, improving turning conditions and reconstructing a ramp."

The new type of interchange would require drivers to cross briefly to the other side of the road. Those turning left onto the interstate would be able to do so without crossing oncoming traffic.

Driven from Europe before and during World War II, many Jewish people settled in Cuba only to see the suppression of religious practice continue after the nation’s 1959 Communist revolution.

The Dunwoody-based Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta has organized the latest in a series of humanitarian trips to Cuba.

Participants bring medical and school supplies to help all Cubans, and work to help the island’s Jewish community celebrate and reclaim their religious identity.

The trip is slated to begin July 19 and last for six days.

Some DeKalb County police officers are organizing a ticket furlough to protest their unpaid holidays. Officers, who are promoting the protest on a police officers' blog, said they are issuing more warnings for speeding and other violations.

In February, the county commission voted to stop paying employees on seven holidays as part of budget cuts. Most employees get the unpaid day off, but some police officers and other public safety workers must still work the holidays.

“We just get a reduction in that week’s check,” said Jeff Wiggs, president of the DeKalb Fraternal Order of Police. “We are continually concerned about reduction in pay and police officer morale.”

DeKalb County’s yard waste is on its way to be turned into energy.

The county commission voted 6-1 Tuesday to sell its wood chips, grass clippings and yard waste to Green Energy Partners LLC.

Green Partners plans to build a $50 million biomass plant in Lithonia. The yard waste, along with cooking oil and greases, will be burned and turned into electricity. The company hopes to contract with Georgia Power, said Green Energy managing director Neville Anderson.

Officials said it will create enough energy to power 7,000 houses.

DeKalb County staff shortages have left the school system struggling to get all of its buildings inspected by the start of classes next month, district officials say.

The school board voted 8-0 Monday night to pay an additional $69,000 to its construction manager, Parsons Corp. and Jacobs Engineering Inc., for a fire marshal.

"The county is not going to provide these fire marshal services because of their [staffing] situation," board member Don McChesney said. "This is critical to us getting our buildings open on time."

On Monday night, the school board voted to temporarily hire a retired county inspector to review 31 school construction projects. This will allow the school system to make sure it meets all fire codes before requesting a county permit, said Barbara Colman, the district’s interim capital improvement program operations officer.

One of the items on the agenda for tomorrow's City Council Work Session is a discussion led by Dunwoody Police Chief Billy Grogan about adding three additional uniformed officers to the police squad.

At issue is a possible grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) that would defray part of the cost of two additional officers and equipement but would require the city to fund a third officer and additional equipement.

According to a memo from Chief Grogan:

"The current grant being offered is a three year grant. The grant funds the creation of a HEAT traffic enforcement unit. It will pay for 100% of two officer positions and equipment up to $250,000 the first year. The local municipality is required to pay for at least one additional position and equipment. The grant will pay 75% of salaries and benefits for the two officers positions the second year and 50% of the salaries and benefits of the two grant positions the third year."

How much will this cost the taxpayers? The exact numbers have not been specified, however one Dunwoody resident offered this estimate on his blog:

"The Dunwoody police department budget would need perhaps another $100,000 in year one of receiving this grant. Year two budget would need increased the same $100,000 or so, plus 25% of two officers salary and benefits (perhaps another $50,000). So in year two of the grant, taxpayers need to shell out nearly $150,000. Year three? It gets more expensive as we are on the hook for 50% of salary (and benefits and cars and gear). Perhaps $200,000 or more for year three."

The discussion of this proposal will take place at the City Council meeting Monday July 12 at 7:00PM at Dunwoody City Hall (41 Perimeter Center East). Public comments will be heard at the beginning and end of the meeting.

On Wednesday July 14 the Dunwoody Green Market will host Tomatofest.

The Dunwoody Green Market is a producer-only market open Wednesdays from April to November. The market features a wide range of seasonal vegetables, fruits, dairy products, meats, baked goods and more. All produce vendors use organic methods and most are Certified Naturally Grown or Organic.

From its location next to the Dunwoody Village Post Office, the celebration will feature lots of tomatoes for sale, a children's activity tent, tomato recipe contest, chef demo, live music and free raffle.

The market is open from 8:00AM to noon.

A DeKalb County fire captain who lost his job after a fatal blaze will now get his position back. On Friday, DeKalb County released a report saying the decision to fire Sell Caldwell had been reversed.

The decision stems from a January fire at a home on Houghton Court in Dunwoody. Firefighters who were responding to the first 911 call said they found no sign of a blaze.

More than five hours later, and after more calls for help, firefighters returned to the scene and started battling the flames. After the fire was out, they discovered the body of 74-year-old Ann Bartlett.

Four firefighters were terminated after the fire, and three of them have gotten their jobs back.

With a criminal investigation at the charred home next door, George Baker found it difficult to talk about his best friend and next-door neighbor.

Police have not released the names of the victims. Baker said Roger and Dorothy Abbott lived in the home

"He was my best friend, a good friend for 38 years," Baker said, battling his emotions and speaking through a screen door, of his neighbor. "We moved here in February of 1972 and they moved in in March. They were good people."

Baker said the couple has four grown children, including a disabled son who lived in the home. Baker said the man was at a special needs camp at the time of the fire.

Other neighbors also were distraught upon hearing the news of the deaths.

The top two fund-raisers in the race for north DeKalb’s state Senate seat took slightly different paths to gaining the money they needed for their campaigns for the Republican nomination in the July 20 primary.

A personal loan coupled with contributions from more than 150 individuals and current and former state lawmakers helped District 79 state Rep. Fran Millar raise more than $63,000 in his bid for the District 40 state Senate seat, according to his campaign finance report filed with the Georgia Ethics Commission.

Opponent James Sibold of Dunwoody, meanwhile, used a $72,000 loan from himself to provide all of the funding for his campaign between April 1 and June 30, his report showed. In addition, he reported he loaned himself an additional $35,000 on July 6.

Sibold said he "made a choice not to solicit any funds. The flip side of that is I’m not beholden to any special interest group. There’s no PAC money, there’s no lobbyist money. The only person I’m beholden to is Mrs. Sibold," he said, in reference to his wife, Karen.

The Murphey Candler Girls Softball Association is getting ready to play ball.

According to MCGSA Fall Director Cullen McClure, Fall Softball is a great way for girls who will be moving to a new age group next spring to get prepared.

The upcoming season will run from mid August to late October and will be played on Wednesdays, Saturdays or Sunday afternoons. Space is limited so early registration is encouraged.

Because Fall leagues have fewer girls participating, some games will be played against teams from other parks. These games will be scheduled on the weekends to make travel easier and may include games in Sandy Springs, Pickneyville, and Druid Hills.

The league is now accepting registrations for the 8U, 10U and 12U age groups. For online registration, visit http://mcgsa.com/registration/.

DeKalb County has set up a commission to find new sources of revenue to supplement tax dollars.

The commission will hold its first meeting Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the Maloof Auditorium in Decatur.

CEO Burrell Ellis and several county commissioners began establishing the group several months ago after being forced to slash more than $50 million from this year’s budget. The county has been struggling with declining property values, a decrease in sales tax and less tax dollars because of the incorporation of Dunwoody.

"The ongoing recession that has gripped our nation compels us to develop new revenue streams and enhance existing ones," County Commissioner Kathy Gannon said in a statement.

The DeKalb County School System announced late Friday that Rodney Swanson will be the new principal at Dunwoody High School.

Swanson is an 18- year employee of the Dekalb County School System who started out at Chapel Hill Elementary School and later moved to Stone Mountain Middle School as a social studies teacher. He was assistant principal at DeKalb School of the Arts for seven years, then moved to his most recent position as assistant principal at Redan High School, where he helped guide the school through a renovation.

Prior to the announcement, Swanson met with representatives of the Dunwoody High School Council. The group, which includes parents, a representative from the teaching staff, the PTSO president, and the construction liaison representative, was impressed with Swanson's qualifications and capabilities.

For the 2010/2011 school year, Swanson will lead the returning administrative leadership team of Assistant Principals Tamra Watts, April Keels, Tom Bass and Tom McFerrin.

Police believe the fire at a Dunwoody home Thursday morning may have been set to hide a double murder.

"The fire was a possible cover-up," Dunwoody police spokesman Sgt. Mike Carlson told the AJC Friday.

Dunwoody police are actively pursuing a homicide investigation in the fatal fire Thursday in the 1900 block of Peeler Road. "Initial investigation and initial autopsy results indicate a cause of death for both victims which is inconsistent with natural or accidental causes," Carlson said.

Fire fighters were called to the two-story home shortly after 11 a.m. Thursday when smoke and flames were reported, according to reports. Two bodies were found in the home, although police have yet to identify either victim.

Sixteen people will compete for five DeKalb County school board seats in November. Qualifying for the non-partisan election ended Friday.

The candidates include: Merope "Bobbe" Gillis, Nancy Jester and incumbent Jim Redovian in District 1; incumbent Sarah Copelin-Wood, Robert Lee Holt and Corey Wilson in District 3; incumbent Jay Cunningham Jr., Jacques Hall Jr. and Kirk Nooks in District 5; Donna Elder, Richard Gathany, Donny “Muhammad” Grogan, Willie Mosley Jr. and incumbent Zepora Roberts in District 7; and Ella Smith and incumbent Eugene Walker in District 9.

When you bring a bag to collect candy at the the parade on Monday, put a can of food or two in it for the Community Action Center.

Boy Scout Troop 764 from St. Luke's Presbyterian Church will be collecting canned goods and other non-perishable items along the parade route. With the double whammy of summer and families struggling to make ends meet in these trying economic times, the CAC is reporting a significant need for food donations. Children who normally receive meals at school are now at home, and more families are seeking assistance.

The Scouts will be collecting canned goods such as meats or milk, peanut butter; beans and vegetables; pasta, rice and breakfast cereal; baby food and formula; and easy-to-heat canned meals. Diapers, especially larger sizes, are also needed.

The Community Action Center provides assistance to families in need due to temporary life setbacks who reside in Dunwoody and Sandy Springs Additional information is available at www.ourcac.org

DeKalb County has a little more time to finalize details for the redevelopment of the vacant GM plant in Doraville.

On Friday, the state Department of Community Affairs approved an extension to its deadline for DeKalb to apply for $36 million in federal stimulus bonds for the GM project, said Bobby Stevens, the state’s bond allocation manager. The deadline was Wednesday. It is now August 31.

County officials hope to use the $36 million to purchase a portion of the 165-acre plant. The county is working with Orlando-based developer New Broad Street to build a mix of retail, office space and housing units.

Two people died in a house fire in Dunwoody on Thursday morning.

DeKalb County firefighters who were dispatched to a home in the 1900 block of Peeler Road found two bodies inside, said William Miller, the public safety director for DeKalb.

The Dunwoody Police Department will investigate, with help from DeKalb arson investigators, police spokesman Sgt. Mike Carlson said. He asked anyone with information about the incident to call Dunwoody police detectives at 678-382-6912.

Firefighters were dispatched after 11 a.m., and investigators were working the scene in the afternoon. They had not identified the victims by late afternoon.

According to an email update from the Dunwoody High School Design Team, Phase 1 of the Dunwoody High School renovation is proceeding as planned and the school will be ready to open on schedule August 9.

This first phase, scheduled for completion in August 2010, includes interior renovation, new HVAC, lighting and ceilings, four tennis courts, a new bridge for the front entrance, and framing for the 3rd floor addition.

For those concerned about the large number of classroom trailers that will soon appear on the site, the email states:

"As a contingency in case some classrooms are not ready for occupancy we will begin moving 20 learning cottages into the school's south parking lot. We assure the Dunwoody community that once the renovated classrooms are cleared for occupancy all but five learning cottages will be quickly removed. The five learning cottages that will remain in addition to the six already located behind the school will house our math department until the 3rd floor addition is complete in December."

Additional information about the SPLOST III Renovation and 2010-2011 school year registration is available on the Dunwoody High School website at www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/~dunwoody/

DeKalb County has award-winning trash.

The Solid Waste Association of North America awarded DeKalb’s sanitation division the 2010 “Gold Transfer Station Excellence Award,” county officials announced.

The award recognizes outstanding solid waste programs and facilities that help advance the practice of environmentally and economically sound solid waste management. The association was specifically looking at the county’s use of technology and processes that protect workers and residents’ health and safety, officials said.

Last year, the county’s central transfer station used 14 percent less energy and 20 percent less water than required by building codes, a county spokeswoman said. Twenty percent of the station was built using recycled materials.

DeKalb County has changed ambulance providers again.

The county has hired Rural Metro Ambulance to provide temporary ambulance service starting Tuesday, CEO Burrell Ellis announced Thursday night. The length of the contract was not provided, only that Rural Metro will work until a request for proposals can be submitted.

Last month, CEO’s spokeswoman Shelia Edwards said the county had hired American Medical Response to provide temporary service.

It’s unclear why DeKalb has changed vendors. Edwards did not respond to questions Thursday night.

Turnout for the DeKalb County school board election is not as overwhelming as expected, even with continuous complaints about poor leadership.

By Thursday, just 12 people had qualified for the five seats that will appear on the DeKalb ballot in November.

They are incumbent Jim Redovian and Nancy Jester in District 1, Corey Wilson in District 3, incumbent Jay Cunningham and Jacques Hall Jr. in District 5, incumbent Zepora Roberts, Donna Elder, Richard Gathany, Willie Mosley Jr. and Donny “Muhammad” Grogan in District 7, and incumbent Eugene Walker and Ella Smith in District 9.

Qualifying for the non-partisan elections in DeKalb and Fulton ends Friday at noon.

DeKalb board chairman Tom Bowen, who is not up for re-election, said he was surprised that eduKALB did not produce any candidates. The non-profit group was assembled by the Chamber of Commerce to help attract better qualified school board members.

"Public education has a direct impact on the economic development, property values and level of crime in every community, so it makes sense for the DeKalb Chamber to get involved," Bowen said. "I expected to see more after their initial press release, particularly as it relates to increasing public interest and involvement in education in DeKalb."