City, DOT seek input on reconstruction project

The Georgia Department of Transportation and the city of Union City are seeking public input for the proposed reconstruction of the Interstate 85 at State Road 138/Jonesboro Road interchange and widening project at a public information open house taking place from 5 to 7 p.m. on March 14 at the Etris Community Center, 5285 Lakeside Drive in Union City.

The public will be able to view details of the proposed project, talk about it with GDOT staff at the informal event and comment.

The proposed project would reconstruct the I-85 at State Road 138/Jonesboro Road interchange, reduce congestion, widen lanes, as well as provide sidewalks, bike lanes, and a new wider bridge to accommodate more turn lanes.

Parents oppose school boundary changes

A proposal to modify the boundaries of the Huddleston Elementary School district drew strong opposition from parents who attended Monday’s meeting of the Fayette County Board of Education.

Ten Peachtree City residents, mostly from the Sandown neighborhood off McIntosh Trail, voiced their concerns to the board, which is considering a plan to send more students to Oak Grove Elementary next year and then to Rising Starr Middle and Starr’s Mill High because of crowding at J. C. Booth Middle and McIntosh High.

Parents said the changes would disrupt families, diminish their home values and not solve the county-wide population issue. Fayette is examining other factors and options before making

City named Goodwill’s ‘Ambassador of Year’

Every year, Goodwill of North Georgia holds an annual employer awards event. This award program is created to honor community partners. The City of Stockbridge has connected Goodwill of North Georgia with other government entities and employers in the community, as well as hosting several major job fairs.

With Stockbridge Councilman Elton Alexander’s effort to spearhead the past three Goodwill Stockbridge Career Fairs, the Goodwill Stockbridge Career Center team nominated Stockbridge for the “Mission Ambassador of the Year” award.

Out of all of the nominees, The City of Stockbridge was selected as

UPCOMING

Business Series: Library Resources for Entrepreneurs. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday. Free. Headquarters Library, 865 Battle Creek Road, Jonesboro. Register: Youth Services Department, 770473-3850. claytonpl.org.

Kidz Fit Camp. 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday and the next four Thursdays in March. Free. Headquarters Library, 865 Battle Creek Road, Jonesboro. This wellness movement is designed to fight childhood obesity in Clayton, Henry, DeKalb and Fayette counties, according to the model from former First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let Move” campaign: Eat Healthy, Get Active and Take Actions. Register at eventbrite. com. 770-473-3850, claytonpl.org.

Cottage court project set for fall construction

Decatur had six builders bid to construct the city’s first cottage court development. Site work on the half-acre property at 230 Commerce Drive should begin in summer with construction scheduled to start in the fall.

Six houses will be built with the smallest at 468 square feet, the largest at 1,100 and the remaining from 900 to 1,000 square feet. All, except for the tiny house, will be 1½ stories, with the price points from $100,000 to $250,000. Assistant City Manager Lyn Menne said she hopes the houses will come to market in spring 2018.

The architect is Mississippian Bruce Tolar, a veteran of New Orleans’ post-Hurricane Katrina rebuilding, who has designed cottage courts for years.

Houses will probably be made available by lottery, with the target buyer earning 80 to 100 percent of the city’s median income. According to the December issue of the Decatur Focus, 80 percent of the median income in a one-person household is $37,840, and in a two-person household is $43,200.

The 100 percent median income of a one-person household is $47,300, and $54,000 for two-person home.