City shopping for new equipment

The East Point City Council approved several spending actions recently. The council agreed to the purchase of three sets of new fire fighting apparatus for the East Point Fire Department with proceeds from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Award. The award is $711,364 with a required match of 10 percent or $71,136.

Another purchase approved by the council is for a slope mower and trailer from John Deer Ag-Pro for $44,649.99. The equipment is for the city water treatment plant.

The council also approved financing of three pickup trucks for the East Point Power Department. The trucks will be leased and financed for two years at a cost of $94,700.

UPCOMING

“Christmas My Way: A Sinatra Holiday Bash!” 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. $15 to $40 with discounts for groups of 20 or more, students, seniors and children ages 12 and under. The Legacy Theatre, 1175 Senoia Road, Suite C, Tyrone. Tickets: 404-895-1473, TheLegacyTheatre.org.

Hanukkah Party. 5 p.m. Saturday. Congregation B’nai Israel, 1633 Ga. 54 E., Jonesboro. Learn about Hanukkah, sing songs, make crafts, eat latkes, play bingo, spin dreidels and do the Sufganiyot Shuffle. 678-817-7162, bnai-israel.net.

Jolly Holiday Party. 5-6:30 p.m. Monday. Free. Fairview Library, 28 Austin Road, Stockbridge. Festive music, snacks and Christmas craft making. 678432-5353 ext. 3, henry.public. lib.ga.us/images/forms/HolidayEvents2016.pdf.

City outlines goals for slowing traffic

During a recent Decatur city commission meeting, Assistant City Manager David Junger outlined several several short- and long-term goals for traffic calming along the city’s three state roads. The projects were created in collaboration with Georgia’s Department of Transportation:

Doubling the length of the school zone on South Candler Drive, from Green Street to about 200 feet south of College Avenue. That zone has now been modified to include those students walking to and from Renfroe Middle School and Winnona Park Elementary.

Building a pedestrian-activated device or “hawk light” at the Candler/Davis Street crossing. By pushing a button, the pedestrian creates a full stop red light. Junger hopes to have it finished by early March.

A new conventional crosswalk at Candler/Pharr Road.

Painting 8-inch wide edge lines (up from the current 5-inch wide lines) on Scott Boulevard from the western city limit to Clairmont Avenue. The purpose is to give the visual perception of a narrower driving lane, thus making drivers less comfortable driving at high rates of speed. Work should start later this month.

Eliminating the slip lane on Coventry Place as it turns right or east on Scott, thus making it safer for pedestrians crossing Scott.

A hawk light crossing Clairmont at the Decatur YMCA (right at the city limits), although this is several months away.