AT ISSUE: WHAT SHOULD BE CEO MICHAEL THURMOND’S FIRST PRIORITY?

Newly elected DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond takes office this month. We asked county residents what should some of his first priorities be. Economic development along the Wesley Chapel Road corridor and the Stonecrest Mall area. We are in need of nice family entertainment, millennial entertainment, better food options and of course safety. Personally, I’d like to see CEO Thurmond focus on improving surface road and water/sewage infrastructure throughout the country but specifically in South DeKalb, which has long been neglected for such services. I’d also like to see Mr. Thurmond start a new initiative to lobby MARTA in expanding further into DeKalb County along the I-20 corridor, especially in light of the recent incorporation of the City of Stonecrest. The new CEO should tackle economic development and affordable housing as his first issues. CEO Thurman priorities: 1. Roads – Rockbridge Road – Resurface from Highway 124 to Memorial plus all others 2. Bike Lanes – Rockbridge Road from Highway 124 to Stone Mountain/Lithonia Road to down town Stone Mountain 3. Programs for middle and high school teams to prevent gang involvement and later economic and personal catastrophes. 4. Parenting training for deadbeat dads to help children not just financially but morally while hold all dads accountable for their children upbringing. We want the same development in central and south DeKalb County like north DeKalb. We are the working middle class here in central and south DeKalb County ... We should not have to drive to Dunwoody to shop at a decent mall or drive to Gwinnett County to Webb Ginn to shop or anywhere out of our area for quality goods and services. We have abandoned buildings all over DeKalb County that new and existing businesses can come and provide jobs to stabilize the community, this will help curtail the crime. Dunwoody is growing at an alarming rate, whereas central and south DeKalb County is in a slump. There are companies moving to Georgia everyday, every month and every year to areas such as Woodstock, Gainesville, Alpharetta, Dunwoody, Marietta and downtown. The county officials in these counties are going after these companies, they know it will bring jobs and stability to their community. DeKalb County officials this is what you need to do for your citizens, go after these companies and bring these jobs to the people of central and south DeKalb County to revitalize the community. The new DeKalb CEO should immediately focus on resolving the out of control water bills and possibly restructuring the entire Watershed department. The second priority should be economic development within the county as well as lowering the unemployment rate within the county. County residents should be employed as part of any new construction project within the county. Our police officers definitely deserve a raise and better benefits. DIONNE KINCH FOR THE AJC