Powder Springs Government Offers Updates

Editor's Note: This list of Powder Springs government updates from the past year was compiled by the city's staff and mailed to citizens.
Administration:

• Conducted numerous public meetings, including: Town Hall meeting, State of the City address by Mayor Vaughn, various City project update meetings, HOA/Neighborhood Watch meetings, three Open Houses.
• Made significant update of City’s website.
• Created fixed asset inventory procedures.
• Addition of new Council Member Dr. Chris Wizner, At-Large, Post 2
• Revitalization and reformation of Development Authority of Powder Springs (DAPS) is underway, with a completion target of February 2013.  Goal is to aid the City in our economic development efforts.
• Working with other City departments and staff, presented and received approval of FY 2013 budget that had no increase in millage rate.  Made necessary adjustments and staff changes that offset much of the deficit caused by lower property assessments and decreased fines and forfeitures.
• City Clerk Dawn Davis achieved Certified Municipal Clerk status in February 2012.
• Hired Interim City Manager Brad Hulsey in February 2012.

Finance:

• FY 2011 Financial Audit had no findings and no material weaknesses, and the City was awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association.
• Instituted on-line payments for utility and property tax billing.
• Ended FY 2011 and FY 2012 with over five months fund balance.
• Currently implementing “Lockbox” service, an outsourced remittance process which is designed to receive and process utility payments, including reporting of remittance data, documents, address changes, customer correspondence, and deposit information.
• , in May 2012.

Police:

• Moved into new Police Station, located in old ACE Hardware site on Sailors parkway, in April 2011; formally dedicated the facility on August 22, 2011.
• Department has been significantly restructured.
• Hiring and promotional policies revised to be more equitable and competitive.
• 27-full-time sworn officers, 2 full-time civilian support (down from 5), and 5 part-time sworn officers serving the citizens.
• City purchased and recently received delivery of four new Dodge Charger police vehicles, purchased through General Fund fund balance dollars.
• All police patrol vehicles are awaiting installation of new, state-of-the-art video camera equipment and laptop computers, purchased with 2011 SPLOST funding.
• Launched Tip Sheet program to target patrols and problem areas within City.
• Partnered with McEachern United Methodist Church’s Noah’s Ark Community Development project for community engagement and building in the Lancer subdivision.
• Police Department is now a Partner In Education with Tapp Middle School.
• , in August 2011. 

Public Works:

• Successfully completed Reside with Pride Weeks, whereby City sanitation customers can place virtually anything out with their garbage to be disposed of by the City’s Sanitation Department.
• Saved the City significant finances by restructuring and outsourcing janitorial and landscaping services.
• Completed numerous citizen repair requests, including: pot holes, road obstructions, sewer backups, ditch maintenance, water meter installation and repair, curb stops and water leaks.
• Partnering with other City departments, and with City Council’s approval, implemented new Stormwater Management Department to meet Federal and State requirements that mandate: mapping of the City’s entire storm water conveyance system; annual inspections of the system; elimination of pollutants from entering area streams.
• Also, working with other City departments, implemented new rate structure for water and sewer services that reflect the increases passed on to the City by the Cobb-Marietta Water Authority, and to create a rate structure that is fair and equitable to all citizens based on actual water usage.
• , in August 2011.

Community Development:

• Created Available Commercial Properties webpage, with individual photos and maps, printable list and printable map.  Working with Cobb County to link our information to their database.
• Coordinated the completion of future conditions flood plain mapping.
• Worked with Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout candidates on Community Enhancement projects, including refurbishing of the fountain in the Town Square.
• Partnered with the City’s Police Department on the ongoing Noah’s Ark project to accomplish the Atlanta Regional Commission’s 2040 objectives of “Serving People and Building Community”.
• Community Development Director, Pam Conner, appointed to the South Cobb Business Association’s Board of Directors.

Miscellaneous:

• Senior Citizens Center is still going strong with daily weekday activities for our community’s seniors.
• “Coach” George E. Ford Center Reception Hall continues to serve the community as gathering place for community meetings, as well as private receptions and meetings.
• Opened in January 2008, the new Powder Springs branch of the Cobb County Library System continues to see a high volume of usage.

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