As of Monday, February 6, 2012
© Copyright 2012
Rockdale Citizen
Rockdale County Commission Chairman Richard Oden provided highlights from 2011 and initiatives planned for this year Thursday during the annual State of the County address. The county will make significant efforts in economic development this year. Oden said the Urban Redevelopment Plan for 1,909 acres between the city of Conyers and the DeKalb County line is among the initiatives the county has for 2012 to "rebuild, reunite and reenergize" the community.
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Rockdale's State of the County address
Rockdale County Commission Chairman Richard Oden delivered the annual State of the County address, an opportunity to look back on successes in the past year and set the agenda for 2012.
CONYERS — Business and economic development were the highlights provided by Rockdale County Commission Chairman Richard Oden Thursday during the annual State of the County address.
Oden spoke of ongoing projects such as the Neighborhood Stabilization Program and the Urban Redevelopment Plan for 1,909 acres between the city of Conyers and the DeKalb County line that the county will build on to emphasize the theme of the evening — “Rebuilding, Reuniting and Re-energizing” Rockdale County.
The county has partnered with the state Department of Community Affairs to include an opportunity zone in the area. Businesses who move into the zone are eligible for state tax credits for job creation. Oden also noted the sewer agreement with DeKalb County to service the area puts the county in a strong position to attract new business.
Oden reiterated his support for public safety noting that residents must feel safe to live here and prosper. He noted that the Sheriff’s Office and Fire Rescue were the only county departments that received substantial increases in their 2012 budgets.
Also, Bud Sosebee and Tommy Clack were named recipients of the county’s Charles P. Cole Citizen Involvement Award. Sosebee, a former Rockdale County commissioner and World War II veteran, and Clack, Georgia Veterans Memorial Park Foundation chairman and Vietnam War veteran, were recognized Thursday for their efforts in building the Walk of Heroes memorial in north Rockdale County.
Once completed, the memorial will be the largest of its kind in the country. The Walk of Heroes memorial is itself a potential economic development project. Plans for the memorial include a conference center and museum.
Atlanta Regional Commission Executive Director Doug Hooker was the guest speaker of the evening and spoke about important decisions the region faces this year in the form of the regional T-SPLOST referendum, water management and education initiatives.
Hooker spoke of how all communities in metro Atlanta must think more of themselves as a region rather than as individual jurisdictions.
“Not to think of what Rockdale County has to do for itself or what DeKalb County has to do for itself, but what we can do for our neighbors,” Hooker said.
Comments
thescot 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Were airbags provided to the audience? All that hot air and patent disregard for Rockdale must have been hard on the constitution af anyone present. But that's what happens when someone with no roots or ties to Rockdale is put in charge--he longs to be part of something else, like a regional rather than a county concern. I certainly hope the voters have enough sense to help him do that come election day.
Sundance 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Barf bags would be more appropriate.
ctownslimm 3 months, 3 weeks ago
I want to know where all of Oden's voters are. I never see anyone defending him in this paper. Are they embarassed of do they just not read?
AJK 3 months, 3 weeks ago
They don't need to defend him in the paper. They show up on election day when it counts....and that's when they defend him.
Frizzlefry 3 months, 3 weeks ago
What gets them out and about on Election day?
AJK 3 months, 3 weeks ago
I can't answer your question with certainty because I'm not an Oden fan and I'm not invited to hang out with the Oden voters.
But in my opinion, it's because Oden is a Democrat, and unlike the Republican's, the Democrats will get behind their candidate....regardless if they like him/her or not.
Want proof? a) Listen to the Ron Paul supporters. It's a pretty sure bet Ron Paul will not be the Republican nominee for President, yet his supporters continually say they will not vote for anybody but Ron Paul. Translation, they will not get behind the nominated candidate and on election day, they will either stay home or they will not cast a vote in the Presidential election. b) Just a couple of years ago, the Democrats put up one of the worst candidates I've ever seen for County Commission. Yet, on election day, he ended up with 47% of the vote. In essence, he won that election and that's because the Democrats got behind their candidate.
Of course, this is my opinion, yours may be different, and your mileage may vary.
AJK 3 months, 3 weeks ago
I can't answer your question with certainty because I'm not an Oden fan and I'm not invited to hang out with the Oden voters.
But in my opinion, it's because Oden is a Democrat, and unlike the Republican's, the Democrats will get behind their candidate....regardless if they like him/her or not.
Want proof? a) Listen to the Ron Paul supporters. It's a pretty sure bet Ron Paul will not be the Republican nominee for President, yet his supporters continually say they will not vote for anybody but Ron Paul. Translation, they will not get behind the nominated candidate and on election day, they will either stay home or they will not cast a vote in the Presidential election. b) Just a couple of years ago, the Democrats put up one of the worst candidates I've ever seen for County Commission. Yet, on election day, he ended up with 47% of the vote. In essence, he won that election and that's because the Democrats got behind their candidate.
Of course, this is my opinion, yours may be different, and your mileage may vary.
Frizzlefry 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Any one with the last name of Hooker has my vote.
wonderwhy 3 months, 3 weeks ago
God Almighty this place has become a real depressing place to live. The direction we have (ooops, I made a mistake) the lack of direction we have has sent us into an all time low.
South Florida is looking real good about now. I am sorry I ever moved up here to begin with.
Frizzlefry 3 months, 3 weeks ago
While I agree with you on the direction this county as taken, I certainly wouldn't compare Rockdale to Northern Cuba. If you are up do date on the politics in Rockdale I'm sure we don't need to remind you on whats going on in South Florida.
Sundance 3 months, 3 weeks ago
So rebuild , re-unite, and re-energize was his theme. That's fine. DId he spell out specific things he plans to do that will rebuild the county, re-unite citizens and groups, or re-energize people with low morale regarding the direction of the county? From the quotes here, it just sounds like a campaign speech listing accomplishments. What are his plans?
heresyafacts 3 months, 3 weeks ago
"What are his plans?" Hopefully to pack up his carpetbag and head on out.
ctownslimm 3 months, 1 week ago
My point is that he is full of it. He always speaks in generalizations and never does anything specific. And yes, I want him to leave too. Yesterday is not soon enough.
heresyafacts 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Was his statement that "the Sheriff’s Office and Fire Rescue were the only county departments that received substantial increases in their 2012 budgets" factually correct? I seem to recall that the Finance Dept was granted a budget much larger than last year or the year before. I can't find a copy of the budget yet. If someone has a link, I'd appreciate it.
AJK 3 months, 3 weeks ago
RE: Increases for Sheriff's Office, Fire and Rescue: I know that is being looked into, but getting accurate information out of the Human Resources Department is a crap shoot at best right now.
RE: Budget: Good luck on finding the information you seek, but you can try this link http://www.rockdalecounty.org/main.cfm?id=4418.
AJK 3 months, 2 weeks ago
RE: Increases for Sheriff's Office, Fire and Rescue: See if this will answer your question. http://bocwatch.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=691#p2281
heresyafacts 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Thank you for the additional information. Reading over "merit" and "promotion" and "adjustment" increases, dept head pay increases, and the increase in BOC salaries, has been enlightening. And infuriating. And they have the nerve to talk about needing "across the board" pay increases for county employees -- which would include all those who have already received substantial pay raises in the past two years.
heresyafacts 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Thanks for the link. I think that first slide of the General Fund Presentation is the one I remember. Can't decide if HR is a victim of revolving door management or a partner in the Oden/Pridgeon obfuscation, but definitive answers on anything county-related seem hard to come by these days. Hope the money spent on the new hires for HR and "Community Relations" will initiate a 180 degree turnaround.
wayne 3 months, 3 weeks ago
More likely a 360 & keep going the same way
Frustrated 3 months, 3 weeks ago
more like a partner in crime and dont count on it getting any better
ctownslimm 3 months, 2 weeks ago
It was the Democrats who fought to keep blacks in slavery and passed the discriminatory Black Codes and Jim Crow laws. The Democrats started the Ku Klux Klan to lynch and terrorize blacks. The Democrats fought to prevent the passage of every civil rights law beginning with the civil rights laws of the 1860s, and continuing with the civil rights laws of the 1950s and 1960s.
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