SOUTH FULTON 101
Atlanta's Twin City & American Capitol of the African Diaspora
Black. On Purpose.
Established in 2017, Atlanta’s new twin city — South Fulton, GA — is 100 square miles with over 100,000 residents and a nearly $200 million budget. South Fulton’s population is 92 percent African American, making this formally unincorporated area of Fulton County (affectionately known in hip-hop as the S.W.A.T.S.) the Blackest City in America. This new, international Black mecca boasts an average median income higher than Atlanta (which has lost its Black majority) or Chicago (see economic data below) and a home ownership rate of 69% — one of the highest in the nation across all demographics. Our honor roll of residents includes late Civil Rights Icon John Lewis, Tony award-winner Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre, Grammy-winning artists Kandi Burruss, Ludacris and 2 Chainz, legendary MLB center-fielder Marquis Grissom and Heisman trophy-winning, NFL quarterback Cam Newton.
City of South Fulton, GA (Zoomable PDF)
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ORIGIN STORY
Kujichagulia: Self Determination
With an 92 percent African American population, South Fulton, Georgia is officially the Blackest City in America.
The City of South Fulton was shaped by a race to cityhood that swept through the Atlanta metropolitan area in recent years. In the early 2000s, wealthy suburbs in North Fulton County began to incorporate into cities, misled by the myth that their tax dollars were flowing to South Fulton County to help pay for services for South Fulton residents.
Republican State Senator David Shafer passed an amendment to the state constitution which required any tax dollars collected within a city's limits to be spent in those limits. Atlanta, a relatively small city by national standards, sought to expand its boundaries & tax base through annexation of unincorporated areas of Fulton County. Cities in South Fulton County like Union City, College Park and Fairburn began annexing and expanding as well.
Republican State Senator David Shafer passed an amendment to the state constitution which required any tax dollars collected within a city's limits to be spent in those limits. Atlanta, a relatively small city by national standards, sought to expand its boundaries & tax base through annexation of unincorporated areas of Fulton County. Cities in South Fulton County like Union City, College Park and Fairburn began annexing and expanding as well.
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For over a decade, residents of unincorporated South Fulton County resisted cityhood, choosing to remain one with Fulton County. However the continuing expansion & annexation by surrounding cities left unincorporated South Fulton County with an increasingly smaller tax base to provide services like Police and Parks to residents.
When the City of Atlanta, while in the midst of a massive school cheating scandal, tried to annex more unincorporated South Fulton neighborhoods & schools, South Fulton residents decided they had had enough. On November 8, 2016, the residents of South Fulton County voted to become the City of South Fulton by a margin of 59 percent. Many South Fultonites cited self-determination — the ability to control our own boarders, budget and resources – as their chief reason for supporting cityhood. |
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This desire for self-determination is reflected Kwanzaa principle "Kujuchagulia," proposed as the city's motto by Councilmen khalid & Baker's proposed re-design of the South Fulton's City seal (above).
On March 21, 2017, the City of South Fulton held its first elections for City Council. Over 72 candidates ran for eight City Council seats (including the office of Mayor), resulting in an April runoff election. The City of South Fulton's Council was sworn into office Saturday, April 29, 2017. The City of South Fulton officially became Georgia's largest new city at midnight, May 1, 2017. The City of South Fulton's new city council immediately went to work setting up the city's Police, Fire, Parks, Planning & Zoning and Public Works departments, in addition to hiring a City Manager and a consulting firm to help select a new city name. Many stories of the City of South Fulton's early months can be found in the Archives section of this website, or in khalidCares' Newsletter Archives. |
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South Fulton City Council • 2017-Current
FREQUENTLY CALLED NUMBERS
24/7 PUBLIC WORKS HOTLINE
(470) 552-4311
Garbage Collection, Illegal Dumping, Street Paving & Potholes
24/7 PUBLIC WORKS HOTLINE
(470) 552-4311
Garbage Collection, Illegal Dumping, Street Paving & Potholes
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City Clerk
(470) 809-7711 Corey Adams Corey.Adams@CityofSouthFultonGA.gov Community Development Planning & Zoning Business Licenses & Taxes (470) 809-7725 Reginald McClendon, Esq. Reginald.McClendon@CityofSouthFultonGA.gov Code Enforcement
(470) 809-TELL (8355) Brian Morris, Director Brian.Morris@CityofSouthFultonGA.gov Fire Marshall (Max Occupancy of Rooms) (470) 809-7553 Donna Dingler Donna.Dingler@CityofSouthFultonGA.gov Human Resources (Jobs) (470) 809-7717 Patricia Redfern Patricia.Redfern@CityofSouthFultonGA.gov |
SOUTH FULTON CITY HALL
5440 Fulton Industrial Blvd
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2023 CITY HOLIDAYSCity of South Fulton & Federal Governments Fiscal Year begins October 1
Georgia & Atlatna's Fiscal Year begins July 1
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SOUTH FULTON 101
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City Moves Towards Unified Residential Garbage Collection
As of February 1, 2019, every house and residential building in the City of South Fulton is required to have its own Garbage Collection service by a city-approved Sanitation company. Renters must negotiate with their landlords on who will pay for the service.
Quarterly Fees for City of South Fulton, GA Residential Trash Service (Oct 2020).
How Did We Get Here?
Those paying close attention to South Fulton's transition to cityhood remember earlier plans to have one, citywide service that included recycling & bulk trash collection, all included in homeowner's property tax bills. So what happened?
In order to be officially recognized as a city by the State of Georgia, certain services must be provided by City government. There are additional requirements if a city wants to receive a portion of the 8% Sales Tax you pay every time you purchase something in Fulton County. Georgia State Code (O.C.G.A. 48-8-80) states that in order to receive this money, cities must provide 3 of the following 6 services:
In order to be officially recognized as a city by the State of Georgia, certain services must be provided by City government. There are additional requirements if a city wants to receive a portion of the 8% Sales Tax you pay every time you purchase something in Fulton County. Georgia State Code (O.C.G.A. 48-8-80) states that in order to receive this money, cities must provide 3 of the following 6 services:
Water
Sewage
Garbage Collection
Police
Fire
Library
Sewage
Garbage Collection
Police
Fire
Library
The City of Atlanta owns the water lines. Fulton County owns the sewer system and runs the library system. This leaves Police, Fire and Garbage Collection — the very services those who fought for cityhood vowed to improve. By having these three services, the City of South Fulton secured access to the Local Option Sales Tax (L.O.S.T.) described above, which totaled over $28 million in 2021. These millions in additional, annual tax dollars allows South Fulton to spend on more on its citizens
At the outset of cityhood, South Fulton's Council decided against creating a city-owned Sanitation Department like Atlanta's; and opted instead to contract with a private company to provide citywide trash service. The next thing to decide was whom to give that very lucrative contract.
At the outset of cityhood, South Fulton's Council decided against creating a city-owned Sanitation Department like Atlanta's; and opted instead to contract with a private company to provide citywide trash service. The next thing to decide was whom to give that very lucrative contract.
Who Can Do the Job?
City of South Fulton, GA
The first thing to keep in mind whenever discussing the City of South Fulton is our map. Unlike other new or neighboring cities, the City of South Fulton is nearly the same size as Atlanta, covering nearly 100 square miles. Anyone offering to do business or provide services in South Fulton must have a plan to cover our entire city; including its countless odd edges, where some streets are South Fulton on only one side of the street, or for only a few blocks.
This is very different from the City of Sandy Springs, whose population of 100,000 people is compacted into a neatly defined area one-third the size of our city. It is usually easier and more cost-effective to deliver services to more densely populated areas — which is why most Americans live in cities in the first place.
At the beginning of the Sanitation process, a Request for Proposal (RFP) was written to solicit bids from companies to do the job. Each proposal would be scored from 0-100, based on criteria provided by City Council & staff. By the end of the RFP period, only three companies — Advanced Disposal, Republic Services and Waste Industries — submitted citywide proposals. These "Big 3" were the only companies large enough to handle providing service to residents across the entire city.
This is very different from the City of Sandy Springs, whose population of 100,000 people is compacted into a neatly defined area one-third the size of our city. It is usually easier and more cost-effective to deliver services to more densely populated areas — which is why most Americans live in cities in the first place.
At the beginning of the Sanitation process, a Request for Proposal (RFP) was written to solicit bids from companies to do the job. Each proposal would be scored from 0-100, based on criteria provided by City Council & staff. By the end of the RFP period, only three companies — Advanced Disposal, Republic Services and Waste Industries — submitted citywide proposals. These "Big 3" were the only companies large enough to handle providing service to residents across the entire city.
Don't Forget the Little Guy
While everyone agreed that the price per customer should be the chief criteria used to judge each bid, some members of Council argued for other concerns to be included. Then Councilman khalid failed to persuade City Council to give additional points to companies whose workers had higher wages & safer working conditions. However, a majority of Council did agree to give additional points to "local" companies.
From the first announcement that South Fulton was looking to "contract out" garbage collection, Councilmembers were approached by small sanitation companies already doing business in the area who worried they would be put out of business if the City chose one, citywide trash company. These "small haulers" lobbied Councilmembers in and out of Council meetings, warning that they would go bankrupt if forced out of South Fulton by big corporations.
Then they lobbied citizens. As the deadline for Council's decision to pick a Sanitation Provider loomed, South Fulton residents began hearing from their beloved garbage man that he might soon be out of a job. Many residents loved their local provider and praised them for having lower prices & better customer service. Concerned constituents began to flood City Council phone lines and email inboxes, demanding the right to keep the current garbage collector.
Many on Council caved to this pressure from constituents and revised the Request for Proposal (RFP) to give "local preference" in the awarding of the contract(s). However, it also meant that larger companies with local operations would receive a similar consideration — an unforeseen consequence some would later regret. In the end, a compromise was reached that would allow citizens to select a garbage collector of their choice from an approved list of city vendors. However, the South Fulton's current Sanitation Ordinance provides no explicit penalties for companies who provide poor service and no set criteria to remove such companies from the City's list of approved vendors.
From the first announcement that South Fulton was looking to "contract out" garbage collection, Councilmembers were approached by small sanitation companies already doing business in the area who worried they would be put out of business if the City chose one, citywide trash company. These "small haulers" lobbied Councilmembers in and out of Council meetings, warning that they would go bankrupt if forced out of South Fulton by big corporations.
Then they lobbied citizens. As the deadline for Council's decision to pick a Sanitation Provider loomed, South Fulton residents began hearing from their beloved garbage man that he might soon be out of a job. Many residents loved their local provider and praised them for having lower prices & better customer service. Concerned constituents began to flood City Council phone lines and email inboxes, demanding the right to keep the current garbage collector.
Many on Council caved to this pressure from constituents and revised the Request for Proposal (RFP) to give "local preference" in the awarding of the contract(s). However, it also meant that larger companies with local operations would receive a similar consideration — an unforeseen consequence some would later regret. In the end, a compromise was reached that would allow citizens to select a garbage collector of their choice from an approved list of city vendors. However, the South Fulton's current Sanitation Ordinance provides no explicit penalties for companies who provide poor service and no set criteria to remove such companies from the City's list of approved vendors.
SANITATION (TRASH COLLECTION) SURVEY
Please take the survey below to share your thoughts on how the city should move forward in providing citywide garbage collection.
The new City of South Fulton, Georgia is considering a move to a citywide sanitation (trash collection) service. Please share your thoughts.
Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQs) About Cityhood
Q: Where did the name South Fulton come from?
A: Concerned citizens began suggesting names over a year ago, even before the November 2016 vote that created our city was taken. Over 250 names were submitted. City Council hired a Marketing Firm to narrow down the list to 20 names, which City Council voted on this November.
Georgia Law prohibits us from just listing a bunch of names on the ballot. In order to add any question to a ballot, a voter must collect signatures from 20 percent of registered voters – that would be 23,815 for each city name to appear on a ballot. To get around this, khalid conducted an online poll for the Top 20 names on the shortlist. More info on the process and name can be found HERE.
Though all seven Councilpeople voted for the name "Renaissance," the name was vetoed by the Mayor; and the name "South Fulton," which was used to describe the area in the legislation written to create the city, became the city's official name.
Q: When & where are City Council meetings? Can I attend?
A: Council Meetings will be held the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of each month at 7PM. All Council Meetings are open to the public, including Council Work Sessions, which are currently scheduled for 5PM every 2nd & 4th Tuesday, just before the Council Meetings. Work Sessions are used to discuss Issues, but votes on any given issue are only taken at Council Meetings.
The first 30 minutes of each meeting are open for Public Comment. The first few meetings are expected to be filled to capacity, so citizens are encouraged to arrive early! Seniors & disabled citizens are encouraged to schedule rides with MARTA Mobility by calling (404) 848-5826. To sign up for this service, please call (404) 848-5389 Monday-Friday from 8:30am to 5pm. Trips must be scheduled by 5pm the day before.
Q: What services would the City provide?
A: By November 2018, our city will run the Police, Fire, Parks and Recreation, Code Enforcement, Public Works, Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development department, and City Court (which handles misdemeanor offences like traffic violations, code enforcement, marijuana & loitering).The jail, schools, health department and most courts, will remain run by Fulton County.
The current Transition Timeline is as follows:
July 2017: Planning & Zoning
August 2017: Code Enforcement
November 1, 2017: Municipal Court
February 26, 2018: Fire
March 26, 2018: Police
Summer 2018: Parks & Recreation
Fall 2018: Public Works & Citywide Garbage Collection
Q: Will my Property Taxes go up?
A: No. Unincorporated Fulton county has been paying for Police, Fire & other county services on our own since 2007 (when cities like Sandy Springs & Milton “broke away” and formed their own departments). Should residents decide we want more services than we have now, you culd see a slight increase in your property taxes. However, a provision of GA House Bill 514 (our city’s charter) prohibits City Council from raising property taxes more than 1 mil (1/1000th) without a citywide vote. For a $100,000 house whose Assessed Value is $40,000, such an increase would be $40 more per year.
ALL Senior Homestead Exemptions that currently apply to your county property taxes will automatically transfer to the City of South Fulton.
FACT CHECK:
Why Not Call a Citywide Vote for New City Name?
After months of community engagement, South Fulton's City Council called a special meeting on November 13, 2018 to vote on a new city name. During 3 rounds of voting, every member of City Council voted for the name Renaissance. The name was vetoed the following month by the Mayor, and the new city continues to be known as South Fulton.
A Citizen Survey regarding a new city name and other questions can be found at: khalidCares.com/Surveys
A Citizen Survey regarding a new city name and other questions can be found at: khalidCares.com/Surveys
What About a Non-Binding Vote?
The suggestion has been made by several others that the city hold a non-legally binding Election where voters could give direct feedback. A proposal gaining popularity in recent weeks is to open polls at City Hall (5440 Fulton Industrial) and the South Service Center (5600 Stonewall Tell) for citizens to hold a citywide vote on the name. Voters would select between 5 names, with a citywide vote occurring around the MLK Holiday in mid-January. |
Many have asked: Why not just put the name two a citywide vote?
There are three reasons a Vote for a New City Name would be very difficult at this time: 1) Legal Limitations 2) Logistical Considerations 3) Timeline of Cityhood Transition LEGAL LIMITATIONS In order to place a referendum (question for voters) on an official ballot, Georgia State Law O.C.G.A. §36-35-3 requires citizens to collect around 17,000 signatures (15 percent of the city’s 119,073 Registered Voters) for each proposed name to be added to the ballot. Additionally, even if either of these solutions was pursued, O.C.G.A. § 21-2-540(c)(2) limits such ballot questions to the following dates in 2018: May 22 and November 6. Neither of these would give us enough time to transition departments. Remember: we are legally & financially obligated to set up Fire, Police & Sanitation services before November 2018. 
$5000 was spent to place City Seals on 18 Code Enforcement trucks. Hundreds of Police, Fire, Parks and Public Works vehicles will need similar decals before they can be used by the City.
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However, a Non-Legally Binding Election means that even if thousands of people came out to vote for the City Name, our City Council would still be required to hold its own vote. No Councilmember would be obliged to cast a vote for the top choice of citizens.
This is exactly what happened during City Council's November 13 vote for the City Name. Though the name South Fulton lead in many online surveys, its popularity was NOT reflected in the votes of Councilmembers.
This is exactly what happened during City Council's November 13 vote for the City Name. Though the name South Fulton lead in many online surveys, its popularity was NOT reflected in the votes of Councilmembers.
Sample Notice of Election postcard.
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LOGISTICAL CONSIDERATIONS
If the City were to conduct a non-biniding Election, here are some logistical issues to consider: How Would Residents Be Notified? One of the biggest complaints of our residents is the lack of communication from the city about the name change. Though much information about the city is available online, and in electronic newsletters like this one, residents have pressed for paper notification of such events. Indeed, in a legally binding Special Election, a Notice of Election would be sent to every eligible registered voter, with the date(s) of the Election and the location(s) where s/he could go vote. To print & mail such a notice to all eligible voters would cost the city around $50,000. |
What City Names Would Go On the Ballot?
Nearly 300 different names were submitted by residents who were aware of our renaming. Countless other names were brought by others as they found out about the renaming.
Many residents were displeased with the process Marketing Firms Vivo 360 & firstClass Inc. used to narrow the list to the 20 most popular names. How many names would be placed on the ballot for a citywide election — 5, 50 or 500 — and what process would be used to select them?
If no name received over 50 percent of the popular vote, would a runoff be held?
These are some of the crucial questions that must be answered, in addition to figuring out who would supervise the voting and counting of the ballots, before any such election could be held.
Nearly 300 different names were submitted by residents who were aware of our renaming. Countless other names were brought by others as they found out about the renaming.
Many residents were displeased with the process Marketing Firms Vivo 360 & firstClass Inc. used to narrow the list to the 20 most popular names. How many names would be placed on the ballot for a citywide election — 5, 50 or 500 — and what process would be used to select them?
If no name received over 50 percent of the popular vote, would a runoff be held?
These are some of the crucial questions that must be answered, in addition to figuring out who would supervise the voting and counting of the ballots, before any such election could be held.
South Fulton 101 TV:
What Does a City Manager Do?
A Schoolhouse Rock® for adults, South Fulton 101 TV is a series of short videos created by Councilman khalid to educate South Fulton citizens on how their new city government works. Watch the latest South Fulton 101 video here!
Appealing Your Property Tax Assessment
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As the City of South Fulton improves public services and property values increase, some residents may notice an increase in their property taxes. These increased property taxes are how our city pays for new police officers and improved parks, streets and emergency services. When included in your house note and spread over the year, most increases amount to only a few dollars each month. However, residents who notice a sharp increase in their property tax assessments can file an appeal with the Fulton County Tax Assessor's Office.
How & When to Appeal Your Fulton County Property Tax Assessment
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To File An Appeal Online:
Visit the Fulton County Tax Assessor's website at www.FultonAssessor.org, or simply click the link below to access the Online Services > SmartFile tool (see steps below). To File An Appeal By Mail:
Print the one-page Appeal Application at the button below and mail to: Fulton County Tax Assessor
235 Peachtree Street NE North Tower • 12th Floor Atlanta, GA • 30303 To File An Appeal In Person:
Visit the Fulton County Tax Assessors office. Fulton County Tax Assessors Office
South Fulton Annex 5600 Stonewall Rd, 30349 • Room 224 Monday-Friday • 8AM-4.30PM |
History of Citywide Trash Service (cont'd)
Future Murky for Merk Miles Dump
Merk/Miles Road Transfer Station
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For years, Fulton County Residents have been able to drop off trash for as little as $3.50 for 3 bags. However, this service and the cost of operating the facility was heavily subsidized by the Fulton County Commission, who decided last year to end operations at the facility on December 31, 2018. After objections from several residents at December meeting, the Fulton Board of Commissioners decided to extend operations of the Merk/Miles facility until March 31, 2019. Merk/Miles was formally a landfill, but not operates as a Transfer Station. Trash dropped here is later transported to landfills & recycling centers outside the City of South Fulton. City officials are currently investing the cost to keep the facility open. Councilman khalid has suggested that Merk/Miles might be a cheaper alternative for homeowners who cannot afford the quarterly bill for private trash collection, but that the low cost of $3.50 for trash drop off would likely increase to make up for the lost funding from the County. |
Things Fall Apart
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City Council rejects recommendation of Advanced Disposal
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In August, the South Fulton's Procurement Manager, Anthony Kerr, scored the proposals an announced the winner of the contract: Advanced Disposal. Ironically, the very thing that gave Advanced an advantage in its proposal — its local operation of a waste transfer station — may be a key factor in the company's failure to close the deal.
Per City Council's revised RFP, Advanced received extra points in its bid to be the citywide sanitation provider because it already operated a Waste Transfer Station on Welcome All Road, within the city limits. However, residents complaints about pollution coming from the facility gave some council members pause. Others on Council were concerned about how commitments to work with smaller companies were scored in the procurement process. The Council voted to reject the Procurement Manager's recommendation and called for a Special Public Meeting with all interested providers to question them directly and vote for a recommended provider. However, just as the meeting was about to begin, Mayor Bill Edwards made a speech warning against the meeting. The meeting was canceled. |
With the Procurement Manager's recommendation rejected, the RFP process abandoned, a Public Hearing with possible providers canceled, and a transition deadline of November 2018 too close to put out a new RFP and start the bidding process anew, it fell to new City Manager Odie Donald to come up with a buzzer-beating play. The Sandy Springs, free-market model was the play. Residents would select from a list of city-approved providers who were supposed to compete with one another, resulting in lower prices for the consumer.
Changes to City Charter Change City's Form of Government
State Representative Roger Bruce (l.) & City of South Fulton's first Mayor William "Bill" Edwards have been friends since their days at Morehouse College in the 1970s.
June 2020, State Legislators Roger Bruce & Debra Bazemore authored controversial House Bills (921 and 1019) that dramatically expanded the Mayor of South Fulton's powers and changed the city from a Council-Manager form of government to a "Strong Mayor" (Mayor-Council) form of government.
Click to view ICMA Presentation on various Forms of Local Government.
Under the original City Charter, the Mayor's nomination of any City Manager was subject to approval by a majority vote (at least 4) of City Council. Now, according to H.B. 1019 (lines 254-263), if Council rejects Mayor Edwards' first 3 nominations, he can make a fourth nomination which does not need Council's approval. The Mayor can also override any vote or act of Council (lines 197-198).
Neither City Council nor South Fulton residents were involved in these changes to the City Charter written by State Legislators Roger Bruce & Debra Bazemore. However, citizens voted overwhelmingly in favor of a Resolution on Georgia's November 2020 ballot that will now allow the City Council to challenge the recent changes in court. 
Answering YES to Proposed (State) Constitution Amendment 2 might reverse re-writes of South Fulton's City Charter passed in the State Legislature this Summer.
To date, a majority of City Council has not voted to oppose these changes. |
We Are Not Sandy SpringsCouncilman khalid questions "Sandy Springs" model of privatized garbage collection & warns how implementation of such a program will be problematic.
From the very beginning, Councilman khalid was an outspoken advocate for a single, citywide garbage collector. As the selection process broke down, he urged colleagues not to abandon the principle that a single, citywide provider was the best option. In a speech before the vote to adopt this "Sandy Springs model", khalid warned it could fail in ways city leaders had not yet imagined. His predictions did not take long to come true.
The first bad news came from the Big 3 companies. Under the city's original (RFP) — which was discarded with the Procurement Manager's recommendation of Advanced Disposal — the city would have paid millions up front for residential garbage service, then worked to recoup that money from property owners via a city tax bill (the way citywide garbage service is paid for in Atlanta). However, under the Free Market model, each company bills each customer individually. When the Free Market Sanitation Model was announced, two of the Big 3 — Advanced and Republic – opted out of providing residential service, claiming they could not scale up their infrastructure of trucks & employees to service the entire city without the upfront payments outlined in the RFP The next blow came from the small haulers. Upon implementation it became clear that the goal of their lobbying was never to compete with the Big 3, only to keep the turf they had. Unlike Sandy Springs, who has multiple vendors competing in a much smaller, more densely populated area, South Fulton's 100 square mile service delivery area had long ago been carved up by sanitation companies. Decades before we became a city, companies like Waste Industries bought the rights to "routes" (the right to drive trucks in particular areas) from smaller companies like Latham. The small haulers had no intentions of challenging big corporations for these routes. Only one company, Fulton Sanitation, expressed intent to expand its operations and compete for new business. For the others, it was simply not financially feasible to drive dozens of miles to collect trash at a few scattered addresses if they could not be guaranteed the right to service the entire area. Many small companies understood these financial realities from the beginning, even though City Council did not. The final blow to the citywide model came in companies decision to pass along the city's new "infrastructure fee." Many cities charge garbage collectors this fee for the wear & tear on city streets by heavy garbage trucks. With no contract language or negotiation to stop them, most of the private garbage companies passed this 5 percent fee on to South Fulton residents. As a result, most South Fulton citizens have the same garbage companies to choose from today that they had before cityhood — but at higher prices. 2020This current arrangement of Citywide Garbage Collection is set to expire in 2019. City Council is collecting feedback on how to move forward in 2020. The City's new Purchasing Department has been negotiating fees with approved service providers. Residents paying higher prices under previous, individual agreements for sanitation service should be eligible for the new, lower price.
GFI (formally Waste Industries), the only provider serving all addresses in the City of South Fulton, is offering Trash Collection & Recycling for $59.54 per quarter — with additional discounts for seniors & veterans. They have also waived can delivery fees for new service. Discussions of future service will also include how the city might use some portion of the $25 million in L.O.S.T. funds it receives for having citywide collection might be used to subsidize the price of garbage services for the elderly or less fortunate. Councilman khalid & others are still pushing for a single citywide provider. In light of recent events, his ideas appear to be gaining support. |
FACT CHECK:
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T-SPLOST
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Developers have once again set their sights on the land around our airport — the world's busiest. Aerotropolis Atlanta is a mixed-use development, including a 4-star InterContinental hotel, class-A office space, and travel plaza adjacent to the airport’s main domestic terminal and MARTA station, which along with the Porsche headquarters, is part of a larger vision by Invest Atlanta, Delta Airlines, Georgia Power, SunTrust Bank & others to transform the vicinity around the Airport on Atlanta's Southside.
The initiative is broken into two segments — an organization of land owners in airport areas Business Districts, or CIDs in Fulton & Clayton counties, and a larger coalition working on a more comprehensive Economic Development plan. |
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