August 2024

Eighth Edition: Summer 2024

Ward 3 Update

I hope this update finds you well and enjoying the summer!

The City of Smyrna has much underway, and the last half of 2024 promises to be a busy time. 

As always, please reach out if I can be of assistance.  

“Downtown the Downtown”

Church Redevelopment Advisory Committee 

(9-acre site)

The Church Redevelopment Advisory Committee held its first meeting in May. The multiyear process is officially underway, and we anticipate the selection on a master plan designer before the end of summer. Public engagement will begin this fall and run for a year. 

Mayor Norton called for the creation of a taskforce of residents to start the process of determining the best use for the redevelopment of the current First Baptist Church site. First Baptist Church has voted to sell their current campus and move to a new location and building on Atlanta Road near the Reed House. The City of Smyrna will purchase the current campus and work to redevelop the site. 

Advisory Committee Members:

· Travis Lindley,  City Council / Committee Chair

· Ryan Campbell, Mayor's Appointee - Floor & Decor, Chief Executive Merchant

· Harrison Aiken, Ward 1 Appointee - Kimley - Horn, Civil Engineer 

· Natalie S. Woodward, Ward 2 Appointee - Warshauer Woodward Atkins, Attorney

· Dan Styf, Ward 3 Appointee - DS Healthcare Strategies, President

· Wayne Wright, Ward 4 Appointee - Self Employed, Consultant

· Randy Jordan, Ward 5 Appointee - RW Jordan LLC, Owner

· Chad Koenig, Ward 6 Appointee -  Cushman & Wakefield, Executive Director

· Open, Ward 7 Appointee 

· Jim Carmichael, Carmichael Funeral Home -  Carmichael Funeral Home, Owner

· Peter Tompkins, Good Kitchen and Market - Good Kitchen, Owner

· Susan Harlan, Vickery Hardware - Vickery Hardware, Owner

For more information, please visit the city website. We have posted and will post information as the effort moves forward. 

Windy Hill Road Project – Completion by late 2024

Recently, we toured the Windy Hill Road project, and the project is nearing completion. 

City Council Tour – May 2024

Mayor’s State of the City Address

Mayor Norton delivered the state of the City address on July 24th. If you missed it, I encourage you to watch it at the below link. 

https://www.smyrnaga.gov/your-city/mayor-and-council/mayor/state-of-the-city

Traffic Calming / Traffic Calming Committee 

The committee and city staff continue to make significant progress citywide on traffic calming measures, most of which have come directly from residents throughout the city. We have completed over 50 locations and calming measures. In 2020, Mayor Norton created a special committee to look at traffic calming citywide. Council Members Corkey Welch, Susan Wilkinson, Tim Gould and I serve on the committee, I as committee chair. The calming measures range from enhanced road markings, stop signs, traffic islands and curbing, speed humps, and chicanes. If you have a concern in your neighborhood please reach out!

Smyrna Fire Announces Future Firefighter Program 

We are excited to announce our 2nd offering of the Future Fire Program will begin on July 27th! Register here: https://www.smyrnaga.gov/your-city/public-safety/fire-department/fire-programs/future-firefighter-program 

The Future Firefighter Program is focused on individuals seeking a career in Fire and Emergency Services. The program provides guidance to participants who wish to become a trusted member of the Smyrna Fire Department as well as preparation for the physical demands of the job. #RecruitingwithPurpose

Coming Soon: 2ndCommunity Open House of 2024

The 2nd Community Open House of 2024 will be held on September 21, from 1000-1400 hrs. This event will mark the 125thbirthday of the Smyrna Fire Department. Come out to see some fire department demonstrations, on education on home safety, and touch-a-truck. We look forward to seeing you and sharing a birthday cupcake with you. 

Check out our recent open house event! https://youtu.be/mfzdaTgTvXo?si=1lLK64ZnLoobLabj 

New Fire Truck in Service

SFD replaces a 2009 Ladder Truck with a 2023 Pierce Enforcer. The fire truck will be assigned to Fire Station 4 on South Cobb Drive.

Smyrna Emergency Alert – Get Local Alerts & News Instantly

Smyrna Police Department & Flock Cameras 

The Smyrna Police Department recently added new Flock cameras to our ongoing network of Flock cameras and linked crime-fighting technology (FUSUS).  Flock cameras, which integrate with our real-time crime center, allow the Smyrna Police Department to serve our citizens and visitors with greater efficiency and real-time crime intelligence. Technology and smartly trained men and women have helped drive crime rates down over the past couple of years in the city.

Smyrna Police Department & Flock Cameras 

The Smyrna Police Department recently added new Flock cameras to our ongoing network of Flock cameras and linked crime-fighting technology (FUSUS).  Flock cameras, which integrate with our real-time crime center, allow the Smyrna Police Department to serve our citizens and visitors with greater efficiency and real-time crime intelligence. Technology and smartly trained men and women have helped drive crime rates down over the past couple of years in the city.

Code Enforcement Dashboard

Have questions on something you see in your neighborhood? 

Our Code Enforcement Dashboard may be found under the Community Development page on the City’s website: https://www.smyrnaga.gov/departments/departments/community-development-economic-development/code-enforcement .

This dashboard provides easy access to code enforcement activities throughout the City. The City Council and residents can explore code enforcement cases in three different ways: 1) “Monthly View” (see first tab in upper lefthand corner), which can be filtered by either category or by ward (see tabs at the bottom lefthand corner); 2) “Year to Date” view (see second tab in the upper lefthand corner), which can be filtered by category, month and ward (see tabs at the bottom lefthand corner); and 3) “Year over Year” view (see third tab in the upper lefthand corner), which can be filtered by ward.

General FYI: 2024 City Council Ward Map

As a result of the 2022   council redistricting process, below is the current council map. Ward 3 is   among the largest wards in the city. To check on voter registration, you can   visit: https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/

City of Smyrna 2025 Budget Adopted

Financial Health: AAA Bond Rated

In June, the City Council adopted the 2025 fiscal year budget which begins July 2024. Each budget year, as   required by law, we have several budget hearings / meetings to go over the   budget in detail as the council prepares for passage. As always, the budget   is balanced and I’m proud of the many investments in our community, from our   first responders, city staff and our many ongoing programs – we continue to   act on the directives from our residents. 

The total fiscal year budget equals just at $106 million. 

I’m   proud to serve as the Chair of the City’s Budget Committee to work hand in   hand with committee members and our City Finance Director and team.   Collectively we can report the city is in sound financial standing.

Each month, the City Finance Team updates the financial data published to the   Smyrna City website. Tableau Public is a free platform that allows the City   to easily visualize budget data alongside year-to-date revenues and   expenditures. To access the Open Data dashboards, click “Departments” at the   top of our home page, select “Finance Department”, then click “Explore the   data” at the bottom of the page. You can also follow this URL for a direct   link: https://www.smyrnaga.gov/departments/departments/finance/open-data

Save The Dates: 2024 Quarterly Ward 3 Meetings – First Sunday of Each Quarter 

· Sunday, October 6th, 5 pm @ City Hall – Joint Ward Meetings with Wards 3, 6 & 1

Please plan to come and hear what’s going on in Ward 3. I’m proud that we will have executed and held over 20 townhall meetings in the last 4 years – thanks to those of you who have attended one of them!

Ward Appointments – Our Neighbors

As the Ward 3 Council Member, I am honored to appoint several Ward 3 residents to posts representing Ward 3:

Planning & Zoning - Keith Bentley, Williams Park

Hospital Authority – Scott Hancock, Park View

Keep Smyrna Beautiful - Matt Anderson, Glen Rose

Parks and Recreation - Tobi North, Park View  

Housing Authority - Lem Ward, JD, Williams Park

Jim Carmichael – Church Redevelopment Advisory Committee  

 Dan Styf - Church Redevelopment Advisory Committee 

Special Thanks

A huge thank you to our city staff! Beyond the great job they do from day to day running the city, this summer’s programming, concerts and special events have been great!

Projects Completed & Promises Kept! 

I want to thank the residents of Ward 3 for allowing me to serve as your Council Member – it has been a productive first half of 2024 with much more to come in the second half. We have much on the horizon to be excited about in our great community and I eagerly look forward to the challenges and outcomes. 

As always, I want to recognize our dedicated city staff, from our police and firefighters, public works, community development and our administration staff – these are folks who work each day to make our community a better place. 

Community Outreach

I have received many emails and calls from residents in Ward 3, and with the help of our great city staff, we have been able to timely address issues as they come in throughout the Ward. If I can be of assistance, please feel free to reach out to me. 

We are here to help. 

Tillman House 

Looking to engage and help your community? I urge you to learn more about a vital service organization here in our community. Particularly for people needing food assistance, Tillman House has filled an enormous need, and we continue to connect those in need with assistance. For those who don’t yet know of this crucial ministry, it is located at 1315 Concord Road. (New Location) https://www.tillmanhousefoundation.org/

Upcoming Events? (Civic clubs, HOA meetings, etc.)

Please let me know if you would like me or any other member of city staff to attend a meeting or event – we are always happy to join you and update you on city business. 

HOA Meeting Location – I’m happy to host your HOA meeting at City Hall. 

Recent Spring Festival in Rose Garden

Mrs. Lisa Castleberry, Council Member Latonia P Hines 

Smyrna Fact: The Smyrna Museum 

The City of Smyrna has a great museum on our rich history. The museum is home to about 11,000 artifacts including objects, documents and photographs. 

The museum has a new exhibit called “A Mind Without Rhythm: Brawner Sanitarium and Mental Health in Smyrna”. I highly encourage a visit this summer!

Constituent Services 

It is my honor to serve you and this ward. If I can be of assistance, please let me know. 

Please feel free to contact me with questions, concerns, or ideas. 

My email is tlindley@smyrnaga.gov and my phone number is (678) 631-5308.