Hearing Focuses on Push by Three DeKalb Communities to Become Cities

The ongoing push by three communities in central DeKalb County to get the state legislature to approve bills that would incorporate them as cities was debated in committee Thursday with no agreement reached.

Hearings on the requests were held by the House Governmental Affairs Committee with opponents calling for a cooling-off period to re-focus on improving county government rather than forming new cities.

The communities of Lakeside, Briarcliff, and Tucker all want to incorporate. So far, only Lakeside has a bill passed through a chamber of the General Assembly, reports Georgia Pubic Radio. The new city, as called for by Senate Bill 270, would encompass the area just north of Emory University and run well past I-285 to the DeKalb county line.

Sen. Fran Millar, R-Dunwoody, is sponsoring the bill and told committee members Lakeside had overwhelming community support.

“They want to be in a city. If two-thirds of those people come to you and say we want to be a part of it then you would support it," said Millar.

But Lakeside opponents say the claims of widespread support are overstated and the proposed city boundaries are artificial, politically-motivated, and would hurt other established communities. 

“In my opinion, it’s a deliberate move to secede from areas composed of poorer people and people of color,” said Hillary Ford, a resident of Mason Mill, told WABE radio.    

Unincorporated DeKalb resident Marjorie Hall Snook called for a halt of all three cityhood campaigns, arguing the focus should be on fixing DeKalb’s existing government.

Meanwhile, backers of Briarcliff and Tucker each remain hopeful their proposals can be attached to a bill this session.

Interim DeKalb CEO Lee May has lobbied for a cooling off period, at least until more consensus can be built.

Committee chair Amy Carter, R-Valdosta, plans to hold another meeting with all sides next week. At the end of that meeting she said the committee would likely take some type of action.

Other posts on the topic:

Next Steps for Cityhood? Clear as Mud for the Moment

Lakeside City ♫♫ does the hokey pokey ♫♫

How Many People Remember Central DeKalb Pre-285?

As DeKalb Cityhood Drives Heat Up, Decatur Refocuses on Annexation