Earlier this month, the Decatur City Commission approved an artistic painting of ‘Black Lives Matter’ on North McDonough Street. Three Black artists have committed to developing designs, one artist per word, and to oversee the painting by community members. The artists are: George F. Baker III, Petie Parker, and Sharanda Wilburn.
The painting is scheduled to occur Saturday, August 22 on North McDonough between Trinity Place and Howard Avenue. We’re inviting the community to sign up for volunteer shifts to paint each letter here.
The number of volunteers per shift will be limited and there will be strict safety protocols in place including requirements for physical distancing of non-household members, mask use and disinfecting of supplies.
If you have not responded to the 2020 Census yet, you may receive a visit from a Census taker. Here’s how to identify a Census taker:
Time of Day – Census takers will begin home visits on August 11th between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.
ID Badge – Ask for official Census Bureau Identification
Vehicle Identification – An “Official Business” notice will be placed on the vehicle
Smart Device – Census takers will carry an iPhone to record information
Laptop Bag – Census takers will carry a laptop bag to hold necessary materials
Wear a Mask – Census takers are required to wear a mask and maintain 6 feet social distancing
An official Census taker will never ask for: your Social Security number, bank account of credit card numbers, anything on behalf of a political party or for money or donation.
If you would like to avoid an in-person visit, take the Census by phone at 844-330-2020 or online.
As of August 4th, the City’s self-response response rate to the 2020 Census has increased to 72%. We are now ranked 14th in the State, a drop of 5 spots since April. Our goal as a community is to reach 90%.
Responding to the Census is critical to the City (as well as DeKalb County and the State of Georgia) because the results help determine how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding flow into the community every year for the next ten years.
In the next few weeks, you may see Census workers out and about in the City, trying to connect with households that have yet to respond. If you are not interested in receiving a visit from a Census employee, take 10 minutes or so to complete & mail back the paper form you received in March, enter your information online at https://my2020census.gov/ or call the Census hotline at 844-330-2020.
And as the Census Bureau just announced that it will be ending the self-response process as well as its field data collection process on September 30, 2020 instead of on October 31, 2020, it’s now more important than ever to send in your information because Every. One. Counts.
Circumstances permitting, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) will begin resurfacing Scott Boulevard this week. The work is one part of a larger paving project along State Route 8 (SR8) from the Gwinnett County line to Moreland Avenue in Atlanta. The Decatur segment of the project includes milling, re-surfacing and re-striping of Scott Boulevard. Milling and paving is expected to take 6-8 weeks, depending on the weather.
Work is planned for nights between 8 pm and 6 am, starting on Sunday evenings and extending through Thursday. No work is planned for Fridays unless there are weather delays during the week. Scott Boulevard will remain open during the work but there will be lane closures and traffic delays should be expected. For updates on this project and others, visit decaturmakeover.com.
We are at a moment in time when numerous conversations around racial injustice in our nation and in our community are happening. Many have acknowledged this is a time for listening, while others have focused on the need for action. Toward both of those ends, the Better Together Advisory Board is soliciting feedback from the Decatur community to better inform city officials about what is needed to improve racial equity in Decatur. We would appreciate if you would answer the survey questions and complete the demographic information.
The deadline to submit feedback is Monday, Aug. 31 at 5 p.m. https://www.opentownhall.com/portals/49/Issue_9218
The August test of the Tornado Outdoor Warning Siren System will happen tomorrow, August 5, at 5:00 p.m. The test should last approximately one minute. Should the weather become inclement, the test will be postponed until Thursday, August 6.
If you have questions or want more information about the siren system, check out the Siren page on the City’s website or contact Police Lt. Barry Woodward at 404-373-6551.
The following information comes from the DeKalb County Board of Health:
The DeKalb County Board of Health has trapped West Nile virus positive mosquitoes at 3 locations in the county – Brookhaven, Chamblee and the Redan area of unincorporated DeKalb County.
Due to COVID-19, the Board of Health will not perform its usual door-to-door canvas of the affected areas. Larvacide application in low-lying areas and storm drains around the positive trap areas has already taken place, due to the high number of mosquitoes already collected from the traps.
To date this year, there have been no human cases of West Nile virus infection confirmed in DeKalb County.
According to the CDC, no data or scientific evidence suggests that COVID-19 or other similar coronaviruses are spread by mosquitoes.
To reduce the spread of West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases, the Board of Health conducts a comprehensive mosquito control program. Throughout the county, technicians routinely trap mosquitoes that are tested for viruses. They also work with residents to eliminate infestations. Measures include placing larvicide in areas with standing water, like in storm drains. This keeps young mosquitoes from becoming flying, biting adults.
The Board of Health advises people to take the following precautions:
Reduce mosquito breeding in your yard by eliminating standing water in gutters and items such as planters, toys, wheelbarrows and old tires.
Discourage mosquitoes from resting in your yard by trimming tall grass, weeds and vines.
Reduce outdoor exposure at dawn and dusk, when the mosquitoes that transmit West Nile virus are most active.
Wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and socks when outdoors, particularly at dawn and dusk and in areas with large numbers of mosquitoes.
Make sure window and door screens fit tightly to keep out mosquitoes.
Use an insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535. Apply according to label instructions.
Spray clothing with products containing permethrin according to label instructions.
For more information about the West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne illnesses, contact the DeKalb County Board of Health’s Environmental Health division at (404) 508-7900 or visit the DeKalb County Board of Health’s website.
If you’ve had your eye on the City of Decatur logo mask, you can now get yours and more from the Decatur Visitors Center Store! Visit www.decaturmerch.com for various masks, shirts, and other Decatur pride gifts and apparel. Hurry, items are going fast. Order yours for pickup today.
The City of Decatur Fire Department have mask on hand for community members in need of one. Mask are available on a first come first serve basis and limited to one mask per person. Stop by Fire Station One at 230 E. Trinity Place any day before 8 p.m. and ring the doorbell for someone to come out to meet you. #MaskUpDecatur
If you have already completed the census only to realize you left off your baby, young child, or someone else living in your household on April 1st, you can correct your census submission. The Census Bureau along with its partner Count All Kids offer guidance on how to make corrections on forms that have already been submitted.
If you feel you have made a mistake, you can return to the online questionnaire and resubmit your information. The Census Bureau has procedures in place to resolve duplicate submissions. If you’ve already responded using your Census ID, select the link that reads “If you do not have a Census ID, click here” to submit a corrected response for your address. Be sure to respond for everyone who was living at your address on April 1.
If you need to make a correction to a response on your paper questionnaire, carefully draw a line through the incorrect entry. Then, write the correct information as close as possible to what you crossed out. If you checked the wrong box, just draw a line through it and mark the correct box for the question.
You cannot make changes to your questionnaire once you have mailed it back. If you have serious concerns about your response, you can complete the questionnaire again online.
