County Line / Ellenwood Community Meeting Recap

Ellenwood County Line Mtg image

The first County Line / Ellenwood community meeting of 2026 was energizing, forward-looking, and a strong example of partnership in action. The meeting brought together residents, County leadership, educators, environmental experts, and community organizers to align priorities and set the tone for the year ahead.

The conversation centered on youth opportunity, long-term investment, and community vigilance, with clear momentum across multiple fronts.

Highlights and key outcomes

  • Youth engagement and awareness: Commissioner Bolton and Laveeza (Super District 7) emphasized improving outreach so youth are aware of existing programs, jobs, and activities. Commissioner Bolton also shared the District 7 calendar, including upcoming Q1 2026 town halls. Look for more information to come directly from District 7’s office.
  • Cross-district collaboration: Dr. Reggie Johnson publicly recognized and thanked both Commissioner Bolton and Commissioner Ted Terry for their continued support of Ellenwood’s County Line community.
  • Education and workforce access: Roger Young, DeKalb County Landfill Superintendent, reminded attendees that GED programs are available to residents of all ages across DeKalb County.
  • Parks and public space investment: Paige Singer, Director of DeKalb Parks and Recreation, provided updates on the Dr. Alice White Bussey Intergenerational Center and the seven-year effort to connect two parks by acquiring four properties.
  • Environmental awareness: Dr. Michael Paulus briefed the group on Interstate 14, a 1,000-mile congressionally designated corridor from Texas to Georgia, and the potential impacts of data centers and fiber infrastructure. Tommy Travis noted the data center moratorium has been extended through June.
  • Community literacy call to action: A strong discussion emerged around embedding books and reading access into youth programs to protect opportunity, history, and cultural legacy.
  • Community celebration: Margaret Jackson announced planning is underway for the 29th Annual County Line / Ellenwood Community Roundup and Parade on April 25, 2026, with expectations for the largest turnout yet.
  • Food access and support: Nadine (Team Ted Terry Fellow) shared updates on the mobile markets and available food boxes. Donations were also collected to support 2026 community activities.

The meeting closed with a group prayer and a shared sense of optimism. Overall, it was a clear reminder that Ellenwood’s County Line community is entering 2026 informed, engaged, and ready to build together.

Helpful Links

Commissioner Terry’s Website

Upcoming Programs

Turning Service Into Legacy: Advancing Dr. King’s Dream at Gresham Park | South River

Gresham park clean up volunteers

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us that “everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.” This past MLK Weekend, that truth came alive along the Michelle Obama Trail in Gresham Park, where residents, volunteers, youth, and County partners transformed service into tangible impact.

What began as a morning of planned litter pickup and invasive plant removal quickly became a powerful reminder of both the challenges our communities face and the extraordinary capacity, we have to address them together.

35 Volunteers arrived ready to work, representing a cross-section of DeKalb County’s civic fabric:

              • Girl Scouts

              • Gresham Park residents

              • Members of the Neighbors of Gresham Park Executive Board

              • The DeKalb Lawyers Group

              • A local church group

              • Two DeKalb County Parks & Rec employees

              • Broader community members who learned of the opportunity through word of mouth

Organized by Southwest DeKalb Naturalist Tasha alongside a dedicated Gresham Park resident, Camryn, the effort reflected the very essence of Dr. King’s vision people stepping forward not because they were asked, but because they cared.

The Reality Beneath the Surface

As volunteers moved deeper along the trail overlooking South River, the scope of the problem became clear. What appeared at first to be scattered litter revealed itself as intentional dumping, hidden in embankments, hillsides, and even the creek itself.

What we found large piles of consumer goods, school-served food items, plastic bottles and packaging, and waste that had been accumulating for years, not weeks.

This was not random. The volume, placement, and condition of the debris told a different story: one that raised serious questions about accountability, access, and enforcement.

Collective Action in Motion

Rather than turning away, volunteers leaned in. Five individuals carefully navigated down steep embankments and into the creek, using rakes, shovels, gloved hands, and determination to begin restoration work. We cleaned 4 distinct areas, in just over one hour, resulting in 12 large bags of trash.

This was service in action: uncomfortable, hands-on, and deeply meaningful.

What We Found Tells a Bigger Story

Among the most striking discoveries:

              • A pillow that had begun growing roots

              •  A partially decomposed tire, estimated to have been there 7+ years

              •  Full cans of soup, empty gallon chili cans, and bulletin board paper

              •  Uneaten fruit

These findings underscored a difficult truth: environmental neglect and social neglect often intersect. Later that day, volunteers discovered an overturned couch nearby and learned that someone had been living beneath it.

With compassion and care, volunteers connected the individual with resources, contact information, and DeKalb WorkSource, reinforcing that service must extend beyond cleanup to human dignity and opportunity.

Carrying Dr. King’s Dream Forward

Dr. King’s dream was rooted in action, community responsibility, and shared humanity.

Gresham Park was one powerful story, of many, that came out of this year’s MLK Day service weekend. Each bag of trash removed, each conversation held, and each resource shared pushed Dr. King’s vision forward moved beyond words and showed up in our work.

Moving From Service to Sustained Change

The progress made at Gresham Park proves what is possible when residents and government work side by side. It also reinforces the need for:

              •            Stronger dumping prevention and enforcement (See DeKalb CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson’s $250k tire clean up initiative here)

              •            Continued environmental stewardship and advocacy

              •            Investment in upstream solutions that address both environmental and social challenges

Service is not a one-day act. It is a commitment.

And this weekend, DeKalb County showed what commitment looks like. Together, we honored Dr. King not only by remembering his dream but by living it.

MLK Jr. Day of Service Recap: Turning Dr. King’s Vision into Action

Commissioner Ted Terry with volunteers

This weekend’s MLK Jr. Day of Service was a powerful reminder that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision for the United States was never abstract. It is practical, collective, and rooted in action. He called for a nation where justice is lived out through service, where dignity is protected, and where communities take responsibility for one another. This weekend, that vision moves closer to an obtainable reality. 

In Super District 6, 900 volunteers came together to “pull up their sleeves” and make a difference to 27 homes of elderly neighbors residing in the City of Decatur, delivering repairs that will immediately improve comfort, safety, and long-term affordability for those who want to “age in place”. This was not symbolic service. It was direct, measurable, and transformative. 

At one home, a disabled elderly resident living on a fixed Social Security income faced a $600 power bill last month. Volunteer teams stepped in and completed critical weatherization work, including: 

  • Caulking leaky ducts and air returns 
  • Replacing 18 incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient LED lighting 
  • Repairing a large hole in the wall that allowed cold air in and warm air out 

As a result, we estimate the resident’s monthly power bill will be cut nearly in half, creating important financial relief for someone living on a fixed income. 

This is the America Dr. King spoke of. One where collective action dismantles everyday inequities, where neighbors use their skills to reduce hardship, and where justice shows up in the form of improved quality of life, reflected through safer homes, lower bills, and greater stability. Each repair completed over the weekend represents more than a fix. It represents progress toward an America that works for everyone. 

The work completed on this weekend will continue to pay dividends long after MLK Day 2026. It reduced energy burden, strengthened housing stability, and demonstrates what is possible when communities act together with purpose. 

Thank you to every volunteer, organizer, and partner who helped turn service into lasting impact. 

In service and gratitude, 

Team Commissioner Ted Terry  

Greystone Park Delivers Big Results Through Community Action

Greystone Comm Meeting

Greystone Park Neighborhood Meeting Recap | Jan 14, 2026 | NH Scott Rec Center 

The community of Greystone Park is showing what’s possible when neighbors act together. At just its second neighborhood meeting, nearly 75 residents turned out to hear updates from Commissioner Terry, the DeKalb County Police Department (DKPD), and neighborhood leaders.

The progress since October has been striking. After experiencing 46 break-ins in six weeks, the community organized, received crime-prevention guidance from DKPD, and strengthened neighbor-to-neighbor communication. The result: only one car break-in reported from late October through January 1, 2026.

Ahead of the meeting, Team Terry knocked 200 doors to spread the word and connect with neighbors. Residents shared that they’re feeling safer and encouraged by the neighborhood’s collective response. That connection was on full display last night when neighbors Karen and Thelma, who met after knocking door-to-door, announced that they are planning a spring yard sale for the Greystone community.

Residents voted to meet quarterly, with the next meeting scheduled for April 2026.

Stay Engaged

• South River or Gresham Park Rec Center Clean Up: Jan 19, Register here. This event is led by our new Parks Naturalist Tasha Messer. 

• DKPD Town Hall: January 26, 6–8 PM, South Precinct (2067 Columbia Dr.)

• DeKalb Zoning Virtual Open House: January 27, 6–7:30 PM

Greystone Park’s momentum is clear. Organized neighbors, informed action, and consistent engagement are making the community safer and stronger—together.

1/13/2026 BOC Commissioner Terry Comments

Happy New Year

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year! As we welcome in 2026, I want to thank you for a great 2025. While 2025 did have challenges, it was also a year of community and resilience. You showed up this year. Whether you made your voice heard on key decisions or volunteered to serve DeKalb County, we couldn’t have done it without you. We will be sharing an End of Year Report shortly on my website and social media so we may all reflect on the hard work accomplished in Super District 6 as we look to the future ahead. I truly believe we are leaving 2025 better than we found it and are ready for what awaits us in 2026. The Super District 6 Team and I remain committed to another year of working towards a safer, greener and more prosperous DeKalb.

Welcome Tamar

The Super District 6 Team has grown, and we are happy to welcome Tamar! She is the new Super District 6 Administrative Coordinator and will be joining me out in the field to ensure all notes and action items are captured. If you see her be sure to say hi!

End of Compost Program

As you may know, over the past year, our neighbors in Avondale Estates have had the opportunity to participate in the free Avondale Estates Curbside Composting Pilot Program and divert their food scraps from the DeKalb County landfill. Using a method that mimics the standard curbside trash collection, participants simply separated out their food waste from their trash and hauled their food scraps bin to the curb weekly. This part of the program has officially come to a close resulting in 136,415 pounds of food waste being diverted. This much food waste results in 14,000 pounds of methane in our atmosphere. Thanks to this program that has been avoided. The next phase of this program will deliver compost to BIPOC farmers in DeKalb County and our public libraries that feature a climate resilient landscape, such as the Clarkston and Chamblee libraries. This will provide healing properties to our soil across DeKalb County and have incredible impacts such as a greater ability to manage stormwater, grow food, and sequester carbon. Keep your eyes open for Compost educational programs my office will be sharing in the Spring to celebrate the awesome powers of compost.

2026 Homestead Exemption Information

I’m happy to share a reminder that applications for the 2026 Homestead Exemption are officially open as of January 1. For eligibility requirements, required documents, city-related taxes, and more, you can visit the Tax Office website. Homestead exemptions provide a significant reduction in annual property taxes and are available to individuals who own and reside in a home in DeKalb County. Additionally, you may qualify for further exemptions such as a senior exemption or a disability exemption. The Deadline to apply for an exemption is April 1st for the current tax year. Applications received after the deadline will be applied to the following year. You can contact the Tax Commissioner’s Office by email at PROPTAX@DeKalbCountyGA.gov or by phone at 404 298 4000

How to Stay Up To Date

You can always stay up to date with all things in the Super District 6 Office by visiting the website, https://commissionertedterry.com/ or COMMISSIONER TED TERRY on Facebook and Instagram. If you would like to text, the office you can do so at: 470 735 7804. Message and data rates may apply. To learn more about texting the Super District 6 office, click here.

Anne Isenhower

Before we close, I would like to also take a moment to acknowledge the passing of a pioneer in the Public Relations field, DeKalb County community leader and great advocate, Anne Isenhower. I along with my staff join the many people in sharing this loss, and reflecting on her ability to inspire and build communities- but most of all her caring heart. My deepest condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues.

Call for Applicants: DeKalb County Women’s Commission

Women's Commission Call for Apps Flyer

Update as of 1/26/2026: We are no longer taking applications at this time. Thank you to everyone who took the time to apply in hopes of serving DeKalb County. 

DeKalb County has officially established the DeKalb County Women’s Commission, and Super District 6 Commissioner Ted Terry is seeking one passionate and engaged woman to serve as his appointed representative! This is a meaningful opportunity to step into civic leadership, help shape county policy, and advance opportunities for women across DeKalb County.

What You’ll Do

Commission members advise and make recommendations to the Board of Commissioners, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, and county department directors on issues impacting the wellbeing and advancement of women, including:

  • Healthcare access and disparities
  • Wage equity and employment issues
  • Community safety and security
  • Quality of life initiatives
  • Access to federal, state, and local funding
  • Identifying emerging issues affecting women in DeKalb County

Commission members will also study assigned topics and report at least annually to the Board of Commissioners.

Time Commitment

  • A minimum of four meetings per year, with additional special meetings as needed
  • Meetings require preparation, discussion, and collaboration

Term of Service

  • Four year term with staggered start dates to ensure continuity
  • Members continue serving until a successor is appointed

Who Should Apply

Applicants must:

  • Be a resident of DeKalb County and Super District 6, Click here to find out what district you live in!
  • Bring lived experience, professional expertise, or strong community insight
  • Reflect and support diversity across race, ethnicity, age, socioeconomic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, religion, and professional background
  • Be excited to collaborate and lead with purpose

Compensation

  • This is an unpaid volunteer position
  • County employees may serve while continuing to receive regular compensation

If you are energized by women’s issues, driven by service, and ready to make county level impact, we want to hear from you.

Please submit your home address, a brief statement of interest, and background to Kelly Cato, Commissioner Ted Terry’s Chief of Staff at KECATO@DeKalbCountyGA.Gov 

Thank you for your interest in serving DeKalb County.

Commissioner Terry Introduces Resolution That Allocates Tax Revenue Generated by Data Centers to Support Direct Resident Equity and Environmental Restoration

The resolution establishes a “DeKalb for the People AI Tech Dividend Fund,” the mechanism in which tax revenues can be captured and dedicated towards qualifying expenditures.

*media interviews available*

DEKALB COUNTY – On January 6, 2026, Commissioner Terry introduced a resolution to “Establish aDeKalb For The People AI Tech Dividend Fund and Fiscal Stability Policy” which if approved will allocate 50% of ad valorem tax revenue generated specifically by High-Technology Data Centers to support direct resident equity and environmental restoration, 25% to bolster the “human touch” of county government, including Libraries, Senior & Youth Services, and Beautification, to forestall residential tax increases, and 25% towards a General Fund Reserves “Rainy Day Fund” until the County achieves a fiscally prudent 90-day operating fund balance.

“Data centers are here and knocking on DeKalb County’s door. I am proud DeKalb County has committed to developing strong regulations that will ensure community protections if one may be built,” said Super District 6 Commissioner Ted Terry. “But we can’t stop at regulations. One data center is estimated to bring in millions of dollars of tax revenue into the county. We must ensure these funds go directly back into the community that may be the most burdened by these facilities. That these funds purchase greenspace, build sidewalks, assist with energy burden through weatherization projects, provide job training infrastructure, and so much more the community may need. That is environmental justice for our DeKalb residents.”

The resolution also indicates the “For the People AI Tech Dividend Fund” shall prioritize those most directly affected by industrial growth and outlines “Primary Impact Zones [as] neighborhoods within a 3-mile radius of a data center or heavy industrial cluster shall receive priority for “Greenway” connectivity and energy relief” as well as “Equity Priority Areas [where] funding shall be targeted toward census tracts meeting Justice40 criteria and having high Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) burdens, ensuring the dividend reaches those with the greatest need.” Further, the resolution highlights “Humanity First” pillars that emphasize qualifying expenditures for funding. These pillars include:

  • “The Energy Equity Pillar: Direct residential utility assistance and grants for home solar/weatherization to shield families from industrial-driven grid inflation.
  • The AI Workforce Transition Pillar: Scholarships and retraining via WorkSource DeKalb to “future-proof” residents against AI-driven economic shifts.
  • The Digital-to-Green Trust: Funding of the County-wide Green Infrastructure Network—comprised of trails and sidewalks and buffer land acquisition—connecting neighborhoods to parks and schools, with an emphasis on creating physical forest buffers in industrial zones.”

This resolution will be deferred to the Finance and Budget (FAB) Committee, which is the committee of jurisdiction to vet before it is returned to the Board of Commission for approval.  FAB meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the Month from 3:30pm to 5:00pm and can be viewed live or at a later time on the DCTV website.

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ABOUT DeKalb County Super District 6 Commissioner Ted Terry:

In 2020, Commissioner Ted Terry was elected to serve as the Super District 6 Commissioner of DeKalb County. His district includes half of the County with portions of South, Central, and North DeKalb, totaling approximately 350,000 residents. He successfully was reelected and began his second term in January 2025.

Commissioner Terry’s policy priorities include the DeKalb Green New Deal and former President Biden’s Justice 40 initiatives, affordable housing, transit equity, protecting voting rights for DeKalb residents, and criminal justice reform. Commissioner Terry serves as the Chair of Finance and Budget (FAB) and is a member of the Planning, Economic Development and Community Service (PECS) committee. He previously served as the Chair of the Employee Relations and Public Safety committee (ERPS) and Chair of the Operations Committee (OPS) and as a member of the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee (PWI).

The Commissioner also serves as a member of the National Association of Counties (NACo) as a member of the Healthy Counties Advisory Board, International Economic Development Task Force, Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC) Member, Resilient Counties Advisory Board Member, and Environment, Energy, and Land Use (EELU) Policy Steering Committee. Locally serves on theGeorgia Council for International Visitors Board of Trustees.

Prior to his election, Commissioner Terry served as the Mayor of the most ethnically diverse square mile in America: Clarkston, Georgia from January 2014 – March 2020, where he was the youngest Mayor in Clarkston’s 135-year history.

He resides in DeKalb County with his wife Andrea and 4-legged fur-babies.

To learn more about Commissioner Terry, his platforms and how to stay up to date on the latest from his office, visit www.commissionertedterry.com.

Follow the Commissioner on social media:

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Opinion: Campaign slogans promising ‘all-or-nothing’ property tax relief are reckless

couple reviewing paperwork

We can protect Georgia’s older residents without gutting public services for our communities. Let’s choose a targeted policy.

Re: “Stop using Georgia seniors as a piggy bank. Give them property tax relief.,” by state Rep. David Clark, R-Buford.

Rep. Clark and I agree on a fundamental truth: No Georgian who has spent a lifetime building a community should be forced out of it by a tax bill.

The anxiety of rising property assessments is real, and for seniors on fixed incomes, it is an existential threat to their ability to age in place.

However, acknowledging a problem is easy; solving it responsibly is the hard work of governance.


As a DeKalb County commissioner who must balance a nearly $2 billion budget every year — prioritizing public health, safety and core services — I know that catchy slogans like “taxes are un-American” do not pave roads, put out fires or staff ambulances.

Clark’s proposed “Seniors Security Act,” while well-intentioned, is a blunt instrument that threatens the very services our seniors rely on. We need a surgical approach, not a sledgehammer.

Clark’s plan to waive taxes on the first $500,000 of home value for all seniors, regardless of income, is fiscally reckless. Under his “all-or-nothing” approach, a wealthy retiree in a luxury estate would receive the same tax break as a retired teacher struggling to pay for groceries. Why should working families subsidize tax cuts for millionaires who can easily afford their fair share?

How DeKalb County helps older residents today


In DeKalb County, we already have a framework for senior exemptions — with escalators based on age and income up to 70 years old, that provide additional tax breaks.

Currently, our county-level exemptions — which apply to the maintenance and operations taxes that fund services like police, parks and roads — are tied to income limits that haven’t always kept pace with inflation.

Instead of abolishing this portion of the tax base entirely, we should aggressively expand targeted exemptions.

I’d suggest Clark focus first on raising the base income threshold for senior tax exemptions to $75,000 with increased income limits as residents age (in DeKalb, that is $110,568 federal adjusted gross for seniors age 70-plus). This would provide substantial relief to the working- and middle-class seniors who truly need it, ensuring they are not priced out of their homes, while maintaining the revenue necessary to run the county.

Clark tries to offset the massive cost of his plan by pointing to “waste,” citing $1.7 million in arts funding within a $37 billion state budget. This is a distraction.

That sum is a rounding error that wouldn’t cover a fraction of the deficit his plan would create. If we want to talk about “piggy banks,” let’s discuss the massive tax breaks Georgia hands out to billionaire tech giants and data centers that strain our power grid, and increase power bills while creating few permanent jobs.

Furthermore, if we truly want to help seniors’ pocketbooks, we must look beyond just property taxes to utility bills — often a senior’s second-largest expense. Many seniors live in older, poorly insulated homes. Yet, the state Legislature has dragged its feet on “energy freedom” policies that would allow homeowners to easily generate their own power via solar and invest in efficiency. Enabling seniors to lower their energy costs could save them thousands annually — permanent, structural relief that doesn’t bankrupt the local fire department.


Tackle housing and utility costs as a solution
We also cannot ignore the housing crisis itself. True “family values” means creating a housing cycle that works for every generation. Currently, restrictive state building codes and local zoning laws largely prevent the construction of “missing middle” housing — smaller cottages, duplexes and accessory dwelling units.

Many seniors want to downsize to more manageable, cost-efficient homes in their own neighborhoods, but those options simply don’t exist. By encouraging this type of housing, we allow seniors to cash out their equity and reduce their expenses, while freeing up larger family homes for young families just starting out. This is a free-market solution that supports aging in place without a government handout.

Finally, we must reject the cynical notion that funding our community is “un-American.” Investing in the places we live is the most American thing we do. Property taxes fund the “Core Four”: health, public safety, infrastructure and education. When a senior calls 911, they expect professionals to respond to their emergency with speed and care. When they drive to the pharmacy, they expect a safe road. These are not “government waste.” They are the bedrock of the freedom we cherish.

We can protect our seniors without gutting our communities. Let’s choose a targeted policy that supports the vulnerable, demands fairness from the wealthy, and embraces energy and housing freedom. That is how we deliver real security — not with a slogan, but with a plan.

See Commissioner Terry’s Atlanta Journal Constitution here.