Data Centers: My Stance Remains the Same, Protect Our Communities and Our Environment. 

Data Centers remain a topic in DeKalb County. Today, June 9, the Board of Commissioners voted to extend a data center moratorium for 100 days.

I advocated for the moratorium to be extended for a year while we continue to learn about this new technology and policies we need in place to protect our communities. Commissioner Long Spears offered a friendly amendment to extend the moratorium for 9 months. This vote failed.

Image: Voting record showing who voted YES for a 9 month moratorium and who voted NO for a 9 month moratorium.

It has been very clear to me we don’t yet fully understand the impacts data centers may have on our communities. New reports highlighting these issues continue to come out, such as extreme heat island, that our draft regulations don’t yet consider. Additionally, the Georgia Public Service Commission and State Legislature may add additional regulations into next year. This conversation is ongoing and will continue to evolve. 

A moratorium is crucial to ensure nothing of harm is allowed by right while this conversation evolves. DeKalb County can’t afford to give up our precious land for boxes that may sit vacant in a matter of years.

While this conversation has evolved, my stance has remained the same: Protect Our Communities and Our Environment.

Throughout the discussion today, my position and policies on data centers was wrongly twisted and spun. I have always been transparent and centered the residents. From hosting a data center town hall that allowed for full open public comment with no questions or comments pre screened to listening to residents and advocating for our regulations to adapt to their needs.

Some of These Policies Include:

  •  Agenda Item 2026-0158: Stating how tax revenue would be spent IF a data center were to be approved and built in DeKalb County, ensuring residents that may bear the costs receive the majority of the benefits. 
  • Agenda Item 2026-0341: Advocating the proposed data center regulations be adjusted to highlight community concerns including removing the option for data center campuses, no data center to be built by right therefor requiring a Special Land Use Permit for ALL applications, and clean energy incentives. Since introducing this in February, the conversation has evolved and needs expanded. What I am advocating for in our regulations has since expanded.

The Facts Are Clear:

  • Hyperscale data centers require an astronomical amount of electricity, largely to power and cool the thousands of servers needed for AI. A single campus can require as much power as a small city. This sudden surge in demand strains local energy grids, increasing the risk of brownouts. As utility companies like Georgia Power are forced to build new infrastructure to meet this commercial demand, the costs are often passed down to residential ratepayers. Because renewable sources cannot currently meet the massive 24/7 power requirements of these facilities, utility companies are extending the lifespans of dirty coal plants and building new natural gas facilities to keep up.
  • Data centers generate immense heat and rely heavily on evaporative cooling systems. A large data center can consume roughly the same daily indoor water use of a town of 50,000 people. Much of this water is permanently lost to evaporation rather than returning to the local water table, creating severe tension in areas prone to drought or with limited municipal water supplies.
  • Communities located near data centers consistently complain of a constant, low-frequency hum from industrial cooling fans and the roaring of massive backup diesel or gas generators. This noise travels easily, penetrates homes, and operates around the clock. They require massive tracts of land, often replacing forests, agricultural land, or spaces that could be used for housing or higher-density commercial development.
  • Despite their massive physical and environmental footprint, data centers are highly automated. Once the initial construction phase is over, a massive hyperscale campus might only employ 50 to 150 full-time workers (mostly security and maintenance). 

I challenge any of my collogues to join me in debating these issues.

As always, I remain committed to transparency and ensuring our regulations are strong to protect our communities and environment. I will keep you updated as this topic evolves.

Ted

Meet DeKalb’s Local Growers!

Person in a garden under "Eco Sun Farms" sign, surrounded by lush greenery and kale plants.

Sent via Commissioner Terry’s newsletter on 5/23/2026.

Did you know DeKalb County used to be primarily farm land? While a large urban county today, some residents still honor those agricultural roots by planting fruits, vegetables, and flowers. My office had the great opportunity to stop by some of these farms and learn from them first hand.

The secret ingredient to growing successfully in our Georgia clay soils? Compost.

As part of the Avondale Estates Curbside Composting Pilot Program, farmers in DeKalb County were able to apply for compost through Foodwell Alliance and receive the finished compost made from Avondale Estates Residents’ food scraps. Thanks Avondale Estates!

Lets learn about some of our local growers! 

Meet EcoSun Farms

Person in a garden under "Eco Sun Farms" sign, surrounded by lush greenery and kale plants.

Meet EcoSun Farms! A boutique farm with a vision to increase accessibility to nutrient-rich, chemical free, locally grown food using sustainable agricultural methods. They were established in 2022 and feature bees, chickens, composting worms, leafy greens, herbs, and mushrooms. They are in the process of transitioning to organic because they believe in nutrient dense foods, growing using natural methods without pesticides and herbicides to ensure healthy foods are being delivered to their community. 

Meet Field & Flower

Greenhouse with seed trays, blooming garden path, and close-up of young plants.

Meet Field & Flower! A cut flower farm located in Scottdale GA.  The growing season is February to November on less than 1/4 acre. As a micro farm, the farm focuses on high yield and high dollar crops to maximize limited growing space.  Growing specialty tulips by forcing them in crates is the farm’s primary crop. In 2026 the farm forced over 18,000 bulbs.

The owner of Field & Flower actually lives in Avondale Estates and participated alongside many of their neighbors in the Compost Now pilot program. Additionally, many of their neighbors also purchase flowers. They were so excited to get the compost grant knowing that their direct community participated in an input that helped produce their own goods.  

Meet Garland’s Garden

Tractor with soil pile, young tomato plants in pots, and a large mound of dark soil near garden sheds.

Meet Garland’s Garden! Owned and operated by 26 year old Andrew Lane, with a little help from his mother, Gwen. This spring is their 5th season and they grow organic vegetables and herbs starts, along with pollinator friendly perennials.  Their goal is to offer their community plants that are beneficial to both the environment and people alike.  

Meet the Waldorf School

A man in overalls stands by a garden sign at The Waldorf School, surrounded by lush plants and a greenhouse.

Meet the Waldorf School of Atlanta! Part of their campus features a garden that includes multiple herbs, succulents, leafy greens, and more! Additionally they have their own composting system allowing students and community members to turn their food scraps into compost.

Meet Earth Dog Farm

Colorful garden with flowers, a small black and white dog on grass, and a bee on purple flowers.

Meet Earth Dog Farm! A small flower farm, newly based out of Lithonia, GA. They utilize several high tunnels for growing high quality cut flowers for sale to local florists and the Green Market at Piedmont Park. They use organic methods like heavy application of compost, omri listed amendments, crop rotation, cover crops, and they encourage and add beneficial insects for pest control.

Compost’s healing properties for the soil has proven essential for our local growers. In just one year 540 Avondale Estates residents were able to divert 136,000+ pounds of food scraps from the DeKalb County landfill, avoiding over 14,000 pounds of methane from going in the atmosphere, and creating enough compost to support over 17,000 plants.

Imagine how we could heal our soil and support our growers if the entire county, all 770,000+ residents, diverted their food scraps.

Ted

DeKalb Commissioner Ted Terry Advocates for Equitable Policies And Compost Expansion Amidst Proposed Sanitation Rate Increase

May 29 UPDATE: The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners will be hosting a Stormwater and Sanitation Rate Increase Town Hall on June 10, 6:30 PM at 178 Sams Street, Decatur, GA 30030 (Multipurpose Room A1201). For more information and RSVP click here. This Town Hall is hosted by the entire Board of Commissioners. This is a public meeting, open to all, RSVP is not necessary.

DEKALB COUNTY – On May 22, 2026, the DeKalb County Public Works and Infrastructure Committee held a special called meeting that included discussion on Agenda Item 2026-0930 “Sanitation Department Increase of Commercial & Residential Service Fees, Landfill, and Transfer Station Tipping Fees.”

“I have heard directly from my constituents living by the landfill that they were told in the 70s or 80s that the landfill would close after 20 years and become a park. Many longtime residents moved into the neighborhood without knowing a landfill was nearby,” said DeKalb Super District 6 Commissioner Ted Terry. “When they hear landfill expansion and new cell construction in 2027, they hear environmental injustice. If we increase our Sanitation Rates, we must also achieve environmental redress for these disproportionately burdened communities. This should include financial relief, assistance with air filters, and diverting our food waste which we know decreases methane air pollution and smell.”

Commissioner Terry’s Policy Priorities Included:

  • Adjusting the “Minimum Scale Fee- Any Material Up to 999 lbs” to a tiered rate system based on weight: In 2023, this fee was increased from $16.50 to $48 and disproportionally affects those that wish to dump small items, such as a bag of trash. Commissioner Terry is advocating for a tiered system modeled after Rome, GA’s that will allow DeKalb residents with small tonnage to pay an equitable fee.
  • Adjusting the Tire Tip Fee: This is currently being discussed at the Board of Commissioners in the form of Agenda Item 2025-0744. Commissioner Terry’s office has found since increasing the Tire Tip Fee in 2023 from $1 to $10 there has been a 56% decrease in tires received at the landfill under the “Resident-Paying” account. Keep DeKalb Beautiful, the beautification unit that hosts illegal dumping clean ups, has increased their tire tipping by 359% from 2022. It is believed this previous rate increase has exasperated a tire dumping problem throughout DeKalb County and the fee should be adjusted to encourage tipping at the landfill rather than dumping.
  • Enhance Environmental Equity: This is currently being discussed at the Board of Commissioners in the form of Agenda Item 2025-1787. It includes details such as an air purifier / HVAC filter rebate policy, composting program, residential notification, real time monitoring and alert system, and odor monitoring adjustment. Most pivotal to this item is the proposed 50%-10% discount for residents within a 2 mile radius. Commissioner Terry’s office found following the current proposed rate increase by 2030 the cost of this discount would be a little more than $2.1 million for the County.
  • Make Right on DeKalb County’s Promise to Expand Food Scraps Composting through Funding a Composting Feasibility Study: In previous policies, including the last Sanitation Rate Increase, DeKalb County has committed to enhancing composting services. Commissioner Terry is advocating that DeKalb County should fund a Compost Feasibility Study to establish the best place the county could develop a compost facility that includes food scraps compost.
  • Incentivizing Municipalities to Offer City Wide Food Scraps Composting Programs by Keeping the 2022 Base Rates and Possibly Lowering Yard Waste Tip Fees Should a Threshold Percentage of Composting Participants Be Met: In 2023, Avondale Estates, Chamblee, and Decatur kept their 2022 base rates, avoiding the tipping rate increase of $95 at Seminole and $100 at the Transfer Stations. Commissioner Terry’s office found by avoiding this rate increase the cities may be saving $90k – $600k a year. Commissioner Terry is advocating these tipping fees not be right sized if cities provide food waste composting programs city wide to residents. Additionally, he is advocating for the possibility of yard waste tipping fees to decrease if cities reach at least 35% of resident compost participation. It is believed these savings would allow cities to fund composting programs.
  • Pause the rate increase for Seniors who Qualify for specific Senior Homestead Exemption

The Proposed Rate Increase as Stated in the “Purpose” of the Agenda Item:

“To approve Sanitation’s proposed increase in commercial service fees, residential fees, and landfill & transfer station tipping fees. The increase will occur incrementally over the next five (5) years, beginning 2026 through 2030 (see below).

 ActualProposedProposedProposedProposedProposed
 202520262027202820292030
Residential Service Fee0%24.8%10%10%10%5%
Commercial Service Fee0%24.8%10%10%10%5%
Landfill/Transfer Station Service Fee0%5%5%5%5%5%
All Other Services Fee0%24.8%10%10%10%5%

“

This item is still in committee and may change, given the committee requested the administration run additional scenarios that may allow for a lower percentage in the first year to ease residents into the rate increase. Additionally, the committee discussed continuing the conversation with residents in a town hall tentatively set for Thursday, June 4. The goal of this Town Hall would be to discuss both the proposed Storm Water Rate Increase (Agenda Item 2026-0587) and the Sanitation Fee Rate Increase.

Sanitation Town Hall: Discussing Commissioner Terry’s proposed policy for an equity-based discount program

Speaker addresses attendees at a sanitation town hall meeting on equity, health, and community solutions.

On May 6, 2026, Commissioner Terry hosted a Sanitation Town Hall to discuss Sanitation Services in DeKalb County and his legislation proposing an equity-based discount program for residents within a two mile radius of the landfill.

View the slideshow

Commissioner Terry’s Legislation

  • Agenda Item 2025-1787: A Resolution to Enhance Environmental Equity and Sanitation Practices in DeKalb County
  • If approved, qualifying residents could receive a 10% – 50% discount on Sanitation Services based on their proximity to the DeKalb County landfill (within 2 miles).
  • Additionally, the legislation will request the DeKalb Administration to:
    • Assist residents in purchasing indoor air purifiers and HVAC filters
    • Develop residential and commercial composting programs
    • Monitor particulate matter levels
    • Establish a process for notifying residents whenever air quality is affected by landfill operations
  • Click here to read the current legislation
  • This legislation is currently in the Public Works & Infrastructure Committee (PWI) and will be back at the Board of Commissioners on May 26, 2026.

2 Mile Radius Around the Landfill

Map of Seminole Landfill with color-coded distance rings and surrounding roads in DeKalb County, Georgia.

Additional Legislation Mentioned:

Call to Action

Community input is critical to shaping and advancing the policy. It is currently being discussed in committee and edits can be made. We welcome your feedback, please feel free to email: superdistrict6@dekalbcountyga.gov

If you would like to advocate for this legislation to pass we recommend:

  • Emailing your Commissioners
    • You can find who your Commissioner is by clicking here
    • District 3 Commissioner Massiah namassiah@dekalbcountyga.gov
    • District 5 Commissioner Davis Johnson mdjohnson@dekalbcountyga.gov
    • Super District 6 Commissioner Terry Ted@dekalbcountyga.gov
    • Super District 7 Commissioner Bolton labolton@dekalbcountyga.gov
  • Emailing the PWI Committee Commissioners
    • PWI Committee Chair, District 1 Commissioner Patrick rjpatrick@dekalbcountyga.gov
    • PWI Committee Member, District 4 Commissioner Johnson cjjohnson2@dekalbcountyga.gov
    • PWI Committee Member, Super District 6 Commissioner Terry Ted@dekalbcountyga.gov
  • Attending public comment, especially when the item is on the agenda like on May 26.
    • Effective advocacy includes stating name, address, and which Commissioners represent you.
  • Talk with your neighbors

Additional Discussion

  • Possible Composting Facility at Pole Bridge: A Pole Bridge Wastewater Treatment Plant Master Plan is underway to review several possible uses of the land. The facility is in Stonecrest, consists of 400 acres, and has an existing buffer zone. One possibility is a Composting facility that could initially use 20 acres and process food waste and biosolids (sewer sludge), reducing landfill odor and methane emissions. Additional possibilities include a park, solar farm, food forest, etc. This Master Plan will include community engagement to hear directly from residents on what they would like to see.
  • Avondale Estates Curbside Pilot Program Results: A curbside composting pilot in Avondale Estates engaged 546 households and collected 136,000 pounds of food scraps. This effort avoided an estimated 14,000 pounds of methane.
  • Infrastructure Concerns: Residents raised concerns about increased truck traffic and poor road conditions near the landfill. While composting could add some traffic, the long-term goal is a closed-loop system that keeps resources local and builds resilience.
  • Landfill Longevity: The Seminole Road landfill could remain open until 2070 due to available space, though odor and health concerns persist. Closing it would increase transportation costs due to longer hauls.
  • Additional Resident Concerns: declining property values near the landfill, persistent odors reaching as far as the Flakes Mill commercial corridor, longtime residents (1970s +) shared historical context regarding landfill expansion attempts and concerns over the original projected landfill lifespan, environmental discrimination and disproportionate impacts on South DeKalb communities if the proposed composting facility is built. Some felt that this would be replacing one stinky smell for another, health concerns discussed included migraines and quality-of-life impacts re: fresh air, and Whitehall Forest residents raised concerns regarding illegal dumping and unresolved infrastructure/leak issues.

A Shakespeare Happening Series Returns to Avondale Estates with the Bard Appearing in Real Life

A Shakespeare Happening Spring Series 2026 by The Atlanta Shakespeare Company at Avondale Estates, featuring free performance
A Shakespeare Happening Spring Series 2026 by The Atlanta Shakespeare Company at Avondale Estates, featuring free performance

Event Highlights

Each performance includes:

• Live music at 2 p.m.
• Interactive children’s programming at 2:30 p.m.
• Headline performance at 4 p.m.
• Audience Q&A following the performance

Admission is free and open to the public, rain or shine. Chairs and picnics are welcome.

Event Details

Avondale Estates Town Green | 64 N Avondale Rd, Avondale Estates, GA 30002
March 21, April 18 and May 23
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Free and open to the public

2026 Spring Series Schedule

March 21 — Much Ado About Nothing | Wit, romance and mischief

April 18 — A Midsummer Night’s Dream | Love potions, fairies and moonlit mayhem

May 23 — Romeo and Juliet | Young love, fate and family brought to life

AVONDALE ESTATES, GA (March 7, 2026) Free, outdoor Shakespeare returns to the Avondale Estates Town Green on March 21 with the expansion of A Shakespeare Happening Series. Presented by DeKalb County Super District 6 Commissioner Ted Terry and the City of Avondale Estates, the 2026 season is produced by Bard x Sage PR and introduces a bold new element for audiences.

This spring, a live actor portraying William Shakespeare will narrate, guide and interact with audiences throughout each performance. The immersive format invites children and families directly into the world of Shakespeare through storytelling, audience participation and theatrical highlights performed by the acclaimed Atlanta Shakespeare Company.

The series blends music, performance and interactive education, transforming classical theatre into a dynamic community experience that makes Shakespeare accessible and engaging for modern audiences.

“Cultural arts play a crucial role in preserving and promoting the heritage of communities around the world,” said Commissioner Terry. “Through music, dance, visual arts and theater, the arts help maintain our traditions while giving young people and families opportunities to explore, learn and express their creativity. That is why I strongly advocated for both a spring and fall season so programs like A Shakespeare Happening Series can serve our community year round.”

Nicole Sage, longtime DeKalb County resident and founder of Sage PR Consulting, developed the initiative under her creative moniker Bard x Sage PR and partnered with Commissioner Terry to bring cultural educational enrichment and family friendly programming to Avondale Estates.

“We live in a digital world where so much of life happens through screens,” said Sage. “Bringing Shakespeare to life in real time with a living, breathing Shakespeare walking among the audience transforms the experience. When children can ask questions, laugh and interact directly with Shakespeare, it stops being literature on a page and becomes something alive and personal. The City of Avondale Estates provides a space where people can experience the magic of Shakespeare together outside and for free.”

Atlanta Shakespeare Company leadership, Associate Managing Director Katie Grace Kirby and Associate Producer and Community Engagement Manager O’Neil Delapenha, say they are excited to bring the performances outdoors in a more interactive format.

“We are honored and enthusiastic that the Atlanta Shakespeare Company will once again share the genius of William Shakespeare with the residents of Avondale Estates, this time featuring the Bard himself live and direct from Verona,” said Delapenha. “Shakespeare’s work resonates across generations because it speaks to the full spectrum of human experience. Bringing these works to Avondale Estates is a celebration of community, education and the transformative power of live performance.”

City Manager Patrick Bryant said the series reflects the city’s commitment to accessible arts programming.

“Cultural events like the Shakespeare series enrich the quality of life in Avondale Estates and draw visitors to experience our city. Hosting this production on the Town Green highlights both our Stratford on Avon roots and our commitment to community centered arts.”

Resilient DeKalb Launches a New Chapter for Environmental Justice in DeKalb County!

Resilient DeKalb" text with sunflower and wildflowers emphasizing local sustainability and environmental resilience.
Resilient DeKalb" text with sunflower and wildflowers emphasizing local sustainability and environmental resilience.

On Saturday, March 14, DeKalb County residents joined the Super District 6 team at the Gresham Park Recreation Center for the introduction of Resilient DeKalb, a renewed effort by Commissioner Ted Terry to strengthen environmental justice and civic engagement across DeKalb County. Resilient DeKalb builds on the foundation of the DeKalb Green New Deal while reshaping the focus to emphasize community resilience, transparency, and stronger collaboration between residents and county leadership.

Why Resilient DeKalb?

Candidly, some of DeKalb’s greatest issues stem from environmental injustices, including failing water and sewer infrastructure, repeated sewage overflows into creeks and neighborhoods, rising utility costs, and the loss of safe green space, problems that disproportionately affect lower-income and historically marginalized communities. 

Environmental justice means every resident, regardless of race, income, or background, deserves affordable energy, clean water, safe neighborhoods, and a voice in environmental decisions. It acknowledges that some communities have faced greater pollution burdens, higher utility bills, and fewer resources for decades, resulting in inequitable health outcomes. Building a Resilient DeKalb means creating healthier, resilient neighborhoods for all residents

Road with colorful wildflowers, surrounded by trees, with text promoting resilient neighborhoods in DeKalb.

What is Resilient DeKalb?

Resilient DeKalb is a people-powered initiative that aims to correct these imbalances to reduce environmental injustices by 

  1. advancing sustainable land-use practices including protecting green spaces, improving zoning and development practices, and promoting land use that supports healthy neighborhoods and long term environmental resilience.
  2. advocating for clean, affordable, and reliable utilities and services to reduce energy burdens caused by environmental injustices
  3. building community power for environmental justice by expanding access to county programs and resources that make it easier for residents to participate in critical decision making processes
Resilient DeKalb initiative highlights sustainable land use, clean energy, and community building for environmental justice.

How Can We Work Together to Achieve a More Resilient DeKalb?

The County Commissioner’s office plays a central role in addressing environmental justice challenges by setting local policies, allocating resources, and advocating for programs that protect residents’ health and the environment. By engaging with the office through attending town halls, submitting public comments, or joining community coalitions, residents can help guide decisions that reduce pollution, improve water and energy systems, and keep neighborhoods safe and resilient. To find out who represents you, visit the county’s website and enter your address in the Find My Commissioner tool. Your commissioner is your direct line to local policy that affects your home, your health, and your community.

Highlights From Our First Resilient DeKalb Meeting

Led by Commissioner Ted Terry, participants learned about how local government decisions affect environmental outcomes and why county policy plays such a critical role in shaping community resilience. To make the discussion interactive, attendees played a trivia game and created a world cloud describing what “Resilient DeKalb” meant to them. The responses highlighted themes like community, sustainability, equity, and long-term planning.

Participants raised several local concerns and ideas during the discussion portion of the event, including:

  • The need for clearer communication about BOC agendas and decisions, along with more accessible information to help residents stay informed and participate in county government. 
  • Requests for information about composting programs, environmental plans, and local sustainability resources
Community meeting in a gymnasium with a presentation on environmental justice, attendees seated in a circle.
Word cloud featuring "strong" and "sustainability" about "Resilient Dekalb".

What Happens Next?

We hope to address the concerns of residents collaboratively and with transparency. This begins with forming a Resilient DeKalb Steering Committee to help guide the progression of our initiative, followed by educational workshops and discussions. 

We encourage you to:

  1. Join the Resilient DeKalb Steering Committee
  2. Attend our upcoming events
  3. Fill out the Resilient DeKalb Interest form to stay updated and attend our important upcoming events

April 28 — Earth Day Proclamation at the Board of Commissioners Meeting

Celebrate Earth Day at the Board of Commissioners meeting on April 28! This year, we’re presenting a proclamation to the people of DeKalb for their tireless commitment to the Earth and environmental advocacy. We hope you can attend to be recognized and show DeKalb County residents want climate action now.

Click here to RSVP!

This is part of the Board of Commissioners regularly scheduled meetings and is open to the public.

May 1 — FREE Environmental Movie Night: The Tree Economy

Commissioner Terry and the Super District 6 Team are excited to present an environmental movie night featuring The Tree Economy directed by James Schroder.

Environmental films can turn complex issues into real stories that spark curiosity, build community, and invite us all to take action. We hope you will join us for this timely and thought-provoking film that explores local climate action and asks us to brainstorm next steps for DeKalb County.

The Tree Economy

The City of Atlanta has the largest urban tree canopy of any major city in North America. The Tree Economy follows the forces of development, economics, and politics threatening to erase the defining characteristic of one of America’s great cities.

Through the voices of tree activists, arborists, urban designers, elected officials, and developers, filmmaker James Schroeder documents a city at a crossroads.

The Resilient DeKalb Launch event marks the beginning of a broader engagement effort for Resilient DeKalb. With continued collaboration between residents and local government, Resilient DeKalb aims to build a stronger and more sustainable future for all communities across the county.

Click here to RSVP

Resources

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.

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.