DeKalb County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

DeKalb County to weigh pension death benefit, $15.85M paving contract

DeKalb County commissioners are set to consider a pension death benefit for line-of-duty deaths at their Aug. 25 meeting, the most consequential item on a busy agenda that also includes a $15.85 million paving contract, a 50-year fire services lease with Brookhaven, and several appointments. No votes have been taken yet — the recent meetings were agenda reviews only, and minutes have not been published.

Pension death benefit

The board will vote on a home rule ordinance (2026-0941) that would add a death benefit to the county pension code for beneficiaries of certain plan participants who die in the line of duty on or after Oct. 1, 2026. The item was first introduced at the Aug. 11 Board of Commissioners meeting, where a public hearing was held. It is listed as a decision item on the Aug. 25 agenda.

Other items before the board

Also on the Aug. 25 agenda is a special land use permit for a child daycare at 6706 Princeton Park Trail, requested by Rooted in Christ Academy, LLC. The board will consider a 50-year lease agreement with the City of Brookhaven for fire services (item 2026-1246). Appointments are slated for the Board of Family and Children Services and the MARTA Board.

At the Aug. 11 meeting, the board heard appeals, including one from a Historic Preservation Commission decision for property at 1080 Clifton Road, and considered a public hearing on extending a moratorium on adult entertainment establishments. It also reviewed a budget amendment of up to $800,000 for lighting and a retention wall at Sugar Creek Tennis & Golf.

Contracts and appointments

The Aug. 18 Committee of the Whole reviewed a proposed executive agenda for the Aug. 25 meeting. The largest contract was a $15,850,000 asphaltic concrete pavement repair contract (Invitation No. 2026-004) awarded to A&S Paving, Inc. and Autaco Development, Inc. Other contracts reviewed included:

• Flat Shoals Parkway sidewalk design services (RFQ 2025-113-RFQ) to AtkinsRéalis USA, Inc. for $3,210,410.84
• Seminole Road Landfill Gas Collection and Control System expansion (Invitation No. 2025-167-ITB) to Blue Flame Crew, LLC for $2,397,297
• Managed security monitoring services (TIPS Contract No. 230105) to MGT Impact Solutions, LLC for $1,755,900

The committee also discussed the 2055 Unified Plan update and a special land use permit for a daycare at 6706 Princeton Park Trail. At the Aug. 11 meeting, the board considered appointing Boniface G. Echols to MARTA Board Post 4.

Coming up

• **Board of Commissioners** — Aug. 25, 2026: Vote on pension death benefit, daycare permit, Brookhaven lease, and contract awards.

All items remain proposals until the board votes. Minutes from the Aug. 11, 13, and 18 meetings have not yet been published.

DeKalb Planning Commission acts on 13 zoning cases; Board of Commissioners schedules tax hearing and park funding

Planning Commission decisions

The DeKalb County Planning Commission voted on 13 rezoning and land use applications at its July 7 meeting, according to official minutes. Approved items now move to the Board of Commissioners Zoning Meeting on August 13, 2026.

Approved:

• Townhome community rezoning at 3003 Chamblee-Tucker Road and 2936 Mercer University Drive, with conditions (7-1).
• Rezoning for 2570 McAfee Road, with conditions (8-1).
• Salon suites rezoning for 3040 Briarcliff Road, with conditions (8-1).
• Child daycare special land use permit (SLUP) at 3319 Tarragon Drive, with conditions (8-1).
• Personal care home SLUP renewal at 4293 Hambrick Way (7-1).
• Child daycare SLUP at 6706 Princeton Park Trail, with conditions (6-2).

Denied:

• Utility structure SLUP for 4280 & 4358 Loveless Place (7-1).
• Character area amendment for 1680 and 1700 Henrico Road (6-2).
• Rezoning for 1680, 1690 and 1700 Henrico Road (6-1).
• Package store SLUP at 5395 Covington Highway (8-1).

Deferred:

• Mixed residential community rezoning for 2674, 2682 and 2690 Gresham Road (8-1).
• Land use amendment for 1670 Henrico Road, deferred to January 2027 (8-1).
• Rezoning for 1670 Henrico Road, deferred to January 2027 (8-1).

Board of Commissioners — July 7 agenda

The Board of Commissioners posted an agenda for July 7 that includes a public hearing on 2026 ad valorem tax millage rates, plus several funding items. Minutes for this meeting have not yet been published, so the following items reflect what was scheduled for consideration, not confirmed outcomes.

Agenda items listed:

• Public hearing on 2026 Ad Valorem Tax Millage Rates.
• Amendment to the Bouldercrest-Cedar Grove-Moreland Overlay District.
• Allocation of $13,150 for Frazier Rowe Park improvements.
• Acceptance of a $101,698 subgrant for the State Court DUI Court Program.
• Acceptance of a $100,896 subgrant for the Magistrate Court Misdemeanor Mental Health Court.

Board of Commissioners — July 14 agenda

The Board posted a separate agenda for July 14 listing a 10:00 AM public hearing followed by a vote on a rezoning request from Optimal Consulting to change property from R-75 to RSM zoning in Districts 3 and 7. Minutes have not yet been published, so these items were scheduled for action but outcomes are not confirmed.

Consent agenda items listed:

• Allocation of $714,810 from District 2 Capital Reserves for Mason Mill Park improvements.
• Appropriation of $500,000 from District 5 reserves for Lithonia Pool facility improvements.
• Acceptance of a $200,000 Livable Centers Initiative Grant for the Candler Road/Flat Shoals Parkway Master Plan.
• Consent to sublease portions of Kirkwood, Clifton Springs, and Winn Way Mental Health Centers to Genoa Healthcare for pharmacies.

The agenda also lists multiple board appointments to the Community Service Board, Board of Family and Children Services, and Airport Advisory Board.

What this means for residents

The Planning Commission's July 7 votes directly affect what can be built or operated at the listed addresses. Residents near 3003 Chamblee-Tucker Road and 2936 Mercer University Drive will see a townhome community move forward to the Board of Commissioners for final action on August 13. Residents near the denied or deferred properties — including the Henrico Road sites, Gresham Road, and Covington Highway — will see no immediate change, with some cases returning in January 2027.

The Board of Commissioners' tax millage hearing, once minutes are published, will determine property tax rates for 2026. The park and pool allocations on the July 14 agenda, if approved, direct county reserve funds to Mason Mill Park and Lithonia Pool.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. The next scheduled Board of Commissioners Zoning Meeting is August 13, 2026, when approved Planning Commission items advance for final action.