Sandy Springs Crier - June 25, 2026

City’s new AI software geared to aid residents

World Cup watch parties now extend to City Green

By DYANA BAGBY dyana@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — FIFA World Cup fans can watch soccer matches in the “backyard” of Sandy Springs on the City Green.

The city is expanding its “Fútbol Fever” watch parties to the 4-acre gathering space at 1 Galambos Way for select knock-off, semifinal and final matches.

Free public watch parties will be held Sunday, June 28 at 3 p.m.; Saturday, July 11 at 5 p.m.; Saturday, July 18 at 5 p.m.; and Sunday, July 19 at 3 p.m.

Two 14-foot screens will be set up on the City Green for optimal live-match

viewing, organizers say. There will also be a blow-up soccer goal, pop-up bars and food trucks. The city encourages fans to arrive early and bring tailgate chairs and blankets.

Food trucks will be on site one hour before match time, and the City Green will close at 10 p.m. If a match extends beyond that time, fans can continue the celebration in the adjacent City Bar. & Cafe, where later matches will remain available for viewing.

Additionally, the City Bar. & Café patio will transform into the Visit Sandy Springs Clubhouse on every City Green watch party date.

See WATCH, Page 9

City extends school zone speed cameras contract

By DYANA BAGBY dyana@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Sandy Springs City Council has approved extending its contract with a company that operates school zone speed cameras after police officials reported the devices have significantly reduced speeding near two local high schools.

The council voted 5-1 on June 16 to amend its agreement with RedSpeed Georgia LLC, allowing the

city to continue using automated speed enforcement cameras at North Springs High School and Riverwood International Charter School through June 30, 2027. The amended agreement includes three additional one-year renewal options after next year.

Sandy Springs Police Maj. Mike Lindstrom told council members the cameras have issued more than 11,000 citations since enforcement began in March 2025. The city selected the two school zones after traffic

studies identified hundreds of vehicles exceeding the speed limit near the campuses each day.

About 90 percent of drivers receiving citations do not live in Sandy Springs, Lindstrom said. The program has also resulted in a 94 percent reduction in daily speed violators compared with baseline traffic studies conducted before the cameras were installed. The use of the cameras also frees up officers to patrol other areas such as Ga. 400 and I-285.

“The bottom line is they’re working,” Lindstrom said.

He added that other schools are interested in the school zone speed cameras program and there may be other sites in the city where cameras can be installed.

“This is something that people are considering as an additional tool that we could utilize throughout the city,” he said.

NEWS TIPS

770-442-3278

AppenMedia.com

319 N. Main Street Alpharetta, GA 30009

HANS APPEN Publisher CONTACT

Contact reporters directly or send story ideas to newsroom@appenmedia.com.

LETTERS, EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Send your letters, events and community news to newsroom@appenmedia.com. See appenmedia.com/submit for more guidance.

ADVERTISING

For information about advertising in the Sandy Springs Crier or other Appen Media properties, email advertising@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

CIRCULATION

To start, pause or stop delivery of this newspaper, email circulation@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

Roswell Fire performs water rescue in creek

ROSWELL, Ga. — A family’s hiking trip on the National Park Service side of Vickery Creek ended in a water rescue June 4 after a child became stranded on a steep embankment.

Emergency dispatch received a call before 12:30 p.m. reporting a 6-yearold girl had fallen into the water and could no longer be seen. Another adult had gone to help locate her.

When units arrived, the caller was able to point out the two on the opposite side of the stream.

Personnel swam across the river to reach them on a steep embankment near the dam. Supporting units used an inflatable rescue boat to take the

child back across the river where she was evaluated by medics and found without injury.

The adult asked to be reunited with her other child and dog waiting by the river. Using ropes and webbing, crews helped the family back up to the established trail system.

All operations were completed without incident.

The Roswell Fire Department posted about the incident on Facebook, reminding trail users to stay on the designated trails and wear life jackets if in or around the water.

— Hannah Yahne

from a steep embankment.

North Fulton cities sign amicus brief supporting Milton

Ruling in wrongful death suit could ripple across the state

By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

NORTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Municipalities across the state are again signing amicus briefs as the case of Chang v. City of Milton remains on remand from the state Supreme Court.

It’s been nearly 10 years since Josh Chang died after striking a concrete planter on the shoulder of Batesville Road in Milton. His family sued the city for wrongful death in Fulton County Superior Court, and a jury found the city liable on theories of negligence and nuisance.

The trial court found that Milton's sovereign immunity – the legal doctrine that shields governments from lawsuits – had been waived because the city had a ministerial duty to maintain its streets and the planter was located within the public right-of-way.

Milton appealed the decision. If the verdict stands, the city must pay $35

million in damages plus interest accrued since the original ruling two years ago. The outcome would also set a statewide precedent, potentially requiring cities to clear objects such as neighborhood signs and utility poles from the areas outside travel lanes but within the right of way.

More than 60 cities signed the first amicus – or friend of the court – brief submitted to the Georgia Supreme Court last year, asking it to reverse the 2024 decision. An amicus brief allows parties not involved in the case to provide information or arguments for the court’s consideration.

In March, the Supreme Court remanded the case to the Court of Appeals, clarifying that a city's ministerial duty to keep streets safe does not automatically extend to everything within a public right of way. The court also held that Georgia's roaddefect statute alone does not waive a city's sovereign immunity, and plaintiffs must identify a separate legal basis for waiver before relying on road-defect laws to pursue a claim.

City Attorney Ken Jarrard said the

state Supreme Court’s opinion shifted the legal landscape in Milton’s favor.

“The issues now before the Court of Appeals are not identical to the issues the Supreme Court decided,” Jarrard said, “but the Supreme Court clarified the law in a way that is significant for the city’s position.”

Multiple cities, including Alpharetta, Roswell and Decatur, have joined a second amicus brief backing the Georgia Supreme Court’s approach to sovereign immunity. The brief argues that judges cannot create exceptions to sovereign immunity on their own. Instead, any waiver allowing personal-injury lawsuits against municipalities must come from the Georgia Constitution or be enacted by the General Assembly.

The Georgia Supreme Court found that one specific immunity waiver did not apply to the negligence claim but left open whether another, such as one triggered by the city's insurance coverage, might still allow the case to proceed. The court also did not address the nuisance claim, which was a separate basis for the jury's $35 million verdict.

Tune-Up Projects

Kitchen Tune-Up

Paint Cabinets

New Countertops, Sink & Faucet

New Backsplash

Cut Down 2-level Island

Bathroom Tune-Up

New Countertops, Sink & Faucet

Enlarge Shower Shower Glass Shower Safety Full Remodel

Kitchen Remodel

Total Cabinet Replacement

Large Island

Optimize Cabinet / Appliance Locations

Open Concept –Move Walls

9-5 Mon-Fri • 10-4 Sat

Showroom – Design Center 10591 Old Alabama Rd. Connector Alpharetta, GA 30022 (near Northpoint Mall)

Projects

Bathroom Remodel

New Larger Shower

Vanity Replacement –Cabs, Counter, Sink

Free Standing Tub

Floor Tile, Wall Tile

Plumbing Fixtures

Sandy Springs enters AI ‘avant-garde’ with new chatbot

By JAEDON MASON newsroom@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs residents can hope to experience a better experience dealing with questions and information about their government after the city added a chatbot feature to its website June 17.

The software is one of a series of AI-related initiatives the city is undertaking.

Among these, is a push to incorporate “enterprise AI.”

Director of Data Strategy, Analytics, and AI Integration Keith McMellen gave an overview of all these initiatives at the Sandy Springs City Council work session June 16.

The chatbot, McMellen said, is meant to answer questions about events and contact information related to city services.

“Questions like ‘When is the next Sparkle Sandy Springs?’ or ’Who do I contact for trash service?’ can be handled by the chatbot so the call center can deal with more complicated requests,” McMellen said.

He said the city will not have access to chat logs or any identifying information from users. The city will be able to see more general chat summaries and sentiment scores reflecting how people feel about the chatbot’s ability to help them find what they are looking for.

Along with the chatbot rollout, the city also recently completed an AI pilot program to train and license an initial 20 city staff members. The pilot program ended with around 37 participants who reported that using AI saved them between one to five hours of work.

Evaluating the pilot program as a success, the city has since moved to expand AI integration, choosing to adopt a $36,000 contract with GovAI in May. GovAI is an enterprise AI platform built on ChatGPT’s model.

McMellen reported several signs of positive engagement from city staff.

Enterprise AI refers generally to a specific kind of license that allows large organizations access to AI models from companies like Microsoft or OpenAI. What makes this license special is that the data gathered from users interacting with the AI isn’t used to train these companies’ flagship models. All user data remains within the organization that purchases the license, in this case the City of Sandy Springs.

Following the presentation, Mayor Rusty Paul said he was impressed.

“We’ve come a long way from where we were,” he said. “In talking to other cities, there are very few, in fact I don’t know any that are anywhere close to where we are today. So, we’re kind of in the avant-garde in this area.”

Even with the generally favorable response, a few questions lingered about the city’s approach.

Councilwoman Melissa Mular asked a question whether the city would keep public records of prompts. McMellen was hesitant to speak on this in the meeting.

But, responding to a follow-up from

Appen Media, the city stated the Sandy Springs AI Assistant does not keep logs or store records of conversations, so there is no record to produce.

“Because we are leading the way in local government on the topic of AI, our director of IT and director of Data and AI are working closely with a State of Georgia Records Retention Advisory committee to help shape state guidance for local governments,” the statement said. “In the fall, we anticipate that committee issue guidance on the retention policy surrounding AI.”

Paul also spoke about ensuring the city benefited from its role in product development for the vendors as an early adopter.

“They are going to take what they learned from us and make millions over years” Mayor Paul said. “We want to make sure our contributions are recognized from a credit point of view but also a debit point of view.”

City Attorney Dan Lee said that would be difficult.

“While the city has some intellectual capital contributing to this, generally in this discussion you have the mechanism for using it and the data,” he said.

The data, Lee said, turns out to be mostly public record, making it difficult to monetize. Participants usually are “repaid” by lowering the cost of the process, essentially by making things more efficient, he said.

The city expects to continue rolling out GovAI for staff over the next few months. It is also exploring further integrating AI technology into the day-to-day work of running the city, such as assisting with creating council meeting summaries, assisting with the permitting process, and using AI to help improve the system the city uses to receive public works tickets from residents. No concrete announcements were made about the progress of the last three, but McMellan said to expect updates in the next few months.

Recreation and Parks promotes Otto App for residents

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Sandy Springs Recreation and Parks Department is now using the Otto App as its online registration system, providing residents with a more streamlined, user-friendly experience for recreation programs and facility rentals.

All registrations for recreation programs, camps, events, classes and facility reservations will be managed through the mobile and desktop software. Available for download via the

Apple App Store and Google Play, Otto App offers enhanced mobile accessibility, simplified account management and improved navigation to help residents more easily find and register for activities, according to officials.

“This transition will make it easier for residents to connect with our programs and services while providing a more modern and efficient registration experience,” Director of Sandy Springs Recreation and Parks Director Brent

Walker said in a news release. “Our goal is to remove barriers and help community members spend less time registering and more time enjoying our parks and programs.”

Features include household calendars to organize multiple registrations, team messaging for important updates and filtering by park location. The move reflects the department’s commitment to improving customer service and expanding access to recreational

opportunities for the Sandy Springs community, Walker said.

Existing city recreation participants will receive instructions on how to create Otto App accounts. The department encourages residents to complete the registration process before upcoming registration periods to ensure a smooth transition. Download the Otto App and visit SandySpringsGa.gov/recreation-programs for more information.

— Dyana Bagby

Fulton Schools adopts budget with $57 million deficit

By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The Fulton County Board of Education formalized adoption of a $2.3 billion budget for 2026-27 after receiving an updated financial report at its June 11 work session.

The district still faces a $56.9 million deficit when balancing revenues against expenditures and expects to use around 20 percent of this year’s remaining fund balance to cover the gap. Despite tapping into the fund balance, Chief Financial Officer Marvin Dereef estimates reserves will rest at more than $233 million by the end of Fiscal Year 2027.

When Fulton Schools began budget preparations, staff initially projected a much bigger deficit.

“Despite significant financial pressures, including inflationary impacts, rising employment benefit costs and enrollment declines … the district successfully reduced an initial projected budget gap of approximately $95 million down to $57 million while maintaining core services,” Dereef said.

Fulton County Schools used

DRIVEWAYS & CONCRETE

its G.L.I.D.E. initiative, which started last year, to find costsaving opportunities and revenuegenerating strategies without disrupting student services.

Changes for the 2026-27 school year include ensuring high school students remain enrolled full-time to gain an additional $1.2 million in funding. There will also be a district-wide furlough day, which will shorten next year’s instructional calendar by one day and save the county around $4.5 million.

Superintendent Mike Looney praised the budget saying that, while it is conservative, it will allow the district to continue meeting the needs of students.

Changes since tentative approval

Fulton County Schools has received additional revenue sources that required altering the budget that was tentatively approved in May.

The district’s general fund budget projected revenues remain hovering above $1.4 billion – a decrease of around 1.7 percent from the current year. The general fund covers day-today operating expenses, like salaries, student services and transportation.

This year, nearly 80 percent is allocated directly to schools.

One bit of good news is that revenues increased after Fulton County Schools was awarded a $4.4 million Schools Safety and Security Grant from the state. However, that bonus will be partially offset by the decrease in local fair share taxes that the district will receive from the Georgia Department of Education.

Because of the grant funding and additional hirings related to career, technical and agricultural education, the district’s general fund expenditures increased by $4.6 million.

Expenses are still projected to exceed general fund revenues by roughly $55 million which Dereef said will be covered using the district’s remaining fund balance.

“These changes do not represent staffing reductions or significant program changes,” Dereef said. “They are refinements intended to ensure resources are aligned with district priorities and available funding sources.”

Awaiting the tax digest

As the Board of Education awaits the final tax digest from Fulton

DRIVEWAYS

County, local revenue projections stand at $891 million. Dereef anticipates receiving the county’s tax digest in the coming days.

The digest represents all taxable property within the county and is updated each year.

Once Fulton Schools gets the tax digest, board members will begin to discuss the millage rate on property and host public hearings.

Fulton County Schools has held a millage rate of 17.08 for the past two years which is the lowest by more than 1 mill compared to surrounding school districts.

A school millage rate is a property tax that collects $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property values and specifically allocated toward funding school districts’ operations, salaries and facility maintenance.

Since last year, Fulton County voters approved two homestead exemptions for senior residents that were projected to decrease Fulton Schools local revenues by approximately $50 million.

Two public hearings on the millage rate will be scheduled after the digest is issued in the coming weeks. The Board of Education must approve its millage rate by Sept. 1.

Soccer fans cheer on their favorite teams in metro Atlanta

By ZOE SEILER, JIM BASS and DEAN HESSE newsroom@decaturish.com

NORTH METRO ATLANTA — Decatur WatchFest’26 is underway and thousands of soccer fans have gathered on the Square since June 11 to cheer on their favorite teams and dance to music.

Organizers are hosting match screenings and concerts over the next 30 days. Free events will be held on the Decatur Square through July 19.

People packed the Square to watch the Mexico vs. South Africa match on three big screens and enjoy a slate of activities on June 11, the opening day of the festival. After the game, the rain cooled things off, ending in time for a dynamic free concert by Big Boi, one half of the Southern hip-hop duo OutKast.

Camille Wright, who owned and operated Kaleidoscope Boutique in downtown Decatur, summed up the evening: "I've watched how they've built up the Square. I'm so proud. This is what Atlanta should be like — all the different races, people, families. This is huge."

The World Cup runs from June 11 through July 19, with eight matches taking place at MercedesBenz Stadium in Atlanta. Matches will be shown every day at pubs and restaurants in Decatur and on the Square. To see the full event schedule, visit decaturwatchfest26.com.

Decatur City Manager Andrea Arnold told Decaturish that the first night exceeded her expectations. A couple of minor issues arose, but attendees were able to enjoy their experience on the Square throughout the day.

“I think everybody who was there had a wonderful time,” Arnold previously said. “I’ve only gotten very positive feedback from the attendees. I couldn’t be more pleased.”

So far, fans have cheered on the United States, Brazil, Netherlands, England, Japan, Spain and France among other teams. Attendees have also enjoyed performances from The Dammages, DJ EU, The Stews, Drivin N Cryin and The War and Treaty.

The city of Atlanta celebrated the first game at the Atlanta Stadium on June 15 as Spain tied Cape Verde 0-0.

To honor the first day of the tournament on June 11, Atlanta hosted its opening ceremony and watch party, unveiling its free Fan Festival at Centennial Olympic Park.

The celebration kicked off the first of 18 days for the festival that features a 50-foot video screen, fan zones, kids areas and multiple live entertainment stages. Admission is free, however, attendees must register online to enter.

Among the multiple speakers at the opening ceremony, Atlanta mayor Andre Dickens and Georgia governor Brian Kemp gave speeches celebrating the festival and the opportunity that Atlanta has to be one of 16 host cities for FIFA World Cup 2026.

“Hosting the World Cup is now a part of Atlanta's rich history, and we are thrilled to welcome all of our national and international visitors to this great city,” Dickens said. “But I'm telling the people of Atlanta, the people of metro Atlanta and Georgia, I want us all to participate in these events.”

Kemp shared a similar sentiment of encouraging both locals and travelers to engage in the festivities

and celebrate the city’s opportunity to be a host city for this year’s World Cup.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and I hope all Georgians will find a way to enjoy this. Whether that's attending a match or just taking in the incredible atmosphere here in Atlanta over the next five weeks,” Kemp said.

Each line in the puzzle below has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, with each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!

THEY RUN IN EUROPE

1. Ford’s flop. Essen’s river. Jingle.

2. Dutch cheese. Toss. River of Tuscany.

3. Glasgow’s river. Gung-ho. Fencing sword.

4. River to Donegal Bay. Citrus fruit. Like Scrooge

5. It’s a no-no. Kick out. Yorkshire River.

6. Baseball stat. France’s longest river. Like hen’s teeth.

7. Like a busybody. Forest growth. River in England and Wales.

1 Ford’s flop. Essen’s river. Jingle

2. Dutch cheese. Toss. River of Tuscany

How to Solve: Each line in the puzzle above has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, which each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!

3. Glasgow’s river. Gung-ho. Fencing sword

4. River to Donegal Bay. Citrus fruit. Like Scrooge

5. It’s a no-no. Kick out. Yorkshire river

6. Baseball stat. France’s longest river. Like hen’s teeth

7. Like a busybody. Forest growth. River in England and

How to Solve: To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

use the digits 1 to 9, and a digit can only be used once in any sequence.

Prioritizing skin health during Men’s

Brought to you by – Dr. Tiffany ClayRamsey, Epiphany Dermatology

June is Men’s Health Month—a time to focus on preventive care and long-term wellness. While many men prioritize their overall health, skin health is often overlooked. As a dermatologist, I encourage men of all backgrounds and skin tones to take a proactive approach to caring for their skin.

Skin cancer remains one of the most important concerns. While it is often perceived as less common in men with darker skin tones, it is frequently diagnosed at later stages— making awareness and early detection critical. In addition, conditions such as acne, folliculitis (especially related to shaving), eczema, and psoriasis are common in men. For those with skin of color, concerns like hyperpigmentation

or razor bumps can be particularly persistent and require specialized care.

One of the simplest yet most effective steps you can take is wearing sunscreen daily. A broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher helps protect against harmful UV rays, which contribute not only to skin cancer but also to uneven skin tone and premature aging. Sunscreen is essential for every skin type and tone.

Equally important is establishing care with a board-certified dermatologist. Annual skin screenings allow for early detection of skin cancer and provide an opportunity to address concerns involving your skin, hair, and nails with a personalized approach.

This Men’s Health Month, take charge of your skin health. Prevention, protection, and expert care can make all the difference. Call our office at (470) 903-8886 to set up an appointment!

Month

The greatest man (excluding family) that I ever knew

PAT FOX Managing Editor pat@appenmedia.com

His name is Jim, and he’s about 90 now.

When I first met him, he was the managing editor at a newspaper in central Kansas, a mid-sized daily in a city of 42,000.

Everybody liked Jim. He was about 50 – twice my age –witty, smart, and he’d been running the newsroom for about a decade. He never spoke without having something to say, leaving everyone to do their job. But he read every story after it had been edited and proofread, just to make sure – a quiet backstop.

He was trim and came to work most days in a blue Oxford, navy tie and dark slacks. An avid golfer, Jim’s face was tanned, his hair golden-brown with silver at the temples – a requirement for all managing editors.

He sat at his desk in the newsroom among some 25 reporters, copy editors and edition editors.

Alongside Jim’s desk was a yellowcushioned chair almost always occupied by a reporter seeking advice or complaining about something. Jim listened.

I was an edition editor and never sat in that chair, figuring Jim had enough to do.

He smoked about a pack a day at that desk. Sometimes, he’d get up and walk over to someone with a question or a compliment. He once praised one of my headlines.

Jim wasn’t a pal, though. He seldom engaged in banter. Sometimes, he'd chat with some of the veterans – the press foreman, senior reporters – people he’d known a long time.

The nightlife

Back in those days, it was common to go out for a drink after work, usually after midnight after putting the morning edition to bed. I was pretty good at it.

Jim must’ve heard, because one evening, he asked me if I wanted to go get a drink during my dinner break at 8 p.m. I declined but said I’d meet him after work.

Watch:

Continued from Page 1

This open-air gathering space will feature a fan zone featuring locker room-inspired décor; exclusive Visit Sandy Springs merchandise; interactive halftime entertainment,

That’s when I saw the other side of Jim. The guy could knock ‘em back, and he had an underground network of dive bars and basement lounges not listed in the Yellow Pages – the Red Lion, Lena’s, the Knotty Pine.

He was one of the best drinking companions you could ever want, funnier the more he drank. At an allnight diner once, he took a spoon to a small bowl of salsa – the green kind –and began eating it like soup.

He talked about quitting smoking and once went a week without lighting up.

That ended one night, when over drinks, he said he’d watched a Bogart film the night before. He swore to me the plot revolved around how many cigarettes you could smoke in two hours.

Two years into my stint at the paper, Jim was fired.

It had come to light that some staffers had been sneaking beer into the building on Saturdays.

The executive editor, who likely knew Jim drank, held the managing editor responsible. He announced that Jim had been fired, that he’d never work for the paper again and that he likely would not work for any paper in the chain.

We were flattened, and it took more than a week for the newsroom to recover. It helped when the editor promoted a senior staff reporter to fill the vacancy, a veteran everyone respected.

Things settled down to a new normal.

Then, a month later, I arrived at work, and there was Jim, sitting in the editor’s office. You could see through the windows. Jim was hunched forward in his chair, wearing a blue Oxford with a tie, smoking a cigarette, listening to the editor.

The guy had been sent to hell, and here he was … Lazarus in the newsroom, talking to the big guy.

An hour passed, all of us sneaking glimpses to follow the interchange.

The lecture

Then, Jim came out. I thought he’d stop by the new managing editor’s desk or chat with some of the others he’d known for years.

Instead, he made a beeline for my desk, pulling up a chair.

“Pat, I’m worried about you,” he said.

including trivia, jersey contests, and fan competitions; and giveaways and special activations throughout the tournament.

For fans seeking an even more elevated viewing experience, the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center will open the doors to Studio Theatre for a premium indoor experience including a viewing area equipped with plush

“Oh yeah?” I responded, maintaining focus on my work.

“Yeah, I’m worried because I think back to when I was your age, and I believe you’re on the same path like me. I just spent a month in recovery, and I don’t want to see it happen to you.”

I stopped typing, turned, and looked at him.

“Jim, I’ll sit here and listen to this bull for as long as you like because I know it’s part of your recovery process. But, when you were my age, you were over at the El Capitan Club talking to walls.”

He laughed, lit a cigarette and copped to practicing his spiel on me. He just wanted to sit a while to get his bearings.

The formal announcement came that afternoon. The editor had agreed to take Jim back – as a reporter.

A man who had ruled the newsroom for a decade, with credentials most journalists would kill for, was now on the bottom rung of our reporting staff. It broke our hearts. Better the earlier career death sentence than to see this man humiliated.

Back to work

Jim showed up the next day, shirttie-slacks, stationed at his old desk. No one sat in the yellow chair. Jim was on the phone or out on an assignment.

He tore it up, outpacing, outwriting and outproducing every reporter. His stuff was polished, newsy.

In September 1985, I was running the morning desk for the afternoon paper as UPI provided overnight updates on an earthquake that had struck Mexico City the day before. New information put the death toll in the thousands.

It was 6 a.m. Jim and I were the only two in the newsroom.

Our city had a small Hispanic population, but I asked Jim if he could spin a local angle. He hopped on the phone.

Within two hours, just before the deadline, Jim turned in an 800-word article filled with quotes and accounts of the devastation from local people who had spoken to family in the disaster zone.

To this day, I’ve never seen anything

couches and large-screen displays, complimentary food prepared by the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center Executive Chef, a cash bar and private restrooms.

The dates of the Studio Theatre experience will mirror that of the City Green Watch Parties – June 28, July 11, July 18, and July 19. Admission is free for Sandy Springs Performing

like it.

Jim continued the pace for a full year. He was always out the door by 5 p.m. to attend church – part of his sobriety program.

Another thing: Jim was even funnier sober than drunk. He’d wisecrack about my odds of making a deadline or the likelihood of my misspelling a word in a headline.

After one year of torrid reporting, the newspaper chain announced that Jim would be leaving. He’d been named executive editor of another paper in northeastern Kansas. It was a smaller paper, but Jim was back on top.

The newsroom exploded in applause, but we were losing a role model.

My turn

Some 30 years later, I too lost my job at a major newspaper in the middle of the Great Recession. I wasn’t drinking … well, beet juice for high brain function. Layoffs and firings were increasing, and I was one of the final casualties.

It was devastating. The world I’d known for 25 years had ended.

Colleagues called offering condolences. Some were angry, saying I’d been singled out because I was 56. One went to the effort of printing a spreadsheet showing my story production over the past year, ranking in the top 10 percent at the paper.

Life isn’t fair.

Before the recession, I was a golden boy, having left the copy desk to return to reporting. Almost immediately, the paper named me reporter of the month, reporter of the quarter, posted my articles on newsroom bulletin boards –blah, blah and more blah.

Unemployment makes you bitter. I envied the drivers who passed my house each evening, coming home from a steady job. I chased down freelance work, even advised on a political campaign.

Each day – every single day – I thought of Jim.

Pity is poison, he screamed in my head, and it got me through the lows. Eventually, I landed this job. It’s been good to me.

As I step away to retirement, there will be other challenges.

I’ll think of Jim.

Arts Center members. Non-members may purchase entry on the day of the event for $75. Apart from the Studio Theatre experience, all other Fútbol Fever events are free and open to the public.

For the latest match schedules and event updates, visit CitySprings.com/ events. Dyana Bagby

GARDEN BUZZ

Observe the beautiful luna moth in nature

If you had a moth beauty pageant, the luna moth would win out hands-down, in my estimation. The luna moth is one of nature’s most exquisite creations. The moth is a standout with its 3-5-inch wingspan and its beautiful, pale green wings, which extend into elongated tail extensions.

During my lifetime I have probably only seen three adult luna moths. If you are lucky and have the opportunity to observe a luna moth, it will probably be at night. Luna moths are considered nocturnal since they are active at night. I saw my first luna moth since moving to Georgia 17 years ago, in early August on the porch of a home in Hiawassee. Unfortunately, it was barely moving and in its last stage of life. Being a former biology teacher and nature lover, I was curious and wanted to know why its life was ending abruptly.

Luna moths’ unique life cycle

1. Eggs – Luna moths lay between 200 and 400 tiny, brown-and-whitespeckled eggs on the leaves of their host plants: walnut, sweetgum, hickory, persimmon, sumac and birch trees.

2. Caterpillar – The 2- to 3.5-inch larvae are bright green with a yellow line running down the complete length of their bodies. After two to three weeks of constant eating, they start to turn a reddish-orange color before creating their cocoon.

3. Pupa – The pupation stage, where they transform from a larva to an adult inside their cocoon, takes about three weeks.

4. Adult – When the adult moth emerges from the cocoon, the moth pumps blood into its wings, causing them to unfurl, and it hangs upsidedown while the wing veins harden in the right shape. Now it is ready to spread its wings, fly, find a mate and fulfill its life mission to produce offspring. This typically happens at night because the luna moths are nocturnal.

Unfortunately, adult moths lack mouthparts and are unable to eat, resulting in their deaths within seven to 10 days of emerging from their cocoons.

Luna moths are found throughout

About the author

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Carole MacMullan, a Master Gardener and Milton resident. She taught biology for 35 years in the Pittsburgh area. In 2012 after moving to Milton, Carole completed the Master Gardener training program and joined the North Fulton Master Gardeners (NFMG) and the Milton Garden Club. Carole uses her teaching skills to create a variety of presentations on gardening topics for the NFMG Lecture Series and Speakers Bureau. Her favorite hobbies are gardening, hiking, biking and reading.

away or directs the attack to a less vulnerable area of the body. The elongated sections of the wings can also disrupt the echolocation ability of a bat in pursuit of its prey, as bats are enemy No. 1 for luna moths. If you are lucky enough to find a live luna moth, try not to touch its wings. You could possibly rub off some of its powdery scales, which help it fly, regulate its body temperature and camouflage it from predators. Because it is so rare to find one of these beauties, if you do spot one it is considered a symbol of transformation and new beginnings. Consider a spring or summer evening walk. Look on the shady side of their host trees and you might be lucky and have an opportunity to view a living luna moth.

Happy Gardening!

North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension.

the eastern United States. In cooler climates, they mate once a year, but in Georgia they are active from March to September and can produce three broods of offspring per year. Although luna moths are large and nocturnal, they have enemies. The wings of luna moths are designed

for defense against their predators. The wing pattern and color provide them with camouflage when they are resting in a tree or on leaf litter.

On the upper mid-region of each of the four wings, there is an eyespot. The eyespot confuses a predator, allowing the luna moth time to get

Previous Garden Buzz columns are at: appenmedia.com/opinion/ columists/garden buzz/.

Come visit us at the Alpharetta Farmers Market and the Sandy Springs Farmers Market every other weekend. We will also have a booth at the Crabapple Festival in Milton on Oct. 3, 2026. Learn more at nfmg.net.

OPINION

The legend of Altie, Georgia’s denizen of the deep

Some people dream about clouds and flying. But I have it on good authority that fisherfolk dream mostly about monsters from the deep. It’s said that there’s at least one of them over in Scotland, in Loch Ness.

Might there be one swimming hereabouts somewhere too? Maybe, some might say, down on the Georgia coast near the town of Darien?

But I digress. Maybe…

Monsters. Yeah. That’s what fills anglers’ dreams, no matter what they say to the contrary. They may talk all day about the spiritual validity of catching small fish and even affirm on a stack of fishing books that size doesn’t matter.

You and I both know better.

Next time your fishing buddy gets to talking about what he caught, listen to what he says. He doesn’t talk about tiny little 6-inchers. No way. Instead, he talks about the monsters – the 20-inch trout, the 7-pound bass. These stories he recounts loudly and often because even though size doesn’t matter, it does.

There’s no doubt at all. Monsters are what anglers dream about.

Interestingly, and possibly distressingly too, kids seem to pick up on this early.

“Granddaddy,” said one of the grandkids on a recent fishing trip, “do you think we will catch any monsters?”

“You never know,” I answered. “You never know what’s in that water.”

Have I ever caught a monster? Once I thought I had. I was fishing a pond in central Georgia and hooked something that felt huge. It turned out to be a soggy old tennis shoe. I’d guess it was about size 16. That qualifies, I suppose.

Another time, on a fast-flowing north Georgia stream, I managed to hook a flat rock. Not just anyone can do that, you know. That rock sure felt like a monster as it planed back and forth through the water, acting for all the world like some kind of leviathan bass. But it stayed on the hook. When I finally brought it in and saw what it was, I just stood there and laughed out loud. Sometimes that’s all you can do.

Flat rocks? Tennis shoes? Uh-huh. And yet the possibility of encountering a bona fide monster – you know, something like the well-marketed one said to swim the storied waters of Loch Ness – always remains, at least out there on the very edge of imagination.

Nessie, of course, lives a long ways off. The odds of it swimming to Georgia are not real high.

But how about a home-grown Geor -

The Altamaha River near Darien, Ga., where a lucky few say they have seen Altamaha-ha, Georgia’s version of the Loch Ness Monster. Will you see Altie too?

gia-style version? How about Altamahaha instead?

How about who?

Altamaha-ha. Yes, it’s a thing – especially down around where the sightings seem to be concentrated. According to sources that might be reliable, Altamahaha (whom those in the know call “Altie” for short) is a mysterious aquatic creature said to inhabit the waters of the Altamaha River in coastal Georgia’s McIntosh County. Some say the legend appears to have come from the Muscogee culture and that it may have been embellished by Scottish immigrants (echoes of Nessie!). Whether such embellishments might have been tied to enthusiastic sipping of another Scottish legend is unclear but, one must admit, not beyond the realm of possibility.

Assuming that Altamaha-ha is real (and who would dare to say that it is not?) what might Altie actually be? Some say that it’s an alligator gar. That could be the case, for those gar grow to 10 feet and do have a certain sea monster-ish look about them. Others say it could be a giant sturgeon, another massive and primitivelooking creature from the watery deep.

It’s even been suggested that Altie sightings represent nothing more exotic than two dolphins swimming together who happen to have been perceived as one…something…

As explanations go, I suppose they’re all at least possible.

But why must we always seek explanation? What’s the fun in that? Maybe it’s just…Altie. That’s what I was kind of hoping, deep down, as I walked along the river there just the other day. “Come on, Altie,” I found myself whispering. “Just a glimpse. Just one glimpse is all I need…”

Alas, Altie didn’t show.

But maybe that’s how Altie keeps the legend alive – and with a legend as appealing as this one, it’s no surprise

that there has been a hoax or two. One involved what appeared to be decomposing remains which turned up on a beach in the Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuge about a dozen miles east of Darien. You know that had to cause all sorts of excitement, at least until a New York performance artist named Zardulu fessed up that it was just a creation fashioned from a shark carcass and some papier-mâché.

Skeptics probably said, “See, I told you so.”

But skeptics are never any fun. And did it dissuade the true believers? Not even a little.

The true believers are, I expect, much more enthusiastic about the 20-foot-long Altie sculpture on display in the DarienMcIntosh County Visitor Center just off I-95. It’s the work of cryptid artist Rick Spears. A cryptid artist (and yes, it’s a thing) is one who “specializes in visualizing hidden, unverified, or mythical creatures.”

According to the little sign there in the visitor center, the Darien depiction was created based on details from eye-witness sightings. Most say that it looks a little bit like a dinosaur. But it also has that kind of big-eyed, happy-go-lucky face you see

DEATH NOTICES

Kenneth Brown, age 76, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on June 7, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Carol Brubaker, age 87, of Milton, GA passed away on June 14, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

on the neighborhood golden retriever. You just want to scratch it between its ears…except it doesn’t have ears, at least not that we can see.

Want to maybe see Altie for yourself? A good place to try is beneath the US 17 bridge where it crosses a channel of the Altamaha River just south of Darien. If you stroll there, and you should, first look at the sea creatures mural painted under the north end of the bridge. If you search a bit, you’ll find Altie depicted there among the fish and everything else.

Since you will then know what Altie might look like, next turn an eye to the river. Watch carefully until…what’s that? Was there something there?

I can’t tell you for sure that you’ll glimpse Altie in the flesh. But I can’t promise you that you won’t either. There always hope. And where there’s hope, just about anything can happen.

Maybe it even will.

In any case, if you get close enough, give him a little scratch between those unseen ears. And tell him Steve says hi.

Margaret Hall, age 84, of Roswell, GA passed away on June 15, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Suzanne Walbert, age 83, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on June 13, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

DC Aiken

Big Sky Franchise Team

David & Michelle Bertany

Amour & Duane Carthy

Scott Childress

Adam Corder

Barbara Anderson

Kerry Arias

Scott Baynton

Joseph Bell

Rita Brown

SM Buscher

Mark Casas

Carl Abernathy

Bruce Ackley

Salpi Adrouny

Alpharetta Lions Club

Omar Altalib

Dave Altman

Ron Altman

Joel Alvis

American Legion Post 201

Ken Amos

Alice & Dr. Richard Appen

Stewart Applbaum

Gaye Armstrong

Mary Asbury

Amy Auffant

Bonnie Avera

Carolyn Axt

Bangkok Boxing LLC

Sandra Balmer

Shannon Banna

Beth Barnes

Michael Baron

Janet Bass

Caitlin Bates

Jannet Bauer

Barbara Bauschka

Miriam Beattie

Kathy Beck

Laura Bentley

William Bentley

Steve Berman

Leslie Berry

Support Local News

Patrick Cressaty

Lindsay DeFranco

Robert Flint

Robin Fricton

Zachary Hahn

Allison January

David Conti

Theodore Davis III

Maureen Drumm

Charlcie Forehand

Lisa Frantz

Aileen Horton

Deborah Jackson

Tom Billings

Caroline Blackmon

Tochie Blan

Ron Boddicker

Jodi Bogen

Sherri Bolles-Rogers

Katherine Bolt

Helen Borland

Debra Bowen

Joe Bowen

Kenneth Bowman

David Boy

Ryan Brainard

Mark Brandus

Mel Brannen

Amy Bratten

Carol Bright

Linda Brill

Dorothy Brouhard

Mary Anne Brown

Erendira Brumley

Zack Buchanan

Bernhard Burgener

Alvin Burrell

Mike & Theresa Buscher

Mary Busman

Clea Calloway

Kirk Canaday

James Carr

Bridgette Carter

William Carter

William Cartwright

CHARTER MEMBER

Michael Kenig

Roderick Liptrot

Bob Meyers

Claude Nardy

Cliff Oxford

Bruce Paulk

MEMBER+

David Johnson

Ali Mahbod

Richard Matherly

Evan McElroy

Vickie McElroy

Anne Peer

Helen Perry

MEMBER

Linda & Frank Catroppa

Check

Virginia Christman

Adam Cleveland

Ann Coaloa

Kim Coggins

Michael Cohen

Evelyn Collazo

Michael Mackenzie

Communications

Joan Compton

Kathleen Cook

Carol Cookerly

Terri Coons

Sarah Cox

Rhonda Cude

Connie Cunningham

Christopher Cupit

Bart Dean

David Dean

Duane DeBruler

Marilyn DeCusati

Kathleen DeMartino

Nancy Diamond

Sarah Donehoo

Rebecca Donlan

James Dorsey

Tom Driscoll

Michael Dudgeon

Jeanette Dummer

DutchCrafters Amish Furniture

Thomas Edmonds

Ross & Lori Ramsey

Sarah Reiter

Mark Rundle

Matthew Sayle

Lynn Thomas

Kim Truett

Jennifer Phillippi

Robert Popp

Dave Rhinehart

Sergey Savin

Heather Sawyer

Kate Seng

Karen Shih

William Edmundson

Denise Eicher

Mim Eisenberg

Danny Elkins

Su Ellis

Grady Evans

Leslie Ann Everett

Steve Fabian

Carol Fain

Martha Fasse

Nell & Doug Fernandez

Renai Fitzpatrick

Daniel Fleck

Lee Fleck

Laura Floyd

Andrew Flynn

Cathy Flynn

Paul Folger

Adrienne Fontaine

Mary Ford

Nanci Foster

Amy Frederick

Kelly Frommer

Carol Fry

Tim Fulton

Andrew Garner

Tracey Ganesh

Steve Garrett

Daniel Gay

Matthew Geller

John Gibbs

John Gilberto

Roger Wise Jr.

Colt Whittall

Bob Stevens

Kimberly Verska

Carol Williams

Leslie Gilliam

Bailey & Ryan Gladysz

Michelle Glotzbach

Harvey Goldberg

Christopher Goodrich

Jim Gray

Ralph Griffin

Rihard Griffiths

Elaine Gwynn

Carolyn Hall

Marilee Hamilton

Susan Hanna

Marion Hannah

Chris Harrell

Roxanne Hazen

Joe Hirsch

Penn Hodge

Dianne & Steffan Holmquist

Joan Hostetter

Julie Hostetter

Krista Howland

Austin Hughes

Jason Hunyar

Jacqueline Hursh

Susan Huss

Paul Huth

Jeffrey Hyde

J. Craig Inman

Sandra Jacobs

Sue Jacques

Lynn Johnson

Tyler Jones

Zach Jones

Patricia Kachur

Amy Kanderis

Arthur Kebanli

Laura Keck

Mark Kelly

Nancy Kennell

Randall Kent

Carol Kerr

Sally Klaskala

Allison Kloster

Dyna Kohler

Brett Koutnik

Larry Krueger

Jess & Chris Kysar

Malinda Lackey

Sarah Lamm

Daniel Lashinsky

Richard Lapin

Christine Law

Brandon Leach

Dennis Lee

Ken Leffingwell

Carol Lehan

Melissa Libby

Bonnie Lind

Francia Lindon

Karen Lippert

Harlan Little

Jarrett Long

Ross Long

Kyser Lough

Rita Loventhal

Jerry Lucas

Brenda Lundy

Harry Lutz

Rita Loventhal

Karen Magill

Support Local News Join Appen Press Club

Freda Manning-Rumph

Kyile Marshall

Julie Martin

Linda & Todd Martinez

Carla Masecar

Valerie Matthews

Theresea Mattioli

William Maxwell

Nicole Mayer

Rachel McCord

Austin McCully

Diane McDonald

Evan McElroy

Karen McEnerny

Jack McGinnis

Lynn McIntyre

Mike McLoughlin

Margaret McManus

Jennifer Mendoza

Al Merrill

Chris Miller

Christine Miller

Patricia Miller

Milton Animal Hospital

George Mobley

Joe Modica

Fred Moeller

Sarah Moen

Catherine Moore

Ralph Moore

Carol Morgan

Kathy Morgan

Stu Moring

Leslie Mullis

Donna Murphy

Jack Murphy

Aileen Nakamura

George Nathan

THE FUTURE OF LOCAL NEWS

Caroline Naughton

Richard Nichols

Cindy Nolan North

Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc.

Tricia Novarro

Bob O’Brien

Diana O’Sullivan

Anne Pappas

Lynn Pennington

Jonathan Peters

Kurt & Leslie Phillips

Mary & Jan Phillips

James Potts

Debra Powell

Seth Price

Joyce Provissiero

Chuck Pugh

Robert Radloff

Raj Rajagopalan

Pankaj Rajankar

Ashwin Ramaswami

Cheryl Rand

Manu Rao

James Rasmussen

Paula Rattray

Lori Rausch

Jean Rearick

Joseph Reed

Scarlett Reynolds

Righteous PR

Angie Rigney

Sean Riley

Neil Robertson

Kimberly Robinson

Matt Rohs

Kim Romaner

Courtney Rozear

Continued innovation in digital media has changed the ways in which people buy, sell and interact with products and services. It has caused businesses to reassess the ways in which it communicates with potential customers and advertises its products. It has been well documented that these changes have had a destructive impact on local newspapers, which continues to be a primary source for local news, but is no longer a primary source for local advertising dollars – historically the lifeblood for reporters and their coverage. At Appen Media Group we want to address this conflict head on, and build new and innovative approaches to monetizing local news and creating a sustainable future for local journalism in metro Atlanta.

Fran Russell

Janet Sandberg

Kelly Sarmiento

Derek Scheidt

Stephanie Schniederjan

The Schoenblum Family

Robert Scholz

Robert Schreiner

Stephanie Schuette

Susan Searles

Frances Segars

Tracy Shealy

Tina Shelton

Lisa Shippel

Steve Short

Tom Simon

Cindy Simpson

Robert Singleton

Faye Sklar

Mitchel Skyer

Judith Slaughter

Andy Smith

Lee Smith

Tia Solh

Morris Soriano

Heidi Sowder

Gena Spears

Donald Spencer

Melissa Spencer

Jan Stephens

Wesley Stewart

Cathryn Stovall

Celeste Strohl

Diana Sullivan

Andy Sumlin

Kathy Swahn

Carol Tall

Mike Tasos

Candice Teichert

The Small Business Advisor

Suzanne & Bob Thomas

William Tietjen

Lisa Tilt

Michael Townes Trunnion LLC

Matthew Tyser

Edward Votta

Linda Wabler

Ollie Wagner

Lewis Walker

Elizabeth Waller

Valerie Walters-Gold

Ann Marie Warning

Terry Warnke

Jonathan Washburn

Michael Watson

Deborah Weiss

Michael Weiss

Herbert Wells

Benjamin Wemberly

Beverly Whisenant

Sally White

Thom White

Umpika White

Mae Whiteside

Ashley Whitt

Jennifer Wieland

Christine Williams

Jamie Wimberly

Jonathan Winkie

Nancy & Dave Wistrand

Kalle Wood

Theresa Woolridge

Laura Wysong

Jonathan Young

THE APPEN PRESS CLUB

One solution is the creation of a membership driven organization called the Appen Press Club that is dedicated to recruiting people and companies to join as members. Members pay recurring monthly or annual dues that are 100% dedicated to sustainable journalism. By providing predictable revenue, Appen Press Club members and partners help fund the salaries and expenses of local reporters who will no longer be subject to the whims of marketing budgets and an ever changing advertising world. In turn, those reporters will provide the readers they serve with highly researched and qualified journalism focused on subjects that directly affect their quality of life.

To join go to appenmedia.com/join and follow the prompts to select your membership level and select your t-shirt size! Questions? Email Hans Appen at hans@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

Scan QR code to join the Appen Press Club

Part-Time

YOUTH DIRECTOR (Part-Time) Alpharetta Presbyterian Church — Alpharetta, GA

APC seeks a vibrant, relational leader to serve as Youth Director for middle and high school students. 20–25 hrs/week | Up to $25/hr. Ideal candidates have a passion for youth mentorship and a background in education, coaching, or youth leadership. Retired teachers and ministryminded professionals encouraged to apply. Strong volunteer team and pastoral support in place.

To apply: Submit a brief introduction and resume to jobs@alpharettapres.com.

To place a classified ad, email classifieds@appenmedia.com.

Deadline is Thursdays by 3pm

Contract:

Continued from Page 1

RedSpeed is responsible for installing and maintaining the equipment, processing violations, mailing citations and providing customer support services.

Under the program, cameras operate only during designated school zone hours. The system enforces a 25-mph speed limit when school zone lights are flashing and issues citations only when vehicles exceed the speed limit by at least 11 mph. Each potential violation is reviewed by a Sandy Springs police officer before a citation is issued.

The cameras are integrated with Flock Safety AI-driven surveillance software and also function as automated license plate readers that remain operating 24-hours a day.

The Sandy Springs Police Department is alerted when a stolen vehicle or other suspect vehicle plate on a Flock Safety “hot list” passes one of the

cameras, Lindstrom said. There are about 400 license plate readers in Sandy Springs, he added.

Financial records presented to the council show the program generated approximately $604,642 in revenue from paid citations during the 202526 school year. Based on the contract terms, about $211,600 was paid to RedSpeed in service fees. Roughly $393,000 went into the Police Department’s budget to be used for equipment, according to officials.

State law limits the use of schoolzone camera revenue to public safetyrelated expenditures, including police operations, traffic enforcement and pedestrian safety improvements.

The contract amendment does not change RedSpeed’s 33 percent service fee for paid citations. However, it reduces the maximum electronic processing fee the company may collect from $25 to $10 beginning July 1 unless a lower amount is required by law. The amendment also includes provisions to ensure compliance with recent changes to Georgia law governing automated school zone enforcement programs.

The legislative changes, adopted through House Bill 651, include revised notice requirements, stricter signage standards and a requirement that cities hold a voter referendum if they wish to continue operating school zone camera programs beyond the expiration of contracts in effect on June 30, 2027.

The council’s approval of the amendment allows the city to continue using the school zone speed cameras after next year without putting the issue up for a public vote for the next three years, City Attorney Dan Lee said.

“If after the three years you want a new contract, then you will have to take it to a voter referendum,” Lee said.

Not all council members supported extending the agreement. Councilwoman Melody Kelley said she

remains concerned about the use of automated enforcement and the role of a private company that profits from citations.

“I think of an analogy like you can kill a bug with a sledgehammer,” Kelley said. “It works. It’s effective. But it’s also blunt. And in my opinion, automatic ticketing is a blunt instrument. It relies, to my taste, a bit too heavily on punishment.”

Kelley also questioned whether programs tied to revenue-sharing arrangements provide an effective long-term deterrent.

“I’ve also developed a skepticism that deterrence tied to profit models are effective in the long term,” she said.

Lindstrom said the goal of the program was not to generate revenue but to keep school zones safe.

Councilwoman Mary Ford said she supports the program because “safety is one of the top priorities for our city.”

“All of us up here [on the dais] hear feedback from our constituents about their concerns regarding the amount of speeding that happens. The data behind this program shows that it’s effective for reducing speeding and increasing safety,” she said.

In other action, the council voted unanimously to approve an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Alpharetta to house inmates at the 72-bed Alpharetta jail through 2029.

Sandy Springs will pay Alpharetta $165 a day for each inmate. Sandy Springs Police officials estimate booking 13 inmates a day in the new facility, bringing the projected cost to approximately $64,350 per month and $772,200 a year. The amount excludes any off-site medical costs, which Sandy Springs will pay.

Sandy Springs had an agreement with the City of Smyrna to use its 65bed jail for inmates, but the facility closed in June.