January 2006 Minutes

OLD BUSINESS
Marlora Fordham, Technical Project Manager for the Department of Public Works, reported studies will begin for speed humps on Benteen Avenue and Federal Terrace at the end of January or early February.
The studies will last for 24 to 72 hours. Marlora Fordham said the studies will look at traffic volumn, truck volumn, and speed. She said there are eleven (11) steps to this study. After the completion of the study, 75% of Benteen Park homeowners will have to sign a petition stating they want speed humps. There was discussion about prior efforts to get speed humps failing due to the difficulty getting 75% of the neighborhood to sign.

A letter from Mark Medlin, Avondale Pest Control, was presented. The letter states our neighborhood rat problem around south Benteen Avenue cannot be entirely controlled until the garbage, mattresses, and food containers are cleaned from behind 624 McDonough and 628 McDonough (boarding houses behind 1469 Benteen Avenue). Mark Medlin's letter stated the garbage is a breeding site for rodents and nothing can be done to control the rats until this breeding site is cleaned up. It was also stated that Ruby Naylor of Zone 6, Atlanta Police Department, has been called on two occasions and also a letter on this subject was faxed to her. To date, no action has been taken by the city.

The subject of writing a letter to Major Propes was discussed again. We plan to form this letter on our neighborhood association letterhead. We will ask for a quicker police response time, cutting down foot traffic, and increased patrols. In this letter, we will also state our concern about speeders and undesirables who walk though our neighborhood in connection with Benteen Park Elementary. Safety for the children is an important concern.

NEW BUSINESS
A proposal was made to create three committees. Each committee's responsibility to hone in on particular issues. The three committees will be: Safety and Police; Zoning and Code Enforcement; Neighborhood Improvement and Special Projects.
It was suggested that each committee take three issues and accomplish them and, then, move to other issues/improvements.
PROPOSALS
1. Starting a regular neighborhood cleanup.
2. Create a three month calendar with dates of activities and meetings to be distributed in order to encourage participation.
3. Delivering copies of monthly minutes and activities calendars to neighborhood shut-ins.
4. Having a special meeting to organize committees.
5. New signs made to advertise neighborhood association meetings.
6. Helping our older neighbors and physically ill neighbors with yard clean up and/or home repair.

SPECIAL MEETING
It was proposed and agreed that we will have a special meeting next Monday (January 16th, 2006) at Jeff Erwin and Todd Anderson's home. This meeting will be specific to discussion about and organization of the committees and the calendar.

A new condo complex is going to be built at the corner of Benteen Way and Boulevard. An effort will be made to find a contact connected with the complex. Once contact is made, the contractor will be invited to our association meeting to discuss the building project.