Dunwoody Reaches Agreement with DeKalb County on Park Bond Funds

City to Receive Approximately $4 Million Specifically Earmarked for Park Improvements to Benefit All DeKalb County Residents

Dunwoody, GA – May 26, 2015 – After agreeing in principal to accept approximately $4 million of proceeds from general obligation bonds issued by DeKalb County as part of a lawsuit settlement resolution, the City of Dunwoody and DeKalb County, through separate majority votes of each body, agreed to approve the execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement for grants to implement the terms of the settlement.

Under the terms of the Agreement, the County agreed to pay the City of Dunwoody approximately $4 million provided the City agrees to spend the funds on specific park improvements for the greater benefit of all DeKalb County residents.

The terms of the agreement require the city to allocate the proceeds of the Series 2001 and 2006 Bonds for specified capital projects. The specified funds allocated to projects under the agreement include $3.2 million explicitly for the construction and development of the new 5-acre park in Georgetown, $500,000 to update the 2011 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan for parks and greenspace projects and $300,000 to be used for construction of a great lawn at Brook Run Park.

“We believe this agreement will not only fund the construction of a new five-acre park but also greatly enhance future park space and amenities,” said Dunwoody Mayor Mike Davis. “Our goal throughout negotiations with the County was to acquire bond money which our residents paid through previous tax outlays. We view this as a fair and reasonable settlement to this ongoing lawsuit and one which will provide residents and visitors to our parks with tangible future benefits.”

In 2010, the City of Dunwoody filed suit against DeKalb County alleging Georgia Code required the County to remit proceeds from the general obligation bonds issued by the County in 2006 to the City of Dunwoody. Over the next several years the City and the County engaged in negotiations, as well as mediation sessions in order to reach a settlement agreement.

Following continued mediation and arbitration both parties cooperatively approved the Intergovernmental Agreement to implement the terms of the settlement in their respective meetings held Tuesday, May 26, 2015.

“Previously approved budget funds allocated for the projects now financed by the Agreement grants are now freed up to address the top priorities in Brook Run Park as defined by the citizens within the community-developed 2011 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan,” said Mayor Davis.

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For more information regarding the City of Dunwoody, please contact Bob Mullen, Marketing and PR Director, at 678-382-6700 or bob.mullen@dunwoodyga.gov.

About the City of Dunwoody, Georgia

Dunwoody is located in metro Atlanta, in northern DeKalb County, Georgia and was officially incorporated as a city on December 1, 2008. The City of Dunwoody provides quality service to its citizens and supports the largest economic engine in the Southeast by planning in a careful and thoughtful manner. The City of Dunwoody is inventive, transparent and embraces responsible progress, tempered by the city’s rich history and strong desire to maintain a close and vibrant community atmosphere that values family life and the entrepreneurial spirit. The City of Dunwoody supports and nurtures a community dedicated to the preservation of family, education, religious institutions, and the environment.

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