DeKalb County Georgia. Source: Google Maps.

DeKalb County Commissioner Kathie Gannon is hosting a townhall meeting to discuss additional county reforms.

Blueprint 2 will take place on Monday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. at the DeKalb South Senior Center on 1931 Candler Rd.

A citizens group helped create Blueprint to Redefine DeKalb County nearly two years ago. A press release from Gannon said it resulted in the recently passed referendum to restructure the county’s Board of Ethics.

In a recent email to constituents, Gannon outlined the reforms that will be implemented, including an independent auditor, codified procurement policies when looking at contract bids, and a reformed Board of Ethics.

[adsanity id=27331 align=aligncenter /]

“The first Blueprints effort was a successful method for citizens to make meaningful changes,” Gannon is quoted as saying in the release. “We will kick off Blueprint 2 on November 16th and keep citizens at the forefront of reforming DeKalb government.”

Here’s the full press release detailing Monday’s meeting:

DeKalb Citizen Input Needed on Form of Government

The dysfunction and corruption in DeKalb County requires citizens to consider changes in the DeKalb form of government. DeKalb County Super District 6 Commissioner Kathie Gannon will host a town hall meeting to launch a citizen study of local governments to guide elected officials. “Government is supposed to be of the people, by the people and for the people,” Gannon said. “DeKalb citizens must be actively involved in choosing their form of government. It cannot be imposed by politicians or selected by experts.”

Over the past years, corruption, bribery, sloppy management has plagued DeKalb.  “I am all for reviewing and improving our form of government, but I think we should look before we leap. We need to understand how changing the form of government will correct the problems. What other corrections and adjustments need to be made that will make DeKalb more accountable to the citizens?”

All interested DeKalb citizens are invited to attend a kick-off meeting on November 16^th at 7PM in the new DeKalb South Senior Center at 1931 Candler Road for Blueprint 2.  Two years ago Gannon initiated the Blueprint to Redefine DeKalb, a citizen lead effort that resulted in legislation being passed to strengthen the Ethics Code (if the referendum passes on Nov 3), create an Internal Auditor and improve our Purchasing procedures. “The first Blueprints effort was a successful method for citizens to make meaningful changes. We will kick off Blueprint 2 on November 16^th and keep citizens at the forefront of reforming DeKalb government. Government is a participatory sport! Now is the time to step up and help,” Gannon said.  The meeting will start promptly at 7 PM and end by 8 PM. Interested volunteers will decide how to organize, study the problems and options, reach conclusions and make recommendations before the end of the 2016 state legislative session in March.

Kathie Gannon represents the western half of DeKalb on the Board of Commissioners. She has been a champion for environmental sustainability, government reforms, neighborhood protection, efficient government and senior citizens. Her website is http://www.kathiegannon.com/ and email is [email protected].