SPLOST II Resident Review Committee Meeting

The next SPLOST II Resident Review Committee meeting is scheduled for August 27th, 2026, at 6:30pm. We are meeting at 178 Sams Street in Decatur.

This month's meeting focuses on Public Safety. Committee members will hear directly from Public Safety, Fire Rescue, Police, and Animal Services leadership on how SPLOST II investments are being used to improve facilities that support emergency response, public safety operations, and essential county services.

The discussion will examine both current projects and the long-term planning that guides future investments. Department leaders will explain how projects were prioritized, what challenges remain, and how these investments are expected to improve service for residents over the coming years.

Meeting Format

6:30 – 7:00
Call to Order and Committee Business

7:00 – 7:45
Presentation: Public Safety

• Chief Darnell D. Fullum, Public Safety
• Interim Chief Melvin K. Carter, Fire Rescue
• Chief Gregory Padrick, Police
• Director Natasha Wallen, Animal Services

7:45 – 8:00
Committee Questions and Discussion

8:00 – 8:20
Public Comment

Public Safety Under SPLOST II

The SPLOST II referendum allocates $91.8 million for Public Safety projects supporting Fire Rescue, Police, courts, detention planning, and Animal Services. As of May 31, 2026, approximately $15.6 million has been authorized, with projects advancing through planning, design, procurement, and construction.

This meeting will provide an overview of the County's Public Safety capital strategy and explain how individual projects support departmental operations while addressing long-term infrastructure needs.

Current Public Safety Projects

Committee members will receive updates on projects currently underway, including:

• Fire Stations 18, 19, and 20 Design
• DeKalb East Police Precinct (Bruce Street) HVAC, Roof Repairs, and Infrastructure Upgrades
• Animal Shelter
• Detention Facility Planning

These projects represent the current Public Safety investments that have been approved by the Board of Commissioners and are moving through the County's capital delivery process. Committee members will hear why these projects were prioritized, their current status, and how they support future service delivery.

Topics of Discussion

The committee has asked department leadership to discuss both the strategic and operational aspects of the Public Safety program.

Topics include:

• The County's overall Public Safety capital strategy.
• How SPLOST-funded facilities support departmental missions.
• The current condition of Fire Rescue, Police, and Animal Services facilities.
• The process used to prioritize Public Safety projects.
• Future infrastructure needs beyond the current authorized projects.
• How completed projects are expected to improve operations and public service.
• The performance measures departments will use to evaluate long-term success.

Committee members will also ask questions about project prioritization, remaining infrastructure needs, and how departments measure the effectiveness of capital investments.

Participation

Resident participation is an important part of the committee's work. It is why I made this website... To reach out to you the tax payer of Deklab.

This meeting provides an opportunity to hear directly from Public Safety leadership, ask questions about current capital projects, and better understand how SPLOST II funding is supporting County infrastructure.

The committee's oversight is strengthened by public participation and the information shared by County departments. Those discussions help the committee evaluate project delivery, monitor progress, and provide informed feedback to County leadership and the Board of Commissioners.