County Manager Dick Anderson Greets Employees Reporting for Duty

County Manager Dick Anderson greets
employees with Fulton County
Personnel Director, Kenneth Hermon. 

County Manager Dick Anderson recently spent time greeting employees as they arrived at the Fulton County Government Center for work.  Employees enjoyed having the opportunity to meet the new County Manager.  Anderson was eager to get to know employees at all levels of the organization and the departments they represent. 

For a photo gallery of yesterday's meet and greet, visit our Facebook Photo Album. 

Anderson will meet and greet again Thursday, March 26, this time at Fulton County Courthouse Complex. 

Fulton Firefighters are Reading Buddies to Elementary School Second Graders

Have you thought lately about the many ways public safety professionals impact their communities beyond performance of their typical duties? One example is provided by some of the uniformed men and women of Fulton County Fire Rescue Department, who participate in the “Reading Buddies” program at Stonewall Tell Elementary School. Firefighters of the A, B, and C shifts at Fire Station #3 have regularly given of their time and energy over the past four years in support of this program.

Given the importance of early reading skills for success in school and life-long learning in general, public safety members are uniquely positioned to lend support to local school curriculums by capitalizing on their influence to positively impact young readers. Captain James Luster says his experience as a Reading Buddy makes him feel as though he is a part of the solution versus being a part of the problem, and that we should all want to invest in our future, which are the children.

The Reading Buddies program is designed to target 2nd grade readers who might benefit most from supplemental attention. As part of the classroom curriculum, teachers designate students for participation and volunteers sit with them each week for 30 minutes to actively listen. 

“I truly believe in the saying 'it takes a village' and often reflect on the value of the adults who mentored me and how a lot of the things they taught me, I continue to apply today,” says Captain Luster. “As a Reading Buddy, it’s nice to see that light bulb come on when they are able to pronounce words that they were not able to before.”

Retired Fulton County Commissioner Tom Lowe Passes Away at 86

It is with sadness that we announce that retired Fulton County Commissioner Tom Lowe passed away today at age 86.  Commissioner Lowe was the longest-serving commissioner in Fulton County history, and was one of the longest-serving county commissioners in the state of Georgia.

Commissioner Lowe was first elected to the Board of Commissioners in 1974 and retired on December 31, 2014 after serving the citizens of Fulton County for 40 years. 

Lowe was known among his colleagues and staff for his vast institutional knowledge and his sense of humor.  He was a staunch supporter of Grady Hospital and consistently advocated for Grady funding.  He served on the Fulton County Recreation Authority, the Atlanta-Fulton County Water Resources Commission, and the Fulton County Pension Board.  Read more

Fulton County Board of Commissioners Appoints Richard “Dick” Anderson as County Manager

On Wednesday, March 4, 2015, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to appoint Mr. Richard “Dick” Anderson as County Manager.  The Board identified Anderson as the sole finalist for the position after an extensive search.

Anderson began work, Thursday, March 5, leading Fulton County’s approximately 5,000 employees in service to nearly 1 million residents.  He brings to this position an extensive career in executive leadership in both the public and private sectors.  Notably, Anderson achieved a distinguished career in telecommunications, rising from account executive to Vice Chairman of BellSouth and then Group President for AT&T, where he was responsible for a $30 billion business serving global business clients.

“We are thrilled to bring Mr. Anderson to Fulton County Government,” said Chairman John H. Eaves. “His credentials are exemplary. We believe our employees and citizens will benefit from Mr. Anderson’s leadership and commitment to public service.”

"I believe Fulton County is at an inflection point and that by focusing on customer service, efficient operations and high impact priorities we can be the best managed county in Georgia. Our citizens deserve nothing less,” said Anderson.

Get Social with Fulton County Government

Are you following Fulton County on Twitter or Instagram?  Do you like us on Facebook?  How about looking through our photo galleries on Pinterest?  Well, we want to connect with you! Be sure to connect with us on all our social media sites and be sure to check back here regularly for updates and feature stories about the County programs and services. 

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Help Us Prepare for the Future of Metro Atlanta

What does the future of Metro Atlanta look like? Take this survey, open through the end of March, to let your regional elected officials know what you think should be in The Region’s Plan!  

www.atlantaregional.com/theregionsplansurvey 

How could faster, better technology impact greater Atlanta over the next 25 years? Take this survey to influence the policies adopted by The Region’s Plan! Take this survey to influence the policies adopted by The Region’s Plan!

Fulton County Police Detective Terence Green Killed in Line of Duty

Fulton County Police Detective Terence Green was killed in the line of duty on Wednesday, March 4, 2015. Detective Green served the citizens of Fulton County with distinction for nearly 22 years as a member of the Fulton County Police Department. As a veteran officer Detective Green served in numerous divisions within the Police Department, and had many friends and colleagues throughout the law enforcement community and the Fulton County family. Detective Green is survived by his parents, his four sons, and other family members.

Citizens’ University to Kick Off for 11th Consecutive Year

Fulton County’s Citizens’ University begins April 2, 2015 for the 11th consecutive year. The twelve-week intensive training program provides citizens with a close-up view of how their local government works.

Participants can gain a better understanding of County government, the available services and the role of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners.

Citizens’ University students learn how laws are proposed, passed and amended and they personally interact with key management personnel. Participants are urged to take what they learn back to their communities to strengthen ties between communities and their government and encourage more collaboration to enhance the quality of life in Fulton County.

The registration fee is $40 and class size is limited to 30 citizens. All classes begin at 6:00 p.m. and run from Thursday April 2, 2015 through Thursday, June 11, 2015 with a graduation ceremony on Thursday, June 18, 2015. The deadline for class registration is Wednesday, March 25, 2015.

To receive more information or obtain a Citizens’ University application, citizens may email Citizens.University@fultoncountyga.gov or call 404-612-8300.