Midnight ribbon-cutting marks Dunwoody cityhood

The city of Dunwoody became official at midnight Monday, but residents might not be able to tell at first. In fact, the most noticeable change will be a community phone line.

A vendor will hire several people to man the phones, answering questions and helping coordinate services for Georgia’s newest city. But at least through December, services such as police protection and water service will continue to be provided by DeKalb County.

“People knew we couldn’t flip a switch on Dec. 1 and have a police department and fully functioning city,” Councilman Tom Taylor said.

But they’re coming as close as they can.

The City Council met just after midnight to mark the milestone with a ribbon cutting. City hall is opening for the first time at 8 a.m.

Last week, the directory of the building — in neighboring Sandy Springs — that will temporarily house the new Dunwoody city offices still said Alliance Surgery was in Suite 1250. But the suite’s double glass doors, both emblazoned with large black city of Dunwoody logos, left no question about the new tenants.

Inside, technicians tested computer servers, and last preparations were being made for dry runs of the telephone and computer systems and a dress rehearsal of phone answering protocol. Desks for everyone from the receptionist to the city manager sat ready for their workers with computers and office supplies in place.

City leaders have yet to decide how to offer some city services. They have until Dec. 31 to finalize negotiations with the county, since Dunwoody residents have already paid for a full year of county services through their tax bills.

City officials last week approved a one-year agreement with DeKalb County for it to continue providing water and sewer service, fire protection and 911 response. The agreement is renewable for 50 years and can be canceled by either side with six months’ notice, city attorney Brian Anderson said.

The biggest sticking point has been police. Those in the negotiations said the county wants $500,000 a month to provide protection — which would cost the city at least $1 million more than it has budgeted for a year of police service.

The city is also weighing an offer for the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department to take over patrols for about $1.3 million a year. Or the city could work out deals for police service with two area municipalities.

Council members have said they want to ramp up their own department, tentatively by April, though no start date has been set.

“We are trying to expedite everything but make sure we do it all correctly,” Shortal said.

The city has been operating on a tight schedule. It has been just four months since voters chose cityhood and not yet 10 weeks since city leaders were elected.

Still, some major steps have been taken.

• A raft of nuts-and-bolts ordinances have been adopted, governing issues such as ethics and meeting schedules.

• A vendor was hired to handle notices and collection of liquor license fees, among the first income sources for the city.

• Job descriptions for city clerk, court clerk, police chief and finance director have been posted and interviews set up.

• Warren Hutmacher, hired to be the first city manager, began work Nov. 17.

“It has been fast and furious,” Mayor Ken Wright said. “But there are many variables that haven’t played out yet. You’re looking at a busy December.”

A city committee has finished selecting vendors to oversee critical city business.

Council members last week approved a notice of intent for Calvin, Giordano and Associates Inc. to run finance and administration. This group is responsible for getting the city’s call center going. Other vendors approved are Clark Patterson Lee for community development and Lowe Engineers for public works.

In the meantime, workers are readying the dozen or so offices that will make up the temporary City Hall. The 12th-floor offices at 400 Northridge Road sit across the hall from those of Boyken International, a consulting firm that is helping with the start-up of the city.

Residents can also contact officials at the city Web site, designed by resident Jay Kapp, at www.dunwoodyga.gov.

“It might not be recognizable from the street, but a lot is going on,” Wright said. “It’s just that there is a lot more that needs to be done.”

—The Associated Press contributed to this article.