A.M. ATL: 💸 Water bill whiplash

Morning, y’all! Expect a steady dose of rain (but high temperatures around 60!) to welcome you back from the weekend.

Otherwise, we’ve got the latest on Atlanta’s role in the search for an assassin, immigrants preparing for a second Trump administration and the death of a local movie studio leader. Plus, the winner of our Falcons ticket giveaway!

But first: water pipes and pocketbooks.

***

GOING UP (AND UP)

Credit: Ben Gray for the AJC

Credit: Ben Gray for the AJC

Holy growing water bills, Batman.

We’re previously reported on outgoing DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond and his pitch to raise residents’ water and sewer rates by about 19% over the next three years.

A pocketbook bummer, no doubt — but a veritable steal when compared to the new plan under county commission consideration.

Yowza! And yes, that’s every month.

Why though?

You’ve not doubt heard plenty about the city of Atlanta’s ancient and undermaintained water system. DeKalb’s in dire infrastructure straits, too.

Both the water and sewer systems went decades without proper upgrades. The county’s made notable progress on the sewer front in recent years (thanks to a new consent decree with federal environmental regulators), but is really only beginning to address water pipes.

While federal grants are a possibility, most of that money’s gonna have to come from folks like you and me — and the county’s consultant says even the bigger proposed billing increases wouldn’t cover everything.

Thurmond, the term-limited CEO, resisted earlier price hikes until the county could deliver a reasonable level of reliable service.

Admirable? Yes. But a contributor to the current rock-and-a-hard-place situation, too.

Commissioners (who, I should point out, do not seem thrilled about things!) could vote on the increase as soon as Tuesday.

Not signed up yet? What’re you waiting for? Get A.M. ATL in your inbox each weekday morning. And keep scrolling for more news.

***

THE WEEK AHEAD

Credit: Robb Cohen for the AJC

Credit: Robb Cohen for the AJC

🎶 Today: R&B superstar Usher begins a three-night run of concerts at State Farm Arena.

📈 Tuesday: The aforementioned vote on DeKalb County water and sewer rates could take place. Watch here starting at 9 a.m.

🎸 Wednesday: Mike Cooley of Drive-By Truckers plays his first of two shows at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur. The Hawks (who lost their six-game winning streak last night) visit the Knicks for NBA Cup action.

🦸‍♀️ Thursday: Country groups Sugarland and Little Big Town rock Duluth’s Gas South Arena in Duluth. Anime Weekend Atlanta starts at the Georgia World Congress Center.

🐈‍⬛ Friday: Friday the 13th. Good luck out there.

***

FEARING THE FUTURE

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC

As the second Donald Trump administration rapidly approaches, immigrants in Georgia continue preparing for the worst — while advocates urge parents to make plans for their children in case they’re separated.

“We think that what’s coming is really big, and that one nonprofit, or two, or 10 won’t be able to cope,” one leader said. “We’ll need the community itself to join in this effort.”

***

THE SEARCH CONTINUES

The New York Police Department says officers are on the ground in Atlanta as the search for the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson continues.

***

CRIME WATCH

» The GBI made another arrest tied to the South Georgia funeral home where officials found 18 decomposing bodies earlier this year.

» DeKalb County police believe a murder-suicide at an apartment near Flat Shoals Road ended the lives of five people, including 1- and 5-year-old children.

***

LAKESIDE LESSONS

Credit: Courtesy photo

Credit: Courtesy photo

Lakeside High student Sophia Lekiachvili died earlier this year in a high-speed crash, a passenger in a car driven by an allegedly intoxicated classmate. Yet another classmate’s parents now stand criminally accused of providing that alcohol.

***

‘A KIND SOUL’

Steve Mensch, the president of Atlanta’s Tyler Perry Studios, died over the weekend in a Florida plane crash. Perry called him “a kind soul and a great leader.”

***

FALLING FAST

Can you guess how the Falcons fared Sunday in Minnesota, based on the photo above?

I’ll tell ya either way: They logged their fourth straight loss, this one an unpleasant 42-21 affair that dropped them out of the division lead.

***

ON A HAPPIER NOTE …

I’ve chosen a winner for our Dec. 22 Falcons ticket giveaway!

I loved all three dozen or so entries, including Fredreka reminding me how Falcons are like opossums (they get killed on the road and play dead at home) and Sahera’s galaxy brain meme granting A.M. ATL citywide newsgathering supremacy.

But I have to go with Linda in Covington. Her husband Walter is a decades-long diehard who’s never been to a game.

***

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

» Cases claiming Georgia Power’s coal ash caused health problems resolved

» Coca-Cola set big plastic pollution and climate goals. Now it’s backtracking

» Ex-Woodstock cop sentenced to community service in fatal shooting

» Mellow Mushroom opens new prototype on the Beltline

» Justin Farmer on WSB departure: ‘I need to take this leap for me’

***

ON THIS DATE

Dec. 9, 1992

While U.S. Marines stormed Somalia, fans of the British royals received some shocking news: Princess Diana and husband Charles (now the king!) were separating.

“This decision has been reached amicably, and they will both continue to participate fully in the upbringing of their children,” Prime Minister John Major announced.

Credit: File photo

Credit: File photo

***

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC

AJC photographer Arvin Temkar recently caught Mays High School’s Jalen Smallwood (center) being embraced by his mother and grandmother after learning he earned early admission to Georgia Tech.

***