Governor Perdue Declares State of Emergency for Cherokee County

Today(May 21, 2008) Governor Sonny Perdue issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency for Cherokee County after the area was struck by a tornado, high winds and hail last night. Governor Perdue toured damaged areas in Cherokee County this afternoon.

“I am always amazed at the extensive damage caused by these storms, but we are proud to see our communities pull together as neighbors help neighbors recover from this type of situation,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “GEMA will continue to work with our local and federal partners as they assess the recovery effort.”

The executive order allows for state resources to be available to local governments for response and recovery activities, and calls for the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) to activate the state’s Emergency Operations Plan. It also allows for joint local, state and federal assessment teams to survey the affected areas and allows for state resources to assist with debris removal. The executive order also enacts the state’s price gouging statute.
GEMA will continue to monitor the situation and provide any necessary assistance requested by the affected county.

GEMA is the lead state agency for coordination of emergency and disaster response activities. For more emergency information and updates, contact GEMA at 1-800-TRY-GEMA (1-800-879-4362) or visit www.gema.ga.gov.

The text of Governor Perdue’s executive order is below:

Whereas: On May 20, 2008, a severe weather system moved into the State of Georgia producing severe thunderstorms resulting in excessive rain, hail and tornadoes which caused extensive damage in Cherokee County; and

Whereas: The assistance of the government of the State of Georgia is necessary to protect the public health, preserve the public safety, keep property damage to a minimum, and restore the social and economic welfare of these counties; and

Whereas: In light of these circumstances the exercise of the authority vested n the Governor pursuant to Article 3, Section 38-3-51, of the Georgia Emergency Management Act of 1981, as amended, is warranted to issue reasonable orders, rules and regulations as are deemed necessary to preserve public health, safety and welfare, and to bring the emergency situation under control within the acknowledged limitations of the powers of the Governor.

Now, therefore, pursuant to the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Georgia, it is hereby

Ordered: That a State of Emergency exists in Cherokee County.

It is further

Ordered: That personnel and equipment resources of the State of Georgia be made available to assist in the response and recovery activities currently being undertaken in Cherokee County and that the Georgia Emergency Management Agency activate the Georgia Emergency Operations Plan.

This 21st day of May, 2008.

Governor Sonny Perdue

Governor Perdue Announces Record Growth for Georgia’s Ports

Governor Sonny Perdue announced today (May 16, 2008) the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) handled a total of more than 21.4 million tons of cargo for all terminal facilities, including Bainbridge, Brunswick, Columbus and Savannah in the first 10 months of fiscal year 2008 (July 2007 – April 2008), a 20.6-percent increase, putting the Authority on track to record its most successful year.

“Georgia’s ports are dynamic economic engines that continue to thrive even during tough economic times,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “The completion of the Container Berth 8 and 9 project and the addition of four new cranes in Savannah as well as the expansion of the grain and rail facilities in Brunswick have sharpened Georgia’s advantages over its competitors.”

The Port of Savannah is now the fourth busiest and fastest growing container terminal in the United States. The Garden City Terminal in Savannah is also poised to post a record-breaking year with more than 2.2 million Twenty foot Equivalent Unit containers (TEUs) handled in the first 10 months of FY08, a 19-percent increase compared with the previous year.

The Port of Brunswick has experienced unprecedented growth in the movement of agricultural products so far this fiscal year. The Colonel’s Island Terminal in Brunswick has handled 684,894 tons of bulk commodities from July 2007 to April 2008, a 98.5 percent increase compared with the previous year.

“These record setting tonnage and container totals are a tribute to Governor Perdue’s leadership, the support of the state leadership and the hard work of the men and women of the Georgia Ports Authority,” said Steve Green, GPA’s Chairman of the Board.

Perdue added that the GPA has managed to increase tonnage and capacity while reducing its reliance on diesel. “Several years ago the GPA launched a program that would eventually transfer its massive ship-to-shore cranes from diesel to electric,” said Governor Perdue.

“Today GPA operates 17 post panamax cranes powered solely by electric power, which will conserve more than 1.5 million gallons of diesel fuel every year and prevent the release of hundreds of tons of nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and particulate matter into Georgia’s air.”

“You can count on more great things from the GPA as an extensive program of expansion and construction projects are commenced and completed in accordance with our Focus 2015 Master Plan,” said GPA Executive Director Doug J. Marchand. “The Savannah Harbor Expansion Project which will deepen the harbor to as much as 48 feet is the GPA’s number one infrastructure priority and critical to the continued success of Georgia’s ports.”

Georgia’s deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 286,476 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $14.9 billion in income, $55.8 billion in revenue and $2.8 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia’s thriving economy.

City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs Public Art Program Announces “A (new) Genre Landscape”

What happens when a public park becomes an artist studio? Twelve Atlanta artists will explore new ways of working with local communities through the creation of temporary site-specific "artscapes". Sponsored by the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs Public Art Program (OCA/PAP), A (new) Genre Landscape Temporary Public Art Project will take place in twelve Atlanta parks from May 31th through the summer of 2008.

The multi-disciplined contemporary public art of twelve Atlanta artists respond to a curatorial framework developed by project curator, Stuart Keeler. Stuart Keeler’s curatorial vision complements the OCA/PAP’s planning goal to invigorate and reconnect the city’s diverse neighborhoods and communities, as well as broaden accepted ideas of “public art” by asking the question: Can the networks, systems and fields of the "public park” create a new social landscape? Atlanta artists will examine new contexts of working with local communities through the creation of digital, sound, video and other experimental works.

The featured artists: Danielle Roney, Shiela Pree Bright, Avantika Bawa, Joseph Peragine, Pam Longobardi, and Craig Dongoski, Michael Reese, Last Stand Collaborative: Martha Whittington, Raymondo, Julie Newton, Coby Cranman, Tristan Al-Haddad, Matt Haffner, Ruth Stanford, Angus Galloway, and Nat Slaughter range from internationally recognized to emerging artists; from video and performing to visual artists. Talent, creativity and commitment to the collaborative process are things these diverse artists share. This innovative exhibition, A (new) Genre Landscape will offer fresh, dynamic and meaningful ways that art and non-arts sectors can creatively work together in the development of temporary site-specific artworks in Atlanta Parks. The twelve selected parks are located in the Southwest, Southeast, Northwest and Northeast City of Atlanta Park districts.

A (new) Genre Landscape, Temporary Public Art project is made possible by Opportunity Bond Park Initiative Funding. The City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA), a division of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, was established in 1974 to encourage and support Atlanta's cultural resources. The Office seeks to support programs that educate and expose the public to a rich and diverse range of cultural expression and aspires to make arts available to everyone. For more information, contact Camille Russell Love, Director, at 404-817-7957 or visit our website at www.ocaatlanta.com

Ackerman Security Systems Named Top Security Company in the Country

Ackerman Security Systems has been named ‘Dealer of the Year’ by Security Distributing and Marketing (SDM) magazine. Ackerman Security is the first Georgia company to receive the award, which is heralded as the pinnacle of success among electronic security companies nationwide.

“Ackerman Security Systems is devoted to providing the best home and business security systems available through innovation and superior customer service,” said Bruce Turry, president of Ackerman Security Systems. “The Dealer of the Year award is a great honor for everyone at Ackerman and for Atlanta as a whole because we’re a locally owned and operated business that has attained a uniquely superior national reputation.”

The company’s false-alarm prevention program is a key reason for accolades from its own industry. Since 2004, Ackerman Security’s False Alarm Prevention Program has reduced false alarm dispatches by 32-percent. The program includes comprehensive training for Ackerman customers, verification calls before dispatching first responders, and follow-up service for customers who experience two or more false alarms in a 60-day period.

"Never underestimate the value of your monitoring service,” said Jim Callahan, vice president of Ackerman Security Systems. “That’s why Ackerman has one of the most technologically advanced and currently certified central monitoring stations in Atlanta. We only monitor for our clients, and our central monitoring station is staffed only by Ackerman personnel."

Another primary reason for the award is Ackerman’s customer service. Every inbound telephone call, regardless of time or day, is answered by a customer service representative in Atlanta who is empowered to process and resolve any request without having to transfer the call to another department, while a dedicated quality assurance manager inspects newly installed systems, oversees customer satisfaction calls and develops training programs based on customer feedback.

“Our customers come first and we take their needs and concerns very seriously,” said Turry. “When somebody calls, we’re here for them. Our monitoring staff in Atlanta is trained to take very good care of our clients. The results of those efforts are seen in very high ratings for customer satisfaction and employee performance.”

“Ackerman Security won the Dealer of the Year Award for its superior marketing, sales and recurring revenue growth, false alarm prevention, customer service, and community involvement,” said Laura Stepanek, editor of SDM magazine, a leading security industry publication. “The Dealer of the Year has been awarded by SDM since 1980, and is one of the most prestigious awards in the security industry."

Ackerman Security was the first to introduce a series of new technologies and services to Atlanta. These advancements include being the first to offer a $1,500 Insurance Deductible Program, Radio Monitoring in case telephone lines are cut or are inoperative, U.L. (Underwriters Laboratory) certification for residential installations, yard signs with emergency locator numbers as a first line of defense against intruders and to enable quicker response by first responders.

The company also provides interactive remote video systems where customers can view distant locations from their desktop or laptop computers without the need for special equipment.

The company’s focus on customer care and innovative services has resulted in tremendous growth as represented by more than 40,000 clients nationwide and billions of dollars in assets protected. Ackerman Security increased its number of residential customers by 27-percent from 2004-2005 and 34-percent from 2005-2006, and is on track to repeat with a similar performance for 2006-2007. Ackerman’s commercial division also has doubled its client base in each of the last two years, including chain account clients nationwide.

Callahan is quick to point out that being part of the community is integral to the company’s culture.

“How can you effectively serve your community if you’re not an active part of your community,” said Callahan. “We’re involved with a lot of great organizations like Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army, Goodwill Industries, and the March of Dimes Foundation. It’s our responsibility as a good corporate citizen.”

Contributions to local police departments include the donation of demonstration kits for Crime Prevention Officers who work with homeowners and small business owners in Neighborhood Watch and Community Oriented Police Service (COPS) programs. Ackerman also hosts Continuing Education Unit (CEU) courses, including one on False Alarm Reduction Campaigns, which are attended by several metro Atlanta police departments.

“The combination of satisfied customers who have helped to spread the word about Ackerman Security, a superbly trained and dedicated staff, and new technologies that enable us to always improve the service we provide are all reasons for our growth and reputation in the industry,” said Turry. “We’re very proud of what we’ve been able to attain, and the valuable services we provide to our clients.”