City approves agreements to purchase remainder of Brookhaven Park for $1
Brookhaven, GA, April 26, 2022 – During it’s regular business meeting on April 26, the City of Brookhaven approved a settlement and intergovernmental agreement with DeKalb County that transfers the disputed and contested eastern or front (part physically abutting Peachtree Road) portion of the Park to the City of Brookhaven for $1. The DeKalb County Commission approved the settlement and intergovernmental agreement in its meeting earlier in the day. This Agreement ends the protracted litigation between the City and the County over the land and whether the City could purchase the property for $100 per acre, pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 36-31-11.1, or it had to pay fair market value for the property as the County contended.
Additionally, in a demonstration of the spirit of cooperation the City hopes to continue with the County, the City has encumbered and restricted $1,600,000 in a capital improvement project account that will be contributed to the County to help fund the construction of a brand new state of the art library in the City of Brookhaven. These funds are not from the Parks Bond approved by the voters in 2018, but are reserve funds held from the General Fund in the prudent use of the people’s money. These funds will be held by the City until such time as the County begins construction on a new library within Brookhaven’s city limits.
District 3 Councilmember Madeleine Simmons, in whose district the park lies, was ecstatic over the resolution of this dispute and the new partnership with the County. “We have tried so many times to get this resolved,” she said. “It is unfortunate that we had to sue the County to get any movement, but I truly enjoyed working with our DeKalb County Commissioners to reach a beneficial resolution for all residents. Our community deserves a beautiful park in this location and what better way to celebrate the City’s 10th birthday in December than to have this behind us and construction underway.”
City Manager Christian Sigman offered, “The design documents are being completed and we plan to have a package available for bid by qualified contractors before Summer begins.”
“This is a win-win. It’s a win for the City and a win for the residents.” says Mayor John Ernst, “A lot of work has gone into this and I thank everyone at the City and DeKalb County for making this possible.”
Brookhaven Park is the site of the Community Service Board which will continue its operation pursuant to its lease agreement with DeKalb County. The park will be improved as decided in the 2018 Brookhaven Park Master Plan, which does not include a city hall or any other municipal buildings.
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