Jimmy's Chamblee Recap - Week of June 23, 2025

Jimmy Furst
Jul 1
5 min read

Catch up on all things Chamblee!

The Locomotive - One Big Thing:

July 4 Concert: Know Before You Go

Chamblee's premier concert is here! Celebrate our country's independence with us on Friday, July 4, with spectacular performances and a breathtaking fireworks show!

Friday, July 4, 2025 @ 6:00 p.m.
Fireworks will start at 9:00 p.m.
Chamblee City Hall, 3518 Broad Street

Parking will be available at Winter Construction (5616 Peachtree Road) and Chamblee Middle School (3601 Sexton Woods Drive). If parked at Chamblee Middle School, a shuttle will transport attendees to City Hall from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Broad Street, Ingersoll Rand Drive, and Irvindale Way will be closed from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Coolers must be smaller than 30 quarts
All outside alcoholic beverages are prohibited
No Golf Carts/ Motorized Vehicles (Wheelchairs allowed)
No consumer fireworks

Left the Station - This Past Week's Events:

June 25: Chamblee Police's Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting

During the Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting, Lt. Oliver Dukes was named Officer of the Month for June.

Lt. Dukes was assigned as the Commander of the Neighborhood Resource Unit (NRU) on February 23, 2025. The NRU includes community engagement, neighborhood outreach, traffic enforcement, proactive enforcement, bike and foot patrol, special events response, and other assignments delegated by the Chief of Police and Command Staff. In addition to being the NRU Commander, Lt. Dukes serves as the Department's Field Training Coordinator, overseeing the training of new officers as well as the direct supervisor of the Department's Training Coordinator and Department part-time officers.

Since his first day, Lt. Dukes has hit the ground running. He quickly learned the intricacies of the NRU, met with community and business leaders, and attended various meetings regarding public safety outreach. He also reorganized priorities and capabilities of the NRU, giving each member of the team purpose and direction. Lt. Dukes has embraced and thrived in his new position.

One of the most important projects the Department participates in each year is National Night Out. Lt. Dukes has provided leadership to his team, created a game plan, worked with community partners, and set up contingency plans for this event.

Lt. Dukes holds the NRU to the highest standards while also being fair and giving his staff room to grow, be creative, and reward them for their hard work. Lt. Dukes is commended for his dedication and duty. A job well done, Lt. Dukes!

June 25: Millage Rate Public Hearings

I'm proud to announce that we have maintained the Millage Rate at 6.25 mills for the sixth consecutive year! For more information on this subject, please click here.

Here in Chamblee, about 70% of the city’s tax base comes from commercial properties, including apartments.

As a homeowner, you have access to two tax exemptions that commercial and rental properties don’t qualify for:

A 100% exemption for seniors and disabled residential homeowners
A homestead exemption for owner-occupied homes

You can find more information about these exemptions here.

And good news: if your home’s value stayed the same or went down, your city taxes will either stay the same or decrease this year.

June 26: Public Art Commission's June Meeting

This meeting was canceled due to a lack of a quorum.

June 27-28: The International Night Market

What an amazing event, rain and all! Huge thanks to everyone who came out to enjoy the food, drinks, and fun. This was a city-sponsored event, and I was proud to join Councilmembers Vieth and Stovall on Saturday to present a check to INM for $15,000.

We moved this event to June to align with National Immigrant Heritage Month. We celebrated the rich cultural diversity and the many contributions immigrants have made to Chamblee, both in the past and today.

At the Station - Ongoing Events in Chamblee:

New Business Alert: Issac's Sandlot

Issac's Sandlot is now open, and I had the pleasure of attending the ribbon cutting last week. From their website: Isaac's Sandlot features a gigantic indoor sandbox filled with Tonka trucks, ride-on excavators, buried treasures, and more—perfect for sparking creativity and adventure!

You can learn more about their business, including their address, hours, and pricing, by clicking here.

June 19-July 4: National Community Survey

Chamblee, we need your input!   The Open Participation Survey Link for the National Community Survey is now live! If you didn't receive a survey in the mail, now is the time to give your feedback. Tell us your thoughts on housing, safety, development, government services, and more!

The survey is open now through July 4, 2025. CLICK HERE to have your say!   Thank you for helping to create a better community for all!

New Rail Trail Segment

The Keswick Park Trail Spur, which will extend from the Keswick softball field to Sexton Woods Drive, is expected to be completed by August. The photo below was taken on July 1, and I’ll be sharing weekly updates so residents can track progress. Please note that weather conditions may affect the timeline.

Arriving Soon - Upcoming Events in Chamblee:

August 1: Chamblee Summer Concert Series Finale

Our season finale will be held on Friday, August 1st, with a high-energy performance by Uptown Funk: Tribute to Bruno Mars. Join us for dancing and community spirit as we say farewell to the summer in style!

Don’t miss out on the hottest free summer concert series in town! The concerts start at 6:30 p.m. on the greenspace of Chamblee City Hall, 3518 Broad Street, Chamblee, GA 30341. Join family, friends, and neighbors for an unforgettable summer of music, laughter, food, and fun! VIP tables and sponsorships are available by contacting Katie Sears at ksears@chambleega.gov or by visiting www.chambleerocks.net

July 4: Jimmy's Office Hours

Due to the holiday, I won't be holding office hours this week, and they will return next week!

July 7: Peachtree Boulevard Water Transmission Main Replacement Project

Efforts to improve water service capacity throughout DeKalb County will continue in July with the launch of the Peachtree Boulevard Water Transmission Main Replacement Project. Crews will replace approximately 11,000 linear feet of an existing 30-inch carbon steel main with a 36-inch Ductile Iron main. Crews will also remove the 8-inch and 6-inch pipes running alongside the 30-inch and replace them with a 12-inch pipe.

The timeline for this project is three years. Work will begin on Malone Drive, the southern end of the project. Crews will then move to the northbound lane of Peachtree Boulevard and continue north until completion at Carver Drive.

For more information, click here.

July 9: Midyear Town Hall Meeting

August 5: National Night Out

November 4: Chamblee Municipal Elections

In case you missed it, I announced my candidacy for re-election to the Chamblee City Council At-Large Seat! Serving our vibrant community since January 2022 has been an honor, and I am eager to continue working together to build a sustainable and prosperous future for Chamblee. My commitment to these core issues remains steadfast. I will continue to:

Advocate for sustainable development along with right-sized growth that aligns with our community's values.
Implement innovative environmental policies to combat climate change locally.
Enhance the quality of life by focusing on infrastructure, parks, and community engagement.

I will continue to work hard for you, and I hope I have earned your support!

The Caboose

I would love to hear your questions, comments, or concerns.

Email: Jfurst@chambleega.gov

Mobile: 770-901-1121 The legal stuff: The views expressed represent the views of the author and may not reflect the views of the Chamblee City Council. Comments posted in response to a Councilmember-initiated communication may be subject to public disclosure under the Open Records Act. If you are a resident of Chamblee and would like to discuss city business, please go to chambleega.gov or contact me at the email above.