The Civic League for Regional Atlanta

With her first question - “Do you all talk to each other?” - the moderator got right to the heart of the matter. There were a few chuckles and a certain amount of eye rolling among the six county commissioners participating in the Neighborhood Summit’s panel discussion, suggesting that perhaps this was not the first time they had heard that question.

But as they took turns responding, the answer was not only “yes,” but also “more and better than ever.” The commissioners also offered examples of ways in which they all worked together through ARC - approving the regional transportation plan, Concept 3, for instance - and ways counties with shared concerns can work closely together beyond the bounds of ARC - like Fulton and DeKalb counties’ joint task forces on MARTA and Grady Hospital.

In addition to Olens, the panel included Larry Johnson, DeKalb County; Shirley Lasseter, Gwinnett County; Kelly Robinson, Douglas County; John Eaves, Fulton County and Sonna Singleton, Clayton County.