Government and Utilities

Government structure

The Virginia-Highland is one of 242 officially recognized neighborhoods of Atlanta, Georgia.

 

The Virginia-Highland and surrounding neighborhoods

County: Virginia-Highland is almost entirely in Fulton County, county information at www.co.fulton.ga.us. Unincorporated DeKalb County borders part of Virginia-Highland on the east. DeKalb government information: (404) 371-2000, www.co.dekalb.ga.us

A TO Z OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES AND UTILITIES

Animal services

Fulton County Animal Services (404) 613-0358 www.bhvf.org (operated by Barking Hound Village Foundation) strays, suspected rabies, spay/neuter program, adoptions, etc.

Cable and subscription TV

Comcast, AT&T U-verse (some areas), and satellite providers

City council

Atlanta City Council – main phone: (404) 330-6030, citycouncil.atlantaga.gov

Crime stats

In addition to VHCA’s own Safety Team newsletters:

Discussion board (ListServ)

VHLIST, a Yahoo! Group; there is also a NextDoor group.
The Virginia-Highland Morningside Parent Association also has a very active ListServ restricted to members.

Dogs (lost)

See “Pets (lost)”, below

Electronics registration program (anti-theft)

You can register your home electronics with the Fulton County D.A.’s office for a safe record in case of theft or loss. Details are at www.fultonda.org You can access the registration form by clicking on “Download the Electronics Registration Form” box. This is a good way to force you to write down serial, model numbers, etc.

Fire

  • Atlanta Fire Department (call 911 for emergency)
  • Headquarters: 226 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30306 Information: (404) 546-7000
  • Fire Chief Kelvin J. Cochran, [email protected]
  • Station 19 – 1063 N. Highland Avenue (404) 853-3413 http://www.vhfirecompany.com/

Gas (natural gas)

Multiple companies compete from which to choose

Graffiti

Photograph graffiti and report it by emailing: [email protected], remembering to include the location and date. See also our extensive Graffiti Removal A-B-C’s.

Library

Atlanta Fulton Library, Ponce de Leon Branch, 980 Ponce de Leon Ave.

Neighborhoods (surrounding)

Surrounding neighborhood associations include:

News

Be sure to sign up for email updates from VHCA and also join the neighborhood watch, which provides separate email updates on safety. Other local news sources include Virginia-Highland/Druid Hills Patch, part of the metro- and nationwide network of Patch news sites, and Virginia-Highland Connect, a local blog.

NPU

Virginia-Highland is in NPU “F”, together with Morningside/Lenox Park, Piedmont Heights, Lindridge/Martin Manor, and Armour Circle. (What is an NPU?)

Parking

ParkAtlanta – Main phone: (866) 219-8702, www.parkatlanta.org; Report a broken meter (888) 266-1360

Parks

(See also www.vahi.org/parks for info on Virginia-Highland parks)
Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs website

  • 233 Peachtree Street, Suites 1600/1700 (404) 546-6788
  • Commissioner George Dusenbury (404) 546-6788 [email protected]
  • Make a park reservation (404) 546-6757 (ball fields, pavilions, large gatherings, weddings, etc.)
  • Park maintenance requests including graffiti and needed repairs, street tree inspection and trimming requests, and downed trees (404) 546-6813. Note: call 911 for trees down in the street.
  • Recreation including aquatic and tennis centers (404) 546-7985.

Pets (lost)

There is an easy way to i.d. found dogs if they have a collar tag. Go to http://www.petdata.com/cs/ful/. Follow the instructions for entering the tag # and it will bring up the owner’s name and phone number.

Phone

Multiple companies compete from which to choose

Planning and community development

55 Trinity Ave. (City Hall) (404) 330-6070 website

  • Commissioner James E. Shelby (404) 330-6037
  • Building Permits (404) 330-6150
  • Planning including Beltline, Zoning, NPUs, Urban Design Commission, etc. (404) 330-6145
  • Code Compliance including code complaint process (404) 330-6190,
  • Arborist Division (trees on private property) (404) 330-6150
  • Don Rosenthal, Director (404) 330-6152
  • David Tachon (arborist for Northeast Atlanta) 404-330-6077

Police

Atlanta Police Department (call 911 for emergency)

  • Headquarters: 226 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30306 (404) 614-6544
  • website www.atlantapd.org
  • Chief George N. Turner – phone: (404) 546-6900
  • Zone 6 Map and Crime Statistics website
  • Major Keith Meadows, Commander Zone 6 – 2025 Hosea L. Williams Dr. S.E. (404) 371-5002
  • Crime Stopper Tips: (404) 577-TIPS (8477), Text tip to CRIMES (274637) or submit tip online at www.crimestoppersatlanta.org
  • Report suspicious persons and situations, call 911

Power

Georgia Power – power outages (888) 891-0938 and streetlight problems (888) 660-5890. Report online.

SunPower is a global leader in providing high-efficiency solar panel solutions for homes, businesses and governments, commercial buildings and utilities. They’ve installed over 100,000 residential systems. The company has authorized installers that cover the Virginia-Highland area. Learn more about their solution by clicking here.

Public Works

Public Works Customer Service (404) 330-6333 or by sending an e-mail to [email protected]

  • Commissioner Richard Mendoza: [email protected]
  • Trash Collection, Yard Waste & Recycling (includes graffiti on public places, sidewalks & bridges, dead animal removal and large item pick-up) (404) 330-6236
  • Transportation (404) 330-6501
  • Report a pothole, other roadway problem, problem with a sign, or malfunctioning traffic light (404) 330-6333 after hours (404) 658-7862 or by sending an e-mail to [email protected]

Security patrol

FBAC (Fight Back Against Crime) operates patrols in Virginia-Highland. A $25/mo. membership helps make the patrols possible, benefiting the community. In addition, members receive added benefits such as a direct line to the patrol officers and checks on their property while out-of-town.

Sewers

For sewer issues call (404) 954-6340.

Signage (illegal)

For a definition of illegal street signage go to – Keep Atlanta Beautiful.    To make a report of such illegal signage – photograph the sign and send to Gayla Dodson in Public Works enforcement at [email protected] and copy Octavia Swainson at [email protected] and Patricia Sanders at [email protected]. Put “illegal sign” in the subject line and in the body of the e-mail state the date the picture was taken, the street number address nearest to the sign or the intersecting streets if at a corner, along with any company contact information on the sign (in case your picture is not clear or readable) and the date you have taken down the offending sign.

Smart911

Emergency Safety Profile system that lets the 911 operators know about your household in advance of an emergency. Go to Smart 911 for details and to enroll your family.

Storm Drains (blocked)

If you notice a blocked storm drain, please report to Linda Crossland at 404.624.0751 or by email at [email protected].

Street lights (non-working)

To report a non-working street light on a wooden pole, call Georgia Power at 1-888-891-0938 or report it online using this form. Problems with streetlights on metal poles are reported to the City of Atlanta, Public Works at either 404-330-6333 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Make sure you identify the streetlight by the street number behind the pole or the intersecting streets if on a corner. These lights are repaired during daylight hours when they are turned off.

Tornado sirens

see Weather alerts below

Traffic court

City of Atlanta Traffic Court “Special Hotline” — 404.569.5612. If you experience any difficulties when calling the Interactive Voice Response system, or IRV, when you receive a traffic ticket, you can call the “Special Hotline” number. This will connect you with a voicemail box where you can leave a message. This number is for use only when you have experienced difficulties using the IRV.

Traffic Lights (non-working)

Contact Atlanta Traffic Control Center (John Becker) at 404-658-7863.

Trash cans (leaving them out after they’re collected)

The rules are trash and recycle bins must be removed by 7pm the day of collection and placed in the following areas (measured from the home’s side of the sidewalk):
– 35 feet if collected from the front
– 15 feet if collected from a rear street
– 17.5 feet if collected from a side street if your house is at a corner

Mr. D. Raikes at City Hall ([email protected]) can provide information if neighbors are repeat violators and do not respond to your friendly request.

Trash collection

City of Atlanta Dept. of Public Works, Office of Solid Waste Services

Trees

Atlanta is the “City in a Forest” and the City of Atlanta’s policy is “there shall be no net loss of trees”. See City of Atlanta, Dept. of Planning, Arborist Division. Renovation or construction? See the info on trees under the “Planning” section of this site.

Water

Watershed Management (404) 330-6081 www.atlantawatershed.org

  • Commisioner Jo Ann Macrina, PE
  • Customer Service (404) 658-6500
  • Drinking Water Emergency (404) 658-7220
  • Clean Water Atlanta (404) 529-9211 www.atlantawatershed.org/cwa/
  • Report Storm Water Flooding Problem (404) 624-0751
  • Wastewater Treatment & Collections (sewer backups and metal plates) (404) 954-6340

Water leak

To report a water leak: Water Leaks – (404) 546-5325 or [email protected], copied to [email protected]. For Sewer Issues, phone (404) 954-6340. For general water issues, visit www.atlantawatershed.org. For issues specifically relating to the ongoing drought conditions, visit www.atlantawatershed.org/drought.

Weather alerts

Atlanta does not have a tornado siren warning system.
Options include:

  • Weather radios are widely available – get one that you can put in a code for what county you are interested in, so you don’t get woken up for every warning in north Georgia.
  • Fulton County has the Code Red Emergency Notification System – Sign up here and you will get a call on any phone number you designate.