DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson named Georgia Elected Official of the Year by APWA – On Common Ground News – 24/7 local news
DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson named ... On Common Ground News
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DEKALB COUNTY, GA– DeKalb Super District 7 Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson Receives Georgia Elected Official of the Year Award
DeKalb Super District 7 Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson has been selected as the 2023 Georgia Elected Official of the Year by the American Public Works Association (APWA). This prestigious award marks the first time a DeKalb County elected official has received this honor.
Award Recognition for Outstanding Public Works
The American Public Works Associations’ Georgia Chapter Awards Program aims to acknowledge exceptional public works employees, individuals, groups, and projects that represent the best achievements in the public works profession in Georgia. The competition for this award is received statewide.
Commissioner Cochran-Johnson’s Contributions to Public Works and Infrastructure
Commissioner Cochran-Johnson has served as the Chair of Public Works and Infrastructure (PWI) since 2020. In this role, she has overseen the allocation of funds totaling $1,077,074,904 for water, sewer, and infrastructure projects. This allocation represents one of the largest amounts ever adjudicated by a Committee Chair in DeKalb County History.
Under Cochran-Johnson’s leadership, critical infrastructure work has been carried out to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Consent Decree. This work involves expanding, replacing, and enlarging DeKalb’s infrastructure while establishing an ongoing Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Notably, she has been actively involved in Phase II of the Snapfinger Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion, which aims to enhance wastewater treatment and increase capacity to 54 million gallons per day to meet the growing sewer needs of DeKalb County.
Financial Savings and Support for Infrastructure
As Chair of PWI, Cochran-Johnson has implemented mandatory audit reviews of contracts exceeding $3 million. This initiative has resulted in impressive savings of $57,215,092 for DeKalb County taxpayers. Additionally, she has supported the restructuring of infrastructure debt and facilitated applications for Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) and Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans related to water and infrastructure. These efforts have led to combined debt savings of $90 million.
Appreciation and Gratitude
Cochran-Johnson expressed her appreciation for the DeKalb County Public Works Department and the APWA. She emphasized that this award is not solely an individual achievement but a result of the collaborative efforts of various departments in DeKalb County who nominated her for this honor. She extended her gratitude to Director Peggy Allen of Roads and Drainage, the Public Works & Infrastructure Department, the nationally APWA-accredited DeKalb County Public Works Department, and the Georgia Chapter of the American Public Works Association for their nomination. Cochran-Johnson acknowledged that their recognition of her work has deeply touched her, and she wholeheartedly supports each of them. She sees this award as a reflection of their collective efforts.
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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure
- SDG 11.1: Ensure access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services
- SDG 12.7: Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable
- SDG 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Allocation of funds totaling $1,077,074,904 in water, sewer, and infrastructure
- Mandatory audit review of contracts over $3 million resulting in $57,215,092 in savings
- Supporting applications for loans associated with water and infrastructure resulting in $90 million in combined debt savings
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | SDG 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure | Allocation of funds totaling $1,077,074,904 in water, sewer, and infrastructure |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | SDG 11.1: Ensure access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services | Mandatory audit review of contracts over $3 million resulting in $57,215,092 in savings |
| SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | SDG 12.7: Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable | Supporting applications for loans associated with water and infrastructure resulting in $90 million in combined debt savings |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | SDG 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels | No specific indicators mentioned in the article |
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Source: ocgnews.com
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