Tucker, GA — Virginia Rece, the newest member of Tucker City Council, was sworn in on Nov. 8 as the representative of District 1 Post 2.

Rece is taking the place of the late councilmember Bill Rosenfeld, who died in January. DeKalb County Judge Gregory A. Adams performed the swearing in, and Rece immediately joined the council for a regular meeting.

Matthew Lee, Tucker-Northlake CID executive director and Tucker Historical Society president, delivered a brief history of Tucker and the city’s elected officials.

Lee said his remarks were similar to those shared in 2018, the last time Tucker elected officials were sworn into office.

“The city is still new, but the commitment to serve is not,” said Lee.

“For the first 123 years of Tucker’s history, the community thrived without a city government. While Tucker residents had been elected to office until 2016, they only served in county, state or federal capacities. There was no city,” Lee said.

Present was the desk of Tucker’s first postmaster, Alpheus G. Chewning, where each elected official has signed the oath of office.

“This tradition is a reminder of our beginnings and of our future of the relationship between government and private enterprise in volunteerism of stepping up to do good to make the community better simply because you can,” said Lee.

“Not a council of seven, or a council of 7,000 can do the work of a city of over 37,000 residents. The headwaters of integrity do not spring from the top. They spring up from the heart of every person who is aware of needs beyond their own. We can offer our best to the community no matter our station or abilities,” Lee added.

Councilmember Anne Lerner welcomed Rece.

“You’ve always been extremely generous with your time, your talent and your treasure for other candidates and other people running for office,” said Lerner. “This is your time, you have worked hard and it is well deserved, so thank you and welcome.”

Rece said she is honored and delighted to be a part of City Council.

In other news:

– Mayor Frank Auman said 25 new businesses applied to operate in the city of Tucker since last month.

– City Council members voted unanimously to adopt an amendment to the city’s 401(a), or contribution plan, as mandated by Georgia Municipal Association. The amendment will affect 18 city employees.

– The city’s meeting schedule was set for January, February and March of 2022. Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Commission were granted to ability to set their schedule with special called meetings in April, which conflicted with DeKalb County’s spring break.

– A contract to re-plaster and replace the tiles at the Kelley Cofer Pool was tabled by City Council members while Parks and Recreation explores alternative materials. Council members approved a contract to install concrete bases for lights on field 6 at Henderson Park in the amount of $29,782.

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