Seated L-R: Kell football players Jaylon Brown and Corbin LaFrance. Standing L-R: Longhorns head coach Brett Sloan and offensive coordinator Kevin Burnette.
This week was National Signing Day for many high school athletes around the country, when they announce where they’ll be attending college to play sports.
At many high schools those events take place on campus, but COVID-19 restrictions in the Cobb County School District have prevented that this year.
So Kevin LaFrance, the father of Kell High School football quarterback Corbin LaFrance, decided to organize a signing day event for his son and another of his Longhorn teammates who will be heading to college together.
Corbin LaFrance and wide receiver Jaylon Brown have signed scholarship offers from Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh, which plays in the Big South Conference, whose members include Kennesaw State University.
The Big South postponed its football season to the spring because of COVID concerns, and Brown and LaFrance may have an early homecoming game if the schedule holds up.
Robert Morris is scheduled to play at Kennesaw State on April 3, 2021.
The Big South is in the Football Championship Subdivision, which has a national playoff conducted by the NCAA. Georgia and Georgia Tech play in Football Bowl Subdivision.
Kevin LaFrance sent along these photos of the early signing event at the Gameday Fresh Grille in Woodstock, where he set up a banquet room for the boys and Kell coaches.
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After several delays, the Cobb Board of Commissioners this week approved a $2.3 million contract to replace the Willeo Creek Bridge, which connects the city of Roswell with the roundabout at Lower Roswell and Timber Ridge roads in East Cobb.
The low bidder of six was Baldwin Paving Co., and the funding will come from the county’s 2016 SPLOST.
The joint project with the city of Roswell will replace the 60-year-old, 120-foot long bridge at Lower Roswell Road and Willeo Road in Roswell.
The construction also will include guardrail improvements and a pedestrian sidewalk along Lower Roswell.
The process to replace the bridge started in 2015 with intergovernmental agreements between Cobb and Roswell. There were language revisions in 2017 that called for both jurisdictions to share engineering, utility relocation and construction costs.
They are individually responsible for right-of-way acquisitions, with Cobb DOT overseeing all engineering and construction activities.
A change in state law and more language clarifications prompted another change in the IGA in 2018.
Cobb has spent $571,000 for engineering and design work, and in October the city of Roswell spent $70,000 and began expedited right-of-way purchases.
According to a Cobb DOT agenda item at Tuesday’s meeting, the project will take a year to complete.
Cobb Commissioner Bob Ott, whose District 2 includes the bridge area, said he was very glad to be able to vote for the project before he leaves office at the end of December.
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UV disinfecting lights were introduced in 3 Cobb elementary schools during the fall semester. Source: Cobb County School District
The Cobb County School District will be installing COVID-19 safety products in all 67 elementary schools after the school board approved an emergency request on Thursday.
The Cobb Board of Education voted 4-2 during a work session to spend up to $12 million to equip elementary schools with special UV disinfecting lights, hand sanitizers and other equipment from the district’s fund balance.
The district received earlier stimulus funding to provide safety equipment as a “proof of concept” measure at Argyle, Belmont Hills and Bryant elementary schools in South Cobb during the fall semester (see video at the bottom).
Superintendent Chris Ragsdale said the money is needed now, with the holiday break coming, and because additional stimulus funding from Congress that would pay for additional equipment hasn’t been forthcoming.
Congress could take action on a new spending package related to COVID-19 by Friday. The Cobb school district has set aside $15 million of its own funding for safety equipment, but Ragsdale intends for the new $12 million amount to be reimbursed from the federal government.
“We want to do everything we can to maintain a healthy classroom environment,” Ragsdale said, adding that the goal is to continue providing face-to-face learning when the spring semester begins in January.
Cobb schools are finishing the fall semester all-online due to rising COVID cases. Ragsdale said he would have liked to have had more schools equipped by now, and that might have prevented this week’s decision to go to remote learning.
Board members Charisse Davis and Jaha Howard voted against the spending, saying these were unproven projects and that there are more important priorities to keep students and staff safe that are being ignored.
The hand sanitizing machines, made by 30e Scientific and called “Iggy,” spray water with a small amount acqueous ozone to reduce bacteria, and will be placed in high-traffic areas of schools. The low-voltage UV lights, made by ProTek Life and called Cleanz254, disinfect classrooms daily after the school day is over. The process takes an hour overnight, and the vendor claims it kills 99.99 percent of all microbes in a classroom.
Howard said he hasn’t seen any data or evidence that the products work, and noted that the Cobb school district is the first client for the hand sanitizer manufacturer.
“I don’t understand why we’re making such a huge investment in something that’s secondary,” Howard said, calling the safety products “bells and whistles” and added that the board is being asked to spend “money we don’t really have.”
“We have some basic infrastructure that is not in place. This is a luxury,” Howard said. “How about that we make sure that all of our schools have masks?
Ragsdale said Howard was inaccurate with some of his comments, saying that while the hand sanitizing machines are new, acqueous ozone is not, nor are UV lights. The district also is providing masks and is taking steps to bring on more supply nurses.
Howard continued to press the issue, but board attorney Clem Doyle advised chairman Brad Wheeler to move on.
Board member Randy Scamihorn interrupted Howard, and said his colleague was doing little more than offering his opinion.
“I disapprove of us trying to get into the superintendent’s business,” Scamihorn said. “Our job is not to interrogate them on the companies.”
When Howard finally asked Ragsdale if he was “comfortable” recommending such a purchase, the superintendent said he wouldn’t have done so if he didn’t think the equipment was effective.
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Wellstar Health System announced Thursday that it’s received 3,900 doses of Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines, which will be administered voluntarily to its frontline staff.
Some of those workers were getting the vaccine on Thursday at Kennestone Hospital. According to a Wellstar press release, they include those in emergency and intensive-care departments, urgent care, skilled nursing facilities, paramedics and adult and pediatric primary care offices.
Wellstar said another shipment will be coming next week as part of the first phase of vaccine distribution, and that those in line to be vaccinated are essential workers and individuals ages 16 and older.
The Georgia Department of Public Health determines how an estimated 84,000 doses of vaccines are being distributed across the state.
More from Wellstar about the vaccine rollout can be found by clicking here.
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While restaurants have been hit hard by pandemic-related closings, two in East Cobb have teamed up to help those in need with their holiday meals.
Paradise Grille (3605 Sandy Plains Road) and Lucia’s Italian Restaurant (4705 Woodstock Road) have organized what they’re calling “feed a family” food trees at both restaurants, with the proceeds benefitting those served by MUST Ministries.
Here’s MUST explaining how the process works:
“Each tree is covered with $50 gift certificates that will pay for a family meal for 6. Every Family Meal gift card will be delivered to MUST Ministries before Christmas Day to distribute among our families.”
So when you purchase a gift certificate, the restaurants will then put together the meals as indicated in the flyers above. In addition to helping needy families enjoy a Christmas dinner, you’ll also be helping the restaurants.
Here’s more from the restaurants:
Purchase a gift certificate and we will display your family name, on your star, on the walls beside our trees.
Let’s fill our walls with Stars and help Must take care of less fortunate friends this holiday season
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All we know is what you see on the sign: The restaurant building that formerly housed Houston’s on Powers Ferry Road at Windy Hill Road soon will be occupied by The Orient, which will feature a variety of Asian cuisine.
We haven’t seen a business license that’s been granted and are working to learn more, and have been asked by a few people about what’s been stirring in that space even before the pandemic.
That development, by Atlanta-based Greystar, will include the Rose and Crown Tavern, the last of the old Restaurant Row businesses to remain.
The new tavern will be included in the middle of the project along with a small amount of retail space. The major projects are the Elan at Powers Ferry, an apartment building, and Overture at Powers Ferry, an active senior-living community (and East Cobb News sponsor).
Further up Powers Ferry Road, the MarketPlace Terrell Mill project also is taking shape, with another major apartment building nearing completion.
For now, the only restaurants that have opened are a Panera Bread and a Wendy’s. A reader alerted us to a report in WhatNowAtlanta that there will be a Los Abuelos Mexican Grill coming next fall.
The project of Connolly Development and Eden Rock Real Estate Partners also will feature a Kroger superstore, but that’s slated for the final phase of construction,
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We saw this recently on Lower Roswell near Johnson Ferry Road, and “ain’t that that truth!” instantly came to mind.
(BTW Your Extra Attic is owned and operated by East Cobb resident Andy Lee White, whom we posted about last year upon the publication of his book about the Atlanta pop music scene from the 50s-70s.)
Since then, he’s changed out the marquee, but still keeping with the theme of our times:
Whatever your state of being—or state of mind—as we approach the blessed end of 2020, don’t be shy about sending us photos of what you’re seeing, or doing, in East Cobb.
We appreciate what some of our readers have sent in recently regarding their holiday lights displays, so go to one near you and take in all the beauty and job of the season.
We accept reader photos, news items and other community information that citizens would like to share with their neighbors.
Pass along your details to: editor@eastcobbnews.com, and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.
Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.
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AAA Travel expects the vast majority of Americans to stay home this holiday season. Public health concerns and travel guidance are influencing their decisions not to travel over the year-end holidays, a period that typically sees high demand for vacations. While AAA expects at least 34 million fewer travelers compared to last year’s holiday season, as many as 84.5 million Americans may still travel from Dec. 23 through Jan. 3, a decline in travel of at least 29%.
“While Thanksgiving is traditionally spent gathering with friends and family, the year-end holidays are when Americans often venture out for longer, more elaborate vacations. That will not be the case this year,” said Montrae Waiters, spokeswoman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Public health concerns, official guidance not to travel, and an overall decline in consumer sentiment have encouraged the vast majority of Americans to stay home for the holidays.”
The CDC urges Americans not to travel for the holidays this year, warning that travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19.
For those who make the personal decision to travel, it is important to understand the risks involved and take steps to keep yourself and others safe. Seek the advice of a trusted travel advisor and refer to AAA’s COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Map and TripTik.AAA.com for the latest state and local travel restrictions, and to help determine which rest stops, gas stations, restaurants and hotels are open along your route.
The Auto Club Group has integrated enhanced travel safety features into its AAA Mobile App, including location-based emergency contact numbers, doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, and medical translation services. These new features use geolocation and can be accessed in the AAA Mobile App Travel section titled “Local Services for Travelers.” These travel assistance services are available globally through ACG’s partnership with travel insurance provider Allianz Global Assistance.
What to Know Before You Go
Plan Ahead. Check with state and local officials along your route and at your destination to learn about local guidance and any restrictions that may be in place. This includes what is expected of you when you return home. Many localities are requiring COVID-19 testing prior to and after travel.
Follow Public Health Guidance.
The CDC recommends taking a COVID-19 test one to three days before travel and another three to five days after travel, plus reducing nonessential activities for seven days after travel. Travelers should be aware of these and other local and state travel restrictions, including testing requirements and quarantine orders, and additional CDC guidance for before, during and after their travels.
Consistent use of face masks combined with social distancing (at least 6 feet) and regular handwashing are the best ways to lower your risk of contracting COVID-19. Be sure to pack face masks, disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer and a thermometer to help protect and monitor your health. Also pack water and extra snacks to reduce the need to stop along your trip.
Verify Before You Go. Call ahead to minimize any last-minute surprises.
Hotels – Prior to any hotel stay, call ahead to ensure your hotel is open and ask what precautions they are taking to protect guests. Ask about social distancing protocols like capacity reductions in common spaces, hotel staff requirements to wear masks at all times and if all amenities are available, like restaurant dining.
Car rentals – If renting a car, ask what has been done to clean the vehicle. Hertz, for example, has introduced Hertz Gold Standard Clean, an enhanced vehicle disinfectant and sanitization process. For extra peace of mind, use disinfecting wipes to wipe down door handles, steering wheels, shifters and control panels.
Holiday travelers are continuing to take a wait-and-see approach to their travel decisions. With COVID‑19 cases steadily increasing this month, the expected continued rise will likely prompt some Americans to make last minute decisions to not follow through with upcoming travel plans, which was the trend during the lead up to Thanksgiving.
Based on mid-October travel forecast models, AAA expected up to 50 million people would travel for the Thanksgiving holiday, which would have been a decline of 10% from 2019. While final Thanksgiving travel numbers are not yet available, AAA expects the decline to be closer to 15–20%, as the CDC and state and local authorities advised against holiday travel.
Road Trips Will Decline, but Remain Preferred Method of Travel
Most Americans who decide to travel will do so by car, with road trips accounting for 96% of holiday travel. Up to 81 million Americans will travel by car, a decline of at least 25% compared to last year. Auto travel is expected to replace some trips previously taken by bus, train or airplane, given the flexibility, security and comfort traveling by car provides.
Those who decide to hit the road will find cheaper gas prices. AAA advises these travelers to plan ahead and take precautions to be a responsible traveler. On average, Georgia gas prices are 40 cents cheaper than this time last year.
“Typically, cheaper gas prices are an incentive for last minute trips, especially around the holidays. But the lower prices and less traffic aren’t driving decisions to hit the road. Americans are looking to the public health landscape, including COVID-19 case numbers, to make their travel decisions,” continued Waiters.
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Dr. Janet Memark, director of Cobb and Douglas Public Health
Saying that “we are in substantial community transmission of COVID-19,” the director of Cobb and Douglas Public Health issued a “surge alert” Tuesday for the second time in as many weeks.
Dr. Janet Memark said that although there are arrivals of promising vaccines coming soon, “I would be remiss to not mention the dire situation that our community is facing.”
She said the 14-day average of COVID0-19 cases Cobb County is 678 per 100,000, which includes both forms of COVID tests: The basic and more common PCR test, and the rapid antigen tests.
The Georgia Department of Public Health daily status report on Wednesday indicated that the 14-day average for the PCR test alone is 524, a figure that has been growing sharply in recent weeks. That’s also high as that figure was during the summer spike.
Public health officials say a two-week average of 100 cases per 100,000 is considered high community spread.
Earlier Tuesday the Cobb County School District announced that the fall semester would end all-online, as Thursday and Friday classes are switching to a remote format due to the COVID case surge.
Thus far in December there have been 4,331 cases reported in Cobb, an average of 288 a day. On Wednesday, another 215 cases were reported.
More from Memark’s surge alert letter:
“Hospitals are extremely full with a record number of COVID-19 hospitalizations to match the record number of cases that we are seeing. Much of what we are seeing is thought to be due to the holiday traveling and gathering from the Thanksgiving vacation.
“Many of you may have heard that Cobb schools announced an early switch to virtual learning for the rest of the week before the holiday break. I know that this is an inconvenience to many of our families, but the rising number of cases being brought into the schools increases the risk of in-school transmission. We work collaboratively with the school districts to help them have the safest environment for both students and faculty.
“These extra days will also allow Cobb & Douglas Public Health and Cobb County School District staff to complete case investigation and contact tracing on existing cases in an attempt to keep families of students/staff healthy during the holiday break. “Vaccination for the mass population is still months away. Many of our residents can be hospitalized or lose their lives to COVID-19 in that time frame. We need you to help us slow this down and reverse the trajectory that we are on.”
Memark didn’t provide hospitalization figures, and urged the public to continue following public health guidance, including mask-wearing in public, washing hands and staying at least six feet away from others.
She also urged people not to gather “with those outside of your immediate family bubble. We know these actions work and it is critically important that we all do our part to fight this virus.”
Since the pandemic began in March, there have been 30,800 COVID-19 cases in Cobb County and 518 deaths, the second-highest number of fatalities in Georgia behind the 707 who have died in Fulton County.
In Georgia, there have been 484,152 cases and 9,250 confirmed deaths. On Wednesday, there were 4,860 new cases and 35 confirmed deaths reported by the state DPH.
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The Cobb County School District announced Tuesday that the last two days of classes in the fall semester, this Thursday and Friday, will be online only due to rising COVID-19 cases.
The district said in a release that the decision was “based on guidance by Cobb and Douglas Public Health.” Here’s more from the district:
“The number of positive COVID-19 cases in our community continues to rise and we are taking every possible step, including using remote learning days, to keep community spread from becoming school spread.
“This was not an easy decision and we understand that this may be a difficulty for some of our families. Working collaboratively with Cobb & Douglas Public Health, this decision is intended to benefit our students, staff, and could help our entire community be safer and healthier over the holiday break.
“These two additional remote learning days will also give District and public health staff the time they need to effectively and efficiently contact trace existing cases.”
Another 351 COVID-19 cases were reported in Cobb on Monday, following last week’s single-day record of 404. The previous record of 363 was set only on Dec. 4, and these figures are similar to numbers recorded during a summer surge of reported cases in the county.
In another key metric, the 14-day average of cases per 100,000 people in Cobb continues to skyrocket. It was 521 on Monday, and has been sharply rising over the last month.
That’s much higher than the “high community spread” category of 100 cases per 100,000.
Last week Dr. Janet Memark, the director of Cobb and Douglas Public Health, issued letters to school parents urging them to limit activities during the holidays, noting that cases in the school district are coming from outside of a school environment.
Cobb schools provides updated COVID-related information at its Learning Everywhere page.
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Tommy Nobis Center, a Marietta-based nonprofit that helps individuals with disabilities enter or return to employment, was recently named one of the 2020 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® In The Nation. Tommy Nobis Center has won this award for the Atlanta area every year since 2017, but this is their first national recognition.
This award not only honors organizations as Best and Brightest Companies to Work For, but also celebrates achievement and success in empowering employees’ lives through rich heritage and culture. Organizations are assessed based on categories such as communication, work-life balance, employee education, diversity, recognition, retention and more.
“We are humbled to win such a prestigious award,” says President & CEO, Dave Ward. “We are extremely proud of the culture we have developed locally and across 23 states. It reflects our focus on our core values of Mission-Driven, Accountability, Fun, Innovation, and Integrity. We are honored to receive this recognition on the national level.”
This national program presented by the National Association for Business Resources celebrates those companies that are making better business, creating richer lives and building a stronger community. For more information, visit www.thebestandbrightest.com.
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Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce will preside over his final meeting Tuesday.
With the end-of-the-year deadline approaching, the Cobb Board of Commissioners will be asked Tuesday night to approve most of what’s left of its allocated federal CARES Act funding.
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. and can be seen on Cobb County Government’s website, YouTube and Facebook pages and its CobbTV public access Channel 23 on Comcast.
The CARES Act requests on Tuesday’s agenda call for spending $350,000 for rental assistance for people facing eviction due to COVID-related business closures, and another $350,000 to provide emergency food assistance to those in need before the end of the year.
Another $105,1000 is being requested by CobbWorks for job-training programs. In addition, the agenda item also asks for an unspecified amount of funding to be reimbursed to Cobb public safety agencies for payroll expenses related to the COVID response.
In October commissioners approved spending 20 percent of those costs with CARES Act money through Dec. 26. Tuesday’s agenda item calls for reimbursing the county’s general fund, fire fund and E-911 payroll accounts for the police and fire departments, emergency management agency and sheriff’s office.
Under the CARES Act, all spending must be designated by Dec. 31. The funding was approved by Congress to help state and local governments mitigate the economic, food, housing and other impacts of COVID-19 shutdowns.
Cobb County Government received $132 million in CARES Act funding. The biggest amount of that money, nearly $50 million, was used to provide grants to more than 3,000 locally based small businesses. Another $14 million was approved to assist renters and homeowners with rental and mortgage payments, and nearly $2 million was given to non-profits who provide food assistance.
Tuesday’s meeting will be the last for Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce, who was defeated in his re-election bid by Commissioner Lisa Cupid, and for Commissioner Bob Ott, who is retiring after three terms serving District 2, which includes part of East Cobb and the Cumberland-Vinings area.
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The early voting wait time maps are not being updated on runoff day, Tuesday, Jan. 5.
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Back by popular demand, the Cobb Geographic Information Systems Office is continuing to post estimated wait times from early voting locations for the runoffs.
Early voting starts Monday and continues for the next three weeks for both U.S. Senate runoffs and a runoff for the Georgia Public Service Commission. The runoffs conclude Jan. 5, but there will be 13 days of early voting, plus absentee voting 24/7 through election day.
The link to the map can be found here; if you click the information icon in the upper-right corner you’ll find a color-coded legend explaining the wait times and other information.
During early voting for the general elections, the wait-time interactive map was periodically updated each day by the poll manager at each location.
For the first two weeks, the East Cobb Government Service Center (4400 Lower Roswell Road) is the only early voting location in this part of the county.
Those dates will be from Dec. 14-19 and Dec. 21-23.
From Dec. 28-31, you’ll also be able to vote at The Art Place-Mountain View (3330 Sandy Plains Road).
Check the flyer at the bottom of this post for more early voting places and times.
You can vote at any early voting location in the county, and if you drop off an absentee ballot, you do so at any of the designated drop boxes around the county. The deadline to do that is Jan. 5 at 7 p.m., when the polls close.
Cobb Elections is advising voters that the first day of early voting figures to be the busiest, just as it was during the general election period, so be prepared to wait and follow COVID-related protocols.
Voters must present proper ID, wear masks and line up according to social-distancing measures.
Cobb Elections provides the links below for early and absentee voting:
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It’s a faith-based organization in Atlanta that assists those who are homeless and dealing with addictions.
Sunday’s donation collection, Joy tells us, included a “truckload of food, hygiene items, blankets, clothes, diapers, cleaning supplies, jackets, and more.”
Send Us Your News!
Let East Cobb News know what your organization is doing, or share news about what people are doing in the community—accomplishments, recognitions, milestones, etc.
Pass along your details to: editor@eastcobbnews.com, and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.
Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.
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Bob Ott at the construction site of the new Braves stadium; at a town hall meeting; and at one of many community events during his 12 years as a Cobb commissioner.
Bob Ott’s tenure on the Cobb Board of Commissioners began with a major crisis, and it’s ending with one.
The District 2 commissioner took office in 2009 not long before catastrophic flooding heavily damaged parts of Cobb County, especially along the Chattahoochee River.
As he prepares for his final meetings on Tuesday, he said he’s pleased with efforts by the board to assist Cobb citizens, business owners and non-profit groups reeling from COVID-19 and related shutdowns and closures.
“From the great floods to the pandemic,” Ott noted in an interview with East Cobb News this week.
He’s been making parting remarks to community groups and sharing memories and photos with readers of his weekly e-mail newsletter in recent weeks.
On Tuesday, there will be a final zoning hearing in the morning, and a regular meeting in the evening. Ott said he’ll be publishing an open letter and is planning a farewell address to deliver as the gavel comes down on a 12-year career as a commissioner.
The only regret he has, he said, is not being able to close out with town hall meetings that he says is among his proudest accomplishments.
Ott speaking to an East Cobb business group in September.
“That’s probably the hardest part of all this,” said Ott, who pledged accessibility when he was first elected.
In addition to the town halls, he started a weekly newsletter, following what he had seen from former Congressman Tom Price, and for five years was the host of the “2Talk” program on the Cobb government’s public access channel in which he interviewed county department heads and other officials.
A Delta Air Lines pilot who had not been involved in politics until a zoning case near his home in the Powers Ferry corridor, Ott said opening up the process of government to citizens has been an important part of what he sought office to achieve.
But since he defeated former commissioner Joe Lee Thompson—who had appointed him to the Cobb Planning Commission—in 2008, the demands of the job have become considerable.
“I don’t think people know what the job entails,” Ott said. “It’s more of a full-time job than working at Delta.”
Each of the four district commissioners is paid a part-time salary, and has a full-time administrative assistant. When he announced in January he wouldn’t be seeking a fourth term, Ott made similar overtones.
It’s a job that Ott, a Republican, is handing off to his successor, Democrat Jerica Richardson, who is being sworn in on Dec. 31. He’s met and spoken with her several times since her election on Nov. 3, and has invited her to meetings with staff.
“I’m a firm believer that I needed to include her in on that,” said Ott, who endorsed her Republican opponent, Fitz Johnson.
Ott said while he advised Richardson to keep some of his appointments for the sake of continuity, “I told her I won’t be telling her how to do that job.”
Ott at a citizens meeting during the Johnson Ferry-Shallowford Master Plan process.
From civic groups to a stadium
A native of Westfield, N.J., Ott came to metro Atlanta in 1991 as a Delta pilot. After he got married and settled into a home in Terrell Mill Estates, a major residential zoning proposal came that he and other nearby residents opposed.
He parlayed that activity into serving as the president of the East Cobb Civic Association before his appointment to the planning board.
Starting the town halls as a commissioner, he said, was important for citizens to feel as though they had a connection with the government.
“The felt like they had a voice,” he said.
Ott oversaw community-driven processes to create master plans in District 2, including areas along Powers Ferry and Johnson Ferry roads, in Vinings, and most recently, the Johnson Ferry-Shallowford area.
Ott, right, and former Cobb Commission Chairman Tim Lee with Boy Scouts at a Braves-related event.
The biggest vote Ott cast was for the 2013 memorandum of understanding with the Atlanta Braves for a new baseball stadium in the Cumberland area.
The normally accessible Ott stayed out of the public eye for two weeks after the proposal was revealed, holding a town hall meeting the night before he joined the board majority in a 4-1 vote to approve the deal.
He said he understands why some citizens still remain chastened about the process, but maintains that the stadium—now called Truist Park—and subsequent development surrounding it “has been a huge revenue generator for the county.”
Ott said the area has seen an increase of more than 22,000 jobs, and has sparked redevelopment interest in ancillary areas, including the Powers Ferry corridor.
After the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in shutdowns that closed many businesses and threw many workers out of jobs, Cobb County received $132 million in federal CARES funding.
Ott proposed spending $50 million for small business owners to stay afloat, and a special panel formed by the Cobb Chamber or Commerce’s SelectCobb economic development arm selected 3,715 businesses to receive the grants.
Commissioners also approved CARES Act funding to provide mortgage and rental assistance and to help non-profits who provide food for those in need.
But if those affected by pandemic closures “don’t have a job,” Ott said, “they can’t take care of their families. We had to figure out a way to keep these businesses open.”
A low-tax Republican—Ott frequently told citizens he’d never vote to raise their property taxes—he says that government works best “when it helps people help themselves.”
Ott said his biggest town hall crowd was in early 2019 regarding East Cobb cityhood.
Political and personal change
Ott’s transition to a private citizen comes as the county is undergoing a political, demographic and generational transition.
He’s been part of a 4-1 Republican majority; in January, Democrats will have a 3-2 majority following commissioner Lisa Cupid’s election as board chair over Republican incumbent Mike Boyce.
Ott—who feuded with Boyce and predecessor Tim Lee, another fellow Republican, on taxes and spending issues—said of the partisan dynamics on the board that “there’s a lot more to the job than what you see from the outside.”
He wouldn’t predict what issues might be prominent on a Democratic majority, other than continuing budget and COVID responses.
While he admitted there probably will be some 3-2 party-line votes, “there’s no guarantee” it will happen on all major votes.
Former commissioner Thea Powell was Ott’s aide during the Atlanta Braves stadium deal.
“You’ve got to give Democrats a credit,” he said, noting how the Cobb precinct maps in countywide elections looked very similar. “They campaigned where they knew they needed to.”
Ott’s been coy about his involvement with a group pushing for East Cobb Cityhood. He held a packed-house town-hall at the Catholic Church of St. Ann in March 2019, explaining that “you have to be able to talk to the people.”
The day after that meeting, an incorporation bill requested by the Committee for Cityhood in East Cobb was introduced in the Georgia legislature by State Rep. Matt Dollar.
A good bit of vocal opposition brewed after that, and last December the pro-cityhood group said it wouldn’t pursue legislation after some commissioners and legislators said they didn’t support it.
Those include Republicans and conservatives who’ve said a city would add another layer of government.
Ott never publicly offered his thoughts at the time, but says now that if people in East Cobb “get concerned about the direction of the board, that conversation might start back up again.”
For the time being, Ott is stepping away from public activities. He noted he has only a few items on his January calendar, involving Boy Scouts and other groups at Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church, where he’s a longtime member.
He said he’s working on some projects around the house, including woodworking, and enjoys a wine-making hobby, and other “things I haven’t had time time to do.”
He and his wife Judy are also becoming empty nesters. Their daughter Katie is a recent graduate of Berry College and their son Chris attends Auburn University.
Since the pandemic, Ott has been tracking local and state COVID-19 data in a daily e-mail he sends to around 50 people, including elected officials and school superintendents.
Ott hasn’t flown for Delta since March but is on call as a pilot for international routes that include Amsterdam and San Juan, and has 16 months until his federally mandated retirement at age 65.
He said it’s unlikely he’ll seek elective office again, but eventually thinks he’ll be involved in public life in some fashion in the future.
“Twelve years in politics is a long time,” said Ott.
Ott and his wife Judy at a farewell reception for Cobb commissioners this week.
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For the 11th year, Karen Fox has set up a holiday lights display that’s synchronized to music.
Thanks to readers who have let us know about their holiday lights displays that have already been lighting up their neighborhoods.
We’re teaming up with the Cobb GIS (Geographic Information Systems) unit to map these and other displays, for as long as people have them going, for your drive-by entertainment.
Feel free to send in your photos and information (address, how long you’ll have your displays going, etc.) to: editor@eastcobbnews.com and we’ll add them here.
Last year we heard from Karen Fox, who decorates her home in the Clary Lakes Subdivision with a display that’s synchronized to music.
She’s doing this again, she tells us, for the 11th consecutive year, and has added some new features to her animated show. When you drive by (2994 Clary Hill Court), you can still tune into to 88.3FM, and listen to the music and watch the lights.
She is partnering with Santa Claus—yes, indeed—who will be making several socially distanced visits with children. Karen has created a Facebook page with more information and updates.
He’s supposed to make a visit Saturday night, weather permitting. You can see a video at the bottom of this post of her display from last year.
As she has in the past, Karen is accepting donations for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church.
Address: 2994 Clary Hill Court (Clary Lakes subdivision, off Post Oak Tritt Road near McPherson Road)
The home of Christine Morris, 140 Millbrook Trace, Gant Quarters
Reader Christine Morris is inviting the public to come by her home in the Gant Quarters subdivision, at 140 Millbrook Trace.
“We would love to share the joy of Christmas with the community and bring smiles to peoples faces during this pandemic,” she says.
Not too far away, in the Weatherstone subdivision, Jed Berry also says he has an FM transmitter that plays coordinated music timed with his lights display.
His home is at 746 Willow Ridge Court.
The home of Jed Berry, 746 Willow Ridge Court, in Weatherstone.
As mentioned above, Cobb GIS has been mapping holiday lights displays around the county, and when they saw what we were doing, they sent along this link with locations that will be updated.
You’re free to add your information there, and we’ll be continuously updating this during the holiday season.
The more lights the merrier, as we try to spread some holiday cheer, especially given our present circumstances. If it’s a daytime-only display without lights, that’s fine too.
We’ll make it clear this is a “drive-by” event only and ask viewers to be considerate on the roads. Ideally, evening displays will be available for viewing between dusk and 9 p.m.
Just e-mail us: editor@eastcobbnews.com.
During the holiday season, we will select displays to feature in East Cobb News and on our Instagram page.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
MUST is humbled and honored to share huge news for those living in homelessness in our community.
The Bezos Day 1 Families Fund is investing in our mission! An advisory group of leading homelessness experts and advocates selected us and 41 other needle-moving organizations across the country to continue the fight to end #familyhomelessness.
MUST is 1 of 8 organizations that received an optimum $5 million grant! Part of this grant will help us to fund our brand-new shelter and resource campus serving homeless families in our community. The rest of the grant will be used to stabilize homeless families in housing.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
Cobb Commissioner Bob Ott sends along word that Ansie Krige, the longtime branch manager at the East Cobb Library, died suddenly on Dec. 5.
“She loved that library,” said Ott. “It’s a huge loss.”
Thomas Brooks, a spokesman for the Cobb County Public Library System, said in a statement that Krige’s passing “was unexpected and we haven’t heard an update from her family. Ansie had a major, positive impact for the East Cobb community for many years.”
A private celebration of her life will be held in Denver.
Here’s more from what Ott distributed Friday in his e-mail newsletter:
Cobb Library staff members and community leaders expressed shock over the unexpected loss of Ansie Krige. She led the staff of one of the Cobb library system’s busiest locations. She was known as an advocate for education, health, and positive social connections for the East Cobb community. Many library patrons regularly sought her out during their visits to the library to share in conversations about family, literature, animals, and more. Known as a gracious host to library patrons, guest authors and speakers at the library, Mrs. Krige developed innovative programs and built a library collection aligned with community needs. Among the signature programs for the library system she developed is the Senior Wellness Series offering exercise, yoga, physical therapy assessments and more to capacity crowds of senior citizens. In lieu of flowers, the Krige family requests donations in memory of Ansie Krige to the Humane Society.
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Dr. Janet Memark, director of Cobb and Douglas Public Health
As the number of COVID-19 cases in the Cobb County School District surged past 1,000 since July, the director of Cobb and Douglas Public Health sent a message to parents urging them to continue to take precautions to slow the spread of the virus.
Cobb County set a single-day record for reported new COVID-19 cases with 375 on Thursday, and on Friday the Cobb school district reported 250 new cases over the last week.
In a letter that went out Thursday, Dr. Janet Memark said that she has “seen little in-school transmission, but we do see weekly increases in the number of cases coming back positive in the school system from out of the school.”
The full letter can be seen at the bottom of this post.
Those 250 new cases were reported in 81 schools, and according to the district’s weekly update, all of the schools reported 10 or fewer cases. All of the 16 traditional high schools in the Cobb school district reported cases this week.
Since July, there have been 1,212 cases in the district confirmed by Cobb and Douglas Public Health. The Cobb school district does not break down the totals between students and staff, nor do the figures indicate how many individuals may be in quarantine due to possible exposure to the virus.
The district also has said it has not closed any classes or schools since students began returning to campus in October.
In her letter—a similar version was also sent to Marietta City Schools parents this week—Memark said the rising cases are causing hospitalizations and ICU bed occupancy to be near capacity, although she did not provide numbers.
She said that more cases are coming into the schools via slumber parties, athletic teams, holiday parties and social gatherings. In addition to wearing masks and practicing social distancing Memark asked parents in the letter “to try to limit the amount of time that your family members have had with those outside of your immediate families. The case rate is too high to let our guard down.”
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The district revealed those numbers, including school-by-school choices, and that you can find here.
Another 25 percent of students will be learning remotely during the spring, while 21 percent had not revealed their choices at the end of the sign-up period.
The district said those decisions will be made at the school level with students and their parents.
Another sign-up period will take place during the spring semester, but no dates or other specifics were announced by the district on Thursday.
Like the fall, the school level with the highest percentages of face-to-face choices are for elementary school, at 60.9 percent.
In middle school, the face-to-face totals come to 53.5 percent, and for high school they’re 44.1 percent, also similar to fall figures.
In East Cobb, the schools with the highest rates of face-to-face choices are at Garrison Mill ES (85.9 percent), Keheley ES (85.8), Mt. Bethel ES (84.3), Tritt ES (83.5) and Hightower Trail MS (80.5).
On the other end were Brumby ES (38.6 percent), Eastvalley ES (40.3 percent), East Cobb MS (44.2), and Wheeler HS (37.3), although schools with lower face-to-face figures also had high numbers of students who hadn’t made a choice.
Three of the six high schools in East Cobb have a majority choosing face-to-face for the spring: Lassiter (67.8 percent), Pope (67.6) and Walton (57.6).
But nearly a third of students at Walton and Wheeler hadn’t made a choice.
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