Month: February 2024

Ribbon-cutting set for ‘JoAnn K. Birrell Police K9 Annex’

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Ribbon-cutting set for 'JoAnn K. Birrell Police K9 Annex'

A couple weeks after a Cobb Police K-9 annex was named for Cobb Commissioner JoAnn Birrell, the new facility will officially open next week.

A ribbon-cutting for the Joann K. Birrell Police K9 annex will be Tuesday at 10 a.m. at 1060 Al Bishop Drive in Marietta.

That’s where the team of nine K-9 teams operates in assisting in criminal investigations, including narcotics, explosives, evidence recovery and search and rescue.

Birrell, a noted dog-lover, was taken by surprise during a recognition at the board’s Jan. 9 meeting, when her colleagues informed her they voted to name the new facility after her.

She was also joined by her husband, David Birrell, and some of the K-9 dogs, who are Belgian Malinois, German Shepherds and a Dutch Shepherd.

As a leader of the Northeast Cobb Business Association, she led fundraising efforts to help Cobb Police purchase service dogs before she was in public office.

As a commissioner, she has earmarked some of her district contingency funding to replace a retiring dog and fund the department’s kennel system.

Birrell also helped create Superior Pets for Patriotic Vets, a partnership with Superior Plumbing and Cobb Animal Services that waives fees for military veterans who adopt shelter dogs and cats.

The Cobb Police K-9 program accepts donations from the public; more information and online payment are available by clicking here.

Ribbon-cutting set for 'JoAnn K. Birrell Police K9 Annex'

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Roswell Road lane closures set for Saturday for resurfacing

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Roswell Road resurfacing

Submitted information:

Contractors for the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) will install lane closures on State Route 120/Roswell Rd NE (SR 120) this Saturday night as resurfacing activities continue on roadway from SR 120 ALT to the Cobb County/Fulton County line. Resurfacing improves the condition of the deteriorating roadway and provides a smother ride for drivers.

Weather and on-site conditions permitting, one alternating right or left lane will be closed on SR 120 in the project area beginning 9 p.m. on Saturday, February 3 until 5 a.m. on Sunday morning. These lane closures will help ensure the safety of drivers and workers as crews begin milling, inlay and resurfacing operations on the roadway.

This $7.1 million resurfacing project is scheduled for completion in spring 2024.

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Georgia sample ballots released for 2024 presidential primaries

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While the presidential primaries have yielded little drama thus far, voters will have options when they go to the polls in Georgia.

Georgia runoff elections

Democratic incumbent President Joe Biden and Republican former President Donald Trump were the winners of the first-in-the-nation primary in New Hampshire Jan. 23.

Both will be on Georgia’s March 12 primary ballot, and are heavily favored to win their parties’ nominations.

But they won’t be alone.

Biden is one of three Democrats listed on the Georgia ballot, along with Minnesota U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips and self-help author Marianne Williamson.

Trump is among 11 names listed on the Republican ballot that includes Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and technology entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, all of whom have dropped out and endorsed Trump.

Former South Carolina Nikki Haley, who is actively campaigning, is also on the Georgia GOP ballot.

She finished second in New Hampshire, collecting 43 percent of the vote to 54 percent for Trump, who also won the Iowa Caucuses.

Biden, who didn’t formally enter the New Hampshire primary due to Democratic National Committee schedule changes, still won 63 percent of the vote thanks to a write-in campaign.

The South Carolina Republican primary is Feb. 24, setting off a wave of primary contests in short order. That includes “Super Tuesday” on March 5, the week before Georgia, with voting taking place in 17 states and territories.

Voters choosing either primary ballot in Georgia also will be able to cast a write-in vote.

The Cobb Board of Elections has approved early voting for the presidential primary, starting Feb. 19 and continuing through March 8.

Among the early voting locations will be the East Cobb Government Services Center (4400 Lower Roswell Road) and the Tim D. Lee Senior Center (3332 Sandy Plains Road).

For more information on early voting, click here.

On primary day, March 12, voters will go to their regularly assigned polling stations between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Presidential primaries are held separately in Georgia from Congressional, state and local primaries, which this year will be on May 21.

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Cobb State Court Clerk introduces QR codes to track cases

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Submitted information and photo:Cobb State Court Clerk introduces QR codes

Drivers who get traffic tickets in Cobb County will notice something new on their citations–a QR code. The little black-and-white checkered code that gained widespread usage during the COVID-19 pandemic has been added to the ticket to make it easier to find a case, access information, and determine the next steps.

The Georgia Department of Driver’s Services mandates police agencies use a uniform traffic citation template,  but agencies can customize the back side with local court information. After almost a year of development and testing, the Cobb State Court Clerk’s office implemented the QR code system-wide.

The old citations only included the clerk’s website, which contained basic court information on traffic fines and fees, court dates, and payment options. Users had to visit a different web page to locate their case.  The new QR code system will allow users to quickly find and monitor court dates, view docket updates, change their address, and, in allowable cases, pay fines online with one scan rather than visiting multiple sites.

“We are always looking for innovative ways to assist customers with locating case information, following and updating records, and making these records accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” said State Court Clerk Robin Bishop. While technology streamlines processes, the State Court Clerk reiterated, “We are still available by phone 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday, as well as in person at our public service counters at 12 E. Park Square, Marietta, to assist the public.”

The Clerk’s Office worked with several Cobb County agencies on this new tool, including the Cobb Police Records Management team, Cobb’s website team, and Information Technology Services team members.

QR codes will not only be on citations. The Clerk’s Office has duplicated this concept at the State Court building, with a “Follow Your Case” QR code visible when users come in for various criminal and civil hearings, interactive screens, and coming soon on some court notices. 

The Cobb State Court Clerk’s Office maintains the records of all court proceedings in the State Court of Cobb County, including all traffic offenses, misdemeanors, and civil actions.

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Ex-Marietta City Council member running for Cobb Commission

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Reggie Copeland, who served a term on the Marietta City Council from 2018-2021, announced Tuesday he will be running for the Cobb Board of Commissioners.

In a brief e-mail message, Copeland said he will be running as a Democrat in the May 21 primary for District 2, which includes the City of Marietta.

He is the second candidate to express interest in the seat being vacated by Democrat Jerica Richardson, who is running for 6th District Congress.

Previously, former Cobb Board of Education member Jaha Howard filed a declaration of intent form with Cobb Elections, also for the Democratic primary.

Copeland, who is a counselor, said he will be providing more details about his priorities and platform soon.

In his e-mail announcement, he said that “I don’t see myself literally as just running against another candidate but I am running for ‘All’ people in Cobb County.

“The reason I am running is to improve the quality of life for ‘ALL’ individuals through a process call legislation via best practices, policies, and procedures,” he said.

Copeland represented Ward 5 on the Marietta City Council and was a controversial figure during his time in office.

A judge dismissed his request in 2018 for a restraining order against fellow council member Andy Morris following an argument in a meeting.

A city employee filed an ethics complaint against Copeland for verbally attacking her during a meeting, but that complaint was dismissed.

In 2019, he was charged with obstructing police after a traffic accident. Months later he said he feared for his life as a black man in dealing with law enforcement.

Copeland, who was chairman of the city council’s public safety committee at the time, was sentenced as a first offender and ordered to have an anger management evaluation.

In November 2021, he was defeated for re-election in a runoff with Carlyle Kent, who got 71 percent of the vote.

UPDATED:

After this story was posted, Copeland sent what he called a “complaints file” to East Cobb News (you can read it here) and said that “these FACTS will be shared with the community at large, as I host round tables while on my exciting campaign trail. Also, I will make this information available to ALL that have questions regarding your story.

“As a matter of fact we have already shared the FACTS with numerous citizens and they were elated to find out the real FACTS! Please know that I appreciate FACTS not fake news or alternative facts.”

ORIGINAL REPORT:
A native of Marietta, Copeland was a standout athlete at Marietta High School. He earned an undergraduate at Piedmont College, a master’s in education and counseling from the University of Georgia and a master of divinity from Emory University.

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Dental office proposed for former Mt. Bethel Community Center

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Mt. Bethel Church Community Center rezoning

For the second time in a year, the former Mt. Bethel Community Center is being eyed for professional use.

A rezoning request was withdrawn without prejudice last summer when the Cobb Zoning Office recommended that the building at 4608 Lower Roswell Road be granted designation for a limited professional services permit (LPSP).

MRE Properties, the applicant, sought a low-rise office (LRO) designation, but zoning staff said an LPSP would be more appropriate to the residential neighborhoods surrounding the site.”

A different applicant wants to convert the 6,060-square-foot building into a dental office. Marianna Kovitch, who has a practice in Buckhead, initially sought LRO rezoning and has hired noted zoning attorney Kevin Moore, who represented MRE Properties.

An initial hearing is scheduled before the Cobb Planning Commission on Tuesday in the first zoning hearings of 2024.

The land has been zoned residential because its owner is Mt. Bethel Church, which has been putting up selected properties for sale since departing the United Methodist Church in 2022.

A preliminary staff analysis of Z-5-2024 (you can read it here) also is recommending deletion to LPSP.

Such a use “will minimize impact to residential neighbors while allowing continued use of the existing site,” the analysis said, adding that the LRO category on that 1.13-acre parcel does not conform to the Cobb County Comprehensive Plan

It also indicates that no new major modifications or additions are being planned for the building, which would be open for dental services Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

In a stipulation letter dated Jan. 29 (you can read it here) Moore wrote that his client was in agreement with the staff recommendation of LPSP specific to dental, medical and administrative use. He also is seeking a waiver that LPSP is specific to the property owner.

The Cobb Planning Commission meeting Tuesday will take place starting at 9 a.m. in the second floor board room of the Cobb government building (100 Cherokee St., downtown Marietta).

Here’s a summary agenda; you can read through the full agenda by clicking here.

The meeting will be live-streamed on the county’s website, cable TV channel (Channel 24 on Comcast) and Youtube page. Visit cobbcounty.org/CobbTV for other streaming options.

The Planning Commission recommendations will be considered by the Cobb Board of Commissioners on Feb. 20.

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