Cobb County NAACP hosts its annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration, Mission Possible: Protecting Freedom, Justice, and Democracy in the Spirit of Nonviolence365, 10 a.m. – noon Monday, Jan. 20 at the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre, 548 S. Marietta Parkway, SE, Marietta.
Austell – MLK Day of Service – Keep Cobb Beautiful Adopt-A-Mile – 8:30 a.m. at Riverside EpiCenter, 135 Riverside Parkway, Austell. Make an impact in the community by participating in a roadside cleanup with Keep Cobb Beautiful. High school students: Earn community service hours while making a difference. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors to this community volunteer event and help us create a cleaner, brighter environment for everyone. For questions, email yamos@riversideepicenter.com.
Kennesaw – Community Volunteer Day, 9 a.m. – noon at Smith Gilbert Gardens, 2382 Pine Mountain Road, Kennesaw. Garden entryway beautification project. Project coordinators will lead volunteers in cleaning up the front entryway off Pine Mountain Road into the Gardens and plant new annuals. Register here.
Marietta will celebrate the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a parade and ceremony organized by Cobb County Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Al Tariq Temple No. 245, and Al Tariq Court No. 228.
This celebratory parade will trace a route that allows participants to pay tribute to Dr. King’s vision of unity and equality. Participants will begin at 350 Lemon Street at 1 p.m. and march to the Marietta Square.
National parks – Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a free entry day at all national parks, including Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park.
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The Cobb Board of Commissioners will hold three public hearings by the end of February after announcing it plans to opt out of a new Georgia ad valorem homestead exemption law.
The county is one of several local jurisdictions—including the City of Marietta and Marietta City Schools—that is pursuing the opt-out.
HB 581 was passed by the Georgia General Assembly in 2024, and state voters approved enabling legislation in a November referendum to establish a statewide floating homestead exemption.
Those exemptions apply to counties, school districts and municipalities, and would place a cap on property tax rates based on an inflation rate set by the Georgia Department of Revenue.
In a release sent out Wednesday by Cobb government, the county said it declared its intent to opt out of the new law because the county “currently has a floating homestead exemption which provides a greater benefit to taxpayers.”
The statement did not elaborate. Cobb offers a floating homestead exemption to property owners that does not change as long as their own their home.
The rate on a floating exemption in the new law would be set to the previous year’s rate of inflation and locks in a home’s valuation for up to three years.
Local bodies can also impose an additional sales tax to make up for lost revenue from a capped tax rate under HB 581.
The law was passed following concerns about dramatic property tax rate increases due to soaring assessments during periods of high inflation.
HB 581 contains an opt-out clause for local jurisdictions, but they must adopt a resolution to do so after holding three public hearings that must also be publicly advertised.
They also must announce their intent to seek the opt-out by March 1. The Cobb County School District has not announced whether it may also seek the same process.
The biggest chunk of local property tax rates in Cobb are for school taxes. In Cobb, homeowners over the age of 62 can apply for a senior exemption.
In announcing its intent to opt-out of HB 581, Marietta City Schools said this week that “the legislation could result in significant funding reductions for local school systems, potentially impacting classroom instruction, teacher retention, and school programs. Opting out of the exemption will allow the Board of Education to continue making financial decisions that align with the needs and priorities of the Marietta community.”
The dates Cobb commissioners have set for those hearings are Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m.; Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 9 a.m. and Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m.
The board is scheduled to vote on the opt-out resolution at its regular meeting on Feb. 25.
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“This fight was never about me but about protecting American values,” Commissioner Jerica Richardson said.
The day after filing a last-gap appeal to stay in office for a little while longer, Jerica Richardson took her familiar seat on the dais of the Cobb Board of Commissioners Tuesday.
After a Cobb judge ruled on Dec. 31 that she must vacate her seat, the District 2 commissioner got a reprieve on Monday when she appealed that ruling to the Georgia Court of Appeals.
That means that the ruling by Judge Ann Harris to vacate the seat is stayed during the appeal. The Georgia Court of Appeals has 30 days to decide whether to hear the appeal.
Richardson was appealing a decision by her colleagues last summer to vacate the seat after Harris ruled that she did not live within the boundaries of District 2 and therefore was ineligible.
On Tuesday, she cast votes from a short roster of agenda items and introduced a new assistant.
Richardson’s term expired on Dec. 31, as did the term of District 4 Commissioner Monique Sheffield. But special elections have been called after another court ruling invalidating 2024 primaries in those races after county-observed “home rule” electoral maps were ruled unconstitutional.
But a two-year drama over those maps, and who’s legally qualified to serve on the board now, continues.
At the board’s first meeting of the year Tuesday, all four district commissioners read from prepared statements.
Richardson, a Democrat who was drawn out of her East Cobb home in legislative maps passed in 2022, said she was continuing her legal battle because of “precedent”—Republican Cobb lawmakers pushing through maps not submitted by the county delegation—and for being reapportioned during the middle of her term.
The Georgia Constitution delegates county reapportionment only to the legislature. Cobb’s “home rule” claims to draw electoral maps, Harris ruled last fall, violated that Constitution.
Richardson labeled herself a “de facto commissioner” as the appeal continues, and with her successor to be determined by the end of April (She unsuccessfully ran for Congress last year).
“Some would say that’s unacceptable, to take this seat on the dais,” she said. “I would say that having 200,000 people not represented for nearly half the year is unacceptable. I would say that the right of the General Assembly to remove elected officials at any point in their term is unacceptable. I would say that overturning elections is unacceptable.”
She said that “this fight was never about me but about protecting American values.”
Richardson’s old District 2 included a portion of East Cobb. But most of East Cobb is now represented by District 3 Republican JoAnn Birrell.
While she still thinks it’s unfair that Richardson was redrawn out of her seat, Birrell said the court rulings have been clear that she’s no no longer eligible to serve.
“When will this stop? Enough is enough. Taxpayers should be furious of the time spent and the cost involved by the county in these actions.”
She said she didn’t it was right for Richardson to continue to serve past the end of her term and because the courts have ruled her to be ineligible.
“It’s time to put an end to ignoring the Constitution and the laws of this state and the county and go back to the real business of the county at hand.”
Republican Commissioner Keli Gambrill of North Cobb said “Welcome of Cobb County’s J 6″—a reference to the January date in 2021 when supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol to stop the Electoral College process.
Gambrill, whose initial lawsuit challenging the “home rule” maps was thrown out due to a lack of standing, objected to the Cobb County Attorney’s Office unilaterally concluding that one commissioner is “ruled de facto.”
“There are no laws that govern de facto status, those have only been awarded by judges based on legal challenges,” she said.
“Because of an unconstitutional home rule resolution, the chair of the Cobb Board of Commissioners is now extending the term of commissioners.”
Sheffield is a Democrat who won her primary in May and has qualified for the special election in District 4 in South Cobb.”
She said that during the two years of the home rule maps, commissioners made a number of important decisions, including the current fiscal year 2025 budget with improved salaries and benefits for public safety personnel.
“Were there any gaps in the efficiency of the county?” she said. “Were we able to move the county forward? For me that answer is yes.”
She disputed assertions that she was wrongfully occupying her seat past the end of her term, saying state allow allows for a continuation until a special election is decided.
“The role is temporary and tied to a proper transition,” in this case a special election meant to bridge a gap, Sheffield added.
Democratic Chairwoman Lisa Cupid, presiding over her first meeting since being re-elected in November, didn’t offer her thoughts, but said “the public was due an explanation as to why we are here the way we are today.”
You can watch all the comments on the issue on the video below, starting around the 20:00 mark.
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We’re conducting a survey to understand how the community perceives the value of Cobb County Government services. Your feedback will help us evaluate the strengths of our image, identify areas for improvement, and ensure we continue to meet the needs of the community.
The survey, located here, should take just a few minutes to complete, and your responses will remain confidential. We greatly appreciate your input!
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Cobb County’s Department of Emergency Communications (DEC) has earned one of the highest honors from the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED). The IAED recently announced that Cobb’s DEC achieved Accredited Center of Excellence (ACE) status for police dispatch.
This recognition places Cobb County DEC among an elite group, as it is only the 33rd police dispatch center worldwide to receive this accreditation.
“I am extremely proud of our team for this extraordinary achievement,” said DEC Director Melissa Alterio. “This accomplishment exemplifies their professionalism, resilience, and unwavering commitment to serving the citizens, visitors, and first responders of Cobb County.”
The IAED’s ACE credential represents the highest distinction for emergency communication centers, certifying that they meet or exceed global standards for best practices in emergency response.
Achieving ACE status was the result of a multi-year effort, starting with a comprehensive overhaul of the DEC’s quality assurance program. Alterio praised Training Coordinator Leighann Schultz and Quality Assurance Evaluator Sidney Walker for their instrumental roles in implementing innovative training strategies, providing quality feedback, and successfully navigating the accreditation process.
“This accomplishment marks a significant milestone in our journey of continuous improvement,” Alterio said. “Achieving ACE status for Emergency Police Dispatch is particularly remarkable because police calls represent the highest volume of calls we handle. This achievement reflects our team’s dedication and commitment to delivering exceptional service to the community.”
The accreditation process required the DEC to meet 20 Points of Accreditation, which include stringent local oversight, rigorous quality standards, and a commitment to data-driven continuous improvement. The IAED’s Priority Dispatch System, recognized as the standard of care for emergency dispatch, is used in over 3,500 emergency communication centers across 46 countries.
The IAED will present the Cobb County DEC team with an accreditation plaque during the 2025 Navigator Conference in Orlando, Florida.
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Reader Tami McIntire outside her home in East Cobb, with an outer space theme to Winter Storm Cora.
The winter storm that swept through East Cobb on Friday, leaving snow and some freezing conditions gave plenty of families a chance to enjoy the outdoors.
Thanks to readers Tami McIntire and Catarina Kommer for the photos from their yards Sunday on what’s the last of a three-day snow holiday here for many. (You can send yours if you like, too, and we’ll add them to this post: editor@eastcobbnews.com).
With somewhat warmer temperatures in the forecast, activities that had been cancelled or postponed are returning to normal.
The Cobb County School District sent this message to the public Sunday afternoon:
“All Cobb County School District schools are fully operational and will be open on a normal schedule on Monday, January 13th.
“We look forward to seeing all students in school and on time!”
The sun came out on Sunday and highs crept up into the low 40s, enough for some of snow/sleet to melt.
It’s expected to freeze back again Sunday night, with lows back in the 20s, so there are continued road hazards in some spots.
Cobb government said Sunday afternoon that “icy spots could persist in shaded areas and could re-form Monday morning. Cobb DOT will respond to calls as they arrive, but please use caution.”
Cobb DOT has a maintenance work desk at 770-528-1600 for routine issues to be handed during regular business hours, and via mobile app: https://seeclickfix.com/cobb-county.
Inside, Tami McIntire’s cat doesn’t know what to make of the snow.Luna, Catarina Kommer’s Rottweiler, enjoying a tromp in the snow.A cardinal in the snow in Catarina Kommer’s yard.
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In-person programs for all ages are on the 2025 calendar for the new Gritters Library, including storytime sessions and programs on literacy, health and wellness, language, and driver safety. Registration at cobbcat.org is preferred for some Gritters programs.
The January-and-beyond lineup at Gritters Library features a range of programs and activities within the comfortable space designed to serve the growing community, said Cobb Library Director Keith Schuermann, who started in his leadership role one month ago, succeeding Helen Poyer, who retired December 31.
“We strongly encourage the neighbors from around Gritters Library and beyond to visit and explore the programs offered by the Gritters staff and community partners,” Schuermann said. “The reality of Gritters Library is already starting to fulfill in a meaningful way the vision of serving as a true community focal point.”
The new Gritters facility opened in November as a replacement for the library built in the early 1970s on the same site at 880 Shaw Park Road, Marietta 30066, off Canton Road, one mile north of the Piedmont Road intersection. The new building also includes space for CobbWorks, Cobb PARKS, and the Northeast Cobb Community Center.
Upcoming programs at Gritters Library for children include:
Baby Storytime, organized for babies six weeks to 18 months old and their caregivers, features stories, songs, rhymes and fingerplays each Tuesday at 10 a.m.
Toddler Storytime for children 18 to 36 months old and caregivers meets every Thursday at 11 a.m.
Cobb Collaborative is presenting Storytime Basics Playground Palooza, a series designed for children ages two to five accompanied by a participating adult, on five consecutive Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. starting January 15. The interactive Storytime workshops are based on five principles of early literacy and child development: Maximize Love, Manage Stress; Talk, Sing, and Point; Count, Group, and Compare; Explore Through Movement and Play; and Read and Discuss Stories. Registration at cobbcollaborative.org/events is requested.
Bad Art Club for Tweens & Teens, a program for young artists ages 9-17 to have “the freedom to do anything and go with the flow,” meets Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 5 p.m. Registration is required.
Upcoming adult programs at Gritters Library include:
Stretch and Stroll, a community walking and stretching session for adults, meets 2 p.m. Thursdays, including Jan. 9, Jan. 23, Feb. 6, and Feb. 20. Children are welcome with an adult caregiver. Participants are asked to wear comfortable clothes and athletic shoes, and to bring an exercise mat and water. No registration is required.
The AARP Smart Driver Course will be offered Monday, Jan. 13 for individuals age 16 and up. The course runs 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a 30-minute lunch break. Participants should bring lunch and a beverage, and members are asked to bring their AARP cards. The course cost for supplies, to be paid by check or cash at check-in, is $20 for AARP members and $25 for non-members. Space is limited and registration is required. For information on the course, visit https://www.aarp.org/auto/driver-safety.
Beginner Yoga with Airi Yoga, a local yoga studio, will be led by certified instructor Iri Kim on Monday, Jan. 13 at 6 p.m. Registration is required and space is limited. Participants are asked to bring a yoga mat or beach towel, and to wear comfortable clothing.
Gritters English Conversation Group will meet for eight consecutive weeks starting 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14. The library recommends the group for adult intermediate to advanced English Language Learners (ELL) speakers to practice speaking English with other learners led by Gritters Library staff.
The Computer Basics: Gmail class meets Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 2 p.m. The course is designed novice Gmail users and does not require prior computer knowledge. Space is limited and registration is required.
The Gritters Book Discussion Group for readers of fiction and non-fiction age 18and up meets the last Thursday of the month at 11 a.m. The Jan. 30 title is the novel The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. Register at cobbcat.org.
For information on the full set of programs offered at Gritters Library during the winter of 2025, visit cobbcat.org or call 770-528-2524.
The regular hours for Gritters Library are Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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A winter storm watch has been issued for Cobb and North Georgia from 7 a.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday.
ORIGINAL REPORT:
Cobb County government and Cobb County School District officials said Tuesday that they’re closely monitoring weather reports for a likely winter storm later this week.
The National Weather Service forecast includes a strong chance of precipitation Friday into Saturday as temperatures are expected to plunge well below freezing.
The forecast includes an 80 percent chance of rain Friday night, which could include snow, sleet and freezing rain and temperatures expected to fall into the high 20s.
The NWS forecast is predicting the most severe weather for north Georgia to fall along a line north of Interstate 20.
At a special Cobb Board of Education meeting Tuesday, Cobb school district Chris Ragsdale said that “we intend, if a call needs to be made, you will hear about the call Thursday before Friday, if the case needs to be called for school.”
Cobb government said Tuesday afternoon that road crews will be ready to treat more than 400 miles of roads if/when necessary.
Thus far, there are no closures reported.
The forecast calls for sunny skies on Wednesday with a high of around 40 and a low of around 20.
On Thursday, more sun and high of 40 are in the forecast, with a low of 26.
The high on Friday is expected to reach only 36 with a low around 30.
The chance of precipitation is in a range of 50-90 percent/
Clear, but cold weather returns for the weekend, with highs ranging between 38-42 and lows between 22-26.
The MUST Ministries warming shelter will be open every evening at least through Friday, as overnight temperatures are expected to be at or below freezing.
Here’s the extended Cobb-area forecast for the moment; we will be updating with information about closures and related details as they are announced.
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Cobb Commissioner Jerica Richardson said she is pursuing legal options after a Cobb judge this week declared her seat immediately vacant.
Superior Court Judge Ann Harris on Tuesday upheld the commission’s vote to declare a vacancy after the county lost a legal effort in court to keep her in office. You can read the ruling by clicking here.
“I will be reviewing the Court order to determine what, if any, other options are available in the attempt to continue to fight for Georgia’s Republic,” Richardson wrote in a social media posting shortly before her term expired on Tuesday.
She had filed an appeal to remain in office until her successor is chosen in a special election in April.
In a statement issued by the county, Cobb County Attorney William Rowling said “the Court’s well-reasoned decision affirmed the correctness of the County’s determination that the Office of BOC District 2 Commissioner is vacant, given that Commissioner Richardson does not reside within BOC District 2 under the currently applicable state legislative map.”
It’s unclear how the commission will be constituted when it holds its first meeting on Jan. 14. An interim replacement for Richardson could be appointed through the special election.
The term of District 4 Commissioner Monique Sheffield also expired on Tuesday. Special elections for District 2 and District 4 will culminate in April.
County ordinance requires that commissioners reside in the district they represent.
Richardson, a Democrat elected to the District 2 post in 2020, moved to a home in East Cobb that was later drawn into District 3 during reapportionment.
She and the board’s other two Democrats tried to claim home rule powers in 2022 to draw commission electoral maps after balking at the Georgia legislature’s maps.
Her District 2 initially included some of East Cobb, but the redrawn maps placed most of East Cobb in District 3, represented by Republican JoAnn Birrell.
For more than two years, commissioners used the “home rule” maps to conduct county business, and the Cobb Elections Board used those maps in the May primaries.
Along the way, Richardson reiterated what she said was an “unprecedented” action to force her from office. As the dispute lingered, she decided to run for the 6th Congressional District, but was routed by U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath in the Democratic primary.
And court rulings later reaffirmed that only the legislature can conduct county reapportionment in Georgia.
The May primary elections in District 2 and District 4 were thrown out by a Cobb judge, who ordered the special elections.
Here’s more of what Richardson posted on Tuesday:
“It is now precedent that the General Assembly has the blanket permission to remove a sitting elected official, at any time, and for any reason.
“While the General Assembly should not work to unilaterally overturn elections, they clearly and legally have the ability to, in accordance with this ruling. The future of elected representation is at stake in this state. Not only does the ruling reaffirm this undemocratic power, it also renders the purpose and authority of local state delegations powerless, local law unnecessary, and local calendars a voluntary exercise. A state representative in one area can override a whole group of state representatives in a completely different part of the State with impunity.
“Then, to know that the cosponsor of this bill felt it was inconsequential to remove me because I was ‘young and urban and should move to the Southside’ to ‘protect his community’ and make sure that the ‘representation matched’ bodes an unstable future for this State and is indicative of the fear that has permeated our communities
“Trust and believe that my vacancy is but a canary in the coal mine for what is to come. We have already seen other legislative bills chip away at the essence of the delicate checks and balances that have made our Country great. It is a slippery slope that we find ourselves on, and the fact that I am being removed from office this much later than originally thought is only because those in opposition struggled to file a legitimate legal challenge against the County for over a year.
“The County fought hard to prevent this precedent and stop a government branch from encroaching on local control. As an institutionalist, I am quite proud of the County’s legal work in defending a Constitutional procedure put in place to specifically protect the checks and balances between the State and the County, and the diligence of the community along the way.”
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Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid will take the oath of office for her second term on Monday at a swearing-in ceremony at the Cobb Civic Center (548 S. Marietta Parkway).
The event is free and is open to the public and starts at 6 p.m. You’re asked to contact her office at 770-528-3306 or email allin@cobbcounty.org if you’d like to attend.
A Democrat, Cupid won re-election in November over Republican Kay Morgan.
Cupid was the first woman and first African-American to hold the position, which is elected countywide.
But her tenure thus far marked by a number of mostly partisan issues that were eventually shelved.
They included a major overhaul of private trash services, a proposed stormwater fee and a plan to allow accessory dwelling units in residential backyards.
Cupid and her Democratic colleagues also claimed home rule powers to draw commission electoral maps in an attempt to keep Commissioner Jerica Richardson in her seat.
That move was eventually struck down in the courts, and Richardson’s seat has been declared vacant and special elections will be held early this year for two commission district seat.
Cupid also pushed through a vote to call a referendum to impose a transit tax in Cobb. It would have collected nearly $11 billion over 30 years, but was soundly defeated by voters in November.
An ethics complaint was filed against Cupid by Lance Lamberton of the Cobb Taxpayers Alliance, who claims she “engaged in unethical behavior by using taxpayer dollars to promote passage” of the transit tax.
A Cobb Ethics Board hearing was to have been held in December but was cancelled because there was not a quorum.
Lamberton said the meeting has been rescheduled for Monday at 4 p.m., two hours before Cupid’s swearing-in ceremony.
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Commissioner Richardson’s fall capstone internship program has come to a close. These young, bright minds worked alongside our office to gain insight and and contribute to some strategic initiatives. The fall capstone projects were:
Bridge to success
Master planning/affordable housing
Taxpayer’s receipt
Library of the future
Renter’s bill of rights
Water quality technologies
Little Brazil community center
ARTS triangle
Esports conference
The interns showcased their projects to the community on Dec. 16. A huge thank you to our fall interns for their hard work on Cobb community projects.
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Workers inspect the Power-Jackson Cabin after it was moved to Hyde Farm. Cobb Landmarks photo.
After being moved from Post Oak Tritt Road in August, the Power-Jackson Cabin will soon undergo restoration work at its new home at Hyde Farm in East Cobb.
The Cobb Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 Tuesday to fund the restoration work for $354,000, preserving the 1840s-era structure for use at Hyde Farm, a Cobb PARKS educational and recreational facility.
The contract was awarded to Leatherwood Inc., a Tennessee-based company that restored 13 structures at Hyde Farm in 2014.
The work will include setting a stone foundation, installing wide plank flooring, repairing logs as necessary and installing a front porch to the log cabin. The building also will be coated with an insecticide and waterproofed, according to Leatherwood’s scope of work.
“As a collaborative community effort, moving the cabin to and restoring the cabin at Hyde Farm honors the history of Cobb County by saving this valuable historic asset,” stated an agenda item for Tuesday’s meeting.
Commissioner JoAnn Birrell of East Cobb asked Cobb PARKS director Michael Brantley what specific plans might be in store for the cabin once it’s restored.
He said there are several possibilities as Hyde Farm expands, including using the cabin as a nature center, and for other educational functions.
Also being considered are using the cabin as part of a walking tour around the pond at Hyde Farm, he added, but no final decisions have been made.
Hyde Farm, located off Lower Roswell Road near the Chattahoochee River, is where two other Power family cabins exist, as part of a working 1840s farm that was in family hands until the 1990s.
According to the agenda item, the original cost of the Power-Jackson Cabin restoration was set at $321,000, but extra funds were needed to replace wood elements that deteriorated “greater than was originally anticipated.”
The funding is coming from the 2011 Cobb Parks SPLOST.
The Power-Jackson Cabin is regarded as one of the oldest existing structures in Cobb County. Cobb Landmarks, a Marietta non-profit, raised more than $70,000 to move the cabin to Hyde Farm.
The Power-Jackson Cabin, possibly built before 1840 by farmer William Power, was located on 13 undeveloped acres on Post Oak Tritt Road near McPherson Road that was part of a 2023 zoning case.
Landowner Kenneth B. Clary sought rezoning for a single-family subdivision, but issues over the cabin and possible Power family burials complicated the issue.
Clary later withdrew the rezoning request, and his family agreed to allow Cobb Landmarks to remove the cabin.
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The Cobb Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 Tuesday to raise water and sewer rates for each of the next five years.
Starting next year, residential and commercial customers will pay an additional 3.5 percent for water and sewer services each year through 2029, according to estimates presented by the Cobb County Water System at Tuesday’s meeting.
Judy Jones, the water system’s director, said the additional revenues are necessary due to rising costs for purchasing water wholesale and for wastewater treatment plant construction projects.
(More details of water, sewer and stormwater charges can be found by clicking here.)
Commissioner JoAnn Birrell of East Cobb, the only vote against, noted that while the Cobb-Marietta Water Authority is charging Cobb higher rates for water, “I cannot support this” because the county continues to transfer water revenues to its general fund budget for other expenses.
She has consistently 0pposed rising rates because of the transfer practice. Cobb, which topped out at a 10 percent transfer several years ago, now takes five percent of annual water revenues as it attempts to reduce that figure by a percent each year.
According to Jones’ presentation, the average increase for customers will be $1.90 a month, or a 2.8 percent increase.
She said the average residential customer in Cobb uses 5,000 gallons of water a month and is charged $67.50 for water, sewer and stormwater.
When asked to explain the multi-year charges, Jones said it helps for long-term planning of services and maintenance.
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All Cobb County Public Library locations will be closed on Friday, Dec. 6, for an annual in-service staff training day. The libraries will reopen for regular business hours on Saturday, Dec. 7.
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Cobb Library Director Helen Poyer (holding check) with staff in April, when the system was recognized for being named the Georgia Library of the Year by the Georgia Public Library Service.
Helen Poyer, who has been the director of the Cobb County Public Library System since 2009, is retiring from her post.
He is Keith Schuermann, director of the Harris-Troup Regional Library System in LaGrange.
Under Poyer’s leadership, the 15-branch Cobb library system has undergone a number of expansions and constructed new facilities, including the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center and the replacement Gritters Library, which opened recently.
Those two East Cobb branches are conducting operations with Cobb PARKS to spearhead expanded services and programs.
Sewell Mill offers art and spacemaker classes to the public and conducts events in a blackbox theatre.
The new Gritters Library is housed with the Northeast Cobb Community Center and CobbWorks, the county’s workforce development agency.
Earlier this year, the Cobb library system was named the library of the year by the Georgia Public Library Service “for its commitment to serving its community by partnering with numerous organizations within its county and statewide, and for efforts to expand access to materials and essential services to its community.”
Other library branches in East Cobb, include the East Cobb Library at Parkaire Landing and the Mountain View Regional Library.
Poyer began in Cobb at the South Cobb Library in 2006 before becoming the system’s director three years later.
Schuermann has been in his present role since 2012 and has been a librarian since 2003. He started his library career in the Cleveland, Ohio area, followed by stints at libraries in Cape Coral, Fla., and Gwinnett County.
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An East Cobb massage business that has been closed since August in the wake of allegations of improper operations will remain closed for another nine months.
The Cobb Board of Commissioners last Tuesday voted 5-0 to extend the suspension of the business license of Top Massage (2200 Roswell Road, Suite 150) until August 2025.
Like another East Cobb massage business whose license was revoked in July, Top Massage is accused by the Cobb Community Development Agency’s Business License Division of not having properly licensed therapists on staff or premises (list of alleged violations).
The business license officials and Cobb Police visited Top Massage on April 10 and found two employees working there—one of them performing a message—who had health spa permits but not the required state massage therapist license.
There also wasn’t a state licensed therapist at the business at the time, according to the business license division.
Elisia Webb, the head of the business license division, said there wasn’t a record of treatments at Top Massage as is required, nor was there a list of employees or proof of certification.
Top Massage, she said, was “not licensed or permitted to perform massages in any shape, form or fashion.”
According to testimony at the hearing, the only licensed therapist who had been at the business has returned to China.
Michael Faniletti, the attorney for Top Massage owner Zhe Han, stated that his client voluntarily closed the business when he realized the situation, and has filed a new application for a health spa with a licensed therapist he’s planned to hire.
“All these things have been corrected,” Falinetti told commissioners. A permanent revocation, he added, “would be a harsh penalty. He [Zhe] missed some things and he can see that, but a 90-day voluntary suspension should be considered.”
Sam Hensley, attorney for the business license division, said that “technically, there is no license now.” The Board of License Review had recommended a 60-day suspension that Zhe appealed.
Faniletti said a state-approved licensee “is waiting in the wings” and that his client “would open only with that new licensee.”
Zhe told commissioners he signed a five-year lease on the space where the business is located, and said he has corrected mistakes.
But Commissioner JoAnn Birrell wasn’t sympathetic in making a motion to extend the suspension for a full year—the same duration as Asian Wellness Massage on Canton Road in July.
“These cases we don’t take lightly,” she said. “There’s no excuse not to know the law and our code.”
She said that “there are too many violations here” and wondered how the mistakes have been corrected “if you’ve been closed.”
Under the terms of the decision, Top Massage would be allowed to reapply for a business license in August 2025.
Cobb is currently observing a moratorium on issuing new health spa licenses, following requests from county officials to review those regulations. That moratorium continues through the end of the year.
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The last of the $147 million that Cobb County government received in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds will go toward addressing stormwater issues.
The Cobb Board of Commissioners on Tuesday voted to spend the final sum of $3 million on a variety of stormwater projects.
The vote was 4-1 with Chairwoman Lisa Cupid opposed. An agenda item and discussion at the meeting didn’t specify the stormwater work to be done, but stated that those with “critical” needs would be prioritized.
Cupid preferred distributing the money to community non-profits to help those with housing needs, but her colleagues agreed that another longstanding issue that has galvanized public attention in recent months needed to be addressed.
The county had to earmark the funding by the end of the year—the deadline the U.S. government set for using the COVID-era relief money.
After months of contentious meetings, commissioners voted in July to table a proposal by Cupid to establish a stormwater utility fee.
“There’s definitely a need everywhere, but I think that with the balance, I’m for keeping it in county departments,” District 3 Commissioner JoAnn Birrell of East Cobb said.
Cobb Financial Officer Bill Volckmann said that more than $80 million of the county’s ARPA allocation has gone for housing-related needs, and the rest mainly went to county government departments and agencies.
The Cobb County Water System drafted a proposal to change the way the county charges property owners for stormwater services.
Currently, they pay for that according to water usage. Switching to a formula based on amount of impervious surfaces would range from charging $2 to $12 a month for most residential customers, according to water system calculations.
Birrell and Commissioner Keli Gambrill of District 1 in North Cobb have been opposed to the fee, which some critics called a “rain tax.”
Cobb Water System director Judy Jones has said the current system isn’t enough to pay for what’s needed to maintain the county’s aging stormwater infrastructure.
Following a heated town hall meeting in East Cobb in March, and at other venues, commissioners shelved the proposal, and no timetable has been announced for bringing it back.
“That’s something that we can’t continue to not address,” said District 4 Commissioner Monique Sheffield of South Cobb, who supported using the ARPA funds for stormwater work.
“Those issues are real and they’re impacting people.”
District 2 Commissioner Jerica Richardson noted that surveys sent out to the public reflected that stormwater and housing were the top needs that were stated.
But Cupid said the continuing stormwater issues mean that the county will have to continue to look for ways to generate recurring revenue for those purposes.
“I don’t want to give anyone the impression that we’re resolving Cobb County’s stormwater needs through this agenda item.”
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A Gritters Library patron browses the shelves at the new facility, located adjacent to the old library at Shaw Park. ECN photos and video.
Four years after groundbreaking, the new multi-purpose building at Shaw Park anchored by Gritters Library is open to the public.
The 20,000-square foot facility, which opened on Nov. 6, includes the relocated Northeast Cobb Community Center and the workforce development headquarters for CobbWorks, the county’s job and employment resource center.
The Gritters building will also serve as an outreach center for civic engagement and health and wellness matters.
At a Thursday ribbon-cutting celebration, officials from those entities and others touted the new center as a dynamic asset for a growing area.
“Wow. Wow,” said Commissioner JoAnn Birrell of East Cobb, who championed the reconstruction project through financial and other hurdles. “Have you ever seen a more beautiful thing than this?”
The main area of the new Gritters Library features computer work stations as well as bookshelves.
The Gritters replacement project was included in the 2016 Cobb SPLOST, with $6.8 million originally budgeted for the library and $1.2 million for the community center.
There was a ground-breaking ceremony in 2021, but a $2.5 million shortfall emerged due to rising construction costs. Cobb commissioners approved some creative financing in 2023 to set the project in motion.
After thanking the many parties involved in the funding and building—including State Rep. Don Parsons of Northeast Cobb and the Georgia Public Library Service, Birrell declared the new Gritters to be “a community asset for the whole area because of the partnerships invested here.”
When the small wooden frame building that served as the Gritters Library branch opened in 1973, it was designed to serve a population of 25,000.
Today, that 3-mile radius now includes more than 65,000 people, as well as a number of educational institutions. There are 11 Cobb County School District campuses, Kennesaw State University and a branch of Chattahoochee Tech in the community.
The children’s room at the new Gritters Library.
“It truly is about community connection—neighbors to neighbors,” Cobb County Manager Jackie McMorris said. “The word is spreading about this beautiful facility. We are excited to be a part of this with you.”
Sonya Grant, executive director of CobbWorks said that “this partnership with the library is the perfect fit for us.” With its “wealth of resources,” she said, “CobbWorks is 100 percent committed to the economic vitality of all of our citizens.”
The community center space is expanded from its old quarters in Shaw Park, said Cobb PARKS director Michael Brantley, serving as a venue for public meetings and things like weddings and special celebrations.
It’s the second such collaboration between the parks and libraries, along with the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center.
“This is a great investment in your future,” Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid said. “What I love about libraries is they foster fellowship with our neighbors.”
Gritters Library is open Monday —Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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A rendering of the new Gritters Library-Northeast Cobb Community Center.
It’s been a little more than a year since the Gritters Library branch was demolished (our story on its temporary closing here) to make way for a new, expanded library and Northeast Cobb Community Center in Shaw Park.
The Cobb Library System announced Thursday that the new facility will be opening less than a week from now, on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 10 a.m.
And there will be a ribbon-cutting on Thursday, Nov. 14, at 2 p.m.
The event is sponsored by the Cobb Library Foundation and hosted by the Cobb County Board of Commissioners, Cobb County Manager, Cobb County Public Library Board of Trustees, Cobb County Workforce Development and Cobb PARKS.
The 15,000-square-foot Gritters Library (880 Shaw Park Road), built at a cost of $9.8 million, will include county workforce development programs and the Northeast Cobb Community Center, which is being relocated from another part of Shaw Park.
Other outreach that will stem from Gritters includes civic engagement and health and wellness matters.
Gritters, which opened in Shaw Park in 1973, serves a community of around 65,000 people within a three-mile radius.
The small building had outgrown all of those uses years ago, but securing funding was challenging.
The Gritters replacement project was included in the 2016 Cobb SPLOST, with $6.8 million originally budgeted for the library and $1.2 million for the community center.
There was a ground-breaking ceremony in 2021, but a $2.5 million shortfall emerged due to rising construction costs. Cobb commissioners approved some creative financing in 2023 to set the project in motion.
In addition to CobbWorks, Gritters has partnerships with the Northeast Cobb Business Association, SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) and nearby higher educational institutions.
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Cobb government this afternoon said water service is out temporarily in some neighborhoods in East Cobb along Johnson Ferry Road due to emergency repairs.
The neighborhoods include River Hill, below Lower Roswell and near Powers Road.
There was no estimate for when water service may be restored to the area, but the message from the county said “water crews are working to make repairs as fast as possible.”
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