East Cobb Government

Cobb adopts $1.2B fiscal 2023 budget; maintains millage rate

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Cobb adopts $1.4B fiscal 2023 budget
Commissioner JoAnn Birrell supported raising the millage rate for fire services, saying “they’re hurting and they need to be revived.”

In a split vote along party lines, the Cobb Board of Commissioners adopted a $1.2 billion fiscal year 2023 budget Tuesday night that expands the size of county government and provides substantial employee pay raises.

Commissioners also voted to maintain the general fund millage rate and other millage rates except the fire fund, which is going up slightly.

The board’s three Democrats voted to adopt the budget, with Chairwoman Lisa Cupid saying that while the spending package isn’t a “panacea . . . it helps us to move significantly further ahead” in addressing what she has long said are chronic staffing, salary and other issues that have affectEd service provision.

The budget includes the creation of 147 new jobs in what have been described as “critical” positions and a rise in the minimum wage for county employees from $11.50 to $17 an hour.

The two Republicans voted against the budget for varying reasons. Keli Gambrill cited “philosophical differences in budgeting” and the growing amount of reserve funding that totals nearly $52 million, saying that “to me, we are expanding government.”

JoAnn Birrell of East Cobb repeated publicly expressed doubts about the higher minimum wage. “I’m concerned if it’s sustainable year to year,” said Birrell, who also wants the county to prioritize filling existing vacancies before creating new jobs.

Commissioners also approved, by a 4-1 vote, to implement the recommendations of a new pay and classification study by a consultant that will cost $22 million in the new budget, and nearly $2 million in the current budget.

Among the recommendations is an average pay increase for full-time workers of nearly 11 percent. Gambrill was the lone vote in opposition.

The general fund millage rate—funded by property taxes and that provides for most of the budget—is staying at 8.46 mills.

But the fire fund is rising from 2.86 mills to 2.99 mills. The extra 0.13 mills is being transferred from a parks bond that is due to expire, and after fire officials said they have been deferring capital maintenance and other expenses.

Birrell supported that increase, saying in recent years, the fire fund rate has been reduced twice.

“They are hurting and they need to be revived,” said Birrell, who is seeking a fourth term in November and who has frequently said public safety needs should be at the top of budget priorities.

Cobb Tax Assessor Stephen White

The board’s vote came after a brief recess called by Cupid, who allowed public commenters to chime in, and they did so in occasionally intense fashion.

As she heard in a town hall in East Cobb last week, quite a few wanted the board to roll back the millage rate, saying inflation is taking a toll.

The Cobb tax digest has grown by 12.3 percent in 2022, netting an additional $60 million for the budget. But property tax assessments have gone up astronomically across the county.

Jim Jess of the Franklin Roundtable, a conservative group based in Cobb County, said rising gas prices alter “how people spend money in their households. People out here are hurting,” referring to senior citizens and workers who aren’t getting much of a pay raise.

Salleigh Grubbs, head of the Cobb Republican Party, told commissioners “you don’t acknowledge the looming recession.”

Debbie Fisher of East Cobb accused the county of not properly notifying the public of a tax increase in the millage rate for the fire fund.

Another East Cobb resident, Leroy Emkin, used his time not to comment on the county budget, but to rail against the World Economic Forum, the Green New Deal and wind turbines, speaking in fulminating fashion from prepared remarks.

Another East Cobb resident rose in support of the budget.

“I don’t know if Cobb is planning any wind farms,” said William Parker, “but the planet is on fire.

“Yes, some people are hurting. But it costs money to operate a county.”

Residential and commercial properties are assessed roughly every three years in Cobb County, tax assessor Stephen White said, and the state can penalize counties if they don’t perform updated fair market value assessments.

“We’re taking in a tremendous amount of [tax] money,” Gambrill said. “I agree that we need to be rolling back the millage rate.”

Birrell and Cupid are holdovers when commissioners rolled back the general fund millage rate in 2016, then faced a $32 million budget shortfall two years later.

Cupid voted for a tax increase pushed by her predecessor, Mike Boyce, while Birrell voted against it.

But with some county departments reporting staffing shortages of as much as 40 percent—including DOT, water and other frontline services, “now is the time for auction,” said commissioner Jerica Richardson, whose district includes part of East Cobb.

County department heads had requested a total of 658 new positions.

“Tonight will not be a panacea,” Cupid said. “But I believe that we are making the right decisions for today.”

The fiscal year 2023 budget takes effect Oct. 1.

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East Cobb residents challenge Cupid on budget, diversity issues

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Less than a week before a new fiscal year county budget is to be adopted, Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid took her message about taxes, spending and other issues to an East Cobb audience that was largely skeptical of many of her priorities.

A town hall Wednesday at the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center dubbed “All In Cobb” was the last of four such meetings she’s held in each of the Cobb commission districts.

With East Cobb-area commissioners Jerica Richardson and JoAnn Birrell in attendance, Cupid said during the nearly two-hour event that the concerns she heard have been similar around the county over the last month.

Some East Cobb residents didn’t like seeing a slide presented by Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid about diversity issues.

Her proposed fiscal year budget of $1.4 billion holds the general fund property tax rate at 8.46 mills, but due to rising assessments many Cobb homeowners will be paying substantially higher taxes.

Cupid defended a proposal to add nearly 150 new county positions and raised the minimum wage for county employees to $17 an hour due to chronic staff shortages in many departments, including road maintenance, stormwater management and public safety.

She said while they don’t come close to addressing all those needs, with this budget “we’re going to try to fix” what she said have been long-standing concerns.

“What you’re getting from your government are beautiful buildings like this one,” she said. “I think Cobb County can do better” to provide services for a county of nearly 800,000.

“I keep hearing not to spend” on certain priorities, she said, “but you still want stellar services. It’s not working right now.”

Throughout the evening, she tried to tie affordable housing to budget and spending issues, because “people who work here should be able to afford to live here.”

She noted that the average price of newly built homes in Cobb averages around $300,000. A county employee making her proposed minimum wage of $17 an hour would earn only $33,000 in gross pay, not nearly enough to afford even that.

But a woman in the audience who owns rental housing said that some of her tenants have been forced to leave because they couldn’t afford to pay higher rents. She said she reluctantly raised them because of skyrocketing assessments.

East Cobb resident Craig Harfoot said a record Cobb tax digest is a “false digest” due to higher assessments.

“That’s too much taxes,” she said, pointing out that such renters “are the people who need” affordable housing options.

“It’s a challenge and I recognize it,” Cupid said.

Another resident said when she travels to West Cobb, she sees new sidewalks and pocket parks and “I feel like East Cobb has become the golden goose.”

Cupid said it’s a comment she hears wherever she goes in the county.

East Cobb resident Craig Harfoot said the Georgia legislature needs to look at how property taxes are reassessed.

“You’re pricing all the poor people out of their homes,” he said.

But Cupid rebuffed calls in the audience to “roll back” the millage rate in light of the proposed budget being nearly $100 million more than the current fiscal year.

“We’re trying to address things that we haven’t addressed for years,” she said. “I’m keeping the millage rate but we’re not funding” for the level of service she hears citizens demanding.

Making repeated references to Rumpelstiltskin—about turning straw into gold—Cupid said that “rolling it back won’t help that.

“There is this misperception about how robustly resourced the county is.”

Others were cool to government-driven ideas for resolving affordable housing issues.

East Cobb resident Leroy Emkin blasted the proposed creation of a diversity, equity and inclusion officer for Cobb County government.

When a resident challenged her about letting the market dictate housing costs, Cupid—who holds engineering and law degrees—said “there’s a place for government and there’s a place for the market. They co-exist.”

Some shouted “noooooo!” at those remarks.

Some audience members were rankled about a slide Cupid presented about diversity, saying it’s not just about race, but also geography and income levels, among other factors.

A woman said “I don’t treat anybody differently” to some cheering.

East Cobb resident Leroy Emkin, a frequent commenter at commissioners’ public address, was critical of a proposal in the budget for the creation of a diversity, equity and inclusion officer position.

“What the hell do we need a director for that kind of office?” he said to considerable applause.

County manager Jackie McMorris corrected his assertion that it would cost $400,000, saying that the $150,000 to be earmarked for that post—suggested by Cupid’s predecessor, the late Mike Boyce—comes from federal COVID-19 stimulus funds and is just one job, with no staff.

McMorris acknowledged “a philosophical difference in what we value,” including the acceptance of American Rescue Plan Act funds altogether.

Cobb County Manager Jackie McMorris said the proposed FY ’23 spending package “is just not a bloated budget.”

After the town hall, Birrell said she was hoping for more discussion on the budget.

“There are some things I like and some things I don’t like,” said Birrell, who is up for re-election in November in a newly redrawn district that includes most of East Cobb.

She didn’t offer any particulars, but Birrell and fellow Republican commissioner Keli Gambrill have expressed concerns about future budget impacts should the $17 an hour minimum wage be adopted.

“Some things are critical, that we need,” Birrell said. “But I am concerned about this budget being sustainable,” especially when many citizens are reeling from higher tax assessments and inflation.

Commissioners will hold a final public hearing on the proposed budget and millage rate next Tuesday night before voting on adoption then.

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Cobb commissioners accept Rite Aid opioid lawsuit settlement

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Cobb settlement Rite Aid opiods lawsuit
Missy Owen, Davis Direction Foundation

Cobb commissioners on Tuesday accepted a settlement with Rite Aid for $3.5 million after nearly four years of opioid-related litigation.

By a  4-1 vote, commissioners approved the settlement with the pharmacy chain as part of a “bellwether” series of lawsuits that included local governments in Durham, N.C. and Montgomery County, Ohio.

For several years, Cobb has been near the top in drug overdose deaths in Georgia, with nearly 200 in the year 2020, a majority of them from fentanyl and other opioids.

The lawsuit alleges that “Rite Aid failed to effectively monitor and report suspicious orders of prescription opioids from its retail stores and failed to implement measures to prevent diversion of prescription opioids, which contributed to an increase in opioid addictions, overdoses, and deaths” in Cobb, Montgomery County and Durham.

The lawsuit also claimed that “Rite Aid failed to adequately train pharmacists at its retail stores on how to adequately handle prescriptions for opioids and failed to institute policies and procedures at its retail stores to avoid the diversion of opioids.”

A trial was to have begun next year; Rite Aid admitted to no wrongdoing in agreeing to the settlement, which will cost it $10.5 million total to all three jurisdictions.

Cobb also has joined broader litigation against opioids manufacturers, who are being sued for damages stemming from the opioids epidemic.

Cobb County Manager Jackie McMorris will be forming a committee to determine how the Rite Aid settlement money is to be spent. The most likely designation could be for recovery and treatment expenses.

Before the vote Tuesday, Missy Owen of the Davis Direction Foundation, an addiction recovery non-profit, urged commissioners to agree to the settlement so the community can “begin to focus on the real task at hand—saving lives.”

Her son Davis died of a heroin overdose in 2014 at the age of 20. Since then, she and her husband founded the foundation that bears Davis’ name, as well as The Zone, a space off Fairground Street in Marietta for those in long-term addiction recovery.

She also began a recovery roundtable with former Cobb District Attorney Vic Reynolds that continues.

Owen said there were 30 hospitalizations in last month alone in Cobb for fentanyl poisoning, and that “15 of those 30 thought they were taking something other than fentanyl.

“No amount of money will ever make this right,” Owen said, fighting back some emotion. “When you ask a mother to put a price on the life of a child, there will never be enough to cover the cost. However, we can’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good that can be done with this settlement money right now.”

Commissioner JoAnn Birrell thanked her for her comments, saying “I know that it was difficult to speak up.”

Commissioner Keli Gambrill also noted Owens remarks but said that she wouldn’t vote to accept the settlement because “the lawsuit does not address the root cause” of substance abuse and addiction.

For more information, including locations for treatment, visit the Opioid Awareness in Cobb County resource page.

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Cobb County announces proposed tax increase, millage rates

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Cobb proposed tax increase
Bill Volckmann, Cobb Finance Director

After unveiling the proposed fiscal year 2023 operating budget on Tuesday, Cobb County government on Thursday officially posted a notice of a tax increase that also will be subject to several public hearings in July.

The proposed budget of $1.15 billion does not include an increase to any millage rates, including the general fund, the primary source of revenues that comes from property taxes.

But due to a 12.63 percent increase in the Cobb tax digest this year, that constitutes a tax increase according to state law, since a “roll back” in the millage rate to equal the current FY 2022 budget of $1.04 billion is not included.

Public hearings must be held by the Cobb Board of Commissioners advertising a tax increase, and they are scheduled as follows, with adoption scheduled for July 26:

  • Tuesday, July 12 at 9 a.m.
  • Tuesday, July 19 at 6:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, July 26 at 7 p.m.

A release from Cobb government Thursday detailed the proposed millage rates that have been proposed for the FY 2023 budget, which would take effect Oct. 1:

  • General Fund 8.46 mills;
  • Fire 2.99 mills;
  • Debt Service (Bond Fund) 0.0 mills;
  • Cumberland Special Services District II 2.45 mills;
  • Six Flags Special Service District 3.50 mills.

The proposed budget would include revenues totalling $865 million from those millage rates, compared to $768 million in the current budget.

Most of the rest of the revenues would come from Cobb water system revenues.

Similarly, the Cobb Board of Education announced this week it also will be holding public hearings next July since it is retaining its millage rate for fiscal year 2023 with additional revenues.

The county has not yet posted the full FY 2023 budget on its website as Finance Director Bill Volckmann mentioned on Tuesday; here’s a copy of what was presented Tuesday to commissioners that runs 41 pages.

The budget would add 147 new full-time positions throughout county government, add a merit raise, raise the minimum wage to $17 an hour and add other recruitment and intention incentives to address that Cobb officials have said are critical staffing shortages.

Most of the increase in the tax digest, a projected $50 billion, is due to rising property assessments.

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Proposed Cobb FY 2023 budget would create 147 new positions

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Cobb proposed FY 2023 budget

The Cobb fiscal year 2023 operating budget proposed Tuesday would create 147 new positions in county government as part of a concerted effort to address what have been labeled serious staffing and employment issues.

The proposed budget of $865 million from all millage rates is up from the current fiscal year 2022 adopted budget of $768 million.

The overall proposed budget from all revenue sources is $1.15 billion, up from $1.04 billion. The majority of those additional revenues comes from water bills.

General fund revenues—which are paid for in property taxes—would rise from $496.7 million to $564.2 million for FY 2023.

There is not a proposed property tax increase for the general fund millage rate, which is 8.46 mills. Due to the Cobb tax digest increasing by 12 percent this year, that still constitutes a tax increase, since the millage rate will not be rolled back.

County officials said budget documents will be made available on its website at this link; you can watch Tuesday’s budget presentation, which lasts around two hours, by clicking here.

At a Cobb Board of Commissioners work session Tuesday, Cobb finance director Bill Volckmann said the budget figures don’t include costs for a class-and-pay compensation system that will be implemented in September.

Many of the priorities are aimed at employee recruitment and retention, and Chairwoman Lisa Cupid said the new positions are in response to feedback from constituents.

“We want to make sure our employees are valued because that’s how we provide value to our citizens,” said Chairwoman Lisa Cupid, who’s complained for years that previous commissions haven’t adequately staffed, paid and retained employees in critical positions.

“I feel like we can stand tall knowing we’ve been responsive to the years of concerns and the culmination of that over the last year.”

Among her priorities is an increase in the minimum wage for county employees to $17 an hour, which is up from around $9-$10 an hour.

There is a performance-based merit raise (budgeted at 3.5 percent), continuing a step-and-grade compensation system for public safety employees, increased funding for capital maintenance projects and more funding for Cobb and Douglas Public Health and the Department of Family and Children’s Services.

The proposal also would reduce the number of years for employees to be vested in the county pension system from 10 years to five years.

Cobb FY proposed 2023 budget

Cobb FY proposed 2023 budget

Cupid summarized some of the new positions, saying some would be added for Cobb DOT for road projects and maintenance and code enforcement and some public safety positions.

The proposal includes new positions in the Cobb Police Department, seven new positions the Fire and Emergency Services Department and six new jobs in the Emergency 911 Department.

Volckmann said another 32 jobs would be created in the court system.

She said an unspecified number of new jobs would be created in the Cobb Parks, Recreation and Public Affairs Department organize special events and programming.

Cupid said that was to address “sense of place” issues that came up during three failed cityhood referendum efforts, including one in East Cobb.

She also said the budget would include funding to conduct a “disparity study” relating to businesses owned by women, minorities and disabled veterans.

Commissioners Keli Gambrill and JoAnn Birrell, the board’s two Republican members, said they couldn’t support the disparity study.

Gambrill also expressed concern about how the employee pay raise costs may be funded over the long term.

“While we do have a [tax] digest growth that will cover this change, and this increase this year, we might not have this digest growth in two years,” she said. She said that would especially affect renters who’ve received federal COVID-related assistance the last two years.

“The last time we had a tax increase [2018] it hit them the hardest, because commercial property owners are not exempt with the homestead exemption,” Gambrill said. “This will have a future impact to the most critical needs right now in our county.”

County department heads had requested more than 650 new positions across the board, coming to $178 million in new spending.

Earlier this month commissioners approved a request to spend federal COVID-related American Rescue Plan Act funds for outsourced salaries and staff retention bonuses in “critical” positions in transportation, water, and parks and recreation.

Most of the new proposed jobs would be in what Volckmann said were departments that didn’t have many vacancies, with the exception of Cobb DOT.

Cupid said filling current vacancies would be emphasized before the new positions. Cobb government has been producing content in recent weeks about staff shortages, claiming a reported 1,000 vacancies across all government agencies.

Birrell expressed concern about requesting additional jobs with so many existing vacancies.

Volckmann said as an example that in the police department, most of the vacancies are for officers. The new requests, he said, would be for specialty positions.

“We made it very clear that these are critical positions,” County Manager Jackie McMorris said, addressing Birrell. “If you asked them to go back and cut more, ‘is to do your job, continuously, without the resources you need to do it,’ that’s not fair to them.”

Among the new proposed jobs is an events coordinator for Cobb parks, recreation and cultural affairs.

McMorris said existing staff are constantly overextended handling groundbreakings, ribbon cuttings and special events for the many activities that take place at those facilities.

When Birrell asked what an events coordinator would do during slower periods, McMorris interjected: “There is no off-season in Cobb. It’s not just the mowing and the Little League.

“There are events year-round. There are events you ask them to prepare for. There is plenty of work for that events coordinator to do.”

County department heads, McMorris continued, showing some emotion, are so conservative that “they don’t want to ask you for the basic things that they need.”

Three public hearings on the budget and millage rate have been scheduled for July, with adoption scheduled for July 26:

  • Tuesday, July 12 at 9 a.m.
  • Tuesday, July 19 at 6:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, July 26 at 7 p.m.

Fiscal year 2023 begins Oct. 1 and continues through Sept. 30, 2023.

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Construction costs ‘elevated’ for new Cobb Police Precinct 6

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Cobb Police Precinct 6

Cobb County officials will be asking commissioners Tuesday to set what they’re calling a “Guaranteed Maximum Price” to complete the building of the new Cobb Police Precinct 6 in Northeast Cobb.

According to an agenda item, the new station to be located next to the Mountain View Aquatic Center was earmarked with $5 million in funding from the 2016 Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax.

But the estimated price tag for the facility has grown to more than $5.5 million, according to the agenda item, which is recommending a build-out in stages.

“Due to currently elevated construction costs, budgeted funding is insufficient to complete build-out of the entire facility as designed,” states the agenda item.

The initial phase would include the construction of the exterior, front office spaces and a community room area, and provide space for on-site equipment access.

“When additional funding is identified, continuation of the project will be revisited at that time,” according to the budget item.

County officials are requesting $536,973 from county reserve funding to complete the project.

The new precinct initially will not have a patrol zone and instead will house police specialty units. Groundbreaking was held last November, after commissioners approved a two-phase contract with the Batson-Cook Company.

The first phase costs are $723,980 for design and other work. In the agenda item for Tuesday, the proposed Maximum Guaranteed Price for construction is $4,736,378, bringing the overall costs to $5,460,358.

Most of the East Cobb area is currently covered by Cobb Police Precinct 4, located on Lower Roswell Road.

That precinct runs from the Powers Ferry Road area to the east side of Canton Road.

Commissioners also will be asked on Tuesday to formally accept $73,824,239, the second of two lump sums from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Those funds are designated for state, local and other governments as part of the continuing response to COVID-19 and can be used for infrastructure upgrades, rental and small business assistance and support for essential workers.

There also will be a public hearing at the start of the meeting for the initial draft of Cobb County’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan 5-Year Update.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the second floor board room of the Cobb government building (100 Cherokee St., downtown Marietta).

The full agenda can be found here; there are two public comment sessions at the start and near the end of the meeting.

The meeting also 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.

 

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Cobb commissioners to hear fiscal year 2023 budget proposal

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Cobb commissioners public comments

The Cobb government fiscal year 2023 budget proposal will be presented to members of the Cobb Board of Commissioners next week.

Cobb government said in a notice Tuesday that county finance officials will make the presentation at a work session on Tuesday, June 28 at 1:30 p.m., following adoption of the 2022 Cobb tax digest by the Cobb Board of Tax Assessors.

Three public hearings on the budget and millage rate have been scheduled for July, with adoption scheduled for July 26:

  • Tuesday, July 12 at 9 a.m.
  • Tuesday, July 19 at 6:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, July 26 at 7 p.m.

The current fiscal year 2022 general fund budget of $496.6 billion was adopted a year ago by holding the property tax rate at 8.46 mills and included a pay raise and progress on implementing a step-and-grade salary plan for public safety personnel.

The overall budget from all funding sources topped $1 billion, the first time it’s crossed that threshold in Cobb.

But as a new budget season begins, the fiscal picture in Cobb is being painted as grim, even with tax digest growth projected in excess of 10 percent.

It would be the first double-digit increase in Cobb in more than a decade, with a projected record of $48.4 billion. Property tax assessments were sent out earlier this month, with some rising more than 20 percent from last year.

Cobb tax assessor Stephen White said that home values increased by an average of $66,000 from last year.

But Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid has not indicated whether she will be proposing a reduction in the millage rate.

In recent months county officials said they are seriously struggling to fill numerous staff positions. Last week commissioners approved a request to spend federal COVID-related American Rescue Plan Act funds for outsourced salaries and staff retention bonuses in “critical” positions in transportation, water, and parks and recreation.

County department heads have been submitting budget requests that would add nearly 700 employees to address those shortages.

Those requests—which come to a budget of $1.2 billion, an increase of nearly $180 million from last year—are unlikely to all be filled.

Only five new full-time positions were filled in the current budget, and commissioners said it was a no-frills package. Employees got a 3-percent pay raise and some capital management funding was replenished.

Cupid said at the time that the county cannot continue “to fall behind on the basic things.”

But staff vacancies have continued to grow, and service provision has fallen off. Among the tasks to be performed by outsourced Cobb DOT staffing, for example, include mowing right-of-ways and conducting other basic road maintenance work.

Cobb government has been producing content in recent weeks about those issues, claiming a reported 1,000 vacancies across all government agencies.

Cupid is holding town halls in each of the four commission districts starting next week through mid-July.

The budget presentation work session on Tuesday will take place in the second floor board room of the Cobb government building (100 Cherokee St., downtown Marietta).

The work session and budget and millage rate hearings also 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.

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Cobb government offices closed Monday for Juneteenth holiday

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Cobb government closed Juneteenth
For a larger view click here.

For the first time, Cobb County government is observing Juneteenth, and all offices, including courts and library branches, will be closed on Monday.

June 19 is the designated day for Juneteenth, marking the in 1865 when Union troops freed the last American slaves held in Confederate states.

Cobb commissioners voted last year to begin the holiday starting in 2022. The day off for Cobb employees will cost around $300,000; Cobb currently has 12 official paid holidays every year.

Celebratory events take place all weekend (see the flyer for more information), highlighted by the Cobb NAACP’s cultural festival that takes place all day Saturday at Glover Park on the Marietta Square.

For more information click here.

Other Juneteenth events in Cobb are taking place in Acworth, Kennesaw and Powder Springs. For more information click here.

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Cupid to hold ‘All-In-Cobb’ summer town hall meetings

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Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid has scheduled town hall meetings in June and July in each of the four commission districts entitled “All-In-Cobb: Cobb forward together.”Cupid State of Cobb County address

The title has been how she’s referenced state of the county addresses she’s given, and in her weekly newsletter Cupid said she’s planning “o share some highlights of what is going on in our county and to hear from citizens about how we can move forward together.”

The timing of the town halls comes after three Cityhood referendums, including one in East Cobb, failed in May, and before Cupid presents her fiscal year 2023 budget.

The two town hall meetings in East Cobb will be June 30 at the Tim D. Lee Senior Center (3332 Sandy Plains Road) in District 3 and July 20 at the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center (2051 Lower Roswell Road) in District 2.

In remarks this week to the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, she reiterated themes of her initial speech, including diversity issues, a proposed 30-year transit tax that’s been pushed back for consideration in 2024 and proposed pay raises for county employees.

Cupid referenced the Cityhood votes in a recent newsletter by saying that “this should be the start of new dialogue. The town halls, forums, and conversations gave us a great opportunity to hear from residents. Now is the time to consider how we can strengthen county services, create communities with a better ‘sense of place,’ and capture the heightened level of engagement these votes encouraged.

“Residents made it clear they want a role in land use, zoning, and parks programs. Hopefully, this sparks increased community engagement with commissioners and staff when it comes to amendments to our Comprehensive Plan and participation in zoning meetings. In the weeks and months ahead you can also get involved in the county’s transition to a Unified Development Code among other matters like waste collection.”

All the town hall meetings will be from 6:30-8 p.m. and are free and open to the public.

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Lower Roswell Road project questioned as construction nears

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Lower Roswell road parcels
New turn lanes would be created at Lower Roswell Road and Woodlawn Drive.

As the long-delayed Lower Roswell Road transportation project gets closer to getting underway, some East Cobb residents are speaking out against it.

Land acquisitions are continuing for the $9 million Cobb DOT project, which would stretch from Davidson Road and Woodlawn Drive, and include the construction of a median and turn lanes.

The project (fact sheet; location map) also would provide a connection for bicycle lanes in the community and provide sidewalks.

But it’s been more than a decade since first being proposed, and is being funded with money from Cobb government’s 2011 Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax (SPLOST).

The county held open houses in 2012 and 2013 and accepted virtual comments in early 2022 before commissioners approved the project’s conceptual plan last year.

“You should declare it infeasible,” East Cobb resident Craig Harfoot told members of the Cobb Board of Commissioners Tuesday during a public comment session. “You haven’t done anything [with the money].”

Some of that funding has been used for property purchases, and commissioners recently approved condemnations of several parcels for rights-of-way and easements.

Engineering work began in 2012 and right-of-way proceedings began in 2019. Cobb DOT is hoping to start construction early next year, and anticipates taking two years to completion.

But some residents said Tuesday that the project should be scuttled because they claim it’s unwanted and a waste of money.

“It’s so unpopular that two former commissioners chose not to do it in 15 years,” said Jan Barton, referencing Joe Lee Thompson and Bob Ott.

Her remarks included other complaints about county spending—including outside consultants and a proposed new position for a diversity and equity officer—as well as recent zoning decisions in East Cobb.

Others who live in the vicinity echoed her comments.

“It hasn’t gotten off the ground because nobody really wants this,” said Larry Savage, a former candidate for Cobb Commission Chairman. “Nobody’s defending this.”

Savage said the Lower Roswell Road project really isn’t about safety and operational improvements but accommodating a bike and trail plan policy.

Lower Roswell Road project
For a larger view of the Lower Roswell Road traffic project concept map, click here.

He said that since commissioners approved the Complete Streets Concept in 2009, it’s been lucrative for project developers to incorporate multi-use trails in what are billed as transportation improvements.

“Bike trails are a recreational amenity, a good amenity,” Savage said. “But this project is not a safety and operational improvements project.”

Some of the delays were prompted by concerns from business owners along Lower Roswell between Johnson Ferry Road and Davidson Road.

That stretch of the project calls for the construction of a median, with some businesses fearing access would be cut off.

Referring to the Tijuana Joe’s restaurant on the southeast corner of Johnson Ferry and Lower Roswell, Savage it could lose its business.

Harfoot referenced the Papa John’s restaurant and the new Bagel 101 Café on the northeast corner, saying “they won’t have any parking.”

Rob Miller, owner of the Bagel 101 Café, told East Cobb News he hasn’t heard of any complaints thus far, but “I hear the project will make parking in our center even less then it already is and it’s tough to get in and out on the weekends.”

Commissioners didn’t respond to the public commenters, who said there was a community meeting recently with commissioners Jerica Richardson and JoAnn Birrell.

Cobb DOT has said that traffic volume and safety precipitated the project and proposed the median because the crash history in that area is above average (42 on Lower Roswell between Johnson Ferry and Davidson from 2016-18).

The agency estimated daily average traffic volumes along Lower Roswell to be nearly 37,000 on either side of Johnson Ferry in 2015, and projects that number to grow to 37,000 in 2025 and more than 45,000 by 2035.

“For Cobb DOT, this is a long one,” Cobb DOT engineer Karyn Matthews told East Cobb News last summer, referncing the delays, “but we wanted to get the right concept for the community.”

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Cobb DOT: ‘Critical level’ staff shortages hampering maintenance

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Cobb DOT 'critical level' staff shortages
Cobb DOT crews doing maintenance on Johnson Ferry Road at Olde Towne Parkway last winter. (ECN file photo)

The Cobb Department of Transportation will ask county commissioners Tuesday for funding for outside firms to help perform routine road maintenance projects because of what it says are “critical level” staffing shortages.

According to an agenda item for Tuesday’s Board of Commissioners meeting, Cobb DOT director Drew Rensler and other county department leaders will request funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

The agenda item (you can read it here) says 41 of the 94 maintenance positions in Cobb DOT are vacant, and the maintenance division has been operating with at least 40 percent vacancies for the past year.

“At this time, the Division has extended regular mowing frequencies by two weeks, and work order completion dates by one month due to shortages in current staffing levels,” the agenda item states.

“The utilization of contracted services will allow the Division to respond more efficiently in providing required maintenance operations countywide, and will prevent the back log of work orders.”

Another agenda item (you can read that here) from Rensler, Cobb Water Authority director Judy Jones and Cobb Parks and Recreation Director Michael Brantley further details staff shortages.

They include 27 percent vacancies in “critical” positions maintaining 90 Cobb parks facilities, 30 percent vacancies in the county’s fleet department, 32 percent vacancies in “critical” positions in property management and 31 percent in the water system.

“The volume of vacancies has strained the respective agencies’ abilities to maintain and operate critical infrastructure which is vital for the residents and visitors of Cobb County,” the said in their request.

The funding requests include $636,000 in outsourced salary expenses in all, with $288,000 for water, $132,000 for DOT, $123,000 for Parks, $58,500 for property management and $34,500 for fleet management.

The department heads also will be asking for “a one-time payment of $1,500 for each frontline field staff member responsible for the maintenance and operation of critical public infrastructure throughout the County.”

The bonuses would apply to employees hired before April 1,  and they must stay with the county for 12 months after receiving it.

While the agenda items were posted with the full agenda (you can read that here), the Cobb DOT and other department infrastructure items were sent to news media outlets Thursday night by Cobb government spokesman Ross Cavitt.

He noted that Cobb has begun taking applications for $147 million in ARPA funds and received the second installment of $73,824,239 on Thursday.

Government agencies are among those eligible for the funding, as commissioners previously approved criteria that included county infrastructure.

Tuesday’s meeting also will include an update on the county’s agreement with the Atlanta Braves over Truist Park and The Battery and a recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

Commissioners also will be asked to issue a proclamation on behalf of state senators Kay Kirkpatrick and Doc Rhett to Judy Boyce, the widow of former Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce, in recognition of his public service.

Boyce, who was chairman from 2017-20, died in January.

The meeting starts at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the second floor board room of the Cobb government building (100 Cherokee St., downtown Marietta).

The hearing also 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.

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Cobb government accepting applications for ARPA funding

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Cobb County Government is accepting applications for organizations and individuals seeking grant funding under the American Rescue Plan Act.Cobb County Government logo

Cobb has been earmarked with $147 million in COVID-19 stimulus funding passed by Congress in the $1.9 trillion legislation in 2021.

Cobb commissioners approved investment guidance to allocate funding in the community health, support services, economic development, county infrastructure and public safety areas.

Those eligible for the grants must meet the following criteria:

  • Projects must serve Cobb County and its residents
  • Projects submitted must align with at least one of the five priority areas and at least one subtopic associated with the chosen priority area.
  • Project submissions from organizations outside of the Cobb County government must align with one or more Economic Development, Support Services, and Community Health subtopics, or Broadband & Digital Equity. Submissions from organizations outside of the Cobb County government will not be considered for Public Safety subtopics or County Facilities or Stormwater.
  • Projects must support communities impacted or disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, please see question 3.3.
  • Projects must consider equity in their project plans.

More information and access to an application link can be found here; the deadline for applying is 5 p.m. on Sept. 9.

Applications will be screened in several areas, including equity, financial continuity, impact, project budget, risk mitigation and impact.

Final funding decisions will be made by the Cobb Board of Commissioners.

Cobb officials will hold two information webinars about the application process on webinars on June 16 at 4:30 p.m. and June 27 at 6 p.m.

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Cupid to deliver State of County address at Cobb Chamber event

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For the second time, Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid will deliver a State of the County address next week.Cupid State of Cobb County address

She’s the featured speaker at the Cobb Chamber of Commerce’s Marquee Monday breakfast on June 13.

The event takes place from 8-10 a.m. at the Coca-Cola Roxy Theatre at The Battery Atlanta (800 Battery Ave.) and will include the Cobb Chamber’s presentation of its Executive Woman of the Year Award (info and registration here).

Until this year, the address from the head of county government had been delivered exclusively to the Chamber audience.

But earlier this year, Cupid added a separate event to invite the larger public. After being unable to get commissioners to provide funding, her “All In” address in April was sponsored by Wellstar Health System and other private donors. 

She spoke al length about diversity and demographics and how Cobb can “retain our strength as an affluent suburban county” without leaving other types of communities behind.

That address was before three Cityhood referendums, including one in East Cobb, were rejected by voters last month.

The county government held town halls and launched a Cityhood information page that was criticized in particular by the East Cobb Cityhood group.

Last week, in her weekly e-mail newsletter, Cupid referenced the Cityhood votes by saying that “this should be the start of new dialogue. The town halls, forums, and conversations gave us a great opportunity to hear from residents. Now is the time to consider how we can strengthen county services, create communities with a better ‘sense of place,’ and capture the heightened level of engagement these votes encouraged.

“Residents made it clear they want a role in land use, zoning, and parks programs. Hopefully, this sparks increased community engagement with commissioners and staff when it comes to amendments to our Comprehensive Plan and participation in zoning meetings. In the weeks and months ahead you can also get involved in the county’s transition to a Unified Development Code among other matters like waste collection.”

Now in her second year in office, Cupid sounded some alarm bells with Chamber leaders and local elected officials in 2021 when Cobb commissioners approved a controversial residential rezoning near the Dobbins Air Base reserve accident potential zone.

That resulted in a land swap with the county to resolve the matter, commissioners later approved a code amendment to take away their discretionary power on rezonings around Dobbins.

 

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New Cobb Police Chief ‘humbled, but burdened’ by appointment

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Cobb Police Chief VanHoozer

When he was hired as a Cobb Police officer in 1990, Stuart VanHoozer said he never thought he would move up the ranks to chief.

It wasn’t something a young man without a military or higher education background ever thought about, living in a basement in Mableton as he took on his first assignment as an officer on a beat, making $5.25 an hour.

“From there I fell in love with this job,” VanHoozer said Tuesday as he was introduced as the new Cobb Police Chief.

After a varied 32-year career in which he served as a patrol officer, heading up narcotics and internal affairs units, a commander at three precincts and most recently, as a deputy chief and interim co-chief, VanHoozer’s appointment was approved in a 5-0 vote of the Cobb Board of Commissioners.

He succeeds Tim Cox, who retired at the end of 2021.

“I came from pretty much nothing,” VanHoozer said in a press conference after the meeting. “All you have to do is be willing to do something great for your community.”

VanHoozer was one of four candidates formally interviewed from an initial applicant pool of 50, and his name was on a final list of three submitted to Cobb commissioners.

County Manager Jackie McMorris recommended him as the sole finalist.

VanHoozer said he was “humbled, but burdened” by his new role, and pledged that “nobody will work harder.”

VanHoozer and his fellow deputy chief Scott Hamilton have been juggling co-interim chief duties since January.

Since 2018, VanHoozer has been a deputy chief, in charge of implementing technology such as facial recognition and license-plate readers.

But intangible qualities were referenced by county leaders who spoke at the introduction.

“One of the things that captivated us was just his general empathy for everyone,” said Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid, who referenced her relationship with him when she represented District 4 in South Cobb.

“He cares about those he serves with and the badge that he wears.”

During heartfelt remarks after his introduction, VanHoozer talked about regular visits he would make to a child care center in South Cobb during his time as the Precinct 2 commander.

The child care center, located across the street from a shopping center known for criminal activity, especially drug-dealing, had been struck by stray bullets.

VanHoozer said he would hug some of the students and look at the bullet holes.

“All I could think about [when] I was commander of that precinct was that nothing can happen to those children while I am here,” he said.

VanHoozer touted his officers, who do what they do “without a whole lot of recognition in most areas,” noting activities behind the scenes, such as buying bicycles for kids and presenting Christmas gifts to children in need.

He also commended community leaders, including some from Austell who recognized police and law enforcement officers earlier in Tuesday’s meeting.

“We need help,” VanHoozer said, referring to open positions for officers. “We want people who are willing to bring their brains and minds together to make Cobb County safer, and to make Cobb County better.”

You can watch the full introductory press conference below.

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Cobb approves land purchase to relocate Fire Station 20

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Cobb Fire Station 20
Cobb Fire Station 20 has operated on Sewell Mill Road since 1984.

The Cobb Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved spending $975,000 to purchase around 3.5 acres of land on Sewell Mill Road at East Piedmont Road for the relocation of Fire Station 20.

The measure was passed on the commission’s consent agenda.

According to an agenda item, the Cobb Fire Department eventually wants to replace the current station at 1298 Hilton Drive—on Sewell Mill Road between East Piedmont and Old Canton Road—that was built in 1984.

That’s eight-tenths of a mile to the west of the property for the potential new site that has owned by the McCleskey Family-East Cobb YMCA.

“To meet response needs and Fire Department’s strategic goals, this station will need to be relocated,” the agenda item states. “While the station construction will not begin immediately, this parcel of land at Sewell Mill Road and East Piedmont intersection is an ideal location for the future station.”

The item also states that the funding for the property acquisition will come from the Cobb Fire Fund, and construction of the new station would commence “in a future budget cycle.”

Last year commissioners rejected a rezoning request for those parcels to become a residential senior living development.

Fire Station 20 has been mentioned in the current East Cobb Cityhood referendum campaign.

Although located in what would remain unincorporated Cobb, Station 20’s current service area includes neighborhoods that are included in the proposed City of East Cobb.

The proposed city would have two fire stations—currently Cobb 15 and 21.

Cobb Fire officials have said at county-sponsored cityhood town halls that slower response times are likely in the City of East Cobb, but a financial feasibility study didn’t provide enough details.

The Committee for East Cobb Cityhood has worked up a page with fire and emergency services information in part to counter a cityhood page created by Cobb government that cityhood leaders includes misleading information.

Last week, Cobb government launched a “World Class” web page to tout the Cobb Fire Department on its 50th anniversary.

The East Cobb cityhood group protested, sending out a letter last week alleging the county is actively campaigning against cityhood and demanding those activities stop.

The letter included a reference to an “audacious” sign posted in front of Fire Station 21, which is part of the East Cobb Government Service Center.

That’s where early voting is taking place through May 20.

“Because the Cityhood referendum is on the ballot in that very building, the sign is an illegal piece of campaign material that must be removed at once,” stated the letter to Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid. “It is no coincidence that the only fire station with such a sign as of May 4, 2022 is the one where early voting is occurring.”

When East Cobb News drove by Station 20 on Friday to take the above photo for this story, the same sign had been placed there.

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Commissioner Richardson postpones East Cobb town hall

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Cobb commissioner Jerica Richardson’s office said Monday that her scheduled town hall meeting Tuesday night at the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center is being postponed.Cobb Commissioner Jerica Richardson

Aliye Korucu, Richardson’s administrative assistant, didn’t give a reason beyond saying it was an “unforeseen circumstance.”

According to her website Richardson was planning to go over her 2022 policy agenda, following what she calls her “Priorities Tour” of community meetings.

She said that “we will send out the new date, time, and location as soon as we have everything set.”

Richardson has been holding quarterly town hall meetings across District 2, which includes some of East Cobb as well as the Cumberland-Vinings Smyrna area.

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Cobb commissioners scheduled to appoint new police chief

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Stuart VanHoozer, a 32-year veteran of the Cobb Police Department who is currently one of two interim police chiefs, is being recommended as the new Cobb Police Chief.Stuart VanHoozer, Cobb Police Chief

His appointment is scheduled for a vote Tuesday by the Cobb Board of Commissioners, which is having a regular meeting starting at 9 a.m.

VanHoozer would succeed Tim Cox, who retired at the end of last year.

VanHoozer and Scott Hamilton, another Cobb Police veteran, have been serving as interim co-chiefs since then.

In his time with Cobb Police, VanHoozer has served as a patrol officer, a field training officer, a narcotics officer, an internal affairs officer, a commander of three precincts and as an executive officer to the Director of the Cobb Department of Public Safety.

Since 2018, VanHoozer has served as a deputy chief.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and public services from Kennesaw State University.

A message from Cobb government Monday morning said that there will be a press conference regarding the police chief appointment after the meeting.

Also on Tuesday’s agenda (you can read it here) will be an update on Truist Park and The Battery.

Cobb commissioners also will be asked to consider spending $975,000 to purchase around 3.5 acres of land on Sewell Mill Road at East Piedmont Road for the relocation of Fire Station 20.

The Cobb Fire Department wants to replace the current station at 1298 Hilton Drive—on Sewell Mill Road between East Piedmont and Old Canton Road—that was built in 1984.

The property for the potential new site is owned by the McCleskey Family-East Cobb YMCA.

Last year commissioners rejected a rezoning request for those parcels to become a residential senior living development.

The meeting starts at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the second floor board room of the Cobb government building (100 Cherokee St., downtown Marietta).

The hearing also 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.

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Chairwoman Cupid delivers ‘All In’ State of Cobb County address

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Cupid State of Cobb County address

Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid’s 2022 State of Cobb County address last week was entitled “All In,” with messages of an expansive community laced throughout the presentation.

Public and civic leaders delivered those messages, and during a nearly two-hour-long event at Jim Miller Park on Thursday, greetings and entertainment included the Atlanta Braves Heavy Hitters drum corps.

After being sponsored for many years by the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, Cupid opted for a county-funded event. She couldn’t get her colleagues on the Cobb Board of Commissioners to approve the spending, however, and other entities, including Wellstar Health System, provided sponsorship.

Speakers came from the Atlanta Regional Commission and Cobb Chamber of Commerce.

During her remarks (which begin around the 58-minute mark below) Cupid, noted the increasing demographic diversity of the county.

She also said political changes in Cobb—with the Cobb Board of Commissioners going from Republican to Democratic control in the 2020 elections—being most notable.

Cupid is the first Democrat to head county government since the 1980s, and leads a 3-2 Democratic majority that’s made up of black females.

But Cobb Republicans in the Georgia legislature steered through reapportionment maps aimed at limiting Democratic representation on the Cobb commission, school board, legislature and Congress.

In addition, four cityhood referendums will be taking place in Cobb, including one in East Cobb in May.

“It has become very clear to me that the increased sensitivity to this board making similar decisions as boards in the past, and historic redistricting and cityhood efforts are signs of these shifts.

“They have been overwhelming at times, but I would not be standing before you if I did not see a silver lining in the challenges facing our county.”

She discussed the county’s desired response to inclusiveness, transportation, COVID-19 and public health, the county budget, public safety, affordable housing, innovations through technology, the proposed Unified Development Code.

“Our diversity is just not racially or geographically,” she said. “It’s economically. We are one of the state of Georgia’s most affluent counties, yet 70,000 of our residents live in poverty.”

She also asked how Cobb can “retain our strength as an affluent suburban county” without leaving other types of communities behind.

Cupid alluded to a total of nearly 700 new county employees that have been requested by government department heads to meet service demands for a county of more than 700,000 people.

“This is hard work that the board is going through,” she said, “but it is necessary work to get where we want to be.”

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Cobb Library System introduces Chromebook checkouts

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For the first time the Cobb County Public Library System is allowing patrons to check out Chromebook devices.Cobb library tax forms

The checkouts are designed for patrons who don’t have devices or don’t have reliable Internet access for their devices.

Patrons will be able to check out the devices for up to three weeks (renewals are not allowed), and must have a Google account.

Those eligible must be 17 years of age or older and must be returned in person at a library branch.

For more information click here.

 

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Cobb tax digest projected to rise by 10.49 percent in 2022

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Residential property values in Cobb are expected to rise by 13.15 percent in 2022.

Cobb Tax Assessor Stephen White is predicting that the county’s tax digest will grow by more than 10 percent this year, the first double-digit yearly increase in more than two decades.

In a release issued by Cobb government, White said that the projected rise of 10.49 percent is based on an additional $5 billion increase in the value of residential, commercial and personal property as of March 31.

That includes a predicted growth of 13.15 percent in residential values, an increase of 6.56 precent in commercial values and 0.83 percent more in personal property values.

The tax digest is the overall value of property—real and personal property, motor vehicles and public utilities—adjusted after such things and homestead exemptions and the senior school tax exemption.

For 2022, the tax digest is projected to be a record $48.4 billion. The 2021 tax digest is $36.1 billion.

In a statement accompanying the county release, White said that due to the strong real estate market in Cobb “it is apparent we need to make changes to values that are reflective of what properties are worth. Many neighborhoods have properties selling for more than our value. The majority of our residential properties will see an adjustment in their Fair Market Value on their assessment notice because our value for last year is no longer reflective of what properties are worth.”

The final 2022 tag digest numbers will be revealed in July. Residential assessment notices go out to Cobb homeowners in May and commercial assessments are issued in June.

White’s prediction comes as Cobb commissioners are bracing for a summer budget season.

In recent weeks, they’ve been hearing budget requests from department heads that total around $1.2 billion, an increase of nearly $180 million more than the current fiscal year 2022 budget.

Much of that comes from combined requests to add nearly 700 county employees to address staff shortages in a number of departments.

Only four new full-time positions were filled in the current budget and none were approved for FY 2020.

Commissioners are expected to adopt a fiscal year 2023 budget by the end of July.

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