East Cobb Government

Cobb government to allocate $5.787M in opioid settlement

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The Cobb Board of Commissioners last week approved the first allocation of funds from the National Opioid Settlement, and will be distributing nearly $6 million to a variety of community organizations.Cobb government to allocate $5.787M in opioid settlement

The board voted 5-0 to allocate $5.787 million in funds, that, according to an agenda item from last Tuesday’s meeting, “are restricted and must be used exclusively for opioid remediation purposes as defined by the settlement agreements and applicable state guidance.”

In 2024 Cobb approved a resolution establishing the Cobb County Opioid Abatement Advisory Council that recommended a comprehensive abatement strategy to assist those with opioid addictions.

The Opioid Abatement Settlement Fund includes more than $50 billion in legal settlements from 2021-26 with opioid manufacturers, distributors and pharmacy chains, with the funding earmarked to treat addiction and to assist recovery and prevention efforts.

Cobb’s funding comes directly from the Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust, which was established as a subsidiary in 2022 to distribute and manage funding throughout the state for an 18-year period.

In the 2026-29 funding cycle, the following organizations will be receiving grants in the indicated amounts in Cobb County:

  • Center for Young Adult Addiction & Recovery, Kennesaw State University – $98,721
  • Cobb Collaborative – $57,394
  • Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, Cobb County Jail – $174,720
  • Cobb County Superior Courts – $1,258,500
  • Davis Direction Foundation – $1,609,841
  • Harbor Springs Counseling Services – $1,648,942
  • Highland Rivers Foundation – $500,000
  • Life University, Inc. – $26,820
  • WestCare Georgia, Inc. – $87,855
  • YouthCentric, Inc. – $324,820

The agenda item states that “these projects collectively address multiple settlement-approved categories including prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support. Proposed activities include medication-assisted treatment for indigent individuals, residential treatment expansion for mothers, peer recovery coaching, sober living scholarships, jail discharge planning, youth prevention programming, naloxone and fentanyl test strip distribution, and community resiliency initiatives.”

The third-largest recipient, Cobb County Superior Courts, announced later last week that it plans to use the funding to expand the Cobb Accountability Courts, which “serve individuals charged with felonies who are diagnosed with moderate to severe substance use disorders, including participants with co-occurring mental health conditions.”

The courts will “utilize a plan that integrates multiple layers of intervention. Treatment services include opioid withdrawal management, access to medication for addiction treatment (MAT/MOUD) through partnerships with a local physician and pharmacy, and up to ten hours per week of evidence-based group and individual counseling,” according to a release issued by Cobb Superior Court.

The programs also plan to expand recovery support to address housing instability, which the court calls “one of the greatest barriers to sustained recovery.

“Through partnerships with five sober living programs in Cobb County, eligible participants may receive up to 90 days of safe, structured, and sober housing while working toward financial independence. Stable housing has been shown to significantly strengthen engagement in treatment and improve long-term outcomes.”

“The Accountability Courts stand at the critical intersection of the justice system, public safety, and rehabilitation of individuals in crisis,” said Ann Harris, Chief Judge of Superior Court. “By using these settlement funds to expand treatment and provide stable housing, we are actively working to break the cycle of addiction, reduce recidivism, and make our entire community safer.”

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Cobb libraries to be closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday

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Cobb libraries Thanksgiving week events

Submitted information:

Please note that all Cobb County Public Libraries will be closed and will not offer curbside hold pickup Friday, April 3 and Sunday, April 5 in honor of Good Friday and Easter. We are open normal hours on Saturday, April 4.

Our digital resources are available every day of the year! Visit our Research and Digital page to find eBooks, eAudiobooks, digital magazines, comics, and newspapers, streaming video, and hundreds of other databases and resources in dozens of topics.

Upcoming 2026 Holidays

  • Memorial Day | Monday, May 25

  • Juneteenth | Friday, June 19

  • Independence Day | Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4

  • Labor Day | Monday, September 7

  • Veterans Day | Wednesday, November 11

  • Thanksgiving | Wednesday, November 25 at 5 pm through Friday, November 27

  • Christmas | Thursday, December 24 through Friday, December 25

  • New Year’s Day | Thursday, December 31 at 5 pm through Friday, January 1

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Sandy Plains Softball parents upset over Shaw Park plans

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Sandy Plains Softball parents upset over Shaw Park plans
A proposed redevelopment of Shaw Park shown at a recent open house includes additional pickleball courts.

Some parents in the Sandy Plains Softball organization have been going public with concerns that a proposed redevelopment of Shaw Park would reduce the number of softball fields there.

One of the group’s officers has unleashed a letter-writing campaign to Cobb commissioners and had scheduled a media interview for Friday that was eventually postponed.

That’s after Cobb commissioner JoAnn Birrell arranged for a meeting with the softball parents and Cobb PARKS officials over what she called a “miscommunication.”

At a February community meeting designed to garner public feedback, citizens were shown a proposed redesign of the park that would have 19 pickleball courts; there are currently nine there now.

Sandy Plains Softball has paid to use the softball fields at Shaw Park for many years and more than 400 girls play softball there (the organization also plays games at Sandy Plains Park, near Lassiter High School).

Shaw Park has become a pickleball hub in recent years, as the fast-growing sport has gained a foothold among active adults, and a number of tournaments have been played there.

Future of Shaw Park
Shaw Park softball players in 2023 urged the county to preserve their fields.

One of the proposed options would relocate the softball fields to make room for the pickleball courts.

In an open letter to the Sandy Plains Softball community, Katy Thurow, the organization’s secretary, said the county, and specifically Birrell, have gone back on their word that softball would not be affected by plans to revitalize Shaw Park.

Thurow asked Sandy Plains Softball parents to lobby the commissioners to keep all of the current fields, and suggested political considerations are involved.

Birrell is a four-term Republican who is up for re-election this year, and she has primary opposition.

“The plans shown at the SPLOST meeting show 19 new pickleball courts,” Thurow wrote. “Please keep in mind, there is no pickleball association, no contract with the county, and no pickleball leagues are being asked to justify their need for these 19 new courts.”

Her letter suggested that the softball fields would be cut to three; proposals include adding softball batting cages as well as the construction of a new playground, including inclusive space for special-needs children.

“This is not about money, but about certain members of the Cobb County government pandering to older voters who love pickleball,” Thurow wrote. “Our girls just happen to be collateral damage.

“This is about more than just a game. This is about how youth sports impacts the lives of young female athletes. ”

Thurow said “Sandy Plains Softball saved my child” with a learning disability. “Softball gave my daughter a safe space to feel strong, capable, and build relationships that had nothing to do with school.

“I’ve heard countless stories similar to my family’s, and capping registration [what she suggested would happen if the fields are reduced] means denying this opportunity to young women in our community.”

Speaking to East Cobb News on Thursday, Birrell said there are no plans to reduce the number of softball fields at Shaw Park. She said the Sandy Plains Softball contract for Shaw Park calls for the use of four fields, and that will not change.

“The fields are all spread out,” and one of the proposals would be to group them closer together. “We are relocating the fields,” not reducing them, she added.

Birrell said that some are “trying to make it sound like we don’t care about girls softball. I’m a girl. I care.”

She said what’s being proposed is only that, and “not the final plan. There’s still some work to do, but we’re not cutting back on any fields. We’re relocating them.”

Future of Shaw Park
Shaw Park pickleball leader Bret Benson with Commissioner JoAnn Birrell at a 2023 town hall meeting about the future of the park.

At a 2023 community meeting to discuss the future of Shaw Park, softball players and parents pleaded with the county not to reduce their fields. Pickleball enthusiasts and county leaders said that would not happen.

Similar concerns about the revised Shaw Park plans were posted this week on the Sandy Plains Softball Facebook page.

The commenters include Chris Wasserman, who is challenging Birrell the May 19 Republican primary.

“While I personally enjoy pickleball, I strongly oppose the proposal to replace a girls’ softball field to accommodate additional courts,” he said.

“A significant source of public frustration stems from the perceived lack of clear and transparent dialogue surrounding this decision. The community’s feeling of being misled is entirely understandable and justified.”

On Thursday afternoon, Birrell sent a message to softball parents apologizing for the “miscommunication” and said that after the meeting with the county, “we will provide additional information and clarification to the community.”

 

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East Cobb students named Cobb Water photography winners

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East Cobb students named Cobb Water photography winners
Photo by Dayton Davis of Lassiter High School

Students from Lassiter, Sprayberry and Wheeler high schools in East Cobb are among the recipients of Cobb Water’s 2026 High School Photography Contest.

“The 12 winning students each received a cash prize, and their photos were turned into notecards to be distributed throughout the county,” according to Cobb County government, and their entries will be displayed April 9—May 15 at the Mable House Arts Center in Mableton.

Six of the students are from Lassiter: Alex Hood, Dayton Davis, Katelyn Garrow, Sarah Joseph, Marissa Meyer and Rushna Ahsan. The others are Ashleigh Lafferty and Neyla Lamont from Sprayberry and Charlie Sayler and Jonah Suarez from Wheeler.

The contest invited students from the Cobb County School District and Marietta City Schools submit a photograph in one of six categories: Water at Play, Water at Work, Water in Nature, Water and People, Protecting Water, and Conserving Water.

Click the link below to view a slideshow of all of the winning photos from the East Cobb students.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

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Cobb County Attorney retires; deputy appointed as successor

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Cobb County Attorney retires; deputy appointed as successor
Cobb County Attorney Debbie Blair

Deputy Cobb County Attorney Debbie Blair has been named to succeed William Rowling, who has retired as Cobb County Attorney.

The appointment was made official last week by Cobb County Manager Jackie McMorris after being recommended by Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid.

Blair has been in the deputy’s role since 2019 and has been with the County Attorney’s office for the last decade. Rowling retired last week after 25 years in the department. She has focused on zoning and land-use matters and has handled “all sectors of public sector law, including constitutional issues, governmental transparency ethics, zoning and codification of laws,” according to a statement from the county.

“The Cobb County Attorney’s Office assists in the preparation of legislation and resolutions, provides legal opinions, and negotiates and reviews contracts,” the statement continued. “It represents the county and its officials in civil litigation matters ranging from civil rights and constitutional cases to land use and zoning disputes.”

Blair leads a staff of 12 other in-house attorneys, including Lauren Bruce, who has been named the new deputy county attorney.

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Cobb Commissioner Birrell introduces new staff assistant

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Cobb Commissioner Birrell introduces new staff assistant

Nikeya Savala, a Cobb County government veteran of more than 20 years, has joined the office of District 3 Cobb Commissioner JoAnn Birrell as her staff assistant.

The four district commissioners each have a full-time assistant to handle constituent matters, coordinate schedules and conduct other tasks of the office.

District 3 includes most of East Cobb.

Savala has previously held jobs in county government in the Community Development, Water System, and Purchasing departments.

She can be reached about constituent matters at nikeya.savala@cobbcounty.gov.

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Commissioners appoint new Cobb Water System director

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Submitted information and photo:Commissioners appoint new Cobb Water System director

During its regular meeting last week, the Board of Commissioners appointed Alicia Giddens as the new Cobb Water System director. Today, Feb. 2, was her official first day in the role.

Giddens, who has been with the agency for more than 30 years, previously served as the deputy director. She joined in 1995 as an environmental compliance technician. Since then, she has held numerous positions, including laboratory technician, biologist (quality assurance/quality control manager), laboratory superintendent, environmental compliance division manager and water protection division manager.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in biology and minor in chemistry from Kennesaw State University. She is certified as a wastewater laboratory analyst and wastewater operator class III by the Georgia Board of Water and Wastewater. Giddens was also chairperson of the Georgia Water and Wastewater Institute Board of Directors and a member of the Board of Directors of the Georgia Association of Water Professionals. She is also an alumnus of the Cobb County EXCEL Leadership program. 

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East Cobb weather update: Cobb schools to reopen Tuesday

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East Cobb weather update: Cobb schools to reopen Tuesday
An East Cobb News reader-submitted photo of a fallen tree at Indian Hills Country Club.

As roads are clearing around Cobb County on Monday, many activities and business will be back to usual on Tuesday.

The Cobb County School District announced late Monday morning that all Tuesday classes and activities will resume as scheduled.

The same goes for Marietta City Schools and most private schools.

The district said in a statement that “after overnight monitoring of our schools and consultation with Cobb Emergency Services, conditions are expected to be safe for travel and school tomorrow.”

Cobb County government said that all major reads Cobb DOT crews have been treating and monitoring are open, but that “residents are urged to use caution on neighborhood and secondary roads, as road temperatures across the county remain below freezing.”

If you do get out today—and you’re asked to avoid travel if possible—use caution on neighborhood streets and in parking lots which may have some ice and in particular black ice.

Cobb DOT said the storm caused some falling power lines and trees, and that 29 trees around the county blocking roads had to be removed.

All Cobb government offices, including courts and libraries, also will resume their regular schedules Tuesday.

The rain from Winter Storm Fern ended mid-evening on Sunday but temperatures dropped into the 20s overnight, and Monday’s high is only around freezing.

Winds also are high on Monday, with gusts as high as 30 mph. A cold weather advisory will be in effect in Cobb from 8 p.m. Monday to 9 a.m. Tuesday.

The sun will remain this week but it will continue to be cold, with Monday’s lows possibly falling into the low teens and Tuesday’s high in the high 30s.

For more local weather details, click here.

Reported power outages in the East Cobb area were rare and sporadic; Cobb EMC is reporting a few outages near the Catholic Church of St. Ann and in the East Piedmont Road area and has sent crews with an estimated restoration time of mid-afternoon Monday.

If you have any other information or photos/videos to share of storm damage, get in touch: [email protected].

Stay safe, and thanks for your readership!

 

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Cobb reverses course, approves $2M for veterans memorial

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Cobb approves $2M for veterans memorial

Several months after rejecting a request to spend $1 million to help finance a veterans memorial, Cobb commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved allocating $2 million to help get the long-awaited project started.

After some discussion, commissioners agreed to revise the 2022 Cobb sales tax (SPLOST) revenues to allocate an additional $2 million to help close a funding gap for the memorial, to be built near the Cobb Civic Center.

That project, begun by the private Cobb Veterans Memorial Foundation, is expected to cost a little more than $6 million, and design revisions will be necessary.

Donna Rowe

In August, commissioners rejected a proposal by Commissioner JoAnn Birrell of East Cobb to use $1 million from her contingency account, citing issues with a memorandum of understanding and concerns over rising costs stated by the private group.

However, on Tuesday, commissioners said the situation was different, and that the $2 million isn’t diverting funding from other needed projects, or those on the SPLOST project list.

Commissioner Erick Allen, whose District 2 includes the area where the memorial will be built, said there were no other viable funding solutions to start the project, which has been more than a decade in the making.

There are unresolved administrative issues, and Cobb PARKS director Michael Brantley said that a project designer needs to be hired to develop a new conceptual plan.

Cobb commissioners previously approved spending $3 million in what’s been billed as a private-public-partnership. Cobb has more than 60,000 veterans

The original cost was priced at $8 million, but private fundraising struggles have delayed the project. Commissioner Keli Gambrill asked Brantley if doubling the spending request from last August would be enough to complete the project.

He said it would not, “but it would be extremely close” based on the latest estimates “on what it would take to build out.”

Brantley added that there is not a designer hired yet to provide more specific renderings and details, and that there are several options available.

He said “having the funding in place” would ideally be needed to “move forward to start looking at those options.”

Gambrill also said she was disappointed other community projects weren’t included in the vote. Deputy county manager Bill Volckmann told her another list would be forthcoming, but this one was submitted to reflect “the priorities of the board.”

Birrell, who has been vocal about supporting the veterans memorial, said the memorial was always slated to be a county park. She said a new MOU will be produced and said that “there is still work to be done, but what we’re trying to do today is to get to the $5 million and solidify this once and for all.

Donna Rowe, head of the Cobb Veterans Memorial Foundation, a former Army nurse in Vietnam, told commissioners before the vote that “I cannot deeply express the gratitude of every veteran in Cobb County and Georgia, or those that I served with in battle, but I do want you to do know that the hours spent, the months spent by you do not fall on deaf ears.”

“I cannot thank you enough.”

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Cobb announces MLK celebration and day of service events

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Cobb MLK holiday service

Submitted information:

Cobb County Government offices will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 19. Many county services are available online at cobbcounty.gov.

You can join in the celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. King at an event filled with meaningful performances, 10 a.m. – noon Monday, Jan. 19 at the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre, 548 S. Marietta Parkway, SE, Marietta. The annual event, hosted by the Cobb NAACP, will showcase singers, dancers, musicians, spoken word performers and more.

The event will be streamed live on Cobb TV here and Cobb’s YouTube channel here.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is an opportunity to start your year in the spirit of volunteerism and service while continuing his legacy. Here are some ways to participate with service events in Cobb and Metro Atlanta:
  • Acworth – A Welcome Breakfast and Unity Walk will be held at the Roberts School Community and Education Center 8:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 19. The walk will be followed by a program and day of service at 10 a.m. at the Tanyard Creek Overlook at the Acworth Community Center. Get Acworth event details here.
  • Kennesaw volunteer day will be held 9 a.m. – noon Monday, Jan. 19 at Smith-Gilbert Gardens. Volunteers will assist with a garden entryway beautification project. Get Kennesaw event details here.
  • Austell’s Community Cleanup will help beautify streets and Keep Cobb Beautiful Adopt-A-Mile areas. Volunteers of all ages are needed Monday, Jan. 19, from 10 a.m. -1 p.m. Meet at Destiny World Church, 7400 Factory Shoals Road, Austell. Get Austell cleanup details here and sign up using the QR code or sign up here.
  • Chattahoochee Cleanup – Monday, Jan. 19, noon – 2 p.m. at the Paces Mill Unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. 3444 Cobb Parkway, Atlanta. For ages 10 and older. Get Chattahoochee cleanup details and register here.

 

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Senior Center expansion, Tritt Park plans on SPLOST list

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Cobb Senior Services membership program
The Tim D. Lee Senior Center offers a wide variety of programs and services that are high in demand, and that have prompted waitlists. ECN file photo.

A major expansion of the Tim D. Lee Senior Center is on a submitted project list for an extension of the Cobb Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax that may be up for referendum later this year.

According to the project list for the proposed 2028 SPLOST (you can read it here), funding to complete the purchase of the Tritt property next to East Cobb Park and to begin building that out also is being requested.

The Cobb Board of Commissioners will be asked Tuesday to approve the project list totaling nearly $795 million and that was submitted by county government department heads. The 2028 SPLOST would begin collections on Jan. 1, 2028 for six years, with nearly $1.15 billion expected (the rest would be collected by Cobb’s seven cities).

As we noted earlier this week in a story about the proposed $25 million relocation of the East Cobb Library, Cobb commissioners would have to vote to call for a referendum, and that vote is anticipated for April.

The first of several public engagement meetings about the proposed 2028 SPLOST takes place next Thursday, also at the Tim D. Lee Senior Center (3332 Sandy Plains Road).

The one-percent sales tax collects revenues for county and municipal government construction and maintenance projects

The expansion for the Tim D. Lee Senior Center (formerly the East Cobb Senior Center) is being budgeted for $8.2 million. Cobb government spokesman Ross Cavitt told East Cobb News this week that the facility is of one of Cobb Senior Services’ busiest locations.

“Demand for programs and services has increased significantly in recent years, resulting in full classes and long waitlists,” he said.

“With participation rising sharply and Cobb County’s senior population continuing to grow, expanding the center is essential to ensure seniors can continue to access the programs, services, and social opportunities that support healthy, active aging.”

Cavitt said the expansion would build out more space for programs and services, reduce those waitlists and overcrowding in popular classes, and provide capacity for elections.

Cobb PARKS officials have asked for $2 million to make additional purchases of the Tritt property as they continue to build out the larger East Cobb Park concept.

In 2018, commissioners approved spending $8.3 million to buy 22 acres of land owned adjacent to the park by Wylene Tritt, who also donated 7.7 acres.

The vision for that property would be to extend connections with East Cobb Park in keeping with its passive nature, including additional walking trails and possibly converting the Tritt home into an environmental education center.

Another $1 million on the SPLOST project list is being requested for the development of a master plan for that work, which Cavitt said “is to ensure we are ready to formulate a master plan and at least begin construction once we have acquired the property.”

The biggest ticket item on the list is the construction of a new Cobb State Court building, to the tune of $174 million. The current buildings on the Marietta Square are more than 60 years old and have been overcrowded for years.

Other proposals call for $135 million in road resurfacing projects, $30 million to replace the Cobb Central Aquatic Center in Marietta and $18.5 million to build a new recreation center in an unspecified area.

Among the proposed traffic improvements on the list, the following are in East Cobb:

  • Shallowford Road at McPherson Road ($3.5 million)
  • Canton Road at Canton Road Connector ($6 million)
  • Lower Roswell Road at Old Paper Mill Road ($1.5 million)
  • Johnson Ferry Road Corridor ($2.5 million)
  • Shaw Road Corridor ($2 million)

The full proposed SPLOST list can be found here, with additional background information.

The Cobb commissioners meeting begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the second floor board room of the county office building at 100 Cherokee Street, Marietta. You can view the full agenda by clicking here.

You also can watch the hearing on the county’s website and YouTube channels and on Cobb TV 23 on Comcast Cable.

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Cobb officials propose relocating East Cobb Library branch

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East Cobb Library replacement proposed on 2028 SPLOST list

A replacement for the East Cobb Library branch at Parkaire Landing Shopping Center is being proposed in the initial project list for an extension of the current Cobb Special Purpose-Local Option Sales Tax.

According to the project list for the proposed 2028 SPLOST (you can read it here), which was submitted by county government department heads, Cobb library officials want to construct a new facility at a cost of $25 million.

The East Cobb Library branch, which has been at Parkaire since 2010, is the only branch in the system that leases space. Cobb government spokesman Ross Cavitt said the county spends $360,000 a year in rental fees for the East Cobb Library.

Cobb officials next week will begin public meetings on the proposed 2028 SPLOST, which would have to be approved by voters in a referendum in November. The first of those meetings is next Thursday at the Tim D. Lee Senior Center in East Cobb.

In response to a request for information from East Cobb News, Cavitt said Wednesday that the county wants to relocate the East Cobb Library to “a freestanding facility on county property” and vastly expand the space for what’s become the second-largest circulating library in the system.

He said a new location is still undetermined, but that the county is looking at several options.

Cavitt said that the 20-year lease at the Parkaire space ends in July 2029, and that “costs related to the lease of this space have increased exponentially throughout the span of the lease.”

Eight years ago, the rent was $263,000 a year, and was one of the reasons cited by Commissioner JoAnn Birrell in 2017 in recommending the branch be closed due to county budget cuts.

Parkaire Landing is managed by Jamestown LP, a commercial real estate management company that also operates Avenue East Cobb, Colony Square, Avalon and Ponce City Market.

The East Cobb Library has 17,000 square feet of space, and includes study and meeting rooms as well as a community meeting space. Cavitt said the plans are to expand that space.

“To better serve the community today and into the future, a new facility is needed. To meet the needs of future growth, this permanent facility is proposed at 28,000 square feet.”

The East Cobb Library had more than 132,000 patron visits in 2024, trailing only the main Switzer branch in Marietta.

“It’s one of our more popular locations,” Cavitt said of the East Cobb Library. “Those who use it are very passionate about it.”

Public outcry surfaced quickly after Birrell’s proposal to close the branch, and then-Commissioner Bob Ott vowed that wouldn’t happen.

The East Cobb Library formerly was located in the Merchant’s Walk Shopping Center, and opened near what is now the Seed restaurant in 1979.

The Merchant’s Walk redevelopment company paid the county to relocate the library to Parkaire; high land prices were cited at the time for leasing space for the East Cobb Library instead of building anew.

The 2028 SPLOST would continue the one-percent sales tax collections for a variety of projects, including roads and transportation, public safety facilities, parks and libraries upgrades and maintenance and more.

Cobb commissioners would have to vote to call for a referendum, and Cavitt said that such a vote could come as early as April.

That’s when county officials and leaders from Cobb’s seven cities will have to finalize their project lists.

The public meetings that continue through March 10 also will help finalize the project list. Another such meeting in the East Cobb area will be Jan. 29 at the Fullers Recreation Center.

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Cobb to hold public meetings on proposed 2028 SPLOST

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Cobb to hold public meetings on proposed 2028 SPLOST
2022 SPLOST funding was used to resurface Robinson Road.

Cobb County government will next week begin a series of what it’s calling community engagement meetings for a proposed Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax referendum later this year.

The first meeting on the proposed 2028 SPLOST takes place next Thursday, Jan. 15, from 6-8 p.m., at the Tim D. Lee Senior Center (3332 Sandy Plains Road) in East Cobb. Another is scheduled for Jan. 29, also from from 6-8 p.m., at the Fullers Recreation Center (3499 Robinson Road).

The meetings are a chance for the public to express their preferences on projects that would be funded with the tax.

The SPLOST collects sales-tax revenues for a variety of projects, including roads and transportation, public safety facilities, parks and libraries upgrades and maintenance and more.

A vote to extend the one-percent sales tax would take place later this year, with collections to begin in 2028. Cobb commissioners would have to vote to call for a referendum.

Last year, county officials asked commissioners to consider to have such a vote, although key details, such as a collection amount and a collection period, were not specified.

According to an overview, a proposed amount for the 2028 SPLOST would last for six years and collect $1.15 billion, if approved by voters.

That would be the largest SPLOST collection in any single period; the current Cobb 2022 SPLOST is expected to collect $750 million over six years.

A project list submitted by county department heads (you can read it here) includes several proposed transportation improvements in East Cobb:

  • Shallowford Road at McPherson Road ($3.5 million)
  • Canton Road at Canton Road Connector ($6 million)
  • Lower Roswell Road at Old Paper Mill Road ($1.5 million)
  • Johnson Ferry Road Corridor ($2.5 million)
  • Shaw Road Corridor ($2 million)

Here’s the full schedule for the upcoming community engagement meetings for the proposed 2028 SPLOST:

  • Jan. 15  – Tim D. Lee Senior Center, 3332 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta
  • Jan. 21 – Public Safety Training Center (Mableton, Austell, Powder Springs), 2435 East-West Connector, Austell
  • Jan. 22 – Public Safety Training Center (Mableton, Austell, Powder Springs), 2435 East-West Connector, Austell
  • Jan. 29  – Fullers Recreation Center, 3499 Robinson Road NE, Marietta
  • Feb. 5  – West Cobb Senior Center, 4915 Dallas Highway, Powder Springs
  • Feb. 12  – Acworth Community Center, 4361 Cherokee Street, Acworth
  • Feb. 25  – Smyrna Community Center, 1250 Powder Springs Street, Smyrna
  • March 5  – Cobb Civic Center, 548 South Marietta Parkway SE, Marietta
  • March 10  – Ben Robertson Community Center, 2753 Watts Drive, Kennesaw

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East Cobb power outage alert: Lower Roswell/Pinehurst Lane

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East Cobb power outage alert: Lower Roswell/Pinehurst Lane

Cobb County government sent out the following message to the public a little after 5:30 p.m. Tuesday:

“Repairs following a construction incident involving an excavator and electric lines will result in a power outage in the Pinehurst Lane/Lower Roswell Road area for the next few hours. Crews were working on Pinehurst Lane when the incident happened.”

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Cobb Library Foundation starts fundraising merchandise shop

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Submitted by the Cobb County Public Library System:Cobb Library Foundation starts fundraising merchandise shop

The Cobb Library Foundation is proud to announce the launch of The Cobb Library Shop, a groundbreaking merchandise store with a mission-driven purpose: to strategically fund marketing and outreach initiatives for the Cobb County Public Library. This first-of-its-kind fundraising concept uses merchandise sales not only to generate revenue, but also to expand the library’s brand into new industries and strengthen its presence in the community.

Founded in 2003, the Cobb Library Foundation is a tax-exempt nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the library experience for over 700,000 residents through funding critical programs and infrastructure. The Foundation has consistently stepped in to provide financial support to marketing and outreach initiatives— ensuring the library remains visible, relevant, and deeply engaged with the community. Recognizing the need for a sustainable, ongoing source of funding for these efforts, Slone Williams, (CUE) Community and User Engagement Division Manager, Cobb County Library, advocated for a dynamic solution— establish a permanent, virtual-inventory merchandise store designed to generate ongoing funding for this essential mission.

“This project reflects the Cobb Library Foundation’s commitment to investing in innovative partnerships that strengthen the library and our community. Together, we’ve transformed a vision into a meaningful way to support the library’s mission, and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished,” said Sandra Morris, Executive Director, Cobb Library Foundation.

All revenue generated by The Cobb Library Shop flows directly back into the Foundation, fueling initiatives that elevate the library’s visibility, deepen community engagement, and strengthen connections.

“With over 400,000 active library card holders, our community’s passion for the library is undeniable—and we’re equally committed to serving them. What started as a passion project has blossomed into a dynamic platform that goes far beyond merchandise sales. We are building a vital bridge between the library and our community, opening fresh opportunities to celebrate our shared love of reading and lifelong learning. To ensure sustainability and impact, I’ve requested a 6-month trial period with less than a $700 investment in startup costs. The shop represents a bold, innovative marketing channel that amplifies our brand, reinforces the library’s forward-thinking spirit, and extends our reach like never before,” said Slone Williams.

The Cobb Library Shop will debut with six themed collections that celebrate the library’s culture, community, and creativity. Featured collections include: Library Holiday Market, a curated holiday collection of library-inspired gifts; Once Upon a Fam’, a family-centered line; Bookmobile Buddies, inspired by the library’s beloved mobile outreach; Librarian Said What?!, a playful nod to the wit and wisdom of library life; Legacy: Unleashed, blending Georgia’s shifting seasons with bold, modern design; and The Legacy Collection, showcasing staff favorites with the signature Cobb Library logo. 

In addition to staff-designed collections, the shop welcomes community participation. Anyone can submit designs for consideration, and if selected, the store will give full credit to the artist in product descriptions and may feature them in promotions. This initiative ensures the shop reflects not only the library’s identity but also the creative spirit of the people it serves.

The shop offers a diverse range of fashion-forward, library-themed apparel, accessories, and home essentials emblazoned with the library’s signature logos and department mascots, Dewey Decimal and Rita Book. Community members and staff are invited to contribute designs and ideas, fueling an ever-expanding lineup of creative products that inspire pride and connection.

“These collections were created by dedicated library staff: Katherine Zavala, who provided creative input and designed promotional materials; Kristin Gwin, Jordan Graham and Kami Greene, whose illustrations bring the Once Upon a Fam’ and Bookmobile Buddies collection to life; and Slone Williams, whose vision led to building the website, developing the inventory, and designing the Legacy: Unleashed line. Together, they created a one-of-a-kind product line we’re proud to present and confident will be embraced by the community,” Morris added.

Looking ahead, The Cobb Library Shop has ambitious plans to further elevate library engagement. Upcoming initiatives include fashion shows, limited-edition collections created with community partners, community design competitions, and exclusive merchandise tied to signature library events.

“We’re proud to set a new standard for library fundraising that’s creative, sustainable, and deeply connected to our community’s culture and spirit—pioneering an innovative model that blends merchandise, marketing, and community engagement in ways that redefine how libraries engage and fundraise,” Williams added. 

For more information or to shop the exclusive collections, please visit cobblibrary.shop. Have a design idea or artwork you’d love to see on our products?

Submit your artwork to the Cobb Library Shop. For more questions, contact the Cobb Library Shop at [email protected].  

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Cobb finance director to become deputy county manager

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Cobb finance director to become deputy county manager
Bill Volckmann

Submitted information:

Cobb County’s Chief Financial Officer will take on new duties after County Manager Dr. Jackie McMorris named him the county’s next Deputy County Manager. Bill Volckmann will assume the role currently held by Jimmy Gisi, who retires later this month.

Volckmann has served with Cobb County government for two decades and was named CFO in 2017. He has guided the county through multiple budget cycles, and under his leadership, the Finance Department has received numerous accolades for financial reporting and presentation standards.

“Because of an excellent group of candidates, this was one of the most difficult decisions I’ve had to make,” said County Manager Dr. Jackie McMorris. “As our CFO, Bill has been involved in every significant aspect of county government. He has developed a stellar reputation among our elected officials and department managers and will be able to immediately step into the role in the midst of several critical projects.”

Volckmann has already been working closely with Gisi on preparations for the renewal of the 2028 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), which will go before Cobb voters next November.

“I thank Dr. McMorris for her confidence in me, and I look forward to continuing to work with her for years to come,” said Volckmann. “We have a tremendous leadership team in place, and I look forward to working with them to continue Cobb’s reputation as a great place to live, work, and play.”

Gisi retires from Cobb County after more than 35 years in government service. He departs as Deputy County Manager following a long tenure as PARKS Director and previous service as Executive Director of the Georgia Recreation and Park Association (GRPA). He was inducted into the GRPA Hall of Fame in 2023.

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Cobb commissioners approve stormwater fee in split vote

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Cobb commissioners approve stormwater fee in split vote
“Why would anyone want to move here?” East Cobb resident Rebecca Smith said of her issues with stormwater repairs Cobb County said it wasn’t responsible for.

Despite pleas from citizens—including some East Cobb residents affected by devastating floods four years ago—the Cobb Board of Commissioners Thursday approved the creation of a stormwater utility fee.

Near the end of a meeting that stretched for five hours, commissioners voted 3-2 to charge residential customers a flat $4.75 a month for stormwater services, with commercial and institutional users to be charged $4.75 based on each 3,700 square feet of impervious surface on their properties.

Commissioners approved the measure after it was pulled last year, following heated community opposition.

Many citizens who spoke during a public hearing earlier Thursday wanted them to delay a vote to create a master plan for stormwater management, among other things.

Some argued that another tax won’t solve the issues many of them have with stormwater, and that there are enough revenues to address the problems.

East Cobb resident Hill Wright, who’s been long critical of what he calls a rain tax, told District 2 Commissioner Erick Allen during the public hearing that if he supported the fee, it should be called “the Erick Allen Rain Tax.”

But Allen said shortly before the vote—which took place close to 11 p.m.—that “the position of do-nothing doesn’t solve the problem.

“This creates a mechanism to start helping our neighbors that are having these issues.”

Allen was among the three Democrats who voted in favor of the fee, with the two Republican commissioners opposed.

Currently Cobb stormwater customers currently are charged through their water and sewer bills based on the amount of impervious surfaces on their properties. The fee would apply to customers in unincorporated Cobb and the City of Mableton, whose stormwater management is handled by the county.

Republican Commissioner JoAnn Birrell of District 3 in East Cobb said while the proposal would create a dedicated enterprise fund, she’s opposed to a stormwater fee while the county continues to transfer portions of its water revenues—currently four percent—to the county’s general fund.

“I know it’s legal but if we had not done that we’d have a lot more money to be addressing this now,” she said.

“I can’t justify any more revenue. I just can’t.”

Members of the audience applauded, but earlier, during the public hearing, they made pleas to table the fee proposal that were eventually ignored.

Among the concerns expressed were that the county has never created a complete inventory of its stormwater infrastructure, nor developed a master plan for managing it.

Under the proposal homeowners associations also would be charged the institutional fee for impervious surfaces. That prompted Richard Grome of the East Cobb Civic Association to ask to table the measure.

East Cobb resident Rebecca Smith, whose backyard and home were flooded in the 2021 storms due to a collapsed stormwater pipe, said she and her neighbors had to spend $96,000 for repairs because the county didn’t have it included on a surveyor’s plat.

They’re having to spring for an additional $20,000 to repair the new pipe, which hasn’t worked properly. Flood insurance covers none of those expenses, she said.

“Why does Cobb County think it’s okay to make homeowners responsible for those repairs?” Smith said, her voice cracking with emotion.

“How do you think anyone would want to continue to live in this county if they are forced to take ownership of these repairs? Why would anyone want to move here? Instead of doing what’s right, you’re choosing to do what’s politically expedient.”

Her husband, Orion Smith, followed her, and said as soon as they fix the stormwater pipe, they’re putting their house up for sale and “leaving Cobb County forever.”

He said he’s not opposed to paying taxes for government services and is a “life-long Democrat,” but “well-run is the key component.”

The real problem, he added, is that Cobb County has “woefully incomplete records of it stormwater inventory and refuses to even reconsider to make any repairs to any infrastructure not found in its spotty records.”

Like other speakers and Birrell, he pointed out the stormwater revenues that were transferred to the general fund along with water revenues over the years.

In the current Cobb fiscal year 2026 budget, that transfer amount is $11 million, but only $300,000 comes from stormwater revenue.

Cobb is spending more than $9 million in FY 2026 for stormwater services; the proposed stormwater fee would generate around $17 million a year.

East Cobb resident Debbie Fisher, a Republican member of the Cobb Board of Elections, also spoke against the fee, although she once favored such a thing.

She lives in the Loch Highland neighborhood, which has two private lakes that she and other residents have had to pay to dredge, due to stormwater runoff from the Sweat Mountain area.

Fisher said, however, that in the two years since a stormwater fee was first proposed, “we still don’t have a plan. We still don’t have the number of miles of piping, of sewer pipes, of water pipes. You don’t even know what kind of money you need.

“This is not ready for prime time.”

The fee is slated to go into effect on June 1, 2026.

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Cobb County Public Library Book Sale returns in spring 2026

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Weekend events, Cobb Library Book Sale

Submitted information:

Cobb County Public Library is excited to announce the return of the beloved Cobb Library Book Sale, taking place March 13-15, 2026, at the Cobb Civic Center.

After the cancellation of the Fall 2025 sale due to storage limitations, Cobb Library is pleased to share that suitable storage has now been secured. Because of this, book donations have resumed and are currently being collected at most branch libraries. Check our website for donation guidelines at cobbcat.org.

The community’s support has always been the cornerstone of the book sale’s success. Cobb Library looks forward to welcoming back patrons, volunteers, and book lovers for this highly anticipated spring event.

In addition to the main book sale, the Library will continue offering in-house book sales throughout the year through its popular Book Nooks, conveniently located inside branches across the county.

For more information, questions, or concerns, please contact: [email protected] or visit cobbcat.org.

 

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