East Cobb Government

Cobb officials propose relocating East Cobb Library branch

by

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.

Related:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Cobb to hold public meetings on proposed 2028 SPLOST

by
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

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

East Cobb power outage alert: Lower Roswell/Pinehurst Lane

by

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.”

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Cobb Library Foundation starts fundraising merchandise shop

by

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 cobblibraryshop@cobbcat.org.  

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Cobb finance director to become deputy county manager

by
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.

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Cobb commissioners approve stormwater fee in split vote

by
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.

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Cobb County Public Library Book Sale returns in spring 2026

by

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: contactus@cobbcat.org or visit cobbcat.org.

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up and you’re good to go!

Cobb PARKS recognized as Georgia ‘agency of the year’

by

Cobb PARKS recognized as Georgia 'agency of the year'

Cobb PARKS was recognized by the Cobb Board of Commissioners this week for being named the Agency of the Year by the Georgia Recreation and Park Association.

Department officials and staff were present at Wednesday’s BOC meeting. The agency award is the second given to Cobb in recent years, following 2019, and Cobb PARKS Director Michael Brantley was recognized in 2024 as the GRPA’s Distinguished Professional of the Year.

GRPA is a private, nonprofit institution to support and promote the recreation and park industries within the state of Georgia. According to agenda item for Wednesday’s meeting, it is “the only state organization that serves as an advocate for quality recreation and park areas, facilities, programs and services at the local level.”

The Agency of the Year Award is presented to five population groups within the state. Cobb County is in the largest population category—150,000 and over. More from the agenda item:

“The rating period for the award was September 1, 2024 through August 31, 2025, a year that has been a transformative one for Cobb PARKS, marked by achievements that not only provided improved facilities and operations but also strengthened our commitment to equity, community and quality of life.

“A tremendous number of initiatives and projects — from transformational facilities like the Milford Recreation Center and Rhyne Park, to systemwide upgrades, strategic partnerships and organizational improvements — illustrate a year of growth, innovation and service. Each represents a commitment to ensuring that Cobb’s parks, facilities and programs are not only maintained but continually improved for the benefit of all who call this community home.”

Related:

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Cobb to start public hearings on proposed stormwater fee

by
Cobb to start public hearings on proposed stormwater fee
Flooding along Columns Drive in East Cobb after a storm in 2024. ECN file photo.

The first of two public hearings on a proposed stormwater fee in Cobb County and other code amendments will take place next week.

The hearings are scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday before the Cobb Board of Commissioners. The hearings, during a regular BOC meeting, are being delayed by a day due to Veteran’s Day holiday on Tuesday.

Currently Cobb stormwater customers are charged through their water and sewer bills based on the amount of impervious surfaces on their properties.

The major change from the original proposal—which was tabled last year after heated opposition from citizens—includes a flat $4.75 per month for residential customers.

Commercial and institutional customers would also be billed $4.75 month per 3,700 square feet of impervious surface.

The fee would apply to customers in unincorporated Cobb and the City of Mableton, whose stormwater management is handled by the county. Five of Cobb’s six other cities charge their own stormwater fees; Marietta does not.

At a BOC work session last month, Cobb Water System director Judy Jones said that a stormwater fee is badly needed because not enough revenue is being generated to maintain the aging system, and to address a growing backlog (you can watch a replay here).

Those issues were made more urgent following flooding in 2021 that damaged the homes and properties of many East Cobb residents, some of whom said a new stormwater fee wouldn’t solve their problem.

That’s because homeowners were on the hook for expensive repairs if the county couldn’t determine if their property was on a county plat. Other critics have condemned what they have called a “rain tax.”

Commissioner JoAnn Birrell of District 3 in East Cobb has been opposed to an additional fee since the county transfers revenues from the water department to the general fund.

Jones admitted during the work session that a fee is not going to solve all of the county’s stormwater issues, but it “allows us to enhance our services. We need to get caught up with what we have outgrown.”

She also said the revenues transferred from the water system to the general fund aren’t enough to fund stormwater repairs.

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.

You can click through the slides presented at the work session below; the county has provided further information at a special Stormwater Funding page. Another hearing will be held Nov. 20 prior to a BOC vote on the stormwater fee and other proposed code amendments.

The BOC meeting begins at 9 a.m. 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.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Revived Cobb stormwater fee proposal to be unveiled Tuesday

by
Revived Cobb stormwater fee proposal to be unveiled Tuesday
Flooding along Columns Drive in East Cobb, which is routine after heavy rains.

A year and a half since dropping a proposed stormwater fee, Cobb commissioners on Tuesday will be formally presented with a revised plan to impose a dedicated charge for all customers.

Currently customers are charged through their water and sewer bills based on the amount of impervious surfaces on their properties.

The major change from the original proposal—which was tabled after heated opposition from citizens—includes a flat $4.75 per month for residential customers.

Commercial and institutional customers would also be billed $4.75 month per 3,700 square feet of impervious surface.

The fee would apply to customers in unincorporated Cobb and the City of Mableton, whose stormwater management is handled by the county. Five of Cobb’s six other cities charge their own stormwater fees; Marietta does not.

(You can read the agenda item for a Tuesday work session by clicking here. The work session, which includes other proposed code amendments for possible action next month, begins at 1:30 p.m. and will be livestreamed on the county’s YouTube channel.)

The Cobb water system also has prepared a stormwater credit manual to further break down how it’s intending to charge for stormwater management

The initial stormwater fee plan, first presented in late 2023, would have imposed a charge for residential customers ranging between $2 and $12 a month, based on the amount of impervious surfaces on their properties.

Cobb water officials have been asking for a separate stormwater fee for years, saying they can’t manage an aging, overextended stormwater system, which has been budgeted $9.5 million in the current Cobb fiscal year 2026 budget.

The request was accelerated by severe floods in the fall of 2021 that badly damaged many homes and yards in East Cobb.

At East Cobb stormwater town hall citizens ramp up their fury
Citizens protested a proposed stormwater fee at an East Cobb town hall meeting in March 2024.

But when the county introduced a fee proposal, citizens protested en masse, at public comment sessions and other events, including a fiery town hall meeting in East Cobb.

They blasted the proposal as a “rain tax,” and said it wouldn’t help those affected by the flood damage.

At that town hall, Cobb Water System director Judy Jones said that “the way we’re charging now, residential customers are paying more than commercial customers. I’m trying to fix that. But I have to have more money to do that. The way we do it now is not equitable.”

Cobb’s two Republican commissioners, JoAnn Birrell of East Cobb and Keli Gambrill of West Cobb, opposed that fee.

Former Commissioner Jerica Richardson of East Cobb, whose constituents were affected by the 2021 floods, called for the initial motion to table the proposal in March of 2024, saying that stakeholders sessions should be conducted to go over what she called “a big issue . . . but it’s complex.”

Commissioners will hold public hearings on the proposed stormwater fee in November.

The work session on Tuesday will not include public comments, but there is a public comment session scheduled for the Cobb Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday night.

That meeting begins at 7 p.m. 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.

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Cobb Elections Board members to get major stipend increases

by
Cobb Elections Board dispute roils along partisan lines
East Cobb resident Jennifer Mosbacher, chairwoman of the Cobb Board of Elections

Members of the Cobb Board of Elections will be receiving a big pay boost for the work that they do.

The Cobb Board of Commissioners on Tuesday voted to increase the monthly stipends for the five-member board, which is one of only six appointed bodies in the county getting them.

By a 3-2 vote, commissioners approved a request to increase the stipends by $50 a month.

The chair’s monthly stipend will go from $200 a month to $450 a month, and the other four members’ stipends are rising from $150 to $350 a month.

While those represent more than double what they had been paid, the new amounts are less than what was requested. An agenda item stated that $600 monthly stipend was being sought for the chair and $500 a month for everyone else.

Interim Cobb Elections director Michael D’Istri said at Tuesday’s commissioners meeting that elections board members haven’t received a raise in more than three decades, and in more recent years, their workload has increased.

Typically board members are now meeting several times a month during occasionally long meetings. A new Georgia elections law requires elections boards across the state to hold additional certification meetings around elections.

This year alone, with several municipal elections concluding in November, board members will be holding more than 30 meetings.

D’Istri also noted more recent political tensions, including in Cobb, which has swung from Republican domination in local offices to Democrats holding all countywide offices as well as majorities on the commission and legislative delegation. The GOP has a slight edge on the Cobb school board.

“The culture, the environment, the atmosphere of elections has changed drastically over the years,” D’Istri said.

Those tensions have broken out into the open at elections board meetings, including a proposed by-law change that was dropped in August. Democrats have four appointees on the current board; the Republicans one.

Current chair Jennifer Mosbacher, an appointee of Democratic Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid, has been attacked by some citizens for her refusal to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

After Cupid made a comparison to the stipends for Cobb Planning Commission members, who get around $10,00 a year, Commissioner JoAnn Birrell of East Cobb said the comparison wasn’t fair.

She said planning board members, who meet once a month, do a lot of outside work, visiting sites and holding community meetings.

But Birrell, who voted against the elections board increases along with Keli Gambrill, the other Republican commissioner, was more concerned about the precedent.

“If we do this outside of the budget, we’re going to get a lot of other requests” from other appointed bodies.

According to the agenda item, the additional annual expense for the elections board stipend rises comes to $21,600, and those raises are effective immediately.

Related:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Cobb delays vote on appointing police chief for two weeks

by

The Cobb Board of Commissioners is set to vote on a new police chief this month.Cobb delays vote on appointing police chief for two weeks

But the vote naming interim chief J.D. Ferrell as police chief that had been on Tuesday’s agenda is being pushed back two weeks.

Cobb government sent out a statement Monday afternoon saying that the board “will move ahead” with a vote on the selection of Ferrell on Oct. 28.

Ferrell was recommended by Cobb County Manager Jackie McMorris, but on Friday Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid called for a Monday press conference “to provide transparency in addressing challenges with the announced selection of Police Chief.”

The county statement Monday afternoon said that “the delay was requested by Chairwoman Lisa Cupid, who initially sought to address issues related to the search and selection process, but supports the candidate and moving forward with the process of approving this candidate on the 28th.”

Earlier Monday afternoon, the county announced Cupid was cancelling the press conference less than an hour before it was to begin, citing a scheduling conflict.

Cobb spokesman Ross Cavitt told East Cobb News that commissioners were still in meetings, over Tuesday’s agenda, and for other matters.

The MDJ reported last week that Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid wanted former Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields for the job.

But Cupid hasn’t confirmed that information, and the paper quoted Commissioner Keli Gambrill as saying that she thought Shields had “a chip on her shoulder” in the interview process, which apparently included two other unnamed candidates.

Gambrill, in the same media report, also objected to the process, saying it’s the county manager’s job to recommend a candidate, not the elected chair.

Ferrell is a 29-year veteran of the Cobb Police Department and had been a deputy chief when former Chief Stuart VanHoozer retired in April.

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

 

 

‘How to Do Business With Cobb’ session set for Thursday

by

Submitted information:'How to Do Business With Cobb' session set for Thursday

Interested in becoming a vendor with Cobb County? If so, you don’t want to miss the upcoming free seminar, How to do Business with Cobb County Government and Cobb County Schools, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 16, at the Cobb Civic Center, 548 South Marietta Parkway SE, Marietta. Registration is required as seats are limited.

To register, email kimberly.jorgensen@cobbcounty.gov or call 770-528-3317.

Related:

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

 

Cobb Police interim chief named lone finalist for top job

by
Cobb Police interim chief named finalist for top job
J.D. Ferrell

The Cobb Board of Commissioners on Tuesday will be asked to remove the interim tag from Cobb Police Chief J.D. Ferrell.

His name has been submitted as the recommendation as the lone finalist for police chief by Cobb County Manager Jackie McMorris, with his tenure to begin immediately if confirmed, according to an agenda item for Tuesday’s meeting.

McMorris said that Ferrell “has distinguished himself with his leadership and management” in a 32-year law enforcement career, including the last 29 years with Cobb Police.

His positions with Cobb have included patrol officer, training, special operations, special investigations and crimes against persons. He also has served as executive officer to the Cobb Director of Public Safety.

Ferrell, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, was named interim chief in April, when Stuart VanHoozer retired.

The MDJ reported last week that Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid wanted former Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields for the job.

But Cupid declined to confirm that information, and the paper quoted Commissioner Keli Gambrill as saying that she thought Shields had “a chip on her shoulder” in the interview process, which apparently included two other unnamed candidates.

Gambrill, in that same report, objected to the process, saying it’s the county manager’s job to recommend a candidate, not the elected chair.

UPDATED, FRIDAY, 3 p.m.:

The Cobb government communications office on Friday sent out an advisory about a press availability with Cupid on Monday, something she has rarely done in five-plus years in office.

“Chairwoman Cupid seeks to provide transparency in addressing challenges with the announced selection of Police Chief and answer questions from the media,” the advisory said.

ORIGINAL REPORT:

Shields was a longtime Atlanta police officer and was named chief in 2016, but resigned in 2020 following the shooting death of a man at a Wendy’s restaurant by an officer. That was in the wake of protests following the death of George Floyd.

Shields was named Louisville Police Chief in 2021 but resigned in late 2022 after a new mayor was elected. Shortly after that she was hired later by a technology company in Suwanee that provides training for law enforcement, but her name is no longer listed on its leadership team.

If Ferrell is confirmed, it would continue a pattern of long-time Cobb Police veterans becoming chief. VanHoozer was with the department for 35 years, but served as chief for less than three years. He succeeded Tim Cox, whose long tenure in Cobb also included serving as the Precinct 4 commander in East Cobb.

The Board of 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.

Related:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Cobb County government to hold cybersecurity event on Friday

by

Submitted information:2024 Cobb Cybersecurity Day presented by Cobb County ITS

Cobb County Government invites residents, students, businesses, and community organizations to attend Cobb Cybersecurity Day 2025 on Friday, Oct. 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cobb County Civic Center, 548 South Marietta Parkway SE, Marietta.

Held in recognition of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, this free event will provide critical insights and hands-on learning opportunities to help individuals recognize and defend against today’s growing cyber threats.

Event highlights:

  • Expert presentations from local universities and industry leaders
  • Insights from Cobb County’s Technology-Based Crimes Unit
  • Practical guidance on protecting personal data and spotting cyber scams
  • Information on how Cobb County safeguards community data
  • Career resources for students exploring cybersecurity fields
  • Complimentary catered lunch
  • Door prizes including a YETI cooler, Surface Laptop, and more*

Since 2004, National Cybersecurity Awareness Month has united public and private partners to raise awareness about cybersecurity and data privacy. This year, Cobb County is bringing that mission directly to the community with a day dedicated to education, prevention, and empowerment.

Why attend?
As reliance on digital systems grows, informed individuals are the first line of defense. Cobb Cybersecurity Day is designed to give attendees the knowledge to protect themselves, their families, and their workplaces.

The event is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged but not required*. Register at: cobbcounty.gov/CyberDay

*Registration and attendance are required to be eligible for door prizes.

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Mountain View Regional Library to close for three days

by

Mountain View Regional Library to close for three days

The Cobb County Public Library System announced that for three days next week, the Mountain View Regional Library will be closed for “a large entrance door replacement project.”

The library system said in a release Thursday that the branch at 3320 Sandy Plains Road will be closed from Thursday, Sept. 11, through Saturday, Sept. 13, and is scheduled to reopen the following day, Sunday, Sept. 14.

As a regional library, Mountain View is one of the few Cobb branches that is open on Sundays.

During the closure, curbside pickup services for reserved items will be available from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Mountain View book drops will remain open throughout the closure period.

Patrons can request pickup times for materials online via a Curbside Request Form that’s available at www.cobbcounty.gov/library/locations/mountain-view-regional-library.

The closest branch is the Gritters Library at 880 Shaw Park Road, which will be open during the Mountain View closure Thursday-Friday are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Cobb rejects additional county funding for veterans memorial

by

Cobb rejects additional county funding for veterans memorial

Some Cobb veterans showed up in dress uniforms. Others were attired to indicate the details and places of their military service.

On Tuesday a few dozen of them showed up to convince Cobb commissioners to spend an additional $1 million in county funding for a veterans memorial.

But even after their emotional comments, commissioners turned down the request by a 4-1 vote.

Commissioners had an extra $175 million to allocate in current 2022 Cobb SPLOST (Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax) revenues, due to healthy economic activity.

According to SPLOST regulations, only projects on the list that were submitted to voters for the sales tax referendum are eligible for the additional funds.

But while the Cobb Veterans Memorial, which has been in the works for a decade at the behest of county officials, was on the 2022 SPLOST list, it wasn’t on the list of items eligible for the $175 million in additional revenues.

Commissioner JoAnn Birrell

So Commissioner JoAnn Birrell of East Cobb proposed taking $1 million in her contingency account for the development of Ebenezer Downs Park and transfer that amount to the veterans memorial to complete the project.

But she couldn’t get any of her colleagues to go along, and was openly frustrated at the proceedings.

“How can you put a price tag on our veterans?” Birrell asked, near the end of delivering prepared remarks.

Due to construction cost increases, the veterans memorial, which is being proposed for a site at Larry Bell Park in Marietta, was priced at nearly $8 million.

The county had already committed $3 million—$1 million in previous SPLOST allocations and $2 million from Birrell and Chairwoman Lisa Cupid in other discretionary funds.

Another $1 million been raised by the Cobb Veterans Memorial Foundation, a non-profit. The foundation reduced the scope of the memorial to get the cost to just under $5 million, cutting out a POW memorial and honor walls.

Cobb has an estimated 60,000 military veterans, and Birrell asked those in attendance Tuesday to stand, and they did, to applause.

Vietnam veteran T.D. Jorgensen

One of them, Skip Bell, a member of the memorial’s board, said that “it’s easy to say you love and support veterans.

“Everybody says that. You are in a position,” he told commissioners, to prove that support.

But that didn’t sway new Commissioner Erick Allen, whose District 2 includes the proposed memorial site.

He noted that other park projects on the list for additional revenues “aren’t getting anything over and above what was on the original list” and pledged to help raise the money from private sources to close that $1 million gap.

He added that the original memorandum of understanding didn’t intend for the memorial to be a county-funded project, and said the elements of the memorial that don’t have funding now could be added later.

“We can break ground today with the funding that has been raised and with the funds that have been committed,” calling his suggestion a compromise.

Allen also said it was “insulting” to hear accusations that his opposition to another $1 million in county funds was likened to “spitting on the veterans coming home from Vietnam.”

Cobb Veterans Memorial Foundation president Donna Rowe

But Donna Rowe, the memorial foundation’s board president and a former captain in the U.S. Army nursing corps in Vietnam, recounted that history from her perspective, and rattled off the changing cost estimates and county stipulations for getting the work done.

“We cannot do this in phases,” she said in response to Allen, thanking Birrell and Cupid for their “undying devotion” to getting the memorial built.

After the vote, Marietta resident Donald Barth, a frequent public commenter, said the memorial can be completed without more public funding.

“We are going to have a memorial and we all know it,” he said. “We need people who will move the ball forward.”

That summed up the thoughts of some of the veterans who were hoping for a different vote.

“There are Americans who are going to support this with or without you,” Vietnam veteran T.D. Jorgensen said, thanking Rowe and the others advocating for the memorial.

“God bless you. We need this.”

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Cobb’s AAA credit rating extended for 28th consecutive year

by

Cobb County government announced Thursday that three New York credit rating agencies have continued the county’s AAA status for the 28th year in a row. Cobb County Government logo

The AAA ratings are the highest possible, and were continued by Standard and Poor’s, Fitch and Moody’s.

The county uses the ratings to issue bonds for financing roads, parks and infrastructure at low interest rates, and to attract a wide pool of investors.

“Cobb continues to be recognized by the ratings agencies for our financial practices, economic strength, and stability,” Cobb Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Lisa Cupid said in a statement issued by the county Wednesday.

“This recognition should give our residents confidence that the county is a good steward of their tax dollars as we grow and  meet diverse expectations .”

The Standard and Poor’s Global Ratings, according to the county release, cited Cobb’s “robust economy, consistent financial performance, sizable reserves, and proactive management practices in its report.”

The Cobb County School District also has a AAA bond rating that it uses to finance capital projects, including school construction and maintenance.

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

2025 Cobb property tax bills mailed out; due Oct. 15

by

2025 Cobb property tax bills mailed out; due Oct. 15

Cobb County property owners should be getting their 2025 tax bills in the mail this week.

They were mailed out on Monday, according to a release from the Cobb Tax Commissioners Office (you can read through it here).

The bills for residential and commercial property owners are due on Oct. 15, and payment is via online, by phone, regular mail or in person (details below).

The property tax bills are to fund fiscal year operations for the Cobb County School District and Cobb County government, based on the July 2025 Cobb tax digest approval.

Cobb Tax Commissioner Carla Jackson said that 271,757 tax bills were calculated, totaling $1.364 billion in revenues.

You can view your bill online at Cobb Tax Payments, and you can also pay your bill there by clicking this link.

By phone, you can pay by calling an automated system at 1-866-PAY-COBB (1-866-729-2622).

To submit your payment via regular U.S. Postal Service Mail, send to: Cobb County Tax Commissioner, P.O. Box 100127, Marietta, Ga. 30061.

And to pay in person, you can visit one of three locations during regular business hours (M-F 8-5):

  • Cobb Board of Tax Assessors: 736 Whitlock Ave., Marietta
  • East Cobb Government Service Center: 4400 Lower Roswell Road
  • South Cobb Government Service Center, 4700 Austell Road, Austell.

Each of those locations also has a dedicated drop box that’s available 24/7 for checks or money orders. There’s also a drop box in Northeast Cobb, at the Cobb Tax Commissioner’s satellite office at 2932 Canton Road.

For more information about understanding your tax bill, visit the Cobb Tax Commissioner’s Office website, e-mail: tax@cobbtax.gov or call 770-528-8600.

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!