Cobb government spokesman Ross Cavitt send out word late Monday morning that the Cobb Board of Commissioners will hold a special Coronavirus meeting Tuesday.
That begins at 10:30 a.m. and will include an update on the county’s response to the pandemic and the delivery of services.
The meeting takes place in the BOC meeting room in the Cobb government building (100 Cherokee St., downtown Marietta), but the public is being asked to tune in at cobbcounty.org or the county’s YouTube and Facebook pages.
Cobb County Commission Chairman Mike Boyce said in a release issued by Cavitt that “the Board will hear from the Director of the Cobb and Douglas Public Health Department to help us decide how to respond to this unheralded public health crisis.”
The county also has established a hotline designed to answer county-specific questions The number is 770-590-5790 for county operations; if you need health-related answers the state COVID-19 hotline number is 844-442-2681.
Cobb has been on “limited operations status” since Wednesday.
On Friday, Boyce said he was reluctant to shut down businesses or impose curfew or quarantine.
Some of those measures are being undertaken in Smyrna, Kennesaw, Sandy Springs, Roswell and the city of Atlanta.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp also does not want to do that, although other local governments in the state have ordered shutdowns that have been in place in other states and locales.
At noon Monday, the Georgia Department of Public Health reported 722 confirmed cases of Coronavirus, or COVID-19 in the state, 79 of them in Cobb County. That trails only Fulton County, which has 145 cases.
The death toll in Georgia from the virus has climbed to 25, and 5.069 people have been tested.
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Meetings for the Cobb Board of Commissioners and appointed bodies on planning and zoning matters that were to have taken place through March and in April have been postponed or cancelled.
Here’s what the county put out late this week:
Board of Commissioners work session, 1:30 p.m., Monday, March 23: CANCELED
Board of Commissioners regular meeting, 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 24: CANCELED
Planning Commission zoning hearing, 9 a.m., Tuesday, April 7: POSTPONED UNTIL May 5
Board of Commissioners regular meeting, 9 a.m., Tuesday, April 14
Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA), 1 p.m., Wednesday, April 15: POSTPONED UNTIL May 13
Board of Commissioners zoning hearing, 9 a.m., Tuesday, April 21: POSTPONED UNTIL May 19.
Agenda items will move forward to the next scheduled meeting date.
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In a video message Friday, Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce said he’s not inclined to declare a state of emergency in the county, even though two Cobb cities have done that.
The City of Smyrna has declared a state of emergency starting at 8 p.m. Friday until April 3, prohibiting gatherings of 10 people or more, ordering certain businesses to close and forbidding restaurants from providing dining room service.
The day after Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said he will not ask businesses to close, or to impose a statewide curfew or quarantine, Boyce echoed the same sentiments for Cobb County.
“I have no intention of asking the board [county commission] to get together to require businesses to close,” he said. “If we give you the facts as to what this virus does and what we need to do to mitigate it, you’ll take the necessary measures to do that.
“I don’t think we have to close businesses for business owners to see that they have to make necessary adjustments to do things like takeout service, or to spread out the distance between customers so they don’t interact with each other.
“If in fact we think the virus is transmitted in a way that requires us to totally close the businesses, that’s something the governor will probably institute, or the president of the United States.”
Boyce said they have access to more information than he does, and urged citizens to get behind them.
He also said Cobb parks will be remaining open. It’s one of the few components of county government that isn’t being closed or limited to due to “limited operations status”that went into effect on Wednesday.
“People are simply going to use those parks,” he said. “That’s just human nature. They’re going to get out of their houses, they’re getting cabin fever. They want to go somewhere, at least for a little while, where they can have some comfort.”
He said if something should happen at a park, “we would have a presence there” to address whatever the issue might be.
Cobb commissioners meetings for Monday and Tuesday have been postponed, and Cobb zoning meetings for April have been postponed to May.
Cobb’s positive Coronavirus case total is now at 47, with one of 14 deaths in the state, as Georgia’s case number jumped to 485, nearly 50 percent higher than Thursday.
As for testing for the Coronavirus locally, Boyce said Cobb doesn’t have the number of test kits available to match the number of people who may have the virus. He didn’t specify a figure.
In his update on Thursday, Kemp said the emphasis would be on testing elderly and ill citizens, those who’ve shown symptoms and health care and medical professionals.
Boyce urged Cobb citizens to “take personal responsibility” to mitigate the spread of the virus, including social distancing, staying home if they’re sick and following other hygiene guidelines.
He said starting Monday he would be working from a Cobb emergency management operations venue to coordinate responses to the Coronavirus outbreak.
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As the number of positive Coronavirus cases in Cobb County and Georgia grows, so do questions about the availability of test kits throughout the state.
Shortly after noon Wednesday, the Georgia Department of Public Health reported a big jump in the number of positive tests since Tuesday, from 146 to 197.
In Cobb, there are now 28 confirmed cases of Coronavirus, or COVID-19; there were 25 on Tuesday and 22 on Monday.
Also on Wednesday, two more deaths in Georgia were reported, patients at a hospital in Albany. The first death, a patient at WellStar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, was reported on March 7.
According to Georgia Health News, no information on those new deaths was made available, but the report said around 300 people in the Albany area have been tested and are waiting for results.
The Georgia DPH daily status report shows that around 1,500 people have been tested in Georgia thus far, more than 1,000 in commercial labs and the rest by the DPH.
Cobb’s 28 positive tests are the second-most for any county in Georgia. Fulton has 49, followed by Bartow with 19 and DeKalb with 18.
The DPH isn’t breaking down how those with positive test results are contracting the virus, nor giving a county-by-county count on how many people are being tested.
On Wednesday, Cobb and Douglas Public Health began offering drive-up testing for pre-approved people in what it termed high-risk groups, including health care providers and first responders, as well as those deemed vulnerable to getting Coronavirus or who have shown symptoms.
At Jim Miller Park, where that service was being made available, Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce urged the public not to come to that location.
“We have a shortage of test kits,” he said in a videotaped message. “I don’t know how many are on the way, but I am sure of this. This is America. We’re going to produce those test kits.”
For now, he said, the available test kits need to go to those considered at the greatest risk for COVID-19.
“We’re going to have more people who have the virus in the county, that’s a guarantee,” he said.
He said those who are sick should stay home, and those who have mild symptoms should wait 72 hours. After that, they should contact their health care provider. Anyone who shows up at Jim Miller Park or other drive-up locations set up around Georgia by DPH and who has not been approved to be tested will be turned away.
Boyce also urged citizens not to got to a hospital and potentially overwhelm medical professionals there. He said he’s reluctant to declare a state of emergency if something like that were to happen: “I don’t want to use that option.”
The City of South Fulton was put under a state of emergency Wednesday afternoon, banning public gatherings of 10 or more and issuing a curfew. All non-essential businesses—beyond those serving medical and pharmaceutical needs—must close by 9 p.m. each day until further notice.
Residents there should also be in their homes between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Cobb County government has set up a COVID-19 resource hub and a hotline to call for questions at 844-442-2681.
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Cobb Commission Chairman Boyce said mandating business closures would be a “last-step” measure. (ECN file)
Starting Wednesday, Cobb County government will transition to what’s being called “limited operations status,” closing most of its facilities to the public and having non-essential employees work from home.
The Cobb Board of Commissioners approved an emergency closure policy Monday at a special called meeting.
The commissioners also postponed their monthly zoning hearing, which was to have taken place on Tuesday. That has been pushed back to an indefinite date; an April 7 Cobb Planning Commission meeting and April 15 Board of Zoning Appeals meeting also have been postponed.
Department heads and public health officials updated commissioners about their preparations in response to the Coronavirus outbreak, which has hit Cobb County especially hard.
As of noon Monday, Cobb had 22 confirmed cases of Coronavirus, and Georgia’s total has risen to 121. Fulton has the most cases of any county in the state, with 27, followed by Cobb.
The new status for Cobb government goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday and will end when County Manager Rob Hosack deems it safe to do so.
Most lobbies in county government buildings that are open to the public will be closed. Departments that accept payments will be making arrangements to collect via other methods.
Here’s what else will be changing starting Wednesday, per a release issued by Cobb government:
Lobbies that must stay open will limit access to indoor spaces and require a six-foot buffer between employees and other patrons;
Libraries, senior centers and recreational facilities will remain closed throughout this period. Outdoor parks will remain accessible, and any restroom facilities at those parks will undergo cleaning at regular intervals;
Cobb County’s administration building at 100 Cherokee Street in Marietta will be closed to the public with access by essential employees only;
Cobb County courthouses will remain open to handle essential matters to ensure due process and to protect the community.
Department heads in Cobb government are to determine which employees are essential and which will be teleworking.
The zoning hearing agenda included 10 full cases to be heard, excluding consent items.
“These are public hearings and we can’t tell people to stay home,” commissioner JoAnn Birrell of Northeast Cobb said. “We’re denying them their due process to speak if they’re uncomfortable coming.”
Commissioner Bob Ott of East Cobb said he’s heard from individuals who feel the same way, and Chairman Mike Boyce said having a public meeting while the county government acts to restrict public access runs counter to efforts to mitigate the spread of the disease.
A motion to postpone the zoning hearing passed by a unanimous 5-0 vote.
County services will continue to be provided, and Cobb public safety operations will continue to be fully staffed.
Also continuing is the Meals on Wheels program provided by Cobb Senior Services, according to William Tanks, Director of Public Services.
He was asked by Birrell about cleaning efforts at county facilities, which currently is done twice a year.
“This would be a good opportunity to do a deep cleaning,” he said.
Sharon Stanley, Director of Support Services, said senior centers are being cleaned daily, with a deep cleaning on the weekends and a “misting” of common areas.
Deep cleaning is being done when there’s a facility with a suspected exposure, as was the case last week at the West Cobb Regional Library.
She said that if there’s a confirmed exposure, a third-party vendor will perform a cleaning according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for Coronavirus.
When South Cobb Commissioner Lisa Cupid asked if there have been any confirmed cases at Cobb government facilities, Stanley said “we’ve had contacts” but no confirmed cases.
The Cobb Community Development Department is continuing with inspections but is sending code enforcement violations via mail and is delaying fines for business licenses not renewed on time.
At the end of the meeting, Boyce said he would be reluctant to act now on mandated closings of businesses.
“It’s something we don’t want to do, and we shouldn’t do it without close consultation”[from other commissioners],” he said.
Not long after he spoke, the mayor of Atlanta and DeKalb County CEO were considering mandates to close restaurants, as has been done in other states.
The Georgia legislature on Monday approved measures in a special session to give Gov. Brian Kemp increased powers to address the Coronavirus outbreak, but he has not called for any mandated business closings.
Late Monday afternoon, Kemp signed an executive order mandating that public K-12 and secondary schools be closed until March 31.
Cobb schools announced last week it would be closing, starting Monday, until further notice.
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Cobb government officials said Sunday evening they’re closing a number of county facilities, including libraries, senior centers and recreational and community centers, in response to the Coronavirus outbreak.
The closures will be effective Monday, and coincides with decisions by local school districts to close.
In a release, the county said that “county leaders will monitor the situation and listen to public health officials before deciding when to reopen these facilities.”
Cobb Public Services Director William Tanks said that “our public health partners have made it clear that increasing measures are needed to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. We thought it prudent to take this action. It is our belief that leaving these facilities open while schools are closed will defeat the purpose of impeding the spread of the Covid-19 virus.”
The closings won’t include outdoor parks, which “cannot be effectively closed off to the public and will remain open for use.”
County administrative, public safety and judicial buildings will remain open, and in the case of the latter only for essential court proceedings. Jury trials are being suspended for 30 days.
Cobb commissioners will meet at 1:30 p.m. Monday for an update on the county’s response to Coronavirus.
That meeting begins at 1:30 p.m. and can be seen on the county’s YouTubeand Facebook pages and Website, and CobbTV, Channel 23 on Comcast cable.
Cobb’s confirmed case number is now 19, with Fulton leading the state with 20 cases.
The only death in Georgia thus far was a patient at WellStar Kennestone Hospital.
The Cobb County Public Library System put out its own announcement with more details, saying that patrons should not return items during the closure (including outside book drops).
Loan periods will be extended and fines will not accrue while the libraries are closed.
You can download e-books, magazines, streaming videos and other resources from Cobb libraries by clicking here.
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Concerns over the Coronavirus outbreak have prompted Cobb government officials to cancel some events and announce other related measures.
Commissioner Bob Ott (above) said Wednesday afternoon that two upcoming town hall meetings he had scheduled in East Cobb are being cancelled “out of an abundance of caution.”
They were to have taken place next Tuesday at the Chestnut Ridge Christian Church and April 21 at the East Cobb Library.
Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce has cancelled six upcoming SPLOST open houses for the rest of March, due to concerns over large crowds. The open houses began last week, and those scheduled for April and early May are still on for now, according to a release issued by the county Wednesday afternoon.
“Boyce considered this a prudent move based on concerns of residents and the desire to help staff focus primarily on protecting our community by handling other issues as they develop,” according to the county statement.
The West Cobb Library was closed Tuesday and remains closed until further notice after county officials said an employee there reported possibly being exposed to someone with a confirmed case of Coronavirus.
The county release said all senior centers, including the Tim D. Lee Center on Sandy Plains Road in East Cobb, will be cleaned on the weekends. Seniors are considered a high-risk group for contracting Coronavirus.
The county has issued travel guidelines for employees and established a task force that is meeting daily, composed of health, public safety and other administrators to address the continuing Coronavirus situation.
More than 100 people from a cruise ship near San Francisco have been brought to Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Cobb to begin a 14-day quarantine period under the auspices of federal health officials.
Another plane with cruise ship passengers is expected to arrive at Dobbins shortly.
There are six confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Georgia, including one in Cobb County. That individual, who is in home isolation, recently traveled to Italy, which is on a nationwide lockdown and has had hundreds of Coronavirus-related deaths.
Late Tuesday, Gov. Brian Kemp said the number of “presumptive positive” cases of Coronavirus in Georgia has grown to 16, and Cobb County has the most, with six.
Presumptive positive cases are those that have been conducted by state health officials but still require confirmation by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
The county is asking anyone needing information or having questions about its Coronavirus response to visit its resource page or the CDC website.
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Tony Waybright, a civic and school activist in the Smyrna/Vinings area, is the new District 2 appointee to the Cobb Planning Commission.
District 2 Commissioner Bob Ott formalized the appointment at Tuesday’s Cobb Board of Commissioners meeting.
The vacancy occurred when Planning Commission member Andy Smith of East Cobb resigned last week. He’s running for the District 2 seat after Ott announced his retirement last month.
Planning Commission members hearing zoning cases and make advisory recommendations to county commissioners.
District 2 includes some of East Cobb and the Smyrna/Cumberland/Vinings area.
Waybright is active in the Campbell High School Community, having served as a member and chairman of the school council and being involved with other school-related organizations.
He also was the CEO of the West Vinings Civic Association and has spoken before public bodies, including the Planning Commission and county commission, on behalf of the Oakdale Alliance, a civic group in the Smyrna area.
Waybright will begin his duties in April. The Planning Commission has another new member in Alice Summerour, a former member of the Cobb SPLOST Citizens Oversight Committee and a civic leader in Marietta. She was appointed by chairman Mike Boyce and began in February.
The five-member planning board, appointed by commissioners, also will have a new chairman.
Galt Porter, who has represented District 4 from South Cobb, will be the new chairman. He succeeds Judy Williams of Northeast Cobb, who has stepped aside as chairwoman but remains the District 3 member.
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Another day, another Coronavirus update from Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who said Sunday morning that Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Cobb will be a quarantine venue for California cruise passengers as soon as Monday.
He said after late briefings Saturday night, 34 Georgians and other passengers on the Grand Princess cruise ship are headed here, and that they will be “securely transferred.”
The release didn’t indicate how many more people will be coming beyond the 34, and how long they’ll be quarantined.
The ship was not allowed to port in San Francisco and was being detained offshore after two passengers were confirmed to have Coronavirus.
Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce said Sunday he’s been in touch with the White House and the governor’s office about the arrival of the Grand Princess passengers and reiterated that “they are not people who have the virus.”
In a video presentation with several county health and public safety officials, Boyce said the Dobbins setup is “a contingency that has been planned for several weeks.”
Dr. Janet Memark, the Director of Cobb and Douglas Public Health, said the quarantine at Dobbins is a “low-risk operation” and added that 80 percent of those who have been diagnosed are having “very mild” health issues.
She urged citizens to stay home if they’re not sick or feeling well and to take other precautionary measures such as regular hand-washing.
She also said the Georgia Department of Public Health has set up a Coronavirus hotline for anyone with questions. They can call 866-782-4584 to get more information, and the agency has provided this information and prevention tip sheet.
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They’re a father and son, and one of them had traveled back recently from Milan, Italy, which is experiencing an outbreak of the virus.
During the press conference, state health officials said the two individuals were in home quarantine and in communication with their doctor.
More than 90,000 people have contracted coronavirus, a highly contagious illness, in nearly 80 countries around the world. More than 3,000 deaths have been reported, mostly in China.
The only deaths thus far in the U.S. have been in Washington State, where on Tuesday a ninth fatality was confirmed.
The Cobb/Douglas statement contains a basic explanation of the virus, along with preventative measures, such as thorough hand-washing, and that all testing is being done by the state at this time.
The statement said coronavirus spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and that symptoms appear between two and 14 days after exposure. They include:
runny nose
headache
cough
shortness of breath
fever
a general feeling of being unwell.
Here’s more about the local response, as the number of cases is expected to grow:
Cobb & Douglas Public Health (CDPH) is preparing internally, as well as with the state and the CDC to slow or prevent community spread. We are working with our partners, including the local governments, healthcare organizations, businesses, first responders, and local school districts to ensure our community is prepared for a potential COVID-19 outbreak.
We are reaching out to our county Boards of Health, emergency management agencies, chambers of commerce, and other partners who may need our guidance and are sending them guidance on how to prepare their organizations.
CDPH staff receive frequent updates from the CDC and the Georgia Department of Public Health. These updates include information on the current situation abroad and in the U.S., testing, surveillance, quarantine, and more. This helps shape our local response.
CDPH has a previously-developed pandemic influenza plan that can serve as a template for responding to other outbreaks of severe respiratory disease, like COVID-19. We are reviewing our plan and are also prepared to implement specific COVID-19 guidance from the Georgia Department of Public Health and the CDC as the situation evolves.
The Cobb County School District last week sent out a notice about the coronavirus, including a statement from the Georgia Department of Public Health, as well as an updated FAQ Tuesday following the confirmation of the Georgia cases:
The District will continue to stay in constant communication with Georgia Department of Health officials and will follow their guidance every step of the way in order to keep our students and staff safe. Our schools continue to remind students and staff on how to prevent the spread of illness including hand washing, covering mouths when they cough, and keeping their hands away from their face. Parents are urged to keep students at home if they have any symptoms of sickness.
Should a staff member or student become ill, Cobb Schools already has a reporting protocol in place regarding infectious diseases, which is part of the District’s Infectious Disease Response Plan. The District will use guidance from public health officials to update and apply the plan to respond to COVID-19.
The federal Centers for Disease Control has issued its highest alerts for China and Iran, recommending against non-essential travel there, and that entry by foreign nationals from those countries has been suspended.
U.S. travelers are being advised against non-essential trips to South Korea and Italy, and older adults or those with chronic medical conditions not visit Japan.
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Replacing the aging Fire Station No. 12 near Shaw Park is included in the Cobb 2022 SPLOST draft list.
Public safety infrastructure in Cobb County would get a substantial overhaul if the Cobb Special-Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for county government (SPLOST) is renewed by voters later this year.
A draft project list for the six-year, $810 million 2022 SPLOST collection and other information has been released by the county as a schedule of 20 open houses gets underway Tuesday at the Piedmont Church in Northeast Cobb.
The open house takes place from 6-8 p.m. The church is located at 570 Piedmont Road. Citizens can view the proposed projects, offer feedback on them and ask county staff about them as well.
The SPLOST, if renewed, would succeed the current 2016 SPLOST, which expires on Dec. 31, 2021. The one-percent sales tax pays for a wide variety of government projects, including transportation, public safety, parks, libraries, information services, property management, community centers and senior services.
Each of Cobb’s six cities would also collect sales-tax funds for projects in their municipalities. The 2022 SPLOST would be collected through Dec. 31, 2027.
The draft list (you can read through it here and see an overview here) includes $18 million for renovating the former Lockheed Georgia Employees Credit Union building on Fairground Street in Marietta for a new Cobb Police headquarters, and for a new police training center and firing range.
That’s part of a $82 million tab to be spent on public safety under the 2022 SPLOST.
Another $24 million would be spent for renovating fire training facilities, and to build a new Fire Station No. 12 to replace the existing building on Brackett Road in Northeast Cobb, near Shaw Park.
Replacing radio public safety equipment would cost $16 million, and a new Cobb animal shelter is pegged at $15 million.
Replacing police vehicles and building a new E-911 center would come in at $10 million each.
The biggest chunk of SPLOST spending, nearly $361 million, would be for Cobb DOT projects, with $227 million for repavings alone, along with bridge repairs, traffic management, and sidewalk improvements countywide.
The principal traffic projects in East Cobb would be $3.9 million to improve the intersection of Holly Springs Road and Post Oak Tritt Road, $2.4 million for Canton Road corridor improvements, and $701,500 to improve the Shallowford Road-Gordy Parkway intersection.
The tree-shrouded home of Wylene Tritt next to East Cobb Park is located on nearly 30 acres the county has purchased for current greenspace. (ECN file)
In the category of what’s called “community impact projects” is a line item for the purchase of additional Tritt property next to East Cobb Park.
She owns 54 acres that she had tentatively agreed to sell for a senior-living project that was denied by commissioners following community opposition.
Tritt and Isakson Living had agreed on a $20 million purchase price, and both later sued the county.
The SPLOST draft list line item indicates only “TBD” in a purchase price column next to “Acquire Tritt Property.”
Another $5 million would be dedicated to repurposing Shaw Park, and $3 million would go to construction of the new Ebenezer Downs Park in Northeast Cobb.
Another $24 million would be earmarked for Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, including a variety of renovations and upgrades at Sewell Park, Fullers Park, Terrell Mill Park, Hyde Farm, the Mountain View Aquatic Center, Noonday Creek Park and The Art Place.
Paving work would be included for East Cobb Park, Fullers Park and Terrell Mill Park and video surveillance cameras would be installed at several Cobb library branches, including the Mountain View Regional Library.
In East Cobb, those events will be on April 1 at the East Cobb Library, April 14 at the Tim D. Lee Senior Center and May 5 at the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center.
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Like several other locations in Cobb County, the Georgia Department of Revenue has opened a third self-service car tag renewal kiosk in East Cobb.
The kiosk is located at the East Cobb Government Service Center (4400 Roswell Road), near the Cobb tag office located there.
It’s open from 6 a.m. to midnight daily, and motorists who need to renew their tags can do so quickly, with the following requirements:
A vehicle must be registered in a county with self-service availability;
A motorist must have a valid Georgia State driver’s license;
A motorist’s address must be correct on the renewal notice;
A motorist must have proof of liability insurance on file;
A motorist must have a vehicle emission inspection form.
Georgia DOR has installed similar kiosks in Cobb at the Cobb tag office (2932 Canton Road), which is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, and at the Shallowford Falls Kroger (3162 Johnson Ferry Road), which is open from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily.
After a customer’s renewal is approved, the machine prints new tags.
For more on the self-service kiosk centers, click here.
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Road work on Sandy Plains Road funded in the current Cobb SPLOST was recently completed, after several months of delays (ECN file).
The current Cobb government SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) runs through the end of 2021, but on this year’s ballot a referendum may be included to extend the one-cent tax for six more years starting in 2022.
No project list has been made public yet, but Cobb government will be holding open houses starting next week through early May to get feedback from citizens.
The first meeting, in fact, will be held next Tuesday, March 3, at the Piedmont Church (570 Piedmont Road) in northeast Cobb.
The SPLOST pays for transportation projects, maintenance and technology upgrades for county government facilities (including parks, libraries and senior centers), public safety equipment and maintenance (here’s the January update for the current 2016 SPLOST) and related expenses.
The other meetings in East Cobb will be at East Cobb Library (April 1), the Tim D. Lee Senior Center (formerly the East Cobb Senior Center, April 14) and the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center (May 5).
The full schedule is listed below; all sessions run from 6-8 p.m. and times, dates and locations are subject to change (you can track them here).
The open houses will include potential projects to be considered (by county staff and commissioners) and will allow citizens to ask questions of department leaders and offer feedback and suggestions.
Cobb commissioners would have to pass a resolution to place a referendum on the November election ballot.
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McMorris, who was named Cobb’s first deputy county manager in October 2017, had been designated as the interim county manager effective April 1, when current county manager Rob Hosack retires.
Hosack, of East Cobb, had been county manager since longtime county manager David Hankerson retired in 2017, and announced last month he would be stepping down.
The resolution to be voted on Tuesday calls for a contract for McMorris through the end of 2023.
The county manager directs the day-to-day governance of county government departments and a workforce of 5,000.
McMorris came to Cobb in 2013 as the director of the Cobb Public Services Agency, following jobs as the chief of staff for the Fulton District Attorney’s Office, and for Cherokee County government as community services director and special assistant to the county manager.
In her job as Cobb deputy county manager, McMorris’ duties included serving as the county’s official lobbyist to the Georgia General Assembly, as well as working with the Board of Commissioners and business and community leaders.
She holds a doctorate degree in adult education, training and development from the University of Arkansas.
Tuesday’s meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the second-floor board room of the Cobb government building, 100 Cherokee St., in downtown Marietta.
On Monday, commissioners will meet there at 1:30 a.m. for a work session, which includes annual updates about the Cumberland Community Improvement District and Truist Park (formerly SunTrust Park) and The Battery.
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During a long meeting Tuesday to make amendments to the county code, Cobb commissioners voted to delay making changes regarding short-term rentals.
The proposed changes include limiting rentals to 30 days and requiring owners to have an occupancy license and hiring an agent who could respond to complaints or other issues on short notice.
But after hearing from some property owners, civic leaders and advocates for the short-term rental industry, commissioners said they’ll wait.
That’s because of a bill introduced in the Georgia legislature, HB 523 (you can read it here).
The bill, sponsored by four State House members from other parts of Georgia, would bar local governments from issuing different regulations for properties used for rentals (including through such services as Airbnb) than any other residential properties.
HB 523 also would prohibit local governments from requiring a license or registration for owning a rental property, or from doing inspections or permitting.
The sponsors say local restrictions intrude on personal property rights, but the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia sees the bill as a preemption of local control.
The Cobb code amendments were proposed by East Cobb commissioners Bob Ott and JoAnn Birrell. The Cobb Planning Commission had asked for a delay to further craft the proposed changes.
“We believe there is a need for the regulation of this very large industry,” said Carol Brown of Canton Road Neighbors, whose group supported holding the short-term rental changes.
An East Cobb resident who spoke at Tuesday’s meeting said she rents out a portion of her home to bring in extra income after her husband died.
“Some proposals would make it impossible for people like me,” she said. “I’m just trying to make ends meet. The gig economy is here. You can’t put the genie back in the bottle.”
Katie McClure, a board member of the Short-Term Rental Owners Association of Georgia, said to commissioners that “we ask you to work with us to improve this ordinance.”
In making a motion to hold the short-term rental changes, Ott called for the creation of a task force to include relevant county staff and citizens to work on the ordinance and to monitor HB 523.
The bill has been reported favorably out of the House Regulated Industries Committee and awaits action by the Rules Committee before going to the full House.
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Commissioner Bob Ott presides over a 2018 town hall meeting at the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center.
A few weeks after announcing his retirement, Cobb commissioner Bob Ott said Tuesday he still plans to have town hall meetings during his final year in office.
Ott said the first of those town halls will be March 17 at the Chestnut Ridge Christian Church in East Cobb, followed by another town hall at the East Cobb Library in April, as well as one more in Smyrna in May.
Ott’s has regularly held town hall meetings since joining the commission in 2009, and at times they’ve become popular and well-attended affairs, especially depending on the subject matter.
He typically updates constituents on what’s happening in the county as well as District 2—which covers most of East Cobb and the Cumberland/Vinings area—then takes questions.
The biggest turnout, he said, was last March, at the Catholic Church of St. Ann, when he invited members of the East Cobb cityhood group to make their debut presentation to the community.
Ott said Tuesday that what he’s calling his “farewell tour”—a bit tongue in cheek—will conclude with a few more town halls in the fall.
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Dr. Judy Johnson, veterinarian at the Good Mews cat shelter in East Cobb, criticized commissioners for abandoning a proposed pet sale ban. (ECN file)
The Cobb Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to withdraw a proposed ordinance that would ban the sales of cats and dogs at commercial pet stores.
After that, they heard plenty of complaints from animal advocates, including a veterinarian at an East Cobb cat shelter, for not taking action.
Last month, commissioners were deadlocked 2-2 on the proposed code amendment (read all of them here). Bob Ott, of East Cobb, who missed that meeting, voted Tuesday to shelve the proposed pet sales ban.
During a lengthy public hearing, several citizens and advocates told emotional stories of purchases of pets from Petland in Kennesaw—the only pet store in Cobb that would have been affected by the ban—that were sick or later died.
Animal advocates have long said commercial pet stores purchase animals from puppy mills, sell them to the public at a high price, and don’t address health concerns.
At last month’s meeting, the tie vote occurred after discussion about a ruling from the Georgia Attorney General’s Office that local animal ordinances should not supercede state law.
Some animal advocates argued that the opinion doesn’t have the force of law.
Judy Johnson, a veterinarian with the East Cobb-based Good Mews cat shelter, had been a veterinarian at emergency facilities that treated Petland animals, saying they were ill and little was done when she and others complained to state officials.
“They retain a profit from the purchase, even if the puppy dies,” Johnson said during the public hearing. If pet store animals survive, “they have other health issues, which carry financial burdens.”
She cited growing veterinarian suicide rates, with a leading factor being what she called “compassion fatigue” and eventually left the emergency medicine field.
The pet illnesses and other issues stemming from treating Petland puppies was “emotionally exhausting. . . I had to get away before I became another statistic.”
Other animal-related measures before the commissioners also are being held for reconsideration.
One is related to a “trap, neuter and release” practice involving feral and stray cats—referred to as community cats—that animal advocates say has proven effective.
Elizabeth Finch, a Good Mews board member and East Cobb resident, said since the shelter took over Cobb TNR cases since late January, it has sterilized 76 cats—45 of them females—who have then been sent back outdoors.
She estimated that has reduced the births of a few hundred kittens.
“Clearly the method works,” said Finch, who said Good Mews’ goal is to neuter or spay 1,000 community and feral cats in Cobb this year.
The commissioners did approve an amendment regulating backyard chickens without a permit, with a limit of one for every 5,000 square feet of lot space on residential lots that are 80,000 square feet or smaller.
The new ordinance permits only hens, which must be kept in a fenced area behind the home and cared for in a manner that eliminates “potential negative effects,” such as odors, pollution, noise and pest and rodent issues.
The new measure also prohibits hens from being slaughtered on the premises.
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The Cobb County Public Library System is getting out word that the non-profit WorkSource Cobb Mobile Career Center will be conducting several events at Gritters Library this month.
The first session is next Thursday, Feb. 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and here are more details about what’s coming up:
Gritters Library is added to the MCC’s monthly schedule after years since its last visit to the library, said Jim Montgomery, WorkSourceCobb/CobbWorks MCC Coordinator.
A Resume Workshop program inside the computer lab on wheels is scheduled during the February 13th visit at 11 a.m. The MCC offers free workforce and job skills development services, wi-fi and more.
Gritters Library Manager Pamela Finley said she expects many Gritters area residents will welcome Mr. Montgomery and the MCC to the library. Gritters Library is located off Canton Road at Shaw Park in northeastern Cobb County.
“I know there is a community need for this service,” she said. “Many of the computer users at Gritters are working on resumes, job applications and job searching.”
The second February visit to Gritters Library is Thursday, February 27, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Mobile Career Center’s February schedule includes late morning and early afternoon hours at public libraries and other locations across Cobb. Resume workshops are included on select dates.
For information on upcoming programs at Gritters Library, visit www.cobbcat.org or call 770-528-2524.
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There are two Cobb County Community Emergency Response Team training opportunities in February and residents are encouraged to sign up now.
Cobb Senior Services Wellness Center, 1150 Powder Springs Street, MariettaClasses will be held from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on three consecutive Wednesdays (must attend all three classes), Feb. 5, 12 and 19.To register, contact Tracy Shehab at tracy.shehad@cobbcounty.org.
St. Ann’s Catholic Church, La Salette Hall, 4905 Roswell Road, MariettaClasses will be held from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on three consecutive Saturdays (must attend all three classes), Feb. 22, 29 and March 7.To register contact Linda Walsh, RN at LWalshRN@st-ann.org or call 770-552-6400 ext. 6019.
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Cobb public safety personnel will be receiving a new salary structure that becomes effective in March.
The Cobb Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 Tuesday night to implement a step-and-grade plan that will provide for incremental pay boosts, based on years of service and other factors.
Details of the plan were revealed last week as a “next step” toward increasing salary and benefits for Cobb public safety workers. Commissioners last year approved a seven-percent raise and a one-time bonus after coming under pressure from public safety personnel and community activists.
“This is a step forward,” South Cobb commissioner Lisa Cupid said before the vote. “It is not a panacea.”
The new plan kicks in March 22, and all qualified personnel in Cobb police, fire and sheriff’s departments will move up a step at that time.
The additional funding will come to $5.7 million for the current fiscal year 2020, which goes through the end of September.
The step-and-grade plan would increase starting pay for entry-level police officers, sheriff’s deputies and firefighters from $41,000 a year to $46,000.
Salaries for the highest police officer and firefighter positions would range from $67,290 to $103,626. For rank-and-file sheriff’s deputies, that top-end range would be $48,435 to $74,590.
Unlike other step-and-grade pay models—including the Cobb County School District—the Cobb public safety raises would not be automatic, and would have to go before commissioners during the annual budget process.
East Cobb commissioner Bob Ott was absent from the meeting.
“We still have work to do, but a lot has been done in the past 11 months,” said Susan Hampton of East Cobb, an advocate with the Cobb County Public Safety Foundation.
She urged commissioners to “never allow public safety to be removed as the No. 1 priority in future budgets.”
But another public safety advocate, Kimberly Peace Hill, was irate, saying “this scale does nothing for retention.”
She told commissioners that “if you’re going to do this, don’t drop the ball. Give them [public safety employees] a commitment.”
Cobb Sheriff Neil Warren, whose department is understaffed, said the step-and-grade plan “is outstanding. It’s long overdue.”
The commissioners’ comments were brief, with East Cobb commissioner JoAnn Birrell pledging that “as long as I’m in this seat, [public safety] will be my No. 1 priority.”
North Cobb commissioner Keli Gambrill voted for the measure, but wondered how the plan will be financed in the long haul since the county brings in $21 million less in property tax revenues ($392 million) than it pays for county employee salaries ($414 million).
She wanted future public safety raises to be tied to additional revenues from the state tag and ad valorem tax, the source of most of the funding for the step-and-grade costs.
“I hope our actions over the last year will show we are moving in the right direction.” Cupid said.
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!
There are two Cobb County Community Emergency Response Team training opportunities in February and residents are encouraged to sign up now.