Cobb water bills will rise by an average of about $5 a month for residential customers after Cobb commissioners approved a rate increase on Tuesday.
The vote was 3-1, and the new rates will take effect on Sept. 1.
The bill for a homeowner consuming around 4,700 gallons a month will rise from $48.33 a month to $53.13 a month, according to calculations made by the Cobb County Water System (agenda item here).
Steven McCullers, the county water system director, said Cobb hasn’t had a rate increase since 2012. Since then, water purchase costs have risen by around 25 percent, and other operating costs also have gone up.
Water system revenues for the present year are around $220 million, but expenses are $239 million.
At a commissioners budget retreat in June, McCullers told commissioners that Cobb’s current rate structure is “not competitive,” and that the current level of service is “not sustainable” with the present rate structure.
County officials have said Cobb still has one of the lowest water rates in metro Atlanta even with the increase.
But Northeast Cobb commissioner JoAnn Birrell, the only vote against raising water rates, said she could not support an increase as long as Cobb continues to transfer 10 percent of water system revenues into the general fund.
Around $22 million in water revenues were transferred for county operations for the current fiscal year.
East Cobb commissioner Bob Ott was not present at Tuesday’s meeting. He was out of town representing the county at a technology conference.
The commission’s vote also includes changes in how water system development fees are calculated.
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Mike Boyce he wants Cobb to return to a more stabilized millage rate that existed before the recession: “Let’s just get to one number and leave it alone.” East Cobb News photos by Wendy Parker
In his final town hall meeting, Mike Boyce told East Cobb citizens Monday night that his proposed Cobb tax increase of 1.7 mills is necessary because it “keeps everything open that’s open now” and would restore some popular and necessary services to their pre-recession levels.
In a packed black box studio at the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center, the Cobb commission chairman received a mixed response for his call to return Cobb to “the golden days” of a stable millage rate before the recession and provide the level of services worthy of what he has called a “five-star county.”
He wants to use the 1.7 mills not only to cover a projected $30 million budget deficit for fiscal year 2019, but to add another $20 million for resumption of services that have been affected by budget cuts for several years.
“What is it that you want pay for, what you used to have and that you want again?” he asked the crowd, drawing some applause.
The Cobb Board of Commissioners will hold the first of three required public hearings on the tax increase proposal Tuesday at 9 a.m. It’s on the second floor of the Cobb government building, 100 Cherokee St., in downtown Marietta.
Monday’s meeting was the seventh budget town hall Boyce has held around the county over the last month, and like the others he asked citizens to let their commissioners know their budget priorities.
His proposed $454 million FY 2019 budget is a 12 percent increase over the current $405 million budget, and would raise the general fund millage rate from 6.76 to 8.46 mills.
Boyce wants to spend an additional $15 million for public safety, including the hiring of 23 police officers and providing officers with body cameras.
He would expand library hours to Sunday at select locations and restore hours to what they were before the recession.
He also wants to restore maintenance positions in Cobb DOT, including the hiring of mowers for rights-of-way on county roads. Currently those are positions that are contracted out for six months, but bringing them under county auspices would allow for year-round work.
In the run-up to the town halls, staff department head lists of potential cuts for commissioners to consider were made public, and quickly galvanized supporters of the county library and parks systems.
Those items included Fullers Park, the home of East Side Baseball, and the Fullers Recreation Center, where East Marietta Basketball is based.
Members of the Cobb Master Gardeners have been vocal in asking to preserve the UGA Cobb Extension Service.
Richard Benson, a coach, volunteer and board member of East Side Baseball, brought several members of the East Side Chargers team with him, and wearing their same jersey, told Boyce that “I can’t fathom the thought that they might not have a place to play baseball.”
Boyce said the list was only a “working product,” and that “I know of no commissioner who wanted to close a park at anytime.”
Not only are current parks facilities all preserved in Boyce’s budget, he told the audience, to applause, that “we don’t have enough parks.”
Also in attendance, wearing light green shirts, were members of the Cobb Master Gardeners, who work closely with the UGA Cobb Extension Service, which had been initially targeted for possible closure but is funded in Boyce’s budget proposal.
Tax increase opponents also were out in force, and some demanded that Boyce point to spending cuts to help alleviate the deficit. Only one slide presented savings thus far, a combined $1.7 million.
Boyce said his budget staff is continuing to do that. “We’re not done finding efficiencies,” he said.
East Cobb citizen Debbie Fisher, a strong opponent of a tax increase.
Commissioner Bob Ott of East Cobb, who was not at Monday’s town hall in his District 2, has said he wants to see significant budget cuts before he would agree to any kind of tax increase.
He did attend a public meeting held Friday by opponents, including Debbie Fisher and Jan Barton of East Cobb. They handed out flyers on Monday from the Georgia Taxpayers Association, a petition to “cut wasteful spending and property taxes.”
Fisher inquired about what she claimed was $106 million in excess funding from the 2005 and 2011 Cobb SPLOSTs, but Boyce told her “there’s nothing left.” It got a little heated when she asked why she couldn’t find any related documents online. Boyce said she was welcome to come to county offices anytime.
In a post-town hall letter, Barton, who previously tried to raise the same point with Boyce but was passed over, wrote the following:
“We felt that citizens with dissenting questions/opinions against the tax hike were not allowed to ask questions in Town Halls and wanted to give everyone a forum where the other side of the story could be explained. A Town Hall is supposed to be for all citizens/taxpayers.”
After the town hall, Benson said he felt better about what he heard from Boyce about the parks, and that he’s been communicating with commissioners about keeping them open.
East Cobb resident Rachel Slomovitz, who created the Save Cobb Libraries group and started a petition to raise taxes that she said has received more than 2,100 signatures, said after the town hall that “there’s still so much uncertainty in the air.”
While she supports Boyce’s budget and commissioner Lisa Cupid’s call for restoring services, she’s still “strongly encouraging” the three other commissioners as well.
“We’re asking for books and baseball,” she said, pointing toward the East Side Chargers players. “The basics.”
Commissioners will hold public hearings on July 17 and 25, with budget adoption also scheduled for July 25.
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Georgia 6th Congressional candidate Lucy McBath has been endorsed by the Congressional Black Caucus Political Action Committee before her July 24 Democratic runoff against Kevin Abel.
Here’s the endorsement message that McBath’s campaign is sending out today:
Congressman Gregory Meeks (NY-5), Chairman of the CBCPAC stated, “Lucy McBath’s story is an inspiration that resonates throughout this country. After tragically losing her son to gun violence in 2012, Lucy stood up and worked hard to protect other children from suffering the same fate, understanding firsthand how important it is that we enact sensible gun safety legislation.”
“Furthermore, as a two-time breast cancer survivor, Lucy understands the importance of having quality and affordable healthcare.” Meeks continued, “Lucy is a fighter, and now more than ever we need more fighters like her in Washington.”
“The Congressional Black Caucus PAC is on the frontlines of the battle to protect the values we hold dear as Americans,” said Lucy McBath. “As the daughter of a former regional NAACP branch president, I understand the stakes could not be higher right now as many in Washington seek to turn back the clock and limit the rights that we have fought so hard for as Americans. I look forward to working with the CBCPAC and other representatives in Washington to fight for a more inclusive and prosperous future for all Americans.”
Abel, a Sandy Springs technology entrepreneur, has been endorsed by a number of Atlanta-area business and public officials and religious leaders.
He also has been critical of McBath for accepting what he calls “outside dark money” in campaign spending, in particular financial support from an organization called End Citizens United.
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All classes are free, but registration is required and can be done at the library’s adult information desk or by calling 770-509-2730.
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The first of three Cobb schools tax digest public hearings takes place this Wednesday.
The hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Cobb County School District Central Office (514 Glover St., Marietta) in the Board of Education meeting room.
The other hearings take place next Thursday, July 19, at 12 p.m. and at 6:30 p.m., in the same location.
Here’s how the CCSD explains what it’s obligated to do, under the Property Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights law which has been in effect since 2000:
The Cobb County Board of Tax Assessors assesses all county property in compliance with state law. If property is reassessed upward, then the Cobb County School District will see an increase in tax revenue. The additional revenue will be applied toward the higher cost of student instruction due to enrollment growth, and to ease budget constraints caused by reductions in state revenue.
To collect the same revenue as last year and avoid an increase in taxes of 7.48%, the millage rate would have to be decreased to 17.584 mills, defined as the “roll-back” rate described in the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.
Here are links to Cobb schools budget documents. Most school district employees are receiving a 1.1 percent raise, due to a $10.2 million contribution from the state of Georgia following the end of education austerity cuts.
School board member David Morgan wanted a higher millage rate, as did the Cobb County Association of Educators, to provide a bigger raise.
East Cobb board members David Chastain, David Banks and Scott Sweeney opposed a millage rate increase.
Formal adoption of the millage rate is scheduled at the board’s July 19 business meeting which starts at 7 p.m. and follows the final public hearing.
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A year ago today, I pushed the “publish” button on the first post on this site, about the Skip Wells Memorial Ride at Sprayberry High School. Today, as the 1st anniversary of East Cobb News rolls around, I couldn’t be more grateful for the support from so many of you in this community.
The humble beginnings for this independent, local news site have guided me well through this first year. I try to keep this in mind every day as I aim to strengthen the foundation for East Cobb News, with this simple pledge: to meet the news and information needs of this dynamic community we all call home, and to promote local businesses who help make it better.
After nearly 700 posts, East Cobb News has covered the gamut of subjects—local government and schools, public safety, zoning and development, small business, community events and more—just like a newspaper, but all online.
While East Cobb is part of a larger county and an even larger metro Atlanta region, there are 200,000 people here, along with countless local businesses, who now have an all-local, daily news source.
When I tell citizens and local business owners what East Cobb News is all about, it is this. There’s nothing else like it. They have many options for getting local news, but none of them covers only this community, all the time.
Before publishing that first post, I had envisioned starting a site like this for quite a while. This is my home community, and I have previously been a reporter here during my newspaper days, as well as in an online capacity.
The Taste of East Cobb
In launching East Cobb News, among my objectives was to give back to a community that has profoundly shaped me in so many ways, and at a time when quality, professionally produced news and information at the community level is becoming harder and harder to come by.
Local news has been especially hard-hit by the fallout in the newspaper industry that employed me for many years. A full decade after I left, the losses are even more acute.
Recently imposed tariffs on Canadian newsprint have been devastating, and as The Marietta Daily Journal noted in a recent editorial, have added 30 percent to already-high costs for printing the news.
However, the value of local news is also is gaining notice in communities nationwide. The deadly shootings of five employees of the Capital-Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Md., brought together a community shattered by a tragic event.
The journalists killed weren’t the media stars and pundits of the national political press. They were workaday journalists, like me, who were invested in their communities, as citizens, taxpayers, homeowners, parents and volunteers.
East Cobb Senior Center’s 22nd Anniversary
The non-glamorous work they do, well out of the spotlight and at a fraction of the salaries, is critical to fostering stronger civic life and communities. In an age when many people distrust the press, restoring trust and credibility can, and must, happen at the local level.
As a member of LION Publishers (Local Independent Online News), I’m also part of a growing band of community-based publishers, editors and journalists committed to serving communities in this way.
At the core of our mission is to create and foster sustainable news businesses. It’s been a big leap for me to go from being a news reporter and editor to news entrepreneur, but this is how community newspapers evolved more than a century ago.
Northeast Cobb Community Egg Drop
Local businesess, like local readers, have plenty of options for promoting themselves in the community. As we begin year two, East Cobb News is reaching around 20,000 unique visitors a month—a healthy number for a young, locally focused publication—and we’re eager to help local businesses grow with us.
If you run a local business, please check out our advertising philosophy, which includes flexible rates and options for any kind of enterprise.
We’re also launching a business directory that’s ideal for new businesses, solopreneurs and mom-and-pop shops that includes a 25 percent discount for display advertising on East Cobb News.
I realize that readers and advertisers have other options. This a competitive market for news and advertising, but only East Cobb News is totally devoted to covering news and events every day, as they happen.
Atlanta Braves-Sandy Plains Baseball field dedication
If that’s important to you, I ask that you have a look around the site, if you’re not familiar already, and see for yourself.
I also encourage you to sign up for the East Cobb News Digest weekly e-mail newsletter, which comes out every Sunday. It contains all of the past week’s top headlines, plus calendar listings, a community guide and so much more.
It’s free and easy to sign up, all in one click below.
Thanks to all of you for visiting East Cobb News, subscribing to the newsletter and following us on social media.
It’s been a satisfying first year for East Cobb News, but we’re only getting started. As always, feel free to get in touch with feedback and questions: [email protected].
Cobb commission chairman Mike Boyce wants a 1.7 mills property tax increase to cover a projected $30 million deficit. (East Cobb News file photo)
The details of the fiscal year 2019 Cobb budget proposal will be made at a Cobb Board of Commissioners work session on Monday, with a final town hall meeting Monday night in East Cobb.
Cobb commission chairman Mike Boyce has taken the outlines of his proposed $453 million budget around the county to the public in the last month. Monday’s work session starts at 1:30 p.m., followed by his final town hall meeting at 7 p.m. at the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center (2051 Lower Roswell Road).
The county has produced an interactive, Cobb’s Budget Journey, to detail the deficit, as well as spending and tax rate history over nearly three decades.
Boyce is proposing a general fund property tax increase of 1.7 mills, which would cover the $30 million gap.
Critics of the tax increase held a town hall meeting of their own Friday, and they included East Cobb resident Debbie Fisher, who put together a scathing critique of Boyce’s budget. Click here for the PDF: Town Hall Presentation -Revised.
Entitled “Truth or Fiction,” the PDF points out that Boyce hasn’t proposed any spending cuts and denounces what it calls the “homestead exemption blame game.”
It also suggests some “hard choices” that include cutting the 5-10 percent of low-performing county employees, outsource fleet management, human resources and the county attorney’s office and increase employee health care and pension contributions.
“We don’t have a revenue problem! We have a spending problem,” declares the presentation. “No more taxes until you cut spending.”
On Tuesday, commissioners will hold the first of three required public hearings on the budget, at 9 a.m. in their chambers on the 2nd floor of the Cobb government building, 100 Cherokee St., in downtown Marietta.
The other public hearings are scheduled on July 17 at 6:30 p.m., and on July 25 at 7 p.m., in the same location. Commissioners are set to adopt the budget on July 25.
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The following East Cobb restaurant scores from June 8-July 3 have been compiled by the Cobb & Douglas Department of Public Health. Click the link below each listing to view details of the inspection.
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An East Cobb teenager was admitted to the intensive care unit at WellStar Kennestone Hospital after she fell out of a moving car on Johnson Ferry Road early Thursday morning.
Another teen was arrested and charged with DUI and other offenses stemming from the incident. Cobb Police said it took place shortly before 2 a.m. Thursday on Johnson Ferry, south of Sewell Mill Road.
Cobb Police spokeswoman Sarah O’Hara said a driver and two passengers were traveling in a silver 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe northbound on Johnson Ferry. One of the passengers, sitting in a rear seat, rolled down a window and began hanging out of it, “yelling and screaming,” according to police.
The passenger, identified by O’Hara as Alyssa Prindle, 18, of an East Cobb address, fell out of the window and hit the road, suffering serious injuries. She was taken to Kennestone, and the driver of the car, Abigail Cook, 17, of Wood Thrush Way in East Cobb, was arrested and booked in the Cobb County Adult Detention Center, O’Hara said.
Cook is charged with underage DUI, reckless driving, serious injury by vehicle (a felony), underage possession of alcohol, possession of false identification and a violation of class D drivers license hour restrictions.
According to the Cobb Sheriff’s Office, Cook was released Thursday night on a $27,720 bond.
O’Hara said underage alcohol consumption is a contributing factor in the incident, which remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Cobb County Police Department’s STEP Unit at 770-499-3987.
East Cobb News does not publish photographs of crime suspects before their cases have gone through the legal system, and then only if they are convicted or plead guilty and are sentenced.
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A Cobb greenways and trails master plan that would include extensions of the existing Johnson Ferry Trail and Noonday Creek Trail in East Cobb was approved last week by the Cobb Board of Commissioners.
The master plan, developed by Cobb DOT after more than a year of open houses and public feedback sessions, is the first for the county, and features the following components:
increasing connectivity between existing trails;
having trails in all six Cobb cities;
having 92 percent of all existing county parks within a mile of a trail;
having 57 percent of Cobb’s total population also within a mile of a trail.
The master plan also calls for eight “priority trail” projects, including the Johnson Ferry and Noonday Creek trails.
The Noonday Creek extension would cover 3.6 miles almost to the Cherokee County line, at an estimated cost between $11.1 million and $12.2 million.
The approval of the Cobb greenways and trails master plan does not include any additional funding for any projects that may be developed. Those matters would be taken up separately.
The commissioners also were briefed last week about the recommendations for a new Cobb parks master plan for 2018-2028, but there wasn’t a vote taken.
The proposed “investment” over that 10-year period, by a design firm hired to do a master plan study, comes to $239.8 million. The majority of the recommended spending, around $158 million, would be for new facilities and green space development. Another $80 million would be for maintenance of existing facilities.
the creation of an administrative services division;
the creation of a park maintenance plan;
the adoption of a comprehensive revenue policy;
enhanced branding and marketing to help generate revenues;
establishing a rental system for pavilion use;
increasing user fees;
expanded programming for fee generation;
assessing a per-participant maintenance fee;
increase staffing of Cobb Police Park Ranger staff.
Approval of the master plan was put on hold due to questions from commissioners. Approval makes it a “working document” for the county, but funding and spending issues are done in a separate process.
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A group of Cobb citizens opposed to a proposed property tax increase is holding a town hall meeting Friday night in Marietta that’s called “Cobb Budget 101.”
The group includes East Cobb resident Debbie Fisher, and the town hall takes place from 6:30-8:30 Friday at the offices of the Cobb County Republican Party (799 Roswell St.).
It’s not an official Cobb GOP event. Here’s what Jan Barton, another East Cobber involved in efforts to thwart a tax increase, is sending out about the event:
A group of concerned Cobb citizens will present Cobb Budget 101, a different road map from the one presented by the Cobb County Chairman. We will make a case on what caused the purported $30M deficit, how we can remedy the shortfall without a tax increase and present the real history on the Millage Vs. the Tax Digest! There will be a Q&A with budget and finance experts on a panel to answer your questions.
They’ve been vocally opposed to Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce’s proposed 1.7-mills increase in the general fund to solve a projected $30 million budget. Boyce and county budget staff have produced a Cobb Budget Journey interactive that has been featured at a series of town hall meetings and posted on county government web pages.
The final town hall Boyce is having is in East Cobb on Monday, starting at 7 p.m. at the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center (2051 Lower Roswell Road.)
The first of three formal Cobb Board of Commissioners public hearings on the budget proposal required by law takes place on Tuesday.
Budget adoption is scheduled for July 25.
Here’s Boyce’s latest budget video, posted on Tuesday.
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The East Cobb Business Association networking breakfast, which takes place every Friday morning, has a new location.
It’s now at the Egg Harbor Cafe (4719 Lower Roswell Road, Stonewood Village Shopping Center), and it takes place from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 am. More here on the East Cobb Open Networking Facebook page.
There isn’t a featured speaker or program and no registration is required. You pay for your own meal and network with other East Cobb business owners and leaders.
The ECBA used to hold its Friday breakfast at the J. Christopher’s at the Pavilions at East Lake (2100 Roswell Road), which will be the venue for its next quarterly community breakfast. That date is Tuesday, July 31, from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.
The guest speaker is Cobb commissioner JoAnn Birrell and registration is recommended. The cost is $10 for ECBA members ($15 at the door), and $15 for guests ($20 at the door). Click here to sign up.
The July ECBA luncheon is Tuesday, July 17, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Olde Towne Athletic Club (4950 Olde Towne Parkway). The guest speaker is meteorologist Jen Carfagno of The Weather Channel. Click here for information and to register.
The next ECBA quarterly Lunch and Learn event is Tuesday, Aug. 7, at the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center (2051 Lower Roswell Road). The topic is identity theft protection strategies with Leilani Plendl and Adam Kazinec of Prudential. Details TBA, visit the ECBA website for more.
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There was no opposition Tuesday to a Powers Ferry Road corridor rezoning request for a major mixed-use development. But the Cobb Planning Commission put the application on hold for a month to sort out some issues some members had with the project.
The request by Chance Powers Ferry LLC would redevelop the aging Powers Ferry Woods office complex on Shadowood Parkway, near Powers Ferry Road and Windy Ridge Parkway, for an office building and 300 luxury apartment units (here’s the agenda item packet) totalling more than 578,000 square feet.
The 3.6-acre tract is currently zoned O & I; Chance Powers Ferry is seeking RRC (regional retail commercial) designation for the high-density project. The land is surrounded by multi-family housing, and Kevin Moore, an attorney for Chance Powers Ferry, calls the proposal suitable for “a true urban context. . . This is what it’s intended for.”
The site plan calls for the 30,000-square-foot office building to be in the front of the property (in orange below), with the apartment building (in pink) wrapped around a parking deck.
The office building would be three stories high, and the apartment building six stories high.
Among the concerns expressed by planning board members were about some of the variances, including a proposed reduction in front, side and rear setbacks from 50 to 15, 10 and 18 feet, respectively.
Another variance would reduce the number of proposed parking spaces from a required minimum of 631 to 515. Chance Powers Ferry also wants to reduce the landscaping buffer next to another apartment community from the minimum of 50 feet to 10 feet.
“I do like the project, I like the concept,” Planning Commission chairwoman Judy Williams said before suggesting that the request be delayed until August. A motion to hold passed 4-0, with commission member Thea Powell absent.
Not far away, another proposed RRC development was placed on hold by Cobb Zoning Office, which has recommended denial, and it’s been held up before. A request by Elevation Development Group LLC would rezone 12.7 acres on Water Place at Terrell Mill Road and across from Water Village Drive from its current O & I status.
The developer wants to build retail and office space and the Terrell Mill Park Apartments, and is seeking a reduction in required parking spaces from 579 to 468.
The project is in close proximity to the Dobbins Air Reserve Base, which is in opposition due to what it calls an “aviation hazard.” Zoning staff has said it’s concerned about noise and buffer requirements on adjacent properties.
A long-delayed Northeast Cobb zoning case was delayed again on Tuesday. The Cobb Zoning Office has continued a rezoning request for a 92-unit single-family subdivision on 96 acres on Wigley Road until August.
It had been held since May, when the Planning Commission heard a number of concerns about density, traffic, stormwater runoff and the land’s hilly topography.
Also continued was a request for a senior living facility on 35 acres on Bells Ferry Road and North Booth Road near I-575, to September. It’s currently undeveloped single-family residential land. The developer, Jim Chapman Communities, wants to build 178 units.
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We’ll be updating this list of East Cobb July 4 openings and closings as we receive information, but there are a couple of public facilities that you (and especially your kids) can enjoy on the holiday.
The pool at Sewell Park (2051 Lower Roswell Road) will be open from 1-5 on Wednesday. There’s a splash pad for kids that ought to add extra refreshment on what’s supposed to be a hot, humid day (and with the chance of thundershowers).
Admission fees for the pool are $3.50 for children ages 3-7; $4.50 for adults 18-54, and $3 for seniors 55 and older.
Sewell Park pool is open daily through the end of July: M-Th 1-7:30; F-Sun 1-5.
Starting July 29, the pool will be open Sat-Sun only from 1-5, through Labor Day, Sept. 3.
Most other Cobb County public facilities are close on July 4, including libraries. The Mountain View Aquatic Center and The Art Place also will be closed. East Cobb Park (3322 Roswell Road) will be open during its usual hours, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The Cobb Emergency Management Office’s regularly scheduled test, which takes place around noon on the first Wednesday of the month, also is being cancelled.
Some restaurants and businesses have announced their plans for Wednesday, and what we have is listed below. If you want to share your information with the community, e-mail us and we’ll add it here: [email protected].
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In less than a month the rebuilt campuses of Brumby Elementary School and East Cobb Middle School will be open for classes at their new adjacent locations on Terrell Mill Road.
We swung by there over the weekend and saw that the parking lot at East Cobb Middle is just about complete, and that some work remains to finish the Brumby lot.
Ground was broken nearly two years ago, in September 2016, for the twin campuses, which cost a total of $51 million (Brumby $22.7 million, ECMS $28.6 million).
They replace two of the older school buildings in East Cobb, and the Cobb County School District. Brumby opened in a round building on Powers Ferry Road in 1966, and has added a two-story classroom building and trailers to accommodate a student enrollment that has exceeded 1,000.
East Cobb Middle School opened on Holt Road in 1963 (followed by Wheeler High School across the street in 1965) and also has outgrown its campus.
The schools will also share a singular entrance, at Greenwood Trail, and a new traffic signal recently became operational.
Carpool and bus queues will be fully contained on the school property, which was a particular problem for Brumby, as parents lined up for drop off and pick up on busy Powers Ferry Road.
The former ECMS site will be the new home for Eastvalley Elementary School, which will be relocating from its longtime campus on Lower Roswell Road at Holt Road.
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Not long ago we shared information about Cobb fireworks safety from the Cobb Fire Department for the July 4 holiday.
CFD has issued an update, in regards to county noise ordinance that was passed a year ago. The revised ordinance bans fireworks after 9 p.m., with several exceptions, including the July 4 holiday.
Cobb Police have added some additional information this afternoon, saying that the allowable fireworks discharge periods are from 7 a.m. to midnight, Tuesday July 3, and Wednesday July 4.
Police say you cannot shoot firearms in the air (“celebratory gunfire”) at any time, even if no one is injured, and you’ll be subject to arrest for reckless conduct if you do. You’re also prohibited from discharging fireworks while traveling on any roads.
The usual 9 p.m. fireworks prohibition will resume on Thursday, July 5 and continues into the Labor Day holiday weekend.
CFD also issued this warning:
“Persons choosing to use fireworks should be cognizant of their responsibility to discharge them safely without endangering other persons or property. Please be advised that you have a legal duty to exercise reasonable care in using fireworks and are presumed to intend the natural and probable consequences of your acts. As a result, you may be subject to potential criminal and/or civil liability for any damage to persons or property resulting from your use of fireworks.”
If you’d prefer to take in the fireworks in public venues, there are celebrations starting at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Fifth Third Bank near the Kennesaw State University campus, and Glover Park on the Marietta Square around 9:30 p.m.
The Marietta celebrations go on all day, starting with a parade at 10 a.m. and concerts, arts and crafts, food, games and more.
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From Cobb County government, issued around 10 a.m. today:
WATER UPDATE – A large broken water main in the Quarles Water Treatment Plant on Lower Roswell Road is resulting in low water pressure across a wide swath of East Cobb. Crews are working on it.
County spokesman Ross Cavitt, around 11 a.m., added this update:
System has been repressurized after break at Quarles Treatment plant. Any customers who see discolored water should run their cold water until it is gone. Contractor working at the plant apparently caused the break, which is being repaired.
We’ll provide more updates as they become available.
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A sampling of what’s on display currently at the Sewell Mill Library art gallery, which is named after longtime Cobb library supporters Carol and Jim Ney.
The gallery is open during regular library hours: M-W 10-8; Th-F 11-6; Sat 1-6, and you literally cannot miss if it you’re headed into the main library area.
The rotation of artwork is curated by Roxane Thompson, who is the library’s cultural affairs art specialist.
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Starting Monday, Cobb advance voting for primary runoff races gets underway, and until July 20 you can do so only at the main Cobb Elections office in Marietta. There will be a week of advance voting that takes place July 16-20 at the East Cobb Government Service Center and other locations in the county.
On the ballot for East Cobb voters is the 6th Congressional District Democratic runoff between Lucy McBath and Kevin Abel. The winner advances to face Republican U.S. Rep. Karen Handel in November.
The top two statewide races also are up for runoff on the Republican side. For governor, it’s between current Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and sitting Secretary of State Brian Kemp.
Lieutentant governor candidates are Geoff Duncan and David Shafer. The GOP Secretary of State runoff features David Belle Isle and Brad Raffensperger.
On the local level, the Cobb Board of Commissioners District 1 GOP runoff bears watching. Incumbent Bob Weatherford is being opposed by Keli Gambrill as commissioners are deliberating on budget matters.
The runoff date of July 24 would have coincided with the day commissioners were to adopt a fiscal year 2019 budget, but the budget meeting has been pushed back a day, to July 25.
Here’s more from Cobb Elections on advance voting information
If you voted a party ballot in the May Primary, you must vote the same party in the Runoff. If you did not vote in the Primary, you can still vote in the Runoff. Registered Cobb County voters can go to any advancedvoting location:
July 2–20 (Closed July 4) Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, July 14 Location: Elections Office (West Park Government Center), 736 Whitlock Ave. NW, Marietta
For more information, call Cobb Elections at 770-528-2581. View your sample ballot at mvp.sos.ga.gov.
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What follows is a final rundown of what you can and can’t do with a mobile device in your vehicle, as the Georgia hands free law goes into effect Sunday, July 1.
We noted earlier that there wasn’t going to be a grace period for enforcement of HB 673, but Cobb Police are saying they’ll be issuing warnings for the first 30 days (unless you cause an accident), with official citations starting on Aug. 1.
A driver cannot have a phone in their hand or use any part of their body to support their phone. Drivers can only use their phones to make or receive phone calls by using speakerphone, earpiece, wireless headphone, phone is connected to vehicle or an electronic watch. GPS navigation devices are allowed;
Headsets and earpieces can only be worn for communication purposes and not for listening to music or other entertainment;
A driver may not send or read any text-based communication unless using voice-based communication that automatically converts message to a written text or is being used for navigation or GPS;
A driver may not write, send or read any text messages, e-mails, social media or internet data content;
A driver may not watch a video unless it is for navigation;
A driver may not record a video (continuously running dash cams are exempt);
Music streaming apps can be used provided the driver activates and programs them when they are parked. Drivers cannot touch their phones to do anything to their music apps when they are on the road. Music streaming apps that include video also are not allowed since drivers cannot watch videos when on the road. Drivers can listen to and program music streaming apps that are connected to and controlled through their vehicle’s radio.
Exceptions to the law are as follows:
Reporting a traffic crash, medical emergency, fire, criminal activity or hazardous road conditions;
An employee or contractor of a utility service provider acting within the scope of their employment while responding to a utility emergency;
A first responder (law enforcement, fire, EMS) during the performance of their official duties;
When in a lawfully parked vehicle—this DOES NOT include vehicles stopped for traffic signals and stop signs on the public roadway.
Commercial motor vehicle operators
Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators can only use one button to begin or end a phone call;
Cannot reach for a wireless telecommunications device or stand-alone electronic device that it no longer requires the driver to be a seated position or properly restrained by a safety belt.
School bus drivers
The driver of a school bus cannot use a wireless telecommunication device or two-way radio while loading or unloading passengers;
The driver can only use a wireless telecommunication device while the bus is in motion as a two-way radio to allow live communications between the driver and school and public safety officials.
Cobb police enforcement
Again, the law goes into effect July 1st, but in an effort to educate the public, the Cobb County Police Department will be providing verbal or written warning citations for the first 30 days. However, if the violation involves a traffic crash, a citation may be issued.
Effective August 1st, 2018, officers may begin writing real citations. Each jurisdiction may have their own policy for when they begin enforcement, so I would suggest that you begin adhering to the law on July 1st.
What would the fines/penalties be?
First conviction: $50, one point on a license;
Second conviction: $100, two points on a license;
Third and subsequent convictions: $150, three points on a license.
On Friday Cobb Police issued this PSA reminder that’s about a minute long:
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