Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Here are some of the top headlines from in and around metro Atlanta.
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Wednesday, August 22, 2012
A 51-year-old Acworth woman was struck by a car and killed Monday night after she fell in the crosswalk of Georgia 92 and Wade Green Road. About 10:30 p.m. Monday, 51-year-old Melanie June Mayes was crossing Georgia 92 when she fell, Georgia State Patrol spokesman Gordy Wright said in a news release. Read more on Acworth Patch. Lisa Cupid will likely be the only new member of the Cobb Board of Commissioners after November's election, as well as its only Democrat. With all 35 precincts reporting 4,053 votes, the 35-year-old law and public administration student at Georgia State gained 75.6 percent in Tuesday's Democratic runoff for the Southwest Cobb District 4 commission seat. The incumbent, real estate broker Woody Thompson, had the …
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
The former Cobb commission chairman and challenger vowed at Tuesday's candidates forum never to be like "a damn Democrat” to expand Cobb government services.
The controversial TSPLOST took center stage during Tuesday night’s Cobb County Commissioner Chairman forum. All three challengers opposed the special purpose local option sales tax aimed at funding transportation projects in metro Atlanta. “I’m running to do everything I can to defeat TSPLOST,” said Bill Byrne to applause from the audience. Mike Boyce cited the TSPLOST as one of the four taxes imposed over the last 19 months by the current commissioners. “I’m running to bring conservative government to Cobb County,” Boyce said. “Four new taxes in 19 months, that’s not a Republican. That’s not conservative.” Incumbent Tim Lee listed off the numerous accomplishments during his tenure as the current chairman. “Cobb County has the lowest …
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Several positions will be eliminated and others will be promoted in a move to improve efficiency.
Cobb County's Support Services Agency is getting an overhaul to increase operational flexibility and to keep the agency up to date with current technological standards. A presentation was delivered by Support Services Agency Director Virgil Moon during the Cobb County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday morning outlining the proposed changes. According to the presentation, the Support Services Agency worked hand in hand with the Finance Department and the County Manager to ensure that the reshuffling was budget neutral; in fact, the plan will bring some savings to the county. Under the proposed changes, agency information services will take on the additional responsibilities of records management and mail services. Moon said that because …
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Due to the sale of alcohol to a minor, the commissioners voted to suspend the beer and wine license at the Kroger on Powder Springs Road for 60 days. They also asked for confirmation of various kinds of training for the Kroger employees.
The commissioners get underway at 9 a.m.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Due to county economic cutbacks, mowing medians and other areas has taken a backseat. The hiring of some part-time help will remedy the situation.
In the last few years Cobb County has tried to save money anywhere it could. Due to these budget constraints, available funding for contracted shoulder maintenance, median mowing and street sweeping services has been significantly reduced, according to Faye DiMassimo, director of transportation. The fiscal year budget for these services is $233,000, which represents a 78 percent decrease from 2009. Because of this, the intervals between mowing and maintenance have been significantly lengthened. In 2010, the services were re-assigned to road maintenance crews in-house. But it is too much for them to handle so the Cobb County Board of Commissioners is being asked to approve 14 part-time, seasonal workers for the job at its meeting tomorrow. …
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
The commissioners meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the government complex, 100 Cherokee Street, Marietta.
The county commissioners will be meeting in the morning, and have a light agenda. They plan to take up several items including: ∗ The board will vote on changing the county code to clarify the difference between “for sale” condominiums and ones “for lease." The move would suspend the use of the “urban condominium” zoning until at least July, giving staff time to review other options, County Community Development Director Rob Hosack told the Marietta Daily Journal. There has been some concern about the time limit in which condominium builders are allowed to lease, instead of selling, units. ∗ The board is expected to vote to accept unspent money from the 1995-99 Home Investment Partnerships Act program originally given to Fulton County. …
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Hiring a customs agent will keep Cobb County Airport-McCollum Field competitive with area airports that already accept passengers from other countries, Commissioner Bob Ott said.
International flights will soon be able to land at Cobb County’s airport. The Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved an agreement with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection that will station a customs agent at Cobb County Airport-McCollum Field. “It’s really just to keep the airport competitive,” Commissioner Bob Ott said, noting that other area airports are already eligible for accepting international flights. The agent will cost $140,874 for the first year and $123,438 for succeeding years. The money will come from the airport’s two "fixed-based operators," or long-term tenants: Atlanta Northside Aviation and Preferred Jet Center. Ott, a member of the county’s Airport Advisory Board, emphasized that county money won’t be spent. He …
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
The Board of Commissioners is considering revisions to the ordinance meant to lure businesses to the county.
Cobb County residents have their last scheduled chance this morning to comment on proposed changes to incentives to lure jobs to the county. The second of two public hearings on changes to the economic development ordinance is the highlight of the agenda for the county Board of Commissioners’ regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the boardroom at 100 Cherokee St. off Marietta Square. The changes would allow the Office of Economic Development to make decisions on a case-by-case basis whether to offer tax breaks or other incentives to companies to move to or expand in Cobb and bring in jobs. A key change would eliminate a requirement that a company add at least 25 jobs and have at least a $500,000 economic impact to be eligible for incentives. …
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Cobb Commission Chairman Tim Lee tells Smyrna Rotary Club that the county is "going to go after those that we think are growing industries.”
Not surprisingly, Cobb Commission Chairman Tim Lee was singing the county’s praises at a recent Smyrna Rotary Club meeting where he discussed a new economic redevelopment plan that will be unveiled in February 2012. Lee explained that Cobb is the third largest county in the region, but has the smallest operating budget of any county its size. He also bragged on Cobb’s services, which he thinks are more numerous and better than the services offered by neighboring counties. Lee said Cobb’s low millage rate and property tax combined with its AAA credit rating make it an attractive place to do business. “That bond rating enables us to save millions of dollars over the course of the years in interest because we buy tax anticipation notes in …
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
The commissioners held the only public hearing on the proposed 2012 budget Tuesday afternoon.
Cobb County's proposed fiscal 2012 budget doesn't include any furlough days for the county's 4,200 employees, or any layoffs. But it does include some fee increases and service reductions, plus other cost-saving measures. We are live at the public hearing on the budget, where a crowd is gathering. Library hours have been cut as well as hours at the aquatic center. In personnel, 66 unfilled positions will be eliminated. The county is also looking to privatize the Cobblestone Golf Course. Cobb County's proposed general fund budget for fiscal 2012, which starts Oct. 1, is expected to be about $4 million more than the current $317 million budget that was revised in April. However, the $321.7 million proposal is $6.3 million less than the $328 …
Melinda Paris
3:32 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Well Gus--I do have health Insurance that I DO PAY FOR AND HAVE paid for the last 20 years. So what are YOU talking about? and yes, why do you take aim at me for my opinions? So, You are the only one that can voice an opinion on this blog, is that it? I don't agree w/ you HOWEVER, you still have the right to your opinions, same as me. Its called RESPECT other's. I did read what we were getting … more ›