This Week In Cobb: Elections Board and Community Meeting on 911 Center lead off week
The Cobb Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday morning may see relatively few fireworks compared to other happenings this week. Learn more about our upcoming September Social!
This week is “front-heavy” with several government meetings happening before we even reach the “hump” of Wednesday. Monday alone will feature the Cobb Board of Elections meeting in the afternoon, just hours before a community meeting on the county’s future E-911 center. Tuesday morning’s Cobb Board of Commissioners' meeting may be relatively tame.
Read on to learn more.
Cobb Board of Elections meeting: Monday, Sept. 8, 3 p.m. (Swearing in of new board members at 2:30 p.m.)
Before the meeting (find the agenda here), the swearing-in ceremony for newly appointed board members, Reginald Turner and Kendall Watkins, will take place at 2:30 p.m.
Turner and Watkins’ appointments may be a catalyst for robust public comment shortly after the board’s meeting begins at 3 p.m. As highlighted in the Marietta Daily Journal’s Aug. 18 story “Residents clash over fairness, transparency at Cobb elections meeting,” their “appointments were made by the delegation’s Democratic majority over objections from GOP lawmakers”:
In the Georgia House, Cobb is represented by nine Democrats and seven Republicans. In the Georgia Senate, Cobb is represented by three Republicans and three Democrats.
According to state Rep. David Wilkerson, D-Powder Springs, Democrats only needed a majority of Cobb’s 22 lawmakers to make their appointments to the elections board. Though several Republicans on the delegation have objected, accusing Cobb Democrats of bypassing transparency, without discussion or input from across the aisle.
Ahead of Turner and Watkins’ tenure, the Board of Elections also had elected a new chair and vice-chair, moves opposed by board member Debbie Fisher, an appointee by the Cobb GOP.
These factors, per the MDJ’s reporting, led to “[d]ozens of community members … voicing both support and criticism of the board’s recent, controversial officer elections and board appointments” during the board’s meeting last month.
It remains to be seen if these issues will spark further discussion.
Like the Cobb Board of Commissioners meetings, the Board of Elections meets in the second floor meeting room of the county offices at 100 Cherokee St., Marietta.
Community meeting on 911 Center: Monday, Sept. 8, 6 p.m.
This is being held at the Ron Anderson Community Center in Powder Springs. From the Facebook event posted by the county:
District 4 will be the home of Cobb County’s new E-911 center. Join D4 Commissioner Monique Sheffield, Cobb County directors of Public Safety, E-911, and Facilities Management for a community meeting 6 - 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8, at the Ron Anderson Recreation Center. This meeting will provide an important opportunity for you to learn about the new Emergency Communications Center planned for our area and how this upgrade will enhance emergency response capabilities.
The Board of Commissioners recently approved the purchase of approximately 12 acres of land on Macland Road at the intersection of Florence and Bullard Roads in Powder Springs. The 2022 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax project will serve as the future site for a modern E-911 Emergency Communications Center designed to better serve our community.
Your feedback is essential to shaping this project.
The Ron Anderson Community Center is located at 3820 Macedonia Road in Powder Springs.
Tuesday, Sept. 9th Board of Commissioners Preview
On Tuesday, Sept. 9, there will be the 9 a.m. Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting.
Not much jumps out from the agenda of Tuesday’s meeting.
Here’s a preview:
Presentations (4 items)
Public Comment Round 1 (10 speakers, up to 3 minutes each on any topic)
Consent Agenda (15 items)
Regular Agenda (7 items)
Public Comment Round 2 (10 speakers, up to 3 minutes each)
Appointments & Announcements (0 items)
Powder Springs reminders: Livable Centers Initiative ‘Visioning Workshop’ set for Sept. 9, while survey period continues through Sept. 12
As previously shared, the City of Powder Springs is updating its Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) Plan, last completed in 2016, and it has scheduled a drop-in “Visioning Workshop” Tuesday, Sept. 9, at its new City Hall at 4483 Pineview Drive.
We’re re-imagining what’s possible, and we need your ideas to bring the vision to life. Come share your thoughts on the plan’s goals, see exciting concepts take shape in real time, and tell us what matters most to you.
Drop in anytime between 2 and 8 p.m. on Sept. 9 to chat with our consultants as they sketch bold ideas for downtown, gather your feedback, and give you a sneak peek at what’s next.
The city continues to seek feedback on the LCI plan via an online survey, found here, and more information on the Livable Centers Initiative Study Update can be found at springsinmotionlci.com.
Next county-hosted town hall to focus on Sustainability
Later this month, Cobb County will see its BOC meeting room host the latest in Chairwoman Lisa Cupid’s “All In” town halls. Per the county’s Facebook page:
Let’s talk green! 🌿 Join Chairwoman Lisa Cupid 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, in the 2nd Floor BOC Meeting Room, 100 Cherokee Street, Marietta, for an evening all about sustainability and community.
Hear from Kimberly White, Chief Sustainability Officer, as she highlights current projects and shares how you can help build a cleaner, greener future for Cobb County.
This is your chance to get involved and make a real difference!
Mableton Comprehensive 2045 Comprehensive Plan Focus Group
Mableton is Cobb’s newest city and one of the first things they are tackling is their planning and future land use guiding documents. This is an instrumental step in building a productive, resilient, and equitable city for all.
The meeting is on Tuesday, September 9th from 9AM-1PM at the MableHouse Arts Center.
Upcoming ABC Social on September 25th
We are hosting our next social on September 25th and this one might be my favorite one yet!
We will be hosted by Robert who has refurbished the Old Smyrna Firehouse to become a center of the Smyrna Arts & Culture Community! Learn more about his experience in creating a gathering place and what placemaking best practices we can apply to Smyrna’s Downtown.
Attendance is free, but registration is required. A $15 donation ($10 for members) will provide 2 drink tickets.
Register here: bit.ly/abcsept25
That’s it for this edition of the ABC Newsletter! Don’t forget to sign up as an ABC Member to receive future newsletters! We’re working on our schedule for the next events so stay tuned for that information!