Welcome

You may have noticed that the election season is underway. Advanced voting is set to begin on April 18th, which is less than a month away! As a resident and District 2 candidate, I have attended numerous community events, town halls, civic association meetings, and county meetings. During these events, I have had the opportunity to speak with many of you and discuss local issues that matter. This year, it seems especially important to focus on these issues.

I encourage you to continue to contact me directly to discuss any issues that are important to you, and feel free to invite me to your organization to listen and share ideas. We're in this together.

What’s Happening in the District 

Eclipse Workshop in Vinings!

This Saturday, March 30th, from 2:00pm - 3:00pm at the Vinings Library, learn all about how eclipses happen just in time for the last solar eclipse visible in North America for twenty years on April 8, 2024. Participants will learn about the phases of the moon, why solar and lunar eclipses occur, and how to view an eclipse safely. A NASA Partner Eclipse Ambassador will teach this workshop and will be fun and engaging for astronomy enthusiasts of all ages. Every participant will receive a FREE pair of solar glasses!

The Big Story 

The dominant story in Cobb County remains the Cobb County Water System’s proposed code amendments, which included changing how the stormwater fee is assessed. The vote was tabled after nearly five hours of public comment and Commissioner discussion. Expect more opportunities for input from residents and businesses, with the next vote expected to occur this August.

I want to thank Director Jones for the time she and her staff put into this proposal. I agree that we need to move faster in a direction that allows the Water System to become much more proactive. Given that Cobb Water charges the least amount in the metro Atlanta area and takes on some of the most responsibility for a water department compared to its peers, it justifies an adjustment in billing based on individual stormwater impact. However, this change is a short-term fix, and long-term issues must be resolved. The transfer to the General Fund is one example. The hybrid ownership of infrastructure is another.

I had the opportunity to attend the town hall in Smyrna hosted by Commissioner Sheffield, and the anecdotal experiences expressed there exposed an issue few Cobb residents know exists. It's one thing to block a stormwater pipe intentionally, but it is another to have unknown infrastructure buried in your yard that no one has any record of. This is an opportunity for the County to partner with its residents to map out these private pipes and create an equitable plan that benefits both parties.

BOC Meeting Recap 

Beyond the stormwater discussion…

The Cobb County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting on March 26, 2024, was packed with presentations, public hearings, and numerous approvals across various sectors. The meeting started with recognizing achievements, including presenting Certificates of Achievement to three Boy Scouts for attaining the Eagle Scout Rank and to Ms. Akanksha Manna for her selection for the Georgia Youth Leadership Award and being featured in Atlanta Magazine's 2024 Women Making a Mark. The agenda also included two public hearings, one concerning the proposed closure of Woodhill Drive and another to solicit comments on proposed amendments to various chapters of the Official Code of Cobb County, affecting the environment, subdivision, utilities, vehicles for hire, and zoning regulations.

Significant decisions were made in areas of public safety, infrastructure, and community development. Among them are the acceptance of grants to support the Drug Treatment Court Program and the Mental Health Court Program and the approval of numerous contracts for transportation planning, professional services, and technology improvements. The Water System saw approvals for a revised easement and a change order for water billing software. Transportation initiatives included extending contracts for professional services across several categories, funding for bus stop cleaning services, and a pilot project for microtransit in South Cobb County. The meeting also marked the approval of projects under the SPLOST programs, emphasizing the board's commitment to enhancing Cobb County's infrastructure, safety, and community services.

Important Dates

April 2nd: Planning Commission Zoning Hearing

April 9th: Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting

April 16th: Board of Commissioners Zoning Hearing

April 23rd: Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting