Welcome

Who do you find more insufferable to talk to: vegans or CrossFitters? If you’ve spoken to either, it is almost certain that they’ve talked to you about it. I joined CrossFit East Cobb last summer after my kickboxing gym shut down, and it has been a transformative experience. The reason I mention this? Memorial Day.

Our veteran-owned gym is in Hero Week - each workout this week is dedicated to a service member who sacrificed their life in the line of duty - all culminating with an extended workout on Memorial Day called the “Murph,” named after Navy Lieutenant Michael Murphy, who died in Afghanistan in 2005.

These moments are meaningful to me, as they remind me each day of my late father, who was incredibly proud of his US Army service in Vietnam. Our family was blessed that he survived that experience, but I know this holiday meant a lot to him. Please take the time to find your own way to remember those who gave all of themselves while protecting the freedoms we hold so dear.

What’s Happening in the District 

Memorial Day Ceremony in Smyrna

Smyrna's salute to America's fallen heroes returns Monday, May 26th, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the 20th Century Veterans Memorial (2800 King Street SE). Set on the Village Green, the 2025 Smyrna Memorial Day Ceremony invites residents, families, and visitors to gather under the flags for an hour of remembrance. Complimentary seating opens at 9:00 a.m., and parking is free, making it easy to arrive early and explore the memorial before the program begins.

During the ceremony, there will be a presentation of colors by the Campbell High School Army JROTC, followed by live music and remarks from distinguished speakers, including a keynote address from Lieutenant Colonel Lee Stuart, US Army (Ret). The program will conclude with a wreath-laying ceremony. In past years, the ceremony has even opened with a ceremonial fly-over, a spectacle organizers are working to reprise for 2025 (weather and flight schedules permitting).

Admission is free, and everyone is encouraged to wear red, white, and blue, wave handheld flags, and bring lawn chairs for overflow seating. If heavy rain threatens, city officials will move festivities indoors to the Smyrna Community Center. Watch @CityofSmyrnaGA's social channels for updates. Have questions or wish to volunteer? Call the city information line at 770-434-6600 or visit SmyrnaGA.gov.

Community Spotlight 

CobbWorks: Connecting Talent with Opportunity in Cobb County

CobbWorks, Inc., better known as WorkSource Cobb, serves as Cobb County’s federally designated American Job Center. Guided by its mission “to promote employment and education opportunities that strengthen the workforce and economic development of our community,” the nonprofit bridges the gap between job-seekers who need skills and employers who need talent. Whether you’re a recently laid-off professional looking to upskill or a business hunting for qualified applicants, CobbWorks offers a one-stop gateway to career training, hiring assistance, and labor-market intelligence that keeps our local economy competitive.

Beyond its familiar Career Resource Center on Commerce Park Drive, CobbWorks delivers a wide menu of free or scholarship-funded services: resume and interview coaching, tuition support for in-demand certifications, GED and ESL classes, and even a Mobile Career Center that brings computers and counselors to libraries and community events. Its flagship B.O.S.S. Young Professionals program gives income-eligible residents ages 16-24 paid work experience, mentoring, and a clear pathway to a stable career, turning at-risk youth into tomorrow’s skilled workforce.

In February, CobbWorks cut the ribbon on a $4 million, 10,000-square-foot WorkSource Center inside the renovated Old Mableton Fire Station 1. The new hub offers a computer lab, Wi-Fi, co-working suites, and small-business coaching, expanding access to job search assistance and professional workshops for South Cobb residents and entrepreneurs alike. Ready to power up your career or help others do the same? Visit WorkSourceCobb.org, drop by either resource center, or ask about volunteering and donation opportunities. When our neighbors thrive, all of Cobb County prospers.

The Big Story 

The running joke in Cobb is that there is always an election happening. 2025 will be no different. Now that the County Commission elections are behind us, we shift our focus to a statewide primary election in June for the Public Service Commission.

But first, what is the Public Service Commission, and why is it important?

The five-member Georgia Public Service Commission is the state’s watchdog over investor-owned utilities, most notably Georgia Power and Atlanta Gas Light. It is tasked with guaranteeing that Georgians receive safe, reliable service at “reasonable” rates while allowing the utilities a fair return on investment. Created in 1879, the PSC balances consumer protection with long-term energy planning, pipeline and telecom oversight, and emerging issues such as grid modernization and EV charging infrastructure.

What a Commissioner Does

Elected commissioners operate like judges and policy architects. They hold evidentiary hearings, cross-examine utility executives and consumer advocates, and ultimately vote on rate cases, fuel-cost adjustments, and multibillion-dollar resource plans such as the recent nuclear expansion at Plant Vogtle. Commissioners meet with stakeholders between formal dockets, draft rules on topics from pipeline safety to broadband deployment, and field constituent complaints through the PSC’s Consumer Affairs division. All work that directly influences every power bill mailed in Georgia.

Two Seats, One Big Election Year

After years of litigation-driven delays, voters statewide will finally pick commissioners for District 2 (East/Southeast Georgia) and District 3 (Metro Atlanta) in 2025. A statewide Special Primary is set for Tuesday, June 17, with any runoffs on July 15; the general election is on Tuesday, November 4. Incumbents face spirited fields that include eight Democratic and Republican challengers, giving Georgians a real say in how future utility rates and clean-energy investments are shaped. Regardless of where they live, all registered voters can cast a ballot in both races.

Visit mvp.sos.ga.gov to check your registration and mark those dates so your voice helps steer Georgia’s energy future.

BOC Meeting Recap 

The Board of Commissioners convened on March 11th and opened the meeting by celebrating excellence in county service. The 2024 Silver Eagle Award, one of Cobb’s highest staff honors, was presented to a management team member, followed by a proclamation declaring March as Procurement Month to spotlight the vital work of the county’s purchasing professionals. After public comment, the Board adopted a broad consent agenda that advanced justice-system grants for Juvenile Court, approved multimillion-dollar construction contracts for the R.L. Sutton Water Reclamation Facility and the Waterford sewer upgrade, and funded the third year of a county-wide bus-stop cleaning contract. Additional items reallocated contingency dollars to tackle litter on South Cobb Drive, created two full-time positions while deleting six part-time roles in the PARKS division, and authorized the sale of surplus land on Dixie Avenue.

Economic development and public safety measures rounded out the consent calendar. Commissioners endorsed bond issuances for Mt. Bethel Christian Academy and Wellstar Health System, finalized a natural gas supply contract for county facilities, and set aside donated revenues to expand the Fire Department’s K-9 program. Intergovernmental agreements with the new City of Mableton covered zoning reviews, GIS services, and development inspections, while two annexation requests were approved with stipulations. The Board also settled ongoing federal litigation with Tyler Technologies and accepted a Technical College System of Georgia grant to let CobbWorks broaden training for dislocated workers.

Transportation dominated the regular agenda. Commissioners green-lit an intergovernmental study of traffic conditions on Nance Road and authorized preliminary engineering on the Austell-Powder Springs Road Trail. They hired HNTB to scope improvements along the East-West Connector corridor. They initiated condemnation proceedings to secure right-of-way for safety upgrades at South Gordon and Pisgah roads, approved slope stabilization work under Camp Highland Road Bridge, and awarded contracts for the West Atlanta Road sidewalk and Mountain Trace drainage repairs. Technology upgrades were also prioritized with approval to migrate the Kronos time-and-attendance system to the cloud and to modernize three elevators in the Judicial Building, capping a meeting that balanced infrastructure progress with fiscal stewardship and regional collaboration.

Important Dates

May 27th @ 5pm: Board of Elections and Registration Meeting

May 27th @ 7pm: Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting