SPLOST progresses ahead of the original schedule

As part of the Windy Hill Road/Macland
Road Connector, the bridge at Callaway
Road was finished. This completed a key
objective of phase one construction of the project.

It proved to be a challenging year
for the Cobb Department of Transportation
due to the impact of the recession
and flooding. Despite these difficulties,
DOT had many notable accomplishments for the year.

CobbLine Staff

Since Cobb County voters approved the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax in 2005, significant improvements have been made in many areas, including transportation improvements, the new jail and the new courthouse project.

Substantial progress continues on the new courthouse which will combine all of the county’s court services on one campus and allow the juvenile court to move to downtown Marietta. Turner Construction installed a connecting bridge in January and the courthouse should be open for business in spring 2011.

The $110 million expansion of the Cobb County Adult Detention Center is nearing completion and continues within budget. Construction of the visitor center, administrative building and housing tower is complete. The jail expansion will add more than 320,000 square feet and 1,152 beds to the Detention Complex bringing its capacity to 3,077 inmates. The Sheriff's Office is installing equipment, testing security systems and preparing for occupancy in the upcoming months.

With the SPLOST program proceeding ahead of the original schedule and on track for completion within eight years, improvements to Cobb County's transportation system steadily move along. As of September, 251 of the 260 transportation projects were underway or completed. Of these projects, 178 have begun the right-of-way acquisition phase, 150 were completed and 192 have initiated construction, including 21 school zone improvement projects valued at $5.4 million, 34 bridge rehabilitation and replacement projects valued at $18.3 million, 37 intersection safety and operational improvement projects valued at $20.3 million, 30 thoroughfare and roadway safety improvement projects valued at $77.3 million and 260 miles of road resurfacing valued at $30.2 million.

The SPLOST Oversight Committee is made up of 15 citizens appointed by each of the members of the Board of Commissioners. The committee meets on a bi-monthly basis.

Meeting agendas and minutes for the SPLOST Oversight Committee can be found at cobbcip.org.

The Mable House Arts Center is
located at 5239 Floyd Road, in Mableton.
The complex has something for everyone.

CobbLine Staff

The Southern Appalachian Artist Guild has been invited to exhibit its work at the Mable House Arts Center from Jan. 20 through March 1. Part of the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association, the Southern Appalachian Artist Guild’s 135 members work in all media. Although members come from eight states, most are from the tri-state Appalachian Mountain area surrounding Blue Ridge and continue the art tradition and heritage for which that area is famous. The Mable House Arts Center is located at 5239 Floyd Road in Mableton. For more information, call 770-819-3285.

Staff Reports

Lisa Crossman, center director for Clinical and Preventative Services at Cobb and Douglas Public Health, offers these general steps to protect your health:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Sneeze into the corner of your elbow. Hands are a common way to transmit germs.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
• Try to avoid close contact with people that are sick.
• Stay home if you are sick until at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever or signs of a fever. If you have a fever and are sick, you are strongly encouraged to stay home.

Cobb and Douglas Public Health has the H1N1 vaccine available at all local public health centers. For more information about preventing the spread of disease or for all general information regarding your health, visit their Web site at cobbanddouglaspublichealth.org.

Staff Reports

Homestead Exemption is a tax savings on homestead property available to eligible homeowners. In Cobb County, the Tax Commissioner’s Office processes all homestead exemption applications. Homeowners must own, occupy and claim the property as their legal residence on Jan. 1 to be eligible for any homestead exemption during that tax year. Homeowners must apply for each exemption for which they are eligible. The applicant’s name must appear on the deed to the property in order to qualify. Rental property does not qualify. Legal evidence of residency and U. S. citizenship such as a copy of a Georgia driver’s license or Georgia ID Card, etc. must be provided. A non-citizen must provide legal authorization from the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, such as Alien or I94 number. A current registration or receipt of motor vehicle taxes paid in Cobb County must be provided for all personal vehicles owned at the time of application. The applicant may claim exemptions on only one property. A husband and wife constitute one applicant and may claim only one exemption. Exemptions are automatically renewed and the applicant need not reapply if the home has been refinanced. The Tax Commissioner’s Office must be notified in the event the applicant no longer qualifies for an exemption. Homeowners will be billed for any unqualified exemption received. Exemption applications are accepted year round, however, the original application (faxed copies are not accepted) must be received or U.S. postmarked (a metered postmark is not accepted as proof of timely mailing) by April 1, to affect the 2010 taxes. Applications not received by the deadline will be processed for the following year.

Tax bills are mailed by Aug. 15 and payments must be received or U.S. postmarked (a metered postmark is not accepted as proof of timely mailing) by Oct. 15. Detailed information and forms are available online at cobbtax.org. For more information, call 770-528-8600.

Chairman Sam Olens

Staff Reports

Commission Chairman Sam Olens delivered his annual State of the County address. Olens discussed the past year as well as the future of Cobb. This year’s address highlighted the significant quality of life improvements as well as the strength of the county’s budget.

Some of the important quality of life improvements include the establishment of the Burglary Apprehension Team which has showed impressive results; a new fire station under construction near Milford Elementary School; the construction of the new jail, which is substantially complete and on budget; the new courthouse which is set to open in the beginning of 2011; implementation of the 911 Code Red Emergency Notification System; and the Cobb County Safety Village.

Olens referenced Cobb’s higher education institutions. Southern Polytechnic State University has begun construction of a new $100 million engineering technology center, established 13 new degree programs since 2006 and increased enrollment by 36 percent since 2005. Kennesaw State University will open the $60 million Prillamen Hall in May and boasts a student body of more than 22,000.

At the end of the presenation, Olens received a standing ovation and thanked all county employees for their hard work.

The presentation will be playing at various time throughout the month on TV23 and will be available on the county’s Web site at cobbcounty.org/boc/.

Staff Reports

Many residents support the annual 4-H plant sale to enhance their landscape with shade-loving hellebores and heucheras perennials; azaleas, edgeworthia, crape myrtle and viburnum shrubs. With the current focus on organic and pesticide free food, there is an increased interest in growing your own fruits and vegetables. 4-H also offers a fine selection of blackberry, blueberry and raspberry plants that are appropriate for Cobb County. A small investment in berry bushes will provide the owner with many years of fruit.

In addition to enjoying a beautiful landscape and fresh berries, your plants purchase supports many of the 4-H programs. During 2009, we were able to provide scholarships for 4-H’ers to attend summer camp, the overnight District Project Achievement speech competition at Rock Eagle 4-H Center and subsidize transportation costs to county and state events. The Awards Banquet, an annual program highlight, recognizing an individual’s achievements and contributions to 4-H and the community, is funded from plant sales.

The mission of 4-H is to assist youth in acquiring knowledge, developing life skills, and forming attitudes to enable them to become self-directing, productive and contributing members of society. In 2009, members responded to the devastating flood conditions by donating school supplies and providing holiday meals. The recipients were very appreciative of the support and concern for the community.

For more information about the plant sale or 4-H in general, please call 770-528-4070.

Staff Reports

The South Cobb Regional Library will host four free programs aimed at teens to celebrate Black History Month every Wednesday in Feb. at 7 p.m.

Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. Families are invited to join the library staff for “Quotable Art,” a program where participants discuss notable quotes pertaining to Black History Month and create art inspired by that quote.

Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. Patrons can decorate quilt squares inspired by influential and noteworthy African American leaders for the Black History Quilt program. The quilt will be assembled and displayed in the library.

Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. People interested in stamps can join the You’ve Got Mail program to discuss and create stamps related to Black History Month heroes.

Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. Residents are invited to team up for a Black History Month trivia contest.

The South Cobb Regional Library is located at 805 Clay Road in Mableton. For more information, call 678-398-5828.

Staff reports

The Cobb County Library Book Sale will take place during the weekend of March 5-7 at Jim R. Miller Park. The semiannual event will include hardbacks, paperbacks, DVDs, CDs, reference books and magazines. The sale will be 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Proceeds from the sale will go towards purchasing new materials for the Cobb County Library System. For more information or to volunteer to assist with setting up the sale, call 770-528-2342.

Staff reports

Home delivered meals from Cobb Senior Services are the perfect way for older adults to have their daily nutritional needs met. To be eligible for this service, adults must be Cobb County residents, at least 60 years of age and have difficulty getting out of their homes.

Additionally, CSS operates four Neighborhood Senior Centers for adults age 60 and above. The Centers provide the opportunity for seniors to not only receive a hot, nutritious lunch daily, but also offers ample social, recreational, nutrition and wellness programs.

If you or an older adult you know has the need for home delivered meals or would like more information about attending a neighborhood center, please call the information and referral line at 770-528-5364.

Staff reports

The Cobb County Public Library System’s newest addition, the East Cobb Library, is now open.

The library’s staff has packed and relocated the 75,574 items in the collection to this new facility. The new East Cobb Library features a multimedia room which is well-equipped with a multimedia board to support Web-based training programs. There will also be a space specifically geared towards teens and there is a vending area where beverages can be purchased. The new facility is 16,864 square feet, making it nearly double the size of the old Merchant’s Walk Library.

The East Cobb Library is located at 4880 Lower Roswell Road in the Parkaire Mall in Marietta. For more information, visit cobbcat.org.

Julianne Hough will
perform on March 6.

Staff Reports

Many popular acts are scheduled throughout the season, including Julianne Hough on March 6; the Osmond Brothers on March 13; Frankie Avalon on March 27; and Vicki Lawrence on April 10.

The Jennie T. Anderson Theatre is located at 548 South Marietta Parkway, Marietta.

For more information, call 770-528-8490 or visit prca.cobbcountyga.gov/anderson_theatre.htm.

Helen Goreham

Staff Reports

The public is invited to attend two upcoming town hall meetings and receive news about projects and progress in the county.

District One Commissioner Helen Goreham will host a town hall meeting 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, at the West Cobb Senior Center. The center is located at 4915 Dallas Highway in Powder Springs.

Commissioner Goreham will also host another District One town hall meeting at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 11, at the North Cobb Senior Center at 4100 Highway 293 in Acworth. For more information about these meetings, call 770-528-3313.

Staff reports

The Piedmont Division of the NMRA is sponsoring the Thirteenth Annual Model Train Show. The train show will be held on March 13 and 14 at the Cobb Galleria. The train show features more than 250 vendor tables, seven operating train layouts, hands on layout for kids, model train contest, a raffle for a fully operational train layout, white elephant table, door prizes and free parking. Admission is $8 per person and children 12 and under are admitted for free. Admission is good for both days. For more information visit the show’s Web site at themodeltrainshow.com.

Staff reports

The Cobb County School District is part of the National School Lunch Program which sponsors the free and reduced-price lunch program for qualifying students. To find out if your family qualifies, fill out an online meal application at mealapps.cobbk12.org. For more information, please call 770-590-4531.

The Annual Report is now available online at cobbcounty.org/annual-report/.


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