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County now auctions surplus online

The annual Cobb County auction was a cost-effective
way to dispose of old equipment. The process will be
even more cost-effective online, officials said.

Staff Reports

Each year, people would visit Cobb to see what the county government had for sale at its auction.

Now they only have to turn on their computers.
“The Web auction is a much better way for the county to maximize revenue for surplused materials,” Purchasing Director Rick Brun said. “Our goal for 2009 is to achieve revenues in excess of $200,000 – at least $30,000 more than from the last on-site auction.”

Starting this year, Cobb County posted its surplus equipment, vehicles and furniture on three different Web sites and has already achieved good results with a broader, more competitive audience. Overall winning bids have resulted in revenues 15 to 20 percent higher than the old auction approach, Brun said.

He said a set of old police Harley motorcycles, none in working condition, were snapped up by buyers in Ohio, Texas and Florida. In another case, a foreign exchange student in Michigan flew here to pick up an old police Ford Crown Victoria to drive back home.

In one case, the chief of the Tijuana Fire Department came to pick up a surplused “Jaws of Life” device after filing the winning bid online. He drove it home in a rescue truck he had purchased in an Ohio auction.

Cobb County sells items “as-is, where-is” at these sites: www.ebay.com, www.govdeals.com, and www.publicsurplus.com.

Staff reports

Concertgoers will have three different musical genres to choose from at the Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre in August.

Country singer-songwriter Sara Evans, known for such hits as “Suds in the Bucket,” “Born to Fly” and “Low” will perform at the Mableton venue on Saturday, Aug. 8.

New Wave rock band The B-52s has spent decades as a music fixture with dance songs like “Love Shack,” “Rock Lobster” and “Planet Claire.” The group, featuring members Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson, Cindy Wilson and Keith Strickland, will bring its trademark vocals Friday, Aug. 14.

Classic rocker Peter Frampton, whose “Do You Feel Like I Do” was featured on “Frampton Live!” – one of the best-selling albums in history – will take the stage on Wednesday, Aug. 19.

The Marshall Tucker Band has been rescheduled for Friday, August 28.

Music legend B.B. King, who has personified blues music for more than half a century with hits like “Payin’ The Cost To Be The Boss,” will perform Wednesday, Sept. 2. “Smoke on the Mountain,” a bluegrass gospel musical, will close the season with three shows Sept. 18-20.

Tickets for individual shows range from $15 to $49.75. To purchase tickets, call 800-745-3000, visit the amphitheatre box office, the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre box office in Marietta or all Ticketmaster outlets.

In addition, the amphitheatre is hosting a series of free concerts with the next show by bluegrass band Cedar Hill at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 25.

Building a future foundation for justice

Staff reports

Cobb dignitaries, including the County Commission, the Sheriff’s Office and many court officials, gathered on May 14 to break ground on the new $63 million courthouse in Marietta.

The 229,000-square-foot building will have 11 courtrooms, combining all of the county’s court services on one campus and allowing Juvenile Court to move to downtown Marietta.

The new building will also provide state-of-the-art security and a larger jury assembly room.

The “green” courthouse will be constructed according to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification standards, thereby saving energy and operational costs.

The Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax is funding the project and the building is slated for completion in spring 2011.

Staff reports

Homeowners can expect to see a tax bill increase in the next two years because the state eliminated a grant that has helped give them relief, Cobb County Tax Commissioner Gail Downing said.

The state Homeowner’s Tax Relief Grant that previously funded a tax credit on homesteaded property will not be available this year or next.

“Declining state revenues during the current recession left the state without enough money to give the tax relief credits that homeowners have become accustomed to,” Downing said.
Most Cobb homeowners will see an increase of about $228 on their 2009 tax bills. Those with a School Tax Exemption will see an increase of about $77.

Increases will vary for homeowners living within one of Cobb’s six municipalities.

In 1999, the governor and General Assembly appropriated the grant to counties, cities and schools, giving tax relief to homeowners in the form of a tax bill credit. According to legislation passed this year (House Bill 143), the grant will only be made available in the future if state revenues grow at least 3 percent plus the rate of inflation.

Downing believes giving homeowners advance notice will help them prepare for the increase when tax bills are issued in August.

Homeowners can determine the exact amount of the 2009 increase by accessing their 2008 account information at www.cobbtax.org under the “Property Taxes” tab; search by parcel ID or address.

The “Homeowners Tax Credit” deducted on the 2008 tax bill is the amount their bill will increase for 2009. Many homeowners with mortgages will need to make sure their tax escrow accounts are properly funded since their property taxes are paid by their mortgage company.

“It’s unfortunate in slow economic times to have to deliver this message, but homeowners need this information so they can budget accordingly,” Downing said.

Tim Lee

Staff reports

The public is invited to attend the District 3 Town Hall meeting scheduled for 7 p.m., Monday, Aug. 17, at Merchant’s Walk Library.

Commissioner Tim Lee will host the meeting, where he will update residents about projects in the district and answer any questions attendees might have.

The library is located at 1315 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta.

For more information, call 770-528-2606.

Staff reports

According to the Cobb County Code, vehicles may not be parked in the grass or unimproved surface between the roadway and the home’s front setback. In the R-30, R-20, R-15, R-12, RD, RA-4 and RA-5 zoned districts, parking allows only one vehicle, one boat and one recreational vehicle, or any combination totaling three, in the rear or side yard on a hardened surface.

In the R-40, R-80 and RR zoned districts, any combination of boats and recreational vehicles exceeding three must be screened from public roadways via a buffer (approved by the Cobb County landscape architect) or fencing.

A hardened surface is either concrete, asphalt or a heavy tar and gravel mix. The use of concrete blocks, pavers, runners or other similar materials will be considered as a treated and hardened surface as long as it is installed permanently in the ground (not loosely on top). When parked, all tires of the vehicles must be on a hardened surface.

Violations of this code will result in a notice of violation issued for compliance. If the property remains in violation, a citation will be issued to appear in Magistrate Court. County code states per OCGA 36-1-20, violator may be incarcerated for a period not to exceed 60 days and/or fined $100-$1,000. More detailed information is available in the county code on the county clerk’s Web page at www.cobbcounty.org or by calling Code Enforcement at 770-528-2180. Additional information is also available at the Code Enforcement Web site.

Cobbline Staff

The Art Station–Big Shanty has added a new band to its Melodies in the Meadow outdoor summer concert series. The Jot’Em Down Boys, a bluegrass band, will be performing 7-9 p.m., Saturday, July 18, on the lawn at the Art Station.

This lively concert is free but you need to bring chairs or blankets (and a picnic if you like). You may also reserve a table for a small fee.

Please call 770-514-5930 for more information or to reserve your table. The Army Ground Forces Jazz Guardians will be performing at the Art Station on Saturday, Aug. 22. Visit the Web site www.artstationcobb.org to view the full concert schedule.

The Art Station-Big Shanty is located at 2050 Kennesaw Due West Road in Kennesaw and has daily hours 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. The gallery is free and open to the public. Call for evening and weekend hours.

Staff reports

The Cobb County Library System will hold its free end-of-summer celebration 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Aug. 1, at the Central Library in Marietta. The event, which includes storytelling, games and crafts, marks the end of the annual summer reading program. The summer reading program is on-going through the end of July. Families can still join the program and receive a free reading register to track their reading progress and participate in the free activities taking place throughout the library system. To sign up, visit any Cobb library branch, where program packets and event schedules are available. For details visit one of the 17 Cobb County libraries or log on to www.cobbcat.org.

Learn about managing your diabetes during the Diabetes Self-Management Program 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, July 31, at the Cobb County Extension Office, 678 South Cobb Drive, 2nd Floor, Marietta. The program will be taught by diabetes educators from the Diabetes Association of Atlanta. This class is for individuals recently diagnosed, for those who need a refresher and for pregnant women with diabetes. Registration fee required. Some insurance and Medicare accepted. To register call 404-527-7150, Ext. 114.

The Cobb County Water System Annual Water Quality Report, also known as the Consumer Confidence Report, is now available to the public. This federally mandated report, covering the period January – December 2008, provides residents with information regarding the quality of their drinking water. For more information, or to receive a copy of this report call 770-423-1000. You can find it on the Web site www.cobbwater.org.

Cobb County drivers can get a step ahead of road closings this summer by regularly checking the county Department of Transportation Web site at cobbcounty.org/DOT and select “Road Reports.” When a road closure is scheduled, a specific detour map and time span will be posted. If you have any questions or concerns about the closures, call 770-528-1653.