Live with the Cobb County Commissioners

8:34 p.m.: And we're adjourned. We'll have some photos and video clips up a little later tonight, in case you missed the fun on TV and want the visuals to bring these words to life.

8:32 p.m.: We've worked our way through all of the commissioners' announcements and committee appointments.

And now, perhaps appropriately, we're having a boring discussion. That is, an update on the ahead-of-schedule boring of a major sewer project.

8:25 p.m.: The board unanimously agrees to sell $110 million worth of tax anticipation notes at a rate of 0.298 percent through JP Morgan Securities in New York. The notes cover the county's cash flow until the property tax revenues roll in later in the year.

8:22 p.m.: We get a clash between Commissioners Ott and Goreham over the creation of a Citizens Oversight Committee. Ott says it was supposed to be created in time to report back before last week's SPLOST vote, and he presents a substitute motion to table the matter until October. No one seconds him, and the committee is created on a 4-1 vote with Ott voting no. Goreham says the committee wasn't created to report before the SPLOST vote, although she acknowledges the initial resolution called for the committee to report not later than March 8, the week before the SPLOST vote.

Lee also disagrees with Ott's contention that the committee has no purpose now. Lee says the committee will be valuable in creating the 2012 and 2013 budgets, not just dealing with the 2011 budget.

The first committee members are appointed a few minutes later, but not the full committee yet.

8:16 p.m.: The board unanimously approves all proposed transportation projects, many funded with 2005 SPLOST dollars, without discussion.

The board then enacts a new single-stream, away-from-home recycling program. The Cobb County government is sponsoring a partnership between Keep Cobb Beautiful and Advanced Disposal Services to set up one recycling center at a fire or police station in each of the four districts. People can drop off anything except glass and trash at no cost, without separating types of recyclables.

"I hope that once we introduce it, we never have to take it away," says Goreham, who introduces the resolution on the condition that it doesn't cost the county any money. It passes 4-0, with JoAnn Birrell recusing herself.

8:10 p.m.: Some actual business. The board passes the consent agenda, although Ott breaks the unanimity on Item 11, an agreement to repair Violet F. Stout Park Equestrian Barn, because "I just don't think it's necessary."

8:05 p.m.: One of the really fun things is we get to go behind the scenes and see things up close and personal," such as a new sewer tunnel, Commissioner Helen Goreham tells another Scout here for a merit badge, Austin Reeves of Troop 75 at Transfiguration Church, who asked what the best part of the job is.

8:02 p.m.: Commissioner Bob Ott explains to Scout Z. Schreier that the county economy is struggling, but the board is trying to stay ahead of it.

8:00 p.m.: You know it's a light agenda when one of the standout moments of the night comes from Boy Scout Troop 1011 from Mount Bethel. Asked why the boys are here tonight, one says sheepishly, "We're here to earn a merit badge."

7:59 p.m.: The only other speaker of the comment period, regular speaker Craig Harfoot, doesn't agree with a millage rate increase. He also opposed the SPLOST that passed last week. He holds up a sign: "Tax on Food and Energy Now a Deal Breaker."

7:54 p.m.: Jane Williams Sherlock opens the public comment period by calling for a millage increase, an idea the commissioners rejected earlier in the day. "Because the county has come sa far, please don’t let it stumble now and fall into a hole. ... I think it’s time that we the citizens have to start paying the price" for parks, libraries, senior centers and other fine facilities.

"I for one am for raising the millage rate," Sherlock says. "The millage rate can be raised. It also can be lowered" once the economy bounces back.

7:44 p.m.: Fire Chief Sam Heaton, who has stepped up as acting public safety director, is the recipient of the county's Silver Eagle Award for "a member of the Cobb County Management Team who has demonstrated teamwork and exhibited outstanding leadership among the Department Manager Team during the calendar year."

7:38 p.m.: Cobb County's Parks and Recreation Volunteer of the Year is Greg Harden, the president of East Cobb Football and Cheerleading and a volunteer in youth sports throughout East Cobb. The 2010 Ovation Awards Volunteer of the Year is South Cobb's Ann Cummings, "a true giver" who "has a giver's heart." The receipient of the Jack Demarest Lifetime Achievement Award is Harold Brannen of the East Marietta National Little League.

7:28 p.m.: April also is Alcohol Awareness Month in Cobb, which is appropriate with spring break coming up and being in the middle of prom season. At cobbat.org, adults can make a reservation to go to a simulated youth drinking party this Saturday between 6 and 9 p.m., courtesy of the Cobb Alcohol Taskforce.

7:20 p.m.: Keep Cobb Beautiful "is picking up the slack" by picking up the litter and doing other work around the county, Goreham says in presenting a proclamation honoring KCB for its work in 2010. The group won a second-place award among Keep America Beautiful affiliates in Georgia, and three programs recently were honored: single-stream recycling program, medication disposal program and Cobb Trees. The group donated $1,143,715 in volunteer service and in-kind donations last year.

7:15 p.m.: Commissioner Helen Goreham presents a proclamation to the Sons of Confederate Veterans recognizing April as Confederate History and Heritage Month. Next month marks the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War.

7:12 p.m.: And April 15 to 23 will be Global Youth Service Week in Cobb. There will be a talent show and celebration of the week the 23rd at a senior center.

7:10 p.m.: It's official: Wednesday is Kick Butts Day in Cobb County.

7 p.m. The meeting should be starting momentarily with the opening prayer from Rabbi Zalman Charytan of the Chabad Jewish Center in west Cobb.

We're covering the live tonight. Feel free to jump in with questions and comments.