Lee to Deliver State of Cobb Address

The commission chairman will speak at a Cobb Chamber breakfast next Monday.

Cobb Commission Chairman Tim Lee will deliver the 2013 state of the county address before the Cobb Chamber of Commerce next week. The organization's First Monday breakfast starts Jan. 14 at 7:30 a.m. at the Cobb Galleria Centre, 2 Galleria Parkway. The online registration and refund deadline is this Wednesday, Jan. 9, at 12 p.m. Tickets are $25 a person for Cobb Chamber members online and $40 at the door; general admission tickets are $60 a person. Lee, a Republican who previously represented Northeast Cobb's District 3 on the commission, won a full-term as chairman last August after filling the final two years of former chairman Sam Olens' term. Lee was sworn in for his new term last month, as was District 2 commissioner Bob Ott, a …

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Decision Day for Cobb Runoff Races

Voters on Tuesday will decide on a Cobb Commission Chairman, a South Cobb Commissioner and a State Court Judge, among other offices.

The combative three-week period between Tim Lee and Bill Byrne in the Cobb Commission Chairman's runoff campaign is nearing an end.  Voters go to the polls again on Tuesday to decide on whether to keep Lee, the incumbent, or return Byrne to his old position after a 10-year absence.  Since there is no Democratic opponent in November, the winner of this battle between Republicans will be elected chairman for the four-year period starting in Jan. 2013. Cobb voters also will decide countywide offices for a State Court judgeship and for Superior Court Clerk, as well as other local races, including the District 4 Cobb Commission seat, where incumbent Woody Thompson has Democratic opposition. The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, and …

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Cobb Support Services Agency to be Reshuffled

Several positions will be eliminated and others will be promoted in a move to improve efficiency.

Byrne: 'Hell No' to Raising Taxes

The former Cobb commission chairman and challenger vowed at Tuesday's candidates forum never to be like "a damn Democrat” to expand Cobb government services.

The controversial TSPLOST took center stage during Tuesday night’s Cobb County Commissioner Chairman forum. All three challengers opposed the special purpose local option sales tax aimed at funding transportation projects in metro Atlanta. “I’m running to do everything I can to defeat TSPLOST,” said Bill Byrne to applause from the audience. Mike Boyce cited the TSPLOST as one of the four taxes imposed over the last 19 months by the current commissioners. “I’m running to bring conservative government to Cobb County,” Boyce said. “Four new taxes in 19 months, that’s not a Republican. That’s not conservative.” Incumbent Tim Lee listed off the numerous accomplishments during his tenure as the current chairman. “Cobb County has the lowest …

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Cobb Support Services Agency to be Reshuffled

Several positions will be eliminated and others will be promoted in a move to improve efficiency.

Cobb County's Support Services Agency is getting an overhaul to increase operational flexibility and to keep the agency up to date with current technological standards. A presentation was delivered by Support Services Agency Director Virgil Moon during the Cobb County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday morning outlining the proposed changes. According to the presentation, the Support Services Agency worked hand in hand with the Finance Department and the County Manager to ensure that the reshuffling was budget neutral; in fact, the plan will bring some savings to the county. Under the proposed changes, agency information services will take on the additional responsibilities of records management and mail services. Moon said that because …

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On the Agenda

Cobb to Enter Immigration Agreement

The county has used the federal E-Verify program to check on worker status since 2006, but the IMAGE program will go a step further.

The Cobb county commissioners are set to enter an agreement with federal officials Tuesday night to help ensure all county employees are in the country legally and are eligible to work. Cobb is the first municipality in the state to use the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Mutual Agreement, or IMAGE program. Commissioner Bob Ott, who pushed for the program, said he hopes the county can be a leader for others. The county has used the federal E-Verify program to check on worker status since 2006, but Ott said the IMAGE program will go a step further. Though it will initially be used only with county employees, Ott told the Marietta Daily Journalthat he hopes that in the future it will be used to prevent situations like the one during…

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Kroger Gets 60-Day Suspension

Due to the sale of alcohol to a minor, the commissioners voted to suspend the beer and wine license at the Kroger on Powder Springs Road for 60 days. They also asked for confirmation of various kinds of training for the Kroger employees.

The commissioners get underway at 9 a.m.

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2012 Cobb Creating Community Awards

Special Needs Development Group, Foundation Masonic Lodge, Piedmont Church and Alpha Kappa Alpha and the Pearl Foundation will receive Cobb Creating Community Awards.

The annual Cobb Creating Community Awards program promotes positive relations and inclusion for Cobb County residents and groups. Nominees have fostered community cooperation, demonstrated vision, been unique and created innovative solutions in connecting diverse communities. Each Cobb County Commissioner received nominations from his or her district, and one recipient from that district was chosen by an evaluation panel. The recipients are: The four recipients will receive their awards from Commissioners at the Creating Community Awards Dinner March 15 at Piedmont Church. Shan Cooper, Vice President and General Manager of Lockheed Martin, is the guest speaker and Dr. Bryan Crute, a Relations Council Board Member, will emcee. The deadline …

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