Cobb County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting - September 9, 2025
Cobb County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting - September 9, 2025
The Cobb County Board of Commissioners held its regular meeting on September 9, 2025, chaired by the Chairwoman. The meeting included proclamations, approval of consent and regular agenda items, commissioner public addresses, and a quasi-judicial hearing for an alcohol license application. Key themes included honoring community milestones, addressing opioid litigation, and debating a distance waiver for a convenience store's beer and wine sales.
Proclamations and Recognitions
- Strand Theater 90th Anniversary: The board honored the Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theater's 90th anniversary with a proclamation. Representatives highlighted upcoming events, including a celebration for Miss Bonner's 90th birthday.
- Homicide Victim Remembrance Day: A proclamation declared September 25, 2025, as Homicide Victim Remembrance Day in Cobb County. The District Attorney's office noted 35 homicides in 2024 and 20 in 2025 in the county, and 742 murders statewide in 2024. Victim advocates spoke about supporting survivors.
- Procurement Award: The Procurement Services Department received the 2025 Achievement and Excellence in Procurement Award for the second consecutive year, one of only 216 recipients nationwide and 14 in Georgia.
- Senior Center Month: September 2025 was proclaimed National Senior Center Month. Seniors and center managers spoke about the benefits of Cobb County's seven senior centers, highlighting programs that combat loneliness and promote healthy aging.
Consent Agenda
- The board added three items to the consent agenda: resolutions authorizing settlements with defendants in the national prescription opioid litigation, including Sandoves, Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family, and eight opioid manufacturers (Alvagin, AmNeil, Apotex, HICMA, Indivor, Mylan, Sun, Zydis). All three additions were approved 4-0.
- The verbiage of South Cobb Regional Library item (capital improvements) was changed to "renovation and expansion."
- The consent agenda was approved as revised. Commissioner Gambriel noted opposition to items 28, 29, and 30 (opioid settlement resolutions).
Regular Agenda: Transportation Department
- Seven transportation items were approved unanimously (4-0):
- Supplemental agreement for Cow Parkway Pedestrian Bridge ($40,974.50).
- Supplemental agreement for resurfacing 2025-4 LMIG project ($6,135,544, time extension to Oct 31, 2026).
- Supplemental agreement for South Barrett Reliever Phase 3 ($1,800,000, time extension to Mar 31, 2026).
- Contract for drainage repairs on Trickham Road ($98,301.25).
- Contract for drainage repairs on Fontaine Road ($82,372.96).
- Contract for drainage repairs on Hembry Road ($99,506.27).
- Supplemental agreement for engineering design of Big Shane Road Widening ($1,144,170.29).
Public Comments
- No members of the public signed up for either of the two public comment periods.
Commissioner Public Address
- Commissioner Gambriel: Presented a video about Liam Johnston, a child with incomplete lissencephaly (a brain malformation causing seizures), and his mother Caitlin, who are raising awareness for lissencephaly awareness. The board recognized their efforts with a certificate.
- Commissioner Burl: Announced Mountain View Library closure Sept 11–13, encouraged use of Gritters Library; promoted Constitution Day on the Square (Sept 17) and the Fishing Rodeo (Oct 4). He also remembered 9/11.
- Commissioner Sheffield: Promoted Greater South Cobb Kiwanis Club pancake breakfast (Sept 13) and Six Flags Over Georgia's fall events (Sept 13–Nov 2). He also reflected on the 24th anniversary of 9/11.
Community Development Hearing: Alcohol License for Teddy's Market
- Application: A de novo hearing on the administrative denial of a beer, wine, and Sunday sales package for 3705 Trickham Road LLC (Teddy's Market), a convenience store/gas station. The application was denied under Cobb Alcohol Code §§6-124 (within 300 ft of a residence) and 6-125 (within 600 ft of a school). The License Review Board (LRB) had unanimously recommended approval, subject to a board vote.
- Testimony:
- Alicia Webb (Business License Manager) confirmed the distance issues, no written opposition, proper signage posting, and that the LRB approved the waiver. She noted other nearby establishments (Mellow Mushroom, Moxie Burger) had received distance waivers.
- Karan Ahuja (applicant) testified that he owns two other Teddy's Market stores (in Ball Ground and Canton) and a chain of daycares (Chroma Early Learning Academy). He stated the store would be a $2M+ investment, including road improvements. He emphasized the need for alcohol sales to compete (10-15% of inside sales). He has no prior violations. He did not personally reach out to the Montessori school or neighbors but provided contact to the community.
- Arguments:
- Applicant's attorney (Sam Hensley) argued that the only evidence before the board shows no adverse effect on property values or quiet enjoyment; the store has been an eyesore for 10 years; and the car wash next door (zoned) will have more impact.
- County attorney (Mr. Huff) countered that the applicant did not provide expert evidence (appraisal) to overcome the presumption of adverse effect under the code. The burden lies with the applicant to show no negative impact.
- Board Discussion:
- Commissioner Burrell expressed concern about the distance from the school (247 ft vs. 600 ft requirement) and lack of outreach to the school. She moved to deny the LRB recommendation.
- Commissioner Sheffield supported denial, citing lack of professional appraisal and distance to school.
- Commissioner Gambriel supported approval, noting the LRB's approval, no opposition testimony, and that the applicant runs a nearby daycare himself.
- The Chair supported approval, arguing that the applicant is uniquely positioned to understand impacts and that not granting would be arbitrary given similar waivers nearby.
- Vote: The motion to deny the license failed in a 2-2 tie (Commissioners Burrell and Sheffield in favor; Commissioners Gambriel and the Chair opposed). The matter was continued to the next evening meeting (September 23, 2025) for Commissioner Allen to review the record and cast the deciding vote.
Key Outcomes
- Approved three opioid settlement resolutions for inclusion in consent agenda (4-0, with Gambriel opposed).
- Approved all seven transportation items unanimously (4-0).
- Passed proclamations for Strand Theater 90th anniversary, Homicide Victim Remembrance Day, Procurement Award, and Senior Center Month.
- The alcohol license for Teddy's Market (3705 Trickham Road) remains pending; decision deferred to September 23 evening meeting due to a tied board vote.
Meeting Transcript
Yes, thank you. Good morning, everyone. We'll go ahead and get started. Welcome to today's Cobb County Board of Commissioners regular meeting this September 9th, 2025. I'm pleased today that we have Rabbi Dorch of Congregation at Chime. He will be providing our invocation, which will be followed by the pledge, which we brought by Officer Rihanna Banks. For those of you who are willing and able, please stand for both our invocation and our pledge. Friends, as we gather in this chamber today on the Jewish calendar, we are in the concluding weeks of the Hebrew month of Elul. Elul is a time in our tradition for self-reflection, accountability, and spiritual preparation, and it's going to culminate in the Jewish High Holidays in just a week or so from now. Mark your calendars. Elul calls on all of us to look inward. It calls on us to examine our actions and the intentions in our hearts. And it's a month during which we're reminded that before we go out and seek change in the world, we have to first go out and seek inward peace and change within ourselves. However, Ewl is also a reminder that we seek to understand the people around us and in our community. Our sages of blessed memory teach that this Hebrew month of Elul is actually an acronym. It stands for the well-known verse from the biblical book Song of Songs. And so Elul is a reminder that we are not isolated in the work of our lives, but we are linked through shared responsibility, through the trust that our neighbors place in us, and by the promise that even amidst our differences, we should always work together to find common ground with each other. And it's in this spirit that I ask all of us to pause for a moment and to pray. God's source of all blessing that unites people of all faiths. May you bless us all, devoted public servants and concerned citizens alike with the lessons of Elul. Amen. Good morning, everyone. It's an honor to present this to some of the board members, the director, manager, um of the strand. Ninety years we have had the strand right here on the square Marietta. So with that, whereas the Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theater has served as a cultural and architectural landmark on the historic Marietta Square since opening its doors on September 24th, 1935. And whereas originally designed as a premier art deco movie palace, seating more than 1,000 guests, the theater brought the magic of modern film to Cobb County, and over the decades became a cherished gathering place and an essential part of the community's artistic and social fabric. And whereas through the dedication of friends of the strand and the generosity of supporters, the theater was restored and reopened in 2009, ensuring its preservation as a hub for live performances, films, and special events. And whereas now celebrating its 90th anniversary, the strand continues to enrich the lives of residents and visitors alike, serving as a vital performing arts venue, educational resource, and economic driver for downtown Marietta. Now, therefore, we the Cobb County Board of Commissioners do hereby honor the 90th anniversary of the Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theater, commend its leadership, staff, volunteers, patrons, and supporters, and encourage both the celebration of this milestone and the sustaining of the theater's legacy for generations to come. This is the ninth day of September 2025. So Andy, tell us a few, give us a few words here. Tell us about an important event coming up tomorrow at the Strand. And introduce your friends and volunteers and more. Absolutely. Hi everyone. Thank you for being here and thank you all so much for the proclamation and honors. We are honored to be here today celebrating 90 years young. We always say it takes a village to raise a strand, and that comes from the very top with our board. This is our board chair, Holly Tuchman. We've got Stan Wise and Terry Guthrie, Kim Gresh, Linda Beggs. We are so very thankful because we have a board that gives us leadership. We have a staff that works very hard, and we have wonderful loyal patrons that come to all the wonderful things that we do throughout the year. Tomorrow night we're celebrating something very special because not only is it the Strand's 90th birthday month, but tomorrow, Miss Bonner, who is chair of the Cobb in WCP is turning 90 years old, and we will be kicking off our celebratory month with her at the Strand Theater. So we would love to have you out for that also. And then throughout this entire month, join us at seven. Thank you very much, Kim. And throughout this entire month, we will be showing uh concerts and comedy and plays and musicals uh to celebrate the 90th year with a new logo and with all the festivities, and we hope to see you at them. Oh, I'm so sorry, Jackie. You are also on our board, and we are so thankful for everything that you do. I apologize.
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