Good morning, everyone.

Thank you for being here and happy new year.

Welcome to our Board of Commissioners meeting this January thirteenth, two thousand and twenty-six.

Thank you.

You may now rise for the pledge.

We did have a moment of silence.

I do see our pastor has entered.

If you would indulge me further, Pastor Malcolm Lewis of Beacon of Light Church.

We know God is able, but sometimes just unable to move traffic as we all know of life.

Thank you very much.

You're very welcome.

Thank you for being here still.

How are y'all doing this morning?

Wonderful.

Thank you.

Father, God, in the name of Jesus, we thank and praise you.

We give you honor and glory to O God in this new year that you've given us a year we believe of great opportunities, great unity and just great expansion.

We thank you, Father, today, just for yet another day of your grace and your mercy.

Thank you, Lord, for Cobb County community.

Thank you for all of our commissioners, our commissioner chair, all of our department heads.

We thank you, God, for the extraordinary work that you would do through them this year, God, as servant leaders of this community.

Thank you for all the residents and the business owners and just everything that this community and this county touches.

It has been awesome in this county, oh God, how you have elevated this county.

So we're believing you for greater.

And so we pray today, oh God, for the affairs and the agendas that have been set aside to be discussed this morning.

We pray that you were sanctified, that you are caused it to flourish, oh God.

This is a year that we need so much unity, God.

So much is going on.

But we believe, God, that when we come together as community, we come together, oh God, with right hearts and right minds, that there's nothing that is impossible.

So we thank you again, God, for all that you're going to do.

Uh, we pray, God, for everything that is done will be done according to your will.

Uh, we do ask for your wisdom.

We ask for your strength and courage, especially our servant leaders, God, who's leading us in a charge that we've never seen in a time that we've never been in, but we know and we're confident and fully persuaded that we have the right leaders to go before us, and God that they will lead us in this very important hour.

So we thank you today, and we pray to bless upon us, meeting we give it over to you now for your glory in the name of Jesus, amen.

Amen.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States and to the republic for which it stands.

One nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you.

Thank you, Chief, and thank you, Pastor, for that powerful invocation this morning.

We are so grateful to have heard you today.

With that, our meeting is now called to order, and I am very pleased this morning that we have a presentation designating today, January 13th as Korean American Day in Cobb County.

For those who are a part of this presentation, I ask that you please join me up front.

First, just thank you for a wonderful, wonderful prelude to this morning's meeting and hosting uh light snack breakfast treat for all of us and just reconnecting with Cobb County as we know that we've been in partnership for several years.

Commemorates the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the United States in 1903, and marks the beginning of a proud legacy that honors the contributions of Korean Americans.

And whereas the United States and Korea formally established a relationship with the signing of the 1882 Treaty of Peace, friendship, and commerce.

And while early exchanges included diplomats, students, and business leaders, the first wave of permanent Korean immigration began in December 1902, when 102 immigrants sailed to Honolulu, Hawaii.

And whereas Korean Americans have demonstrated service and sacrifice, supporting their communities and the nation during World Wars One and II, and the Korean War, and through subsequent generations of immigrants, including families formed through military service and adoption, enriching the cultural, economic, and social fabric of the United States.

And we're asked Cobb County is home to a growing Korean American population.

There are more than 71,000 Korean American residents here in the state of Georgia, according to the 2020 U.S.

Census, with continued growth in the subsequent years.

Since 2007, Cobb has fostered a sister city relationship with Song Donggu, South Korea, and encourages cultural exchanges through visits by our students, citizens, and officials from both communities.

Now, therefore, we, the Cobb County Board of Commissioners, proclaim January 13th as Korean American Day, honoring the history, the resilience, and lasting contributions of Korean Americans, affirming our appreciation for the strong ties between Cobb County and Song Dungu.

This is the 13th day of January 2026.

Thank you.

Good morning.

And I am grateful to share this moment with members of our congregation.

Thank you for the opportunity to take part in this Korean American Day proclamation ceremony.

It is a great honor and a true joy for us to be included in this meaningful occasion.

Many many immigrants, Korean American Day is deeply significant.

It is a moment of recognition and encouragement for the Korean American community in Cobb County.

On behalf of our community, I extend heartfelt thanks to Cobb County and to the chair, Lisa Cupit, for this meaningful acknowledgement.

As Korean Americans, we desire to give back to the community we call home.

If there are opportunities to serve or collaborate with the county, we would be honored to do so.

We hope to contribute to making Cobb County an even more welcoming and thriving community.

Bethany President Church remains committed to being a good neighbor in Cup County, and we look forward to continued partnership with this community.

Once again, thank you so much for hosting this meaningful event and for inviting us to be proud of it.

We're truly grateful.

Thank you so much.

God bless you.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Good morning.

Such a nice being back to Cobb County.

I live in Sandy Spring, but I feel like I belong to Cobb County more because we have a particular relationship that uh my hometown in Korea and the Cobb County is just a city.

It's been since uh 2007, and then uh the chairwoman the Liza Cubit is a re uh uh start the uh the efforts uh to bring it uh the relationship back to the track.

And I am very, very glad Cobb County is the county in Georgia as the first come contact us and have the celebration for honoring the Korean Americans.

Oh, there are seven about seven thousand uh Korean Americans that live in Cobb County.

Uh and Gunet County has about over a hundred thousand people, but uh Korean Americans, but the Cobb County was the first one actually approached us and I want to recognize uh appreciated so much.

We moved here about 176 years ago, uh Hawaii as a sugar cane laborer, and then now we're counting almost two million of people of Korean Americans living in the United States, and we are uh taxpayers, we are volunteers, we are neighbor good neighbors, and then everywhere actually in profession, and you see a lot of doctors at Korean Americans, and uh there's a such such a foot uh our foot start everywhere in the industry.

And then uh I really want to appreciate show our appreciation to Cow County leadership and particularly take take this opportunity to thank the Korean uh war veterans and veterans, uh actually uh the urban romp, but he's not here, but uh there's a career the Korean Americans in many, many Korean Americans.

I mean a Korean Wu veterans living in the Cobb County, and I am glad that I'm part of the uh uh Cobb County Veterans Memorial Park.

You're gonna build that uh next to Civic Center, the fairground, and I'm part of that, and I'm very proud of that.

That's the thing.

So and uh the I don't want to take you can I can't spend two hours here with uh with that talk about how appreciated we are, but uh most of all police officers and the firefighters and the first responders of that uh EMS uh we thank you that keep us our neighbors safe so we can have a good night's sleep every night.

We thank you for all the Cobb County, the employees and the leadership uh for all the services you provide us.

Thank you so much.

This is a great county, and I'm very proud of it.

Thank you.

With that, we'll line up for a pitcher and commissioners.

If you'd like to be a part, I welcome you down.

Okay.

I'm too bad.

I got a specialist here.

We go in three, two, one.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you again for being here this morning.

Thank you so much.

Very grateful.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Very grateful.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Very grateful for you being here.

Thank you so much.

Very grateful.

Thank you.

Very grateful for being here today.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, Castor.

Very grateful.

Thank you.

Our meeting is now called to order, and that brings us to our first public comment.

Thank you, Chair.

As the board provides the podium for public comment, it's appropriate to review some of those uh related meeting rules.

Please state your name, and if you're speaking on behalf of an organization, all comments should be made to the commission as a body and addressed through the chair.

Public comment is not a dialogue with the board, but an opportunity for speakers to provide their comments to the board.

Comments should not be slanderous.

The board encourages, regardless of the topic, for the audience to be respectful and courteous to all speakers.

Everyone attending this meeting should give others the right to both listen and to be heard by the treating each other with civility.

Statements made during the public comments portion do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the board or the administration of Cobb County government.

There is a timer on the podium to keep track of your three minutes.

The first public speaker is Patricia Burns.

Good morning.

My name is Patricia Burns.

I live at the confluence of Smyrna and Mapleton.

It's been said that the greatness of a nation is not measured by whom it casts out, but by whom it gathers in.

I'm from Minnesota.

Lately, my heart has been there, grieving.

Grieving the shooting death of Renee Good.

Renee Good died on Portland Avenue.

I a street I know well.

I worked on Portland Ave at a social service agency when I was a student at the University of Minnesota.

That era, the late 1960s was also time of community and national turmoil.

Today's upheaval is brought on by sanctioned mass gunmen searching our homes, our schools, our businesses, kidnapping mothers, teenagers, and fathers based on their skin color.

We've done this before.

Here we read Cobb County of the Cherokee.

We did it in the South when hooded marauders terrified people of color.

We've done this before.

Neighbors one day became brown shirts the next, betraying their Jewish friends and the vulnerable.

Future students will ask why.

Modern Cobb County is built on the back of Hispanic laborers, but today the same people are vilified, afraid, hunted.

Cobb is a strong, well-trained police force to take care of violent criminals, be they immigrants or otherwise.

Depraved, immoral.

In this very room, a loud local man railed over and against Hispanic laborers until exclusionary work ordinances were passed.

Of Cobb, protect our neighbors, protect our community.

History has its eyes on us.

The next speaker is Catherine Height to morning, board.

Yes, ma'am, please help us in restating your name, and then you can.

Yeah, my name is Catherine Heitu.

Okay.

And I am a resident of Cork County.

I've been a resident for over 25 years.

And thank you once again to the board for allowing me to stand in front of you.

The reason I'm here is because I'm here to complain about the Cobb County water.

The bills have been exuberant.

We can't get proper customer service.

The phones are being hung up with us when we ask concrete questions.

We cannot go back to our bills and reprint our previous bills.

I know they changed their portals, but we are not able to.

I think when they change their portal, they're not able to migrate what they had in the old portal to the new portal so that we are able to check our bills and you know face to face, you know, see what we paid previously and what we are paying now.

My really main concern is what is Corp County Water doing about their 1.7 rates, whereby all of us are complaining about the same thing.

Nobody seems to answer us when we call, we are abruptly hanged up on, and our water bill keeps on going higher and higher.

That's um my main concern today because I have reached out and apparently I have not been answered.

Thank you for hearing me.

Thank you, Catherine, for being here.

I believe our water systems director is here and would like to ensure that connection is made.

Yes, thank you.

The next speaker is Denny Wilson.

Good morning, Danny Wilson District 4.

Um, I come before you guys tomorrow this morning as a Cobb County Master Gardener.

Um, and I wanted to speak to you about the Master Gardens volunteers of Cobb County.

Uh we're located at 678 South Cobb Drive inside of the Cobb Extension Office, and I would like to request if someone could get back with me.

How do we go about getting a sign that lets the constituents know that the Master Gardeners Volunteer of Cobb County is located in that building?

Uh Fulton County was able to get their master gardener's name on their extension building.

So I'm requesting and seeing if Cobb could do the same.

Um we're the largest Master Gardener program in the state.

We have right at about 240 members.

Um, and we as Master Gardeners have to perform have to perform volunteer hours in the county, inside and outside of our communities, and our volunteer services include phone calls, answering phone calls, uh constituents bringing in soil samples, plant identification, among much more.

Um, and we do a lot of work.

I mean, I do a lot of work per se within my community.

I mean, I get requests about what type of plant is this, what type of tree is this?

I've either we even visit homes to um advise them on plant locations.

So we do a lot of work within the county, and again, it's inside and outside of our communities.

Um also advise people on setting up their own community gardens as well as gardens in their home, because I'm sure you guys have looked at the price of food in the grocery store, and more and more people now are beginning to plant their own food.

Um it's uh growing, growing concern right now with the grocery prices being so high.

So if we could get a sign located at that building, and I think somebody said that we can't get a sign on the building, but if we could get a sign out front that directed people when they came that the M G O V C C's are located in that building, that would be great, and that's my request.

Thank you.

Happy new year, you guys.

Thank you.

Um, to you as well, and I believe we may not have someone over.

Okay, Dr.

Gibson with public services can connect with you prior to you leaving today.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Donald Barth.

Donald Barth, good morning.

One of the first things I want to remind y'all is there's a parking garage out here.

And one of the things that bothers me about that parking garage is it belongs to the people.

So the square could benefit from the use of the parking garage.

Well, who's gonna benefit from the money that is spent at the square?

Well, Cobb County gets the lion's share.

Do y'all not see that you could bring in more people to Cobb County just by dropping the little bit that you gather, you get enough money from morning to evening to maintain that garage.

Now, anything you do beyond that is for the benefit of the people, all the people that come from all over Cobb, and a lot of people drive here, not many walk, the ones that live in Marietta.

So your citizens of Cobb could benefit from you just thinking about opening up the parking garage.

It's not gonna cost you anything.

You're gonna get it back more in taxes.

Money, we must have more splots money than we know what to do with.

So, Eric here's memorandum of understanding.

You must have said that a half dozen times.

I did read into it, and it does say if there's excess plus money, we can use it.

But that's not the goal.

Do you go and do this because it's the easiest?

You're supposed to be honoring the vets.

You have to have some blood, sweat, and tears, just like they did.

Did anybody get out and reach out and try to raise money?

Oh, hell no.

Let's do it the easy way.

Let's do it without working.

Let's do it without sacrifice.

Seriously.

We had a four to one ratio on the vote last time.

And I saw last night that we're back here again.

I have nothing against the veterans.

I hope every one of you shows up Saturday to pick up the Reast.

I hope you're there to put down flags.

It doesn't take money to honor people that served you.

Now we talk about a living wage.

The living wage is 26.

Chairman, this is the all the speakers to sign up for the first portion.

Thank you.

Appreciate all of you being here for public comment.

Public comment is followed by the consent agenda.

And the matters on the consent agenda have been scrolling on the screen prior to the meeting.

And we'll do so after the meeting.

And we vote on these items together.

But prior to me making a motion for approval of these consent agenda items.

I want to just check in with our clerk.

Okay.

With that, I move that we approve the items that are on our consent agenda and authorize execution of the necessary documents by the appropriate county personnel.

Second.

Is there any discussion?

We'll call the question.

The motion carries five zero.

Thank you, Commissioners.

That now takes us to our first tab, which is the county manager tab.

And we will have this item presented by our newly recognized deputy county manager Bill Vulkman, who was our prior chief financial officer.

Good morning, Chairwoman.

Commissioners.

Yes, that is a chairman.

Thank you.

Good morning, Chairwoman, Commissioners, County Manager.

We have one item today, and that is to approve the proposed Cobb County 28 Special Purpose Local Options Sales Tax Project List for the purposes of community education and engagement.

And just for the just to remind the room, we have nine community education and engagement sessions scheduled throughout the county.

We also are going to be soliciting feedback during those meetings as well as on our website.

So again, this is a preliminary list to solicit feedback and gain support and educate the community on what the county is initially thinking.

But the final list will be approved by the Board of Commissioners on April 28th.

Okay.

So with that, I ask the Board of Commissioners to approve the proposed Cobb County 2028 special purpose local options sales tax project list for the purposes of community education and engagement.

Thank you, Bill.

So moved as presented.

Second.

Is there any discussion?

We'll call the question.

The motion carries five zero.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

That now takes us to our DOT tab.

We'll hear from Drew Wrestler.

Good morning, Chairwoman, Commissioners, County Manager Drew Wrestler DOT.

We have 10 items for your consideration on our regular tab this morning.

Our first item is to recommend the Board of Commissioners approve a cooperative purchasing agreement with the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services and an amount not to exceed 7,607,538 dollars for the procurement of nine compressed natural gas local fixed route replacement transit buses for Kyle Blank from Gillick LLC.

Authorized corresponding budget transactions and further authorize the chairman to execute the necessary documents.

So moved.

Second.

Are there any questions?

Call the question.

The motion carries 4-1 with Commissioner Gambrel in opposition.

Thank you.

Our next item is to recommend the Board of Commissioners to approve project number X2706 task order number one to the 2025 master task order contract with American Engineers Incorporated, an SCV company in an amount not to exceed 250,740 dollars for preliminary engineering design of Powder Springs Road Trail.

Authorize a corresponding budget transaction and further authorize the chairwoman to execute the necessary documents.

Commissioner Gambrell.

So moved.

Second.

Is there any discussion?

Call the question.

The motion carries five zero.

Thank you.

Our next item is to recommend the board of commissioners approve a project planning agreement with the city of Powder Springs for Powder Springs Dallas Road Corridor Crossings closure.

Project number B 2458 authorize the corresponding budget transaction and further authorize the chairman to execute the necessary documents.

Commissioner Sheffield, so moved.

Second.

Is there any discussion?

We'll call the question.

The motion carries five zero.

Thank you.

Our next item is to author.

Excuse me.

Uh our next item is to recommend the board of commissioners adopt a resolution authorizing the submission of a transportation improvement program grant application to the Atlanta Regional Commission on behalf of the Town Center Community Improvement District for George Busby Parkway Corridor Trail.

Project number B 2438 and authorize the chairman to execute the necessary documents.

Commissioner Allen.

So moved.

Second.

Is there any discussion?

We'll call the question.

The motion carries five zero.

Thank you.

Our next item is to recommend the board of commissioners approve project number B2549 task order number one to the 2025 master task order contract with Kimley Horn and Associates Incorporated in amount not to exceed 454,666 dollars for development of a major thoroughfare plan.

Authorize the corresponding budget transaction and further authorize the chairman to execute the necessary documents.

So moved.

Second.

Is there any discussion?

We'll call the question.

The motion carries five zero.

Thank you.

Our next item is to recommend the board of commissioners adopt a resolution authorizing the submission of a transportation improvement program grant application to the Atlanta Regional Commission on behalf of the Cumberland CID for Cumberland C sweep segment D, E, and F and authorize the chairman to execute the necessary documents.

Commissioner Allen.

So moved.

Second.

Is there any discussion?

We'll call the question.

The motion carries 4-1.

Thank you.

Our next item is to recommend the Board of Commissioners adopt a resolution authorizing the submission of nine transportation improvement program grant applications to the regional commission for various phases of the following proposed projects.

Fellsferry Road over Noonday Creek.

Oakdale Road Complete Streets Bridge Replacement.

Factory Shoals Pedestrian Bridge over Interstate 20.

Austill Powder Springs Road Trail.

So moved.

Second.

Is there any discussion?

We'll call the question.

The motion carries five zero.

Thank you.

Our next item is to recommend the board of commissioners approve a contract with Blunt Construction Company in an amount not to exceed 1,440,179.96 for Paris Ferry Road Transit Americans with Disabilities Act Improvements.

Project number B 2754 authorize a corresponding budget transaction and further authorize the chairman to execute the necessary documents.

Commissioner Allen.

So moved.

Second.

Is there any discussion?

We'll call the question.

The motion carries 50.

Thank you.

Our next item is to recommend the board of commissioners to approve a contract with Bartow Paving Company Incorporated in an amount not to exceed 2,298,797 for due at any occurred.

Project number B 2302 authorize a corresponding budget transactions and further authorize the chairman to execute the necessary documents.

Commissioner Gambrel.

So moved.

Second.

Is there any discussion?

We'll call the question.

The motion carries 50.

Thank you.

And our final item this morning is to recommend the board of commissioners to approve project number AR20 task order number one to the 2025 master task order contract with RSNH Incorporated in an amount not to exceed 499,654 dollars for preliminary engineering of Kremlin Transit Center.

Authorize a corresponding budget transaction and further authorize the chairwoman to execute the necessary documents.

Commissioner Allen.

So moved.

Second.

Is there any discussion?

We'll call the question.

The motion carries five zero.

Thank you, Jerry.

Thank you.

That now takes us to our parks tab, and we'll hear from the director, Michael Brantley.

Good morning, Chairwoman.

Good morning.

Commissioners, Madam County Manager.

Um shared item this morning.

call the question the motion carries five zero thank you thank you that now takes us to our parks tab and we'll hear from the director Michael Brantley good morning chairwoman good morning commissioners madam county manager um shared item this morning um our items for the board of commissioners to authorize an additional increase to the 2022 spLOS budgets for the approved veterans memorial project and city distributions based on current splos revenue collections and anticipated future collections exceeding the originally adopted budget amounts the total increase to the veterans memorial is two million dollars and the total increase for the cities is just over 703000 we asked the board of commissioners to authorize an additional increase to the 2022 spLOS budgets for the approved veterans memorial project and city distributions based on current spLOS revenue collections and anticipated future collections exceeding the originally adopted budget amounts authorize the corresponding budget transactions and further authorize the chairwoman to execute the necessary documents thank you commissioner allen so moved second is there any discussion commissioner sheffield um when we had this discussion last year um regarding um additional funding for spLost at that time my hesitation was because I was a little well I was uncomfortable with taking from one project and almost creating a disservice for community that anticipated a project but what we're doing today is not doing that and I just want to make clear for the record that it's not taking from one project to fund another correct okay all right thank you okay is there any additional discussion Commissioner Gambrel um so Michael we had a a comment earlier by a speaker regarding the MOU last year the county attorney's office sent the board an email stating the issues that still remained open with the MOU have those issues been resolved they have not um this is about the funding we're still working through some of the project uh some of the issues that we'll deal with it doesn't necessarily have to do with the MOU itself going towards the actual project but there's some things that legally we have to look at from a procurement standpoint there's other things that we have to look at to make sure that we're on the right page so we're still working through those and just four months ago again there was a vote and I understand why some of my fellow board members didn't support it but that was only for a million dollars this agenda item is for two million dollars we were told four month months ago that essentially that million dollars was what was needed to complete the project so now we're at two million dollars is this enough money to fully fund the veterans memorial going forward we do not have the the full amount to build it per all of the county funds there are still veterans memorial foundation funds that are possible but we're extremely close based upon some of the things we have gotten some estimates from a contractor on what it would take to build out and then we've also looked at the possibility of a smaller sort of phase where we take some things out we've already looked at some value engineering of some some smaller things whether it be landscaping or changing out synthetic turf grass to natural grass I mean there's there's multiple things that we've looked at so far so we're extremely close the five million just uh gets us a lot closer to being able to fully fund the project as it stands and I'm I'm not blaming you but um I know I have not been advised or have seen any revised drawings so when will that be made to myself as a board member but also then the public I think that that goes back to there's there's some things that we still have to work on going deep into the project we could stand here for a long time and talk about it but we currently do not have a a designer that is through the county it is through the veterans memorial foundation so we do not have a designer that is actually sort of quote unquote on retainer for us so it's not like we could be redoing those with them because we just do not have them under contract.

So that's one of the things that we're working towards right now I've already discussed with the uh county attorney's office or we discussed a little bit with procurement about how we can move forward there are some options we've looked at at several options that we could move forward with one would be to go to sort of a design build slash construction manager at risk where we actually hire the construction manager to actually be in charge of the project and then they may hire a the designer to finish out the plans so that is one option that we are looking at right now but I think that it goes back to there's a lot of chicken before the egg or or or you know cart before the horse things that we're trying to look at and I think one of the things is having um the funding in place so we can at least move forward to start looking at those options and then last question not maybe necessarily for you but for for um again I find it very interesting that we're allocating RAP but there's only one project on here when we know that there was other projects and I know we had a list back four months ago I'm very disappointed that you know I'm being asked to make a vote not knowing what other community projects needed funding but I

And then last question, not maybe necessarily for you, but for Bill.

Um again, I find it very interesting that we're allocating RAP, but there's only one project on here when we know that there was other projects, and I know we had a list back four months ago.

Um I'm very disappointed that you know I'm being asked to make a vote, not knowing what other community projects needed funding, but aren't getting those funding because this was the only thing included on the agenda item.

So again, how many other projects, and again, you might not know this off the top of your head, but how many other projects are out there awaiting additional funding for completion?

And yes, Commissioner, as we as we went through the first revenue above projections this last let's call it fall, um, there was an extensive list, and we had to whittle that down to meet our current projections.

We did anticipate another round of revenue above projections, assuming the collections continue to hold out and remain strong as they have been in the past, and I can tell you since that vote, those have only continued to be strong and if not grow slightly.

So we do anticipate another round where we would be addressing those other projects.

And to your point, yes, there are several projects.

This was one of those on the original list that was being asked to be considered at the time.

Um, so we are keeping that list so when we do when we do hit that next watermark and we're ready to bring a revenue above projections, whether it be at the conclusion of the SPLOSS or before, we are ideally gonna be working from that original list.

So I think that was shared at the time.

But if you'd like a new copy of anything that's remaining, I'm happy to provide that to the whole board because again, that's where we are gonna put our focal point as we move forward, and we'll again have to whittle that down again because we don't anticipate being able to fully fund every request, um, but we do want to make sure we're hitting the priorities of the board.

If I could have a copy, I'd appreciate it.

Absolutely, I'll send it to the whole board today.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Commissioner Burrell.

Thank you.

Um, just some clarification and input here.

Um this was always slated for a county park, the memorial.

The veterans memorial foundation was formed as a 501c3, so to raise money to fund it.

When I it was a special commun, it was a community impact project on my list for the 2022 SPLO.

So when I put that on the SPLOS list to get it funded by the county because it's a SPLOSS project identified on the list that was voted on and approved by the citizens of Cobb that passed the SPLOS that changed the MOU and everything because of it being a SPLOSS project.

Um we have not done a new MOU because we're trying to get the funding in place to be able to move forward with the project.

So when we started the revenue above projections, originally we were asking for four million on the list to complete the project.

We had three million in SPLOST, and we were trying to get four more to complete the whole project at seven million.

The foundation scaled back their um drawing, which um we we will be happy to share, but it's not ours yet.

We're trying to get to the funding, and the five million additional two million that we're voting on today will get us to the five million for the scaled back um drawing, and then Nancy Gallagher, who is the in the county attorney's office that works with us on SPLOS projects, will be working with the foundation's attorney to iron out all the details of who can do what and what needs to be done, and a whole new MOU will be done as far as any um moving forward.

So there is still work to be done, but what we're trying to do today with the support of the board is to get to the five million and um solidify this once and for all to move forward with construction and go through the procurement process.

So I'd appreciate your support.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Are there any other comments?

I would just like to thank everyone for all of their efforts in getting us to this point.

It took a number of people, seen and unseen.

It took a lot of discussion here on this board.

It took a lot of discussion with the county attorney's office, a lot of discussion with the Veterans Memorial Foundation, and also with members of the community.

This project started multiple chairman terms ago.

And that is perhaps one of the challenges when there is a vision of one administration that doesn't get executed in that time because you are at the will and the mercy of those that follow.

But the continuing voices of those in the community that have prodded and pushed us to ensure that the essence of the project, the opportunity to recognize our veterans and their sacrifice was not lost in us determining how we would fund this and move this forward.

And as Commissioner Garnble observed, there are a number of things that still need to be addressed, but I believe that having the money in place gets us substantially to the point of being able to actualize this project.

And as our director has shared, this has been a chicken and the egg because you can only do so much without money, but the money's dependent on what's in the documents, and the documents are dependent on the money.

I'm just glad we're doing our part.

So at least the money is less of the issue, and now we can move towards addressing some of these other administrative matters.

So I too would ask for this board support.

And as I asked for it, I also thank you, and again thank the many members of our community of the foundation and certainly those who've served.

With that.

Can I just say one more thing?

Yes, of course.

I too would like to thank everyone who's worked so hard, but I'd also like to thank Commissioner Allen because this is now in his district, and he from the last vote agreed to bring it back forward, and so thank you, sir.

Absolutely.

That spot on.

With that, I believe Commissioner Allen already put forward a motion, and we have a second.

We'll call the question.

The motion carries 5-0 with all in support.

Thank you.

Thank you.

That now takes us to our second public comment.

And the first speaker on the second public comment was Donna Roe.

My name is Donna Row, and I'm the proud president of the Cobb Veterans Memorial Foundation.

I want to start by thanking you, Commissioner Chairwoman, for all your time and effort with us.

President Teddy Roosevelt in a famous speech once said, the credit belongs to the man who's actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust, sweat, and blood.

But in the end is not known to be timid or cold sold.

I feel today you all and every veteran in Cobb County, some of their leaders are here today, feel like the man in the arena.

As this has been a 10-year journey to finally do what was intended and what was honorable at the beginning in 2015.

Today you have solidified that all veterans have lived and lived well.

And by your positive vote and support today, I believe it's fair to say that today you have lived well.

I cannot truly express the deep gratitude of every veteran in Cod County or the state of Georgia, or those that I served with in battle.

But I do want you to know that all the hours spent, the months spent by you, Commissioner Chairwoman, by you, Commissioner Burrell, and the many months that have been spent by you, Commissioner Allen.

Do not fall on deaf ears.

Your work has been admirable, and we thank you for it.

We look forward to working with you on this memorial as it unfolds in the months and the years ahead.

I'd like to clarify one little item.

There is still an MOU in place.

And as Park Service Michael Brantley said, there are some tweaks we're going to do to make bring this to fruition.

Again, I cannot thank you enough on behalf of every veteran that has served to keep us all free.

Thank you so much.

The next speaker is Bob Maynard.

Good morning, my name is Bob Maynard.

I'm from Marietta, Cobb County, and I'm a board member with the uh veterans and memorial.

I'd like to share our poem with you from Mary Elizabeth Fry.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.

I'm not here.

I do not sleep.

I am the song that will never end.

I'm the love of family and friend.

I'm the child who has come to rest in the arms of the father who knows them best.

You see the sunset fair.

I am the scented evening air.

I'm the joy of a task well done.

I'm the glow of setting sun.

I do not stand by my grave and weep.

I am not there, I do not sleep.

Do not stand by my grave and cry.

I am not there.

I did not die.

These are the kind of comforting thoughts that we believe will echo through the musings of family, friends, and veterans that visit the memorial and stroll down the service flag corridor.

Or browse the names on the honor wall searching for recognition.

Or sit on one of the benches in the park with their children, or stand by the mining pentagonal spire that reaches for the sky.

But on behalf of the 60,000 veterans of Cobb County, and all those who visit, we would like to thank the commissioners and the staff for their support.

Sure, one with us last speaker.

Thank you, and thank you for also recognizing our staff and this now takes us to the appointment tab.

We have two appointments.

The first commissioners is to approve the reappointment of Sheriff Craig Owens and Dr.

Roger Tuttereau to the Board of Trustees for the Cobb County Employees Pension for a three-year term to expire December 31st, 2028.

With that, Commissioners, I move that we make this appointment.

Second.

Is there any discussion?

We'll call the question.

The motion carries 5-0.

And Commissioner Allen has our next appointment.

I'd like to announce the appointment of Sarah McAletto to the planning commission.

Thank you, Commissioner Allen.

And that concludes the majority of our meeting.

This now takes us to the Commissioner's public address, which we will begin once the slides appear on the screen.

Did you know that live balsam furries naturally begin to brown after four to five weeks?

As a result, wreaths will be removed from headstones and prepared for recycling.

You can bring a broom handle rake or tarps to help you provide for moving the wreaths.

Groups with trailers will with load the reads and transport them to a recycling dumpster for unloading.

We do need trucks to help remove the wreaths to designated staging and disposal areas.

And volunteers willing to assist with dumpster runs are greatly appreciated.

Gloves are highly recommended when handling wreaths, and then free wreaths will be available while supplies last.

All activities will take place at the Marietta National Cemetery beginning at noon this Saturday, September or January 17th.

Martin Luther King Day is more than a day of remembrance.

Dr.

King believed that everyone can be great because everyone can serve.

And this day encourages people to honor this legacy through their action.

Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Just wanted to say I hope everyone had a great holiday season and is off to a great happy new year in 2026.

Wish you wishing you a very prosperous new year.

Also, Martin Luther King Day coming up on the 19th.

Just remember it is not a day off, it is a day to serve.

Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Before I are you done?

Okay.

Before I get into my slides, I would um just like to say thank you to the board and the veterans memorial and staff for many years and hours spent on this.

Um this is a great day in Cobb County.

Thank you.

So we have as we voted today on the proposed 2028 SPLOSS, we will be having public meetings, open houses in the districts and community.

So the first one is this Thursday, January 15th at the Tim D.

Lee Senior Center in District 3, 3332 Sandy Plains Road.

And we will um welcome all to come and give us your feedback and input as we move forward.

The second one in District 3 will be Thursday, January 29th at Fuller's Recreation Center, 3499 Robinson Road.

So and there's several throughout the county.

I believe there's a flyer in the back table with a list of all of them that we will be hosting.

Um, as Commissioner Gambrill mentioned, I too would uh like to invite you to come out this Saturday at noon to the Marietta National Cemetery to pick up the roofs, the wreaths that were placed in December.

Um, and thanks again to everyone who participated then, and I hope you will join us this Saturday at noon.

Um thank you for your unwavering support, dedication, and willingness to come back out and finish the mission.

Again, we are honoring Dr.

Martin Luther King.

County offices will be closed on Monday the 19th in honor of Dr.

Martin Luther King.

And as other commissioners mentioned, we do have a program that will be presented through with the NAACP at Jenny T.

Anderson Theater.

Believe it starts at 10 a.m.

And it's also a day of service if you're out in the community.

Um we hope that you will do that as well.

And last but not least, our economic development team is providing has a strategic plan in the works and wants your feedback.

Um we're working on our very first economic development strategic plan.

The economic development builds on prior planning efforts, developing a focused lens on overreaching goals and implemental strategies to promote economic growth and enrich the quality of life.

You're invited to share your vision for future economic landscape of Cobb County, and we hope that you will either um do the survey with the QR codes, and there's flyers in the back for these two that you can um just click on the QR code to access the survey, or go to Cobb County.gov slash economic dash development-strategic dash plan.

Thank you.

Happy new year.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Thank you.

And what oh sorry.

Go ahead, Commissioner.

I got ahead of myself.

I'm sorry.

I was just gonna say while uh Brad was pulling that up.

I just wanted to also uh wish everyone a happy new year.

We're well into a two weeks now, so I think officially after today we should no longer say happy new year.

But I also want to take a point of privilege to thank the veterans for all of your sacrifice, the sacrifice of your families, and the personal sacrifices that you have made so we can stand here before you and serve.

So thank you.

Okay, Brad.

Calling all community leaders, are you ready to sharpen your leadership skills?

If you're committed to strengthening and uplifting our community, I invite you to serve on one of our boards.

This is your opportunity to bring your voice to the table, lead with purpose, and advocate for communities we serve.

If you're interested in learning more or applying, please visit, oh sorry, please send an email, excuse me, to Ayana.yo at Cobb County.gov and her email address is on the screen.

Our offices will be closed on Monday, January 19th to honor the life and legacy of Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr., who this year would have celebrated his 97th birthday.

Dr.

King is remembered as one of the most influential leaders in the civil rights movement and an American hero.

I encourage everyone to take the day on, not off, and volunteer in your community.

We have events uh throughout the county, namely at the Jenny T.

Anderson Center on the 19th at 10 a.m.

You can also start off your year in the spirit of service by participating in the Austell Community Cleanup from 10 a.m.

to 1 p.m.

where the meetings place will be at Destiny World Church, located at 7400 Factory Shoals Road to help beautify our streets and keep Cobb beautiful.

Let's use this day to reflect on his impact and continue to fulfill his dream through action and service.

And lastly, residents are invited to join the conversation on SPLOS projects in Cobb.

Stop by one of District 4 community meetings on Wednesday, January 21st or Thursday, January 22nd from 6 p.m.

to 8 p.m.

at the Public Safety Training Center at 2435 East West Connector in Mapleton.

This is your opportunity to share your ideas, ask questions, and help shape how SPLOSS funds are used in our community.

Come and be a part of the discussion.

Your voice matters.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Commissioner, and thank you for tuning in and being present for today's meeting.

I'm very grateful not only to have the opportunity to be in this new year, but to be able to serve.

And I think today is a wonderful testament to the great work that our board can do together and the approval of the Veterans Memorial Funding.

Thank you, Commissioner Allen, for helping to lead that charge.

Commissioner Burl for being that steady drumbeat to ensure that this has happened, and for all board members in supporting this project.

And again, I can't go without supporting the members of the Veterans Memorial Foundation and then Donna Row.

Thank you again for being that vocal champion amongst our board and our community.

Today we've also had the opportunity to recognize Korean American Day, which is actually recognized nationally this day.

And as I listened to Sunny Kim talk about the pride of the contributions that immigrants have made here to this country, it put everything in full circle because we know that those who've served have helped to create this very unique country, this wonderful country that people across the world, including my own family, have moved here in search of a better dream and a better life for.

And so as we recognize Martin Luther King Day, let's not forget the dream that many still hold dear to be here on this soil to see those in service recognize all that are contributing to the greatness of this country and those who struggle day by day as they contribute to the strength of this nation and the strength of this county and face each day in peril, not knowing what their outcome will be.

We do not have the ability to change everything here on this dais, but I'm grateful that we can do what we can to make Cobb the best that it could be for those who are here.

And I think we saw a bit of that today, and I'm very grateful for it.

With that, I hope that all of you have a wonderful remainder of this year, and look forward to seeing you at our next Board of Commissioners meeting.