Cobb County Board of Commissioners Meeting — September 8, 2026

The Cobb County Board of Commissioners convened on September 8, 2026, chaired by Chairwoman Cupid, with Commissioners Sheffield, Burrell, Gamble, and Gambrell present. Commissioner Eric Allen was absent. The meeting included an invocation and pledge, five proclamations and presentations, two public comment periods, a revised consent agenda, regular agenda items for the Sheriff's Office and Transportation, commissioner announcements, and a contested alcohol permit appeal hearing. All votes on the record carried 4-0.

Proclamations & Presentations

• Constitution Day (September 17, 2026): The Board proclaimed Constitution Day in Cobb County, marking the 239th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution. The proclamation recognized Millie Rogers for introducing Constitution Day in Cobb County in 2010 and the Barbara Hickey Constitution Day Fund's Constitution Booklet Project, which distributes Constitution booklets to elementary students. Representatives of the effort spoke about the booklets and thanked the Board.
• Constitution Week (September 17–23): The Board proclaimed Constitution Week, initiated by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution and signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1955. The Fielding Lewis DAR chapter (founded in 1904 in Marietta) delivered 57 school packets with Constitution learning resources for fifth-grade teachers in Cobb County and will hold a bell-ringing ceremony on September 17 at 3:30 p.m. on the Marietta Square. The chapter also noted that a proclamation was received from the Governor of Georgia.
• Good Is Everywhere Day (September 8, 2026): The Board recognized VISTAR Credit Union, founded in 1952 at Naval Air Station Jacksonville and grown from 12 members to more than a million across Georgia and Florida. VISTAR has provided more than $8.2 million in donations and grants to nonprofits. In 2024, over 1,300 employees participated in 216 service events, contributing 8,253 volunteer hours and providing more than 20,000 individuals access to cultural institutions. Matt Brockman, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, accepted on behalf of the organization.
• National Voter Registration Day (September 15, 2026): The Board recognized the Cobb County Elections and Registration Department, which maintains a voter registration rate of approximately 94% of eligible residents. Commissioner Sheffield presented the proclamation, and the department's team accepted, noting the 94% registration rate.
• 2026 Martha Logue Excellence and Leadership Award: The Excel Alumni Association (celebrating 33 years of the award) presented the award, named for former Cobb assistant comptroller Martha Logue. Eight nominees were recognized, including Chief Adams (COVID response, opioid abatement council), Rachel Ballard (Human Resources), Major Yamina Holt (Sheriff's Office), Charlie Munro (Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs), Heather Walker (Tax Commissioner's Office), and other honorees. The winner was Charlie Munro, Natural Resource Manager, who was also named the 2026 Georgia Arborist Association Arborist of the Year and received national recognition from the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy for his management of the Silver Comet Trail. Munro thanked his team, the county, and volunteers.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Denny Wilson invited Chairwoman Cupid and Commissioner Sheffield to a tax allocation district (TAD) meeting for the City of Mapleton that evening at 620 Lions Club Drive. She asked the Board to review the proposed TAD carefully, stating the Florida Road area should never qualify for a TAD because it is already built out (six banks and four major grocery stores), while the Riverside area—originally included but reportedly removed—is the area most deserving of redevelopment, including the area between the I-20 bridge and Factory Shoals near Six Flags.
• Tracy Stevenson spoke about data centers, stating the public debate is driven by "really bad data" and that there is a divide between those for and against them. He argued that data centers require proximity to fiber optic trunk lines (explaining the I-75 corridor), are coming regardless, and can coexist with the community if located properly and paired with technology such as small modular reactors (SMRs), closed-loop systems, and dry cooling. He offered his skill set to the county's data center task force.

There were no speakers during the second public comment period.

Consent Calendar

The Board approved the revised consent agenda, with items 8–11 (regarding micro transit) and item 24 (Emergency Management Agency hazard mitigation plan) withdrawn. Commissioner Gamble recorded opposition to item 26, the economic development strategic plan. The motion carried 4-0, with Commissioner Eric Allen absent.

Regular Agenda & Discussion Items

Sheriff's Office:

• The Board approved 4-0 an increase in the fund balance for medical and mental health services (Armor Health) and food services (Summit Food) to cover year-over-year cost increases. Agenda item 31 was withdrawn.

Transportation (presented by DOT Director Drew Wrestler, all items approved 4-0):

• Purchasing agreement with Carrithers Wallace Courtney Inc. for the transportation management center upgrade (Project B2583), not to exceed $150,144.76.
• Resolution authorizing submission of Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant applications to the Georgia Department of Transportation for the County Parkway at Black Acre Trail/Third Army Road Intersection Realignment (B2436) and the Oakdale Road Complete Streets Bridge Replacement (B2449).
• Contract with Chatfield Contracting Inc. for drainage system repairs on Daniel Court (B2207), not to exceed $182,149.66.
• Contract with Glosson Enterprises LLC for the East Callaway Road Sidewalk (B2743), not to exceed $457,520.
• Contract with Glosson Enterprises LLC for drainage system repairs on Baldwin Farms Drive, not to exceed $320,999.77.
• Contract with Azimuth Contractors LLC for Barrett Parkway at Burnt Hickory Road (B2441), not to exceed $1,934,733.13.
• Contract with Bartow Paving Company Inc. for Florence Road at High Remote Road/Gaiden Road (B2448), not to exceed $753,051.96.

Commissioner Announcements

• Commissioner Gamble announced two town halls focused primarily on zoning and the comprehensive plan: September 8 at 6:30 p.m. at Cedar Crest Church in Acworth and September 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the West Cobb Senior Center in Powder Springs.
• Commissioner Burrell noted September 11 marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11, with events including the Kawanis Field of Flags at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield, and announced a September 26 tree planting at Gritters Library honoring community advocate Carol Brown.
• Commissioner Sheffield invited District 4 residents to a community conversation on data centers on September 12 at 11 a.m. at the Powder Springs Library and shared 9/11 remembrance remarks.
• Chairwoman Cupid reflected on 9/11 and discussed county policies affecting residents working multiple jobs, including raising the county minimum wage and the pay classification study.

Alcohol Permit Appeal Hearing

• The Board heard an appeal by Skylar Whitener of the administrative denial of her Cobb County alcohol server permit. The Cobb County Police Department denied the application under Cobb Alcohol Code sections 6-206 and 6-207 based on two DUI convictions within the past five years (convictions in October 2025 and July 2026). The License Review Board unanimously upheld the denial on August 6, 2026.
• County witnesses: Sergeant Dan Fermato (manager of the Regulatory Services and Permits Unit, Cobb County Police Department, 25.5 years with Cobb) testified that the denial was administratively required with no discretion. Alicia Webb (Business License Division manager) testified about the appeal process for denied applicants.
• Applicant testimony: Ms. Whitener testified that she entered the Paulding Judicial Circuit DUI Court in July 2026, is drug- and alcohol-tested approximately four to five times per week, attends court-appointed meetings, has received zero sanctions, and is required to maintain a minimum of 32 hours of employment per week. She has worked at La Casina in Acworth for four to five years, has never had an alcohol-related incident or disciplinary issue at work, and asked the Board to consider the significant steps she has taken toward accountability.
• Closing arguments: Assistant County Attorney Sam Hensley Jr. acknowledged her commendable efforts but expressed concern about the recency of the convictions. Commissioner Gambrell stated the convictions are at the very beginning of the five-year look-back period and questioned whether the testimony overcame concerns about judgment in serving alcohol, noting the standard the Board sets for other applicants.
• The Board voted 4-0 to uphold the denial of the permit. Officials clarified that Ms. Whitener may reapply in 12 months; because the two convictions remain within the five-year look-back period, she would be administratively denied again and could seek review by the License Review Board and the Board of Commissioners.

Key Outcomes

• All consent agenda items approved 4-0; item 26 (economic development strategic plan) approved over Commissioner Gamble's recorded opposition; items 8–11, 24, and 31 were withdrawn.
• Sheriff's Office fund balance increase for Armor Health and Summit Food services approved 4-0.
• Seven transportation contracts, grant resolutions, and purchasing agreements approved 4-0.
• Charlie Munro received the 2026 Martha Logue Excellence and Leadership Award.
• The Skylar Whitener alcohol permit appeal was denied 4-0; she may reapply through the appeal process in 12 months.