Georgia County Government - September 2008 - (Page 15)

impetus continues to curb, cut, compromise, change or eliminate the property tax. But Cobb officials embrace such challenges not only as “opportunities,” they also have the experience and tenacity required to find real solutions. It is truly hard to imagine a more involved or visionary local leader than Chairman Olens. In him, the jurisdiction has the benefit of a learned and genuinely dedicated public servant with a real-world grasp of 21st century government. Elected countywide in August 2002, he has the well-earned reputation of a consensus builder and progressive leader in key policy areas at the regional and state levels. Re-elected to a second four-year term starting in January 2009, Olens previously served as District 3 commissioner, from 1999 to 2002. County Manager David Hankerson uses the term “passionate” to describe the chairman’s dedication to fully partner with Cobb’s Chamber of Commerce and Development Authority, its municipalities, local nonprofits and civic groups, as well as state government and legislative leadership. The current chairman of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), and the second ARC chairman from Cobb County, Olens also serves as vice-chair of the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District. He is also a leader at the level of state government and beyond, appointed by Governor Sonny Perdue in 2003 to represent the state’s 6th Congressional District on the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Board; is also on the Board of Managers for Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG); and as Transit Subcommittee chairman of the National Association of Counties’ (NACo) Transportation Steering Committee. COBB COUNTY continued on page 16 Cobb County 2007: A Sample Year of Progress In a bustling urban county the size and scope of Cobb, it is nearly impossible to cover every innovation pursued in the past year. Here is a sampling of major accomplishments Commission Chairman Sam Olens and his colleagues on the Cobb County Board of Commissioners are exceptionally proud: • Hosted, on behalf of the American Council of Young Political Leaders, a delegation of young political leaders from Israel. Roads • Undertook traffic congestion reduction efforts including public review of design work for many intersections slated to be rebuilt this year with SPLOST monies. • Conceptualized several new “village concept” projects to the Cumberland Galleria Mall area, and added significant renovations to Cumberland Mall. • Approved a new Windy Hill - Macland Road connector. Recreation and Cultural Affairs • Under the auspices of a Citizens Committee, Cobb completed its recommended list of properties for consideration under the $40 million parks bond. • Held the grand opening of the $145 million Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center – which was also the site of the county’s 175th Anniversary Celebration last December, featuring scores of performers and free to the public. • Opened the 26-acre Mud Creek Soccer Complex in southwest Cobb. • Reopened the Ron Anderson Recreation Center after a $2 million renovation and expansion. Planning • Cobb County updated its Community Development initiative, a 10-year plan entitled, 2030 Comprehensive Plan: Mapping Cobb’s Future, fostering a vision for county growth to meet the needs of present and future residents. The plan allows the county to retain its Qualified Local Government status with Georgia DCA, and attending grant eligibility. • Reviewed and updated the county’s development plan, incorporating citizen participation. • Completed a Livable Centers Initiative Study of the Austell Road corridor to link transportation improvements with development plans and a Macland Road corridor study to gauge the economic health of ‘retail nodes’ and promoting the concept of mixed-use densities for development. Industrial and Economic Growth • For the 11th year running, earned “Triple A” bond ratings from the United State’s top three bond rating agencies, Moody’s, Standard and Poor’s and Fitch. • Saw UCB Pharma SA, the fift h largest bio-pharmaceutical company in the world, announce a $5 million expansion of its North American subsidiary located in Smyrna; with the expansion, the company will add another 100 jobs to the 650 local residents now hold here. • Chairman Olens led a delegation of 20 representatives of local governments, public school systems and universities, technical colleges and the Chamber of Commerce to the Seongdong-Gu Province in South Korea to formalize a sister city relationship with the South Korean province, the fi rst effort in the county’s history to form cultural, educational and economic development ties with a foreign local government. Public Safety • Added positions for Cobb County Public Safety Department and the Sheriff ’s Office while recruiting quality personnel and implementing a “Quality of Life” countywide law enforcement unite to deal with code violations. Human Services • Completed a Senior Services 10-year “master plan” incorporating strategies to handle transportation and housing issues. SEPTEMBER 2008 www.accg.org 15 http://www.accg.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Georgia County Government - September 2008

Georgia County Government - September 2008 Contents President’s Message County Matters Cobb County: Quality of Life is Job No. 1 Innovative Transportation Financing in Georgia Drive Your Fleet into the Next Generation of Efficiency, Profits Spotlight: Georgia Technology Authority Media Productions GEMA News: Hurricane Season Could Cause Natural Gas Spike GDEcD News: Communities Receive Funds to Develop Tourism Assets Georgia’s Grand Old Courthouses: Upson County Extension News: Radon: Georgia’s Silent Danger Research Corner: Conserving Fuel Costs in Your County Staff News County Parade Index of Advertisers

Georgia County Government - September 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.