Cobb County Government offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 28 - 29, so our employees can celebrate Thanksgiving with their loved ones. We hope you and yours are also able to enjoy a relaxing holiday together. If you are searching for information on county services, many are available online at cobbcounty.org.

The Switzer Library in downtown Marietta is hosting a Winter Coat Drive through Monday, Dec. 2. The drive to collect clean, gently used or new winter coats for men, women and children is organized by the local Peachy Homeschool Explorers Co-Op, regular visitors to the library’s children’s section.

The donations will be distributed by MUST Ministries. Only coats can be accepted for the drive. Switzer Library, 266 Roswell Street, Marietta, is also a drop-off location for donations of non-perishable food for MUST Ministries. For more information on the coat drive, contact shantirivera77@gmail.com.

During its regular meeting last week, the Board of Commissioners named Keith Schuermann as Cobb County’s new library director. He will initially work with Helen Poyer, who will retire from the position after 18 years of service to the county.

County Manager Dr. Jackie McMorris also announced that the Cobb Library Bookmobile will be renamed as the Helen Poyer Cobb Library Bookmobile, honoring her contributions to the community and passion for community outreach. Poyer started her career as a bookmobile librarian in Illinois

Schuermann, who has than 20 years of library leadership experience, will start the job Dec. 2.

Cobb County Animal Services is offering a special "Thank You" during November. All pet adoptions are free this month. Stop by and find a companion for life. The shelter is located at 1060 Al Bishop Drive, Marietta. Animal Services is closed on Mondays and holidays. Appointments are preferred for adoptions. Click here to view the animals available.

Residents can also keep track of their pets through the free Cobb Animal Services' Microchip Clinic. Make an appointment for your pet to be chipped 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9, by emailing jessica.darrough@cobbcounty.org. Microchipping your dogs, cats, and birds is essential for their safety and increases the chances of being reunited if they ever go missing or are stolen. Once confirmed, your appointment will be at 1060 Al Bishop Drive, Marietta.

Community events continue this holiday season. Here are a few to choose from:

Tree Jubilee Pop-up Sugar Plum Market and special holiday programs - Through Dec. 12 at the Mable House Arts Center, various dates and times. Click here for more information and specifics on each event.

MUST Ministries Gobble Jog – Thursday, Nov. 28. Information and sign up here.

Thanksgiving Holiday – Cobb County Government Offices closed Thursday-Friday, Nov. 28 - 29.

Tree Lighting at The Battery Atlanta – 5:30 - 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30. Tree lighting at 7 p.m. followed by a free showing of the movie, How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Smyrna Tree Lighting – 5 - 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, in the Market Village.

Marietta Tree Lighting - Thursday, Dec. 5 - ugly sweater parade 4:45 p.m.; Santa arrival, 5:15 p.m.; tree lighting 6 p.m. in Glover Park/Marietta Square.

Acworth Tree Lighting - 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6.

Pictures with Santa - 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Cobb Extension, 678 S. Cobb Drive SE, Suite 200, Marietta. All proceeds benefit the Cobb County 4-H youth development program, 4-H supplies, judging teams, scholarships, 4-H events and professional development. Pictures are by appointment only.

Christmas Wonderland at Fuller's Park - 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Dec. 7.

Kennesaw Tree Lighting / Day with Santa - 1 - 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7.

Holiday Lights at East Cobb Park - 5 - 9 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 8.

Click here for more events.

Cobb Tax Assessor Director and Chief Appraiser Stephen White recently received the prestigious Georgia Association of Assessing Officials Fellows Award.

This award recognizes professionals who have dedicated their careers to advancing Georgia’s assessment administration. White has consistently represented Cobb with integrity and professionalism, setting a high standard for tax assessment offices across the state.

"It is a true honor to be recognized in this way. I am fortunate to work with an incredible team at the Assessor’s Office, Board of Tax Assessors, and leadership team at Cobb County Government. I thank them all for their support,” said White.

The first of three installments of Cobb’s Unified Development Code is now available. Want to get involved? Visit cobbcountyudc.com, download and review the first installment, and provide feedback by completing a brief survey here. 

This installment includes the following sections:

• Article 1: General Provisions. This section establishes the general rules that apply throughout the new UDC, such as the name of the document, the legal authority for the County to adopt the UDC, the general purposes of the new UDC, and the transition from the County's current Zoning Ordinance to the new UDC.
• Article 2: Administration. This article establishes the procedures that apply to the review of all development applications, such as applications to rezone land, for special land use permits, for subdivision, and for zoning variances.
• Article 7: Nonconformities. This section includes the regulations that apply to existing development that was legal when it was built but that, due to changes in the zoning regulations, is no longer consistent with the rules in the new UDC.
• Article 9: Definitions, Rules of Construction and Interpretation, and Rules of Measurement.

The Interstate 285 Express Lanes Transit Study project team will hold several public information meetings on Dec. 4 and 5. These meetings are an opportunity for the public to learn about the preliminary plans for expanding transit access along the northern arc of I-285 and provide their input.

• 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4: Smyrna Community Center 1250 Powder Springs Street, Smyrna:  
• 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5: Hampton Inn Perimeter Center 769 Hammond Drive NE, Atlanta
• 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5: Clarkston Community Center 3701 College Avenue, Clarkston

For those unable to attend in person, all meeting materials are available on the study website at i285ExpressLanesTransit.com. The online comment period will be open through Dec. 18.

Cobb County Water System encourages you to prevent sewer problems at home during the holidays. Fats, oils, and grease not managed properly can cause blockages in your plumbing and the sewer system. Once in the pipes, FOG cools and builds up causing blocked pipes and sewage to back up into homes, streets, or creeks. What can you do?

• Scrape and wipe leftovers off plates/pans into the trash.
• Pour FOG into an empty can/container & toss it in the trash.
• Use a sink strainer and empty the collected debris into the trash so it doesn’t become part of the FOG clog.
• Never put frying oil/grease or leftovers down the garbage disposal!

In Cobb, about 85% of sewer blockages are grease-related and occur in residential areas. Help protect the environment and reduce costs by properly disposing of FOG. Learn more at cobbcounty.org/FOG.

Cobb County small businesses are invited to attend this quarter’s Coffee and Conversations 8 - 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, at Bonnin's Bakery in Kennesaw. The event will provide a morning of networking and learning for business owners, entrepreneurs, and startups. This quarter’s featured content includes information on capital funding.
 
The bakery is at 4200 Wade Green Road, Suite 136, Kennesaw. RSVP to econdev@cobbcounty.org or by calling the Cobb County Economic Development Department at 770-528-2018.

Cobb County has partnered with FindHelp to create a new online resource that connects residents with local, vetted assistance programs. On the site, you can search for free or reduced-cost services like medical care, food, job training, and more. Residents can access this new portal by visiting findhelp.cobbcounty.gov. The initiative is funded through an allocation of the American Rescue Plan Act.

Nashville Noel: A Country Christmas Spectacular is an all-ages extravaganza that showcases the best of country music and the joy of the holiday season 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, at the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre in Marietta. The show will feature a talented cast of southern musicians, singers, and dancers delivering a high-energy performance that captures the essence of Nashville's musical heritage and the yuletide spirit. Click here to register and purchase your tickets.

The Cobb County Board of Elections and Registration recently set the dates of the Special Elections for Cobb County Commissioner Districts 2 and 4.

• The Primary Election will take place on Feb. 11.
• The Runoff Election (if necessary) will take place March 11.
• The General Special Election will be April 29.

The board had to wait until after November's General Election to set these dates, as they depended on a possible runoff (no runoff was necessary).  Advance voting will be available for these contests at select locations. Only Cobb Commission Districts 2 and 4 voters will be eligible to vote in this special election.

A Cobb County Superior Court Judge ordered this special election after ruling the county's use of home rule powers to draw its commission maps was unconstitutional.

There's a lot going on in Cobb County that doesn't fit in one newsletter. Keep up with what's going on by subscribing to department enewsletters and following us on social media. You'll be informed of new events and programs, cancellations/delays, emergencies, disruptions to services and more.
 
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• Senior Services November Newsletter
• Fall PARKS Activity Guide 
 

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