Talking it over

From the Marietta Daily Journal on Friday, January 26, 2007, by MDJ staff writer Amanda Casciaro

MARIETTA - A 15-member appointed parks bond residents advisory committee met for the first time Wednesday to define its role and decide how parkland will be purchased using a $40 million bond voters approved in November.

The county will receive the money in two installments - $25 million in the first year and $15 million in 2008 - and committee members will serve about 12 months or until all of the funding is spent.

Regardless of what buys the members recommend to the Board of Commissioners, officials said Wednesday the most important facet is how they serve the public.

"If you understand the importance of the work we're doing, you understand we have a great responsibility," said Bob Ash, director of Cobb Public Services Agency. "We have a great committee here representative of residents from across the county, and that in itself is a good thing."

Trust for Public Land officials and Cobb Parks Coalition members who were instrumental in the bond's passage also attended the meeting.

"We all know the $40 million isn't going to solve all the green space issues in the county," Olens said. "But you're here to see we do the best with that $40 million."

The committee, formed using three appointments from each Cobb commissioner, will start from scratch using more than 50 land nominations that have been submitted by residents and property owners.

The nominations, which are still being collected by the Cobb parks department, are used as a basis for potential purchases with criteria such as lot size, proximity to existing green space, cost, accessibility, topography and historical significance coming into play, said Jimmy Gisi, director of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department.

"We know some property we'd like to buy, but whether we buy them is another decision. - You're not a rubber stamp and we haven't made up our minds," Olens said. "Clearly we want to provide park land throughout the county, but we're not going to make decisions based on political boundaries. We're not going to take that $40 million and divide it into four."

The size and cost of lots will be dependent on location, with larger tracts possible in west Cobb and small pocket parks in areas such as Vinings.

Because a small tract in Vinings will most likely cost more than a larger parcel in south Cobb, "it's going to be a dollars and sense issue of what's a good deal," Olens said.

The $40 million will be used only to purchase land, related environmental studies and legal services. Development of tracts is not included.

"If you buy a piece of land and the county doesn't improve that piece of land for five years or 10 years, I'm perfectly fine with that," Olens said. "The real issue wasn't how fast you can develop park land; the issue was let's buy as much as we can and preserve it for future generations."

Committee member Roger Buerki suggested members attach a report stating the intended use once they provide commissioners with recommendations.

"The public needs to know our intentions," said Buerki, a Cobb Parks Coalition member who formerly helped with passage of the Metropolitan River Protection Act.

No purchases will be pursued without cooperation from property owners and the surrounding community, Ash said.

Members are scheduled to meet again at 7:15 p.m. Feb. 8 at 100 Cherokee St., Marietta.

acasciaro@mdjonline.com