Parks Coalition picks up $ award

From the "Around Town" column of the Marietta Daily Journal on Saturday, July 26, 2008 by Around Town columnists Bill Kinney, Otis Brumby, and Joe Kirby

THE PUSH for a second parks-bond referendum got two big shots in the arm this week. The first came on Tuesday, when the Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to add the $40 million proposal to the November General Election ballot.

The second came Friday with the news that the Cobb Parks Coalition is the recipient of one of six $7,500 Park Pride Community Awards handed out this year in conjunction with Turner Broadcasting's Peachtree TV (Channel 17). In addition, the Coalition's efforts will be profiled in a 30-second Public Service Announcement on Channel 17 that will air three to five times per day starting in October. The PSA will be filmed by Peachtree, probably at the Hyde Farm in east Cobb.

"This takes care of all our money concerns and then some," said Coalition spokesman Paul Paulson. "We won't need to pass the hat at any future Coalition meetings."

Board thanked for parks bond vote

A letter to the editor by Jackie Belwood and Dennis Krusac of the Georgia Coalition for No Child Left Inside, published in the Marietta Daily Journal on Saturday, July 26, 2008

In the July 15 MDJ Letters to the Editor, writer Peggy Weymouth suggested there is no need for a new parks bond because parks would draw perverts to prey on our children.

She states, "Just look at the statistics and vote with your brain instead of your emotions." That is exactly what we plan to do and here are the statistics.

FBI statistics show all categories of crime are down. Between 1993 and 2003, sex offenses against children ages 12 - 17 decreased 79 percent. Assaults on children of all ages decreased by 39 percent. Kidnapping and sex crimes against children are 10 times more likely to be committed by parents, relatives or acquaintances then strangers. Sixty-four percent of violent crimes against children occur at home, while only 19 percent occur outside. GBI crime statistics for this time period show similar trends.

Health statistics indicate childhood obesity, diabetes, depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are all up. Last week the American Academy of Pediatrics suggested screening cholesterol levels of children as young as two. Evidence suggests unstructured play in natural settings improves children's physical and mental health. We suggest reading "Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder" by Richard Louv and viewing the PBS documentary "Where do the Children Play" for more information.

We thank the Cobb County Commissioners for placing another parks bond on the November ballot, and encourage the public to vote for it. Our children's future and our quality of life depend on it.

Jackie Belwood
Dennis Krusac
Georgia Coalition for No Child Left Inside
Acworth

Rousing applause for Cobb on parks

A letter to the editor by Jimmy Gisi, published in the Marietta Daily Journal on Friday, July 25, 2008

With the Cobb County Board of Commissioners' unanimous vote to place a second bond issue for park land on the ballot this fall, I felt compelled to stand and give them a rousing round of applause for two reasons.

First of all is their commitment to leaving Cobb County a better place than they found it.

Park land, even if it is not developed for several years, ensures that future generations will have green space to enjoy their leisure time.

A movement has begun throughout the country to get our children from behind computer screens and off the couches and to get them outside again. These less-active children have caused an increase in childhood obesity at an alarming rate which in turn contributes to the rising cost of health care. With Cobb County's existing park land inventory and the land that could be purchased with another bond program, we would be well prepared to meet this demand for years to come.

The second reason for my applause is the fact that by their vote to place it on the ballot, they have afforded Cobb County residents the right to make the final decision. Many jurisdictions do not afford their residents this opportunity and that is a shame.

There are very few governments in our state that have shown this type of commitment to the acquisition of green space. Many of them will say that it is important, but they do nothing. Cobb County has a proven nomination/selection process that was used with the 2006 parks bond program and, if passed, I'm sure they will be just as successful with the 2008 parks bond program.

Jimmy Gisi, CPRP
Executive Director
Georgia Recreation and Park Association
Conyers

Voters to decide on parks bond

From the Marietta Daily Journal on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 by Ashley Hungerford, MDJ staff writer

MARIETTA - The Cobb Board of Commissioners unanimously approved on Tuesday night to place a referendum for another $40 million parks bond on the Nov. 4 ballot.

After commissioners approved moving forward with the referendum, the green-clad crowd in the room erupted into applause. Cobb Parks Coalition, a grassroots group, had earlier encouraged supporters to attend wearing green.

Public Services Agency director Bob Ash called the grassroots campaign for a follow-up parks bond "a terrific example of democracy."

"As we've seen in recent weeks, and following on the successful 2006 program, there has been another ground swell of people supporting another parks bond," he said. "These people understand the needs and came forward to represent this effort."

Seven people addressed the Commission during the public comment section and four of them were related to the parks bond.

David Burn of Kennesaw said the Commission is leaving a good legacy by putting so much effort into preserving parkland.

"You did a good job two years ago and I would like to see it done again," he said. "There are just all sorts of places we don't want to be razed."

He said now is a great time to buy parkland, when major developers don't have the money.

The referendum comes on the heels of what county leaders consider "a successful program," where the county used more than $37 million from the original $40 million parks bond approved in 2006 to acquire more than 300 acres of parkland.

Some of the larger tracts included the 112-acre Bullard Stockton Tract on Dallas Highway in west Cobb for $18.6 million and the 137.45-acre Stana property on Brownsville Road in southwest Cobb for $5.76 million.

The county will also use $5 million from the original parks bond to help purchase the 95-acre Hyde Farm in east Cobb. The Trust for Public Land purchased the working farm off Lower Roswell Road for $14.19 million in June. The land will eventually be divided between Cobb County and the National Park Service.

The referendum before voters in November will follow the 2006 parks bond format, Ash said.

Each commissioner will appoint three citizens to a Citizen Committee that will advise the board of potential purchases. Monies will be used exclusively for acquiring land for public parks within the county from willing sellers. The parks bond will be issued without a tax increase.

The county would pay for the 15-year, $40 million parks bond by diverting revenue raised from .1 mills of property taxes from the fire fund to the debt fund. Cobb's total millage is 9.6 mills, meaning property owners pay $9.60 per $1,000 of assessed value.

Currently, 6.82 mills go to the county's general fund, 2.56 mills to the fire fund and 0.22 mills to debt-service. Officials said the fire fund has a surplus.

Since the Commission approved the referendum, Cobb Chairman Sam Olens said commissioners could no longer advocate for the ballot issue, but could "educate" residents on what the parks bond would do.

He said the advocating is now left up to the residents.

ahungerford@mdjonline.com

Board should do right tonight on parks bond

An editorial published in the Marietta Daily Journal on Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Cobb County needs more parks. We're not growing quite as fast as we once were, but our population will continue to expand in the decades to come.

Moreover, we were late to the table in terms of parkland acquisition. Unlike many long-established communities, Cobb didn't focus on acquiring land for parks until the 1960s, and even then was unable to keep up with the population explosion of the 1970s, '80s and '90s. Up until the late 1960s, the prevailing thinking was that the presence of 3,000-acre Kennesaw National Battlefield Park here was sufficient to fulfill the county's need for parkland, even though it is a historic park, not a recreational one.

The county steadily bought parcels here and there in recent decades for parks, but there was no concerted push for parkland acquisition until 2006, when a grassroots group, the Cobb Parks Coalition, successfully masterminded passage of a $40 million bond for buying parkland.

The measure did not involve a tax increase and was supported by 70 percent of voters.

That $40 million has revitalized the county's park-purchase program, but the need still exists for more parks. Hence, tonight's expected vote by the Cobb Board of Commissioners for another $40 million parks bond. Like the first, it would not involve a tax increase. The measure before the board tonight would put the issue on the November general election ballot, giving county residents the final say on whether to approve it.

Also tonight, the board is expected to vote to authorize requests for proposals for a firm to draw up a master plan for the Bullard/Stockton property at the intersection of Dallas Highway and Old Hamilton Road in west Cobb, which was one of the flagship properties acquired with the help of the first bond.

All five of Cobb's commissioners have indicated their support for the bond proposal, as have the challengers for two of those seats in this fall's elections.

At this point, the second bond proposal is as close to non-controversial as such a measure could ever be.

With that in mind, and with the need for more parkland still obvious, it is clearly in the county's best interest that the board vote tonight to add it to the November ballot.

We're confident they will do so - and confident as well that November voters will do the right thing as well.

Coalition pushing for parks referendum

From the Marietta Daily Journal on Tuesday, July 22, 2008 by Ashley Hungerford, MDJ staff writer

MARIETTA - The Cobb Parks Coalition wants to make sure the Cobb Board of Commissioners are thinking green today when the Commissioners vote on adding a $40 million parks bond referendum to the Nov. 4 general election ballot.

Coalition leader Paul Paulson said his group is encouraging all parks supporters to wear green to tonight's Commission meeting. It begins at 7 p.m. in the board meeting room, 100 Cherokee St. in Marietta.

"It's nice for the commissioners to see people come and show their support," Paulson said. "This is a grassroots effort, and we're willing to go to war to campaign for this to pass."

Paulson said he is confident that the commission will unanimously approve the parks bond referendum.

Chairman Sam Olens said he could not speak for the other commissioners, but that he has only heard "positive statements" about approving a parks bond.

County officials say the parks bond would not require a tax increase. The county would pay for the 15-year, $40 million parks bond by diverting revenue raised from .1 mills of property taxes from the fire fund to the debt fund. Cobb's total millage is 9.6 mills, meaning property owners pay $9.60 per $1,000 of assessed value.

Currently, 6.82 mills go to the county's general fund; 2.56 mills to the fire fund; and 0.22 mills to debt-service. Officials said the fire fund has a surplus.

The Commissioners would appoint a three-member [per Commissioner] citizens committee to suggest which properties to purchase.

The Commission is also expected to vote on seeking bids for a master plan to govern recreational developments on the Bullard/Stockton property.

Paulson said he is encouraged the Commission is moving to make that land, on Dallas Highway at Old Hamilton Road in west Cobb, a useable park.

The county purchased the 112-acre tract earlier this year, using $18.6 million of the original $40 million parks bond. About 70 percent of the voters approved that bond in 2006.

The parks bond was only used to acquire property, and there is not money in the bonds to develop the parks. If the second parks bond is approved, it will also be for acquisition.

Olens said the west Cobb property "seemed an appropriate place to start" when developing a master plan to take effect when money becomes available.

"The Bullard/Stockton property is clearly on people's mind in west Cobb," he said.

(The article goes on to other topics.)

ahungerford@mdjonline.com

Cobb's push to save greenspace commendable

A letter to the editor by Sally Bethea, published in the Marietta Daily Journal on Wednesday, July 22, 2008

Cobb County's recent purchase of undeveloped land for protection and preservation, and its commitment to make more such investments, is indeed commendable.

One reason green space protection is important is underscored by the current drought in north Georgia - natural areas help conserve water.

Not only does undeveloped land not require additional water supplies, these areas allow rainwater to be absorbed into the soil where it can flow slowly through underground channels to sustain streams during droughts with what is called "base flow." Hard surfaces such as roads, parking lots and rooftops cause rainwater to move rapidly away, wasting it and often resulting in downstream flooding and pollution.

Of course, no county can afford to buy and protect all the land needed to restore the natural hydrologic functions lost to development; however, local governments such as Cobb are providing excellent examples to private landowners and developers to set aside permanent green space in their projects and to use pervious paving wherever possible.

Sally Bethea
Executive Director, Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper
Atlanta

Parks add to value, don't cause crime

A letter to the editor by Johnny Plunkett, published in the Marietta Daily Journal on Wednesday, July 22, 2008

Re: Peggy Weymouth letter, "No 'parks for perverts,' vote no on bond," July 15 MDJ

I was appalled at the letter suggesting that voting for the parks bond issue would encourage crime and threaten children. Kids get into more dangerous situations wandering the streets with nothing to do than from having a neighborhood park. Common sense would say that children in an urban ghetto have a lower quality of life, with more access to drugs and gangs, than kids do out in the country where there is more open land. A community full of fat, lazy, hyperactive, little couch potatoes is worse than one where kids can go outside to play. If local parks are a bad thing, then can someone find a neighborhood in Cobb County that wants one replaced with another condominium or convenience store?

Parkland does not take money off the property tax rolls because house values go up in neighborhoods with parks. If you visit old parts of Atlanta you will find that in the olden days, when developers were less greedy, subdivisions with words like Park, Forest and Trail in the name actually had one.

Johnny Plunkett
Smyrna

Park opponent part of problem, not solution

A letter to the editor by Rich Schick, published in the Marietta Daily Journal on Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Tuesday's letter to the editor by Peggy Weymouth urging people not to vote for the parks bond identified her as part of the problem rather than part of the solution.

She is willing to sacrifice her quality of life rather than fight for that right. Keeping our parks and neighborhoods safe and free of "perverts and drug dealers," as she put it, is not just the job of our law enforcement agencies, it is also our responsibility.

Simply dialing 911 on your cell phone and reporting suspicious activity will have a huge impact. Going to your local park or for a walk in your neighborhood with your cell phone will have a dual impact. The mere presence of respectable citizens will in itself deter the criminal element. This process is well proven and widely adopted in the Neighborhood Watch system.

Rich Schick
Marietta

No 'Parks for Perverts,' vote no on bond

A letter to the editor by Peggy Weymouth, published in the Marietta Daily Journal on Tuesday, July 15, 2008

I would like to voice my opposition to the proposed parks bond. First let me say I used to love parks. I grew up playing in parks, but back then they were used as intended and we did not have a drug problem in America.

Today, parks became hangouts for drug dealers and perverts. We should call this project, "Parks for Perverts." It won't happen right away, but sooner or later it does happen, everywhere in America.

Just look at Atlanta. Even the pretty little pocket parks become unsafe and Chastain has had its share of rapes and murders.

There isn't enough money in local and state budgets to provide 24-hour security and even if they did, parks budget would be the first thing cut in lean times.

This parks acquisition seems to be a feel-good issue and all I've heard are syrupy letters from politicians and people with jobs tied to this issue. It's a very idealistic notion that these parks are going to stay pretty little places for children. Just look at statistics and vote with your brain instead of your emotions.

I will vote no on this issue.

Peggy Weymouth
East Cobb

Put parks bond on the ballot

A letter to the editor by Allen Bogenschutz, published in the Marietta Daily Journal on Tuesday, July 15, 2008

I am a 35-year resident of District 1 in west Cobb and continue to quietly stay abreast of development efforts in our part of the county. As you know, we have seen many changes in the last 35 years.

I support "Land for Parks" by raising an additional $40 million to be paid for by transferring money from the fire fund to the debt fund.

This is our opportunity to continue to shape our county with forethought and planning. Please support putting this measure on the ballot for the voters to decide.

Allen Bogenschutz
Powder Springs

Bad economy's silver (and green) lining

A opinion published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Monday, July 14, 2008 written by guest columnist Paul Paulson, founding member of the Cobb Parks Coalition

Two years ago in Cobb County and other metropolitan areas across the land, the good economic times were killing us.

With more than 90 percent of our heritage paved over, a handful of Cobb citizens spoke up when one of the last historic farms, Bullard, was put on the block, earmarked for sacrifice.

We called for salvation - buy the best of what's left before it's all gone. Land prices were appreciating at an annual 9 percent rate in the spring of 2006. The chairman of the Cobb County Commission, Sam Olens, listened and answered with a painless solution. An about-to-be-retired $40 million bond could be rolled over and spent for this higher purpose without a tax increase if the voters approved. On Nov. 7, 2006, the people answered, with 72 percent approving the Land for Parks Bond.

But that wasn't the end. We had to spend the money wisely, secure the best, politics be damned. The citizens were to assess the land available and rank the results. Then, deals must be struck. Not easy. There were no guarantees.

Bullard was chosen among the top two of the 18 selected out of the nearly 100 nominated properties as the most critical to save. The Cobb Parks Citizens Advisory Committee chose Bullard even though it was aware that a court challenge was still pending on the county's denial of a zoning request to allow a Florida mall developer to construct a massive mixed-use project on the 112-acre farm.

And now, who would have thought? We are on the verge of collapse; the real estate market, that is. It softened like a Dairy Queen sundae on a July afternoon.

So now Cobb County holds claim to those 112 Bullard acres, the fields, the forest, that 1840s farmhouse. Our heritage has been protected, purchased with the bond money granted by the electorate in 2006. The economy spoke, that fat Florida development company quickly saw the light and pulled the plug on its claim, leaving the Bullard clan with few options except to deal with Olens. The heirs settled on a price of $18 million, about half what big development was offering. Thank you, Bullards.

So, now, even though many cry the blues because the "good" times have gone, I feel better.

Without the downturn, we'd most likely be shopping somewhere near where that old house stands, or visiting the "Dinosaur Park" the developer promised. Instead, a future child will get to feel a bit of what drew his ancestors here in the first place.

Maybe we're just learning a lesson. Maybe we put too much faith in land and money and forgot about the intrinsic values home provides.

Thank you, down economy. You may be our salvation.

> Paul Paulson lives in Powder Springs.

Need exists for follow-up parks bond

A letter to the editor by Keli Gambrill, published in the Marietta Daily Journal on Sunday (and Monday), July 13, 2008

I was your typical west Cobb resident. I enjoyed the area. Then one day a yellow zoning sign appeared behind my home.

My home is located on a half-acre parcel (20,000 square feet) surrounded by property we thought would be developed in a similar manner. However, the application was for Residential Senior Living with homes spaced 10 feet apart on approximately 7,000 square foot lots.

How can this happen? I then became involved with an organization named People Looking After Neighborhoods (PLAN). Through the help of PLAN, we were able to present our concerns regarding density, storm water runoff and lack of green space. While the board of commissioners approved the zoning at a lower density, with enormous storm water detention ponds, very little green space remained for the residents.

In 2006 the voters of Cobb County approved a bond referendum for $40 million for the purchase of parks and green space. West Cobb will benefit greatly from the acquisition of the 18 acres off of Stilesboro Road and the 112-acre Bullard Property at the corner of Dallas Highway and Old Hamilton Road.

While quality of life will be enhanced throughout Cobb County with parks and green space that has been purchased for the residents through the 2006 Bond Referendum, residents of Cobb County need to remind the Board of Commissioners (Chairman Sam Olens, Helen Goreham, Tim Lee, Annette Kesting and Joe Lee Thompson) to place this same emphasis and enthusiasm on preserving green space and the character of an area when reviewing future zoning applications and development initiatives.

Preserving the little remaining suburban character of Cobb is critical and can be achieved through proper development and in the acquisition of additional passive parklands. The voters proved in 2006 that parks and green space were desirable and we are ready to support it once again in 2008.

Keli Gambrill
Marietta

When it comes to meeting Cobb's greenspace needs, We’re Not Done Yet

A More Opinions contribution by Joni House, founding member of the Cobb Parks Coalition, published in the Marietta Daily Journal on Monday, July 7, 2008

The first thing we noticed was the sound. Or lack of sound. With the traffic noise gone, we could hear voices carrying across the pond, a few higher-pitched notes of children's laughter and the beginnings of an insect chorus.

It was 8:30 on a recent Friday night and I had persuaded a friend to come along to see what people "did" with greenspace.

What can I bring he asked. Nothing, I said. It's not wilderness, it's woods. And a pond, and frogs, and a bunch of kids with flashlights, some grownups like us who like burned marshmallows, and a well-known local naturalist with a passion for sharing the secrets of this little slice of heaven.

But what will we do, he insisted. Well, there's not really an agenda, I said. We couldn't have planned to find that Fowler's toad and carry it almost all the way back to the group before it did what toads do in human hands. (Screaming, I let it go). My friend hadn't planned on gallantly finding a replacement toad, popping it safely into a comfortable vented jar, and becoming the hero of several little children who could now get a really close look at the creature. A little boy about 5 took reluctant turns with a slightly older girl carrying the toad along on the group hike around the pond.

And after dark, the chorus of frogs started. We could hear what sounded like a sheep's "baa" from somewhere out on the pond. Miraculous that just after the glowing green eyes of a spider in the trees (flashlights were definitely handy), our guide found on our path a giant specimen of the baaa-ing toad. Amazing that all the moms and dads and children could stop in their tracks long enough for our guide to pick the frog up. Then all of us shined our flashlights on the enormous creature (it was a two-hander, even for the experienced).

"Make it baaa, make it baaa."

And it did. Everyone applauded: grandparents, moms, dads, and even the cranky toddler who was having too much fun to stay asleep on this dad's shoulder.

So we went to the woods on a Friday. For what? Greenspace invites us to just be in it. Funny how there's always plenty to do once you get there. Somewhere between the car and the pond I lost my to-do list and my headache on that Friday. I had a serious conversation about bats with an 8 year old. I enjoyed the company of people who, like me, seemed to arrive tired and leave refreshed. My ears and eyes got a vacation for a while.

Cobb has started a legacy investment to make sure that everyone in this county can have time in the woods. The land purchases under the 2006 greenspace bond were made with vigorous citizen input and careful analysis. The county commission paid serious attention to the citizens' group in giving staff direction and priorities for land purchases. County staff rose to the challenge of executing a daunting new program and diligently pursued the recommended properties.

Chairman Sam Olens took the bold and unusual step of maximizing the transparency of the process by appointing three citizens to monitor the county's negotiations and land purchase progress.

Throughout the entire greenspace land purchase process, the county has demonstrated good stewardship of public funds. They have earned our trust and thanks.

We now have the opportunity to issue another $40 million in greenspace bonds, again with no tax increase. There may be additional land parcels now available that were out of reach or not on the market during the first purchases. There are still parcels from the first land nominations that were highly desirable but could not be purchased due to limited funding.

Most important, there are still areas that need to be preserved to ensure that all Cobb citizens have access to greenspace, both now and in the future.

The bonds won't be issued without a referendum, which is conducted by ballot during the November election. The Board of Commissioners has to vote to put the issue on the ballot. The first step is to contact your commissioner and urge him or her to put the greenspace bond issue on the November ballot. It's a no-brainer that Cobb citizens should be able to vote on whether to buy more greenspace. Let your commissioner know that you agree.

Joni House is president of The Grayfen Group, a management consulting company based in Marietta. She is co-chair of the Friends of Hyde Farm, and served as Vice Chair of the Cobb Parks Bond Citizens Advisory Committee, the group charged with recommending the parcels to be purchased with the 2006 bond monies for greenspace acquisition. She has worked with the Cobb Parks Coalition and is a member of Leadership Cobb Class of 2006.

Stand up, speak up for Cobb parkland

From the Marietta Daily Journal on Sunday, July 6, 2008 by MDJ columnist Laura Armstrong

I'm an American who believes flag waving is patriotic.

I wear an Old Glory lapel pin when in the company of folks who appreciate the symbolism, and I believe in participating in my government when possible. For me, that means working on elections for people I believe in and getting involved in efforts to make my community better.

I try hard to respect my ideological counterparts, even when we disagree on everything. The greatness of this country has always been that the majority can agree to disagree, live in relative peace and even be best friends.

And when we have a chance to get together on things, we really shine. That's what America is all about.

Think of the cities, the innovations, the monuments, the freedom and opportunities that continue to draw people from around the world. America from the start was a dream, conceived by visionaries and built by pioneers. In so many cases, they created greatness out of absolutely nothing.

These thoughts crossed my mind last Sunday afternoon while perched on a folding chair in Paul Paulson's west Cobb workshop, one of about 50 folks who'd come together from around the county. Politics aside, we artfully arranged our chairs into a huge oval within Paulson's open, hangar-like workshop, introduced ourselves in turn, and hoped we would hear how the county could buy more parkland without raising taxes.

Commission Chairman Sam Olens, appropriately attired in Bermuda shorts, did not disappoint us.

Olens explained how Cobb's firefighter's fund has grown at a greater rate than projected and, if citizens were interested, could provide another $40 million to be used for parkland acquisition with absolutely no tax increase.

"The time to invest is in a down market," Olens suggested.

Within minutes, Paulson, who organized the popular 2006 parks bond campaign, announced the re-establishment of the all-volunteer Cobb Parks Coalition.

It was an amazing meeting. Many in attendance have already given multiple hours of their time and talents to help identify land parcels for future development, not into just another dry cleaner or tire store, but into parks, with all their various uses. And they want to do more.

The coalition seeks your immediate involvement in their grassroots mission, which includes contacting your commissioner ASAP and asking for this new initiative to be placed on the ballot in November.

Consider, as they do: How can all Cobb citizens be ensured access to a nearby park? In what new locations might future generations find sanctuary after the rush of the commute, or take a brisk morning walk as the sun rises over the treetops? Will every mother have a safe place to stroll or picnic, away from traffic, and watch her children discover the joys of nature or a well-planned playground?

As the holiday weekend winds down, remember the important role of our parks in making Cobb a great place to live and raise a family. Then visit http://cobbparks.blogspot.com/ and decide how you will make a difference.

This opportunity is here for all of us, together. Together we made it happen once, so let's do it again.

lbarmstrong3378@comcast.net

With commission aboard, parks bond looks like a go

A editorial published in the Marietta Daily Journal on Sunday, July 6, 2008

It looks like a foregone conclusion that the Nov. 4 election ballot in Cobb County, in addition to offering the choices for president of the United States, will also ask local voters whether they approve of spending $40 million to buy land for future county parks.

All five Cobb Commissioners are on board for the plan, which should make a formality of the July 22 vote at which they will decide whether to add it to the ballot.

The first $40 million parks bond was passed overwhelmingly by local voters in 2006, and nearly all of that money now has been spent, and without a hint of scandal or favoritism. In return, the public is now the proud owner of five sizeable tracts and a big part of another (the Hyde Farm), all of which will be turned into parks.

Now, with the real estate market in a deep slump and little price competition from developers, it makes perfect sense to build on the success of the first bond by following it with a second bond of comparable size. Like the first, the second bond would not cause an increase in local taxes.

The emphasis the first time around was on acquiring some of the few remaining undeveloped tracts large enough to be transformed into parks. This time around, the emphasis will probably be broader, that is, on acquiring a mix of sizes.

"I believe this time we need to look more closely at areas in the county that are not served by parks and make adding parks to those areas a top priority, no matter the size," said east Cobb Commissioner Tim Lee. "I would advocate for pocket parks, assemblage of property that may provide connectivity between existing parks and trails, and redevelopment sites as well that might make sense to convert to green space."

And while the first time around the push was for acquiring land for passive parks, as opposed to recreational parks, the emphasis this time may be more broad based, the thought being to go ahead and buy the land now while it's still comparatively cheap and then worry about its exact use later, based on needs and the desires of those nearby.

So we would encourage the commission to vote July 22 to put the measure on the fall ballot, and would encourage grassroots groups who were so successful in 2006 to pick back up where they left off. After that, it's up to the voters.

Supports push for parks bond

A letter to the editor by Brian Bailey, published in the Marietta Daily Journal on Saturday, July 5, 2008

Feeling it was time to get personally involved in Cobb County's efforts to secure green space, I attended the most recent meeting of the Cobb Parks Coalition.

Also in attendance among the fifty-some people were Commissioners Sam Olens, Tim Lee and Helen Goreham. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the County's track record so far at purchasing the little remaining green space left in the County, and its hopes to rekindle public interest in purchasing more.

To achieve these efforts at protecting open space, the Commissioners need to hear the public's support for a new Cobb parks referendum for this November's General Election ballot. The commission will have to act at this month's meeting to get the measure on the ballot. They need hear how much support there is for parks before this meeting.

Cobb has spent most of the $40 million from the last parks bond and has done an admirable job at keeping the best interests of Cobb's taxpayers first and foremost. Not only in terms of protecting open space, but in doing so in the most economical ways possible. Through negotiation for the lowest cost and buying open lands in strategic parts of the County, they are weaving an ever-growing tapestry of parklands throughout our growing County.

Green spaces will become increasingly important to Cobb residents who opt to pursue outdoor activities closer to home as well as act as a balance to development throughout the county. Please support increasing the purchase of parkland in Cobb County.

Brian Bailey
Powder Springs

Second parks bond backed, but not if it means new taxes

From the Marietta Daily Journal on Thursday, July 3, 2008 by Ashley Hungerford, staff writer

MARIETTA - Cobb voters will likely have one more thing to decide on Nov. 4 - whether to approve a second $40 million parks bond. No tax increase would be required, commissioners say.

All five commissioners told the Journal they support putting a second parks bond on the Nov. 4 ballot. In 2006, voters overwhelmingly supported the original $40 million parks bond.

"It certainly adds to the quality of life for everyone that takes advantage of the parks," said Commissioner Tim Lee. "I am in support of second parks bond, but recognize the importance of community support and approval of Cobb residents."

Commissioners are expected to decide by their July 22 meeting whether to seek the referendum on Nov. 4. At least three commissioners, a majority, must approve to make that happen.

But all five commissioners were also clear that they would not support raising taxes for parks.

Chairman Sam Olens said the county would pay for the 15-year, $40 million parks bond by diverting revenue raised by .1 mills of county property taxes from the fire fund to the debt fund. Cobb's total millage is 9.6 mills, meaning property owners pay $9.60 per $1,000 of assessed value.

Of the county's mills, 6.82 mills go to the county's general fund; 2.56 mills to the fire fund; and 0.22 mills to debt-service.

"The transfer will permit fire and emergency services to fully fund needed improvements," Olens said.

Commissioner Annette Kesting, who represents southwest Cobb, said: "As a tax payer of Cobb County, I will not support a tax increase for the purchase of additional park land, and I don't believe the voters of District 4 will support a tax increase to purchase parkland."

Most of the commissioners agree that purchasing properties, rather than developing the parks, should be the priority.

"Because of the scarcity of land, I would focus on just the acquisition of land," Commissioner Joe Lee Thompson said.

The county's Community Development Office reported this year that only 14 percent of the county remains un/underdeveloped.

Commissioner Helen Goreham, of northwest Cobb, and Kesting represent the areas with the most available acreage.

"Since Cobb County is nearly built-out, it is imperative that this bond be used for the acquisition of land," Goreham said. "However, the board needs to examine ways in which we can increase public usage of our properties without expending significant amounts of money."

Challengers for seats on the commission agree on the need to purchase parkland.

Bob Ott and Ron Sifen, Republicans challenging Thompson in the July 15 primary, both said they support the bond effort.

Ott said the bond should be part of a comprehensive plan to fund future parkland and green space.

"Because of the nature and location of the available land, the longer the county waits to purchase land in the more populated areas of the county, the less affordable and available it becomes," Ott said. More parks make the county a more desirable place to live, he said.

"The current real-estate market provides a unique opportunity to acquire needed green space at potentially affordable prices," Sifen said. "Green-space acquisition should be a priority now."

Candidates seeking Kesting's commission seat also favor the park plan.

Former Commissioner Woody Thompson said should purchase more parkland "while the prices are right."

Dr. Michael Rhett, a Democrat, said the Board of Commissioners "has a history of spending money wisely on parks and recreation."

Republican Barbara Hickey said, "The future will determine that Cobb County was not only fiscally responsible in its parkland purchases, but showed bold vision in planning for the sense of community it adds for its citizens."

Clarice Barber-Page and Elma Forest did not respond by press time, but both have previously expressed support for a second parks bond.

ahungerford@mdjonline.com

Wish list includes small tracts for pocket parks

From the Marietta Daily Journal on Thursday, July 3, 2008 by Ashley Hungerford, staff writer

MARIETTA - Size doesn't matter, commissioners say.

As they consider whether to ask voters to approve a second $40 million bond to purchase parkland, members of the Board of Commissioners say the wish lists will include small tracts that could be used as pocket parks.

"The first bond emphasized large tracts of land that were in danger of being developed soon," Cobb Chairman Sam Olens said. "The second bond must consider both small and large tracts, choosing the best lands, to specifically consider parts of the county that did not receive new park land with the first bond."

Commissioner Tim Lee said adding parks to areas not already served should be top priority, "no matter what the size."

Lee noted that the cost per acre fluctuates dramatically through the county. Land in west Cobb, where large tracts of undeveloped land are more plentiful, cost less than similar tracts in east Cobb.

"I would advocate for pocket parks, assemblage of property that may provide connectivity between existing parks and trails, and redevelopment sites, as well, that might make sense to convertto green space," he said.

Commissioner Helen Goreham said the county should again allow a citizen oversight committee to prioritize properties, taking into consideration "price, historical significance and ecological features."

In 2006, an advisory committee prioritized potential properties into four tiers. That complete list can be found at http://prca.cobbcountyga.gov/parks-bond-info.htm

The county secured five of the six top properties proposed by the advisory committee. The sixth is a 54-acre tract owned by Wylene Tritt, on Roswell Road in northeast Cobb. The county is still negotiating that purchase.

Paul Paulson, leader of the Cobb Parks Coalition, said he also has others in mind that have potential to benefit the county, such as more than 20 acres owned by the Canup family on Villa Rica Road in west Cobb.

Although the county will likely pursue properties still on the list from 2006, Olens said new properties could be considered. But he encourages residents to contact the property owners before nominating a property to make sure they are interested.

Public input is key to the parks plan, leaders agree.

"Because the county is faced with runaway growth and mounting urban pressures, I believe the county should focus on a program that has unprecedented public support for the success of the program," Commissioner Annette Kesting said.

The county has purchased more than 309 acres using $37.67 million of the $40 million parks bond approved by voters in 2006. The county still has more than $2 million left that they could still use to purchase land.

The purchases include the 137.45-acre Stana property on Brownsville Road in southwest Cobb, $5.76 million; 112 acres of the Bullard-Stockton tract along Dallas Highway in west Cobb, $18.6 million; 26.5 acres of the Mabry Centennial Farm at the corner of Wesley Chapel and Sandy Plains Roads, $4.2 million; 16 acres near Henderson Road off Veteran's Memorial Highway near the Chattahoochee River, $2.4 million; and 17.7 acres of the Price property at Stilesboro Road near Acworth-Due West Road, $1.4 million.

The county will also use $5 million of the parks bond money to help purchase the 95-acre Hyde Farm in east Cobb.

The Trust for Public Land purchased that working farm off Lower Roswell Road for $14.19 million in June. The land will eventually be divided between Cobb County and the National Park Service.

ahungerford@mdjonline.com

Passage of parks bond would continue momentum

A letter to the editor by Dave McDaniel, vice-president of the Mableton Improvement Coalition, published in the Marietta Daily Journal on Thursday, July 3, 2008

Last Sunday, June 29, a concerned group of Cobb County citizens met at Paul Paulson's home in Powder Springs. The 45-50 people in attendance were a cross section from all over the county and from many walks of life.

The purpose was to discuss the potential for getting a referendum on the November ballot to enable purchasing more parkland with another $40 million bond without a tax increase. It can happen. Greater emphasis this time needs to be placed on pocket parks to diversify recreational opportunities. We need to continue the momentum of a very successful acquisition effort following the 72 percent voter approval for the 2006 parks bond referendum. Soon the county will have acquired more than 400 acres of green space for the enjoyment of generations to come, landscape that Mother Nature would take more than a lifetime to replace.

Much needs to be done to bring the matter to a referendum vote. Cobb residents need to express their support to their commissioners by July 15 for the commissioners to discuss and vote on the matter by July 22. Join the Mableton Improvement Coalition board in joining the Cobb Parks Coalition.

Dave McDaniel
Vice President
Mableton Improvement Coalition

District 4 forum sparks debates

From the Marietta Daily Journal on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 by Ashley Hungerford, staff writer

MABLETON - A last minute question about tax issues in Cobb during the Mableton Improvement Coalition forum for District 4 Commission candidates drew a strong response from incumbent Commissioner Annette Kesting.

"That's a great issue, but I didn't want to be the troublemaker talking about taxes because I had an issue with my taxes where mine were double paid," Kesting said. "Read your tax bill to see if they're the way they're suppose to be. If you feel they're not what they're suppose to be, call my office."

Previously, Kesting said the Cobb Tax Commissioner's office double taxed her for duplexes that she and her husband own in Powder Springs.

Despite Kesting's remarks, most of the candidates said the county is doing a great job with taxes, and praised the county government for keeping the county's millage rate one of the lowest in the area at 9.6 mills. That means property owners pay $9.60 for every $1,000 of assessed property values.

The Tuesday night forum included two prepared questions from the Mableton Improvement Coalition civic group and five questions from the audience. All five District 4 Democratic candidates and the lone Republican candidate, Barbara Hickey, attended the forum. Hickey will face the winner of the July 15 Democratic primary in the November General Election.

Green space was on the minds of the candidates, following word that the Cobb Parks Coalition is gearing up to campaign for a second parks bond to be on the November ballot. The county has a little more than $2 million left on the $40 million parks bond approved in 2006.

Candidate and former commissioner Woody Thompson encouraged people to support a referendum for another parks bond.

"It will be $40 million, without a tax increase," he said. "We still have a little bit of land here."

Dr. Michael Rhett echoed support of another parks bond, saying, "Cobb County, under the leadership of Chairman Sam Olens, has a history of spending money wisely on green space. We need to try to purchase as much land as possible."

Elma Forest also said she thinks the county needs to preserve as much green space as possible and supports another parks bond.

Candidates also discussed bringing more quality developments into southwest Cobb.

Hickey said enticing more development means proving that there's enough interest in the community to sustain the business.

"If we supply the customers, then they will come," she said.

Candidate Clarice Barber-Page said for the community to encourage more developers to come to District 4, the community should examine how the main corridors - like Veterans Memorial Highway, Austell Road, Six Flags Drive and Powder Spring Road - appear.

"Our primary economic areas look horrible," Barber-Page said. "Let's clean up the district so we can consider having someone come to our community."

Transportation was another issue the candidates touched on, including traffic relief and the possibility of bringing MARTA to Cobb.

Barber-Page said it could be good for Cobb if MARTA could extend into the Six Flags area, along I-20.

Other candidates weren't so optimistic about MARTA.

Hickey said she recalls Cobb residents said no to MARTA in the past, "because of what it would bring to Cobb."

Kesting and Thompson discussed the possibility of bringing light-rail to Cobb, different from the heavy-rail MARTA.

"Cobb Community transit is the backbone," Kesting said. "If we bring in development, it brings in traffic. I've been working with light-rail for the last four years … my constituents say they want to keep District 4 as rural as possible."

Thompson said MARTA isn't an option for Cobb because "it's to stinking expensive."

He assured the more than 100 person crowd that synchronization of traffic signals is something he's going to press on.

Forest said she couldn't answer whether she supported MARTA in Cobb without more research and response from the community. But she did say the traffic issue goes beyond Cobb's borders, and more transit is needed.

"I feel your pain when it comes to traffic," Forest said. "We need to work with other entities so that it will benefit us all."

Rhett said while the county's road improvement projects funded by the one-cent Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax are beneficial; residents need to start looking at other options.

"Now is a good opportunity to get to know your neighbor and start carpooling," he said.

He said he wasn't in favor of a regional SPLOST funding traffic improvements, like expanding MARTA, because then the county doesn't have as much say in how the funds are dispensed.

"Cobb Community Transit is doing a good job addressing our needs, while leaving Cobb County with its unique character," he said. "Right now, I'll keep my money on CCT."

ahungerford@mdjonline.com

Parks bond vote now seen likely

From the "Around Town" column of the Marietta Daily Journal on Tuesday, July 1, 2008 by Around Town columnists Bill Kinney, Otis Brumby and Joe Kirby

A FOLLOW-UP COBB PARKS REFERENDUM is looking more and more like a sure thing to go on the November General Election ballot.

Three of the five members of the Cobb Board of Commissioners - Chairman Sam Olens, West Cobb's Helen Goreham and east Cobb's Tim Lee - attended Sunday's informal meeting at the west Cobb home of Cobb Parks Coalition guru Paul Paulson at which groundwork for a bond push was laid. Three votes are all it would take to put the measure on the fall ballot.

The commission would have to act by July 22 in order to make the deadline for getting it on the ballot.

And as predicted in Saturday's Around Town, Olens unveiled a proposal at Sunday's meeting to achieve a $40 million parks bond without incurring a tax hike. It will be hard to argue against a proposal that calls for adding parkland and does so without asking for a tax increase.

The $40 million 2006 parks bond also was achieved without a tax increase by virtue of using the existing .22 mills of bond debt.

This time, Olens envisions reducing the millage for the fire department fund by .1 mills to 2.46 mills, which he said could be done without undermining the efficiency of the department. As it is, the county boasts one of the best fire departments in the state and an admirably low fire insurance rating of 3 on a scale of 1 to 10, which translates to lower insurance premiums for businesses and homeowners.

A possible fear is that the county might see the same sort of east vs. west squabbling that has marred the City of Marietta's abortive attempt to upgrade its aging park system. Much of the land purchased with the proceeds from the first parks bond in 2006 has been spent in west Cobb. But that has been a function primarily of the fact that there are more large undeveloped tracts available from which to choose in west Cobb than in east Cobb.

Yet passage of a second parks bond might well open the door for the county to pay more attention to the development of "pocket parks" - small 5 or 10 acre sites that primarily serve a radius of a few miles, rather than act as a "destination parks" for residents from around the county.