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