[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6557948,"mediaKeyId","3276518-937c70a5c6f6bc58fdb9d8ac5d10211e","parentId",3276518,"title","Mableton council approves sustainability, code and court ordinances; hires auditors and HR consultant","audioSeconds",983,"startMs",3967000,"endMs",4950000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3276518-937c70a5c6f6bc58fdb9d8ac5d10211e&start=3967&end=4950","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3276518-937c70a5c6f6bc58fdb9d8ac5d10211e/thumbnail_3967000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6557948/Mableton-City/Cobb-County/Georgia/Mableton-council-approves-sustainability-code-and-court-ordinances-hires-auditors-and-HR-consultant","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6557948-cc0eeb854d813799167524d4eb57d494/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148436&Signature=DLVw763FahEIA4fL6MpUrOJZLo1bbt3Qpv2N4xMJ9PkzYCSWijY2d-a~ai25vFPipvdLbZl0Pnjlppw4-fKy~ovuWA7WeKEuXKBlXrQVo8iRBu2zKUx~9MrRzaadIvo8hMzb3ZAp6aP~0~403X~LHlZ-WDiZ66iAMg1Boec103eL~1A8GngnNTPqFcV82nS5yMCYftmA5ThKTj8Tn-Efs3KUIttpuYO5SI3DHwwoIUa0161RsLN8BhFowTSAz5bAVXZbvnICvlRdk7uiphxtfZTCG9sprSMWYzJxfe9NTb0x0tRwZreZxuw4UfOPNkDQi6V3tLXTDsPawG5ZmgtYDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mableton City","date","2025-05-12T19:07:21Z","article","The City of Mableton City Council on May 12 approved a series of routine and policy items: sustainability and electric‑vehicle resolutions, code enforcement changes, a nuisance/noise ordinance, creation of municipal‑court provisions, a multi‑year audit services contract and an HR consulting agreement. The council also appointed a member to the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Votes at a glance (approved at the May 12 meeting)
- Appointment: Jojoki (also recorded as Chagogy) Eves — Appointed to the Board of Zoning Appeals. Mayor announced the appointment; the council voted “ayes” with no opposition. (Record: motion called by mayor; vote voice‑approved.)
- Consent agenda (approved): Resolution adopting City of Mableton sustainability policies and standards (sustainability, waste and beautification); resolution promoting adoption of electric vehicle use in the community. (Passed on voice vote; no recorded opposition.)
- Professional services — Audit: Council authorized the mayor to negotiate and sign an agreement with Malden and Jenkins LLC (vendor name appears with small variations in the packet and on the floor) for financial audit services. The motion as made on the floor specified $94,500 and five successive annual renewals ending with the FY2029 audit; the motion was approved on voice vote. Finance staff had described a tiered fee schedule in the packet. (Mover: Councilwoman Keisha Jeffcoat; second: Councilwoman Deborah Herndon.)
- Ordinance — Code enforcement (second read): Approved ordinance updating Chapter 2 (administration) to enhance code enforcement operations. Motion passed by voice vote; no changes had been made since first read.
- Ordinance — Nuisance / noise (second read): Approved creation of Chapter 13, Nuisance Article 3 (noise), to provide a city code mechanism to address repeated or excessive noise. Council discussed enforcement procedures and education; staff said procedures and interagency coordination with Cobb police will follow. Motion passed by voice vote.
- Ordinance — Municipal court (second read): Council approved creation of Chapter 6 establishing municipal‑court provisions for Mableton. The ordinance limits certain fines and provides that the city manager or the manager’s designee will set the court schedule; council discussed schedule oversight and staffing. Motion passed by voice vote.
- Professional services — HR consulting: Council approved a master consulting agreement with Local Gov HR Guru LLC to provide third‑party HR services on a written‑request basis (contract language requires written authorization by the city manager for work assignments and caps hours without additional written consent). Staff emphasized the contract is for occasional third‑party investigations, trainings or advice rather than to replace in‑house HR staff. The council approved the agreement on voice vote.
- Other approvals: The council approved a resolution authorizing a regulatory intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Cobb County (motion taken after executive session) by voice vote.

What the council said and staff context
- Finance Director and staff said the audit agreement is intended to provide audit continuity and possible cost savings through a multi‑year arrangement; packet materials included a tiered schedule and noted an additional charge only if a federal single audit were required.
- Director Farrell and code enforcement staff said the new code enforcement and noise rules are intended to improve quality of life; staff described an education‑first enforcement approach and plans to coordinate with police for repeat or criminal matters.
- City Attorney Amelia Walker noted some ordinance and IGA items are being adopted to align with service delivery negotiations and to ensure consistent enforcement when county departments (animal control, water and sewer) provide services under an intergovernmental arrangement.

Procedural notes and recorded motions
- Most votes were recorded by voice (“ayes have it”) rather than roll‑call tallies; formal recorded tallies by member name were not provided in the transcript for these items.
- Where the packet and floor discussion contained inconsistent contract numbers or dollar amounts, staff said the council votes adopted the amounts as articulated on the floor; staff indicated they will finalize contract language before execution.

Ending
- Staff will return with finalized contract documents, the ordinance language for formal adoption steps if needed, and implementation details (court scheduling, enforcement procedures and collection logistics) where applicable. The council identified follow‑up items for finance, legal and departmental staff to implement the approved actions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Mableton - City Council Meeting - May 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The City of Mableton City Council on May 12 approved sustainability resolutions, strengthened code enforcement and nuisance/noise ordinances, created municipal‑court provisions, hired auditors and an HR consultant, and appointed a zoning board member.","taxTitle","Mableton City, Cobb County, Georgia","taxId",55728,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6557954,"Mableton council gives staff consensus to reestablish 6 Flags special services district; county collection status unclear",2021,715000,2736000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3276518-937c70a5c6f6bc58fdb9d8ac5d10211e&start=715&end=2736","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3276518-937c70a5c6f6bc58fdb9d8ac5d10211e/thumbnail_715000.jpg","/articles/6557954/Mableton-City/Cobb-County/Georgia/Mableton-council-gives-staff-consensus-to-reestablish-6-Flags-special-services-district-county-collection-status-unclear","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6557954-03f603a2a7944318520c5760b1470882/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148436&Signature=hQrpeig9N55TXuDvgSgiK5SnSWmZBA2xpuC9P6mjnegKN-vGlRiVAUzgS73DvlkDrYPHUqcuZSVb-G~u~RD2FMQeWtA7bg39-LzfdB-snFe~l3ArKn3umDehkC7DdOd7UHN6USFV5qtMTsM-kAIJcblV71-3-X2X~qzcZNdV0Fr1jdTgMF9ZK4UBpeXo8~H~Pq100YcMIG78pcuf7tVd-2EYUcMbwG1AVhExbSa1mn24GASCT~5QpolEAaa~oPSuQiXRhOWydCbB~HVIlOfFJz-jh0V1BeS3fnW9BTZqyFIEsvcd3tAHFfe1MzDvEKFOmnWPcliio8u7im4Hemz6Rw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City of Mableton officials asked the council on May 12 whether to reestablish a Special Services District covering the Six Flags area, keep the current 3.5‑mill assessment and pursue collection options. Director Artie Jones and City Attorney Amelia Walker presented the proposal and sought council consensus rather than an immediate vote.

Jones told the council the district was originally created by Cobb County in 2016 and levied an ad valorem assessment of 3.5 mills on commercial properties. He said the county’s version of the district is set to “sunset” and that staff wants to reestablish the district under city authority to fund infrastructure, public safety, nuisance abatement and redevelopment projects within the defined district. “Do you guys wanna move forward with Special Services District? Second question is, do you want the boundaries to stay the same? And the third is…do you want us to move forward with doing what we need to do to be able to collect those taxes?” Jones asked the council.

Why it matters: Under the SSD model the tax proceeds must be spent inside the district; if the city does not reestablish it, those services would have to be funded from the general fund. The district is concentrated largely south of I‑20 and is taxed only on nonresidential parcels, Jones said.

Key details and staff direction
- The administration recommended keeping the millage at 3.5 mills initially and retaining the existing geographic boundaries. Jones said the 3.5‑mill rate is familiar to property owners and that staff would revisit the rate only if a new financial analysis showed a need.
- Jones reported staff engagement with Cobb County tax offices and asked the county to update parcel listings and provide a map limited to properties inside the city of Mableton. He said county staff and the tax commissioner had been cooperative and that the city’s GIS staff can produce maps if needed.
- On tax collection, Jones said Cobb County previously collected the assessment but that, because the county’s assessment is ending, the city would likely have to collect the tax going forward unless the county agrees to continue invoicing and remitting receipts to Mableton. Jones said the city’s finance director and in‑house staff could handle collection if the county declines or charges a rate the city finds unfavorable.

Council reaction and next steps
- Council members and the mayor expressed support for reestablishing the SSD, leaving the boundaries intact and initially retaining the 3.5‑mill rate. Councilman TJ Ferguson asked what would happen if the transition timeline and county decisions did not align with tax‑billing cycles; staff said there is time to resolve collection logistics before tax notices typically go out in August.
- Council did not take a formal vote; multiple members indicated they were “aligned” with staff recommendations and gave direction for staff and the city attorney to return with draft ordinance language, updated parcel and map data and a recommendation on whether to use the county or an in‑house collection mechanism. Jones said staff would seek a county response on collection and expected follow‑up information within about 10 days.

Financial and legal context discussed in the meeting
- Jones and Walker said the county originally created the district in 2016 and that the district funds are restricted to district projects (nuisance abatement, streetscape, property acquisition, blight remediation, parks, traffic devices, pedestrian improvements and similar uses listed in the district plan).
- During the discussion participants cited differing figures for county holdings and bond debt: speakers referenced project funds of about $765,858, an approximate revenue bond debt figure of $6.3 million, and other earlier estimates that ranged between $720,000 and $6 million. Staff emphasized the county controls the disposition of funds it currently holds for the county‑administered SSD and that any county‑held funds remaining in the county program would be spent at the county’s discretion for district projects unless otherwise negotiated.

What staff will deliver next
- City attorney Amelia Walker and Director Jones said they will prepare an ordinance for council consideration, request an updated parcel listing and map restricted to Mableton properties from the Cobb County Tax Assessor and Tax Commissioner, and produce cost estimates for in‑house collection (including software/module procurement) if the county will not continue to collect for a reasonable fee. Staff indicated they expect a status update from the tax assessor’s office within about 10 days.

Public record and procedural notes
- Jones emphasized that the council’s direction was a consensus request, not an adoption of the ordinance. If the council later adopts the ordinance, a public‑notification and millage‑setting process (including any required hearings) will follow, Walker said.

Ending
- Staff will return at a future council meeting with an updated resolution/ordinance, parcel map and a recommendation on the collection mechanism and estimated costs for implementation. Council members said they wanted the transition handled to minimize billing disruption for property owners.

","City of Mableton officials asked the council on May 12 whether to reestablish a Special Services District covering the Six Flags area, keep the current 3.5‑mill assessment and pursue collection options.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6557942,"Residents urge council to address short‑term rentals and school bus depot fueling station",273,3132000,3405000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3276518-937c70a5c6f6bc58fdb9d8ac5d10211e&start=3132&end=3405","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3276518-937c70a5c6f6bc58fdb9d8ac5d10211e/thumbnail_3132000.jpg","/articles/6557942/Mableton-City/Cobb-County/Georgia/Residents-urge-council-to-address-shortterm-rentals-and-school-bus-depot-fueling-station","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6557942-252345e0486379e4f402888c41893207/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148436&Signature=XK6Yn-FTDx2cANK~6vJWR2vGNhGg7aOr8SU8ROuX-Vy6QoTxTHyf48mIq~r3HDQCVhzKxKAcKRKwPYcPGMI57XpNLTVp4LFFZB3WBSENzYqkk8kn7je-74eJGz89vncxofeZu9eHFSpb8ztDDl9N9wwF6Xb0RiAnwcooyZt1VQf7daraA1m6c-z~UCzWkif8KAflpDef~WDLXcA0Jg2ZCweCpXIU0T0zfhGOX3wRw~qWx719UsNTvW6UEDwwa16Di5ysW0-xKBkwvK9yc47Zq8gvCSDLgllX6qC57xwL1~hUVg8kGh2bSnURGwuY-nnWXeC737mHMpmSDzHURDDLhQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Two members of the public raised neighborhood concerns during the May 12 City of Mableton council meeting: growing problems from short‑term rentals and community impacts from a school bus depot fueling station.

Nick Damondi, who identified himself as living near a proposed bus depot location, thanked council members for past support resisting the bus depot and asked that the city use community signage to promote events at the amphitheater. He then urged the council to pursue a comprehensive rental ordinance, saying short‑term rentals “are cropping up like a blight” in working‑class neighborhoods and describing ownership structures that he said obfuscated accountability. Damondi said one property near his home was the subject of a criminal investigation: “2 houses down from me, short term renter, bought the house. It just got busted by Cobb County PD for running a prostitution ring out of it.” He asked the council to take up the rental issue to protect stable neighborhoods.

Cassandra Brown, representing the Mableton Improvement Coalition and a District 4 resident, addressed the proposed school bus depot fueling station at 440 Veterans Memorial Highway. Brown said residents have repeatedly raised the issue with the mayor and the school board but saw little movement and asked the mayor and District 4’s council member to press the Board of Education to minimize neighborhood impacts if the fueling station proceeds. She specifically asked for engagement on aesthetics and mitigation measures and asked the city to advocate for a community‑sensitive approach.

What the comments mean: Both speakers asked for council action — Damondi asked for a comprehensive rental ordinance to address problematic short‑term rentals, and Brown asked the council to work with the school board to shape any fueling‑station plans to reduce neighborhood impacts. City staff did not respond with immediate new actions during public comment; council members later discussed related agenda items but did not record a formal motion tied to these public‑comment requests.

Ending
- Both topics were public‑comment items rather than agenda items. Council members acknowledged the concerns; staff and council indicated ongoing coordination with the school district and county where appropriate and noted that zoning, licensing or ordinance changes would require further study and formal agenda consideration.","Two residents used public comment to press the council on separate neighborhood concerns: the proliferation of short‑term rentals and worries about a school bus depot fueling station proposed at 440 Veterans Memorial Highway. Speakers asked the council to pursue regulation and community engagement.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Mableton council approves sustainability, code and court ordinances; hires auditors and HR consultant

Mableton council gives staff consensus to reestablish 6 Flags special services district; county collection status unclear

Residents urge council to address short‑term rentals and school bus depot fueling station