[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,74,86,98],{"_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":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6205007,"mediaKeyId","3777332-c3fbff7b9f495422dd5419227e6f857c","parentId",3777332,"title","Resident criticizes repeated Kimley‑Horn awards as DOT approves supplemental engineering contract","audioSeconds",2682,"startMs",1093000,"endMs",3775000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3777332-c3fbff7b9f495422dd5419227e6f857c&start=1093&end=3775","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3777332-c3fbff7b9f495422dd5419227e6f857c/thumbnail_1093000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6205007/Cobb-County/Georgia/Resident-criticizes-repeated-KimleyHorn-awards-as-DOT-approves-supplemental-engineering-contract","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6205007-1241c7c0b380f4294654ae53bb540b44/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138338&Signature=kr~1CgqZ2ITPrnhT0~YShXEMpvTHpb0Ml~YoShlkhT6GLtcnzEZ~lSq96-WFonWZgOuwvG9eCT-2H27cb55gLs9akgL99CUmx75Na3HzNtWudE2YjMDA3o9RVn0KLeiIlBLmu8LF0~DaJi2duWbaUIImOPalkPVirHHtfNtVeq2yT62ZEgn~~FCFGuGsEsF0UqHP6N1paww5JdRTFvCKXQFgZsXr1aqPJfDzkuD3HWeJsovdWKro34v1gt9O8CAJfWnrYfWzNrUuMi890ysvHrf-XvJzLzPdpvLtatXAF0mos3z3IYlyzyCV3bC5YrW8nJu6Uce2HGCkfe5pgb0k6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-12T00:38:12.023Z","article","A public commenter urged Cobb County officials on June 10 to direct more engineering and design work to local firms, saying repeated awards to out‑of‑state or national firms siphon dollars away from local businesses.

Tracy Stevenson told the Board that Kimley‑Horn (appearing on multiple agenda items) receives a large share of county contracts and questioned why the county does not award more work to local consulting engineers who, she said, keep money in Georgia and Cobb County. “Why we need a DC based Kimley Horn to do our local projects blows my mind,” Stevenson said.

Later in the meeting the Department of Transportation presented a supplemental agreement with the consultant listed on the agenda for engineering design work on Dallas Highway at Lost Mountain Road, Marcella Road (project X2305). The item’s agenda described Supplemental Agreement No. 1 to a consultant services agreement in an amount not to exceed $291,770.39 for engineering design; the board approved the supplemental agreement 4-0 with the chair absent.

The DOT presentation and the public comment reflect competing perspectives: the county’s use of large or regional consultants to deliver design work and members of the public advocating for local firms to receive a greater share of contracts. The board did not change the contract award at the meeting; commissioners approved the supplemental agreement as presented.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cobb County Board of Commissioners Meeting - 06/10/25","oneSentenceSummary","A public commenter urged the county to prioritize local engineering firms; minutes show DOT approved a supplemental agreement with the firm listed on the agenda, and commissioners recorded unanimous approval.","taxTitle","Cobb County, Georgia","taxId",3733,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6205012,"Young resident urges Cobb County to loosen zoning rules to address housing shortage",180,1213000,1393000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3777332-c3fbff7b9f495422dd5419227e6f857c&start=1213&end=1393","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3777332-c3fbff7b9f495422dd5419227e6f857c/thumbnail_1213000.jpg","/articles/6205012/Cobb-County/Georgia/Young-resident-urges-Cobb-County-to-loosen-zoning-rules-to-address-housing-shortage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6205012-dd1660ca64bcd9b24f019d90cb219161/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138338&Signature=LwCr3Yb4hji8aRHjNTBGXLwqMKzpx4UtclJVoITom-JAoJ8-Fly6IsZiWQl3rrFpF3brS92yYaCKoLJNXjIhMXQFb8JfeCNByJseQtcTY53tmTenuexZ8v3bieaDV2aePDenO6xDqMgNu3ZlMJTU79WOEBGELc6h6YGzyMaFtjkvu1G8Df5NSbGpQezNKcQs4BwhvYe7WbyGU8PhqM-sx~pMIW0t-OmoD3CIkIhCBdpBOpT4hTGwjscnMpUyqBHfvjHT6GzwyfUEWOqAmVDbsQKj5ojDduF5XBvd6mm-HMKE9l13To1p~xRhfHh3H62xQTjNBC2B0Y4bSx~cNHX-JA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A district resident recently graduated from Walton High School told the Board of Commissioners on June 10 that Cobb County faces a growing housing shortage and urged local officials to change zoning rules to increase housing choice.

Carter Ray said younger residents fear they will never be able to buy homes in the county and cited an Atlanta Regional Commission projection that Cobb could be short more than 38,000 homes by 2050 at the current rate of development. “The solution that we need and that younger generations ask for is more housing choice,” Ray said.

Ray urged the county to consider incremental zoning changes such as reducing minimum lot sizes and home square footage, allowing accessory dwelling units where only single‑family detached housing is allowed, permitting attached single‑family or multiplex structures, and encouraging mixed‑use development near public transit and high‑job‑growth areas. He also referred to the county’s 2023–2028 strategic plan, which lists adequate quantity and availability of housing types and increased attainable housing as key success indicators.

Ray asked commissioners to engage with younger constituents to design policies that expand attainable housing options. No board action was taken; Ray’s comments were part of the public‑comment portion of the meeting.","A recent high‑school graduate told commissioners the county faces a long‑term housing shortage and urged changes to lot sizes, setbacks and zoning to allow smaller homes, ADUs, multiplexes and mixed‑use development near transit.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6205016,"Residents press pedestrian safety as DOT seeks federal grant for Powder Springs Road and Stilesboro intersection",2584,1107000,3691000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3777332-c3fbff7b9f495422dd5419227e6f857c&start=1107&end=3691","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3777332-c3fbff7b9f495422dd5419227e6f857c/thumbnail_1107000.jpg","/articles/6205016/Cobb-County/Georgia/Residents-press-pedestrian-safety-as-DOT-seeks-federal-grant-for-Powder-Springs-Road-and-Stilesboro-intersection","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6205016-61b0991b6d33e8d37db0255ebeb69c77/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138338&Signature=aCB76qZ971cxkHukiLxLDMKPBevZCQ4bQR3f3GEmFp245RO5iTItrLAU0yQ9GlXG6Lrdo8UbhcKxZ-8Byx8zngewzAh0b4qfttoFz2ou2SLlY7HXCy9Oy4AqsS0sekJki-ZPpqStgd5C24kmRum~Tpy0~4BVJpTnDnuG34M0y7d61xht7v2MByn6A9uS1nlqYJuvJYCASw2TPTx4AOq023qkKu31D8pwML7tUPPhyRs4~7OKR~RiC2gh7SOS9DLos4h4EfR2HkedG-56QLjQ9PYiea80OjHKOfHK~if047VQKr4hWe2Wvpf16rWkDEeMd9qSc5Ty6htDvqi71emvhg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A resident and county officials clashed over whether recent road projects labeled as pedestrian or safety improvements in Cobb County prioritize vehicle throughput over protection for pedestrians.

At the June 10 meeting, the county Department of Transportation requested authorization to submit two Federal Lands Access Program grant applications: one for a Powder Springs Road multi‑use trail and another for intersection safety improvements at Stilesboro Road and Old Mountain Road. The board approved the grant‑application authorizations 4-0 with the chair absent.

In public comment, Matt Segal, who identified himself as a District 1 resident, described seeing a multi‑use trail blocked by an electronic sign and questioned why safety projects often add travel lanes. “It’s just a pattern...we're just using that as a cover to add more and more lanes, more and more cars and more and more dangerous, incidents for our pedestrians and our most vulnerable users of the roads,” Segal said.

Drew Ressler, a DOT representative, presented the two grant requests and later described three DOT agenda items for the meeting, including contract approvals and a supplemental engineering agreement. The Powder Springs Road item described a multi‑use trail project; the Stilesboro Road item was presented as an intersection safety improvement that includes new channelized right turns and a westbound left‑turn lane.

Commission discussion noted that some intersections carry traffic from surrounding counties and that improvements are intended to address high traffic volumes. Commissioners approved the DOT contract and grant‑application motions without recorded dissents.

The public comment and the DOT presentations highlight tension between engineering choices that add vehicle capacity (channelized turn lanes and extra turn bays) and advocates’ calls for design approaches that favor pedestrians and vulnerable road users. DOT and county leaders did not alter the grant submittals at the meeting; staff said projects proceed through design and permitting processes where pedestrian elements can be refined.","A public commenter criticized county road projects that add turn lanes as undermining pedestrian safety; county DOT asked commissioners to authorize federal lands access grant applications for a multi-use trail on Powder Springs Road and intersection safety work at Stilesboro Road and Old Mountain Road, actions the board approved unanimously.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6205023,"Cobb County ratifies $1.7 million emergency chiller replacement at adult detention center",987,2593000,3580000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3777332-c3fbff7b9f495422dd5419227e6f857c&start=2593&end=3580","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3777332-c3fbff7b9f495422dd5419227e6f857c/thumbnail_2593000.jpg","/articles/6205023/Cobb-County/Georgia/Cobb-County-ratifies-17-million-emergency-chiller-replacement-at-adult-detention-center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6205023-77fd8c5c6055436a13c0a701626e2be3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138338&Signature=S2eqMgthwrXLt8Mf6BGSwAlDmq6pXrO5ySu8E7bDAULHBmpobe99yRIh7HlV6KPCGAiL~kfreOtWEuu2rLyPcwoVJaJk~ZKVZTojogSZ4ZXNWYCg0N5n-bGDF440fHxgGQRPSZEiidIycEkNw4yInjr9j4ABij66t2b-95iuJKEo6ISHIYmyCb4zRaVuXU5pnfeTQnSYXD-LFy5l0DafSOtKyWoNZIrl4ReqinboioxKV2MwJBBLOTcv-yy2N~nozEBR8nhsHmIpDBrzn2JyCODutldDOldryS6gKPPYGWj~ErPyI1deu7eIUli48OLR4lglYvO7K7fZ6hNgWRRLAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cobb County Board of Commissioners on June 10 ratified emergency procurement and a General Fund appropriation to replace an HVAC chiller at the county’s adult detention center, authorizing payment of $1,708,043 to MaxAir Mechanical LLC and a funding balance appropriation of $1,745,420.

The action, described in the agenda as ratifying prior authorization by the county manager, passed on a 4-0 vote with the chair absent. County staff said the replacement is an emergency because the existing chiller is near failure and supports air handling for the facility infirmary.

Commissioners and staff framed the vote as a response to deferred maintenance. A facilities representative told the board a temporary chiller is on standby and would be connected if the existing unit failed before the replacement arrives. “We have a temporary chiller on standby. And as soon as we get an exact date of the delivery of the chiller, we will bring the temporary chiller here and connect it and be ready to go with the replacement,” the facilities representative said.

Staff said the replacement chiller was expected to be delivered in about 22 weeks, with the vendor’s short-term rental and installation arrangements included in the cost. County staff also said the chillers currently in place were installed in 1987 and that the typical useful life for such equipment is roughly 25 years.

The discussion repeatedly returned to budgetary responsibility. Some commissioners and members of the public asked why the purchase was coming from the general fund rather than a capital account or from the sheriff’s operating budget. Board members noted the expense had been discussed in previous budget cycles but not funded; staff said the work had been deferred when funding was not available.

The item’s agenda language asked the board to ratify emergency procurement, authorize payment to MaxAir Mechanical LLC for $1,708,043, and authorize the county manager, procurement director and/or the sheriff to execute documents necessary to complete the work. The motion carried 4-0.

Board members also questioned the number of sheriff’s office staff who attended the meeting to support the request; a sheriff’s office representative responded the department brought multiple staff because of the item’s operational importance and the prospect of liability if the infirmary lost cooling.

The board approved the appropriation and contract authorization after the discussion. The county manager and facilities staff will oversee procurement and installation; staff said follow-up work will be coordinated through property management and facilities.","The Board of Commissioners unanimously ratified emergency procurement and a General Fund appropriation to replace an aging HVAC chiller at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center, after discussion about deferred maintenance, budget responsibility and interim cooling plans.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Resident criticizes repeated Kimley‑Horn awards as DOT approves supplemental engineering contract

Young resident urges Cobb County to loosen zoning rules to address housing shortage

Residents press pedestrian safety as DOT seeks federal grant for Powder Springs Road and Stilesboro intersection

Cobb County ratifies $1.7 million emergency chiller replacement at adult detention center