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