Cobb County raises wholesale wastewater rates and approves multiple infrastructure contracts

The Cobb County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to raise the county water system’s wholesale wastewater treatment rates by 3.5%, effective May 1, 2025, and to approve a series of transportation, drainage and facilities contracts and procurements.

County staff said the 3.5% wholesale increase aligns with a December retail rate change and will apply to municipalities that deliver wastewater to Cobb for treatment, including the cities of Austell, Marietta and Smyrna. The board approved the rate change and a schedule of annual increases through Jan. 1, 2029.

The rate recommendation came from county water system staff during the water system tab of the meeting. Commissioners approved the change 4-0 following a motion and a second recorded on the agenda.

In the transportation and capital projects portion of the meeting, the board approved an intergovernmental agreement with the city of Powder Springs, not to exceed $75,000, for resurfacing on Carter Road; a contract with D and H Construction Company, Inc. for drainage repairs on Spencer’s Trace not to exceed $446,432; and the submission of five congressionally directed spending requests for fiscal 2026 for projects that include Dallas Highway at Lost Mountain Road, Marceau Road, a South Cobb Transit Center, Old 401 Highway improvements and the Factory Shoals pedestrian bridge over I-20.

The board also authorized a sole-source, five-year communications service plan from Transportation Control Systems for advanced transportation management system school flasher communications, not to exceed $156,960.

On county facilities and property management matters, the board authorized a purchase agreement with Max Air Mechanical, Inc. for rooftop HVAC replacement at 3830 South Cobb Drive not to exceed $219,855 and approved replacement flooring at the same address by Southeast Commute Commercial Flooring, Inc. not to exceed $66,495.20.

Earlier in the meeting commissioners added one item to the consent agenda: approval of a transfer agreement between Cobb County and the Mableton Development Authority and an associated resolution tied to the Series 2015 bonds for property sufficient to accommodate the proposed South Cobb Public Health Center on Riverside Parkway. That addition was moved, seconded and carried 4-0 and was included in the consent motion the board approved later in the meeting.

Several consent items were noted as revised or withdrawn on the dais: agenda items 209 and 30 were withdrawn and agenda items 19 and 33 were revised (item 19 to add a contractor name; item 33 to reflect updated annual allotment totals for CDBG funds).

Votes at a glance

- Wholesale wastewater rate increase: 3.5% increase to wholesale treatment rates, effective 05/01/2025, with annual increases through 01/01/2029. Motion moved and carried 4-0. - Powder Springs intergovernmental resurfacing agreement: up to $75,000; approved 4-0. - D and H Construction contract (Spencer’s Trace drainage repairs): up to $446,432; approved 4-0. - FY2026 congressionally directed spending submissions: five projects authorized for submission; approved 4-0. - Sole-source five-year communications service plan (Transportation Control Systems): up to $156,960; approved 4-0. - Max Air Mechanical HVAC replacement (3830 South Cobb Drive): up to $219,855; approved 4-0. - Southeast Commute Commercial Flooring flooring replacement (3830 South Cobb Drive): up to $66,495.20; approved 4-0. - Addition to consent agenda — transfer agreement with Mableton Development Authority and associated Series 2015 bond resolution for property for proposed South Cobb Public Health Center: added and approved as part of consent, 4-0.

The board’s approvals cover a mix of recurring maintenance, neighborhood drainage and regional transportation projects. No member recorded a dissenting vote on any of the items listed.

The board also announced appointments to the Workforce Development Board (Iris Simmons, Danette Thornton, David Young and Peter Parkinson) during the meeting’s appointments tab.