Mableton approves donation of Riverside Parkway parcel to Cobb County for new public health clinic; council asks facility be named Mableton Public Health Center

The Mableton City Council on March 12 approved a resolution authorizing the Mableton Development Authority to donate property on Riverside Parkway to Cobb County for a Cobb & Douglas Public Health clinic, and the council asked county leaders to name the clinic the “Mableton Public Health Center.”

Councilwoman Danielle Oladapo moved an amendment asking the city attorney to add language “asking Cobb County and Cobb & Douglas Public Health to name the facility the Mableton Public Health Center on behalf of Mableton residents and for consistency with similarly named facilities.” The amendment was seconded and approved by voice vote.

The donation was presented as a long‑standing community goal. Mayor Michael Owens and Jason Gaines, chairman of the Mableton Development Authority, said the land was acquired years ago (formerly associated with a project called Magnolia Crossing) and that transferring the parcel to Cobb County will free up funds for build‑out of the clinic.

Jason Gaines, chairman of the Mableton Development Authority, said the transfer “is a prime example of the partnership that we envisioned” following the authority’s intergovernmental agreement with the city and that the board supported the disposition.

The council recessed briefly for attorney clarification before voting. After the recess, Councilwoman Oladapo’s amendment was adopted and the council approved the resolution by voice vote; no roll‑call tally was recorded in the public minutes.

The council and the development authority described the project as intended to increase access to primary care for Mableton residents; no construction timeline or budget figures were provided during the meeting. The resolution directs the authority to donate the parcel to Cobb County for the stated purpose; any further steps (including design, procurement, permitting and construction) will involve Cobb County and Cobb & Douglas Public Health.

No specific commitments about funding levels, construction schedule or interagency agreements beyond the property donation were stated in the council meeting.

Council members and city officials said they see the clinic as filling local gaps in health care access, particularly in parts of Districts 1 and 2 that councilmembers described as health‑care deserts. The council did not vote on any funding appropriation for construction at this meeting.

The resolution and the naming request will be transmitted to Cobb County and Cobb & Douglas Public Health for further coordination.

Votes and formal motions on this item were taken by voice; the public record in the meeting did not show a roll‑call breakdown.