Commission confirms several appointments, sets speed limits and authorizes grant application

Commissioners on July 20 considered and acted on a series of appointments and administrative items including board reappointments, sanitation- and industrial-board nominations, speed-limit adjustments and authorization to apply for a Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG‑DR) award.

Several appointments were approved by voice or roll-call votes; others drew dissent or failed. For example, a roll-call vote on reappointing Lee Willis to the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals failed after a mix of yes and no votes, and the chair noted the motion did not pass. Conversely, other nominees—including appointments to the Cobb County Partnership and Industrial Development Board—were approved by majority vote.

On traffic matters, the commission discussed and adjusted speed limits for roads in the first and second districts, including setting Big Creek Road and Trail Hollow Road segments to 15 mph and making other changes designed to align connected roads. Commissioners debated whether Riviera Drive should be set to 20 or 25 mph and ultimately moved to set it to 25 to align with neighboring streets.

The commission also authorized staff to apply for noncompetitive CDBG‑DR funding through the state and HUD; staff said the county is guaranteed a $4 million project award if the project fits HUD guidelines and suggested sewer projects as likely uses. A waiver was being sought with HUD to allow use of the funds for rebuilding county facilities most affected by a national disaster.

The commission adjourned the meeting and scheduled a brief executive session with the county attorney to discuss litigation.

Next steps: nominees who were approved will be notified and take their posts; staff will proceed with the CDBG‑DR application and return details on project proposals and any required waivers.