Live Blog: Commissioner JoAnn Birrell's Town Hall Meeting

6:25 p.m. Commissioner Birrell's assistant Inger Eberhart is setting up the Cobb county District 3 maps and a writing board. Residents are filing into the meeting room.

6:38 p.m. Commissioner Jo Ann Birrell said that she appreciates support and turn out.  Pastor Steve Crowley from Piedmont Church led us in prayer.

6:40 p.m. She is introducing Manager David Hankerson, Special Services Agent Vigil Moon (fleet management, tax achives, more), Director of Communications Mr. Quigley, and more of her staff to the audience. She is thanking the staff.

6:45 p.m. The property tax accessor spoke: All tax payers will receive a notice whether your property tax has changed or not. It won't show your exemptions. If your value is not changing, then your taxes will not change.

 6:50 p.m. It is crowded. Seats full. People standing in the room and outside in the halls.

7:00 p.m. Next Wednesday at East Cobb Government Services Center located at 4400 Lower Roswell Road there will be an hour and a half meeting to address the proposed Wellstar construction project (Providence Road and Roswell Road). 

7:01 p.m. Birrell is still introducing staff, business associations, and important members of our community.

Please join the Keep It In Cobb Facebook page, she said.  

Wheeler High School has six senior students here to report on the town meeting as a project.

7:05 p.m. Birrell says that residents have a voice with her. After next week's public meeting about the Wellstar issue - no matter the outsome - she and Ott are still here for your concerns and input to make it a win-win for all. At last week's committee meeting Wellstar said they'll have drawings and proposal in 90 days. They'll address concerns at public meetings.

"We're not passing the buck or throwing you under the bus. We'll be here for you through the entire process and address your concerns," Birrell said.

7:10 p.m. (A gentleman is speaking, but I could not hear his name due to noise). The 2011 Budget; home values make up 55% revenue. There is a 10% decline in the home values, which means a 10% decline from our digest. We are 31 million dollars is the hole, he said. We need to make a decision of how to revolve this issue. There will be cutting budgets 10% across the board, like services. The libraries and senior centers will be closed certain days. Parks and the aquatic center may close early.

The county has cut expenses, but home values have declined significantly.

The General Fund pays for everything but fire dept. We have a Fire Dept. Fund. We have a Debt Service Fund.

Commissioners need to make a decision April 12. They need to make a revised budget to address this issue. The public needs to e-mail their opinion and ideas to Commissioner Birrell and the county for resolving this matter. What are your priorities? What do you want cut? What services do you want cut or not cut?

This e-mail will distribute to all five commissioners: budgetcomments@cobbcounty.org

The budget will expire Sept. 2011.

7:25 p.m. A man asked if we can consolidate the officials in the different towns in Cobb County.

Officals replied that there is talk about consolidating.

7:25 p.m. A woman in the audience said that she is worried that the Wellstar Outpatient Facility will drop home values along Providence and Roswell Road.

7:30 p.m. Birrell wants Mabry Park built in the next four years. No ballfields. It will be a passive park.

Mark Jernigan, President of Friends of Mabry Park (nonprofit), is asking for a $100 donation as a founding sponsors - he'll match the donation. http://www.mabrypark.org/

Friend of Mabry Park needs someone who can write grants.

Property is secured. The money being raised is to build the road and park. First, we need to finish the Master Plan to present to the commissioners. It costs money to do that.

"Once the Master Plan is approved and adopted, then we go to businesses to ask for donations (like a supermarket who donates a pavilion)," said Birrell.

Until the Master Plan is done, they cannot give a financial goal to reach. The final Master Plan will specify costs, then a financial goal known.

7:37 p.m. Todd Thrasher is donating $10,000 to the park. He is a developer in East Cobb. He believes that the community needs green space.

The next Mabry Park Master Plan meeting is April 19 at 7 p.m. at Garrison Mill Elementary, School Cafeteria, 4111 Wesley Chapel Rd.

7:49 p.m. SPLOST projects: Sandy Plains Road and East Piedmont Road is having  dual left turn lanes and right turn lanes added at the intersection.

The library closes at 8 p.m., so Birrell is concluding the meeting.