Georgia House passes bill for proposed East Cobb cityhood
WSBTV: COBB COUNTY
January 28, 2022
ATLANTA (AP) — One of Atlanta’s most affluent suburban areas is a step closer to becoming its own city, after the Georgia House voted to allow residents in a proposed city of East Cobb to decide whether they want to incorporate.
The House voted 98-63 for House Bill 841; the measure will next move to the Senate for more debate. If the bill becomes law, residents would vote on cityhood on May 25. If approved, they would elect council members and a mayor in November, with the city coming into existence on Jan. 1.
Opponents say the proposal is rushed, makes unneeded changes to county services that function just fine, and could harm county government.
Three more Cobb cityhood approvals are pending this year: Lost Mountain in western Cobb, and Vinings and Mableton in southern Cobb.
A House subcommittee later Thursday approved House Bill 826 to create Lost Mountain and House Bill 840 to create Vinings.
Rep. Erick Allen, a Smyrna Democrat, said again that he wants the decision on all the proposed Cobb cities to be delayed until there’s a study about how the county will be affected. He also said that all four proposed cities should get a vote, saying the proposal for Mableton, a predominantly Black area, has not yet been scheduled for a vote.
Another opponent, Democratic Rep. Teri Anulewicz, said the proposal to provide fire services could endanger the excellent fire rating the area now enjoys as part of Cobb County.
“Residents need to be able to enter into the creation of a city with their eyes wide open,” said Anulewicz, a former Smyrna City Council member. “This city is being rushed.”