Government and Business News Roundup

If you want to have your say in our area's transportation news, you can play a direct role in setting regional transportation priorities by participating in a telephone town-hall meeting tonight at 7:15. Call 888-886-6603, use ID No. 16720, and you can question Board of Commissioners Chairman Tim Lee and Kennesaw Mayor Mark Mathews, who are members of the Atlanta Regional Roundtable tasked with creating a final project list for the July 2012 referendum on a special 1-cent sales tax for transportation. The call will last an hour.

Meanwhile, the 51st Atlanta Diversity & Professional Career Fair runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at the Cobb Galleria Centre. Admission and parking are free and professional business attire is required.

Also, an age-restricted apartment complex in Northeast Cobb is seeking the approval of the county commissioners.

On Tuesday, the board is expected to approve a resolution supporting the construction of Town Center Heights east of Interstate 575 in commission District 3.

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs gives tax credits to those wishing to develop or rehabilitate property that would be available for all people including low-income residents.

Applicants are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and the application is comprised of numerous items including letters of support from local governments.

The property on Barrett Parkway was re-zoned in 2007 to accommodate the 100 or so senior living units on the property. 

The $13 million project by developer Paladin, Inc., will provide housing for those 55 and older.

In other business Tuesday, the commissioners are expected to give the go-ahead to the county’s emergency management agency, which is seeking federal money to renovate its operations center.

The emergency operations center serves as the command post for natural disasters.

If granted the funding, the agency would receive up to $250,000 for renovation projects. The county would be required to kick in $62,500.

The money would go toward new equipment such as computers, video monitors and other upgraded technologies for the facility on North Marietta Parkway.

Also, the money would help modify the current space to enhance security, disaster preparedness and work flow.

In 2004, commissioners approved $1 million to relocate the Department of Public Safety Supply Unit and the emergency operations center.

The supply unit was moved, but because of the county's current financial situation, the remaining balance of $438,142 was used elsewhere, halting the emergency operations center's move, according to the Marietta Daily Journal.

Now, the county is planning to keep the center at its current location, but remodel and update it.

- East Cobb Patch Editor Wendy Parker contributed to this report.