Commissioner
Tim Lee
100 Cherokee Street
Marietta, GA
30090
(770) 528-3318
(770) 528-2606 fax
tlee@cobbcounty.org
Greetings,
Welcome to my district wide quarterly e-update. Commission District 3 has long benefited from open communications between the residents, business community, neighborhood associations, our schools and local government. It is our intent to utilize this quarterly e-update to keep you informed of how Cobb County is working to protect and even enhance the quality of life we all enjoy.
In each issue you can expect informational highlights from county departments that have a direct impact in our district, updates on zoning and commission actions and community wide notes of interest. Additionally, these updates will introduce you to some of our county workers that play important roles in the daily life of district 3.
From time to time, there may be time sensitive issues that need to brought to your attention and we will use this email subscription list to keep you informed.
It is a honor to serve as your elected representative on the board of commissioners and I am always glad to hear from you. You can always reach my or my assistant Millie Rogers by emailing the office at
tlee@cobbcounty.org.
The following is a list of major road projects in district 3 and their current status. These projects are SPLOST-funded with the exception of two SR 120 projects which are funded through GRTA www.grta.org. Three projects are funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) (for more information about ARRA funding, go to www.recovery.gov )
Projects Currently Under Construction:
- Allgood Road – The completion date for this project is May 2010. No delays are expected at this time. There will be another hill cut, near Smithwood Drive, but the road will not have to be closed to complete this work.
- Big Shanty Phase III –This project will widen Big Shanty Road between Busbee Parkway and Chastain Meadows Parkway from two lanes to four lanes. Right-of-way and construction are funded by Cobb County. It is currently under construction with a completion date of August 2010.
- Canton Road Bridge – The completion date has been pushed from October to December due to delays associated with relocating major underground utilities.
- Post Oak Tritt Road – This project is nearing substantial completion. The road was reopened to traffic after the new bridge was completed in early August 2009. Remaining work includes final grading of shoulders, sidewalk installation, and final paving. Project Completion date is currently set at early November 2009.
- SR 120/Roswell Road at SR 120 Loop Interchange – ARRA Funded - This project provides capacity improvements to the interchange and is currently under construction with a GDOT completion date of summer 2011.
- Big Shanty Phase I – ARRA Funded– This project section from Barrett Lakes Boulevard to Busbee Parkway is scheduled to bid in November. Construction will be managed by GDOT. The project includes a new crossing under I-75 and will relieve traffic on Chastain Road.
- Big Shanty Phase II – This project is in the final design stage and will be bid next spring. Cobb County is acquiring the right-of-way and the Town Center Area Community Improvement District is funding the construction. The project limits are from Chastain Road to Barrett Lakes Boulevard.
- Canton Road Corridor Improvements – Right-of-way is being acquired and final construction plans are expected by November.
- Jamerson/Wigley Road – Final revisions are currently being made with final construction plans expected by September.
- SR 120 Widening – ARRA Funded– Roswell Road, from the Loop interchange to Bridgegate Drive, will be widened to a six-lane roadway with a median. The project will provide much needed capacity improvements in this heavily-travelled corridor. It is scheduled to bid in December.
Due to a drop in sales tax collections, Cobb County will have to postpone plans for some new roads and sidewalks projects. The county faces a roughly $67 million decrease in expected sales tax revenue from the SPLOST 1-cent sales tax for its transportation projects.
- Bells Ferry Road – The entire project is deferred with final construction plans expected by November. Right-of-way is not being acquired at this time.
- Shiloh/Shallowford – Although the budget is partially deferred, DOT is postponing plans to construct the project in phases. It is expected the funds will become available in order to construct as one project. Final plan review is scheduled for mid-September.
Battalion Chief William “Bill” Duffy
A native of Buffalo, New York, Bill Duffy comes from a large family. He is the 53rd of 58 grandchildren on his father’s side. “My Dad had 16 brothers and sisters himself,” said Duffy. He moved south just in time to miss the blizzard of 1977.
His fire service career began with the City of Marietta Fire Department in June 1982 and he joined the ranks of Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services a year later. With the help of many mentors along the way, Duffy moved through the ranks serving as a Fire Engineer, Lieutenant and Captain before his appointment to Battalion Chief in January 2000. He has worked in most areas of the county but as Battalion Chief has served in Cobb Fire’s 3rd Battalion, based in east Cobb. Duffy oversees seven fire stations in east Cobb that house 14 fire apparatus and 47 firefighters. “It’s a blessing to have a career of service, not only to Cobb’s citizens and visitors but to my Firefighters and Officers. It’s really pretty simple; you show up and help people.”
Duffy is a graduate of the University of Georgia’s Cobb County EXCEL Management program and has been a Certified Paramedic since 1986. He is one of only about 700 firefighters in the state of Georgia to complete the advanced class in firefighting, rescue and self-rescue called Georgia Smoke Diver.
He resides in Dallas, Georgia with his wife Debra and three daughters, Ashley, Caitlyn, and Erin and granddaughter Kaia. He enjoys recreational boating, woodworking, and playing ice hockey with the Metro Atlanta Police and Fire Hockey team.
“I remember as a kid hanging out at the firehouse around the corner. I told them, “I want to be a firefighter when I grow up”. They said, “Sorry kid, but you can’t do both”.
Yellow Brick Road
The focal point of the area is the multi-colored walkway called the “Yellow Brick Road” that leads the young from the entrance to the large activity room where a variety of programs are offered. Many of the programs are designed to encourage and promote the joys and rewards of reading.
Since reopening its doors in early 2009, over 6500 children have attended programs in the new activity room. Feedback from parents and children have positive. Circulation averages over 22,000 items a month. This is an increase of 20 percent. According to Pam Finley, youth services librarian, the community loves their newly renovated library. A young girl who was reluctant to leave the library was overhead saying she wants to live at the library forever!
Mt. View Regional Library is located at 3320 Sandy Plains Road. The hours of service are 9am-9pm Monday-Thursday; 9am-6pm Friday and Saturday; 1pm-5pm Sunday. For additional information, call 770-509-2725.
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