Cobb Commission Chairman candidate Billy Byrne has outlined plans to propose to the county's delegation the creation of the City of East Cobb if he is elected to the top county leadership position.
Byrne, who is running against incumbent Chairman Tim Lee in the Aug. 21 runoff, sent details of his proposal to the media on Wednesday.
Byrne pointed to the success of other DeKalb and Fulton county incorporations, including the recently approved Brookhaven as part of the motivation for his proposal. When the economy rebounds east Cobb is sure to be in the focal point of the county's continued growth and development, Byrne said, and those residents should have more control over those decisions than just through the current representation of two county commissioners.
Byrne has not yet discussed the proposal from the two current commissioners who represent the area. His plan would require the county to provide police, fire and water and sewer services to the new city for a fee of $1 per year. The city would be governed by an elected mayor and five council members, as determined by the county delegation. If the city made it to a referendum and was approved by voters, the county would also be required to budget $1 million to build a city hall for the new city, according to Byrne's plans.
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