Volume 5 Issue 1 | September 2022

Happy Thanksgiving Ward 6!

I want to send a quick note to wish you all a great Thanksgiving weekend.

We're enjoying a relatively quiet several days with friends and family at home, grateful I didn't burn down the house while deep frying our turkey! (BTW - Delish!)

Abbie is home after her first semester at GA Tech (Go Jackets!). Jack continues his CHS dive season, working on his art and dealing with an overbearing dad!  Congrats to Judy for her recent retirement as Commissioner of GA Dept of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities after 10yrs of service. And for me, I am thoroughly enjoying participating in Leadership Cobb '23, which has opened the door to many opportunities to serve Smyrna and Cobb residents.

A friend suggested I share information on local non-profits and City opportunities allowing residents to support our community. Thanksgiving is a great time to consider where we can best use our Passions and Super Powers to help others. Hopefully the list is useful.

I want to thank you all for the opportunity to represent Ward 6 and the City of Smyrna. Thank you for all you do to help keep our community a great place to live.  And a challenge, for each of us seek opportunities to serve others, to help a neighbor, friend, or stranger. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tim
678-631-5311
Upcoming Events
November / December Highlights

Check out active listings on City website - click here
Coming Home For The Holidays - Tree Lighting and Santa! Smyrna Market Village - Tuesday 11/29, starting 5pm. See Santa light up the Tree!

Smyrna Hand Made Market - Final Weekend of the Year! Saturday and Sunday 12/3 & 12/4 - Shop Local!

College Football Saturday - Saturday 12/3 - SEC Championship on the Big Screen in Smyrna Market Village - UGA DAWGS! (WOOF WOOF) vs LSU Tigers (meow) -

Christmas Night Movie - Saturday 12/17 - Drive-In Style Move of ELF! at Smyrna Library Parking Lot Click for more information

City Offices Closed for Christmas - Monday 12/26

Ward 6 & 3 Town Hall - Rescheduled to Tuesday, Jan 24th 2023 at City Hall
Join Council Member Travis Lindley and me at our upcoming Town Hall discussion along with City Staff providing updates.

Keep an eye on Smyrna Facebook Page for upcoming events and City Website Homepage and Calendar
Want To Get Involved and Support Our Community?
With may new residents moving to Smyrna seeking to become engaged, hopefully the following list of programs and non-profits is helpful.

Putting our gifts into action is the best way to say Thank You!
City of Smyrna Opportunities

Smyrna Youth Council: Ideal for local high school students - click here

Smyrna Citizens Academy: Learn all you want about City operations, plus more! - click here

Smyrna Citizens Police Academy: Information coming soon

City Boards & Commission: Click Here

Keep Smyrna Beautiful - Environmental Services - Click Here

Friends of Smyrna Library: Click here

Smyrna History Museum: Click Here

Check out the link to the Community Partners Pages - Click Here
Community Non Profits

Cobb Community Foundation - Easy way to locate area non profits - Click Here

Support Smyrna: Click Here

Path To Shine Mentoring - Click Here

Smyrna Public Safety Foundation - Click Here

MUST Ministries - Pat Mell Rd, Smyrna Location - Click Here

Smyrna Arts Council - Click Here

American Legion Post 160 - Click Here

Smyrna Business Association - Click Here

Optimist Club of Smyrna - Click Here

Kiwanis, Jonquil City, Smyrna - Click Here

Live Safe Resources - Click Here

Plus Many, Many More! - Tillman House, Habitat for Humanity, Food Security of America, The Collective,

Education Related Non Profits

Smyrna Education Foundations - Click Here

Cobb Student Leadership Academy - Applications are Open! Click Here

Campbell High School Education Foundation - Click Here

Each Smyrna area school has a foundation and PTSA actively engaged in supporting teachers and students.

It is safe to say, you can find a path to use your passions and "super powers" to help others!
Ward 6 Info and News
Holiday Sanitation Schedule
Check out the sanitation holiday schedule for Christmas and New Years.
New City Website! Check It Out!

The City's IT Department continues to update the City's new website.

The new structure, design, and feel.makes finding information much easier


Let me know if you see any content needing updating.
New Smyrna 311 - Report Issues Easily and Quickly
The new Smyrna 311 app and webpage is easy to use!. Check it out to report a pot hole, code issue, damaged sidewalk or any other issue? Try the new Smyrna 311 app, it's an easy and fast way to report a problem the City staff.


Your request will be routed to the right staff person for attention. As always, send me an email for assistance
Redistricting - Ward 6 is Changing!
City Council approved new ward boundaries based on 2020 Census data. The map boundaries needed adjustment to achieve similar population numbers and adhere to the Voting Right Act. The firm of Butler Snow analyzed 2020 Census Data to recommend the new Ward map. The new maps will go into effect Jan 1, 2023.

Ward 6 will adjust slightly. The neighborhoods of Westchester Commons and Lois Point are moving to Ward 7 (Council Member Wheaton). Residents near Griffin Middle School, Delmar Gardens, and south-side of Mill Pond Rd, Welcome to Ward 6 - Best Ward in the City!

Upcoming Rezoning Applications

Rezoning Application Z22-011 at 3410 Atlanta Rd to be heard by Mayor and Council on Monday, December 5th. Rezoning application for Neighborhood Shopping from current R-15 single family residential.

Rezoning Application Z22--014 at 2950 Atlanta Rd to be heard by Mayor and Council on Monday, December 19th. Rezoning to Ken's Corner Grill to a proposed Mixed Use development.
Good Kitchen - Grand Opening Downtown!

Another fantastic restaurant opened in the Smyrna Market Village recently. Check out Good Kitchen at 300 Village Green Cir, Ste 110. Smyrna, GA 30080 (the old Porch Light Location)

Specializing in healthy, delicious food with a community feel,

Stop by to say hello and support our local business community
Community News
Commissioner Judy Fitzgerald (Ward 6 Resident!) Retires from GA Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, after 10 years for service. Gov Deal appointed Judy in 2016 and after service as the departments chief of staff. The department, operates state hospitals and provides community-based services, serving people with mental illness, substance use disorders, or intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Congrats to the smartest and hardest working person I know!
Racial Trust Initiative Gathering Welcomes Lagrange Chief of Police Louis Dekmar

The Jonquil City hosted a community breakfast for its Racial Trust Building Initiative, which dates back to March 2021. Mayor Derek Norton said he was inspired by the city of LaGrange's efforts, started in 2015, to train leaders and residents in bridging divides between different racial groups in the city. LaGrange Police Chief Lou Dekmar, who helped spearhead the initiative in his city,

Cobb Youth Student Leadership Academy

Cobb Student Leadership Academy held a middle school student and parent training conference at Campbell High School. I had the pleasure of recruiting help lead a discussion helping parents encourage their middle school age students to become more civically engages. Check out their website for more info Applications open

Thanks to Semeka Samuels for leading the organization and Denise Czarnik, Smyrna Public Safety Foundation for her support..
Smyrna Police Lt Louis Defense and Council Rep Latonia P Hines honored at Cobb NAACP Annual Gala this past month. Lt Defense is our outstanding SPD community liaison with amazing connections throughout our entire Smyrna community. Council Member Hines is a long time influential community leader including through her civic engagement and her role as a Cobb County Assistant District Attorney - more info
Smyrna Arts Council held the second The Secrets of Smyrna in October, retelling fascinating historical stories of our City's past. Mayor Lorena Pace Pruitt, (1940's) the first female mayor in Smyrna, joined the tour to share tales of the first city water service and paving roads. The walking theatrical experience was written and directed by James Allen Nelson. Keep an eye out for next years show in October, 2023 -
CHS High Art Honor Society Earns 1st and 3rd at Chalktoberfest
CHS Arts Honors Society cleaned up at Marietta's Chalktoberfest, beating out beautiful art work by many other area high schools. The bright and creative Sardines earned 1st and King Freddie took 3rd place. .
LiveSafe Resources 'Que & Brew Tailgate at Taylor Brawner Park -

Mark it on your Oct 2023 Calendar!
LiveSafe Resources, a non-profit committed to providing safety and healing to those impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault and elder abuse, held their annual fund raiser at Taylor Brawner Park in October.

If you like barbecue, beer, & great music, this is the party for you!



Updated Council Committee & Task Force Work
Fanny Williams Legacy Project
The RFQ - Request For Qualification - was released this week, seeking artists, designers and architects to participate in the Fanny Williams Legacy Project

We are working with a talented group of residents and community members to create a permanent memorial to honor Fanny Williams including a forward looking design keep alive her remarkable life lessons. An experienced group of metro Atlanta based historians and designers are providing guidance to help ensure the final design is outstanding.
Expected completion near end of 2023
Traffic Calming
Committee is meeting this month to discuss sidewalk, pedestrian safety and future traffic calming projects. Email or call me if you know of areas in Ward 6 or across the City that need attention. Helping ensure Pedestrian and Traffic Safety remains a priority for the Mayor and Council.
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Arts & Cultural Task Force
The Arts & Cultural Task Force met last week to discuss the ART-ery, a future "art trail" of public art installed on Atlanta Rd from Taylor Brawner to Belmont. Site selection, designs and installations planning is underway. Keep an eye out for decorated traffic control boxes in early 2023
Finance Committee
Finance Committee is continues meeting to discuss prudent financial planning including how to best compete in the current very challenging job market. The committee is chaired by Council Member Travis Lindley (Ward 4), Committee consists of Dr Lewis Wheaton and myself. We are pleased the City recently received a AAA bond rating again and held millage rate steady at 8.99 mills unchanged since 1991
Veterans Day Ceremony - November 11th
Smyrna Veterans Committee and American Legion Post 160 held the annual Veterans Day Ceremony on November 11, 2022 at Smyrna Community Center.  Captain Leland Jones, US Army, delivered an impassioned message of Thanks to our Veterans and , encouraging us all to find our passion and purpose in life.

Mayor Norton welcomed the many Smyrna area veterans with a huge thanks to the Veterans Committee who makes this event happen each year. 

And big thanks to the South Cobb High School Choral and Campbell High School JROTC Color Guard (State Champion JROTC!) .
Calendar and Meeting Notifications
Sign up for City Newsletter
Calendar for upcoming Mayor & Council Meeting and Planning and Zoning Meetings.   Meetings are open to public and in person at the Community Center. Or available online.

  • Link to Upcoming Meetings and Agenda Calendar
  • Click Here
  • Sign up for City Admin Newsletter
  • Click Here

Economic Development Newsletters - Sign up click here

Watch Live – click the calendar link on City Calendar to find the online video feed. Click Here 

Subscribe to Receive City Meeting Agendas: Do you want City meeting agendas sent to your email automatically?   Click Here .
HOA Meetings - Need A Location To Hold An Annual Meeting?
Upcoming HOA or Community Meeting? Contact me if you want to reserve a room at the Community Center or City Hall. I'm happy to attend with City Staff to provide updates, hear concerns, and answer questions.
Helpful Links 
City of Smyrna: Website and Facebook
City Calendar and Links to Video Feeds: Website
Keep Smyrna Beautiful - Website and Facebook
Department of Environmental Services: website
Recycling Center: Website
Smyrna City Council, Ward 6
Respectfully,
Mayor Pro Tem, Ward 6
Smyrna City Council
2800 King Street
Smyrna, GA 30080

678-631-5311 - office
404-313-8504 - city cell