Cobb DOT Passing Their Duties On To Homeowners in South Cobb Area

What a shame that Cobb County DOT has decided to pass their jobs onto the taxpaying homeowners, BUT, only in South Cobb. Our property taxes provide revenue to Cobb DOT to clean up our right-of-ways as well as the residential streets. Under the new leadership Cobb DOT has passed their job duties and responsibilities to the homeowners with no regret. It has gotten to the point they are now directing homeowners to provide services that they should provide as part of our taxpaying dollars. At my request for service, which is my right as a taxpayer, they decide to bring the County Attorney into the mix to escape from providing constituent services in South Cobb.

After requesting county services for a ditch in front of my house and street cleanup, I received this partial email from Commissioner Monique Sheffield:

"Hello Denny. I met with county staff and below is the response that I received regarding the ditch at your property.

The homeowner is responsible for the open channel ditch and driveway pipe maintenance. The open channel ditch is any ditch or drainage area this in not piped. This maintenance includes clearing debris from the channel and replacement of driveway pipes when needed."

Every homeowner in South Cobb should be outraged! Now, homeowners are responsible for channeling storm water through the County by unstopping drains and replacing pipes along the County's right-of-ways. I repeat, EVERY HOMEOWNER IN SOUTH COBB SHOULD BE OUTRAGED!

I made a call to Fulton, DeKalb, Paulding, Clayton, Forsyth, Douglas and Gwinnett counties and was told by their County DOT office that the right-of-way ditches are the property of the County, not the homeowners. Why, is it different for South Cobb? Under the leadership of Chairman Mike Boyce these issues were resolved in an expedient timeframe. Cobb DOT was johnnie-on-the spot. What changed? I think it goes without saying.....

If you don't demand the services you pay for you will never get them. If you see trees hanging over the street, call Cobb DOT. If you see trash in the street, call Cobb DOT. If your storm water drains are backing up, call Cobb DOT. If you see potholes in the street, call Cobb DOT. If you see a street light out, call Cobb DOT. The contact number is 770-528-1600 with email address cobbdot@cobbcounty.org. Remind them it's their job to clean up our community just as they clean other parts of Cobb.

Make them earn their pay as we fork out hundreds/thousands of dollars for services via property taxes that we are not receiving. We pay them to do a job and that job should be done to our expectation. Don't allow Cobb DOT to pass their work onto us as homeowners and taxpayers. We deserve better service and the only way to get it, is to demand it. Chairman Mike Boyce was a soldier who's truly missed. He would never have allowed Cobb DOT and he didn't allow Cobb DOT to treat the citizens in South Cobb as we are being treated now when it comes to county services. One can only think that BETTER days are ahead and this too should pass.

Speak up and speak out because your property value depends on it!