Meeting discussionsStart with a topic.

1. Roll Call Present: 6 – Mayor Derek Norton, Councilmember Travis Lindley, Councilmember Charles Welch, Councilmember Susan Wilkinson, Mayor Pro Tem / Councilmember Tim Gould, Councilmember Rickey N. Oglesby Jr. Also Present: 1 – Scott Cochran Absent: 2 – Councilmember Glenn Pickens, Councilmember Latonia P. Hines Staff: 10 – Douglas Copeland, Richard Garland, H. Houze, Mike L. Jones, Evan McBrayer, Eric Mohrmann, Paul Osburn, Heather Peacon-Corn, Kristin Robinson, Joey Staubes

2. Call to Order Mayor Derek Norton called to order the July 16, 2026 Committee of the Whole meeting held at A. Max Bacon City Hall in the HR Training Room at 6:00 PM.

3. Staff M&C Agenda Items to Review RES2026-007: Evan McBrayer, Emergency Management Specialist, stated the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan provides sustained actions to eliminate or reduce risk to people and property from the effects of natural and man-made hazards. The Plan shows the planning process for Cobb County and its participating jurisdictions, and it identifies applicable hazards, vulnerabilities, and hazard mitigation strategies. Plan updates are on a 5-year rotation. The 2026 plan has been prepared by Blue Umbrella Solutions. The document is sectioned into three parts: outline of the characteristics of the community, statistics of the natural hazards that are potential threats to the area, and an outline of twenty action items for each city. The vast majority of the twenty action items are already being done by the city, so this is more of a sustaining plan rather than initiating any new plans or projects. Once this is adopted, it will be sent to Cobb County. In conjunction with this, Mr. McBrayer also discussed a Public Navigation Center, a post-incident public assistance center. This would be a city-run support center that would connect victims of natural disasters to financial support, low-interest emergency loans from local banks or institutions, public health matters, sheltering, and charitable organizations. Councilmember Welch asked what is considered a local hazard. Mr. McBrayer stated it is anything that forces displacement or shelter-in-place situations. Councilmember Wilkinson asked about the community rating scale that can decrease flood insurance rates. Paul Osburn, Interim Public Works Director, explained that through the process of trying to gain federal funding for flooding in the past, Smyrna does not qualify because it was considered nuisance flooding rather than a catastrophic flooding, and that is based on the age of infrastructure. Staff will be researching flood insurance rates for residents. ATH2026-093: Eric Mohrmann, Deputy Fire Chief / Emergency Services, stated that Smyrna Rescue 4 - 3366 (2016 Ford F-450) is approaching the end of its service life and is scheduled to be replaced in FY27.

The total cost to replace Rescue 4 w/ equipment is $490,000.00. By equipping one of our rescue units with transport capabilities, we will be able to transport critically ill or injured patients in emergencies when the response times of contracted transport providers are longer than expected. The apparatus will be built and shipped from the manufacturer approximately 12 months after the order is received. Mayor and Council asked the following: • Councilmember Welch asked when the rescue vehicle is deployed? It deploys for any medical calls. • Councilmember Welch asked if an accident occurs with injuries, do both a fire truck and Rescue 4 deploy? Yes, but it can depend on the severity and the other vehicles that are deployed for that accident. • Councilmember Welch asked would staffing remain the same for this new vehicle? Yes, at Fire Station 4 there are three staffed for the truck and two staffed on Rescue 4. • Mayor Norton asked for clarification as to why a fire truck and rescue vehicle would be deployed when they were told in the past that this would stop the fire truck from being deployed; and the rescue vehicle is supposed to be quicker? Deputy Chief Mohrmann explained that it is quicker, but the rescue unit’s priority is medical. For an auto accident, the fire truck and rescue vehicle are both deployed. The fire truck assists with blocking, and the rescue unit is a backup for medical. If another medical call comes in, then the rescue vehicle can go to the medical call more quickly. The medical calls are its priority, but it is equipped with air packs and medical tools to assist with fire calls as well. • Councilmember Welch spoke about a particular situation with a neighbor when there was a fire truck deployed, but there was no fire. He asked why would a truck be deployed rather than a rescue vehicle?

Deputy Chief Mohrmann explained that all of the fire trucks are ALS, and there is a paramedic at every station. It has to do with capability, coverage, and territories. If the fire truck can get to an area more quickly, then that is what is deployed. All trucks can service a medical situation. • Councilmember Welch asked about its capabilities as a transport vehicle. Deputy Chief Mohrmann explained that this is a transport capable vehicle but not an ambulance. They are the Fire Department, not an ambulance service, but a rescue vehicle gives them the capability to transport a patient in dire situations. Though Metro Ambulance’s response times have improved, there are still times when response is too long, and a vehicle like this will give them the opportunity to help the patient more quickly. It also allows for addressing ‘fire fighter down’ or ‘police officer down’ calls. • Councilmember Welch asked if there is a record of Metro’s response times? Deputy Chief Mohrmann stated the data is available and part of the reason why they moved in this direction, though he does not have that data with him. Most jurisdictions are moving to this model because of response times. They have taken several steps to remedy this issue including working with dispatch, working with Metro, but this vehicle allows for an added capability to get people where they need to be, and it provides added coverage if other vehicles are already at a scene. Mayor Norton stated that if this is approved, the council would like to see some stats as to how the vehicle is being used. Council asked for more data and information including the data for Metro response times. Deputy Chief Mohrmann reiterated that though this vehicle looks like an ambulance, it is a transport capable vehicle. The Smyrna Fire Department is not an ambulance service and does not want to be one, but they do want to have the coverage and capabilities readily available if needed.

4. Formal Business and Presentations

A. COW2026-064 Parks Equipment Discussion – Parks and Rec Director Richard Garland Richard Garland, Community Services Administrator, discussed the landscape maintenance of the fields at Campbell Middle School. He reached out to Russell Landscaping, and they quoted an additional $40,000.00 a year to be added to the existing landscaping contract if Campbell Middle School maintenance is added. Mr. Garland researched ways that maintenance could be kept in-house. He believes this can be done if they are able to purchase some equipment: two Laser Z X-Series 72" riding mowers at a cost of $16,014.00 each for a total of $32,028.00 and one Vanguard Ride-On Blower at a cost of $11,880.00 totaling $55,788.00. Mayor Norton asked if the City has the manpower to do this. Mr. Garland stated that they will be bringing on additional people later in the year. The equipment will be stored at Public Works.

5. Review of Current M&C Agenda

A. COW2026-056 Review of the July 20, 2026 Mayor and Council Meeting Notice and Agenda Z26-004: Joey Staubes, Planner II, provided the following background: The applicant is requesting to rezone 4691 Camp Highland Road, which is currently vacant, from GC to TD-Conditional for development of six (6) single-family attached dwelling units at a density of 5.71 units per acre. The Planning & Zoning Commission voted 5-0 to deny the application at the May 11, 2026, hearing. Following the vote to deny the applicant held an additional meeting with the surrounding neighbors and modified the site plan and elevations in response to those comments. The Planning & Zoning Commission voted to approve the revised site plan and elevations by a vote of 3-1 at the July 13, 2026, meeting. Neighbors’ concerns originally were the placement of the dog park and the detention pond. Those have been moved. Now their concern is the height of the buildings. The applicant is trying to amend their renderings to show that the front side is three stories and the back side is four stories. Mr. Staubes reminded Mayor and Council that at 5:00 PM on Monday the consultant is coming to discuss the Comprehensive Plan. ATH2026-089: Major Copeland stated that over the last two years, the Police Department has lost nine vehicles from the fleet due to traffic accidents as well as mechanical failures. Seven of the vehicles were marked patrol vehicles that are necessary for the continued service provided by the Police Departments to the City of Smyrna. The loss of these vehicles has left the department short of the necessary fleet needed to provide both emergency services and routine response required. Due to this shortage, other vehicles have had to be kept past the City’s established replacement schedule, leading to increased mechanical failure in the fleet which has led to operational downtime as well as increased vehicle repair costs. The total cost to purchase (4) Dodge Durango Pursuit vehicles will cost $270,989.60 under the Georgia Statewide Contract to be funded by the Emergency Vehicle Replacement Fund, with vehicle outfitting to be funded by the Asset Forfeiture Fund. CON2026-018: Paul Osburn, Interim Public Works Director, stated RFP 26-019 was let to rebid and award a 3-year contract for Fire Systems Inspections and Maintenance citywide. The city received five responsive bids that were evaluated by an appointed evaluation team. The evaluation team evaluated based on outlined criteria on which the determination was made to award the contract to Cliff’s Fire Extinguisher.

6. Other Business / Staff Comment Mike Jones, City Administrator, asked Deputy Chief Mohrmann to update Mayor and Council on the maintenance issues at Station 4, the medical equipment relocation, and the assurances that response times will not be impacted. Deputy Chief Mohrmann explained that due to the maintenance issues, they have divided Station 4. Rescue 4 is at Station 5 and Truck 4 is at Station 2. Response times should not be affected. They have been in communication with dispatch. Deputy Chief Mohrmann also updated Mayor and Council about an incident at Whitefield Academy. Lt. Jay Ratliff was there for a routine alarm inspection. He helped save the life of a man who had no pulse by performing CPR and using the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) available at the school. Because of his efforts, the man was saved and safely transported to hospital. Councilmember Susan Wilkinson stated that someone from Smyrna Grove spoke to her about gunshots around Benson Poole. Someone has also asked about the parking lot at Zoya. Councilmember Lindley said that Community Development is working on signage and other remedies. Councilmember Rickey N. Oglesby, Jr. thanked Smyrna Police Department because they have made two arrests in his assault case. Councilmember Charles Welch asked that in about a month or so that a cost analysis be done now that the jail is closed. Heather Peacon-Corn, City Clerk, explained that starting January 1, 2027, the Clerk’s Office will no longer be able to process and post elected official’s CCDR’s and PFD’s. She provided them with a QR code that takes them to the sites needed to register and watch a tutorial. She reminded Mayor and Council there is a CCDR due at the end of this month for those who do not have an affidavit on file. Paul Osburn, Interim Deputy Public Works Director, stated that they have started the meter change-out program. This will take place over the next nine months. He also mentioned he needs to replace his back truck at a cost of $600,000.00. Mayor Norton said to discuss that at a future meeting. 7. Executive Session (As Needed)

8. Adjournment Mayor Derek Norton adjourned the July 16, 2026 Committee of the Whole meeting at 6:50 PM.

1. Roll Call Present: 6 - Mayor Derek Norton, Councilmember Travis Lindley, Councilmember Charles Welch, Councilmember Susan Wilkinson, Mayor Pro Tem / Councilmember Tim Gould, Councilmember Rickey N. Oglesby Jr. Also Present: 1 - Scott Cochran Staff Present: 2 - Jill Head, Kristin Robinson Absent: 2 - Councilmember Pickens, Councilmember Hines