Sexton Hall to unveil renovations, programs

In conjunction with debuting newly renovated facilities, the Sexton Hall Enrichment Center at 2115 Chloe Road, Cumming is expanding programming.

One of three county centers targeted to older adults and run by Forsyth County Senior Services, Sexton will add two traditional senior programs to its current offerings targeting 50-plus active adults. One is a respite program for those seeking memory support, to be offered Mondays and Thursdays beginning April 27. It’s designed to provide a respite for caregivers.

The other is a congregate program to be offered Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays starting May 9.

Both will include lunch and activities and officials said they’re designed to help keep seniors living in their homes, active and involved.

Information: www.forsythco. com/seniors jobs in the process. The company plans to have the facility operational by July.

Under the 12-year term of the inducement deal, the company will get a 100 percent abatement on county property taxes for three years.

School taxes aren’t included in the arrangement. County attorney Ken Jarrard told the commission the company’s move represents a capital investment of 20 million dollars.

Sports Authority will pay transaction costs and government fees. No scanners on April 27. Available will be a large quantity of good quality hard cover and paperback fiction and nonfiction books organized by category, DVDs, CDs and children’s books. All proceeds go to the Roswell library for materials and community programs. 770-640-3075.

Garden Faire by Historic Bulloch Hall and North Fulton Master Gardeners. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 29 (rain or shine). Bulloch Hall, 180 Bulloch Ave., Roswell. Includes perennials, herbs and native plants from the Master Gardeners’ gardens; the Vintage Fleatique; more than 30 plant and garden art vendors; entertainment and gardening presentations. Food and beverages also will be available for purchase. Proceeds will benefit North Fulton Master Gardener demonstration gardens. nfmg. net/garden-faire.html.

County to issue nearly $27.6M for parks bonds

The Cobb County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to issue nearly $27.6 million in bonds for new parks though still short of the $40 million parks bond referendum approved by Cobb voters in November 2008.

To fund the full $40 million, “an astronomical interest rate” would be needed and “no one would buy the bonds,” said Interim Finance and Economic Development Director/Comptroller William Volckmann.

However, the county was able to add nearly $2.9 million due to the county’s AAA credit rating at a 5 percent interest rate, Volckmann added.

With about $160,000 for bond costs, that total will be almost $27.6 million — instead of $24.7 million — that can be used to buy park land, he said. Because of the economic recession and corresponding drop in county property values beginning in 2009 and continuing with a more dramatic drop in 2010, the decision was made by county officials not to proceed with the issuance of the $40 million at that time, Volckmann explained.

As required by Georgia law, the election resolution, the referendum and the original bond resolution set forth the principal amount to be paid in each year from 2010 to and including 2023, he said, which is why the originally authorized $40 million has decreased with each passing year.

Now the maximum principal amount authorized to be issued is $24.7 million, the total of the authorized principal amounts for 2018 through and including 2023 but also with the addition of nearly $2.9 million because of the county’s high rating, Volckmann said.

“The Great Locomotive Chase” on the 155th anniversary by the Kennesaw Historical Society. 2 p.m. Saturday. Free. Depot, 2828 Cherokee St. NW, downtown Kennesaw. The speaker will be Jonathan Scott, curator at Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History. BackStory@ KennesawHistoricalSociety.org.

Plant Sale and Garden Fair by Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 21 and 22. Free. Jim Miller Park, 2245 Callaway Road, Marietta. A wide selection of plants, in every price range. CobbMas terGardeners.com/2017garden-TourFair.