Takeaways from the State of the City of Mableton this year 

By Gabriela Henriquez Stoikow

On Wednesday evening, Mayor Michael Owens delivered his second State of the City of Mableton speech since becoming the inaugural mayor of the city in 2023. 

Owens outlined the progress made in building local government capacity through technology and the new Public Safety Department and also talked about the city’s long-term future. In his speech, he focused on “building tomorrow, delivering today.” 

His address happened just a day after city council officials approved the Elevating Tomorrow: Mableton 2045, which is the city’s inaugural comprehensive plan. It serves as a framework on how to make decisions about the future of the city in areas such as land use, housing, transportation and economic development. 

Awards and recognitions

Mayor Owens recognized the achievements of some of the city employees, including City Manager Bill Tanks, who was recognized as the 2026 City Manager of the Year by Gov Business Review. 

Also, the city earned a Silver-level Employer Excellence Certification through the Cobb Chamber and SelectCobb.

“Earlier this year, Mableton earned the 2026 Smart 20 Award, which recognizes influential municipal projects using technology to advance areas such as digital transformation, urban operations, and mobility,” Owens said. 

Owens said Mableton earned its silver certification through the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Green Communities program, recognizing its efforts toward sustainability and more efficient municipal operations.

Technology 

The mayor said the city has built a “cloud-based digital foundation for city operations rather than beginning with building out a traditional, server-room, municipal IT environment.” 

He also reported that the city has been able to use Artificial Intelligence and automation, which has allowed employees to improve their workflows and be more efficient. 

The mayor announced that the city entered a partnership with Google “to explore opportunities involving artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, workforce development, community insights, and responsible innovation in local government.” For instance, through the partnership, high school students or adults looking for better-paying jobs could acquire skills in cybersecurity or AI. 

Creekside Village at Factory Shoals 

Owens reminded residents that the city had announced in June of this year Creekside Village at Factory Shoals, which is a partnership between the City of Mableton, the Mableton Development Authority, and Brock Built Homes to build more than 200 mixed-income homes. 

“Teachers. School bus drivers. Police officers. Firefighters. Young professionals. Families beginning a new chapter. Seniors who want to remain connected will all have an opportunity to live here,” he said. 

Illegal dumping and abandoned properties 

A common issue raised across city council meetings, illegal dumping, was addressed by the mayor throughout his speech. 

He said the Sustainability, Greenspace, and Beautification Director, Emily Ryan, and the Keep Mableton Beautiful Commission are leading efforts to clean public spaces, address illegal dumping, and organize creek and river cleanups. 

During the year, the city did a hazardous-material collection and cleanup event and is deploying air-quality sensors to help the city better understand environmental conditions in Mableton, Owens said. 

Owens said the city secured a $250,000 federal HUD grant for neighborhood revitalization, which will be used to address abandoned properties. 

Public safety and police 

The mayor acknowledged the hard negotiations with Cobb County and the Cobb County Police Department that ultimately led to the city deciding to create its own public safety division, which includes police, emergency management, and code enforcement functions. 

The planned launch date for the city’s public safety operations is June 1, 2027, and a Public Safety Director, Dr. Kerry Stallings, and Police Chief, Dr. Anita Allen, were already hired. Fire services will remain through the existing arrangement with Cobb County. 

Between now and the launch date, the city still must recruit, train new personnel, acquire equipment, establish policies and accountability systems, Owens said. 

Seniors 

Mayor Owens said his number one priority for the next Georgia General Assembly, starting in January 2027, is to pursue property-tax relief for Mableton seniors.

“We must continue to seek practical ways to help seniors remain in their homes, preserve stability in our neighborhoods, and ensure that Mableton remains a community where people can grow older with dignity,” he said. 

Other grants 

Owens also accounted for a few grants and funding the city received in the past year. To create the City Center, Mableton received a $160,000 Livable Centers Initiative grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission. The money will help with the redevelopment of the area around Mableton Barnes Amphitheatre, South Cobb Regional Library and the Mableton Town Square. 

The city also received a $240,000 federal Safe Streets and Roads for All grant to support development of a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan, whose aim is to improve roadway safety. 

He said the city submitted three census tracts for Georgia’s Opportunity Zone 2.0. Federal Opportunity Zones, which are economically distressed communities designated by state governors and certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to incentivize private investment and job creation. 

The city proposed the development of the City Center, the revitalization along the Riverside Parkway corridor, and the potential to improve an entertainment and innovation district around Six Flags and the industrial centers below I-20. Owens said the nominations were accepted, and these have the potential to connect the projects with federal funding opportunities.