Live: Town Hall Meeting

8:02 p.m. Meeting comes to a close. Mathews awards city pin to little girl who helped pass mic to audience members.

7:53 p.m. Audience member: "I would just like to make a point when it comes down to Jiles Road. I've lived in Kennesaw since before traffic lights existed in this town...and unfortunately, and this is not really the fault of government, it's just the way things are, infrastructure is always running behind development.

"None of that existed back when I moved to Kennesaw, so now Jiles Road backs up all the way to 75, and for me just to get to Kroger might take an hour."

She says the Jiles Road issue has nothing to do with Paulding County residents but "with updating infrastructure to meet the current demand right here in our city."

7:35 p.m. Mathews overviews SPLOST projects planned for Kennesaw. Some of the projects would include:

- Pine Mountain Road improvements

- Cobb International Road developed to industrial standards

- Citywide safety, signs, sidewalk improvements

- Resurfacing improvements

- Mac Dobbs operational improvements

- Widening of Cherokee Street to three lanes, intersection improvements

- Number one recreation project would be new Skate Park at Swift-Cantrell Park

- At Smith-Gilbert Gardens, multi-purpose facility to be used for weddings, programs and events

- Depot Park improvements, including amphitheatre and large plaza

- Swift-Cantrell Park improvements, such as parking and potential for adding recreational center

- C0mmunity center renovations

7:27 p.m. Audience member: "I just wanted to say that I'm very pleased with all of the hard work that all of you are doing, and as a widow, single mom, homeowner in this great town, I'm really proud to live here.

"I love all of the programs and activities that the Parks and Recreation department's doing. I love this town, and I love all that you guys do...I didn't want you to just hear complaints tonight."

7:22 p.m. Another audience member expresses concern that the widening of Jiles Road to four lanes would, essentially, be "building a major highway through residential areas."

7:20 p.m. Audience member: "I'd like to see more enforcement for things like following too close and driving too fast in Kennesaw."

7:11 p.m. Mathews: "Annexation overall is done on a voluntary, willing basis. We don't really condone unhappy annexation, and we don't really force our annexation on anybody that doesn't want it, although we have that ability through the legislature if we chose."

7:10 p.m. Audience member: "Why does Kennesaw annex certain properties, and how does that process work?"

7:04 p.m. Audience member says he'd like to see more reporting on solid waste removal.

7:01 p.m. Answer: program will soon expand from 500 to 1,000 participants. The city has set a goal to increase from 15 percent recycle rate to 40 percent.

6:58 p.m. Audience member asks when the pilot recycling program will expand to other neighborhoods.

6:54 p.m. Mathews says city officials are "firm believers in transparency in government." The City Check Book and General Fund Operating Budget are available online.

6:52 p.m. Kennesaw crime rate declined 14 percent in 2010 from the previous year and was the lowest since 2002. The Kennesaw Police Department is focused on addressing underage drinking and prescription drug abuse.

6:50 p.m. Public Works initiatives include:

- undertaking of $4 million FEMA flood damage projects

-new curbside recycle pilot program

-upgrades of storm water facilities in Woodland Acres subdivision

-resurfacing of 3+ miles of road

-four SPLOST projects underway

6:48 p.m. Mathews invites the community to the Grand Opening Celebration for Kennesaw's new teen center Saturday, Feb. 19, at 4 p.m.

6:45 p.m. "It is probably one of the best little places anywhere around," says Mathews, in regards to Swift-Cantrell Park. He notes the upcoming SPLOST (to be voted on March 15) would include improvements to the park.

6:43 p.m. A total of 50 acres was annexed into the city in 2010, including:

-a 3 acre industrial site on Big Shanty Road, allowing Beaumont Products to expand and create 80-plus jobs.

-a 34 acre property on Cobb Parkway annexed and rezoned as new site for Kennesaw Math and Science Academy charter school.

- a 12 acre property on Shiloh Road annexed in September for a purpose built student housing project.

6:40 p.m. Mathews discusses last Tuesday's meeting about the Jiles Road project, noting the city's openness to community input. "We are very committed and we want to listen, we want to know about it," says Mathews.

6:39 p.m. Building Small Businesses: Despite difficult economic times, Mathews says Kennesaw businesses continue to open and expand, with the city hosting 16 business ribbon cuttings recently.

6:34 p.m. Building a Safe Passage: Mathews talks about the importance of building Kennesaw's downtown. He notes the Pedestrian Underpass project that was completed in July. The project is part of a larger effort to create a pedestrian-friendly downtown, including the future addition of an amphitheatre at The Depot.

6:30 p.m. Mayor Mathews: "What's it gonna take for Kennesaw to be built to win?"

6:26 p.m. Mayor Mark Mathews introduces city officials and begins a brief overview of the State of the City address he issued during January's Kennesaw Business Association meeting.

6:25 p.m. We're live at Ben Robertson Community Center for tonight's Town Hall meeting. To see the latest minute-by-minute updates, you'll need to refresh your browser. Please feel free to add your comments or questions in the comment box below.