MABLETON, Ga. — More than 2,000 residents have signed a petition seeking to dissolve the City of Mableton over concerns regarding the cost of establishing a new city public safety division. The opposition stems from potential tax increases to fund services that are currently provided by Cobb County. The proposed public safety division would be funded through a 4.5 millage rate. Under this rate, the owner of a home with a fair market value of $350,000 would pay approximately $630 annually, or just over $50 per month, in taxes specifically designated for the new police force. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Dr. Kerry Stallings was chosen as director of the Mableton Public Safety Division on Wednesday, bringing nearly 20 years of public safety leadership experience to the role. Stallings previously worked with the Dunwoody Police Department during the early stages of its formation, served with the Powder Springs Police Department and worked as chief of police for the University System of Georgia. Stallings noted that the decision to form an independent police department is not due to any dissatisfaction with existing county services, as he began his own career with the county force. “Cobb County is a phenomenal police department,” he told Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell. “That’s where I started my career. They haven’t caused us to want to start a police department independent of them because of any bad behavior but we’re in a…
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