COBB COUNTY - Smyrna's City Council, at its Monday meeting, appointed a familiar face to serve as the new city administrator.

Eric Taylor was officially appointed to the position after serving as the interim administrator for a little more than a month and assistant city administrator since March 2006. Taylor secedes former city administrator Wayne Wright, who left his position this month to join the private company CH2M Hill OMI as the operations director for the city of Sandy Springs. Wright was the city's administrator for seven years.

During his time as assistant city administrator, Taylor worked alongside the city's department heads and served as interim director in the human resources and community development departments.

As city administrator, Taylor will be in charge of updating the mayor and council on issues, making policy recommendations, helping with developing the annual budget, handling complaints and managing the city's department heads.

"I'm excited about the opportunity to continue to work for Smyrna," Taylor said. "I've been involved in a lot of different aspects in the city. It's an exciting and great place to be."

The Kennesaw City Council gave several presentations to local residents during its council meeting Monday night. The E.A.G.L.E. award, a program that recognizes employees for their contributions to the city, was awarded to Jack Driskell of the Smith-Gilbert Gardens, Kimberly Flores from the parks and recreation department, and Ann LaFontaine with information technology and finance.

Sydney Wender was presented a certificate of excellence for winning KenneSong, a singing contest that was conducted during the city's Pigs and Peaches festival in August.

The council also recognized everyone who enabled and organized the city's dodge ball game during the festival, which broke the Guinness World Record for the largest dodgeball game ever to be played.

The council also approved a temporary use permit for Cole's Pumpkins to operate at Just Brakes, at 2510 Cobb Parkway, from Oct. 6 through Oct. 31.