March 7, 2009

Well there you go. I must hit the correct buttons to upload my blogs. Here is what I have said over the last two weeks.

February 27, 2009

I must say I enjoy the dialog I have with the citizens about what is going on in Flowery Branch, Hall County, Georgia, and in America. I enjoy the emails, the phone calls, and the face-to-face conversations. Please keep it up. The one thing I must comment on are those who comment on how I structure my sentences. Please get over the fact that I am not a writer or an English teacher and that my writing ability is not perfect. If I were a writer, then comment away.

March 4, 2009

Well we did not have quorum for our council meeting today, and that takes 4 members. Councilman Lutz and myself both work and it appears our jobs dictated our absence as well as the Mayor was not feeling well. This is why we should have our meetings at night to ensure we can have a functioning government. Here are the minutes from 2008 and 2009. Remember in November of 2009, you can change the meeting times by replacing the three who voted against changing the time to the evening or anyone they support. All three of their seats are up for the elections this year.

I have a new acronym: TGIEY – Thank God It’s Election Year

March 5, 2009

I thought this was a country of freedoms. We are free to do what we please so long as it does not deprive someone of life, liberty, or property. So the great Georgia legislator, once again, took it upon themselves to not allow grown legal adults to purchase alcohol on Sundays. I really like Governor Perdue’s excuse – people need to plan better. Does that mean the state needs to plan better to ensure the homeowners of this state get the Homeowners Tax Relief Grant every year?

I guess I need to ensure my blogs get on the site to ensure I keep you all informed of the goings on in Flowery Branch.

February 21, 2009

And the hits just keep on coming. I guess I should have waited a day and said there have been three opinion letters in the Gainesville Times that do not paint a very nice picture of some of the Hall County Commissioners. You can read this here. This falls in line with yesterday’s blog.

February 20, 2009

Wow. Two opinion letters make it in the Gainesville Times within a week and neither paint a very good picture of some of the members of the Hall County Commissioners. You can see here and here. Just scroll down a bit on each and see the wonderful information. Here is an article about the mentioned company one of the opinion letters and one in the paper today.

I do not have a problem with elected officials making money. They have a family to feed too. I do have a problem with elected officials who may use privileged information to make money.

That is why I promised not to own any other property within the city, other than my home, because that is a requirement to be a city councilman.

Well, I may know a thing or two about some elected officials myself or not! Time will tell!!

February 15, 2009

Well I believe I have grasped my new duties at work and look forward to the new challenges I face performing them. I believe now I will be able to get back to putting my thoughts down for you to read. I truly apologize.

Wednesday is our next council meeting and the agenda seems light.

One item is repealing the bond requirement of a 20% increase in the water and sewer rates for those who use Flowery Branch water and/or sewer. I hope this allows the city to get rid of the stupid inside and new inside residential rates based on when you moved into the city. Oh, by the way – the date is June 2000 and previous councils, have protected, or saved, certain users who are some of the largest users large sums of money, set that date. Well, I cannot wait until the day I can be part of correcting this very, very, very wrong plan.

Well today is the Daytona 500 and I am stoked and will be waiting for the “Big One”

January 31, 2009

I would like to apologize about not bloging for some time, but I, as many of you, have been involved in the corporate downsizing that has been going on and it has taken up most of my time as of late. This past Tuesday I found out I was fortunate to survive this restructuring, but there are a number of my friends that have not. These are difficult times and a time the country needs to lower taxes and work on energy independence, while keeping our country safe from terrorists. These three items do not appear to be on the radar of Barrack Hussein Obama or any of his cronies. I guess a Harvard Law degree does not make you smart.

Here is an article that shows us that Barrack Hussein Obama is an anti capitalist. Shame on you Barrack Hussein Obama for that and I congratulate those evil executives for making money for themselves and their shareholders.

January 19, 2009

It appears our next meeting, this Wednesday, will have a little bit of everything. I guess the one divide might be setting the times restaurants sell liquor and beer. We may set it to Monday through Saturday from 7:00 AM – 2:00 AM and Sunday from 7:00 AM – 12:00 Midnight. I believe if a business can make a profit, serving customers, then they should do so.

I know there are always opinions on the sale of alcohol, but sometimes there is too much government oversight on businesses.

I have also heard there is a certain elected official who is trying to find ways to disqualify or force another elected official to resign their post prior to running for another position. I say if you are not confident to run on the issues because someone else may be better than you and beat you – then you may not be the person for the job and you should exit at the expiration of the term.

Just my thought.

January 12, 2009

Well, the sewer issue is until later on in the year and I will be at there to help us all get a more reasonable rate, but for now I would like you to read the official adopted minutes from the meeting where there was a 3-2 vote to give away our leverage to negotiate the sewer rates. Here is the article for you to read again

Now onto our last council meeting we had last week. To refresh your memory, you can read about the meeting here.

There was another 3-2 vote about who would sit on the TADAC (Tax Allocation District Advisory Committee). The committee’s main purpose is to decide who and how much TAD money will be given to. This means a developer or business owner may get up to 15% of the cost of their project to redevelop areas to increase the building or properties value – thus leading to increase of taxes collected based on it’s new value. This is a great idea.

The committee will consist of three Flowery Branch elected officials, the city planner and manager, the county administrator and the Hall County Chairman or a representative. Where Craig and I have a problem is if we have so many 3-2 splits on important topics – why are all three of them on this committee? I guess it is a powerful committee that gets to dole out funding. I also guess that may be why my proposal of myself, the Mayor and one of them made sense as well as help keep some balance.

I guess they are flexing their muscles again.

January 8, 2009

VICTORY for South Hall County!!!!

Before I go on, I must first set the record straight. On my December 12, 2008 blog I said that Commissioner Banks motioned for the first reading of the sewer rate ordinance on December 11, 2008. Commissioner Banks informed me, this evening, that I had made a mistake with my comments and that they, the commission, do not motion a first reading. As I said on my website, if I make a mistake on a comment I will retract it, and so I am doing so now. I will say – Commissioner Banks, I apologize for my mistake.

Now I will say that I am deeply disappointed in Commissioner Banks. He had made no official comment of his opposition of the sewer rates, that I am aware of, until the January 5, 2009 work session where he said he had never supported the proposed sewer rates. I would like to point out Commissioner Banks never mentioned that he did not support the rates at the first reading on December 11, 2008, which had the rate in it and you can view here. You can also see where he voted for the Resolution for a loan application to GEFA for CWSRF Part 2 Loan and authorize the Chairman and County attorney to execute the agreement here. Now for full disclosure, I will post a copy of the loan application when I get a PDF copy.

So, Commissioner Banks may not support the rate after the South Hall County residents showed up and voiced their opinion. You can read here and here how the meeting went.

Now I must explain this evening.

First, the three ordinances passed, and so did the resolution for the rates. What most citizens must understand is the resolution can be changed at any time with one meeting. That is a better way for a government to change the rates based on economic condition and the Commissioners will be able adjust the rates, lower, as needed, perhaps equal to the City of Gainesville rates.

Second, a show of force by the people will always help to show a community is united for a cause.

Lastly, we want the best community in Georgia and letting our elected officials know our thoughts is what we should always do.

As an elected official myself, I tip my hat to our elected county official because it is a tough job. I do thank you all.

I would also like to thank Phyllis Mercer, from Deaton Creek, and Craig Lutz, from Sterling on the Lake, because you both represented your/our communities well.

Keep the passion and fire, this is not over yet.

January 7, 2009

I was told when I first took office that I needed to take the first year and settle into the position and not be too vocal on the issues. Well I did just that. I was only vocal on every issue that was not in the best interests of every Flowery Branch resident.

Well, I would like to inform everybody that I got settled in and now that I am as well as after today’s meeting – I bet there are some who are not so happy the honeymoon period is over.

You can read here how the first meeting of the sophomore year of Craig Lutz and myself went. I personally think it well except the fact the majority of the council is so out of touch with the citizens of Flowery Branch. Last year at our first council meeting Craig and I attempted to change the council meeting to the evening and you can read the official minutes of Flowery Branch to see what we said and that is was voted down 3-2.

Well today, after some passionate discussion from Craig and I, they voted 3-2 against changing the times of the meetings. The interesting part is we asked for one meeting in the morning, as they are now, and one in the evening following the public hearing, that by law we must have. This was what is called a compromise and would allow the citizens to come and see their government at work. When the official minutes are adopted, you can read our motions and see we tried to put you first.

As usual, the majority flexed there muscle and did not look out for the people.

I will have to tell you about the other portions of the article tomorrow.

Also do not forget about the commissioner’s meeting tomorrow at 5:00 pm at the Georgia Mountains Center in Gainesville. I am hearing a lot, but will wait to comment after the vote. See you all there.

By the way, all three of the city councilmember’s, who continue to vote no on evening meetings, their seats are up for election in November of 2009. I hope the voters use the ballot box and let them know what they think.

I know how I will vote!!!!!!!!

January 5, 2009

Today the Hall County Commissioners had their work session, and yes, the sewer rate issue was on the agenda. Unfortunately I was unable to attend, but Councilman Lutz was able to and please read here what he has to say about what went on, and then read the rest of my blog.

After reading what Craig had to say, I would like to say the State of Georgia has Sunshine Laws to protect the people to prevent elected officials from conducting business without clarity to the people. Here are two excerpts fro the Sunshine Laws that are particularly important as it pertains to executive session. The first is the explanation of executive session or a closed meeting and the second is explanation of what the Georgia Supreme Court ruled as the meaning of attorney-client discussion of actual or
potential lawsuits or claims.

The Open Meetings Law provides exceptions for certain closed meetings
and some confidential actions, and a government entity may close a meeting
only if a specific statutory exception applies26, see O.C.G.A § 50-14-3 in the
Appendix. Like the exceptions to the Open Records Law, exceptions to the
Open Meetings Law should be narrowly construed so as not to undermine
the general purpose of the Law.27 The most commonly used exceptions are
for personnel matters (but only for discussion and deliberation by the
governmental entity, not for votes); attorney-client discussion of actual or
potential lawsuits or claims28; and acquisition of real estate.

28. The Georgia Supreme Court has determined that the attorney-client exception
to the Open Meetings Law applies to discussions of potential litigation in limited
circumstances. The Court has stressed that “potential litigation” does not
include an “unrealized or idle threat of litigation.” Rather, to close a meeting to
under the attorney-client exception to discuss potential litigation, the
government entity must show “a realistic and tangible threat of legal action
against it or its officer[s] or employee[s], a threat that goes beyond a mere fear
or suspicion of being sued.” The Court provided a non-exhaustive list of factors
for determining whether a tangible threat of litigation exists, including (1) a
formal demand letter or other writing showing an intent to sue; (2) prior or ongoing
litigation between the parties; or (3) proof that a party has retained an
attorney and expressed an intent to sue. Decatur County v. Bainbridge Post
Searchlight, Inc., 280 Ga. 706, 707 (2006) (quoting Claxton Enter. v. Evans
County Bd. of Comm’rs, 249 Ga. App. 870, 873 (2001))

When I go into executive session with the whole council, I take it serious to follow the law as it pertains to our meetings because that is the trust I was given by the people and I refuse to abuse their trust.