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.

January 4, 2009

There are several things I have to talk about.

 

First, the January 8 Hall County Commissioners meeting sewer issue is really beginning to pick up momentum.  I have been talking to several of you on the phone and by email to answer specific questions and if anyone else wants to contact me for more information, please do so.

 

To give you a perspective on the future rates, if this passes, I stole this chart from my counterpart Craig Lutz’s website for because I was lazy and he already had it.

 

If you look at your last City of Gainesville water bill you can use the table below to see what your new rate could be (This does not include the City of Gainesville Rate change effective January 2009):

CCF Used	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Total Sewer	$17.13	$27.00	$36.87	$46.74	$56.61	$66.48	$76.35	$86.22	$96.09	$105.96
Total Water and Sewer	$27.85	$41.56	$55.27	$68.98	$82.69	$96.40	$110.11	$123.82	$137.53	$151.24

 

I also have the agenda for our first meeting on January 7, 2009.

 

One item agenda is 2009 Meeting Dates and Times and there is a change to the ordinance that will put one meeting per month on Mondays at 6:00 pm.  I hope the other three who voted no last year to move the meeting to the evening can vote yes for this because we must have meetings at times when you, our bosses, can make the meetings.  If they vote no, there will be no change to the 2009 meeting times of 9:30 am.

 

Another item is the approval of the December 10, 2008 meeting when Craig and I were beating the drums hard about not signing the Intergovernmental Agreement with Hall County, which has now allowed Hall County to charge our citizens of Flowery Branch, who are on Hall County sewer those outrageous rates in the chart above.  As soon as it is on a pdf, I will post it on my site. Craig and I held no punches back.

 

I will continue the fight for you all.

January 3, 2009

I would first like to congratulate the new District 4 Hall County Commissioner Ashley Bell.  Since he won the Democratic nomination over incumbent Debra Mack, he automatically won the November election because he ran unopposed by any Republican.  I am fortunate to have been able to get to know Commissioner Bell through some political functions, and I will say straight up – I really like him personally.  He is charming, polite, funny, and has the enthusiasm I have as an elected official. 

 

Now before you all tongue lash me because I like a Democrat, because I am a Republican, as well as the direction politics has gone in the last several years, I have to tell you what a wise man told me this past year.  “At our level of government, city and county, partisanship does not really matter because we are the core of serving the people and we, as elected officials, make laws that directly affect all of us not just a certain group as does many other levels of government.”

 

If you read the articles (here and here), Commissioner Bell made some strong statements about clarity in government and zero-based budgeting.  He also talked about getting the corruption out of government.  There may be a little Republican in him and I may have to try and convert him to the other team.  That may be my New Years resolution.

 

I look forward to working with Commissioner Bell in the future as well as the other Commissioners on a number of important issues this coming year.

January 1, 2009

Happy New Years to all!!

 

There is a lot to talk about.

 

First, I received my letter yesterday about the sewer rates.  So that means the word is getting out.  I keep harping about this to hall I see and talk to because as I always say, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.  There are some rumblings the sewer rate is getting some commissioners to think twice about, but I will not rest until the January 8.  We need to keep the pressure up and have a strong show of force January 8 at 5:00 PM at the Georgia Mountain Center in Gainesville.

 

Lastly.  I stumbled across the Lake Superior State’s 2009 list of banished words, something they do annually, and I think the missed a few words that should have been added.

 

Change.

Change we can believe in.

Yes we can.

Obamania.

 

And then we can start a list of new words we better get used to with the new incoming president.

 

Socialism.

Higher taxes.

Welfare state.

 

Just my thoughts.