Gwinnett commissioners discuss plans for coming year | ajc.com
I have officially been a resident of Gwinnett County for a whoppin 418 Days. I had always heard how Gwinnett is the fastest growing county... how it has the largest school system in the state.... has the worst traffic problems in most of Metro Atlanta. So far.. I have no major complaints about the county and well for that matter its politicians. Mostly because.. I dont know much about them. That, however, will change dramatically. You see... I love politics.. especially on the local level. It turns out that my commissioners (who btw.. I didnt get to vote for as I moved here after voting took place) are going on a retreat to talk business.
So.. lets get to know the Commissioners.. and what they want to bring to the table.
Experience: Insurance Agent; Lilburn City Council, Mayor: Lilburn; Served in the Georgia State House of Representatives and Elected again in 1992; Served in the US Marines.
Retreat Agenda #1: To charge developers a fee when they build things to cover the costs for setting up county services and anything else that may be impacted.
Me: Im not sure the developers would be happy about his. However, if it means lowering property taxes and other fees.... then so be it and those who pay taxes in this county dont have to make up for any shortfall because of it... Then so be it.
Retreat Agenda #2: Study ways to trim the$1.5 billion budget.
Me: Yes! And while your at it.. cut taxes too.
Experience: Graduate of Clemson University; youngest manager in the US for the 1992 Bush-Quayle campaign team; 1996 and 1997, he was president of the Clemson College Republicans, the largest such group in South Carolina. His community involvement earned him a nomination to the prestigious Paul Coverdell Leadership Institute. National Accounts manager for Ricoh Corporation and elected to District 3 Commissioner in November, 2004.
Retreat Agenda #1: Beef up public safety.
Me:: Sure! Go for it.
Retreat Agenda #2: Doesnt want to study impact fees.. he just wants to plain impose them or tell the Gwinnecians why it cant happen.
Me: Again... if it lowers my taxes/fees/etc... Im all for it. However, I believe it will shy developers away from building in Gwinnett.. and if thats the case.. the citizens shouldnt have to pay and make up the difference.
Experience: Environmental engineer and president of her own engineering consulting firm. Graduate of Georgia Tech with a Bachelors in Chemical Engineering and a Masters in Environmental Engineering. Graduate of the Leadership Gwinnett Class of 2003. Elected to the Board in July 2004 and appointed to the Planning Commission as vice-chairman in 2001; Member of the Water and Sewer Authority in 2001.
Retreat Agenda #1: Institute a law Requiring property owners to hire a trash collection service. To "control the cost" to property owners... she would propose splitting up the county into regions and basically a contract handed out to those particular regions.
Me: Ok.. fine. make that requirement. However, no deciding who the property owner must use. Let the property owner decide that. Yes.. screen them.. decide who's qualified enough to do business and do it correctly. Homeowners and their associations should have a say in the matter in who they use... not the County.
Retreat Agenda #2: Save the trees! To be more specific.. take the ordinance already in place.. and take it to the next step to save more trees.. and require more trees between developments.
Me: Sure! Save on energy costs... soaks up pollutants. Go for it.
Experience: President of a Business and Management Consulting Firm. Member of the Board since 1995 and represents Buford, Sugar Hill and Lawrenceville.
Retreat Agenda #1: More impact stuff.
Me: Ditto to my last two comments on this subject.
Retreat Agenda #2: 1% raise to county employees to offset higher benefit premiums.
Me: Dont raise my taxes.. and thats fine by me.
Experience: Graduate with a Bachelors of Arts in Economics (UGAly) Masters in Public Administration (GSU),Graduate of University of Georgia Law School. (coughsGO-GATORScoughs); appointed to Gwinnett County Recreation Authority in 1991, Municipal Gwinnett County Planning Commission in 1992, Gwinnett Revitalization Task Force. Elected to Vice-Chairman in 1995 and Chairman of the Planning Commission in 2001. Elected in 2002 to the County Commission and the Boards Vice-Chairman in 2003. More importantly.. he represents the area I live in.
Retreat Agenda #1: "Operation Fixing Broken Windows" to be made permanent and expand it county-wide year round for several years.
Me: Absolutely.
Retreat Agenda #2: New Precinct for Peachtree Corners. Currently operated from the precinct at JCB and I-85, he wants another precinct to be opened in a shopping center (vs developing a new building) west of Peachtree Industrial.
Me: If that increases the # of policemen as well.... go for it.
So.. lets get to know the Commissioners.. and what they want to bring to the table.
Charles Bannister, Chairman
Experience: Insurance Agent; Lilburn City Council, Mayor: Lilburn; Served in the Georgia State House of Representatives and Elected again in 1992; Served in the US Marines.
Retreat Agenda #1: To charge developers a fee when they build things to cover the costs for setting up county services and anything else that may be impacted.
Me: Im not sure the developers would be happy about his. However, if it means lowering property taxes and other fees.... then so be it and those who pay taxes in this county dont have to make up for any shortfall because of it... Then so be it.
Retreat Agenda #2: Study ways to trim the$1.5 billion budget.
Me: Yes! And while your at it.. cut taxes too.
Mike Beaudreau, District 3 Commissioner
Experience: Graduate of Clemson University; youngest manager in the US for the 1992 Bush-Quayle campaign team; 1996 and 1997, he was president of the Clemson College Republicans, the largest such group in South Carolina. His community involvement earned him a nomination to the prestigious Paul Coverdell Leadership Institute. National Accounts manager for Ricoh Corporation and elected to District 3 Commissioner in November, 2004.
Retreat Agenda #1: Beef up public safety.
Me:: Sure! Go for it.
Retreat Agenda #2: Doesnt want to study impact fees.. he just wants to plain impose them or tell the Gwinnecians why it cant happen.
Me: Again... if it lowers my taxes/fees/etc... Im all for it. However, I believe it will shy developers away from building in Gwinnett.. and if thats the case.. the citizens shouldnt have to pay and make up the difference.
Lorraine Green; District 1 Commissioner
Experience: Environmental engineer and president of her own engineering consulting firm. Graduate of Georgia Tech with a Bachelors in Chemical Engineering and a Masters in Environmental Engineering. Graduate of the Leadership Gwinnett Class of 2003. Elected to the Board in July 2004 and appointed to the Planning Commission as vice-chairman in 2001; Member of the Water and Sewer Authority in 2001.
Retreat Agenda #1: Institute a law Requiring property owners to hire a trash collection service. To "control the cost" to property owners... she would propose splitting up the county into regions and basically a contract handed out to those particular regions.
Me: Ok.. fine. make that requirement. However, no deciding who the property owner must use. Let the property owner decide that. Yes.. screen them.. decide who's qualified enough to do business and do it correctly. Homeowners and their associations should have a say in the matter in who they use... not the County.
Retreat Agenda #2: Save the trees! To be more specific.. take the ordinance already in place.. and take it to the next step to save more trees.. and require more trees between developments.
Me: Sure! Save on energy costs... soaks up pollutants. Go for it.
Kevin Kenerly; District 4 Commissioner
Experience: President of a Business and Management Consulting Firm. Member of the Board since 1995 and represents Buford, Sugar Hill and Lawrenceville.
Retreat Agenda #1: More impact stuff.
Me: Ditto to my last two comments on this subject.
Retreat Agenda #2: 1% raise to county employees to offset higher benefit premiums.
Me: Dont raise my taxes.. and thats fine by me.
Bert Nasuti; District 2 Commissioner
Experience: Graduate with a Bachelors of Arts in Economics (UGAly) Masters in Public Administration (GSU),Graduate of University of Georgia Law School. (coughsGO-GATORScoughs); appointed to Gwinnett County Recreation Authority in 1991, Municipal Gwinnett County Planning Commission in 1992, Gwinnett Revitalization Task Force. Elected to Vice-Chairman in 1995 and Chairman of the Planning Commission in 2001. Elected in 2002 to the County Commission and the Boards Vice-Chairman in 2003. More importantly.. he represents the area I live in.
Retreat Agenda #1: "Operation Fixing Broken Windows" to be made permanent and expand it county-wide year round for several years.
Me: Absolutely.
Retreat Agenda #2: New Precinct for Peachtree Corners. Currently operated from the precinct at JCB and I-85, he wants another precinct to be opened in a shopping center (vs developing a new building) west of Peachtree Industrial.
Me: If that increases the # of policemen as well.... go for it.
posted by Gatorrrrrr @ 8:38 PM
1 Comments:
At 11:40 AM,
Gatorrrrrr said…
And my property taxes went up within a year of me living there because..._____?
You know I find it odd.. that with all the retreat agenda items for the commissioners.. none of them seem to be looking into the Gwinnett Village. Why isnt that getting more talk within the board?
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