GwinnettViews
What are your feelings Gwinnett?
From the GDP: Trash plan protest set for Saturday
Jun 11th
GDP Article by Heather Darenberg: Trash plan protest set for Saturday
Three political activist groups are joining together Saturday to protest Gwinnett County’s new trash plan, which begins July 1.The Four Corners Tea Party, FreedomWorks Gwinnett and Gwinnett Citizens for Responsible Government have organized the protest, which will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the gazebo next to the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse on the Lawrenceville square.
Debbie Dooley, one of the event’s organizers, said the protesters will be urging the Gwinnett County commissioners to repeal the trash plan — and, in particular, remove the bill from homeowners’ property taxes.
“It’s our way of letting the commissioners know we remember their vote and we’re not going to forget it,” said Debbie Dooley, a Dacula resident and the Georgia grassroots coordinator for FreedomWorks. “We want to make sure they are held accountable for their vote.”
They passed it now we get trashed by it.
Mar 24th
Good morning:
So after a long and hard thought I decided that I would not attend last nights BOC meeting in fears of getting more upset than I already was. I did however contact my BOC member along with the chairman to indicate my displeasure with this entire plan.
Here are my thoughts on the morning after Gwinnett Counties version of the health-care bill being forced on Americans.
1) How is this still not illegal as one of the reasons the plan was thrown out in 1990 was due to the fact that a government may not collect a debt for a private company? The ordinance does not address this action nor does it create a Sanitation Authority or something of the like, this will be one loophole we the citizens may still have to fight this plan.
2) How can the county not bid out these services, would this not go against antitrust rules in the country?
Last week I sent out a rough P&L but here is n update version of what I envision this plan will cost to run on a yearly basis.
Staffing Levels
Director of Program $100,000.00 per year
Asst. Director $ 75,000.00 per year
Call Center Staff
Call Center Supervisor $50,000.00 per year
Ten Call Center Agents at $30,000.00 per year for $300,000.00
Asst. Director $ 75,000.00 per year
Call Center Staff
Call Center Supervisor $50,000.00 per year
Ten Call Center Agents at $30,000.00 per year for $300,000.00
Enforcement/Inspectors
Supervisor $50,000.00 per year
10 Enforcement Agents in field at $40,000.00 per year for $400,000.00
Total payroll would be $975,000.00
Payroll tax and Benefits at 42% is $409,500.00
Total Payroll cost all inclusive $1,384,500.00
Vehicles for Staff
Director’s $50,000.00
Asst. Directors $35,00.00
Truck for Enforcement (11 including supervisors) $220,000.00
Total vehicle cost $305,000.00
Other expenses
Fuel for vehicles per year $102,000.00
Insurance expenses $20,000.00
Office rental $3500 per month or $$42,000.00 per year
Utilities $2,000.00per moth or $24,000.00 per year
office supplies per year $12,000.00
Computers/printers $30,000.00
Tax Assessor office fee f adding charge to tax bill $1.00 each resident for $150,000.00 per year
total cost for office operation $380,000.00 per year
Total cost per year for plan administration $2,069,500.00 ( now please keep in mind this is for the first year of operation and many of these expenses that I have listed here do not need to be purchased every year such as vehicles and office equipment)
Using these figures which are rather outrageous there is still $180,500.00 left over as a surplus. I would use this money to pay the annual raises that the county workers seem to expect each year. Ifeel we need to question every BOC member on how they can justify this administrative fee.
I am going to send this budget to Shirley Lasseter and Charles Bannister requesting that I be hired to run the trash division of the county and offer to split the difference on the savings over and above the surplus of $180,000.00 per year I can save them. think I will get a job offer?
Great quote from last night
“The county did not settle the $80 million lawsuit; it financed it over the length of the contract,” said Anthony Grutadaurio, operating manager for Red Oak Sanitation, a small hauler with fewer than 5,000 Gwinnett customers. “Again, the residents are paying for your mistake.”
BOC Does It Again: Surprise Surprise Surprise
Mar 19th
Well as Gomer Pile said, “surprise, surprise,surprise” the BOC has worked a closed door deal with the haulers that filed suit. Strange how there are five district one for every hauler that has filed a lawsuit.
I do not see how the county can legally do this as I think they are required to bid this out. I am looking for a minority trash hauler to let them know they were not given the opportunity to service Gwinnett.
I would encourage everyone who can attend the meeting next Tuesday night to do so and let the BOC know how you feel on their closed door deals that now involve more than lad deals.
Please look back at the lead article of the AJC the day the BOC announce the new trash plan, it was the illegal dumping problem that the city of Atlanta has and they have mandatory trash service. Oh, what was the BOC’s main reason why they know we need this, illegal dumping!
Let’s see we have no ost federal and state funding since the leaders or should I say children can not agree on shared services involving cities and the county.
I would like to point out that the $1.25 service feeill bring the county in 1.875 million in revenue. Now billing this on the tax bill should cost nothing for the mailing since they already need to send the tax bill out. What in the heck is the county going to use the rest of the money for?? Here is how I see it:
$100,000.00 per year for the Trash Zar
$400,000.00 for ten trash enforcement staff members
$300,000.00 for ten customer service reps to answer our complaint calls
$100,000.00 per year for office lease and utilities
$100,000.000 per year for vehicles to patrol
$225,000.00 for benefits
Total $1.225 million per year to operate this plan for us. What happens to the $600,000.00 left over????
Don
Did anyone get hit by that blinding flash of the obvious?
Nov 26th
GDP Arcticle by Camie Young: Study: Officials nix annual retreat
Higher taxes or no higher taxes doesn’t matter. This is just a blinding flash of the obvious. How difficult to figure out that this is not what is needed? Duh….
And more on the Trash Fiasco
Oct 22nd
GDP Arcticle by Camie Young: Study: Extend trash pick-up throughout county
Despite an outcry from residents, consultants recommend county officials make trash pick-up mandatory for residents of the unincorporated area.The study, which commenced after a judge threw out a solid waste management plan last year, also produced a recommendation that the county be divided into districts and the number of trash haulers be limited.
But Abby Goldsmith of R.W. Beck told commissioners Tuesday that they could choose more than one hauler per district, addressing the concerns of people who wanted the freedom to choose their garbage hauler while cutting down garbage trucks on the road and carts in the streets.
So what is the end message here? When you only talk to hand full of people you don’t really care what they think. Is the message delivered to the County a message that is tailored to the people paying the bills? How can the County not have any opinion at this point? After the Blue Ribbon Committee, after the consultants, after all the noise from the citizens then what are they listening to and hearing? Come on BOC you were elected to make decisions and lately you are awful at that. Please try to get something correct here and do what is best for the citizens of Gwinnett.
More on the Gwinnett Trash fiasco
Oct 21st
Well isn’t it a great surprise that the trash consultant gave the county the exact info they wanted to hear. They surveyed a whopping 328 people out of 180,000 ( .001822%) and most of these people
wanted it to remain the same. I still have a problem with the county placing this on a water or tax bill if it is a independent company performing the services, law states a government may not collect a debt for a private company, the only way this can appear on a county bill is if they create an authority or trash department.
I encourage everyone to visit www.whatawastegwinnett.com and get involved. These folks have a petition going as well.
We are still posting info at GwinnettViews on happenings in Gwinnett County, please join us there.
I encourage all to write to their respective BOC member and let them know what you desire..
Thanks,
Don
R.W. Beck gives initial Trash report to county officials
Oct 20th
AJC Article by Patrick Fox: Gwinnett solid waste study results unveiled
Gwinnett County officials received their first look a the Trash study done by RW Beck today.
The study results showed there was enough support to recommend required garbage collection at all residences. It did allow for exemptions, however, such as business owners with their own Dumpsters.But there was a wide range of differences about other issues, such as establishing exclusive franchise districts and billing on property tax statements. Much of the polling data differed between those who attended the public forums and those who were randomly selected by computer.
More to come once the full study is released.
Commissioner Kenerly going out with a bang!
Oct 7th
WSB Radio Article: Gwinnett Tax Hike Possible
GDP Article by Camie Young: Tax increase back on table: Kenerly calls for new county plan
A property tax increase is back on the table for county residents, as a commissioner said service cuts to balance the budget have been too severe.During Tuesday’s board meeting, Commissioner Kevin Kenerly called for county staff to devise a plan that would cost taxpayers an average of $14 more a month – or about two additional mills.
So Gwinnett here we go again. Commissioner Kenerly wants all of us to step up and sacrifice in the name of safety? Where is the money going to go? What will it be spent on? Safety in law enforcement where its needed or more library hours? Give us the details so the citizens can understand and have the knowledge that’s needed to know what’s going on.
“Bold action is needed to keep Gwinnett County a preferred place to live, work and raise a family. I would ask the Gwinnett families to sacrifice with me.”
Now is the time AGAIN to make sure your voices are heard. Demand to know the details of Mr. Kenerly’s proposal.
Land Deals Gone Wild highlights the plight of Gwinnett County
Sep 23rd
A great article by Tim Eberly of the AJC: Doubts didn’t stop deal: Land purchase made as Gwinnett County faces huge budget shortfall
Also a great follow up article on this by Bob Griggs at TalkGwinnett.com:
First of Many Bad Land Deals Finally Exposed.
The next time you hear Chairman Bannister try to blame anyone but himself for the mess Gwinnett is in then please read this article. It highlights the true cause of the mess. Is this the only mess? I wish but deals and work like this highlight how bad it has gotten. From Land Deals, to Trash Plans to an unnecessary Stadiums its a wonder we have a county anymore.
Also after reading this article I have to ask those in District 1 what the heck were you thinking when you voted.
From the AJC article:
The purchase, made as the county faced a huge budget shortfall, is another in a string of land deals that have raised questions about the board’s financial stewardship and cozy relationships between some commissioners and developers.In August, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution published stories detailing similar and questionable purchases the county has made, or attempted to make, since 2007.
After reviewing the AJC’s reports, District Attorney Danny Porter last week asked for a special grand jury to investigate those land deals and others by the Gwinnett Board of Commissioners. After hearing from the AJC about this purchase, Porter said he would review it for possible grand jury consideration.
Though Lasseter said she made the best decision she could, she acknowledges now that it might not have been the best use of taxpayer money.“I’m not perfect. Maybe I made a bad decision,” she said. “Maybe we should have had Lorraine Green vote on it.”
You think?
Full list of Engage Gwinnett Members released
Sep 17th
From the GDP Article by Camie Young: Engage Gwinnett committee members announced:
Engage Gwinnett Citizens Committee Members
Stakeholder Group, Representative
District 1, Kelly Kelkenberg
District 2, Kevin Kovalchik
District 3, Bob Griggs
District 4, Jeff Mahaffey
HOA, Paula Hastings
Citizens for Responsible Government, Lan Nguyen
FreedomWorks, Julianne Thompson
Environmentalist, Carol Hassell
Not-for-profits, Demetrius Jordan
Unity Gwinnett, Herman Pennamon
Asian Community, Cookie Lee
Hispanic Community, Jose Perez
Faith-Based, Norwood Davis
Young Professionals, Asif Jessani
Seniors, Bill Atkinson
Rotary, Scott LeCraw
Gwinnett Municipal Association, Randy Meacham
BOE, Rick Cost
Post Secondary, Julie Post
Community Improvement Districts, Chuck Warbington
Hospital System, David McClesky
Partnership Gwinnett, Mark Tibbetts
Council for Quality Growth, Michael Sullivan
State Delegation, Charles Swain
Constitutional Officers, Jim Pack
Courts, George Hutchinson
DA and Solicitor, Charlotte Nash
Athletic Association, Chris Whitlock
Small Business, Dave McMullen
Large Employer, Renee Byrd-Lewis
Publicly Self-Selected Citizen Representative, Millicent Crawford, Duluth
Publicly Self-Selected Citizen Representative, Dick Goodman, Suwanee
Publicly Self-Selected Citizen Representative, Dan King, Duluth
Publicly Self-Selected Citizen Representative, Paula Krone, Norcross
Publicly Self-Selected Citizen Representative, Laurie McClain, Suwanee
Publicly Self-Selected Citizen Representative, Jack Mason, Buford
Publicly Self-Selected Citizen Representative, Keith Roche, Lawrenceville
Publicly Self-Selected Citizen Representative, Keith Shewbert, Norcross
Publicly Self-Selected Citizen Representative, Kip Stokes, Auburn
Publicly Self-Selected Citizen Representative, Glen Williams, Snellville
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