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
FREEDOMWORKS AND CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT TO HOST SECOND TOWN HALL OCTOBER 29TH
Oct 22nd
FreedomWorks voices strong opposition of proposed 2 mill tax increase at this time as we don’t feel like the Board of Commissions has justified a need for an increase.FreedomWorks and Gwinnett Citizens for Responsible Government will host another Town Hall meeting on October 29th at 7 PM at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center auditorium.
Among the topics sure to be discussed is the latest comment by Commissioner Kevin Kenerly who stated the county will need a tax increase of 2 mills in order to meet the budget needs and reduce cut-backs.
FreedomWorks grassroots coordinator Debbie Dooley stated, “after all the spending cuts, Commissioner Kenerly, who is not seeking re-election, requests a 59 million dollar or 2 mills increase. The Board of Commissioners needs to clearly and in detail define exactly what programs that will fund. We also request a detailed accounting of what programs have been cut and the amount of the cut. Public Safety programs are essential to the safety of our citizens. There are other areas that are luxuries and not essential during this time of economic hardship.”
We do not believe all the budget cuts have been responsible nor do we believe that all options have been fully exhausted before requesting a tax increase. We urge the public to send their suggestions for cost savings and ways to generate revenue to gwinnettbudgetcuts@gmail.com These suggestions will be discussed at the Town Hall on October 29.
Gwinnett property owners already saw a $200 – 300 increase in their property tax bill because of last fall’s unfunded State homeowner’s property relief grant. Gwinnett homeowners can not afford an additional $168 increase in this economic down turn. The Board of Commissioners, to their credit, has demonstrated that they will listen when the tax payers speak loudly and enmasse. We urge them to listen to alternative suggestions from the Gwinnett County tax payers before raising taxes by 2 mills.
The fact is we have every right to ask these questions. Every member of the BOC ran their elections based on lower taxes and responsible spending. The seats belong to the tax payers. We are their employers and they are accountable to us.”
For more information contact Debbie Dooley at 404-404-625-4986 or debbie0040@yahoo.com
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.
Trash Report due out in October… Who got called?
Aug 20th
AJC Article by Patrick Fox: Solid waste plan report due in Oct.
The firm hired to draw up a study for Gwinnett County’s solid waste plan told officials Tuesday the report should be completed by mid-October.
So we have to wait until October to see what the consultants are going to recommend. I find it interesting it that it takes that long to compile feed back from 600+ people when the majority of those said they wanted their own choice. So who was one of the 328 that were contact by phone? Would love to hear from you.
At a special briefing held at the courthouse in Lawrenceville, Abby Goldsmith of the consulting firm R.W. Beck reported it had collected opinions from about 650 people. Of that number, 330 had registered opinions at one of the eight public forums held this summer. Another 328 had been contacted by phone or e-mail.
“What A Waste Gwinnett” has started an online petition
Aug 12th
“What A Waste Gwinnett” has started an online petition.
Please click on the link above to sign the online petition.
“What A Waste Gwinnett” has joined the trash fiasco fight. Go to their blog to find out about them.
What’s next for your trash?
Aug 11th
So all the meetings are done. Same dog and pony show for each one. Did they really listen? I don’t think they did. Will the county get their money’s worth out of the consultants? Probably not.
Has anyone been contacted via phone in the polling that was supposed to happen?
Contact your Commissioner today. With everything that is going wrong with this Board this would probably be something they will try to sneak through the back door. We do not need to let this happen.
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