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.”

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.

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.”

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

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….

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

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.

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

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.

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.

Gwinnett County Board of Commissioner’s Contact Info

Gwinnett County Public Schools is releasing today the proposed attendance zones for five elementary schools and one middle school opening in August.

The redistricting will affect the boundary lines for 29 existing schools and four clusters, said Greg Stanfield, the district’s planning director.

Maps of the proposed boundaries will be available today at affected schools and on the school district’s Web site, www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us.

“We want to balance enrollment to have the best distribution of students,” spokeswoman Sloan Roach said. “In this case, we are opening six new schools, and the redistricting process will allow us to create the student population for those schools.

The public is invited to provide input on the proposed boundaries. Input forms, available at schools and online, are due by Nov. 4.