Vote November 3rd

These are the candidates up for election in the general election on November 3, 2009. I have linked the names to their election websites, if available.

I do not have a website for Robert Jenkins. If he does have a website, I would appreciate the information so I can add it.

Snellville City Council Post 3
Robert Jenkins (Incumbent) [website link added here on October 13, 2009]
Tom Witts

Snellville City Council Post 4
Niria Dominguez Baggett
Barbara Bender (Incumbent)

Snellville City Council Post 5
Jackie O. Ginn
Mike Sabbagh

Of note, some candidates have complained that their campaign signs have been taken out of yards. It's not only unethical to do this, but since the signs are on private property (put there by permission of the homeowner or by the homeowners, someone who does this is committing criminal trespass, and can be arrested for that. (Duh!) It would be considered a misdemeanor in Georgia, punishable with up to $1,000 in fines and up to 12 months in jail. Usually, it would mean a 6 month sentence. Consult your legal counselor though!

Royal Flush

Snellville mayor blows whistle on scofflaw councilman
Atlanta Journal Constitution - GA, USA
Oberholtzer said he tipped off Snellville police because of complaints he had received from a dozen or so residents. “They were afraid to confront Robert, ...

City Councilman Robert Jenkins recently was issued a warning to clean up his yard, including removing an old toilet and broken-down car, or face a citation for city code violations.

The warning isn't really a big deal, as long as the offending party takes care of the situation. I had a citation for an old car myself, and donated it to the dePaul Society. So, big whoop-de-doo deal.

I'm not so interested in the citizens who were afraid to report it themselves. I'm not so interested in Mayor Oberholtzer reporting it for the citizens. But, I am wondering ....who called the newspaper?!?

In related news, the abandoned toilet has announced his intention to run for public office. As many as 80% of Snellville residents plan to vote for the toilet bowl.

Strong Words Fly At Snellville City Council Meeting

"Councilman Robert Jenkins said that Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer confronted him the in the hallway minutes earlier asking the councilman to "take it outside." Jenkins threatened to have the mayor arrested if he continues to "bully" the council about the crematory. Jenkins claims the mayor, who has said the business should be allowed to open, told Jenkins to watch what he says in opposition to the project.

"I will not be bullied," Jenkins said."

.....Crematory's impact still under review
Atlanta Journal Constitution - GA, USA
By BETH WARREN For a third consecutive time, concerned
residents packed Snellville City Council chambers during
a meeting Monday night to hear updates on ...

Related Links:

Dispute over Snellville crematory continues
AP - August 12, 2008 9:54 AM ET Chris Nuzum, owner of the
Cremation Society of the South, had hoped to open the facility
in a house along US 78 this month. ...

Residents Collected Money To Hire Attorney in Crematorium Snafu

More than 150 residents gathered in Snellville Sunday, collecting money to hire an attorney.

"If they can get organized they probably will sue us," Jenkins said. "They've got a point. The city would be hard pressed to say we don't have any fault here."

...More from AJC

Snellville News Updates

Church Lures Worshippers With Free Gas
WXIA-TV - Atlanta,GA,USA
SNELLVILLE, Ga. -- As you drive down the streets of metro Atlanta there are signs everywhere advertising gas prices well over $3 a gallon. ...

Officials announce more changes for JPD
Jackson Sun - Jackson,TN,USA
The reorganization is directed by a lengthy report by consultant Jim Brooks, a former Macon, Ga., police chief and Snellville, Ga., city manager. ...

Theft of booster funds leaves a wide wake
Atlanta Journal Constitution - GA, USA
In recent days, a Grayson man was charged and a warrant for a Snellville woman was sought in separate cases of suspected theft from school-related programs. ...

Four charged in gang gun battle, police say
Atlanta Journal Constitution - GA, USA
By ANDRIA SIMMONS Four people face criminal charges after a gang feud erupted near Snellville between the Cold Hearted Killers and the Original Paper ...

Snellville councilman asks appeals court to hear defamation suit
Atlanta Journal Constitution - GA, USA
By BETH WARREN Snellville Councilman Robert Jenkins is asking the state appeals court to hear his complaint that his predecessor, Joe Anderson, ...

What goes on

This information is from this page of the Atlanta Journal & Constitution's website, and is a bit dated. It's dated 3/25/2007. But the information on how the city works and how the citizens can be involved in meetings is good. Some people may no longer be serving. I have noted in red any who have left. I have also changed the @ in email addresses to [AT] so those dang email harvesters intent on spamming won't hassle anyone. If you need to email, just remove the [AT] and replace it with @.
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SNELLVILLE

PLANNING COMMISSION

The Planning Commission makes recommendations on zoning matters to the mayor and City Council. Members are:

Chairman Tod Warner, twarner[AT]snellville.org

Vice Chair David Foster, dfoster[AT]snellville.org

Ray Mokhberi, rmokhberi[AT]snellville.org

Joe Williams, jwilliams[AT]snellville.org

Ida Graham, igraham[AT]snellville.org

Patricia Port, pport[AT]snellville.org

Phone messages also can be left with John Dennis of the Planning and Development Department at 770-985-3514.

CITY COUNCIL

The mayor and Snellville City Council make the final decisions. Members are:

Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer, 678-898-2659, joberholtzer[AT]snellville.org

Robert Jenkins, 404-281-0567, Rjenkins[AT]snellville.org

Mayor Pro Tem Bruce Garraway, 770-982-9843, Bgarraway[AT]snellville.org

Barbara Bender, 770-972-3435, Bbender[AT]snellville.org

Kelly Kautz, 770-972-7441, kkautz[AT]snellville.org

Warren Auld, 770-972-3693 wauld[AT]snellville.org (corrected 27 October 2007)

MEETINGS:

The Planning Commission discusses zoning matters at 7:30 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month.

After the commission makes a recommendation, a public hearing is held by the mayor and City Council for final action. Those hearings are at 7 p.m. the fourth Monday of the month, unless alternative dates and times are necessary. Meetings are held in the City Hall council chambers at 2342 Oak Road.

AGENDAS: Agendas are generally available two weeks before the meeting. To view an agenda, visit the city's Web site, www.snellville.org, or go to City Hall. To automatically receive agendas and other planning and zoning information, sign up for the city's e-mail distribution list available to any resident. E-mail Planning Director Jessica Roth at jroth[AT]snellville.org.

NOTE : Jessica Roth has resigned her position.

Acting Planning Director Jason Thompson can be reached by email at
jthompson[AT]snellville.org (corrected/added 27 October 2007)

IF YOU'D LIKE TO COMMENT: Public comment is allowed at Planning Commission meetings after presentations from the planning staff and applicant. You must give your name and address for the record. The process may be a little different when the mayor and council allow for public comment. If it's a big case, the mayor will allow each side to speak for 30 minutes, which encourages residents to get together and make a more formal presentation. Written comments are accepted and can be sent via e-mail to jroth[AT]snellville.org or to City Hall, 2342 Oak Road, Snellville, GA 30078.

ON THE WEB: The city's Web site, www.snellville.org, provides blank zoning applications, staff reports, maps that show the location of the property in question as well as meeting minutes and agendas.

NOTE : If you have Firefox, you will find that the city of Snellville's website doesn't seem to like it, so the site is best viewed in Internet Explorer.

AT CITY HALL: At the Planning Department at Snellville's City Hall, 2342 Oak Road, you can view zoning applications. You'll need to provide the general location of the land in question. Copying fees are 25 cents per page.

Many thanks to Tod Warner for the corrections dated 27 October 2007