Bobby Howard declares candidacy for Snellville City Council

From press release:

Bobby Howard Declares Candidacy for Snellville City Council

Bobby Howard, a 16-year resident and business owner in Snellville has declared his candidacy for Snellville City Council.  Howard will run for Post-4 to fill the remaining two years of Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Bender's term (Bender is required to vacate her council seat to run for Mayor).

"I have lived in Snellville with my family for 16 great years, and during that time we have experienced the ebb and flow of Snellville's landscape, government and population.  I think that most of us agree that Snellville has changed", said Howard.  "With some very positive changes over the past 18 months, now is the time for united and committed leadership, to guide Snellville to an even greater future", explains Howard.

My "Newbie" visit to a Snellville City Council Meeting

I know it's hard to believe that tonight was my first attendance at a Snellville City Hall meeting. I'm sort of embarrassed to admit that. I have been wanting to attend a council meeting for quite some time.  To my surprise, my teenage daughter wanted to go with me.

Snellville councilman thanks citizens for being involved

I would like to thank everyone who took the time out of their lives to come and vote at City Hall yesterday.

Regardless of which way you voted, you took part in the decision and did not remain silent. That is what this country is all about and that is what I and many others fought for, your ability to voice your opinion without retribution.

It now falls on us as your elected officials to use this decision wisely and to fulfill our commitment to improve our City. We didn't wait for this decision to start making positive changes in Snellville, that started last November; this does however give us the ability to compete with the surrounding areas to make Snellville, once again, the jewel of Southeast Gwinnett.

~Tom Witts

Snellville election results 2009

Snellville City Council Post 3

Tom Witts: 1,039 votes (55%)
Robert Jenkins: 845 votes (45%)

Snellville City Council Post 4

Barbara Bender: 946 votes (51%)
Niria Dominguez Baggett: 940 votes (49%)

Snellville City Counci Post 5

Mike Sabbagh: 954 votes (51%)
Jackie O. Ginn: 917 votes (49%)

The Special Election item for Tax Allocation Districts (TAD) was defeated:

“Shall the Act be approved which authorizes the City of Snellville to exercise redevelopment powers, under the 'Redevelopment Powers Law,' as it may be amended from time to time, for the purpose of improving economic and social conditions in depressed areas within the City?”

797 voted Yes and 1,1018 voted No.

Snellville City Council election opinion piece

Here's an article by Bob Griggs you will want to check out as you make your decision regarding Snellville City Council elections: Choices Clear in Snellville Council Election.

Who is Tom Witts?

Snellville businessman announces candidacy for Snellville City Council post.

SNELLVILLE – Tom Witts, a Snellville business owner and Springdale Trace resident for the past seventeen years, announces his candidacy for Post three of the Snellville City Council, the seat currently held by Robert Jenkins.

Tom is a decorated combat veteran having served two tours of duty in Vietnam which included assignments on Navy Swift Boats. After completing his military service, he attended college under the GI bill, and then embarked on his business career.

Prior to opening his current company, Georgia Property Restoration, Tom established and operated WFS Mortgage Funding, a mortgage banking firm with offices in Atlanta and Tampa, Florida.

Tom and Carol, his wife of twenty years, have four adult children and one granddaughter. They are active members of St. Oliver’s Church in Snellville where he has served as President of both the church’s Men’s Club and Parish Council. He is also a former Junior Vice-Commander of VFW Post 4180 in Snellville.

Tom believes that owning his own businesses has given him the opportunity not only to experience a wide variety of economic situations but to learn how to quickly adapt to those changing economic conditions. From the high interest rates of the late 1970’s to the economic revival of the 1980’s to our current financial climate, each era brought its own set of business challenges with constantly changing parameters. Having to adapt to these different situations has been a matter of survival.

Tom learned to think on his feet and to make decisions knowing that the results of those decisions would have an immediate impact not only on himself and his family, but his company, and its employees. Errors in judgment can be financially crippling and have far reaching effects.

Tom believes that in our current economic environment your elected officials should be astute at reading and analyzing financial information. They must know the difference between an income statement, balance sheet, and a cash flow analysis and know how each one relates to the other.

Tom believes that it is not politics that make a city prosper.

“Politicians can paralyze progress. Politics can be a cataract on the vision of growth and improvement.”

“We have some very talented people on Council and on staff with the city; I would like to add my business experience to that team. It is time to empower the team of leaders to do the will of the citizens and make Snellville the place where everybody is PROUD to be somebody.”

Tom believes “Snellville is our City and its future is in our hands. The decisions we make in November will decide whether Snellville adapts and thrives in the 21st century or whether it becomes a series of red lights between Lilburn and Loganville.”

For more information: Visit Tom Witt's website at www.ElectTomWitts.com

Related links:

Veteran to vie for Snellville council seat
Gwinnett Daily Post
"It is time to empower the team of leaders to do the will of the citizens and make Snellville the place where everybody is proud to be somebody. ...

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Warner: voters should decide about changes to Snellville's Council

Tod Warner says that voters, not politicians should change Snellville's City Council.

A really well-written article by Rick Badie of the Atlanta Journal Constitution:

Let voters, not legislators, alter Snellville council
Atlanta Journal Constitution - GA, USA
By Rick Badie
Snellville City Councilman Tod Warner acknowledges that he sits on a governmental body with opinionated members who can butt heads. ...

Snellville gridlock to be addressed

Senator Don Balfour's explanation of the Town Hall Meeting tonight at Snellville City Hall at 7:30 pm.

"I want to hear from those who live in the city about what, if anything, we should do to address the issue of gridlock and maybe bring an end to the recent incendiary media headlines."

Read more at Gwinnett Daily Post

On Wednesday, February 18, 2009, the City of Snellville received notice from Senator Balfour's office of Senator Balfour's intent to introduce local legislation to amend Snellville's city charter. Filing the notice is a requirement of Georgia state law. The date on the notice was February 10, 2009.

So to a lot of people, it appears that Senator Balfour has already made up his mind about this issue. I emailed Senator Balfour to get his input, but I haven't received a response yet.

Snellville City Council needs tie breaker

Balfour considers way to break Snellville council impasses
Atlanta Journal Constitution - GA, USA
Don Balfour (R-Snellville) is exploring a change in the city’s charter that would bring an odd-number vote to the Snellville City Council — in keeping with ...

Our city council comes to an impasse, because there are 6 members on the council. The votes end up being 3 for and 3 against, and then whatever the issue was has to be tabled until the next council meeting, or it gets forgotten.

Wow, how messed up is it that it has been an even number of council members?!? What an incredible waste of time. How many good things have been forgotten?

Senator Don Balfour wants to work out a change to give our Snellville city council an odd number so there is a tie-breaker.

Well of course it should be an odd number. Even Congress, with 100 members, is divided 50/50, but Congress has the vote of the Vice President to break ties.

More Regulations Proposed for Crematory

Snellville City Council member Kelly Kautz made a motion during Monday evening's council meeting for the City of Snellville to enact an ordinance to regulate and measure the emissions that are released from the Cremation Society of the South facility at US78 and Abington Road. The motion was seconded by Council Member Warren Auld. The new ordinance would apply to this crematorium and all future facilities of this type within Snellville's city limits.

Looks to me that this will serve two purposes:

• It will alleviate the fears of residents that the emissions from the crematory are harmful. Yay! This will free us up to smoke cigarettes on our front porches without worrying!

• It will eventually raise the taxes of all residents, because the money to pay for all these new regulations has to come from somewhere.

I think Kautz and Auld mean well on this issue -- I really do. I think they are trying to negotiate a resolution that will help their constituents feel better about all the mess-ups at City Hall.

But in my opinion, to create more regulations just opens up a big can of worms and more cost to 18,000 residents to make perhaps 1,000 of those residents happier. Good investment? What do you think?

Related Links:

Snellville sees no legal way to stop crematory
Atlanta Journal Constitution - GA, USA
By BETH WARREN Two Snellville city officials delivered some
news Monday night that dozens of residents gathered at City
Hall didn’t want to hear: They see ...

Debate Continues in Snellville Crematory Controversy
MyFox Atlanta - Atlanta,GA,USA
Citizens gather at a hearing in Snellville concerning the opening
of a crematory near their neighborhood. ATLANTA (MyFOX Atlanta)
-- ATLANTA (MyFOX Atlanta) ...

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. ...

Snellville City Council Meeting Monday 7/28

City Council meets tomorrow night at 7:30 pm at Snellville City Hall, Oak Road.
Click here for the Meeting Agenda (pdf)

How Do You Accept Responsibility?

I have been thinking some more about the events at the City Council meeting last night (click here for the back story).

I understand Council Member Tod Warner's frustration that people don't show up for meetings until the problem is in their own backyard. I think we all should take part in our local government more than we do (especially myself)...

But, on the other hand, why do residents vote to elect a City Council and other local, city, and US Government representatives? We do that for them to represent us so we don't all have to show up...otherwise, all 18,000 or so residents would need to jam up City Hall. The council members were voted in to work in our best interests. I realize too that it's impossible for anybody to catch everything.

We know everyone's human and Mr. Warner admitted he dropped the ball. Kudos to him for the admission and saying he would accept the blame for it. But I think people aren't just looking for someone to blame. They're wanting a solution to the problem, as well as assurances that a situation like this won't happen again in the future.

To say he takes responsibility for the slip up, and then to turn around immediately and blame the 200 people present is a (sorry mom!) bass-ackwards way of doing it. If you accept responsibility, you accept responsibility. If you want to blame another person or a group for something, then do it, but it doesn't work to accept fault and then pass it on. That's the way I think, anyway. Call me crazy.

"Crazy!!!"

Oh hush.

200 Residents at City Council Meeting Treated to Free Scolding

I expected the crematorium's plans would be considered a "done deal." Here are a couple snippets from the AJC article for you, and to read the whole thing, see the clickable link at the end of this post. I smell lawsuits regardless.

"Warner said an attorney cautioned him on the loophole, but he never expected one to pop up.

City leaders weren't sure how the crowd would react to the controversy, so extra police were stationed at City Hall.

Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer also took some extra steps to
keep things calm, immediately announcing some ground rules.
"We ask you to maintain some decorum," he told the standing-room only crowd. "It's going to be a long night."

"I ask for no public attacks, no name calling," he said to anyone
who planned to speak. "We do have the press here.
No calling out or shouting. We have some police here."

....

[Councilman][Tod]"Warner said an attorney cautioned him on
the loophole, but he never expected one to pop up.
But he also spread the blame.

"Shame on you," he told the crowd. "You never show up
for the decisions that we have to make until they're in your backyard."

Crematorium a done deal, unhappy neighbors told - AJC

Vote on Stormwater Fee Expected Tonight

Snellville vote on storm water fee expected tonight
Atlanta Journal Constitution - GA, USA
City officials said Snellville has rusty and aging pipes that need repair. If the city fails to meet state and federal regulations, officials said the fines would be costly...

Snellville City Council Meeting July 14

Monday, July 14 - Council Meeting -
6:30 p.m. Work Session,
7:30 p.m. Meeting
Snellville City Hall, Oak Road

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

Perhaps you can find something to talk about.
Skim through this blog for ideas...lol

Maybe this, or.... this, ....or this or this.
You know, just have fun at the meeting.

If an issue has you really incensed, it's great to be passionate, but try to remain calm and I've found that more people will listen and take what Is said to heart. Whenever I get too worked up, I just look like the loony I am.

Oh no, he di'nt!

Name calling, infighting plague Snellville city council
Atlanta Journal Constitution - GA, USA
This is how the Snellville mayor and some City Council members describe one another. So it's not surprising that politics here have been contentious for ...

Whoo...I'm not touching the stuff in this report with a 10-foot pole.

Aw, who am I kidding? You know I'll probably write about this later...
I definitely want to talk about Mayor Oberholtzer's comment about not fitting in because he's originally from the north. I can relate, and I'll tell you why later.

There are mistakes in the article though - the article makes it sound like Jerry Oberholtzer lives in Athens. He lives in Snellville, but the engineering firm he works for is in Athens.

And Kelly Kautz saying "we're as bad as Lithonia." Way to insult another city. Really classy.

Speak out on Oberholtzer's self appointment as City Manager

What do you think about Mayor Oberholtzer appointing himself City Manager? Opinions are all over the place on this. Depends on who you ask...

Some people say he was totally right to do it because it was an emergency situation - the Mayor himself says that previous Snellville mayors Clower and Harrell did it - yet others say it's Oberholtzer's fault that it became an "emergency" situation in the first place - and I've even seen other comments that this was Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer's "plan" all along.

Some folks are likening it to dictatorship. Mayor Oberholtzer says that the City of Snellville has great department heads and that the city practically runs itself.

Attorney and City Council member Warren Auld is looking into the legality of it all, looking for a precedence and he said he hadn't found any as of the date of the AJC news article.

Check out this AJC article, but remember to come back here and tell me what you think!

As my mom would say, at least this gives us something to talk about.

Feng Shui for Snellville City Hall?

In the Atlanta Journal & Constitution's Snellville.Talk blog, written by Susan Gast, Susan suggested that perhaps redecorating the City Hall building with soothing colors and feng shui would balance human relationships between Mayor Oberholtzer and the Snellville City Council and cut down on all the drama.

I let my smart-aleckness* get the better of me, so I don't know if my message will be approved, but here's what I commented:

"I think they need some festive helium balloons tied to their chairs, and a bright metallic star sticker for the foreheads of everyone who makes it through a meeting."

Yeah. This is why I am so popular. LOL!!!
I am such a jerk sometimes.

*who, me?!? ;-)

Snellville City Council and Mayor at Odds Again

Mayor Oberholtzer asked Interim City Manager, Jim Brooks to hold off on doing employee reviews until Brooks' contract expires February 13th, his reason being employee morale. Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer would like Mr. Brooks' successor to conduct the reviews and pay raises.

People without any management experience would wonder, "why wait on the reviews?" The reason is that when a predecessor has done reviews and pay raises, employees will generally be more loyal to the reviewer. By allowing the new City Manager of Snellville (when hired) to conduct the reviews, it will help the employees bond with the new supervisor. It just generally makes sense from a people perspective...but it probably generally angers the employees when they hear that their reviews (ie pay raises) have been stalled. This is only good for employee morale if the employees involved do not know about it. If they know about it, it will backfire and hurt morale. Oops. Who talked?

According to this news story, Mayor Oberholtzer felt attacked by members of the City Council, so he walked out on the meeting. I don't really blame him. The frustration must be really...well, frustrating! Better to walk out than to cuss out people. LOL!

But Hubs has a different perspective - he says that what should and needs to happen should just happen on schedule (the reviews and pay raises) and that the problem with management types (like me?! LOL) is that we try to arrange things to fit our business agendas, and we should just keep things simple. Hmmm. Good point there.