CorinthHills.org

The county line:
The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners adopted a new solid waste ordinance for unincorporated Gwinnett County during the board’s business session on March 2, 2010. The ordinance as adopted will be posted as soon as possible.

Service will begin on July 1, 2010, giving residents and haulers time to transition to the new system. The new ordinance, which does not affect city residents, will provide a reliable, cost-effective, and environmentally-conscious solid waste management system and also will allow Gwinnett County to fulfill its requirements under state law. All homeowners will have access to services for the collection and disposal of household garbage, expanded recycling, white goods (household appliances), bulky wastes (mattresses, furniture, etc.), and yard trimmings.

The new ordinance sets five service districts and authorizes the County to enter into one or more service agreements with a private company or companies to provide residential garbage service with no more than one service provider within each district. Fees for residential waste services will be made payable to Gwinnett County and will be billed as a residential solid waste fee on the same bill as county taxes.

Approval of a new ordinance is the first required step in the process of implementing a new solid waste management plan. Details of the service areas, costs, and collection logistics will be made available as soon as they are finalized.

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Mike Beaudreau was quoted in part as stating, “I don’t think it’s perfect…”

Don Collins, government contract manager for Waste Industries, told commissioners his company took it on faith that the county would follow the court’s order and draw up a new plan in a public, above-board manner, but that the plan showed officials worked behind closed doors to satisfy members of the first lawsuit.

…Isn’t that why a Gwinnett County special grand jury is investigating the board’s land deals?…

“Even as our federal lawsuit continues,” Collins said, “your vote today confirms our position before the court that the county’s illegal trash plan is marching forward.”

Local news outlets report that despite not being allowed to address the board before the vote, citizens were vocal in their opposition after the vote. It was also disclosed that a new recall effort was being launched targeting Chairman Bannister.

More:
• GwinnettCounty.com
• GDP
• AJC
• GwntRecall.com

3 Responses To “Garbage Adopted”

1. Admin Says:
   March 3rd, 2010 at 9:26 AM

   It’s my understanding that one of the overriding concerns that the board wanted to address for the citizens of Gwinnett was the traffic issues as it is effected by garbage haulers. For the life of me I don’t understand this. I find myself being delayed far more by postal trucks, UPS, FedEx and the worst offenders, school buses.

   There’s a project for Gwinnett County. Adopt a policy whereby school buses aren’t required to stop every 50 feet to pickup and offload kids. School systems all over this country, including GCPS, gripe about obese children… allow them to walk a few feet to and from the bus stop…

   That’s our opinion, we welcome yours…

2. j.q.public Says:
   March 5th, 2010 at 8:40 AM

   RINOs, republicans in name only. Republican mantra dictates smaller government and allowing the public to manage their own affairs in a free market society. Obama’s healthcare reform is an excellent example, republicans aren’t for it because it puts healthcare in the hands of government. BUT Gwinnett “republicans” believe that they should decide my waste disposal, how it’s paid for, how much it is and when I should pay it.

   Yeah, “republicans” they are.

3. fwy545 Says:
   March 9th, 2010 at 10:52 AM

   I do see garbage trucks from various services in our neighborhood on several days during the week, but they don’t take long to complete their business. I certainly don’t think that it’s worth relinquishing my right to chose my own waste disposal service in order to reduce this little bit of traffic. If you think about it, there will still be traffic to pickup all homes, and even more now that the county is mandating all residential homes be serviced. The only difference will be the number of days the truck will be in the neighborhood. The time spent in each neighborhood for each truck will actually increase.

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On Wednesday, February 24, 2010, the Evermore Community Improvement District (CID) Board of Directors held their first meeting at the Stone Mountain Stadium. As soon as the telephone and data lines are installed, the CID office will move its headquarters into the former Olympic tennis venue.

The hope is to transform the entire stadium complex into a multipurpose facility — possibly used as a venue for concerts, large church gatherings and multiple sporting events.

More:
• Stone Mountain Tennis Stadium News
• Evermore CID

One Response To “Evermore CID Board Meets At Olympic Stadium”

1. Admin Says:
   March 3rd, 2010 at 10:00 AM

   Got to give ‘em props for trying, especially in difficult economic/political times.

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District 3 Gwinnett County Commissioner Mike Beaudreau is weighing an opportunity to succeed John Linder and his soon-to-be vacant U.S. congressional seat. Beaudreau plans to make a decision soon.

• MikeBeaudreau.com - Take the survey…

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Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010, the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners will again consider county mandated garbage collection. Even with lawsuits totaling in excess of $80 million still pending over the last board sanctioned solid waste plan, local media reports suggests that not much has changed in the new proposed plan. The biggest change is that Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful will not be the county appointed enforcer.

Points from the original plan still being considered:
• Service fee(s) to be included in county tax bill
• Expanded recycling
• Mandatory participation by all residents
• 5 zones to be established and serviced by one hauler

If approved, the plan is expected to take effect this July. The board will not allow public comment prior to the vote. Voting will take place at 10 AM tomorrow at the Gwinnett County Justice and Administration Center in Lawrenceville.

One Response To “County Mandated Garbage - AGAIN…”

1. Admin Says:
   March 2nd, 2010 at 2:38 PM

   Gwinnett County’s Solid Waste Information Center is open for callers Monday through Friday between 7:00am and 7:00pm, 770.822.7141.

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The Atlanta Braves have finally achieved what Gwinnett County was unable to achieve, inking a contract for the naming rights to the Gwinnett Braves baseball park formally known as Gwinnett Stadium. Marietta based HVAC company Coolray Heating and Cooling agreed to a 16 year deal worth approximately 10 million dollars. The ballpark will hence be known as Coolray Field.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the AJC is reporting that Gwinnett County’s contract with the Braves calls for the club to receive the first $350,000 annually paid in naming rights, the county to receive the next $350,000 and anything over that to be divided evenly. With the county’s share calculated at about $281,000 a year, that puts the deal in the neighborhood of $10 million.

The Gwinnett Daily Post reports that Gwinnett Braves general manager North Johnson called the deal the “second-largest in minor league baseball.”

In addition to the naming rights Coolray will also receive a sign at the main entrance to the ballpark, an LED marquee on Ga. Highway 20 and signage on top of the scoreboard.

More:
• Gwinnett Braves / Gwinnett Stadium posts

One Response To “Coolray Field aka Gwinnett Stadium”

1. Admin Says:
   March 1st, 2010 at 7:35 PM

   The Gwinnett Daily Post is now reporting that Gwinnett County’s entire cut of the Coolray naming deal will be just under $4.5 million over the span of 15 years.

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(Press Release - Lawrenceville, Ga., Feb. 8, 2010) - The public is invited to attend any of four upcoming meetings to comment on the initial findings of the 42-member Engage Gwinnett citizens committee that, since last fall, has been studying county services and how to fund those services.

Each meeting will begin with an overview of the progress to date and the distribution of a handout that includes a brief report from the four different work groups. Attendees will have more than an hour to discuss and comment on the reports in small groups. That input will be combined with a brief survey and included in the group’s draft recommendations that will be available for a similar public review process in April. Later that same month, the committee will make its final recommendations to the Board of Commissioners on desired County services, service levels and revenue sources for the next five years.

The initiative is a partnership between Gwinnett County government and the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce. Mike Levengood of McKenna Long & Aldridge and Bill McCargo with the Atlanta Education Fund are co-chairs of the committee. Engage Gwinnett seeks common ground, workable solutions and compromises as necessary for the greater good of the community to help guide the County government through the recession and its aftermath.

The four meetings will be held at various times and in different locations throughout the county to encourage participation:
• Thursday, Feb. 18, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Duluth
• Saturday, Feb. 20, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. at 12Stone Church near Lawrenceville (State Route 20 campus)
• Monday, Feb. 22, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at Grace Fellowship Church in Snellville
• Thursday, Feb. 25, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at Victory World Outreach Center in Norcross

For more information:
• EngageGwinnett.com

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The Evermore CID was awarded a $40,000 grant by the Atlanta Regional Commission yesterday in order to study the viability of transforming the Olympic tennis venue into a multipurpose facility. The desire is for the facility to act as a catalyst for revitalization and economic growth for the Park Place area.

David Stedman, the Evermore Economic Development Director stated that there is a developer interested in a project.

“In this economy, we need to show that we are making an effort to improve the market dynamics of the area in a fundamental way,” he said. “When businesses and developers hear about the vision we have for the area, people get excited.”

More:
• http://corinthhills.org/?s=stone+mountain+stadium
• Gwinnett Daily Post

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During today’s State of the County address, commission chair Charles Bannister called for a one cent sales tax increase. Bannister stated that should voters approve the new penny tax, it would generate approximately 150 million dollars in new revenue with 35 percent coming from non-Gwinnett shoppers.

Bannister is looking to put the penny sales tax on the ballot this November.

2 Responses To “Bannister Asking For More Tax Revenue”

1. fwy545 Says:
   February 12th, 2010 at 7:44 AM

   Purdue wants a one cent sales tax increase for the state so if both initiatives make it to the ballot and pass Gwinnett will be up to 8%.

2. BG Says:
   February 16th, 2010 at 8:33 PM

   Not to mention the 21% increase in Gwinnett property tax and the abolishment of the Georgia homestead exemption. How does the government expect its citizenry to get ahead?

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Gwinnett County commissioner Kevin Kenerly refused to testify before a grand jury, claiming the subpoena was “a fishing expedition.” The grand jury is investigating whether there’s anything shady about the millions of dollars paid to developers for future park land.

• http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/i-team%3A-gwinnett-land-deals-021010

5 Responses To “Kevin Kenerly Pleads The Fifth - Video”

1. j.q.public Says:
   February 11th, 2010 at 8:43 AM

   Why in the world would the D.A. withdraw his subpoena? Let the commissioner’s motion go before the judge. This sounds fishy.

2. bwilson Says:
   February 11th, 2010 at 11:04 AM

   Yes, he (Kenerly) should be made to sit in the witness chair having taken an oath to God to tell the truth then state in front of the grand jury that he invokes his fifth amendment right and refuses to incriminate himself.

   One would think it’s 1950 the way politicians continue to conduct “business”. When will Gwinnett County ever grow up?

3. fwy545 Says:
   February 11th, 2010 at 11:33 AM

   Why does he feel that he needs immunity? Why won’t Porter grant him immunity in order to get to the truth?

4. Paulie Says:
   February 11th, 2010 at 11:43 AM

   Porter should NOT grant immunity to anyone for anything. A subpoena is not issued as a courtesy or a suggestion - compliance is not optional. Then again, recall the Grand Jury that was held to investigate the stadium deal - the co-foreman of that one was a participant in putting the deal together in the first place! The bottom line is that our current crop of elected officials reeks of corruption from top to bottom. This needs to be thoroughly investigated, and if nothing is found, we need to investigate the investigators, or at least equip them with white canes and guide dogs. The state ethics investigator that I worked with regarding some Bannister dirty deeds commented that the BOC surpassed all bad behavior that he had seen in his career to date. Gwinnett deserves better.

5. fwy545 Says:
   February 12th, 2010 at 7:51 AM

   The AJC is quoting Porter as saying, “I withdrew the subpoena because I wasn’t prepared to grant Kenerly immunity. That’s basically what the motion requests. It means that any of the documents that he produced could not be used in a subsequent criminal proceeding against him.”

   “I’ve withdrawn the subpoena,” Porter said, “but I expect that we’ll obtain the necessary information in other ways.”

   So keep the subpoena in place, make him plead the fifth in front of the grand jury and then get the “necessary info” from your other sources.

   If everyone ever subpoenaed played the game the same way Kenerly is and accepted the way Porter is allowing it no one would ever testify.

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It is believed that given the current real estate market conditions most Gwinnett County property assessments are valued too high.

Gwinnett County has published the following on its website newsletter:
The Board of Tax Assessor’s Office will be adjusting the 2010 tax value on several thousand properties in Gwinnett County as assessors review the real estate sales and foreclosure data occurring in certain areas of the county. To make sure your property is included on the review list, you should file a Real Property Tax Return. The property tax return will allow you to declare your opinion of the value of your property.

If your value is not accepted, a Notice of Change in Assessment will be issued to you (scheduled mailing by mid April 2010). The notice allows you to appeal the value, which will result in a review process and possibly further into hearings.

The property tax return process begins with the timely filing of a Real Property Tax Return. You may visit the Tax Assessor’s web page at www.gwinnett-assessor.com to print a partially completed form between January 1 and March 1, 2010. Complete and mail the Real Property Tax Return anytime between January 1 and March 1, 2010. If you are mailing your return, it must be postmarked by the USPS no later than March 1, 2010. Your completed return will not be accepted via email or fax - no exceptions.

Should you have questions about the process, you may call 770.822.7200 or e-mail assessor@gwinnettcounty.com.

Bear in mind that your tax bill is the product of the millage rate x property assessment equation and Gwinnett County just increased its millage rate.

Interesting reading:
• Metro Atlanta property valuation comparison map
• Why you’re paying too much in property taxes

One Response To “Gwinnett Property Tax Valuations”

1. Admin Says:
   February 12th, 2010 at 10:26 AM

   Received via email yesterday:

   PROPERTY TAX RETURNS DUE MARCH 1 IN FOUR METRO COUNTIES

   If you own real estate in DeKalb, Gwinnett, Hall or Newton counties, you have only until March 1 to file a property tax return with your county tax assessor’s office asking that your property value be lowered for 2010. Most other Georgia counties allow until April 1 to file. After that, your county assumes you agree that your property is worth what they currently say it’s worth, and your tax bill will be calculated based on that valuation.

   The only problem with that assumption is that literally tens of thousands of owners have seen their property values go down in recent months, but their local governments have failed to reflect that decrease in value. As a result, you can easily end up paying more property tax than you rightfully owe.

   The process of asking your county tax assessor to review your valuation begins with the filing of a single page form, PT-50R, the Georgia “Taxpayer’s Return of Real Property.” This form requires you to find out what the county currently thinks your property is worth, then you must state what you think the correct value should be. My advice: guess low.

   The form is available for download on my money99.com website. Obtain your parcel info and previous year’s value by calling your tax assessor’s office. Then, in Section C, you will need to estimate the value of your property as of January 1, 2010.

   The county is not required to ask you if you wish to lower your estimate of value unless they are proposing an increase. And most Georgia counties are content to let the current values stay as they are.

   That’s fine if your property value has held up well over the past two years, but many neighborhoods have seen significant declines in market value. And if that is the case in your community, or if you believe values have declined for your property generally, now is the time to file a return.

   Estimating value is a tricky business at best, and requires detailed information about recent sales in your area. Real estate professionals have access to this info, but may charge a fee for a “broker’s price opinion.” A formal appraisal is likely to cost substantially more. But the more facts and comparable sales info you have when you make your return, the greater the likelihood that your assessment will be lowered.

   In any case, there is no charge for estimating low, and it preserves your right to present your case to both the tax assessor and the board of equalization. Typically, one in three requests to lower the value results in some relief from the county. And once lowered, your assessment is likely to stay put for three years.

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Vigilance prevents volunteer victimization
A public safety message from Major Bart Hulsey, Gwinnett County Police

There were just over 3,000 incidents of entering autos, or car break-ins, in unincorporated Gwinnett County between April and December 2009. The Gwinnett County Police Department has worked diligently to curtail this increase of theft and made 112 entering auto arrests during that same time. Once a pattern is identified, GCPD conducts “directed patrol” in that area, which generally results in entering auto crimes dropping in that area and rising in another. In other words, we simply move the criminals around.

Our Crime Analysis Unit has studied this specific crime and compiled some startling facts from the period April through December 2009:
• Approximately $38,000 in cash was stolen from vehicles
• 69 guns were stolen out of vehicles
• 48% of the vehicles entered were unlocked

Those guns are now in the hands of criminals, and that makes everyone less safe. Some of these criminals will graduate from breaking into cars to committing armed robbery or worse.

GCPD has reached out to the public on numerous occasions this year, imploring them to follow simple crime prevention steps to avoid being a victim of this crime. Despite these public education efforts, citizens continue to become “volunteer” victims by leaving valuables in plain sight in unlocked vehicles. Shoppers purchase a TV, computer, or other high-dollar electronic device at a big box store and then go directly to a restaurant to eat without unloading their expensive merchandise. When they return to their car, an observant criminal has taken their stuff. There is no elaborate planning necessary to commit this crime, which is why perpetrators stake out these particular stores.

As easy as this crime is to commit, it is even easier to prevent just by taking these simple steps:
• Always lock your vehicle
• Do not invite theft by leaving valuables such as GPS devices and laptop computers in plain sight inside the vehicle
• After shopping, lock items in the trunk or take the merchandise home
• At the end of your day, park your vehicle in the driveway or garage and take all valuables inside the house
• Be particularly aware when you are at a restaurant or gym because the perpetrators know you are going to be away from your vehicle for an extended period of time and simply wait for you to go inside to break into your car
• For bank deposits or withdrawals, always alternate your times and routes, be aware of your surroundings, and never leave cash in the car unattended

Many people believe that it is solely law enforcement’s responsibility to keep them safe from crime. They long for the days when they were able to leave their doors unlocked without fear of theft or violence. However, this is just not the case today. Citizens must step up to the plate and take responsibility for helping the police keep them safe. Citizens must “target harden” their environment and stop being volunteer victims. Make yourself a difficult person to victimize. Every security measure comes with a certain amount of inconvenience, whether it is an alarm system that has to be armed and unarmed, a door that has to be locked and unlocked, or having to carry your valuables from the car to the house everyday. It is inconvenient but vitally necessary.

The number of thefts from vehicles could be drastically reduced if we all commit to thinking ahead and making the necessary changes in our daily routine. The Gwinnett County Police Department is dedicated to arresting as many of these perpetrators as possible; we would never ask a citizen to confront a criminal. We simply ask for citizens to help us by removing valuables from plain sight and locking their doors.

I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to address those individuals who commit this type of crime. Many of the perpetrators are juveniles or young adults who do not seem to realize the consequences of being convicted for Entering Auto (Georgia Code 16-8-18). This crime is a felony, regardless of the value of the item stolen from the car, and carries a possible sentence of not less than one year nor more than five years - for a single count. This is not a game or child’s play; it is a serious crime. Police officers and the courts spend considerable resources dealing with this issue and take a grave view of people convicted of this crime. Parents, teachers, youth ministers, scout leaders, or anybody else that has influence over young people should take the time to counsel with them that engaging in this behavior could alter their future in a very significant way.

Thank you for the opportunity to address this issue. Please, let’s all work together to make Gwinnett County a safer environment in which to live and work.

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Gwinnett Clean Water Campaign is sponsoring a free septic system maintenance workshop to be held at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center Auditorium on February 17th, 2010 at 7:00 PM.

Registration is required:
GwinnettStormwater.com
dwrswreg@gwinnettcounty.com
678.376.7126

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The special grand jury requested by Gwinnett County District Attorney Danny Porter empaneled to investigate questionable land purchases by the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners began proceedings today (Friday, January 15, 2010).

Political connections between developers and county commissioners along with purchase price verses appraisals will be the main focus, but the special grand jury has greater latitude than other grand juries and may widen their scope as they deem necessary.

More details:
• Gwinnett D.A. Porter Requests Special Grand Jury
• Grand Jury To Investigate Gwinnett BoC

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Aaron Bovos, Gwinnett County Chief Financial Officer (CFO), stood before an Engage Gwinnett committee and stated that the just approved 21 percent, 2.28 millage rate increase is considered a “one-time revenue” and that “It is absolutely critical that we put it to good use.”

Bovos continued by saying that the county has accrued $300 million in pension liabilities that have yet to be funded. So, Bovos and his staff are in the process of considering a recommendation to use the entire $50 million + that will be collected as a result of the increase to fund this pension liability.

The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners has to vote on the allocation of tax revenues, but an actuarial study has already been commissioned to determine the impact of using the tax increase to fund the pensions.

Sources:
• Engage Gwinnett
• The Gwinnett Daily Post

One Response To “New Tax Increase To Potentially Fund Pensions”

1. BG Says:
   December 5th, 2009 at 9:44 AM

   Really, at what point does it become appropriate to march on Lawrenceville with pitchforks and torches?

   I’ve heard recall buzz, anything to it?

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The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the proposed 2010 budget on Thursday, December 10, at 7:00pm in the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center auditorium, 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville. The public is invited to make either oral or written comments on the budget at the hearing. The Board of Commissioners is expected to make its final determination on the fiscal year 2010 budget during its regularly scheduled meeting on January 5, 2010.

The 2010 budget proposal outlines a countywide budget of $1.323 billion, down $387 million from the $1.71 billion budget adopted last March for fiscal year 2009. The five-year capital budget calls for $1.2 billion for capital improvements over the years 2011 through 2015.

Commission Chairman Charles Bannister said, “This proposed budget continues to be fiscally responsible, very conservative, and reflective of the dramatic cuts in departmental budgets that occurred in 2009. It also anticipates significant drops in Gwinnett property values while balancing the need for service with the economic struggles of our residents.” The budget is based on the same millage rate of 13.25 mills that the Board adopted for 2009.

The complete budget document is available for public access at the Department of Financial Services, also at 75 Langley Drive, from 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday and is available online at www.gwinnettcounty.com.

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