County form of government hot topic at forum
- 11/26/11
- Categorized in: DeKalb News
The county’s legislative delegates disagree on the issue of getting rid of DeKalb’s CEO form of government.
“The CEO form of government stinks and it needs to go by the wayside,” said Rep. Mike Jacobs (R-80) during the 2012 legislative preview forum held by the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce on Nov. 16.
“I don’t like it and I will vote in a heartbeat for a bill to put a referendum on the ballot to move to a county manager form of government,” Jacobs said. “But I don’t think that that solves all of what ills DeKalb County.”
For example, DeKalb leaders still need the “political will that seems to be lacking to right-size this county government,” said Jacobs, referencing a Georgia State University study that concluded that the county has too many positions.
The county’s Board of Commissioners is considering a resolution that would ask the state legislature to form a charter commission to study changing the county’s CEO-commission form of government to a county manager form in which a manager would be hired and accountable to the Board of Commissioners.
Sen. Fran Millar (R-40), said he believes the county has the best group of commissioners its ever had.
“But when they do something that’s right, because the CEO is separate and distinct, he can just ignore it,” Miller said. “And that’s basically what he’s done.”
Millar said the first thing CEO Burrell Ellis did when elected was to move out of the building shared with the board of commissioners.
“The CEO of the county has a separate office [building],” Millar said. “I go through more security to see him than I would to see the president of the United States. My point [is] if you have that kind of relationship, no matter what the legislative body says they want to accomplish, the CEO [can choose] to ignore it.”
Other delegates were more supportive of keeping the CEO form of government.
“I don’t have a big problem with the form of government,” said Sen. Steve Henson (D-41). “There are problems with a lot of forms of government. People don’t want to really face some of the tough issues of government. They want to point to a cure-all.”
Rep. Howard Mosby (D-90) said county leaders need to look at addressing what is not working in the current form of government.
“I think that any form of government we decide to have as a community we can make work if we are going to be the leaders that we were elected to be,” Mosby said.
On the subject of the movement to incorporate Brookhaven, Jacobs said his top legislative priority for the upcoming General Assembly session beginning in January is Brookhaven cityhood “because of the number of people who have invested a tremendous amount of effort to the issue where it is today.”
Jacobs said that some of the movement’s discontent goes back to the county’s most recent tax increase.
“The question for citizens is whether they feel like they’re getting their money’s worth,” said Jacobs, who supports the proposed city. “It’s not necessarily about specific services.”
Millar, who also supports Brookhaven’s cityhood, agreed that the move to incorporate Brookhaven has been fueled by a sense of frustration after the county’s “largest millage increase.”
“My only issue is what the final borders would be,” Millar said. “I am absolutely for the concept.”
Henson is on the other side of the issue.
“I have concerns about this municipalization,” Henson said. “I want to make sure there is a comprehensive look at the situation. Personally, I’m not in favor of Brookhaven incorporating.
“I would need a lot of information before I saw the benefits even to the people of Brookhaven, let alone the unincorporated areas outside the [proposed] city,” Henson said. “If the citizens really want it then we just need to look at how we can integrate that with the county as a whole.”
Dunwoody effectively stole Liane Levetan park from the county and I suspect that Brookhaven will do the same with the infrastructure already in place. And when Brookhaven and Dunwoody both need water, am I supposed provide it to them even though they've elected to run off and remove themselves from the 'burden'. How about their sewer system? Why don't both Dunwoody and Brookhaven build their own sewer treatment plants? Can't afford it? What if us 'unincorporateds' shut off your sewers at your city limit lines?
Essentially the Ga. Republican state government has disenfranchised the citizens of the county from voting to 'give away' part of their hard earned investment in all of DeKalb County. What happens if most of DeKalb becomes small towns and we need to rebuild our water system? Do you think you'll be able to get all the small towns to agree to do it? Impossible.
I'm waiting less than patiently for all DeKalb citizens to push their county government to file a lawsuit to challenge this obvious constitutional injustice.
And where are Liz Carter and our DeKalb Tea Sippers = Ain't heard much since the Hank Johnson Race ? Liz get out there and put up a Good Choice for CEO ? Don't just drop out = Take back DeKalb from these Self-Centered Elitist Crap Minded Elected Officials that Plague DeKalb County !
The water will not run clear till you get the hogs out ! INCUMBENTS !
And once again The Blessing's of the Irish upon our BOC and CEO,
Still have to watch 'em, but at least they are local to you.
The Board of Commissioners is totally derelict in performing its oversight duty. They have permitted millions of dollars of fines and bills to go uncollected, have borrowed money from the pension fund for their crazy early pension buyout program, and were not even aware that $40 million had been taken from the Green Space bond fund to run the government.
The CEO and the Board of Commissioners interact with each other in the sense that both of them operate on a "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" basis so that each of them can do exactly what it wants.
Incorporation is better than nothing. Any group of average intelligent people can do a better and more efficient job at running a government then the present CEO and members of the Board of Commissioners.
There is plenty of room for improvement in DeKalb, and I fully support Rep. Jacobs assertion: "DeKalb leaders still need the 'political will that seems to be lacking to right-size this county government.' ”
I was deeply opposed to the incorporation process because it doesn't resolve the common issues ALL DeKalb citizens face. Incorporation will continue to be the solution to a bloated County government that lacks the political will to resolve common issues.
WOW Just Amazing ?
You might have missed Former Commissioner Connie Stokes taking the New Office Furniture and electronics, all paid for by the Tax Paying Citizens of this county out of her office ? Over $11,000.00 worth of furnishings ? So I guess that was OK ?
You might have missed the Ga State Study on DeKalb County = Not the largest county by land size or population yet we have more employees than any other county ? The Staffing levels of The BOC and CEO challenge the imagination ? These bloated levels cost DeKalb County 40-50 Police Officers ? So I guess that is OK with you, Fran Millar ?
And let's not forget the Golden Child of the CEO & BOC Richard Stogner ? Ran Contracts and Procurements in DeKalb County as a Crack Head might run a Pharmacy ? KPMG Audit Report said their were no ethics in the department ? You think all is cool there now Fran with Stogner as COO ?
And how about all the Catered Meals the DeKalb BOC had on work days for over two years all at DeKalb Tax Payers Expense ? Did you miss that one Fran ?
That was over 60 THOUSAND DOLLARS that could have gone to The Seniors Meals on Wheels Program in DeKalb ? Yeh Fran ! We actually have Seniors in this county needing food ?
You missed alot of stuff Fran ? Where you been ?
Oh I forgot, you're busy making a New City in DeKalb County because you and the other Elected Politicians of DeKalb County sat on the sidelines and let a once Model County go to Hell in a handbag ?