OPINION: Explore merger issues in the open

THE idea of the Winder Police Department dispatch being merged with Barrow County’s E-911 system is intriguing and merits further discussion. Anytime there is an opportunity for streamlining government operations, we think those ideas need to be explored.

But what often looks good on paper may turn out to be not so good in reality. That’s why these kinds of proposals need a lot of careful thought and input from various sources as they develop. In the real world of public safety, things can get complex in a hurry. What undermines this idea, however, is once again the Winder City Council’s tendency to have important public discussions in secret. The council reportedly discussed this matter in a closed meeting Jan. 3.

Why? What is so top-secret about a proposed city-county communications plan that would motivate the city government to go behind closed doors to discuss it?

This has become the mode of operations for Winder’s government for many months; secret meetings on issues where secrecy isn’t warranted and is illegal.

What part of doing the public’s business in the open does city attorney John Stell not understand? He, of all people, should know the law and advise the city council to follow it.

The merger of these communication departments may be a good idea and we hope more discussions take place.

But for heaven’s sake, don’t run into the shadows and hide on the issue. That will only undermine the entire thing by bringing suspicion of the motives behind it.

Comments

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#1 Joe Hayes on 01/14/11 at 07:46 AM [Reply]

Was the meeting because of personnel?

#2 mark my words on 01/14/11 at 07:48 AM [Reply]

One way to stop the secret meetings would be to eliminate the Winder city government by combining into a Winder/Barrow government like they have done in Athens/Clarke county. That saves a lot of repetition in services and would be less of a burden to tax payers.

That may also eliminate the ungodly gas rates we are forced to pay in Winder!

I say, let's start the conversation of combing these 2 governments into one!

#3 LibDem on 01/14/11 at 11:07 AM [Reply]

if its 'illegal' then why arent they being charged with a crime? hmmmmmm??

#3.1 Anonymous on 01/14/11 at 11:37 AM [Reply]

Because there is "illegal" (for me and you) and then there is "illegal" (for the government). If you or I do it, we get knocked down face first in the dirt, hands yanked behind us with hand-cuffs or zip-ties tight around our wrists. If some muckitymuck in the government does it, the paper writes about it and nothing else ever happens.

And do you know why? Because they KNOW they can get away with it. After all, they ARE the lords of the land and can do what ever they want to whom ever they want when ever they want. We serve them.

What was that? They are supposed to be public servants and work FOR us? Oh, that old thing? Surely you must be joking! That went out YEARS ago.

#4 Anonymous on 01/14/11 at 02:11 PM [Reply]

If Chip Thompson says it OK then it's OK by me. I'm tired of outsiders like The Barrow Journal medding in Chip Thompson's business. If he needs to conduct business behind closed doors so be it. He has a good reason. The Barrow Journal doesn't have the right to know everything that is going on and neither do the citizens. They aren't the mayor. He's mayor for the reason. No everyone is smart enough to be mayor.

#4.1 hmmmmm on 01/14/11 at 06:27 PM [Reply]

Sounds like you just want to start trouble by making idiotic statements. Why dont you just go away?

#5 Chip is #4 on 01/14/11 at 03:33 PM [Reply]

The Shriff has a constitutional duty to provide lawenforcement service if the city were to ever merge with the county. Remember Auburn and the contract they backed out on? The county had to provide out of pocket for Auburn when they disbanded and we paid for it. Is Chipper and the Police chief in a battle at the moment. This will cost the county tax payers more and the city will get richer off of it. You think they will lower taxes if they dont have to pay for public safety? Wrong! I bet chipper see's a big raise for himself if they can off load that on the county and we pay for it. Chipper has something up his sleeve so watch the other hand and see what he slides out. Anyone want to prove me wrong? If there was nothing to hide they would have been out in the open about it.

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OPINION: Explore merger issues in the open

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OPINION: Explore merger issues in the open

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