Barrow BOC Dist. 1: Larry Joe Wilburn
Name: Larry Joe Wilburn
Post seeking: District 1, Barrow County Board of Commissioners
Family (children, spouse and their ages): Wife, Helen, 60; daughters, Laurie, 38 and Jennifer, 36.
Career/occupation: Retired in November 2001 from the Georgia Department of Agriculture Consumer Protection Division after more than 30 years.
Describe your background:
Lifelong resident of Barrow County; graduated from Winder-Barrow HS in 1965, B.S. in Agriculture from the University of Georgia in 1969; married for 39 years; member of the Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church; member of Davison Masonic Lodge #103; Shriner-Yaarb Shrine; member of the American Legion post 163.
The potential expansion of the airport has been a hot-button issue in Barrow County. What is your position on the topic?
I am not in favor of the expansion of the airport. I presently see no reason to expand the airport. The economy is slowing down and I think the need for water, sewer and roads is where the money needs to go.
Barrow County continues to experience strong growth. What are your plans to deal with the growth in a way that will preserve a good quality of life for Barrow citizens?
The slowdown in the economy has controlled the growth in Barrow County a lot. In the future, I think it is the job of the county commission to monitor this fast growing area and make sure we can grow at a rate that does not overtax our water supply, roads, sewers, schools and tax bases. Growth is a given, but I believe it can be controlled in such a manner that it will be beneficial to all Barrow County citizens.
At least two citizens’ groups addressing various issues have recently been established in Barrow County. In what way will you work with these citizens’ groups to see that their concerns are addressed?
I know some of the people in the groups. They are taxpayers of Barrow County and have a vested interest in what is going on in Barrow County. If elected, I will represent Dist. 1, but I pledge to be available to any taxpaying citizens or groups and listen to their concerns or problems they have with county government and see if resolutions can be reasonably accomplished. In my campaigning, I have found citizens to be very knowledgeable about things going on in Barrow County and this has been a very useful learning tool that I will put to use if elected.
The rising costs of the proposed Cultural Arts Center have been a concern. Do you think this is a project that Barrow County needs and can financially support?
It would be nice to have the Cultural Arts Center that is proposed, but, at the present time, I do not think we should allocate the money that is needed to do this project. The total cost is not just what it will cost to build the building. You will have upkeep, maintenance, electric bills, water bills, etc. I think at the present time, the money could be better spent on infrastructure (water, sewer and roads).
With the economy getting tighter, what would you propose trimming from the budget and why?
I am on the outside looking in at the present time. Some of the particulars, I do not know at the present time. I did work in state government for 30 plus years. I do know there is waste and inefficiencies in government. This should be worked on first. Gas expense should be monitored due to high gas prices. Travel should be limited as much as possible in county vehicles. With a slowing economy, the demands on government will be slowing down. Each section of government should be monitored for excess employees. I would hate to see anyone have to be laid off in this environment, but maybe these people could be switched to needed areas without additional hires. Government should be run like a business, during hard times you cut back and tighten up.
What are the three biggest issues that Barrow County must address over the next five years?
•Water: Bear Creek proved during drought times that it is barely adequate to meet our needs. Even in good economic times, lack of water will limit our ability to grow. I think this should be a project done as if in an emergency. We do not have 10 or 15 years to wait.
•Growth: We need to monitor growth to make sure we get good balanced growth that will not overtax our infrastructure and create a tax burden on our citizens.
•Traffic: Have you tried to drive through Winder lately? At a recent meeting, it was suggested that the 2030 west by-pass would not be done at this date. I am a strong believer that we need to depend on ourselves and quit waiting on big government to solve our problems. The citizens of Barrow County have the ability to do what is needed and if we need traffic relief we should start on a plan to correct it ourselves.
What new services, if any, do you propose if elected to office? How do you propose to pay for this service?
At the present time, I do not envision any new services. I think we should work on improving the ones we have (make more efficient, more customer friendly and more cost effective).
Post seeking: District 1, Barrow County Board of Commissioners
Family (children, spouse and their ages): Wife, Helen, 60; daughters, Laurie, 38 and Jennifer, 36.
Career/occupation: Retired in November 2001 from the Georgia Department of Agriculture Consumer Protection Division after more than 30 years.
Describe your background:
Lifelong resident of Barrow County; graduated from Winder-Barrow HS in 1965, B.S. in Agriculture from the University of Georgia in 1969; married for 39 years; member of the Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church; member of Davison Masonic Lodge #103; Shriner-Yaarb Shrine; member of the American Legion post 163.
The potential expansion of the airport has been a hot-button issue in Barrow County. What is your position on the topic?
I am not in favor of the expansion of the airport. I presently see no reason to expand the airport. The economy is slowing down and I think the need for water, sewer and roads is where the money needs to go.
Barrow County continues to experience strong growth. What are your plans to deal with the growth in a way that will preserve a good quality of life for Barrow citizens?
The slowdown in the economy has controlled the growth in Barrow County a lot. In the future, I think it is the job of the county commission to monitor this fast growing area and make sure we can grow at a rate that does not overtax our water supply, roads, sewers, schools and tax bases. Growth is a given, but I believe it can be controlled in such a manner that it will be beneficial to all Barrow County citizens.
At least two citizens’ groups addressing various issues have recently been established in Barrow County. In what way will you work with these citizens’ groups to see that their concerns are addressed?
I know some of the people in the groups. They are taxpayers of Barrow County and have a vested interest in what is going on in Barrow County. If elected, I will represent Dist. 1, but I pledge to be available to any taxpaying citizens or groups and listen to their concerns or problems they have with county government and see if resolutions can be reasonably accomplished. In my campaigning, I have found citizens to be very knowledgeable about things going on in Barrow County and this has been a very useful learning tool that I will put to use if elected.
The rising costs of the proposed Cultural Arts Center have been a concern. Do you think this is a project that Barrow County needs and can financially support?
It would be nice to have the Cultural Arts Center that is proposed, but, at the present time, I do not think we should allocate the money that is needed to do this project. The total cost is not just what it will cost to build the building. You will have upkeep, maintenance, electric bills, water bills, etc. I think at the present time, the money could be better spent on infrastructure (water, sewer and roads).
With the economy getting tighter, what would you propose trimming from the budget and why?
I am on the outside looking in at the present time. Some of the particulars, I do not know at the present time. I did work in state government for 30 plus years. I do know there is waste and inefficiencies in government. This should be worked on first. Gas expense should be monitored due to high gas prices. Travel should be limited as much as possible in county vehicles. With a slowing economy, the demands on government will be slowing down. Each section of government should be monitored for excess employees. I would hate to see anyone have to be laid off in this environment, but maybe these people could be switched to needed areas without additional hires. Government should be run like a business, during hard times you cut back and tighten up.
What are the three biggest issues that Barrow County must address over the next five years?
•Water: Bear Creek proved during drought times that it is barely adequate to meet our needs. Even in good economic times, lack of water will limit our ability to grow. I think this should be a project done as if in an emergency. We do not have 10 or 15 years to wait.
•Growth: We need to monitor growth to make sure we get good balanced growth that will not overtax our infrastructure and create a tax burden on our citizens.
•Traffic: Have you tried to drive through Winder lately? At a recent meeting, it was suggested that the 2030 west by-pass would not be done at this date. I am a strong believer that we need to depend on ourselves and quit waiting on big government to solve our problems. The citizens of Barrow County have the ability to do what is needed and if we need traffic relief we should start on a plan to correct it ourselves.
What new services, if any, do you propose if elected to office? How do you propose to pay for this service?
At the present time, I do not envision any new services. I think we should work on improving the ones we have (make more efficient, more customer friendly and more cost effective).
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