Chairman, Barrow BOC: Doug Garrison
Name: Douglas H. Garrison
Post seeking: Chairman, Barrow County Board of Commissioners
Family (children, spouse and their ages): Wife, Barbara; son, Mason; daughter, Mrs. Brian (Jan) Moore; and six grandchildren.
Career/occupation: Retired from the UGA Cooperative Extension Service.
Describe your background:
I grew up in Franklin County on my family’s farm. I have received bachelor’s of science and masters of science degrees from the University of Georgia. I have served in many leadership capacities including: Deacon and trustee for the First Baptist Church in Winder; chairman of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners; chairman of the Barrow County Board of Education; president of the Barrow County Farm Bureau; member of the chamber of commerce; and a Rotarian.
The potential expansion of the airport has been a hot-button issue in Barrow County. What is your position on the topic?
I believe our airport is a good general aviation airport, and I support the installation of the ILS system, currently in progress. The airport has been identified as a gateway and character area for Barrow County.
The development surrounding indicates the importance of the airport. The commercial and industrial properties surrounding the airport currently have tax values of more than $57,000,000.
As to the future extension of the 5,500-foot runway, it must be justified, supported by the Federal Aviation Administration with funding, and present no impact to the citizens of Barrow County.
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?
First is to continue the planning efforts we have undertaken during the first four years of my administration. We have evaluated the need for expanded and improved recreation programs, developed a recreational master plan and begun developing projects associated with the program.
We are in the final stages of the comprehensive plan and comprehensive transportation plan updates. These plans outline the infrastructure needed to provide solutions to the traffic issues without creating duplications of activities within the cities and unincorporated areas.
We will continue to work with the cities to complete the service delivery strategy update. We will continue to install infrastructure in high growth areas to facilitate quality growth and protect our natural resources.
We are continuing to work with our partners in the Bear Creek Reservoir on future water supplies as we continue the water planning efforts within the Barrow County borders. Our comprehensive water study is intended to be complete in September of this year.
During my administration we have developed and approved the unified development codes, which included open space requirements, tree plantings, increased buffers, increased housing sizes, stormwater quality requirements and a host of other developmental improvements.
The board of commissioners has supported the efforts of our public safety programs better during my administration than anytime in the history of Barrow County, as we have added more than 100 employees to support your safety. I will continue to support the efforts of our public safety leaders to ensure the citizens of our county are well protected.
At least two citizen’s 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 welcome the opportunity to provide factual information to them and listen to their concerns, as I do with each individual citizen of Barrow County. Teamwork is my management style and teamwork to accomplish the needs of the Barrow County citizens is my goal.
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?
I continue to support this project and believe once a good public/private funding program is accomplished we should be able to complete the project. It will not only address local established needs, but the facility will be a catalyst for economic growth, simply look at the Gwinnett Center and Classic Center in Athens. These two facilities are a vital element in the areas they serve as the development surrounding these facilities are commercial or industrial in nature which creates jobs, increased tax values and increased sales tax.
The citizens have voted to build a Cultural Arts Center in both the county SPLOST and educational SPLOST.
With the economy getting tighter, what would you propose trimming from the budget and why?
I will continue to look for opportunities to consolidate, re-organize and direct manpower to where it is needed, not just wanted.
What are the three biggest issues that Barrow County must address over the next five years?
•Completing our water study and implementing the needed improvements as the drought continues to affect this region.
•Short term traffic/road improvement projects, some of which are underway, including the Highway 81 corridor, the Highway 211 and Highway 124 intersection, the West-Winder bypass, and various intersection improvements around our state routes.
•Jobs! Our citizens deserve to live, work and play in Barrow County and to accomplish this, our efforts with the Economic Development Council, will continue to provide those opportunities.
What new services, if any, do you propose if elected to office? How do you propose to pay for these services?
At this time I do not believe I would propose any new services for Barrow County.
Post seeking: Chairman, Barrow County Board of Commissioners
Family (children, spouse and their ages): Wife, Barbara; son, Mason; daughter, Mrs. Brian (Jan) Moore; and six grandchildren.
Career/occupation: Retired from the UGA Cooperative Extension Service.
Describe your background:
I grew up in Franklin County on my family’s farm. I have received bachelor’s of science and masters of science degrees from the University of Georgia. I have served in many leadership capacities including: Deacon and trustee for the First Baptist Church in Winder; chairman of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners; chairman of the Barrow County Board of Education; president of the Barrow County Farm Bureau; member of the chamber of commerce; and a Rotarian.
The potential expansion of the airport has been a hot-button issue in Barrow County. What is your position on the topic?
I believe our airport is a good general aviation airport, and I support the installation of the ILS system, currently in progress. The airport has been identified as a gateway and character area for Barrow County.
The development surrounding indicates the importance of the airport. The commercial and industrial properties surrounding the airport currently have tax values of more than $57,000,000.
As to the future extension of the 5,500-foot runway, it must be justified, supported by the Federal Aviation Administration with funding, and present no impact to the citizens of Barrow County.
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?
First is to continue the planning efforts we have undertaken during the first four years of my administration. We have evaluated the need for expanded and improved recreation programs, developed a recreational master plan and begun developing projects associated with the program.
We are in the final stages of the comprehensive plan and comprehensive transportation plan updates. These plans outline the infrastructure needed to provide solutions to the traffic issues without creating duplications of activities within the cities and unincorporated areas.
We will continue to work with the cities to complete the service delivery strategy update. We will continue to install infrastructure in high growth areas to facilitate quality growth and protect our natural resources.
We are continuing to work with our partners in the Bear Creek Reservoir on future water supplies as we continue the water planning efforts within the Barrow County borders. Our comprehensive water study is intended to be complete in September of this year.
During my administration we have developed and approved the unified development codes, which included open space requirements, tree plantings, increased buffers, increased housing sizes, stormwater quality requirements and a host of other developmental improvements.
The board of commissioners has supported the efforts of our public safety programs better during my administration than anytime in the history of Barrow County, as we have added more than 100 employees to support your safety. I will continue to support the efforts of our public safety leaders to ensure the citizens of our county are well protected.
At least two citizen’s 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 welcome the opportunity to provide factual information to them and listen to their concerns, as I do with each individual citizen of Barrow County. Teamwork is my management style and teamwork to accomplish the needs of the Barrow County citizens is my goal.
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?
I continue to support this project and believe once a good public/private funding program is accomplished we should be able to complete the project. It will not only address local established needs, but the facility will be a catalyst for economic growth, simply look at the Gwinnett Center and Classic Center in Athens. These two facilities are a vital element in the areas they serve as the development surrounding these facilities are commercial or industrial in nature which creates jobs, increased tax values and increased sales tax.
The citizens have voted to build a Cultural Arts Center in both the county SPLOST and educational SPLOST.
With the economy getting tighter, what would you propose trimming from the budget and why?
I will continue to look for opportunities to consolidate, re-organize and direct manpower to where it is needed, not just wanted.
What are the three biggest issues that Barrow County must address over the next five years?
•Completing our water study and implementing the needed improvements as the drought continues to affect this region.
•Short term traffic/road improvement projects, some of which are underway, including the Highway 81 corridor, the Highway 211 and Highway 124 intersection, the West-Winder bypass, and various intersection improvements around our state routes.
•Jobs! Our citizens deserve to live, work and play in Barrow County and to accomplish this, our efforts with the Economic Development Council, will continue to provide those opportunities.
What new services, if any, do you propose if elected to office? How do you propose to pay for these services?
At this time I do not believe I would propose any new services for Barrow County.
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