BOC chairman candidates discuss experience, plans for Barrow

NEWS/JOURNAL: The Chairman of the Board of Commissioners serves one of the most important and visible roles in Barrow County government. Among his other duties, the chairman is the county’s representative with other governments and prospective industry. In your opinion, what is the most important function of the chairman’s job?

GARRISON: Probably just that – being the number one cheerleader for what Barrow County has to offer to business and industry. Also, to provide services for citizens of Barrow County, to deliver those basic services they need for protection and public safety, and to serve as representation when it comes time to get funds for roads and infrastructure improvements.

I think economic development is a key role of the county chairman - being at the table with the ARC in Atlanta or the RDC out of Atlanta and having good relationships with state and national elected officials to try to bring what you can to Barrow County.

YEARWOOD: In my opinion, the most important function of the chairman’s job is to see that the wishes of our commissioners are carried out. By this, I mean they set the precedents. The chairman is to see that the job is done. We also need to direct our attention to our taxpayers to make sure we are actually doing what they ask us to do.

I think we should really examine every industry that wants to come into Barrow County to see if it is the best for the tax payer in the sense of economic development growth. We have got to have that.

NEWS/JOURNAL: With the current economic downturn, many local governments are dealing with decreased revenue. With talk of budget cuts, there are concerns that county employees may be affected. Do you believe it will be necessary to layoff county employees within the next four years? Why or why not?

GARRISON: I certainly hope not. That would mean we had an even worse economy than we have today. I believe that our location will be advantageous to us in recovering from the economic conditions that we’re in now. I don’t see any need to lay off any employees. I think we can freeze positions or keep them open, only filling key positions. I think we can do some reorganization that would not layoffs, but would require some job changes – some moving of personnel. Our taxes should be able to cover those essential needs of our community. The only way that I would ever see layoffs would be if we were to reduce our budget if the economic situation were such that we couldn’t bring in the revenue from the tax base that is out there. We’re not that heavy in employees. There is still a need for employees. If we were to carry out our plan for public safety - to get ambulances at every station – it would require us to hire people. That’s something that the citizens want, but we’ve not been able to do yet and may not be able to do for a few years. I just don’t see a need for layoffs.

YEARWOOD: I actually believe we will not have to lay off anybody. Job cuts were never an issue I was speaking about. I was asked “if it come to that.” We can direct our spending and stop the money where we are wasting it and make sure that we protect our job market. Our employees are what we have to make sure we can protect. I think, with the department heads knowing our economic turn is as they are – you know, it being a downturn in our economy right now – I think they would be willing to work with me to try to figure out any way to save jobs and that is what I was trying to approach there.

NEWS/JOURNAL: Barrow County will face increased costs this year from opening the new jail and courthouse. At the same time, the county is receiving less money from licenses, permits and planning fees. In your opinion, is it feasible to cut spending enough to eliminate the need for tax increases? Why or why not?

GARRISON: That’s a tough question. We are opening up a new jail and courthouse. It will be much more efficient than where we are. There is some money in SPLOST to renovate the current courthouse. We’ll not be running the jail, so we’ll not be incurring those expenses. I think it will take some analysis to see what those increases are. I believe we can meet our budget and provide the services just by sound budget decisions and cutting back where we can cut back in terms of not adding new positions and not buying some of the equipment departments might want.

At the same time, I would not want to jeopardize the safety of our employees. So, if there is equipment necessary to do the job, I think we should budget for that.
In reference to the digest and millage rate, we are still lowest on our millage rate of any county around us except Oconee and they don’t provide fire and EMS services. I believe we can maintain that status in terms of millage rate. I would not sit here and tell you that there may not be a need for a millage rate increase in the future. The state again controls assessments, not the commission. The growth that we have that is online right now should adequately take care of our budget needs if we are good budget planners.

The ten percent across the board that Mr. Yearwood speaks of – our department heads are already doing that. Each year, we come in either at budget or below. We have not gone over budget. In tight years like this, departments will cut back in terms of freezing spending and not buying anything we don’t have to have. Just because a department has a budget of a certain amount, they don’t spend it just so that they can keep that budget. We budget based on need and that has been the case for the past four years. Each department head has been very supportive when it comes to cutting back. There are some departments that can prolong some of their needs and they have been very cooperative with that. I don’t think ten percent across the board is the answer.

YEARWOOD: (Eliminate the need for tax increase) is exactly what I want to do. That is the reason I want to approach it this way. I do not want to put the burden back on the taxpayer. If we can go in and take all our departments and set down and say “Look, this is what we’re up against. Let’s work together and try to get through this where we don’t have to put this burden back on our taxpayer.” I know, I haven’t had a chance to talk with all of them, but I know the ones I have talked to say they are more than willing to sit down and see what we can do because this is an expense that we’re going to have to face. It’s coming and I don’t want our taxpayers to have to face it. I honestly believe that if we look at…each department and put all our efforts together, that we can figure out a way to come up with this money instead of going back on the taxpayer and that’s what I am going to try to do.

NEWS/JOURNAL: If elected, will you put your real estate license on inactive status? Why or why not?

GARRISON: I know that has been an issue with some people even though I have no listings and have not been actively involved in real estate. I have not put my license on inactive status. I can do that. I feel like if I do it right now, it will look like I am trying to do something short term to get elected. If I am elected, I’ll be happy to put it on inactive because I’m not involved in real estate. My opponent does have ten active listings, I would assume that he would do the same thing. He says he will. I would hope that he would also relinquish his other licenses as he has said. I know he drives cars with dealer tags on them and the county is missing out on taxes because of that. I would hope that his personal car would have a real tag on it in the future. That’s not something I think he should do between now and the election, but, if he is elected, I would hope he would look at that and see that is as important as my real estate license or his real estate license going inactive.

YEARWOOD: The week that I announced that I was going to run, I promised the citizens that I would put all of my licenses inactive. Like I told you before, I am an independent businessman. I have several different business licenses. When I devoted my time and myself to run for this job, I just about ceased all business. I think I’ve sold one car in three months and it was a car I already had. I have devoted 100 percent of my time to run for this job and I am going to devote 100 percent of my time to the operation of Barrow County.

I am not active hardly at all (in real estate). I have two listings that are actually not my own property. I have a building lot in Winder on Wright Street that is a listing and I have a house up on Lake Hartwell that is a friend of my wife. It’s not mine. The other property that I have listed under my name is actually my own property. I am not involved actually hardly at all.

NEWS/JOUNAL: Barrow County is still in the process of preparing this year’s tax digest. As of now, it is unknown if the tax digest will increase from the previous year. If the digest remains flat, how will you work to increase the tax base and lower the individual property tax burden for Barrow citizens?

GARRISON: I think the biggest thing here is that in the last four years, we have got infrastructure where commercial growth needs to be. When I went in office, it wasn’t at the corner of Hwy. 81 and Hwy. 316. We didn’t have a new plant in Statham to cover that territory or allow the Georgia Club to continue their development, which has not slowed down in terms of them having the infrastructure to build the nice homes that are in the Georgia Club. We’ve got industry at Auburn that we didn’t have. There have not been any improvements on the line there, but we have had more industry come in. There was one pump station that was put in that allowed additional folks to put their businesses on line. We’ve purchased capacity from Winder for the sole purpose of economic development. We’ve got that capacity to build whether we add anything or not. We have paid for and have the line work run to accommodate some of that in the future. I think it’s important to know that we have been proactive and we do have plans for or the infrastructure where commercial needs to be. I do not believe that we need sewer throughout the county. There are areas in our county that we want to remain agricultural or rural. So I don’t see a need for us to try to figure out how to get sewer all across the county.

Our biggest need is to try to promote the areas for economic development that we have out there now. The only thing that will slow us down if the economy doesn’t turn around is that we don’t have funds to actually put additional line work up Hwy. 211 and that corridor. However, I would like for us to talk again with Braselton. As they have sewer capacity available in that area, we could have some economic development in that corner of the county. It is my understanding that the mayor would be agreeable to that. I believe she has publicly stated that annexation would be taken off the table as an issue there which is something we tried to negotiate before we did our deal with Winder. I would want to open those discussions up because that would not cost us money and would open up an area for economic development if I am reelected.

I do believe there will be some growth in the digest. It probably won’t be as much this year because a lot of the new things that are out there won’t come on line until this year which will mean it won’t affect the digest that we’ll be dealing with for our budget. We’re a year or two short from really seeing some increases in our digest. We’re still getting a great amount of interest in commercial and retail growth. The housing market is flat right now, although inventory has been lowered. I think if we can be on a tight budget for next year or two, the revenues will be there to continue economic development.

It is going to be important that we continue to work with Linda Moore and the Economic Development Council to bring jobs and new industry to the county and to improve and expand the industry we have. That helps our tax base and helps create jobs for our own citizens and keeps us traveling less miles with high gas prices so families have more income to spend at home.

YEARWOOD: As I have stated from the beginning of my campaign, I believe 316 is the lifeline of Barrow County. I see miles and miles of uncharted commercial and industrial development property up and down that corridor. I want to direct our attention to getting infrastructure into that area that we need. We should have done it ten years ago. I mean, a prime example that I am speaking of is your Hwy. 129, both sides of the road all the way to I-85 and past it. I think that is what’s possible in our 316 area.

The first thing is to get out infrastructure out there. We have got to get water. We’ve got to be ready. We’ve got to get water, sewage. The road is there. We actually have the best in and out of Barrow County available to us and I think that is what we need to focus our attention on in terms of our economic and industrial development growth.

NEWS/JOURNAL: Do you feel the $15 million industrial authority expansion property will benefit Barrow County? Why or why not?

GARRISON: Yes, I believe it will benefit Barrow County. A county needs to have an inventory of land available for industry. Industry wants to be able to see a site that has infrastructure there. They want a ready site. The investment that the industrial authority has made will pay dividends for us in the future. I firmly believe that investment will be beneficial to the economic well-being of the community in the future. We have, in that bond, funds to put the sewer to the site. It is being planned. We’ll have sewer at the site. We already have adequate water in the area. Our 24 inch water main goes right by there, gas goes right by there, so we have all the infrastructure that’s needed. I firmly believe it’s a very adequate site for industrial development to occur in the future.

YEARWOOD: Well, I know we’ve got a water study going on that is supposed to be ready in September I understand. We really need to utilize that property. It is a joint industrial and airport authority project. As you know, Barrow County is responsible for that debt. If it doesn’t come to pass and be used as a viable entity for industrial development growth there, I’m hoping that we might can figure out a way to maybe put a watershed. I haven’t actually done the research, but, yes, I would love to be able to use this property.

The bad side of this is that in our economic, I hate to say this, in our time of economic downward turn, we are not going to be able to sell that property for what we put in it. That’s another side of the waste I was talking about. We really need to have the feasibility studies to find out if the property we’re buying is actually worth what we’re paying. Now, we’ve got that property for almost $40,000 an acre that might bring $20,000 (an acre). I hate to say it, but it was just a bad business decision.

NEWS/JOURNAL: Two of the most controversial land purchases made by the Barrow County Board of Commissioners have been the Segar property and the Hwy. 53/Hwy 316 tract. In your opinion, in what way can these properties be used as an economic investment for the future of Barrow County?

GARRISON: Mr. Yearwood speaks of wasteful spending. I have asked the question publicly and have never received an answer as to what he thinks that wasteful spending is other than these two properties. The one at 53 is where we will have the necessary infrastructure for it to be a prime target for economic development. It could be an education hub, it could be life sciences – there is so much that could happen on the 316 corridor. We have 275 acres that is ready and available and being actively marketed to the developers of the state. I don’t believe we’re taking away from the developers in our own community. We market their sites as well. We’re promoting the sites that have infrastructure there as well as trying to have a site for our own community.

Even though some have said the area around the airport was a wrong decision, I don’t think anyone would want to see the county allow residential housing to come up next to the airport. The county had already turned down at least one and I think two rezone requests for residential subdivisions. We have not been challenged on that and I firmly believe our decisions were the right decisions.

The purchase of that property will be for possible airport expansion in terms of hangars and industry that could grow up around an airport. If you go to any small, general aviation airport, you’ll find a good bit of light industry around it. It’s very compatible.

As far as the expansion issue, I feel like that has been an issue in the election. We publicly stated, publicly voted on and tried to let everyone know that the purchase of this property is not to extend the runway and have a second Hartsfield. If and when the FAA has the funds and if and when the need there for an extension to the runway, we have land for that. I am not for it and I have publicly stated that.

I just recently ran an ad stating that, in the next four years, if I am elected and the commission were to vote to extend the runway, I would veto it. The main reason is that transportation is not where it needs to be in that area. There is no good way to get to Interstate 85 and no really good way to get to Highway 316. There has to be some road improvements before that area can support any type of extension of the runway which would bring in industry that would need truck traffic as well. Truck traffic is not going to be able to move through Winder until we have some major road improvements.

YEARWOOD: The property at Hwy. 53 and Hwy. 316 is a very, very attractable industrial site. I think we need to market it as that. I believe Barrow County does not need to be in the development business. They had plans maybe of putting a cultural center there and I am not for that. I think it should be developed by private industry to bring in the revenue to Barrow County that we need. If we put it there, we’re going to have to man it, keep it up, foot the expense of building it. I don’t want to turn a piece of very valuable property into a liability that should be an asset.

Now we’re getting back to the property (Segar Farm) that I don’t know what we can use for. I don’t think we can develop that property. If we spend another $1.5 million developing it, I just don’t see how it can be an economic development growth for our county. I think it will be more of a tax burden. I’m hoping that I can get some more insight to figure out what to do – maybe put a watershed. Beech Creek runs to the back side of that property. If we can figure out how to utilize that property for part of a water reservoir, I would be a hundred percent for it. We have got to do something about our water situation in Barrow County. We can’t postpone it any longer. Maybe use some of it for parks and recreation, I’m looking for suggestions.

NEWS/JOURNAL: What steps do you propose to insure Barrow County has adequate water capacity for current and future development?

GARRISON: First of all, I don’t think Mr. Yearwood understands that the largest portion of the county is covered by the Winder water system. The county water system only covers portions in the western area and the Statham area. The majority of the rezones that come through us get a water letter from the City of Winder. When the City of Winder issues that letter that water is available, that is not a reason that we can use to decline a rezone. I do believe that the efforts we’re making to complete our water study, which does include the cities and municipalities in Barrow County, and to supply storage will benefit all of the water systems in Barrow County. I don’t know what that study is going to say. We’ll be getting that this fall. We hope it will identify a good site for a reservoir. I would personally hope that it will be one where we would not have to build a treatment plant for, but that it could easily be move into an existing treatment plant either by the City of Winder or Bear Creek. As far as the rezone issue is concerned, a landowner has the right to sell their property for the highest and best use. My background in agriculture tells me that I don’t want to see a lot of subdivisions. What we have done over the past four years is raise the standards for home development through our UDC and other avenues. We have raised the minimum square footage of homes and encouraged the use of sewer and more open space. I believe we are on the right track for smart growth. I think supply and demand is certainly the issue right now. As far as our future is concerned and water needs are concerned, that is a major concern for us and for Winder. I believe with the study we’re doing and with cooperation with the municipalities, that issue will be addressed within the next twelve months.

YEARWOOD: What I am wanting to do is make sure that in our time of drought is that we don’t overextend the county in the water situation. I went and talked to Mr. Garrett and he has told me that we are actually on a faster decline in our water than we were last year. If we continue to add on water supplies to people, we’re going to lessen our supply that much more. I don’t know what level we’re at right now because I don’t have the numbers in front of me or I haven’t been given that number, but I know that it is critical and it could get very critical. Last year, Winder actually had the supply of water to make it through the drought, but if they have to pull off Bear Creek – I think they have access to it and they didn’t have to –it could get really critical. We have got to make sure, if we’re giving the permits for water, that we do have that water.

NEWS/JOURNAL: What, in your opinion, can Barrow County do immediately to address the transportation problem in the area?

GARRISON: Looking back over the last four years, I might have been amiss by not pushing harder for the West Winder Bypass. It has become apparent through the state and federal fund issue, the cost of doing this in terms of gas prices running up the asphalt costs and that sort of thing, that funds are not available for the West Winder Bypass. We have SPLOST funds – something to the order of $6 million – that we can’t use because that project is sitting there unfunded from the state and federal perspective. It’s my plan and has been my plan all along that we would bring to the commission before the end of this year a plan to use those funds. Basically, take the funds we have for transportation and road improvements that were designated for the West Winder Bypass to do some roadwork. It may mean a two lane road right where the bypass would go. It may mean we go into Winder.

There is an area in Winder where we believe we can do an overpass and connect 81 to 211. There are other areas where we can do improvements. We just completed a transportation study that has identified where we can make some short term improvements that will help the traffic situation in the future as we work to address the growth issues in certain parts of our county.

We have an excellent public works director in Terry Darragh. He is actively working on alternatives and we hope to be presenting that in early fall in terms of the commission making a decision on how to use the funds we do have to improve the transportation throughout Barrow County which will relieve the traffic situation in Winder to some degree as well. Our main effort is to try to get truck traffic away from downtown Winder if possible.

The opening of Ed Hogan Crossing, which is out near Walmart – there is a crossing there that we’re working with CSX railroad on. It’s in their hands now. Their engineers are reviewing our plans. It’s a reopening of a crossing that will allow people from the western portion of the county to cross the railroad to get to Walmart or to go to Home Depot. That’s a small project that will have a big impact. There are a number of projects like that – small projects that will have big impact and will improve safety – that we have on the drawing board.

Those projects need to continue and we will continue to seek state assistance and funding on the small projects. We’ve been successful in getting some help on those projects…We’re already doing some small projects, but we need to channel what funds we’ve got and utilize them for the benefit of Barrow County citizens.

YEARWOOD: I have already gone to a couple of the mayors and I think what we need to do is get together, all the municipalities of our county government, and we need to go to Atlanta as a group, not as a single person or anything and go up to them and say “We need help. Look at what we’re having to face every day.” I think we should’ve done it five years ago. I don’t know why every time a bypass to come up it would get postponed or people would argue about where it was going. We have got to get the people of our county together and say “look, this has got to be done to relieve the traffic congestion in our county.” It can be done. It’s going to take hard work, but hey, I’m willing to go up there every day and talk to them if I have to. I think that is the way you have to do it. You can’t just, say, go one month and wait another eleven months and go ask them again. I think it has got to be pursued and actually addressed maybe weekly or monthly to let them know we are wanting help.

NEWS/JOURNAL: The skyrocketing cost of fuel has hurt citizens and local governments. Mr. Yearwood has said Barrow County’s fuel expenditures are wasteful. In one example, Mr. Yearwood said Barrow County dispatches a fire truck and ambulance to every 911 call. Do you feel it is wasteful to dispatch an ambulance and a fire truck to a 911 call?

GARRISON: We have an excellent chief in Chief Bob Post. It is his job to address the protocol for Fire and Emergency Services. I support his plan. Basically, his plan is that if it is a critical call or an emergency situation where an ambulance is definitely needed, it rolls. If it is a call where someone is in distress and an ambulance is not available, then they roll the fire trucks. We have first responders there as well as paramedics. At the two stations that we don’t have a med unit, we have paramedics which are highly trained and skilled and can give better aid once they get there. As far as rolling both units, we never know when there is a safety issue. If it is a car accident, you don’t know if it is going to catch fire. It’s just a safety issue. Chief Post could better answer the question as to why but it is providing more service to the situation to prevent a problem or to address a problem without having to call a unit in later. That’s not a major part of our fuel costs. I don’t believe that is something that our citizens would want us to do. [I don’t think they] want us to sacrifice the service when it comes to public safety.

YEARWOOD: I had a two hour meeting yesterday with Chief Post and he went over all the reasons that they’re actually doing this. What they did is that they actually pulled two ambulances off and put those paramedics on fire trucks. What he proposed to me is that the fire truck can get to that call and be on there with a heart attack victim and call backup if we don’t have a paramedic there –Procare or another ambulance. I suggested to Chief Post that me and him sit down and actually discuss how to utilize what kind of call is coming into 911. Maybe restructure the calls how they’re coming in – make sure we know what is needed to go to that call. He told me he would be happy to sit down with me and approach the 911 system and see if we could figure out a way to utilize that call the way it should be called. Right now, the way it is set up – and he’s doing a fabulous job, but I want those two ambulance to be back on if we can get them back. He assured me that the people in those areas do have the protection they need. That’s what bothered me. If there is any way - the reason I say if we have two firemen or three firemen on a fire truck and then we have two EMTs on an ambulance or an EMT and a paramedic and we dispatch both of them, and this is what I was addressing, if we get both of them to a call and we get out there and it’s a sprained ankle, we’ve sent a fire truck at four miles to the gallon and we’ve sent an ambulance. We’ve got $400,000 in equipment sitting out there and four manpower and they turn around and call Procare to back them up and take a person to the hospital. So we’ve got all that money that has been spent to go out there and I think there is a way that we could sit down – Chief Post and I and the 911 director –and find out a way to make sure the call is answered the way it should be.

NEWS/JOURNAL: In another example, Mr. Yearwood questioned the use of large vehicles when a smaller vehicle could be used. Do you think it is cost effective to replace the county’s fleet with more fuel efficient vehicles at this time?

GARRISON: In terms of inspectors and those sort of things, we have been moving to smaller cars, smaller trucks and more fuel efficient vehicles. However, you can’t replace your whole fleet in one year. You have to move those in as you can. We’re getting away from the F-150s and the larger vehicles that are not needed for just transporting an individual that doesn’t need to haul and doesn’t need to use that truck for anything other than transportation to and from a site. Our plan is to do that, but you can’t do it all in one year. You have to spread this out over time to make it work for the budget and be efficient.

YEARWOOD: First off, you can’t really do away with the stuff that is on lease. You know, because it is under a contract. I don’t know what kind of contract. Some people tell me it is a lease option, I don’t know what they’re under – I can’t answer that question. What I would suggest right now is that if we have an inspector driving an F-150 and we’ve got something that gets better mileage – let’s swap him into another vehicle. If we can swap the vehicles around to utilize them to what is needed for the furthest trip, that’s what we need to do.

Of course, when we get to the point where we can face that, I expect the department heads to come to me and say, “listen, we need two pickups and we need three cars” and then we can really address that issue.

NEWS/JOURNAL: In one of the most hotly contested races of this election season, candidates have made numerous appearances and campaigned tirelessly for the opportunity to serve as the Chairman of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners. Why would you be a better chairman than your opponent?

GARRISON: I think it boils down to leadership. I had five years of experience with the Board of Education handling a budget three times the budget that Barrow County has in terms of being responsible for as a board member and making decisions on funding and spending. Prior to that, I have had years of experience as a public servant through the extension service and working with farm bureau on the board of directors.

I had plenty of experience going into office in 2004 and yet, for the first six months, I was lost in terms of learning what government is all about, how it works and those type of things. I had no experience as a county commissioner; I had only had those experiences I mentioned. So I think it boils down to leadership.

Mr. Yearwood has had none of those experiences of public service. To my knowledge, he has not been active in the Chamber of Commerce, on committees, on church committees, deacons, any of those things where you are put in a place to make decisions that affect an organization or a group.

Being chairman of the Board of Commissioners in Barrow County or any other county is a position of leadership. It is one of being able to speak well, be able to represent well, being able to bring out the best of the government, the best of the employees and to continue to try to improve that. I believe in the last four years we’ve made great improvements to our service delivery. There are still things we can improve on, we’re not there yet, but we’re making strides. We’ve got great employees. We’ve done a number of things over the past four years to improve employee conditions and I believe that pays off in productivity.

I think leadership is the main issue here and I believe I have those leadership skills to carry Barrow County forward into the future.

YEARWOOD: Well, the main reason I think I’d be a better chairman than my opponent is because of my business experience. All I have ever had to do all my life is open my own checkbook and pay my own bills. As I have stated my whole campaign, I want to treat the county like a business. If it is needed and it is necessary, we do it. If it isn’t and it is unneeded, we don’t do it. We have a responsibility to the taxpayers of Barrow County to see that there money is spent wisely and I will not take that job lightly. I am going to treat it just like it is my own. I want everybody in every department to know how I feel about wasteful spending.