The Georgia House of Representatives on the morning of Aug. 22 passed legislation that could lead to fundamental changes in Barrow County's form of government.
The House also approved new election district maps for the Barrow County Board of Commissioners and the Barrow County Board of Education that will be in effect from 2012-2022.
Rep. Terry England said the three bills were included in a larger package of legislation requested by local governments around the state. The House vote was 142-0.
The package now goes to the Georgia Senate, where easy passage is expected. If Gov. Nathan Deal then signs the legislation, there will be a countywide referendum on Nov. 8 for Barrow County voters to decide whether to move to a county-manager form of government starting in 2013.
Governor paves way for November referendum on changing county's form of government
It is now likely that Barrow County will hold a November referendum on whether to change from a "strong chairman" to a "county manager" form of government.
At a Wednesday morning press conference, Gov. Nathan Deal issued his official call of next week’s special legislative session on redistricting. His written proclamation names as one of the purposes of the summer session “enacting, revising, repealing or amending local laws which the General Assembly deems necessary to avoid unreasonable hardship or to avoid undue impairment of public functions if consideration and enactment thereof are postponed.”
Rep. Terry England said that includes such “time-sensitive” bills as Barrow’s, which requires legislative action prior to calling a voter referendum. [Full Story »]
At a Wednesday morning press conference, Gov. Nathan Deal issued his official call of next week’s special legislative session on redistricting. His written proclamation names as one of the purposes of the summer session “enacting, revising, repealing or amending local laws which the General Assembly deems necessary to avoid unreasonable hardship or to avoid undue impairment of public functions if consideration and enactment thereof are postponed.”
Rep. Terry England said that includes such “time-sensitive” bills as Barrow’s, which requires legislative action prior to calling a voter referendum. [Full Story »]
Citizens committee votes to strip BOC chairman's power, fundamentally change county's form of government
After weeks of public meetings, a citizens committee on Thursday night voted to strip the power of future chairmen of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners.
The Barrow County Charter Review Committee voted unanimously to recommend the following fundamental changes to Barrow County’s form of government:
• replace the county's “strong chairman” with a professional manager or administrator who would run the day-to-day operations of the county.
• change the position of chairman of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners to part time, with his primary duties being to run board meetings and to represent the county around the region and the state.
• reduce the chairman’s salary to reflect his reduced responsibilities.
• remove the chairman’s veto power but allow him to make motions and to vote on all issues like the six district commissioners.
• reduce to three the number of commissioners needed in addition to the chairman or chairman pro-tem in order to constitute the quorum legally required to conduct business at a meeting.
• allow that in the event of the absence of both the chairman and the chairman pro-tem, four commissioners be allowed to call a meeting but require that any approved action have four affirmative votes. [Full Story »]
The Barrow County Charter Review Committee voted unanimously to recommend the following fundamental changes to Barrow County’s form of government:
• replace the county's “strong chairman” with a professional manager or administrator who would run the day-to-day operations of the county.
• change the position of chairman of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners to part time, with his primary duties being to run board meetings and to represent the county around the region and the state.
• reduce the chairman’s salary to reflect his reduced responsibilities.
• remove the chairman’s veto power but allow him to make motions and to vote on all issues like the six district commissioners.
• reduce to three the number of commissioners needed in addition to the chairman or chairman pro-tem in order to constitute the quorum legally required to conduct business at a meeting.
• allow that in the event of the absence of both the chairman and the chairman pro-tem, four commissioners be allowed to call a meeting but require that any approved action have four affirmative votes. [Full Story »]
Legislators pull charter bill; BOC now in charge of process
Barrow County’s legislative delegation announced Tuesday night that it is withdrawing a bill to set up a Barrow County charter review commission.
That leaves the upcoming review of the county’s government structure in the hands of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners, which previously had voted to appoint its own citizens committee to review the charter.
But Rep. Terry England, Rep. Tommy Benton and Sen. Frank Ginn said in a prepared statement that they expect the county’s process to be “citizen driven” with “numerous, substantive public meetings for input before making any decisions” and for the decisions to be “free of the political inefficiencies that have plagued Barrow County for so long.” [Full Story »]
That leaves the upcoming review of the county’s government structure in the hands of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners, which previously had voted to appoint its own citizens committee to review the charter.
But Rep. Terry England, Rep. Tommy Benton and Sen. Frank Ginn said in a prepared statement that they expect the county’s process to be “citizen driven” with “numerous, substantive public meetings for input before making any decisions” and for the decisions to be “free of the political inefficiencies that have plagued Barrow County for so long.” [Full Story »]
BOC to begin budget process Monday
A major political battle is looming over Barrow County’s 2012 budget process that begins at 4 p.m. today with a meeting of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners.
This is the first time at least in recent history that the budget process is being kicked off by the full board rather than by a budget committee. Previously, the full board hasn’t become involved until the end of the process in late August or September.
But District 3 Commissioner Steve Worley asked for the commissioners to meet first, because with a third straight year of a shrinking tax base, sliding revenues and the arrival of additional fixed expenses in FY2012, the budget process that worked in the past is not going to work now.
CFO Rose Kisaalita, who for the first time will direct the process from start to finish, has told the commissioners that she is looking for policy direction about the budget process – and potential spending cuts and whether raising the millage rate is an option. [Full Story »]
This is the first time at least in recent history that the budget process is being kicked off by the full board rather than by a budget committee. Previously, the full board hasn’t become involved until the end of the process in late August or September.
But District 3 Commissioner Steve Worley asked for the commissioners to meet first, because with a third straight year of a shrinking tax base, sliding revenues and the arrival of additional fixed expenses in FY2012, the budget process that worked in the past is not going to work now.
CFO Rose Kisaalita, who for the first time will direct the process from start to finish, has told the commissioners that she is looking for policy direction about the budget process – and potential spending cuts and whether raising the millage rate is an option. [Full Story »]
Legislative delegation waiting to see results of BOC’s political wrangling
Will he veto it – or not?
That was the unanswered question lingering in the political atmosphere last week after the Barrow County Board of Commissioners passed a motion to ask the Georgia General Assembly to amend the county’s charter to weaken the chairman’s veto power. The measure would allow for only four votes to override a veto rather than the current five votes.
BOC Chairman Danny Yearwood said only: “I will decide what I’m going to do, and I will let you know… ”
A full week after the surprisingly strong 5-1 vote Feb. 8 to request the charter amendment, Yearwood still had not announced whether he would try to block it.
His eight-day window for vetoing the board’s action was set to expire Wednesday, Feb. 16 – hours after he was to meet privately with Rep. Terry England, Rep. Tommy Benton and Sen. Frank Ginn. [Full Story »]
That was the unanswered question lingering in the political atmosphere last week after the Barrow County Board of Commissioners passed a motion to ask the Georgia General Assembly to amend the county’s charter to weaken the chairman’s veto power. The measure would allow for only four votes to override a veto rather than the current five votes.
BOC Chairman Danny Yearwood said only: “I will decide what I’m going to do, and I will let you know… ”
A full week after the surprisingly strong 5-1 vote Feb. 8 to request the charter amendment, Yearwood still had not announced whether he would try to block it.
His eight-day window for vetoing the board’s action was set to expire Wednesday, Feb. 16 – hours after he was to meet privately with Rep. Terry England, Rep. Tommy Benton and Sen. Frank Ginn. [Full Story »]
Barrow's dirty big secret
Barrow County’s criminals are housed in a state-of-the-art detention center off Barrow Park Drive, and the county’s stray dogs and cats are being cared for in a new animal control facility.
But Barrow County’s sheriff and some of his staff are working this winter in a building with insufficient heat and are having to use restrooms that have no hot water and that are located in an adjacent building that is overgrown in mold.
“It’s ridiculous, ludicrous,” said Sheriff Jud Smith after escorting a Barrow Journal reporter on a Jan. 21 tour of the courthouse annex in downtown Winder. [Full Story »]
But Barrow County’s sheriff and some of his staff are working this winter in a building with insufficient heat and are having to use restrooms that have no hot water and that are located in an adjacent building that is overgrown in mold.
“It’s ridiculous, ludicrous,” said Sheriff Jud Smith after escorting a Barrow Journal reporter on a Jan. 21 tour of the courthouse annex in downtown Winder. [Full Story »]
Merrifield tapped for EMS chief position
Barrow County could have a new chief of emergency services as soon as Jan. 12.
Commission Chairman Danny Yearwood on Tuesday offered the position to Dennis Merrifield, the former chief of the Statesboro Fire Department, and Merrifield accepted the offer in a call to Yearwood that evening.
The offer is contingent on a clean toxicology screen, criminal background check, and the approval of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners. If the BOC votes, as expected, to hire him Jan. 11, Merrifield will start his new job the following day.
“He’s very excited and will be a great asset to the community,” said Yearwood, who met him for the first time Tuesday. “He’s bringing a lot of qualifications to the county.” [Full Story »]
Commission Chairman Danny Yearwood on Tuesday offered the position to Dennis Merrifield, the former chief of the Statesboro Fire Department, and Merrifield accepted the offer in a call to Yearwood that evening.
The offer is contingent on a clean toxicology screen, criminal background check, and the approval of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners. If the BOC votes, as expected, to hire him Jan. 11, Merrifield will start his new job the following day.
“He’s very excited and will be a great asset to the community,” said Yearwood, who met him for the first time Tuesday. “He’s bringing a lot of qualifications to the county.” [Full Story »]
Quick actions at BOC meeting
Two nights before the Thanksgiving holiday, the Barrow County Board of Commissioners held a brief regular meeting to conduct county business.
[Full Story »]
Water lines to be upgraded
Barrow County’s government is preparing to relocate and upgrade more than a mile of water lines in connection with the state’s planned improvement of the intersection of highways 124 and 211.
The Barrow County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 9 unanimously approved the expenditure of up to $49,000 for Jordan, Jones & Goulding Inc. to engineer the relocation and replacement of the water infrastructure.
The engineers have yet to determine the exact scope and cost of the utility project, but preliminary plans call for the replacement of 6,100 linear feet of water main and the relocation of related infrastructure, including a “water meter vault” that will be moved to a site adjacent to Beaver Dam Road. [Full Story »]
The Barrow County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 9 unanimously approved the expenditure of up to $49,000 for Jordan, Jones & Goulding Inc. to engineer the relocation and replacement of the water infrastructure.
The engineers have yet to determine the exact scope and cost of the utility project, but preliminary plans call for the replacement of 6,100 linear feet of water main and the relocation of related infrastructure, including a “water meter vault” that will be moved to a site adjacent to Beaver Dam Road. [Full Story »]
