Gwinnett Buzz

Blood testing firm, QualTex Laboratories, has announced that it will expand its operations to Norcross.  The expansion will create 125 new jobs in Gwinnett.  According to CEO-designate Norman D. Kalmin, the company expects “to hire highly trained, expert clinical laboratory scientists, certified lab technicians, quality specialists, materials management personnel and general management personnel.”

Well it is a year late in coming, but the Government-funded Gwinnett Braves have a naming sponsor for their ballpark near Mall of Georgia.  Coolray Heating and Cooling has agreed to a 16-year deal with the Atlanta Braves to place its moniker on the stadium.  That’s fine and dandy, but here is the curious part:

Terms of the 16-year deal with Coolray Heating and Cooling were not revealed.

Excuse me?  Terms were not revealed?  Terms should be revealed immediately!  After all, the Gwinnett County Commission blew our tax dollars building a ballpark for a minor league team we did not need.  Then, in part because of the millions of dollars committed to the facility, the county had to then raise our taxes when the recession hit.  So, yes, the Gwinnett taxpayers have a right to know the terms of the deal post-haste!  We have a right to know the net amount of our tax dollars that have been sunk in financially propping-up an organization that can afford to pay exorbitant salaries to major league ballplayers but expecting Average Joe Citizen to fork over his hard-earned money to pay for their “place of business.”  In a time on the national political scene where corporate executives - highly-paid employees who come much closer to being worth the money they earn than grown men playing a boy’s game - the taxpayers of Gwinnett County should be fully informed just how much of our money will wind up subsidizing a professional sports franchise.

Starting April 8, the Government-funded Gwinnett Braves will officially play their home games at Coolray Field, but the facility will always really be Gwinnett Taxpayers Stadium.

The United Peachtree Corners Civic Association would like to make Peachtree Corners a city. The association is asking the Gwinnett delegation to the Georgia General Assembly to support legislation that would enable the residents of Peachtree Corners to vote on incorporation. This all begs the question: Why? Does Gwinnett County need yet another small city? Do the residents of Peachtree Corners need another layer of government to create additional cost and complexity for them and for those trying to do business and serve the residents of the city? I say resoundingly, no!

State Rep. Tom Rice said that the association wants to be a “city light” and have three main services: “planning and zoning; code enforcement; and trash service.” I must admit, after the Gwinnett County’s socialized garbage debacle, I can understand the desire to have greater control over trash service. However, the last thing Gwinnett needs is an addition to the patchwork of zoning jurisdictions and code enforcement authorities. This adds complexity and, in turn, cost for businesses that have to deal with yet another jurisdiction as they try to serve local customers. Given the reputation of many small-town zoning boards, this additional layer can result in desirable businesses being prevented from opening shop in these communities. If businesses cannot serve a community, residents suffer by not having sufficient local amenities.  Also, as happened in Milton, GA, potential revenue shortfalls are even possible if enough commercial taxpayers are denied access to the area.

Hopefully, the Gwinnett delegation will not give into another unneeded small city in metro Atlanta. It seems to me that these newly created small cities are primarily good for setting up a police department to generate revenue by running speed traps on the roads and highways in their city. Gwinnett already has Duluth and Lawrenceville engaging in excessive traffic enforcement. County residents and visitors who travel in the Peachtree Corners area do not need to deal with another.  Say no to Peachtree Corners, GA.

The Atlanta Business Chronicle posted an article today noting the possibility that the AJC could move its headquarters to Gwinnett.  According to AJC publisher, Michael Joseph, in an internal email:

The cost of operating the downtown building is very high. Since moving production out to Gwinnett, we occupy less than 30 percent of the facility. As a result, the expense to operate the building is exorbitant. No decision has been made at this time, but we are looking at options including maintaining our current downtown location or relocating to a new, smaller site in the greater Atlanta area. I will keep you informed and share any updates on this issue.

A couple of years ago, the newspaper located its new printing presses on Best Friend Road in Norcross.  Other locations outside of downtown but not in Gwinnett may also be under consideration.

The final community forum on Gwinnett’s garbage service was held this past Saturday in Suwanee.  Continuing with a common theme that began late last year, county residents continue to demand freedom of choice in choosing their garbage service provider.  Just as Americans across the country are rising up and speaking loudly against Obamacare’s government control of healthcare, Gwinnettians continue to loudly say no to government dictating with whom we must do business at the local level as well.  Gwinnett’s commissioners are already on thin ice with voters after their poor stewardship of taxpayer dollars highlighted by the recent budget mess.  If they again try to cram socialized garbage down our throats after the overwhelming uproar against their solid waste ordinance, I would not be surprised if voters begin seriously exploring recall initiatives rather than waiting until the next election to bounce them from office.  To this point, the recall sentiment bubbling in Gwinnett has been fairly muted, but if commissioners continue to show callous disregard for citizens of this county, that bubbling could quickly rise to a boiling point.

The second of two garbage haulers awarded contracts under Gwinnett’s socialized garbage program has sued Gwinnett County.  Advanced Disposal is seeking “$40 million in damages against the county and the agency that oversaw the operation’s start-up” to cover expenses incurred in ramping-up to serve Gwinnett residents forced by the Board of Commissioners to use Advanced’s services.

While I remain vehemently opposed to the board’s socialistic garbage program, I cannot argue against the suits being brought by Advanced Disposal and Waste Pro.  Love or hate the solid waste ordinance, these businesses made good faith efforts to prepare to fulfill their contracts with the county.  Though I hate that Gwinnett taxpayers will ultimate be on the hook for any settlements or awards in these cases, we only have our county commissioners to blame for foisting this program upon the citizens of Gwinnett.  Their abysmal leadership on this matter should be front of mind when any member of this gang stands for reelection.  Firing them is our best recourse.

I am a Gwinnettian.  Though technically not a native (I lived in Dekalb County for my first four years), I have lived in Gwinnett virtually my entire life.  If I did not have a soft spot for my county, I would not have bought my first home here nor would I invest my time in publishing the Buzz.  That being said, once I step foot outside of Georgia, I am an Atlantan.  Someone in Alabama or Florida neither knows nor cares where Gwinnett is but they sure know Atlanta.  In fact, even here in our own city, the concept of “Atlanta native” is far more commonly heard than “<insert county> native.”  The point is this: as much as I care about Gwinnett County, Gwinnett is simply a part of the whole that is Atlanta, which is a top tier U.S. and - and by virtue of the 1996 Olympics - international city.  However, last night, with the first home game of the Gwinnett Braves, our county symbolically took a step back from this illustrious association.

For my entire life, Atlanta has been a major league city, home to a minimum of three major professional sports teams at any given time.  Unfortunately, Gwinnett apparently thought being part of such a city was not sufficient and, as such, decided to hitch its wagon to a minor league horse.  In doing so, Gwinnett has attempted to more closely identify itself with second-tier cities such as Durham, NC, Louisville, KY, Norfolk, VA, and Syracuse, NY.  For these cities, a AAA minor league baseball team is a big deal for they do not have the luxury of being home to a major league franchise and all that brings.  So, what can a minor league baseball team bring to Gwinnett County?  Do our county commissioners, who crammed the stadium through, fancy themselves as “mayors” of a twin “city” to Atlanta?  Surely not!  Gwinnett is hardly Ft. Worth to Atlanta’s Dallas.  Gwinnett has many positive aspects, but it is merely a suburban county whose identity is largely tied to being a part of the Atlanta metro area.  Unlike a city seeking a major league sports franchise, a minor league team can bring little cachet to Gwinnett County.  Thus, the only significant benefit that the Gwinnett Braves can bring to our county is simply that of another entertainment option.

While being an entertainment outlet is not a wholly unworthy cause for an organization’s existence, this benefit is significantly degraded when one recalls how the team’s stadium was shoved down Gwinnett taxpayers’ throats.  Gwinnett County cannot build a police precinct or a school without a referendum on the tax initiative funding such a project.  However, Gwinnett commissioners committed the taxpayer to an excessive investment for Gwinnett Stadium with a mere commission vote.  This expenditure looks all the more foolhardy in light of a looming tax increase due to the inability of the commission to balance the county budget.  This is precisely the kind of fiscal irresponsibility by elected officials that tea parties across the country are protesting.  Maybe the next Atlanta Tea Party should be in the parking lot of the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center!

So when the G(overnment-funded) Braves took the field last night at the sparkling Gwinnett (Taxpayers’) Stadium, rather than being a great moment for Gwinnett, it was a moment to memorialize government excess and to lament the symbolic downgrade of our county from part of a world class city to a second-tier minor league community.  For Gwinnett, April 17, 2009 will be the day that Gwinnett County was sent back to the minors.

In what should have been common sense last fall among Snellville city council members, the State of Georgia has affirmed that the City of Snellville cannot regulate crematory emissions.  However, rather than exhibiting common sense and upholding fairness and justice, Snellville city councilwoman Kelly Kautz and her ilk pushed forward with a persecution of a private property owner and local businessman in order to curry political favor with voters.  Even in light of the state’s ruling and a similar opinion by Snellville’s city attorney, Kautz amazingly continues to express support for Snellville to regulate crematory emissions.  

So, does this mean that Chris Nuzum can finally cast aside the shackles of the City of Snellville and open his business?  Nope.  There is still is the matter of the frivilous building plans deviations.  The lawsuit on that matter is still pending.  Hopefully, Nuzum will wind up owning half the City of Snellville.  Maybe he can put his crematory INSIDE city hall!  Goodness knows, there’s enough space!

Earlier this month, Commissioner Mike Beaudreau’s garbage committee held it’s final hearing.  The panel hopes to present its findings to the Gwinnett County Commission this week.  Unfortunately, despite loud voices against major tenets of socialized garbage, reports are suggesting that the committee will, for all intents and purposes, sign off on the heinous ordinance that so many Gwinnett residents have made clear that they do not support.

Socialized Garbage Tenet 1 - Mandatory pickup - The committee is reportedly in agreement on mandatory pickup at residences.  They may throw a bone to residents in the form of an opt-out clause for those with access to other disposal options (e.g., a small business owner who has a dumpster at the business).  I do not have a major problem with this if there is a legitimate dumping problem.  I still feel, however, that the county could better use resources wasted on its “Quality of Life” task force to track down those who are dumping illegally.  According to committee member Mack Perry, “…the illegal dumping isn’t coming from people who have trash service.”  If the county knows this, they can go after those who are guilty and not punish all residents with a government mandate.  

Socialized Garbage Tenet 2 - No Choice in Garbage Hauler - Residents were very clear that they wanted choice in selecting their garbage hauler.  This is one of the most egregious aspects of the ordinance.  However, despite there being little doubt about the feeling of the citizens, the committee, according to the Gwinnett Views blog, is considering an assignment of providers to regions, thus resulting in “one hauler, one neighborhood.”  What part of choice does the committee not understand?  We do not want Mike Beaudreau and the rest of the commission to select our garbage hauler!  Reducing neighborhood truck traffic is a red herring used to justify substitution of a government decision for your free choice.  Rather than listen to the residents and respect their strong support of economic freedom of choice, the committee may be set to sign off on a second aspect of socialized garbage.

Socialized Garbage Tenet 3 - Garbage bill included on property tax bill - Another unpopular component of socialized garbage was the inclusion of garbage collection charges on property tax bills.  Here again, the committee may be leaning toward recommending just such a payment mechanism.  Gwinnett Views opines:

The majority of the MBSCT believe the only way to make sure that all of us residents are toeing the line is to put the trash bill on our tax bill.

I am sure that officials will try to justify this requirement by arguing that it simplifies their bill collection responsibilities.  Sorry, but I am not here to serve the government, the government is here to serve the citizens.  Trading our freedom of choice to save government the burden of dealing with those who do not pay is not an acceptable trade.  

Three pillars of socialized garbage, three thumbs up from the Mike Beaudreau committee.  Very interesting given resident opposition and Mack Perry’s comment on his blog:

As a member of the committee I think I should tell you that this is not just a committee of a bunch of “Yes Men and Women” who are giving lip service to the commissioners.

Really?  Not a committee of “Yes Men and Women?”  Could have fooled me.  

I could live with mandatory pickup and even billing on my tax statement.  What I cannot quietly accept is the commission telling me who I have to use for garbage service.  Had socialized gone through in January, I would have been assigned to Waste Pro and I saw enough from that company during recent months to know that I would almost certainly not do business with them voluntarily.  Mike Beaudreau and his fellow commissioners should not be able to tell me I must use them.  Much of Gwinnett apparently agrees with me, but the Beaudreau committee apparently did not pay attention to this.

One bit of good news is that the county may be about to agree to an extension of the current garbage system (also known as a competitive market) through the end of the year.  While we cannot be sure that a recrafted solid waste ordinance won’t look substantially the same as socialized garbage, at least we can go nine more months without the Gwinnett County Commission sticking its nose in our affairs.  Another advantage may be the reticence of commissioners Bert Nasuti and Kevin Kenerly to back the unpopular aspects of socialized garbage on the eve of potential reelection bids in 2010.

Gwinnett Views has posted (via committe member Mack Perry’s blog) information for the last meeting of Mike Beaudreau’s garbage committee:

3-2-2009 at GJAC in the auditorium 6:00-9:00 the first 1-1/2 hours are for the committee to hear from the haulers with the public comments portion of the meeting to start around 7:30 to accommodate those citizens that had difficulty getting to a 6:30 meeting.

If you have not checked out Gwinnett Views, I urge you to do so.  I think he may be more incensed about the garbage mess than I am!  He does raise some interesting concerns about just how seriously the county is taking Beaudreau’s efforts with the committee.