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County: Fire fees still evolving

Posted by
Walter Geiger
in Top Stories
Tuesday, February 8. 2011
Comments (27)
In the two work days after letters to property owners about changes to the fire and ambulance fees went out, the commission office received about 75 calls about the changes and new exemptions. The word came at the Feb. 1 Lamar County commission workshop

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#1 Fed-Up on 02/08/11 at 03:53 PM
Who's playing the fiddle while "Rome" burns this time? Apparently we are facing the possibility of assessments over the near bankrupt water authority, the threat of inceased property taxes while our leaders continue to stumble through new ways to line the County's coffers with new funding sources.The public hs already said many times over. "CUT COSTS"
#2 Anonymous on 02/08/11 at 04:15 PM
What do you want to cut exactly?

It's easy to complain but difficult to actually find something to cut. The problem we have now is they spent too much for several years. That long term spending cannot be fixed with cuts.
#3 fed-up on 02/09/11 at 12:13 PM
I notice that you "annonymous"seem to be very critical and vocal of others in these comments sections. I've thought many times over that you need to run for office AND LESS RUNNING OF YOU MOUTH!!!!!!
#4 Anonymous on 02/10/11 at 08:16 AM
Shouldn’t this fire-Ambulance fee be temporary until we can balance the county budget? If not it is just another way to pay twice for the same service.
#5 anon on 02/10/11 at 10:50 AM
Cut at least 1 job in each department to start, preferably higher priced ones. Cut any funding to the conversion from football field to park for which County is attempting to get SPLOST money. Cut any funding for flower plantings up town. Cut the outrageous yearly fee we pay to the ambulance service (isn't it over $300,000 dollars just to "be here"?). I am sure there are many more, but these are the easy ones to see.

Of course if our coucilpeople were doing their job and listening to the taxpayers they would already have a list made up and would not have caved when folks started crying about their pet project when they first discussed cutting programs rather than continue raising taxes.
#6 Double fed up on 02/10/11 at 01:35 PM
Anonymous, you are rediculous and border on stupidity. I had it with Lamar County and it's expensive antics and moving to another County where responsibilty prevails. Had enough, if enough folks do that the budget is going to get a lot worse...
#7 Anonymous on 02/10/11 at 02:07 PM
Yes cut 4 h club and teachers. No cut any fire, ambulance and sheriffs. Never cut. What happen? Five years ago? With fire and ambulance fee?
#8 anon on 02/10/11 at 04:08 PM
My problem with this tax and fire fee is who is checking to make sure the commissioners are not giving special treatment to their buddies or family? We need an outside source that is not familiar with this county or the people, to make sure everything is being done legally and another thing, to make sure the person picked is not another good ole boy that is in Jay Matthews pocket. I think they need to create a committee of taxpayers from this county to oversee what is going on with this tax and fire fee. It is pretty sad, when you have to keep an eye on the commissioners and see what they are doing with our tax money. Do we as lamar county tax payers have a right to get a printout of changes to other people's tax and fire fees in the county?
#9 Anonymous on 02/11/11 at 10:40 AM
i like how in the letter it stated that this fee was part of your property taxes but they have made it it's own separate bill... shouldn't are property taxes decrease now? just a thought...
#10 RMJ on 02/12/11 at 07:59 AM
Why not say, "OK every one your county is in a hole and we DEMAND each county property owner to fork out the cash we need to get back on our feet" cause WE didn't do anything wrong!"
Why not tax us for every animal we own, pets or livestock, or gold fish!!!!!
Who got us in this hole should pay to get us out, we the people are taxed enough!!!!!!!!!!!!
#11 Deep South Yankee on 02/12/11 at 12:02 PM
I moved to GA from MS because I thought they were pretty stupid out there, but Lamar County takes the cake. the fire fees need to be investigated for the sheer stupidity of those put in charge of overseeing them, and now the water authority has put water lines all through Lamar and asking people with perfectly fine wells to pay $1,000+ to get hooked up and start paying for water we are now getting for free -- in a sense. I'm starting to regret moving to this county. Maybe the north needs to invade again and weed out these idiots, but then again they are just as stupid up there. Can't I find a place where smart people are in control for a change?
#12 Sheila Tolley on 02/12/11 at 03:11 PM
Commissioners who condoned allowing the Gretchen fiasco to go unreconciled, CANNOT BE TRUSTED. Someone turned off the Watergate faucet on that one. WHY?
#13 Fed-up on 02/12/11 at 04:46 PM
To all property owners. You guys/gals need to buckle up if you can see the writing on the courthouse wall. The future holds for all of us an increase in the cost to live in Lamar County. I firmly believe the fire fee is here to stay and will most likely get higher in time to come, the powers in office will be forced to increase property taxes to cover the decline in property values and to cover the shortfall that is looming as they use current tax collections to cover past debts and finally the water authority debt is there because few wanted to buy water when it comes out of the well for a few cents of electricity. Now they are trying to get the power to assess. Assess who? The property owners whose property borders the water line - even when you said you didn't want to participate. .
#14 pj on 02/12/11 at 09:32 PM
with a fire that big..where are the weenies and marshmelows
#15 Anonymous on 02/13/11 at 07:04 AM
Stop whining and pay the fee. Pretend like it is for an Arts Center, a new football field, or any other important thing we can't live without.
#16 GM on 02/13/11 at 08:54 AM
The commissioners have apparently lost the ability to hear the voices of those people that elect them. It appears they believe they can act on their own once they get into office. Some appear to take the position of follower rather than leader and seems they forgot that they (except chairman) work for one of four districts in Lamar County.

The community needs to come together and form a committee and elect a spokes person to take demands to the board of commissioners. If it doesn’t have involvement from the people of the community it will be nothing but whining. Many people consider it a waste of time and energy of taking concerns to the commissioners at BOC meetings fearing their voice will only fall of deaf ears. I believe they will air out their concerns with the people of the community. The committee can also present alternatives or even the demand to do away with a project not under SPLOST obligation. This same committee could also be a voice at BOE meetings. Since the schools and public buildings belong to the people anyway, it shouldn’t be a problem to find a place for the people to assemble.
#17 Sheila Tolley on 02/13/11 at 09:04 AM
The salaries of elected officials. Ask first, which elected officials are willing to volunteer to accept a pay cut?

Gretchen done her part. She voluntarily took a pay increase? Our commissioners volunteered to let her keep the money with no repercussions.
#18 Sheila Tolley on 02/13/11 at 09:13 AM
You pay the fee for the tax paying people who cannot afford to pay them. Money bags.
#19 Sheila Tolley on 02/13/11 at 09:15 AM
No FEE-MENT WITHOUT AGREEMENT.
#20 Sheila Tolley on 02/13/11 at 09:24 AM
Analyze these just a few minutes.

• School psychologist Jessica S. Traylor, $51,660.92, travel $496.16; • Maintenance director William A. Baker, $51,608.76, travel $758.56; • Personnel director Sherrelle Ogletree, $49,507.20, travel $1,804.33; • Finance/business service manager Mona Faulkner, $48,966, travel, 601.68 (retired, position replaced by Sandy Studle); • Food service administrator Nichole James, $45,108, travel $3,954.36; • School social worker Kiana L. Clayborn, $40,013.49, travel $1,413.57; • Administrative assistant to superintendent Barbara Horne, $35,367.96; • Transportation director William Bell, $31,920, retired, replaced by Dr. Bob Wright; • Parent coordinator Amy Banks, $31,182.20, travel $268.94; • High school principal Derick Austin, $100,539.48, travel $2,367.13; • Middle school principal Diane Harvey, $90,523.44, travel 337.15; • Elementary school principal Andrea Scandrett, $87,053.76, travel $2,801.15; • Primary school principal Dr. Julie Steele, $95,991.84, travel $1,768.68; • High school assistant principal Dr. John T. Shipp, $75,351.65; • High school assistant principal Laura G.
Standard, $74,483.69, travel $1,207.06 • Middle school assistant principal Jeremy T. Hawkins, $63,622.79, travel $143; • Elementary school assistant principal Waylon T. Knight, $73,483.62, travel $800.26; • Primary assistant principal Mark A. Davis, $64,837.71.
#21 Anonymous on 02/13/11 at 10:27 AM
Attn. Commissioners... I'm not paying!!! Come get my property. What are you going to do with it? lol I can always buy somewhere else.
#22 Sheila Tolley on 02/13/11 at 04:24 PM
Taxes. Fees.

Don't you just love it when they change the name to protect the crime. This one is next:

Involuntary Donations.
#23 Anonymous on 02/13/11 at 05:13 PM
Seems simple to me, if you dont want their water don't hook up
#24 Taxpayer on 02/14/11 at 07:20 PM
Does anyone know how many people are employed in the Lamar County Sheriffi's Dept? Just curious..
#25 Sheila Tolley on 02/15/11 at 10:14 PM
I know how many work there.
About half of them.
#26 Anonymous on 02/23/11 at 12:56 PM
I received two bills from the billing service, both for the higher rate.

Then I received a corrected bill for $30 for one.

Then I paid both bills.

Next they sent my check back, and told me the corrected bill was an error and to pay the first bill.

What a wasteful uncoordinated mess!
#27 Take notes commisioners! on 02/23/11 at 03:37 PM
Dekalb County seems to listen to the voters. Cuts are needed here!
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/26959040/detail.html
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