When are these so called Government Agencies going to become financially responsible? The building of this system has been running out of control for several years. It should become self sustaining by now.
So let them take over and stop being greedy you jerks why should the tax payers pay for your debts may be a paycut is what should happen I am tired of every time the county needs a bail out where do they turn to the tax payers if I am going to pay anymore taxes it should be to give the FD,PD,SO raises not to pay off your damn debt the heck with the lamar county water authority bring on the GEFA NO MORE TAXES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fire hydrants sound like something that should be covered under the, I don't know, Fire/EMS fee we are already being forced to pay?! This is getting ridiculous. How hard is it to get people in charge of our money that can perform simple math problems and stop over spending?
Sorry: Let the authority do what any private citizen or private business enterprise would be forced to do when they mismanaged, overspent, or just plain didn't care.
It is called bankruptcy. It is not the tax payer’s responsibility to fix stupid!
JM and the county commission; the microscope will be upon you all and you won't be able to wiggle out from under it. Raise taxes and your political ambitions are over and terminated. The people are fed up!
Acquire some responsibility and lead by example. Example being; money management and living with what you have available. Stop begging for more tax money and stop making excuses. And if you can’t do it: Resign!
We don't even have county water, water lines, or fire hydrants on my road. Why should I have to pay for something that I can't get. And yes we tried but were told that there "Aren't enough houses on that road." You people waste enough of my money already. Own up, suck up, and figure out how to deal with YOUR problems yourself. The rest of us have to.
How much of a wake can be left by a meeting held 18 months ago?
Check the records & note who the greedy folks were who advised the authority to keep borrowing money several years ago. These guys are really good at getting rich on the tax payers in Lamar and other counties.
If the BOC co-signed on the loans, it's not really a question.
Personally I think that they have amazing math skills... it goes something like this 1 for you, 5 for me. Anybody notice that most of the higher up people that work for the city drive really nice cars. Have fun paying that debt off, and glad I don't live in this county. Sorry to the already beat down tax payers, demand accountability from your officials, or remove them from office. Business as usuall is not working.
Let GEFA take it over. Maybe they will do a better job managing it. And when they piss us off, we can just charge them double for the water they buy from OUR reservoir.
Reading the print edition yesterday I noticed consideration was given to raising rates but that would be prohibitive for voluntary users. It seems to me users of the system should be the ones paying. At the very least, there should at least be a water line within 4 or 5 miles of your house if you have to pay.
Why should I have to pay for a water service that is nowhere near my home, with no plans to come anywhere near, and which I don't want to use even if they run by my house?
I have to agree with poster #2 that the first option, even if it will only reduce the debt a small percentage, should be paycuts (or maybe terminations) for the management of the water authority before you ask me to effectively take a paycut to subsidize your poor administration.
At least the Fire/EMS fee purports to offer a service (although I would have to pay the ambulance if I use it). For many Lamar Countians this added cost offer nothing. If imposing a cost to citizens who have no chance of using a service is legal it should not be and it is certainly not ethical.
What about us tax payers that do not even have a fire hydrant accessable to our entire road. Do we have to pay as well? 8 plus homes in a 3/4 mile strech no water! huh
Starve some of the losers that are already sucking up our tax dollars and I'll bet some of them will find a job . Then, they can pay their fair share instead of it always coming from those who spend everyday of their lives trying to provide for their own .
Speaking of fair ! The fair tax would see to it that everyone pay the same !
True American citizens need to stand up and fight for what is right ! You need to VOTE for the person who is going stop illegal aliens from coming to America and robbing us of our jobs . You also need to VOTE for someone who will put an end to our government giving Dairy Queens and gas stations to foreigners that don't have to pay taxes for so many years and then pass it on to a relative . When they come to America they need to have citizenship and find a job as most of us have . We are not helping our selves by standing aside and allowing our government to give our hard earned dollars to foreign people !
Get on the internet or the phone and let your local Congressman know how you feel, and remember to VOTE ! Just make sure you educate yourself about the person you are voting for .
well let me see, they have the office mgr.NOW in charge of operations ( smart move--NOT!!!)at a lot higher $$$$$ paycheck, they have new WA trucks to drive, they drive home to lunch with WA gas in those trucks. They have internet in the office, who's paying that??? WE ARE :-( or will be. And i wonder why my water bill is so HIGH!!!!!
Like I've said before, when the person auditing the books is morally bankrupt, financial bankruptcy isn't far behind. You run up 1/2 million in personal debt, you shouldn't be checking other people's numbers.
It will be interesting to watch to see who will be on our next BOC if this goes against the tax payers. Let GEFA take it over, perhaps they can better manage it. Rather than sticking it to the tax payers once again.
i have county water on the main road that my road is off of... however if i want county water i have to pay over a thousand dollars to have it run to my house and my neighbors wouldn't have to pay a thing... ummm i don't think so... i will stick with my well and you can shove your debt!
Not all of us 'foreigners' are a drain on the United States. Also, those people that come legally and open businesses and employ people actually invest their own money. Government isn't just 'giving Dairy Queens and gas stations' as you put it. Now I agree that the loophole that allows alien business owners to pass on the property to avoid taxes should be closed. LEGAL immigrants have to jump through a lot of expensive hoops to get a green card and your attitude seems a little ignorant. Sure the illegals are a problem and should be dealt with by the full force of the law but you shouldn't include legal folks who respect and want to be a part of America, with those that are here to abuse the system.
Begging for Tax Money?? You got to be kidding right?? Uhh, it's collected with the backing of the courts and quite literally the point of a gun my friend!! Don't give these S.O.B's any benefit of the doubt!!
Give the water authority to GEFA, I live in the forgotten area of Lamar and will never have a fire hydrant in front of my house, but count the ones on Fredonia Church, Oh please citizens let's all go to the next meeting and boooooo. Again I am so disapointed in Jimmy Hearn and Charles Glass, thought we would have some integrity, honesty and a genuine concern for the citizens. Bend over.
When the water line was installed adjacent to my property I declined the offer of service. A fire hydrant was installed on the corner of my property destroying the property marker. (Survey required to reestablish at my cost.) I thought that having the fire hydrant would decrease my insurance premium. My insurance company didn't see it that way. One good thing. My dog likes the hydrant. But, he doesn't pay taxes. Don't ask me to pay for this fiasco. The users of the system should foot this bill.
How is President Obama responsible for the Lamar County water authority situation? The budget for this was probably made years before he became president, but I guess being the wise person you are, you knew that and was just looking for someone to blame.
Our Water Authority is very similar to Obama's Hope and Change both were ill conceived and
surrounded by to many incompetents who for the most part have limited experience in running a business, hiring qualified personnel and do not know how to operate of the “downside” of a profit curve.
When floating loans or accepting grants that require the Authority to exempt certain socio-economic groups from payment because of their supposedly inability to pay hook-up fees, etc., validates an old truism, make it free, they will demand and the producers will be stuck with the costs.
The original members of the Water Authority Board seemed to be most conscious and reflective of their commitments to the keep the Water Authority in the black. However, it seems over the last 3-4 years the Water Authority has become a haven for “good ole boys & girls” whose appointments reflect the pervasive attitude of Lamar County politics, ie, “heck he a good ole boy”; “my goodness I have known him for years, I even knew his Daddy”; “remember he is a deacon in his church and that makes him A-OK”; on and on. Never a word about ones qualifications to manage $6-8MM enterprise, never a word about ones experience in financial and fiduciary responsibilities, never word about what happens when the Authority is required to manage its fiances when the economy turns sour.
Chairman Wesley Wilson when talking about the Authority financial problems is quoted as saying
“Legislation to create a fee district didn't materialize, this is our last resource to put it plainly. There's nowhere to go from here”, I expect to some flak from it".
I assume Mr. Wilson means that the hard-working property owners of Lamar County is where he
seeks relief. First, I would recommend resigning and then allow GEFA to take over the Water Authority they probably can do no worse!
Also in the same article in the B-H, “Commissioner Jimmy Hearn, also an authority member, abstained from the May 24 vote to do so and said he would also abstain from any upcoming commission vote.”
Remember this about Commissioner Hearn, although abstaining from voting on Taxpayers May Pay Water Debt, which I commend, he is also pushing for a 2 mil ad valorem tax increase, for which much would be used to bail out the Water Authority. How about that for “hope and change”!!!!
Ms Ferris, Misters Wilson, Hearn, et al, need to read “The Peter Principle”, by Dr. Laurence J. Peter, written in 1968.
Like smoking the Lamar County Water Authority is hazardous to ones (financial) health!!!
What does President Obama have to do with the Republicans you elected on the county level? I assure you the President has bigger issues to worry about. You should not be allowed to vote.
SPLOST?? LOL That is how SPLOST work. SPLOST money builds or starts projects. BUT it is OUR regular tax digest that keeps it going. Now everyone that voted for the last SPLOST think about what projects were on it, we will be maintaining those too in the future with tax monies.
Let's just all go to the Commission meetings... and speak our minds. There is a really nice building and property on the corner of Hwy 36 West and Country Kitchen Rd. Why did they need this expensive property. If sold, it might pay most of the shortage!
This water mess started because B'ville had a surplus of capacity when Carter's left. The idea was to sell all the extra capacity off to county people, so B'ville would get some return on the investment in the water plant.
I say let it go belly up. Let the people who loaned them the money have the system.
Ms. Thrash... You represent my district. If you can not stand up to these other bozos, and do the will of the people that voted you in to office. Then you need to resign!
Every one else needs to tell their perspective commissioners the same thing!
That's brilliant. Vote Libertarian and reelect Obama!
Whether you like it or not, we have a 2 party system and the all the third party does as elect opposite of your views.
Maybe if property owners didn't hane to pay $800+ just for the water meters to be installed, then pay for it to be connected to their homes, more would connect to the system. Thus more revenue.
Everyone who is a qualified voter should be allowed to vote. Even the Democrats and young fools who made a terrible choice in 2008. There was no good choice among the two available so America elected a FIRST for presidents. They elected ......for the first time in American History...........An Illegal Immigrant.
Read in print edition the Water Authority apparently gets water from Spalding and Pike Counties in addition to Barnesville. Not knowing the history and details, I had thought the whole idea of county water was driven by the Barnesville water surplus as result of Carter's closure. Apparently not if we are buying water from other counties.
It made me consider what real benefit will come to most county residents from the Water Authority, and honestly I don't see any benefit to most of the county homeowners. Like me, many people I have talked with do not want the water even if the service comes by their house. We have a well and are happy.
It occurs to me the main beneficiaries of this are the county developments such as the one out 341 South area (Abbott Woods?) and the like. Are wells not allowed in these areas? If this is the case I wonder if the majority of citizens are subsidizing a few county development projects.
Does anyone know the history of the whole water project?
Walter--I would be interested in reading a history of the Water Authority and the case for getting it started in the first place. It would be interesting to me to read that so I can further understand how our country got into this mess. I would also be interested in the personnel costs of the Water Authority to see what they are spending on employees and how much the director of this failure makes. If those management personnel take a significant cut in pay, even if it is only a dent in the debt, I would feel better about stepping in as a taxpayer to bail them out.
It is called bankruptcy. It is not the tax payer’s responsibility to fix stupid!
JM and the county commission; the microscope will be upon you all and you won't be able to wiggle out from under it. Raise taxes and your political ambitions are over and terminated. The people are fed up!
Acquire some responsibility and lead by example. Example being; money management and living with what you have available. Stop begging for more tax money and stop making excuses. And if you can’t do it: Resign!
Check the records & note who the greedy folks were who advised the authority to keep borrowing money several years ago. These guys are really good at getting rich on the tax payers in Lamar and other counties.
If the BOC co-signed on the loans, it's not really a question.
Here's to January 20, 2013 - The End of an Error.
Why should I have to pay for a water service that is nowhere near my home, with no plans to come anywhere near, and which I don't want to use even if they run by my house?
I have to agree with poster #2 that the first option, even if it will only reduce the debt a small percentage, should be paycuts (or maybe terminations) for the management of the water authority before you ask me to effectively take a paycut to subsidize your poor administration.
At least the Fire/EMS fee purports to offer a service (although I would have to pay the ambulance if I use it). For many Lamar Countians this added cost offer nothing. If imposing a cost to citizens who have no chance of using a service is legal it should not be and it is certainly not ethical.
Speaking of fair ! The fair tax would see to it that everyone pay the same !
True American citizens need to stand up and fight for what is right ! You need to VOTE for the person who is going stop illegal aliens from coming to America and robbing us of our jobs . You also need to VOTE for someone who will put an end to our government giving Dairy Queens and gas stations to foreigners that don't have to pay taxes for so many years and then pass it on to a relative . When they come to America they need to have citizenship and find a job as most of us have . We are not helping our selves by standing aside and allowing our government to give our hard earned dollars to foreign people !
Get on the internet or the phone and let your local Congressman know how you feel, and remember to VOTE ! Just make sure you educate yourself about the person you are voting for .
surrounded by to many incompetents who for the most part have limited experience in running a business, hiring qualified personnel and do not know how to operate of the “downside” of a profit curve.
When floating loans or accepting grants that require the Authority to exempt certain socio-economic groups from payment because of their supposedly inability to pay hook-up fees, etc., validates an old truism, make it free, they will demand and the producers will be stuck with the costs.
The original members of the Water Authority Board seemed to be most conscious and reflective of their commitments to the keep the Water Authority in the black. However, it seems over the last 3-4 years the Water Authority has become a haven for “good ole boys & girls” whose appointments reflect the pervasive attitude of Lamar County politics, ie, “heck he a good ole boy”; “my goodness I have known him for years, I even knew his Daddy”; “remember he is a deacon in his church and that makes him A-OK”; on and on. Never a word about ones qualifications to manage $6-8MM enterprise, never a word about ones experience in financial and fiduciary responsibilities, never word about what happens when the Authority is required to manage its fiances when the economy turns sour.
Chairman Wesley Wilson when talking about the Authority financial problems is quoted as saying
“Legislation to create a fee district didn't materialize, this is our last resource to put it plainly. There's nowhere to go from here”, I expect to some flak from it".
I assume Mr. Wilson means that the hard-working property owners of Lamar County is where he
seeks relief. First, I would recommend resigning and then allow GEFA to take over the Water Authority they probably can do no worse!
Also in the same article in the B-H, “Commissioner Jimmy Hearn, also an authority member, abstained from the May 24 vote to do so and said he would also abstain from any upcoming commission vote.”
Remember this about Commissioner Hearn, although abstaining from voting on Taxpayers May Pay Water Debt, which I commend, he is also pushing for a 2 mil ad valorem tax increase, for which much would be used to bail out the Water Authority. How about that for “hope and change”!!!!
Ms Ferris, Misters Wilson, Hearn, et al, need to read “The Peter Principle”, by Dr. Laurence J. Peter, written in 1968.
Like smoking the Lamar County Water Authority is hazardous to ones (financial) health!!!
Julia
Then what do we sell for the shortage next year?
This water mess started because B'ville had a surplus of capacity when Carter's left. The idea was to sell all the extra capacity off to county people, so B'ville would get some return on the investment in the water plant.
I say let it go belly up. Let the people who loaned them the money have the system.
Every one else needs to tell their perspective commissioners the same thing!
Whether you like it or not, we have a 2 party system and the all the third party does as elect opposite of your views.
It made me consider what real benefit will come to most county residents from the Water Authority, and honestly I don't see any benefit to most of the county homeowners. Like me, many people I have talked with do not want the water even if the service comes by their house. We have a well and are happy.
It occurs to me the main beneficiaries of this are the county developments such as the one out 341 South area (Abbott Woods?) and the like. Are wells not allowed in these areas? If this is the case I wonder if the majority of citizens are subsidizing a few county development projects.
Does anyone know the history of the whole water project?
Walter--I would be interested in reading a history of the Water Authority and the case for getting it started in the first place. It would be interesting to me to read that so I can further understand how our country got into this mess. I would also be interested in the personnel costs of the Water Authority to see what they are spending on employees and how much the director of this failure makes. If those management personnel take a significant cut in pay, even if it is only a dent in the debt, I would feel better about stepping in as a taxpayer to bail them out.