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DEL.ICIO.USShould Lorraine Green run for the county chairman’s post or not?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The last time I saw Lorraine Green in an official capacity was at the County Commissioners’ retreat five months ago.
I say “official” because we talk now and again on the phone. It’s when I’m trying to contact her son, Austin. He’s in my book club, and I must tell you, his rich vocabulary puts some adults to shame.
Last week, Green contacted me and said she wanted to chat over coffee. My antennae went up. She’s in, I thought. The District 1 commissioner wants to announce her campaign for the county chairman’s post, and she wants me to break the news.
Boy, was I wrong.
Green wanted to talk about what she’d talked about passionately at that three-day retreat — at least the session I sat in on.
Quality of life issues. Property management. Preserving neighborhoods.
Apparently, the Quality of Life unit that enforces property maintenance issues is being inundated with complaints that appear nit-picky, spiteful even. Neighbors want to put neighbors in the gulag who leave their garbage cans sitting near the curb for days, still have Christmas lights up, or go too long twixt mowings.
Not exactly the kind of issues the Quality of Life officers need to concern themselves with. And when they make them part of the beat, more egregious infractions — overcrowding, for one —get short shrift.
And that’s a problem.
“Half the time, when the cops go out [to investigate], the grass has been cut,” Green told me.
Three months ago in this space, I jokingly referred to Green as the Cleanup Woman. She’d just launched www.cleanupgwinnett.com, a Web site that, among other features, allows residents to file complaints anonymously.
Some apparently abuse it. The site receives an average of 10 complaints a day. Of that number, a third are legit, Green told me.
“We have to get the focus back,” she said.
And that’s where you come in. Solve your own problems.
Politely ask that homeowner to retrieve his or her trash can on the curb. Suggest they lose the lights. Fear confrontation? Attach a kind, explanatory note to the mailbox. I do. And if that trash can bothers you that much, move it yourself!
“If we don’t get the community involved in solving some of their own problems, this isn’t going to work and we are not going to make long-term changes,” Green said.
Speaking of change, I asked Green about any plans to try and make a political one, say for the county chairman’s post in 2008. To me, her non-answer was more of an answer.
“I know it sounds corny, but all I want to do is do what’s best for the county, and I will do that whether I am a commissioner, chairman or constituent,” she said.
I expect the Cleanup Woman to announce her candidacy this fall.
What do you think? Should Lorraine Green run for the county chairman’s post or not?
• Rick Badie’s column appears on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact him at 770-263-3875 or e-mail rbadie@ajc.com.
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Comments
By sam
June 24, 2007 7:18 AM | Link to this
Of course she should run!!
She’s done more in two years as a commissioner than anyone ever has. Imagine what she would do as a full-time chairman.
Gwinnett needs leadership from a chairman - and we ain’t got it now.
By Regular Joe
June 24, 2007 9:55 AM | Link to this
Green seems to be a good commissioner, but is she better than the others? She has been in the news a lot lately for this issue and that issue; it seems more than the rest of Commissioners combined. Our most successful people in government make a difference both upfront and behind the scenes. Will she run for commissioner? Only she knows for sure, but the Mayor of Duluth is running for Green’s seat and I believe I read they are good friends. Sometimes you can just about figure thing out.
Speaking of the “Quality of Life” she talks about, today you had a letter posted by a guy named Paul Allen. He seems to think that although the “Quality of Life” unit that has gotten bigger with the Commissioners help, it is actually not much better. I have made three complaints in three years. The first one was taken care of rather quickly. The two more recent ones (Large commercial vehicle and car with expired plate, half on street/grass), nothing, and I followed up on one.
I called the Quality of Life unit recently and was told that they have priorities. Priority should be, if contacted, get off your butt and investigate. When you are contacted, instead of patrolling, you have a citizen doing your work for you. If contacted by a person who rarely complains, investigate immediately. If you find that you have a whiny, “repeat neighbor reporter”, why investigate that? They should use common sense. The goal should be proactive action, not waiting until the problem is “high priority”.
By concerned homeowner
June 24, 2007 11:30 AM | Link to this
So many people misinterpret the roles of such entities as Quality of Life units, hoas etc. Bottom line is that if people want to preserve their neighborhoods and real estate values, they need to take action on their own behalf. That is their responsibility as homeowners. If it is illegal activity, by all means, report it immediately. Don’t wait for someone else to do it for you, otherwise, it will overcome the n’hood, and fast.
If the guy next door has not mowed his yard in two weeks, maybe there’s good reason. Maybe he’s ill or injured? Perhaps he was called out of town unexpectedly? Most people would prefer to hear from their neighbor that there is an issue, rather than to receive a notice from the hoa or an official visit from public enforcement. Many times, “violators” do not realize that someone actually has an issue with his visible trash cans, unregistered car in the driveway, whatever.
Address minor complaints with your neighbors before they become major issues that escalate to confrontations. If our n’hood hoa (not in Gwinnett) becomes involved, the initial contact is always friendly…a gentle reminder or heads up with the request of a response within a said amount of time. The proper authorities get contacted only if the hoa is unsuccessful in dealing with a homeowner. The hoa documents all efforts with certified letter confirmation and photos, then submits them with the official complaint. If the complaintant does not like the time it takes, then he or she should address the situation first hand. For someone to sit by the phone and make anonymous complaints seems cowardly.
By Michael H. Smith
June 24, 2007 11:31 AM | Link to this
Lorrraine Green had her eye on the Chair from the very start of things in my opinion. The faction she allied was my only real concern with her. Considering the outcome in her performance any abject concerns have been laid to rest. She is the only Commissioner who has gone after the root of the problems the county has encountered over the past several decades. As it appears that faction of concern did not change her, she only changed it, to her credit and rightly so. She has correctly identified the correlation between broken borders and broken windows, now she is attempting in as much as a county commissioner can, to attack the very heart of the issue, by surgically removing in law the life-support that keeps illegal employment thriving – the money. Without this component, the over-supply of labor (most of it illegal and the rest of it mostly wrongful) the over building, over development and over crowding could not have happened nor can it be sustained.
Where this will certainly make me enemies from former allies, I would have no problem voting for her should she run for the Chairman post. Sorry amigos, Commissioner Green is standing on my side of the border with the rest of the betrayed American workers. So as it is said, politics makes for strange bedfellows; hope the faction has someone better in mind for district one than Maya Shirley to replace Commissioner Green? Don’t forget, she will still have to count to three.
By Bruce Wilcox
June 24, 2007 11:45 AM | Link to this
I thought she already was and I wish she would make up of her mind on what is nit-picking and what is worth a complaint.
“Neighbors want to put neighbors in the gulag who leave their garbage cans sitting near the curb for days, still have Christmas lights up, or go too long twixt mowings.”
From her web-site… “Broken Windows`
Little Things Lead to Big Things The germ of the idea is simple and compelling. A broken window—or a littered sidewalk, a graffito, or what you like—does no great harm to a neighborhood if promptly addressed. But left untended, it sends a signal: that no one cares about this neighborhood, that it is a safe place to break things, to litter, to vandalize. Those who engage in such behaviors will feel safe here. And once these minor miscreants have become well established, perhaps it will seem a safe enough neighborhood in which to be openly drunk, in which to beg for money, and possibly extort it. In short the smallest symptoms of antisocial behavior will, left to fester, breed greater and greater crimes, all the way down to murder.”
“Politely ask that homeowner to retrieve his or her trash can on the curb. Suggest they lose the lights. Fear confrontation? Attach a kind, explanatory note to the mailbox. I do. And if that trash can bothers you that much, move it yourself!”
What great ideas, hopefully you will be able to pen the note in the language of the day and what could be more neighborly than taking care of their property too, I bet that will teach them a lesson.
Could it be that the the Quality of Life unit found there is a bigger problem than estimated and we now find ourselves back at square one?
an aside…I haven’t made a complaint in three years, I do not nit-pick.
From her web-site…”Broken Windows`
“Little Things Lead to Big Things The germ of the idea is simple and compelling. A broken window—or a littered sidewalk, a graffito, or what you like—does no great harm to a neighborhood if promptly addressed. But left untended, it sends a signal: that no one cares about this neighborhood, that it is a safe place to break things, to litter, to vandalize. Those who engage in such behaviors will feel safe here. And once these minor miscreants have become well established, perhaps it will seem a safe enough neighborhood in which to be openly drunk, in which to beg for money, and possibly extort it. In short the smallest symptoms of antisocial behavior will, left to fester, breed greater and greater crimes, all the way down to murder.”
Is it nit-picking or nipping it in the bud?
By Michael H. Smith
June 24, 2007 12:03 PM | Link to this
And another thing faction, try finding someone better qualified to run in district four. Someone of sober thought, someone who understands the difference between governance and despotism.
On a side note to all the nitpickers: don’t forget we are in the midst of a drought. Cutting grass as normal will only further stress a thirsty lawn, possibly killing what grass exists in this rock-hard Georgia clay. Lighten-up a little please. Grass 4 inches higher than the ankle is not unacceptable under present water restrictions and drought conditions.
By Jill
June 24, 2007 2:02 PM | Link to this
If you ask anyone around GJAC Lorraine is the one responsible for most of the positive changes around here in the last couple of years. I think Nasuti was even quoted as saying something like that in an article awhile back. Some of the other commissioners may be ‘good’ but it takes someone to bring good ideas to light - and she seems to do that.
Obviously, she knows how to count to three - unlike our previous commissioner - which gets things done.
My only concern about her running is that the last person we need as a commissioner is Mayor Shirley. Nice lady, lousy, lousy mayor. Shirley, Duluth wants you gone - don’t inflict yourself on the rest of district 1.
BTW, Regular Joe, they are not friends. Shirley supported Green’s opponent. He didn’t win, so I suppose their group is going to try with her Honor this time.
Bruce, I think you are attributing some of Rick’s words to her. I read those are his, anyway, not hers. But, we should all be concerned when we would rather call the cops than talk to our neighbors.
But, what it really boils down to is…
ANYONE BUT BANNISTER!!
By Regular Joe
June 24, 2007 4:41 PM | Link to this
Hello Jill,
Thanks for the update. I read an article that they were close, perhaps that was some bad info. You mentioned that she is the one responsible for most of positive changes around Gwinnett the last couple years. Mr. Smith seems to agree Green is doing a decent job. Are the other Commissioners doing a bad job? You really dislike Bannister, but Green seems to do most of what she wants to do. If he was that bad, could she get anything done?
On the complaints abuse, I have to agree with Mr. Wilcox. For Concerned Homeowner, if you call in a complaint or send one online, they request your information. It is not anonymous. The Quality of Life unit should represent the citizens and not pick and choose. I understand that some issues are trivial and you have “neighborhood bullies”, but if a person takes the time to point out a situation that could possibly lead to a worse problem, act on it. If we could just talk to people about some of the crazy things they do, why do we need a Quality of Life unit?
By Paul Allen
June 24, 2007 4:47 PM | Link to this
A hearty AMEN to the NOT Bannister idea. Anyway, a fellow named Paul Allen did indeed have a piece printed today - that would be ME. Yea verily, Lorraine was as surprised as we that a few flies had become entrapped in the fresh ointment, but the underlying problems are being addressed and will soon be corrected. How do we know this, say you? She was concerned enough about my comments to have invited me and a small group of involved homeowners such that she could just listen. I can attest that she is as effective behind the scenes as in front of them, and is among the brightest lights in Gwinnett government. Alas, even she has no magic potion - it still takes citizen sweat equity to make things work. We’ll continue doing our part – will y’all?
By Norma W Matthews
June 24, 2007 5:22 PM | Link to this
A favorite one-liner of mine is “”WINNERS make things happen~~LOSERS, let things happen”…….. As to Ms Green’s comments in Sunday’s paper I’d say. OK. I want to be a “winner” Ms. Green, so send me to school so I can learn the languages of the various Asians, Mid-easterners, and Multi Hispanic’s. THEN—- I’ll be glad to write a note to put on their mailbox. At 78 I surely need the exercise of putting many of my neighbors trash containers out of sight (where they belong) and explaining why it is a no-no to leave your trash bags just sitting on the ground where it’s possible for shall I say —- “items used for female hygeine” being blown/dragged into MY yard. I guess I also could pick up the trash in their yards and mow their grass, “as a good-neighborly” thing to do. Also, cars stacked compactly, doubly in a driveway, with additional ones parked out on the street at night, (which can number 8 in all) are unsightly, not to mention unlawful. (JUST TRY TO EXPLAIN THAT)! Even in a small townhome with 3 bedrooms, 6 to 8 drivers of vehicles are too many. Of course these are mostly gone—-in the morning, but back again again at night, PLUS even having 1 or 2 who live there but do not drive a car. Those have someone coming by from 5-6:30 in the morning, blowing a car horn to pick them up. Then there are those who clean out their car by throwing all the trash out on the ground for it to blow all over the neighborhood. Gosh, I just hate to be “a nit-picker”, but since I cannot communicate with these people as they don’t/won’t or refuse to learn English, should I feel badly by asking my local city and county governments to help me out? Needless to say, I live in a poorer neighborhod which does not have a HOA, just run down conditions which breed more of the same. Of course small “problems” like these don’t make headlines for those “in office”, but instead of thinking “starting big”, (which would bring headlines), how about tackling many of the smaller problems and see if that alone won’t help alleviate some of the bigger ones? Would I vote for Ms. Green as Commissioner, shoot no! We NEED help with “smaller”, “nit-picking” problems in our neighborhoods, the ones WE CANNOT tackle outselves for various reasons. We do not—-need “Advice” from someone who sits in an ivory tower and has no idea what we peons have to put up with on a daily basis.
By Michael H. Smith
June 24, 2007 5:39 PM | Link to this
Mr. Smith seems to agree Green is doing a decent job. Are the other Commissioners doing a bad job?
You betcha!
You really dislike Bannister, but Green seems to do most of what she wants to do. If he was that bad, could she get anything done?
Yep! And she has. Because of the talent she possesses, called leadership, she has virtually outwitted Bannister in the things and the ways she has been able to bring her ideas to the table and into fruition. Bannister only talked about the conditions of the older neighborhoods Lorraine put forth a means to actually do something, which put Bannister squarely behind the eight-ball. Lorraine was crazy like a fox. Bannister would have looked like a rented fool to have opposed her on broken windows after all his blow. She also made her conservative credential known by not reversing her stand on property rights in the smoking ordinance debate, where very disappointingly Mr. Bannister went to moon-walking.
I didn’t really dislike Bannister. In fact, I supported the guy when he ran for Chairman. It was Mr. Bannister who gave me reason to dislike his actions. Mr. Bannister has failed to address my concerns. All he has done is got a pay raise and delegated duties to a county manager who also got a pay raise plus perks.
Green on the other hand has responded to some of my concerns for which I did not solicit her support and she’s never got as much as two kind words out of me from the get go. In fact I have gone after her a time or two because of her allegiance to the fringe, at least until recently.
I look forward to seeing Lorraine correcting that blunder of imposing a rain tax on the county citizenry without an option to offset such fees through a storm water abatement program that places emphasis on recharging the aquifer and taking steps going forward to make future construction water wise in every aspect. I’ll keep the rest in reserve.
Carry a carrot in one hand and the Big Stick in the other Commissioner Green.
Let’s get ready to Rumble!
Signed in my Regular Name
Michael H. Smith
By concerned homeowner
June 24, 2007 7:42 PM | Link to this
Why is it such a problem to open dialogue among neighbors? What actions, exactly, have all of the non nit-pickers taken on their own behalf? If you don’t do anything, you give the impression that you don’t care. If you don’t care, why should anyone else? That’s when trouble moves in.
Our small 20+ y/o n’hood is nestled among much larger and newer, high-priced communities. Our homes are not even worth 1/2, maybe not even 1/3, of the value of most homes in the area. There are two declining n’hoods adjacent to one side of our subdivision. Neither has an hoa, and it shows.
It is a choice to buy in a community without an hoa. You don’t want the rules, etc. It’s understandable. However, when the trouble starts, your choices are: standing alone; teaming up with your neighbors; moving away or dealing with the fallout because you haven’t taken action to prevent the decline. There is a choice, though. If you don’t report petty thefts, how are the police to know there is an issue? Problems don’t get better without intervention, they get worse. What about letting the neighbors know? The problem exists everywhere. It’s not someone else’s problem, it’s everyone’s problem. Be proactive and take preventive measures.
Our n’hood has fought long and hard to keep our community from “turning”. It is a battle fought everyday. The tell tale signs were clear. It started with rental properties and the lack of maintenance, then it spread to vandalism and theft. Either take action, or eveything will slide downhill. It requires a lot of volunteer hours and follow up. And, it starts with communication at the neighbor level.
Neighborhoods do not turn overnight, but they do turn quickly if everyone turns the other way. Just because you do not have an hoa does not mean you cannot team up with other neighbors. If the situation is truly that bad, others must feel the same as you. A collective voice is much louder than a single murmur. It should not be left up to one or two people, but to everyone in the community at large. The problem, in my opinion, is that people are way too disinterested to act. However, they never tire of complaining. And, they expect immediate results for something that has been slowly eroding for years.
No one likes to be put at the bottom of a priority list. If you want to move up, take action and make your voice heard. Help yourself.
By Paul
June 24, 2007 8:08 PM | Link to this
Ms. Matthews - there are over 750,000 people in Gwinnett, covered by only a couple of dozen QOL Officers. Without a pile of citizen involvement, it simply will not work - unless we’re all happy about a pantload of additional taxes to pay for governmental hand holding, not to mention giving up a pile of rights in the process. You didn’t mention if you had filed any complaints (either through the county website or via Lorraine’s), if you had reviewed your situation with your Police Precinct Commander, etc. There’s a lot that just one person can do - several folks in our neighborhood cleanup group are well into their 70’s, for example. Almost forgot - I’m getting on in years as well, and have learned to speak Spanish - it has really helped.
By Bruce Wilcox
June 24, 2007 10:41 PM | Link to this
Give me a break, “only a couple of dozen QOL Officers”, looks like it’s your problem Ms. Matthews. I realize that at 78 it may be difficult, but you do have to pull your weight, you wouldn’t want to pay more taxes for more of the same would you? Oh and Ms. Matthews they make tapes now to learn Spanish, you could listen to them as you clean up the garbage your neighbors leave. Good luck Ms. Matthews, looks like you’ll be needing it.
By Pam
June 25, 2007 8:58 AM | Link to this
I do support Green and I will vote for her if she runs for chairman. Bannister has allowed slackers such as Kevin Kenerly ignore District 4. Anything goes in District 4, unless it’s near Kenerly’s home in Braselton or Hamilton Mill. The rest of District 4 is full of cheaply built homes and whatever developers want to bring in. I just hope that ONE day we can vote Kenerly OUT. I try each election year and will keep trying.
By Gwinnett
June 25, 2007 10:46 AM | Link to this
No. Charles Bannister is doing a great job and should be re-elected Chaiman. Charles has come through on his campaign promises: (1) slowing the residential growth rate (2) saying no to bad rezonings (3) increased the number of police officers on the street and has fast tracked some much needed transportation projects. Charles has done a great job, but we need him another four years.
By Gwinnett
June 25, 2007 10:46 AM | Link to this
No. Charles Bannister is doing a great job and should be re-elected Chairman. Charles has come through on his campaign promises: (1) slowing the residential growth rate (2) saying no to bad rezonings (3) increased the number of police officers on the street and has fast tracked some much needed transportation projects. Charles has done a great job, but we need him another four years.
By Paul
June 25, 2007 11:23 AM | Link to this
Hmmm - I seem to recall Mr. Bannister’s fight for another apartment complex on Beaver Ruin, instead of the park that we’ll actually be getting, thanks to Lorraine. That has in fact been Bannister’s clear pattern since taking office. Keep in mind that he should be known by the company he keeps, like his long time insurance business partner Bill “captain video” McKinney and mega-developer Thorndyke. He has opposed most of the worthwhile road projects (the Sugarloaf extension, for example), but has claimed credit for the state projects implemented by the Georgia DOT. Pam is right - Bannister and the Kenerly Kroud need the boot! Still awaiting word as to whether Ms. Matthews has first tried to help herself by filing complaints, making some calls, etc. - if so and still no results, I am available to help - contact Rick and ask for a hook-up. Gripers and nay-sayers, will you join us?
By Norma Matthews
June 25, 2007 11:55 AM | Link to this
A short rebuttal. There have been made some suggestions that have merit. I view them with an open mind. However, it IS apparent that most of those opinions come from people do not live in what is now a run down, RENTERS subdivision, as I do. You cannot understand the scope of the problems, so until you have walked in my shoes, please don’t sit in judgement of me. These are county wide problems that have been in the making for a very long time. Our former and current Commissioners know/knew all to well about them but did nothing. After a long period of time, they chose to enacted Ordinances, which they knew they could not enforce, only as an appeasement to the clamor from the people. WHY enact Ordinances you know you cannot and will not enforce? It was simply for show, an attempt to make them look as if they were aware and cared. So now we have a Commissioner who entertains hopes for advancement to Chairmanship of the Commission. She grabs a catch phrase, near and dear to each of us, “Quality of Life”. Now that should give us all the warm-fuzzies. Sets up a web site for discussion of issues and problems, leaks that to the Media,and sits to see what happens. Since the problems are so vast, varied and over whelming, she choses now to claim many are nit-picking and some probably are. However this is merely her way of dismissing them rather than addressing them. By the way—-since when is it OUR duty to enfore City and County Ordinances other than by obeying them? She decides, to further her purpose, she must at least do some good deeds to back up her “Quality of Life” claims, so she does. Here a “fix” and there a “fix” and another one over there, especially in areas where she may obtain the most votes. During the campaign she will loudly tout “look what I did for you. Elect me and I shall continuue to be your banner bearer, and TOGETHER we shall make Gwinnett a truly “Quality of Life” county. Six months AFTER election, it shall be business as usual among politicians. “Quality of Life” will be put off to the back burner and soon forgotten. The Ordinances still not enforced. This is merely another political ploy to garner votes. IF she has done some good in your area, that’s great and you should be thankful, but don’t expect the good deeds to last past election time. PS: I HAVE talked to neighbors (those who speak English, the majority DO NOT), “they just don’t have time”, the renters just shrug. I HAVE contacted my local authorities many times, even including pictures via email and delivered by hand(as once suggested by Ms.Green). I daily pick up traash that has blown into my yard,and pick up trash in the street. As for going into neighbors yards to pick up trash and moving containers— wouldn’t that be considered tresspassing and aren’t there laws against such even if the property is rental?
By CitizenGwinnett
June 25, 2007 12:04 PM | Link to this
Ya Know….
She’s a nice lady… but she’s been more concerned with running for Chairman that making sure that high density developments don’t get built. She’s voted for a bunch of them! She votes however the other commissioners want her to just so she can get them to vote with her when she needs their votes. That’s not leadership!
Someone up there also lied and said that Bannister voted for apartments! That wasn’t a vote for apartments! It was a vote for the county not to buy swampland… How does that joke go?
She pushed buying a swamp from a developer that couldn’t do anything else with the land to bail him out!
That land won’t ever be an actual park… except for frogs.
More cops, better transportation, a working relationship with those under the Gold Dome… and NOT carrying water for the developers. That’s what I want in a Chairman… that’s what we have with Charles Bannister.
BTW. Doesn’t she make money off of new development?
By CitizenGwinnett
June 25, 2007 12:15 PM | Link to this
Paul,
Since you are self-admittedly “getting on in years” you might also consider that your memory is failing you.
Charles Bannister never “[fought] for another apartment complex on Beaver Ruin, instead of the park that we’ll actually be getting”.
He fought buying swamp land and wasting millions of dollars.
I’m going to review the county budget one day and I’ll have to see where in the budget it has a line item entitled:
“Money for Lorraine Green to spend on swampland to bail out her buddy Wayne Mason”
Yeah. A park. Bring your snorkel.
By Bruce Wilcox
June 25, 2007 1:04 PM | Link to this
Norma it sounds like you live in a neighborhood that the “Quality of Life” was created for, but the Commissioner doesn’t need any more photo-ops now, you may have better luck as the election nears. Or try one of our local television stations that just opened a Gwinnett office and I am sure they’re looking for human interest stories.
When Lorraine goes for chairman, Paul will go for her seat. A Letter to the Editor by Mr. Allen discribing the dire straights we were in with the complete break-down of the “Quality of Life” unit disappears with a afternoon tea at Lorraine’s, flowers bloom, the birds are singing and the children safely play. Sounds like a winning team to me.
By roska
June 25, 2007 3:03 PM | Link to this
Note to the Bannister crowd:
Those who can, do. Those who’ve got no clue just lie about the other side. I’ve had enough of the trash politics. I’m hoping Lorraine’s quality of life program can take out the political garbage in 2008.
By Jean Ebert
June 25, 2007 4:11 PM | Link to this
If people are reporting their neighbors because their trash can sits for a day or so by the road, an old appliance is left on the property for a few days until it can be removed, or the grass is left to grow once in awhile…then they ARE being nit-pickers and need to get a life. I have made a few few complaints to the Quality of Life Unit, but have reserved them for real eyesores and problems that are detrimental to the neighborhood. I did try speaking to one neighbor about a major problem and my tires were slashed on my van a few days later. Coincidence? Since then I let the Quality of Life Unit speak for me, but only for very major violations that are have been ongoing for months and, in one case, years. Lorraine Green took a personal interest in that property and even turned up in court the day that their case was brought before Judge Muise. Should Lorraine run for Commissioner or stay in District 1, she has my vote. She has responded personally to me on this issue and on matters with the soon to be built Club Drive Park. At a Board of Commissioners meeting that I attended, she was the only Commissioner greeting and introducing herself to the public. The good old boys sat at the table with their backs turned to the public. Lorraine is willing to work with the little people to make changes, and residents need to work sensibly with the County to keep our neighborhoods safe and clean. We can’t expect the Quality of Life Unit to solve all the nit-picking code violations, but I am grateful they are there to handle the serious problems plaguing some of our neighborhoods.
By Paul
June 25, 2007 5:11 PM | Link to this
Thanks, roska, Jean, Pam, Michael, etc. – good to know that there are some clues loose out there.
Indeed, QOL response has been delayed in part due to incredible nit-picking (you wouldn’t believe ….). Government cannot be all things to all people – it’s not supposed to be a parent or babysitter or take responsibility for us – that’s a grownup thing for us to tackle ourselves.
Sorry, but Bannister still has too many skeletons – Bill McKinney, George Thorndyke, and assorted developers and good ol’ boys. My notes from a meeting with him indicate otherwise on the – oh, sorry – you weren’t there, were you? BTW, Lorraine has never voted for an apartment complex - check Chuck’s record. I have tons of information - let me know and we’ll review it.
Actually, I’ll be on the Steering Committee for the new park – come and help us out, won’t you? Incidentally, I’ve walked the property numerous times, and still cannot find that pesky swamp – can you show me where it’s hiding? Anyway, it’s a perfect place for a park – nearby commercial concerns are already contributing heavily, so not only was the property at half the going rate per acre, the finished product will also cost far less than expected.
Ms. Matthews – my offer is still open. Up until a couple of years ago we had vandalism, robberies, home invasions and shootings in my neighborhood, but nary a peep nor a perp since we worked with each other (with Lorraine’s help) to fix things.
Wow – I’ve burned way too much time sitting here – time to get cracking and actually do something useful (sorry, just a little sarcasm there) – enjoy!
By Jean Ebert
June 25, 2007 6:59 PM | Link to this
Paul,
I thoroughly supported and applauded the purchase by the county of the land off Beaver Ruin for a park. Even if some of it is wetlands or flood plain…the important thing is that the land will be used as a park and whatever land cannot be used will be PRESERVED instead of facing development….which we don’t need. Especially for another apartment complex. When every apartment complex in Gwinnett County is at 100% occupancy then we can talk about building more! I served on the steering committee for the Club Drive Park. It will be a small park, only about 26 acres and half of the park is flood plain/wetlands. This land, at one point, was going to be developed as 53 townhomes. (Another thing we don’t need more of!) Guess who fought for this land for a park? Yes, Lorraine Green. Then when Parks & Recreation tried to low-ball us on the amount of money for phase one for Club Drive Park, Lorraine thoroughly supported the efforts of our steering committee to get more money for phase one. It’s obvious that some of the powers that be do not want to throw money into the older and aging areas of Gwinnett. We have to fight for every inch of land for parks and you will have to fight for every dollar from them.You will have to be the squeaky wheel. If you need help on the steering committee, let me know. I learned a lot serving on the Club Drive Park steering committee. I’d be glad to serve on another.
By Paul
June 26, 2007 9:13 AM | Link to this
Will do. Yes, it seems that Lorraine has ruffled some feathers, merely by being dedicated, honest, and competent. Wow - imagine THAT! Best of all, precisely the RIGHT feathers have been disturbed.
By CitizenGwinnett
July 3, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this
Jean,
Based on your criteria I guess the county should just run around and buy up ALL of the land in the county that COULD be used for apartments or townhomes!
Jeesh! Just because Wayne Mason WANTED to build apartments or townhomes doesn’t mean he COULD. It wasn’t zoned for it!
Y’all are either gullible (which I’ve watched a lot of at commission meetings so maybe I should give you benefit of the doubt), intentionally lying (which I wouldn’t put past Paul) or stupid… I’m leaning toward the first as it is the most pleasant…