Home > Gwinnett > Rick Badie / My Opinion > Archives > 2009 > February > 17 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBalfour’s words
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sen. Don Balfour (R-Snellville) has written an explanation as to why he plans to host a community meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Snellville City Hall to discuss that town’s city council.
Here it is:
In recent weeks, I have received numerous emails and phone calls about a situation best described as “city council gridlock” in Snellville. Many residents and voters living in one of Gwinnett’s largest cities tell me they are dissatisfied with the institutional gridlock in Snellville and how the community’s needs are being addressed.
In 2004, the legislature changed the city charter to allow the mayor to vote on all issues before the city council. The problem that it created was that with this additional vote, there became six voting members on any given issue.
The fact that this change resulted in an even number of elected officials voting on proposals has resulted in regular three to three votes. It has meant gridlock and for the city. Of the 14 cities in Gwinnett, 12 have an odd number of voting members. Because of this structure, these cities seem to run with much less confrontation or gridlock.
As a result of having so many people contact me, I have agreed to help host a community meeting at the Snellville City Hall this Thursday, February 19th, from 7:30 to 8:30 PM, sharp.
The purpose of the meeting will be to find solutions to the situation to make the city government more effective. It’s past time to find those solutions.
Every single Snellville resident is invited. This is designed to be a positive meeting for all residents, not a forum for arguing or debate. We will explore options including, but not limited to, adding one new city council seat, eliminating one city council seat, or changing the city charter to allow the mayor to vote only in the case of tie votes.
I want to hear from those who live in the city about what, if anything, we should do to address the issue of gridlock and maybe bring an end to the recent incendiary media headlines.
It has been my privilege to serve you and move forward with the business you elect me to address. I look forward to hearing from you this coming Thursday evening, February 19th, at 7:30 at Snellville City Hall.
Don Balfour
Permalink | Comments (15) | Post your comment | Categories: Rick Badie
Comments
By L5000
February 17, 2009 2:43 PM | Link to this
Blubbering Badie. Who cares. This is your fourth stupid article on this non-story.
Give it up. Woodward and Bernstein you ain’t.
There are much more salient issues abound in Gwinnett.
Or how about your hero Obama? Care to guess who one of his big financial supporters was?
STANFORD, R ALLEN MIAMI,FL 33131 STANFORD FINANCIAL GROUP/CHAIRMAN 5/31/08 $4,600 Obama, Barack (D) STANFORD, R ALLEN MIAMI,FL 33131 STANFORD FINANCIAL GROUP/CHAIRMAN 5/31/08 $2,300 Obama, Barack (D)
LT5000
By Chris Broe
February 17, 2009 6:52 PM | Link to this
This is the greatest blog entry ever written. This is a red tape masterpiece and an absence-of-governing miracle. It reveals a subconscious discipline which abides by the self imposed constraints of democratically-reprimanded power sharers. There’s instructive socio-cultural narration in this entry too. Multitasking all through this Xray of America is the spike-leashed Gump of our entire bureaucracy.
. Remove one word from his letter, and there would be diminishment. Remove an entire phrase and the whole expose would collapse, so perfect is this assemblage. I will read this letter the rest of my life.
By Michael H. Smith
February 17, 2009 9:23 PM | Link to this
That old incendiary media!
It’s bad… just bad… bad, bad, bad. How can anyone doubt the need to bring back the Supreme Omnipotent Fairness Doctrine, hmm?
You got to love a government that has to create a problem in order to have something to fix, because it has ran out of things to break.
Broken Borders
Broken Enforcement
Broken Trade
Broken Budget
Broken Economy
Broken Infrastructure
Broken SB 529
Et tu, Media?
Doesn’t anyone deserve a government that works?
By BW
February 17, 2009 11:57 PM | Link to this
I think it’s great, it’s time to face the powers head on. The prolbem I have is this one little city, which would be a village up Yankee way, would demand so much attention?
With all the serious discissions in this column about our commissioners, Snellville is at the top of the list?
What about those of us that live in unincorperated Gwinnett? The only honor we have is being labeled, Norcross, Lilburn or another village, er city.
Really take on the iusses, let the AJC pay for the Convention Center, let everyone confront the commissioners on the issues face to face.
That is a dare, let the AJC promote it well, submitted questions, plus off the floor, he$$ I even offer to be the emcee.
By BW
February 18, 2009 12:50 AM | Link to this
Sorry about the spellimg above, in an attempt to please a couple of bud’s, whom to be seem together. I even used my e-mail spell check, it doesn’t work? So if someone cannot understand what the message is, just ask and I’ll be happy to explain it.
If you can understand the idea, spelling and grammer come in a far second. I believe many with great idea’s or input into a column are afraid to join in.
Remember, the idea is far more important than spelling or grammer
By T
February 18, 2009 7:09 AM | Link to this
Let’s see what was the article about again?
LT, another blubbering, stupid post from you.
Rick mostly writes about local, goings-on in Gwinnett. Rarely does he take it outside of the Metro area. I really get tired of your same-old-same, post for everything Rick writes. It’s been said to you a hundred times but here goes again: Go read someone you like, and post on their blog. You have the freedom to haunt, (to visit habitually or appear too frequently as a spirit or ghost) any blog you want. I have gotten where I just skip your post because really, who cares what you have to say …
Now, to the subject at hand: I applaud Sen. Don Balfour for his efforts to bring relief to a situation that has gotten way out of hand. When the mayor of a small city doesn’t feel safe going to the bathroom, and council votes are all too often tied 3 to 3, it might be time for someone to step in.
By Bubba
February 18, 2009 8:26 AM | Link to this
LT hasn’t had an original thought since his momma dropped him on his head when he was 2.
I don’t read his posts either. No point - he keeps saying the same thing.
By LT5000
February 18, 2009 10:52 AM | Link to this
Here is one of the 10000 things that the ever lazy Blubbering Badie could have written about instead of posting a 4th article on Snellville.
Who the hell cares what is going on in Snellville?
And the AJC wonder why it loses 1 million per day and has a double digit decrease in subscriptions year after year.
SUWANEE - The number of Gwinnett County Public Schools students sent before a disciplinary panel during the second quarter of the school year increased slightly from the same period last year, an administrator told school board members last week.
I’m sure we will all be hearing the cries of “Racism” soon.
LT5000
By LT5000
February 18, 2009 11:50 AM | Link to this
The Blubbering Badie jock sniffers are out en force today. Did Badie bribe you with free Denny’s grandslam breakfasts?
And look who is on the run. Why it’s Obama’s buddy, Robert Stanford.
*Texas financier R. Allen Stanford is accused of cheating 50,000 customers out of $8 billion dollars but despite raids Tuesday of his financial empire in Houston, Memphis, and Tupelo, Miss., federal authorities say they do not know the current whereabouts of the CEO. *
Maybe he’s headed to Washington for some Porkulus with a side order of “Hope and Change”.
LT5000
By KIM
February 18, 2009 2:31 PM | Link to this
It seems that good people who orginally wish to improve their towns and take the risk of running for office, lose their way. Eventually each governing body of Snellville winds up fighting and becoming dysfunctional. It will take more than Don Balfour to figure out the decades of problems in a town that constantly struggles with governing itself. While I no longer live in the city limits, I find that not only are the citizens affected by this, but surrounding areas, also. I hope the group will realize they need professional help from successful urban and suburban leaders.
By Jan
February 19, 2009 10:00 AM | Link to this
What an IDIOT!!!!
and Everyone Knows who I am talking about…………………… if the article is about rubber ducks, then THAT is what it is about, so if you don’t LIKE rubber ducks, go jump in a lake!!!!!!
By be kind to yellow latex
February 19, 2009 10:10 PM | Link to this
Is it okay if I name my two rubber duckies Senator Balfour and Jerry O’?
I don’t own a lake but I could call my bathtub Snellville. It too has a nasty ring left around it that needs removed.
By Chris Broe
February 19, 2009 11:18 PM | Link to this
Every night when I take a bath in my tubby….I find a fellow who’s cute and yellow.. and chubby!!
By I-285 Driver
February 20, 2009 11:06 AM | Link to this
Rick, do you drive a little blue Korean car?
Thought I saw you out on the interstate this week.
Chaś
By Rd
February 20, 2009 11:34 PM | Link to this
No, he rides a yellow ducky.