consolidation Archive

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City County Consolidation needs to be voted on

Consolidation. Hands down, one of the touchiest subjects to hit Dougherty County in recent memory. It’s not even the first time it’s been broached in the county, having been debated decades ago. But now, things are steaming forward at a quicker rate than ages past and frankly, that’s a good thing.

Now, the county commissioners need to step up and let us vote.

It’s a strange day when you find Roger Marietta, Bob Langstaff, and myself on the same side of an issue, but here we are. All three of us support the citizens of Dougherty County getting a vote on whether to consolidate or not. Honestly, why should the people not get a vote on their own governance? But some county commissioners, and supposedly their constituents, don’t want that to happen.

Now, in all fairness, part of the issue is that citizens in Albany will get to vote twice and since most of the people in Dougherty County live within the city limits of Albany, that would essentially make the County’s votes irrelevant. That is a problem and one that needs to be addressed. Hopefully, that will soon be taken care of.

Some time back, Mayor Willie Adams and Commissioner Tommie Postell accused proponents of consolidation of racism, saying it was an attempt to “dilute the black vote”. However, the numbers don’t back that. The fact is that the black community makes up over 60 percent of the county’s population, which is down from 66 percent of the city’s. Not much dilution, really.

However, now I have to wonder if Adams and Postell got it backwards. It’s well known that there is a higher percentage of whites in the county than the city. Also, it seems much of the opposition is in the county. Perhaps the real issue isn’t dilution of the black vote, but some being worried about dilution of the white vote?

The truth of the matter is that both groups would suffer some dilution. But isn’t it past time we stop looking at “black vote” and “white vote” and start looking at solutions to the many problems in our community, problems that affect Albany and Dougherty County?

A lack of jobs isn’t a white issue or a black issue, it’s a regional issue. Corruption isn’t a white issue or a black issue, but a regional issue. Transparency isn’t a white issue or a black issue, but a regional issue.

Consolidation may or may not address these issues, but that’s not on the table yet. What is on the table is whether we will get to decide it or not. Those who oppose voting are simply those who think that consolidation would win a vote, so they oppose democracy since they might not like the outcome. Sad, isn’t it?

These people need to get their head out of the sand. People have a right to vote on Consolidation, and it needs to be voted on soon.

tomknightonWritten by Tom Knighton. Read his blog at SWGA Politics.com.

A lifelong political junkie, Tom started out his adult life as a journalism major at Darton College before leaving school to serve his nation as a U.S. Navy Corpsman.

Through the years, he has watched government from outside and inside. A former Reagan supporter, then later a Democrat, Tom now finds himself quite comfortable as a card carrying Libertarian and all around smart-elec.

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Albany’s Ward 5: The 2009 battleground?

This November, about half of Albany’s voters will be asked to make their voices heard on a host of critical issues. The Ward 5 City Commission race is shaping up to be an important measure of the political landscape.

Local attorney Bob Langstaff will be seeking a third term as the Ward 5 commissioner. With hot button issues surfacing in recent months, his seat may be challenged by at least two political newcomers bent on shaking up the status quo. The outcome of this particular race will speak volumes about the attitudes and desires of not only those in Ward 5, but the city itself.

Langstaff says crime is the top issue facing Ward 5 and the entire city. In response to questions about his bid for re-election, Langstaff said, “Keeping citizens safe is the primary purpose of local government. We need more officers on the street. I have worked hard to get more officers, and to increase their pay and benefits in order to attract the best. I intend to run to finish a few things I’ve started including getting the consolidation vote to the citizens, fully staffing our police dept, and directing SPLOST funds to much needed infrastructure improvements.

Tom Knighton, a contract employee at the Marine Base, an active member of the Libertarian Party of Southwest Georgia, and co-owner of the website swgapolitics.com, is giving serious consideration to running for the seat. A spokesperson for Knighton said that an official is forthcoming. If he decides to run, Knighton says that his top priority would be transparency in local government.

“It’s imperative that people see everything going on and know where every penny is being spent. Transparency would have prevented some of the shenanigans that have taken place downtown, and I intend to bring that to the City Commission,” he said.

Knighton also says that economic development and taxation are critical issues.

“One of the primary issues facing Ward 5 has got to be taxes and how that tax money is being spent. When the mayor is bragging that we have $23 million sitting there, and people are seeing a tax increase due to the General Assembly eliminating the homestead exemption, then we need to take a look at what the city can do to ease the burdens felt by so many in Ward 5,” he said.

Retired railroad executive Terry Hart has told officials with the Dougherty County Taxpayers Association that he will give serious consideration to running if the group feels he is the best man for the job. He said he plans to meet with association co-Chairman Richard Thomas and others with the organization, and will make a final decision in the next few days. In a phone interview, Hart said, “Something needs to be done to change the way things are going in Albany, and if I do not run, I will support whoever the group decides to back.”

Also up for grabs in the Nov. 3 nonpartisan election will be the Ward 2 seat held by Dorothy Hubbard and the Ward 3 seat held by Morris Gurr. Hubbard says she likely will seek re-election to a second full term after being initially appointed by Gov. Sonny Perdue following the federal indictment of former commissioner Henry Mathis. Gurr says he will not seek re-election to a second term.

Other than Hubbard, no potential candidates have publicly emerged in Ward 2 or Ward 3.

Qualifying for the commission elections is Aug. 31 to Sept. 4. Candidates must pay a $450 fee. The job pays $15,000 annually, plus medical insurance coverage.

LonMcNeil 09Written by Lon McNeil.  Mr. McNeil is an Albany independent marketing consultant.  Find him online at AlbanyOnPoint.

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Editorial: Why county and city consolidation make good sense.

Well, it’s evident that the consolidation filibuster might end soon.

If that’s the case, then Mayor Willie Adams indeed may be right; there may be some hope for us who care about our community, after all.

As a refresher, here are a few reasons why consolidating political bodies, administrations, jobs and services makes perfect sense.

1. Duplicative political positions and municipal jobs and services would be eliminated; thus, there would be cost savings. The evidence is crystal clear that merging governments is costly initially and saves money in the long run if the design of the new government has built-in efficiencies, as was the case in the charter proposed by the Albany-Dougherty County Charter Commission comprised of six city and county commissioners and two citizens (George Brown and Rev. Don Key).

2. Accountability would improve. Time and time again, although more so in private than in public, the Albany city manager, mayor and city commission blame Dougherty County for their failures, and – periodically – vice versa. That excuse couldn’t be used any longer. Not that some of these folks in charge wouldn’t find someone else to blame if they remain in charger after the merger.

3. Clarity would occur. Jurisdiction, tax sources, planning capacity and legal powers would be less confusing and, thus, improved, under a consolidated government

The above contemplates Dougherty County residents going to the polls every two years and making wise choices. If they don’t, we could have two screwed-up governments rather than one. In other words, you get who you elect, no matter the form of government.

written by Kevin Hogencamp.

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Consolidation Reborn? Jury: Let Voters Decide

Further delays by the city and county commissioners ‘are not acceptable,’ citizen panel says

First, a 19-person charter commission unanimously decided in 2004 that Dougherty County citizens should have the opportunity to choose their form of government.

But the Albany City Commission and Dougherty County County – whose members appointed most of the panel members – thus far have ignored that decision, as many of the elected representatives could lose their jobs in a merger.

On Wednesday, the notion of allowing citizens to decide whether to merge local governments got a shot in the arm with a grand jury’s strong conclusion that “the citizens of Dougherty County have the right and are qualified to determine the form of government that will represent them now and in the future.”

“Further delays by either the city or county governments are not acceptable, and we recommend that both bodies give their full and immediate support to the process,” the grand jury wrote in its presentment.

The grand jury did not take sides on the consolidation issue; rather, it “acknowledges that the voters should have the right to determine, on their own, their versions of self-rule.”

“We were looking across the county to come up with things that would improve conditions for the citizens,” grand juror Sandra Webb said in an interview Wednesday. “We weren’t saying whether we support consolidation or not, but that I should be put in the hands of the citizens.”

Added foreman Huddy Hudgens: “The governments denying the rights of citizens to make the choice is wrong.”

County Commission Jack Stone, though, said Wednesday that he is unmoved by the grand jury presentment.

“The people I represent were not involved in that grand jury. I assure you. They don’t want it to come to a vote because it won’t be a fair vote,” he said.

Stone, who represents District 6, says that if residents of unincorporated residents could decide the issue themselves – without their votes being combined with Albany residents – he would want the consolidation issue to be decided by citizens.

“The way they’ve done it, if you live in the city, you get two votes, and if you live in the county, you get one vote. That’s not a fair situation,” he said. “If they let county voters approve it or rejected, just like they let city voters do, I’d jump on it in a New York minute. I believe in letting people have their say.”

“The way they’ve done this thing, 99 percent of the county who votes on it could say no, and consolidation could pass. That’s not right.”

About 82 percent of Dougherty County residents live in Albany – the county’s only municipality.

Both the Albany City Commission and Dougherty County Commission have nixed years of study on the notion of creating a more efficient government by merging the City of Albany and Dougherty County. Five years after joining Dougherty County and state legislators in appointing a charter commission to study the issue, the Albany City Commission has not taken a vote on whether to allow voters to resolve the matter at the polls. The Dougherty County Commission, meanwhile, stalemated last year with a 3-3 vote, and has not revisited the issue since the recent election of District 3 commissioner Muarlean Edwards.

Stone was among the three commissioners who opted in last year’s vote not to let city and county voters decide whether to unify local governments. E-mails sent to commissioners John Hayes and Art Searles, who voted with Stone, were not returned Wednesday afternoon.

In its report, the grand jury recommended “that the ongoing process of determining whether or not Albany and Dougherty County should be a fully consolidated government should be delayed no further and both the city and county commissions should approve the efforts of the charter commission.”

The grand jury also recommended that additional public forums be held to educate voters on issues associated with merging the local governments.

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City to Mull Consolidation

Gurr steps up to the plate, overcomes Adams’ empty argument that discussion, vote are ‘out of order’

In spite of Mayor Willie Adams’ objection, the Albany City Commission is scheduled to consider Tuesday whether to move the city-county unification process forward.

City Commissioner Morris Gurr says the commission should make a decision “regardless of what the county does.”

Mayor Willie Adams attempted to prohibit Tuesday’s discussion – and certainly a City Commission vote on the matter.

“It hasn’t passed the county and other than the point of discussion,” Dr. Adams said. “It would be premature and out of order if we vote before seeing what the County does.”

Mr. Gurr retorted that “it doesn’t matter which body takes it up first.”

Dr. Adams did not offer an explanation of why the City should sit the issue out until or unless the County agrees to move the matter forward to the state General Assembly.

Indeed, there is no explanation. And although Mr. Gurr didn’t need the commission’s approval to put the matter on Tuesday’s agenda, he got it – over Dr. Adams’ objections.

Already, Dougherty County commissioners thus far are on record – in a 3-3 stalemate — as being opposed to allowing citizens to decide at the polls whether local governments in the county should be merged. All six county commissioners – the District 2 seat has been vacated by Brenda Robinson-Cutler, who is ill – agreed to honor the Albany-Dougherty Charter Commission’s request in November for action by both the city and county commissions.

The Charter Commission consisted of three city commissioners, three county commissioners, and two citizens – George Brown and Rev. Don Kea – who served on the 19-member consolidation study committee that unanimously supported the notion of city-county unification.

While Mr. Gurr and some of his colleagues have criticized county commissioners Jack Stone, Art Searles and John Hayes for voting against taking the unification notion to the next level, Mr. Gurr is the only Albany commissioner to concede the criticism is unwarranted unless the City Commission, too, takes a vote. Indeed, the three county dissenters are no guiltier of temporarily halting consolidation than the seven elected city officials who haven’t voted yeah or nay. Only county commissioners Jeff “Bodine” Sinyard, Dr. Charles Lingle and Lamar Hudgins have voted present the unification charter to state legislators and ultimately to Albany and Dougherty County voters.

The City Commission meets at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday in room 120 of the Government Center, 222 Pine Ave. It likely will be considerably later than 8:30, however, before the commission addresses the consolidation issue.

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City Should Still Vote on Consolidation

Dougherty County commissioners are courteously on record; their counterparts aren’t

So, the Dougherty County Commission has temporarily suspended our opportunity to decide on a local government merger at the polls.

Hey, at least we know where county commissioners stand.

I respect that – to a certain extent, at least.

But inquiring minds – some at least — want to know: What’s the Albany City Commission’s position on whether a unification referendum should be held?

Certainly to the delight of some Albany elected officials, news coverage of the county’s 3-3 stalemate on passing the charter to the General Assembly implies that a City Commission vote on the matter would only come after the County Commission took a stance.

That’s just not so

The City Commission met Nov. 28 and no one had the gumption (another word for courtesy, I suppose) to follow up on the Albany-Dougherty Charter Commission’s request for action by both the city and county commissions.

The County Commission met on Nov. 27 and decided to take a vote this week. In other words, all six commissioners – the District 2 seat has been vacated by Brenda Robinson-Cutler, who is ill – agreed that the courteous thing to do was to quickly honor the Charter Commission’s request.

The City Commission, thus far, has deliberately decided otherwise.

Those who think that county commissioners Jack Stone, Art Searles and John Hayes stopped consolidation in its tracks are wrong – thus far, at least. The three dissenters are no more guilty of killing consolidation – albeit temporarily — than the seven elected city officials who haven’t voted yeah or nay.

Indeed, the record shows that only county commissioners Jeff “Bodine” Sinyard, Dr. Charles Lingle and Lamar Hudgins have voted present the unification charter to state legislators and ultimately to Albany and Dougherty County voters.

While Mr. Hayes hasn’t offered a reason for opposing consolidation except that his constituents don’t understand the reasons to combine local governments, Mr. Searles and Mr. Stone are on record with their votes – and the reasons for them.

Mr. Searles says, “I entered this process to help write a charter with an open mind,” but said that there are certain charter provisions that he could not justly present to voters; instead, he feels that local government structures as they separately exist would be more efficient – and fair – than the proposed unified government.

“For instance, I suggested we set up a system whereby we have a full-time mayor with pay according …” he said. “The mayor would have veto power over the commission and the commission would have override power over the mayor’s veto.”

By virtue of serving on the Charter Study Commission, Mr. Searles’ vote in opposition to moving the forward was legitimate. And Commissioner John Hayes wasn’t around when the Charter Commission was established; thus, his claim of ignorance on the issue could perhaps be excused.

Mr. Stone, though, voted for the Charter Study Commission’s creation and should have respected its request to put the matter in the hands – and hearts – of voters.

Meanwhile, Albany commissioners Jon Howard, Morris Gurr, Bo Dorough and Bob Langstaff say that Mr. Searles, Mr. Hayes and Mr. Stone should reconsider their stance opposing a unification referendum.

But without taking an official stance themselves – by voting – the Albany City Commission has no business criticizing their county counterparts.