While I respect Mr. Stanley's right to voice his opinion of the Splost programs over the last several weeks, it is important that the people of Henry County vote YES on November 6th.

Nothing is perfect and makes everyone happy. But a NO vote is only a vote to throw the baby out with the bath water.

We have a serious transportation problem in this county and 50% of the millions raised by Splost may not be what we hoped for, but it beats the hell out of 100% of nothing.

Rational minds must prevail and I hope the people of Henry County vote YES on November 6th.

On the contrary, it is important that the people of Henry County vote NO on November 6. If we keep handing them more money, they are never going to cut spending and our taxes will get worse.

Here's how this works. You pass a SPLOST. Instead of spending the money on things the county actually needs and possibly reducing the burden on the property owners, you pander to some special interest group and buy yourself some votes. Need an example? Senior Centers. We're building more of them if SPLOST III passes. These buildings have to be maintained and staffed forever. Who's going to pay for that? The only answer is to kick the millage rate up a notch. You kick another 1 percent over to the government and it costs you that plus a higher millage. So much for the 'rational minds' argument.

It also creates something the government loves. Dependents. Once you've instituted a government subsidized program like Senior Centers, you've created welfare recipients who will thank you with their votes until the day they die. I don't know this, but I'm guessing the county will be taking van loads of seniors to the polls on November 6. They get it. Do you?

Publius V,
Firstly if I were undecided as to how to vote for SPLOST you would have made my mind up as you are to embarrassed to address us with your real name...I have always believe if someone is not willing to reveal their own idenity then they probably have issues with what and why they believe what they espouse to be fact...I ask one question of you...if you are infact a property owner and not renter how much has SPLOST I or SPLOST II lowered your tax....as a realtor I can answer that for you ...NOT ONE DIME... I can show you proof that Rockdale citizens property tax decreased and in their own words was "because of SPLOST ala Rockdale County style"...I must agree with Dutch...keep giving them the money and they will keep spending it...As for Mr. Harper and his business associates....If you don't benefit your benefactors then come election time they will benefit someone else...You can rest assure that most if not all political appointments are made to those that put the appointer in office...Point in fact ...no that is incorrect ....by all apperance Mr.Basler's highest paying appointee...HCWSA board member was also one if not the main forces behind his campaign finances....not to say that is wrong it just has the apperance of being a payback...I personally think all appointees should be retirees or those with the interest of the county at heart and enough time to not miss those all important meetings that impact us all. I find it unacceptable that an appointee miss any meeting and vote when MY dollar is being spent...Check the minutes of any of these meetings....Doubt they miss any of the TRIPS to "seminars" that are taken at taxpayers expense.
Dutch said it all the government loves dependents...kinda like when you rob Peter to pay Paul ,Paul will always give you a gun and be your friend.....vote=gun....Dutch you can only hope for a lot of flat tires on those county funded vans.
I cannot for the life of me understand the mind that says you have to have bad to get good.....your logic is very flawed and is exactly what the political machine in america has fed you all these years and you ate it.
You don't have to accept bad for good ....it is much like gardening you pull the weeds out to allow your crops to grow if you leave the weeds in your garden the crops will either die or not produce the crop you desired,so your method of producing what is good is to eleminate that which is bad...I might add you do that when it first appears not after it has taken root.
Don

Publius V is a good friend of of mine. Even though we may not always agree, his comments are welcome and respected...as is his anonymity.

I promised myself I would not add to the comments on this post. But I must agree with Don & Dutch.

But a NO vote is only a vote to throw the baby out with the bath water.

I am not telling anyone how to vote. It is important that people know the unpublished facts. That is why I have made so many posts on the topic.

I fully understand that fair weather friends will again despise me. I will be blamed by commissioners and members of the Chamber and Growth Council.

I maintain that, should this referendum fail, it will happen because the BoC and city councils refused to listen and act upon the wishes of Henry's citizens. Like I tell my kids, "Clean up your act and you'll earn my respect." I understand the game, but neither the economy, the traffic nor my wallet can stand a half-hearted compromise.

Why are members of the Henry SPLOST Committee (Tony Moye, Steve Cash, Charles Mobley for examples) not beating the drums? Is it because there are no answers sufficiently palatable for the electorate? Plenty of potentially negative aspects are posted or appear in the newspaper. Where is the pro-SPLOST, sure-fire gotta get it passed, enthusiasm?

This will be a 6-year tax program. For me, it is not about winning friends and influencing people. Doing the right thing, especially at the right time, requires making the hardest decisions - and sticking to them. If a special election must called later (and it will be if the Nov. 6th vote fails), I pray the BoC and city councils will return to the drawing board fix their misguided priorities.

One more query: Now that Jim Baker (Baker & Lassiter) has announced a $50million Gwinnett-like Arena at South Point, what will the BoC do with the $7million earmarked for a civic center?

"I am not telling anyone how to vote. It is important that people know the unpublished facts. That is why I have made so many posts on the topic."

This is a mis-guided statement. You have posted nothing positive about Splost III, the BoC, or anyone involved. Yet you believe that somehow your comments will not influence an anti-splost vote? By posting your comments you are telling people to vote, yet you try to hide in the gray area and when called on it you say you "do not have an anti-splost position".

Nothing wrong with being against it, Larry. Stop sitting the fence and hop on one side or the other.

And where did your post go about Publius' identity and how you did not feel his comments carried any weight because he chose to not use his real name?

Jamie, you are again grasping at straws. Do you have anything to say about SPLOST? Or, is your objective to pick at me?

Shall I reiterate for you the posts (here and my own website) about SPLOST III, from the beginning of Committee meetings through final project adoption?

The program is what it is. The information about it as presented by the county Communications Director deserved questions - and I provided them. But there was no response from anyone! Not the BoC, and not the Committee setup to promote the program.

Had anyone on the BoC responded to any communication from April through October, much less offered answers or reasons to the points I queried, my posts would have taken a different tone.

My friend, there is no gray area when there is no debate. Hearing only queries and associated comments is hardly a discourse. For whatever reason the Chairman believes my concerns are beneath his high office - and that is the only reason I can surmise that a county staff member's "official statements" are all we got! Yes, I am a bit perturbed.

Even when Roy Clack and I were sparring in the meetings, and it took 3 weeks to get a simple decision from the county attorney, I was convinced that the BoC members had good intentions.

Then the intergovernmental agreement details came out as Same-Old-Same-Old population split. No accountability, no named projects, no timelines, no budgets.

Then the ballot language was adopted in the most general, categorical terms without even referencing project lists. Only later did advertising in the Herald mention publications by or with approval of the county. (Mathis voted against adoption)

Then the transportation projects were named without budgets or timelines. But only $126 million was allocated. That is 56% of the county's share ($225M) after 25% ($75M) to the cities. The published 70% would require $157M. Figures don't lie, but liars figure. (Holder voted against adoption)

Please tell me and the other readers why this Great Compromise is a good plan.

The lack of communication from BoC members, even Harper's so-called defense of his promotional video, is appalling to this voter. That is why I write. CAN YOU REFUTE ANYTHING I HAVE POSTED?

Jamie, your posts are obviously about me and my statements - not about the tax program. Please stay up with the rest of the class. Hey, let's do lunch sometime - I can teach you about transparency and honesty in government.

And where did your post go about Publius' identity and how you did not feel his comments carried any weight because he chose to not use his real name?

Larry made no such comment(s).

"Larry made no such comment(s)."

Well, someone made them, and they are magically gone. Someone here posted something to the effect that the post by Publius person was invalid because they did not post under their real name. Perhaps you should have also removed your reply about his anonymity. Personally, I think nicknames are great idea. Right, wolverine?

And Larry, I am not debating splost with you. I am debating your stance. Maybe I have not been as clear as I could have been. And you are right, my reply was not about splost as much as it was about you, but since it was related...

For me, I read your threads and have seen you submit the same things to the local papers. It seems as if you do nothing but complain about splost, even when there is no response from those that can change it. You are continually pointing out things that you believe are not right, and yes, I feel sometimes that you nitpick just to find any hint of wrongdoing. But yet you claim to support it. It just seems as if you are unable to say "Splost III is a horrible idea. Do not vote for it."

While Larry and I often disagree as do I and Jason, he always disagrees with class.

I happen to think voting for Splost is important for the future of the County. There have been more than enough anti-Splost comments on this blog and just wanted the fine people who read and comment here to know that there is a group in support.

We can disagree on how the money is being divided etc... but our problems need help and yes money. With the political climate in the state and in DC, I would not hold my breath thinking others will lend a helping dollar.

Vote YES to Splost and keep Henry moving in the right direction.

Yours,
Publius V.

Good points, Publius V. I tend to rant more than anything.

Larry, let me get some rest (I have had very little sleep over the past 3 weeks due to late night shifts - which explains why I am cranky) and I will just email you my questions since they are not exactly related to the topic.

Well, someone made them, and they are magically gone.

You are jumping to conclusions. That comment is here. It was never removed and I responded to it.

Publius V., Thank you for your posts.

You are correct that our problems need help and money. I would add, lots of both. I would also say there is more than just a group in support. It would be no surprise to me if this refrendum passes 3-to-1 similar to the BoE SPLOST.

I am not prepared to accept Jamie's advice and call SPLOST III a terrible thing. I want to see the major road widening projects in Locust Grove and Stockbridge. I want East Lake Extension completed. I want Fairview to have a community center, especially because I know the strong people who will use it to strengthen families there.

I find some people among those who will administer the revenues whose integrity I cannot trust. That is why I point out every thing I can uncover.

I do not oppose the program. I oppose people whose agendas and motivations do not include solving problems for the county.

To avoid attacking people and further terminating relationships, I have pointed to their work product.

P.S. Of course I admit tagging the chairman on every turn. That became a tradition when, as District 3 commissioner, he never returned my calls. It became a hobby of mine.

I agree that it will very likely pass, though I would be surprised if the margin was 3-1. County government will grow and the millage rate will increase as a result. That's the trend at every level of government and it's not likely to change anytime soon.

...as District 3 commissioner, he never returned my calls.

You've got company there, Larry. I've interviewed Jason Harper twice for my newscast since he became chairman. The first was about 20 minutes after he was sworn in, and the second was in the summer of 2006 at the county administration building when I knew he'd be there for a meeting. He has NEVER returned one of my calls while in office.

O.K. after all is said and done with the debate as to Good or bad ,,,,SPLOST III is nothing more than PORK with a capitol P...I have said for more years than I can remeber that SPLOST in any form is a Slushfund for the incumbent board members to reassure their returned to office and keep their business partners able to support their next campaign....I don't believe I can say it any plainer......When I am elected board chairman....if I run....I will see to it that the citizens of Henry County control this county and not the insiders and bedfellows of those in power ....I will tell you now that I will not support any new tax on the county of ANY kind and will do everything that is legal to reduce tax and if that means not taking a vacation on a credit card so be it ......you can never balance a budget when you spend and plan on money that you DO NOT HAVE..we need to fix the things that are broken in our county before buying or committing to additional expenses
Don't build it and they won't come.
DON

Don,

If you do run with that platform, you have my vote.

Thank you Joe
I just watched an interview with Reid Bowman and he is honestly a very bright man and although I agree with Reid on a good many of his stands for the citizens of the county I must disagree with him on SPLOST III as it is a program that is trying to spend money that is only hoped for and is not there when the commitment is made to spend it....thats a vacation on credit cards.....very foolish...I can almost say for sure Reid doesn't run his orgizanition like that it wouldn't be smart business and it isn't smart business for the county either.
I could support a program that would have the projects selected and all plans and committments from builders,suppliers,contracters,etc. were firmed and as the money was collected the you could proceed with the project...why doesn't that make sense to anyone but me.....thats the way I have to run my budget.....I will run if I get the indication of support...grassroots no money just neighbor to neighbor
Don

Two things:

First, Don you have my vote and full support!

Secondly, did anyone besides Don actually read the part about Harper's conflicts of interest??

BTW, Todd and Jason are together again.... in DC. I cannot help but wonder about these trips. What does an architect know about securing transporation funding? Maybe it's just moral support.

But maybe Todd is learning the ropes inside the beltway for when Jason runs for Congress.

Larry,
It is true that I was in DC again just last week. You are misinformed, though, because it was not for transportation that I was there.

I was in DC, on a privately-funded trip, to meet with longtime supporters of the Veterans Wall of Honor project. I met with Congressman Lynn Westmoreland, Senator Johnny Isakson, Congressman David Scott and Senator Saxby Chambliss.

I am a member of the Veterans Wall of Honor board. Initially I was compensated in early 2004 for the time I spent in designing the Wall project. That fee ran out long ago, somewhere mid-'04.

When I started, I met with the person who initially had the 'vision' for this project, and she had the determination to bring it to reality. I have 2 brothers who served, so this project carries deep meaning for me. I wanted to get involved, so I created the design and produced the drawings.

I am still on the Wall board because I strongly believe in this project. My time now is volunteered. We still meet regularly, and I am doing what I can to help get it built.

I have been volunteering my time since, just like the others on the Wall board. I am not doing it for gain, but rather as a token of thanks to my own brothers, grandfathers, and father-in-law, who served our armed forces, as well as out of a deep sense of gratitude to all of the others who have served.

It is because our troops and veterans, some who have sacrificed all, that I remain on this board. The monies for this project are steadily coming in, but it has been slow. We need all the help we can get so we can get this built.

I have noticed that you appreciate the freedom of speech, and that you have a great deal of energy. Our board can use all the energy and support you might offer, and we would welcome you to join us in rolling up your sleeves to help us in this awesome tribute.

Todd,

Thank you for this post. It is very important that the Verteran's Wall project has all the support and dedication possible. I will here and now volunteer myself and whatever talents I may bring to the table. Please let me know what I can do.

Also, my post concerning contracts awarded through the county or during the term of SPLOST was not intended to indicate anything wrong or inappropriate on your part. It is, rather to point out heretofore undisclosed information about Heritage Park. The amounts of both county and SPLOST funding has far exceeded other parks and it certainly appears that project creep has official sanction. The fact that a business relationship exists involving Cedar Pointe Holdings is incidental, but raises questions I believe is pertinent for voter education.

Regarding visits to Washington, I was informed that the Chairman made a substantial request for transportation funding. I apologize for the error of assuming your participation was associated with that request.

I appreciate your honest and forthright response.

LS

Now it is seven months later
and look at the situation. People do ask questions as to why Mr. Ernst being a partner with Mr. Harper could be incidental but his wife works for the county also. It would look better if the Chairman did not have
his personal business associate and his friend involved so closely with the county government where he is benefiting financially. This is a case
of Henry County Politics that has always been around here where you friend or family will benefit financially from the taxpayer.
The Doctor

Oh, and another analysis,
it is no different from letting Mark Pollard live at Nash Farm as long as he did at the okay from Ms. Mathis. That whole mess continues and it seems to be the bottomless pit of no return for Henry County tax payers.
The Doctor