"CITIZENS SPEAK!"
Citizens Voting Poll
Note: Not for statistics / Just for FUN!
Practice making your voice heard in our County Government!
CAUTION!
This could become addictive!
April Poll
Do you think that Barrow County is as financially secure as they have led us to believe?
| Yes (58) | 5% |
| |
| No (1014) | 95% |
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| Poll Comments | ||
| NO WAY, JOSE !!! There is no way an "auditor" found that money unless they found some hidden accounts. | 04/03/08 5:44:08 PM MST | |
| I requested a copy of the audit draft, as of yet I have not gotten anything! Until such time that I do, and it proves me wrong, I believe the 9 million reserve is a Doug spin hosted by the Barrow news. | 04/03/08 9:15:17 PM MST | |
| "Barrow sales taxes fall in FY2007" | 04/04/08 4:24:24 AM MST | |
| The reserve only constitues normal operating budget requirments up to 3 months activity. | 04/07/08 5:44:43 PM MST | |
| Only during an election year will we "find" extra money... | 04/10/08 2:17:56 PM MST | |
| money money money and we paid it all taxpayer | 04/25/08 11:03:52 AM MST | |
| spending needs to be cut. | 04/29/08 9:52:12 AM MST | |
| they buy what they | ||
March's Poll:
Can Barrow County support two newspapers?
Yes (872) 89%
No (42) 4%
Don't know (62) 6%
Comments:
Hell Yes 03/26/08 4:36:59 PM MST
Hell no 03/22/08 12:25:41 PM MST
The present paper is the official organ of the power stucture of
Barrow County. The news are not signed. They appear to be written
by the Chamber of Commerce! 03/16/08 11:06:24 PM MST
one news paper to wrap fish with the other to read 03/11/08 11:51:05 AM MST
Thought you might all be interested to know that the BCN will not print letters to the editor from the concerned citizens of barrow county anymore. How's that for biased reporting? 03/09/08 7:45:09 PM MST
Only if it's the Barrow Journal and the Braselton News! I can't read the Barrow News without getting angry. I quit buying it a long time ago. 03/04/08 3:51:26 PM MST
After a short time, the one with real news will have the advertising dollars. 03/03/08 7:15:11 PM MST
I am gonna assume that we are talking about a Jackson County based
paper moving into the Barrow County area, then by all means,
YES! The current "news" outlet is nothing more than a cheerleader
for a handful of County power brokers. The best use I have found
for the rag is in the bottom of my parrots cage! 03/03/08 9:42:39 AM MST
We don't need to support two newspapers. When the Barrow Journal gets fully up and running, the Barrow County News will have to shut down operations. So the question is, really, "how many REAL newspapers"
does Barrow need? The answer is: one! Just not the
one we currently have! 03/02/08 1:26:10 PM MST
I know I would choose The Braselton News over The Barrow County News!
It's so refreshing to read REAL AND FAIR news coverage. It's been a
long time since that has happened in Barrow County. I definitely would
support another newspaper. I don't even suscribe to The Barrow County
News because I can find out more about Barrow County in the Jackson
County paper, the Gwinnett paper and the Athens paper than I can in our
own paper. Sad! 03/02/08 1:22:28 PM MST
The Braselton News has kicked our legal organ in the teeth
and left it in the dirt! I feel we're finally getting represented
properly by another paper. Thank you, Braselton News!
... and WELCOME! 03/02/08 7:21:17 AM MST
February's Poll:
Do you think the Citizens Groups of Barrow County have been beneficial in building communication between our local government and the Citizens of Barrow County?
Yes 517 votes (89%) / No 65 votes (11%) Grand Total of 582 VotesComments:
| Yes! Without the citizens groups of Barrow County, there would be NO communication between the commissioners and the citizens. Monday night's meeting showed the commissioners how many citizens don't believe them. In my opinion, no one could answer in questions. They asked their "professional" speaker to talk for them. | 02/27/08 7:08:42 PM MST | ||
| great work | 02/26/08 0:57:48 AM MST | ||
| NO BRAINER !!! | 02/15/08 4:52:28 PM MST | ||
| It seems because the Citizens Groups are asking questions, the Chairman is getting worried. Therefore, the meeting he is wanting with the Airport Group. | 02/14/08 9:04:41 PM MST | ||
| The dolts may not like what they are hearing, but they do at the very least know what we think of them, and we know that they are doing just the opposite of what the people have expressed!! | 02/11/08 10:06:41 AM MST | ||
| To the 2 "no's", then why are you here? | 02/08/08 2:30:35 AM MST | ||
| This is the first time that anyone has stuck with a project for the Citizens of Barrow County. We have two live and on-going groups which have really stuck it out in standing on moral issues. Good Job! | 02/06/08 8:04:22 PM MST | ||
| Good Job BCW and Concerned Citizens! | 02/05/08 6:43:12 PM MST | ||
| In the past 4 years (I believe), I think the Citizens have gotten more involved with their government... even though the BOC didn't want that! | 02/05/08 6:40:41 PM MST | ||
January's Poll:
Barrow County's Board of Commissioners: Please mark their report card ...
A Outstanding
B Good for what they had to work with
C Didn't take up ahead but didn't loose ground
D Barely hung on but would have been worse
F Failed Totally
A Outstanding (0) 0%
B Good for what they had to work with (51) 13%
C Didn't take up ahead but didn't loose ground (65) 17%
D Barely hung on but would have been worse (184) 48%
F Failed Totally (81) 21%
Total Votes: 381
I THINK YOU NEED TO CLEAN HOUSE STARTING WITH NORMA JEAN BROWN , KEITH LEE AND EVERY ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF BILL HEALAN 02/05/08 6:32:33 AM MST
Like 911, never forget. We have the great memories of cutting EMS Staff, putting boats on our Reservoir, secret meetings and revotes, nepotism, our so-called "impact fees", our airport expansion, special favors, taking land (retirement and family history) from the Smith's, ignoring the water issue, ignoring our infrastructure, cutting the Library, STOPPING CITIZENS FROM TALKING IN THE BOC MEETINGS, threatening to up taxes if SPLOST didn't go thru, upped taxes and property assessments even after SPLOST went thru, rebuilding the county at one time, giving great raises when revenues didn't justify it, using the local paper or "legal organ" as a publicity tool, letting one department double and triple while another one get's cut when they're both emergency services. What did I miss ...? 01/19/08 11:34:12 AM MST
Gave them a "D". It probably would have been an "F" if I have learned to pay attention before July. 01/08/08 9:19:19 AM MST
Even when you call any of the Commissioners, they tell you they don't have time to get involved in everyday procedures. What are they being paid for? 01/05/08 9:46:16 PM MST
The BOC hasn't worked for the people. The budget's totally shot and the infrastructure was ignored. NO SOLID FOUNDATION!!! 01/05/08 12:15:26 PM MST
December's Poll:
Yes (636) 78% No (179) 22% Other view suggestions (0) 0% 
Comments:
| I believe that this ray of hope will spread, and the vails of the current administration will be drawn away to reveal what has been covered for so long. Doug and the others must go. Bill has a hard row ahead of him, and we owe it to him to give him our support and also to select well in 08. Thank you Bill, I have hope again! | 12/05/07 8:01:03 PM MST |
| Absolutely! This is just the motivation we needed! | 12/08/07 12:51:18 PM MST |
| Oh yes we can. | 12/09/07 6:30:04 PM MST |
| 20% "no"? Still good odds. We're keeping "Bulldog Healan". He's our pioneer to show the other dog's how it's done! Let's see if having a Bulldog sitting on the boards get's things and keeps things right for the good of the citizens. | 12/13/07 6:44:32 AM MST |
| Absolutely! This is just the motivation we needed! 12/08/07 12:51:18 PM MST | 12/13/07 6:46:31 AM MST |
| Can this mess Doug's created be changed or reversed? If that could be done, then maybe they'd stand an icecube's chance in the sauna. But first, like any sickness, Doug would have to realize there is something wrong. | 12/13/07 6:50:10 AM MST |
| Is it possible that Doug, knowing that he can't survive this next election, is putting through all his favors and personal agenda's before he gets out of office? Too bad that his rush makes the plan so apparent. | 12/27/07 5:35:23 AM MST | ||
November's Poll:
Are the Commissioners just giving us lip service on the airport situation and other issues?
1094 Voted:
| Yes (841) | 77% | ||
| No (148) | 14% | ||
| Don't know (105) | 10% |
Comments:
| Is it not apparent that the expansion of the airport was already in the works for personal reasons. The extention of Hartsfield was just a smoke-screen. Check with the Concerned Citizens. They've got a lot to share. | 11/19/07 10:40:41 AM MST | ||
| its time to get rid of them jokers up there running the county.All they are doing is linning their own pockets with our tax money . | 11/15/07 5:41:51 PM MST | ||
| Nobody wants an airport with large planes taking off and landing. The Commissioners don't want it, either. The scare tactics are bogus. There ain't no big planes coming here. Beer planes. Fed-X. Somebody's fanning the flames. And it smells like something else being fanned from behind. | 11/14/07 9:50:37 AM MST | ||
| ours is not a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people" | 11/10/07 8:40:26 AM MST | ||
| ours is not a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people" | 11/10/07 8:40:25 AM MST | ||
| clean the slate in 08 | 11/09/07 7:37:28 PM MST | ||
| I live near the airport, I paid a large amount of money to have horse property. I am not interested in having large planes fly over my home, rezoning issues, increase in air polution, increase in traffic, and lets face it all area's around airports have a high crime rate. I would practically have to give my home away in order to move, because it would not be worth what I paid for it and the land it sits on. | 11/03/07 10:25:05 PM MST | ||
| Doug and the boys got caught with their fingers in the cake, but I don't think their plans were so far reaching as to want a second Atlanta airport. (however they would have gladly gone along if this had happened) Their goal was and still is, to create a big commercial real estate site so that Doug's broker and other big financial types could reap big bucks while having the taxpayers foot the infrastructure bills... so they threw a baby to the wolves with this BS resolution. The resolution means nothing!! I don't think some of these BOC members are even bright enough to realize what they are doing or why Doug leads them by the nose...they just see the power base of the big money boys, and think this will keep them in office. | 11/02/07 12:04:06 PM MST | ||
October's Poll:
886 Voted:
What do you think about the addition to the airport? Will it benefit Barrow County?
115 People Voted "YES" / 13%
771 People Voted "NO" / 87%
Comments:
| Let's just close the airport. Who wants it anyway? That's a lot of land that the County can have there. Keep it green. And get nothing for it. | 10/26/07 1:08:41 PM MST |
| WANT TO BUILD AN OVERPASS FOR A PLANE EVERY NOW AND THEN, BUT CAN'T BUILD ONE FOR 1000'S OF VEHICLES A DAY. | 10/24/07 9:25:37 PM MST |
| why take the burden of of atlanta . cargo planes do not create as much as passenger planes we get the noise and the traffic and the pollution the BOC are as dumb as a brick | 10/14/07 7:29:14 PM MST |
| If you think Barrow is HICK, why are you here? Take your airport and leave! | 10/10/07 6:10:08 PM MST |
| voting against the airport is voting to keep Barrow County as a backwoods hick county | 10/06/07 5:54:42 PM MST |
| Gwinnett we're not! They used their brains. This is just a cover for the real reason which started a MANY years ago! | 10/05/07 4:48:14 PM MST |
| Barrow County is a beatiful and quiet place to live, I would like to keep it that way! | 10/05/07 8:03:42 AM MST |
| The only thing that an airport expansion would do for Barrow County citizens is by raising their property taxes and decreasing their property value. | 10/05/07 2:31:25 AM MST |
| It's pretty evident this thing has gone too far. We have a group that is hitting the lawyers office. It's showtime! | 10/03/07 11:39:29 AM MST |
| The additions have nothing to do with planes or safety, this is purely an attempt to make big bucks for a handful of real estate people. Watch and see who gets the benifit, my guess is that Garrison's broker will be the main one. | 10/03/07 8:21:57 AM MST |
September Poll:
This poll may have sparked the newspaper article about keeping spending in Barrow County!
665 People voted:
What percentage of your spending is done in Barrow County to support the SPLOST?
78 people voted "0 to 9% - Nothing regular" at 12%
504 people voted "10 to 30%" at 76 % of the vote.
70 people voted "40 to 60%" at 11 % of the vote.
13 people voted "70 % or higher" at 2% of the vote.
Comments:
| re told that he was the Chairman's "lap dog", but we gave him the benefit of the doubt. Now it seems the information was correct. | 09/28/07 10:50:35 AM MST |
| I hope they just keep rolling this old SPLOST over until it's paid for and not add anything to it. What else could we ask for? We didn't want all that we got. Does the word, "MODERATION" mean anything to you butt-heads! Putting all the future growth on one SPLOST, which is almost impossible to complete, then adding an Airport, and an Arts Thing, you're going to fry!!! | 09/26/07 6:15:23 PM MST |
| It's really not smart to raise the taxes and the property assessments in the same year Seems like these guys shot off their own foot. | 09/14/07 3:21:55 PM MST |
| How can the BOC up the taxes and budget more than the cost of living? Also, spending more than what taxes are taken in, isn't that bad management? Putting new jail, courthouse, and other amenities on the SPLOST raised my brow. Then to vote themselves in large raises by a company that is not from the area, really pushed the button. Now, we're in bad debt without even considering the infrastructure. People: study your candidates better in this next election! | 09/14/07 2:11:49 PM MST |
| I think the BOC and the BOE bit off more than they can chew. Why are all the trailers still on the lot of Winder Barrow High School.? Is this what our SPLOST dollars pay for? | 09/07/07 11:57:10 AM MST |
| Sick of SPLOST. Does it give us higher scolastic testing scores? It is hard enough to raise a family without Barrow increasing taxex at the drop of a hat. The middle and lower income families cannot stand much more. | 09/06/07 9:15:30 AM MST |
| With the price of fuel these days, and my expected lack of money due to the 40% reassesment, I can't go anywhere else to spend my money! Maybe this is why the Doug and the Chamber wanted the SPLOST so badly! Guess we are trapped... | 09/06/07 9:09:57 AM MST |
| I am working very hard to elimnate spending any money in this County. I gas up where I work (Gwinett), I spend my lundh money in Gwinett as well and will eventually buy groceries there as well. The Home Depot is also in Gwinette as well as Target. I do not want to support a county where the spending is not concentrated on imporving SAT Scores in the schools, cuts spending to our library. It is absolutely rediculous. They sepnd like drunken soldiersxs on projects to make them look good. | 09/05/07 |
August Poll:
What did you think?
A NEW RECORD! 983 VOTED:
Do you think the new tax assessments are fair?
2% said that the new tax assessment were fair.
97% said the new tax assements were not fair.
15 said other ...
Comments:
| Say no to those in charge of spending our money. | 08/26/07 4:46:01 PM MST | |
| Maybe some of us voted for some taxes that we thought were necessary. However, the BOC voting on raising our taxes and then reassessing our property was a little much for one year. Some of us don't get that kind of increase in our yearly pay stub. In that case, it takes away from our families. | 08/21/07 9:44:09 AM MST | |
| Well every one voted for higher taxes in the last election!! Only one candidate promised not to raise taxes and the machine ate him up!! You get what you ask for learn to live with your decisions!! | 08/15/07 9:11:31 PM MST | |
| More money from the hard pressed taxpayers for pork projects! I am sick of these politicians and the lack of complete information before making decision. | 08/15/07 8:58:25 PM MST | |
| Tired of property taxes and assessments | 08/14/07 10:51:00 AM MST | |
| Everyone I talk to is tired of the constant increases in taxes in this County. | 08/14/07 5:58:21 AM MST | |
| Performance, credentials, accountability, ethical conduct, along with the decision to raise the millage rate as well as reassing property values and wouldn't you know. the housing market is in a big slump all over the country. Seems to me that the reassessment was pretty timely before the nation and Barrow experienced this set back in housing, | 08/13/07 11:00:40 AM MST | |
| The SPLOST votes should be on the regular voting years, not special elections where all the public is not represented. The Commission and Bd. of Ed. must be wscared they would be defeated if they were on the regular ballots rather than on the vote for one commission seat. | 08/09/07 2:46:13 PM MST | |
| SPLOST | 08/09/07 2:44:18 PM MST | |
| SPLOST | 08/09/07 2:44:17 PM MST | |
| Why don't Garrison contribute the money he made on commission on that Shopping Mall since he felt he had to do it for the people? | 08/29/07 5:25:17 PM MST |
July's Poll:
A NEW RECORD! 809 VOTES!!!
96% SAY THAT BARROW COUNTY WILL "CLEAN THE SLATE IN 2008!"
Comments:
I am afraid that the high level of apathy and the voter control held by the builder/real estate crowd will again dilute those of us that desire positive change. 07/13/07 2:23:06 PM MST when you see what the current chairman and commissioners are doing, it really is scary. They decide who they want to get rid of, and they don't give up until they succeed. Do any of them have the morals and good sense to stand up against the chairman and his "yes men"? Unfortunately, some of his "yes men" of some of our elected commissioners. How do they sleep at night knowing the mess they have the county in? How much in debt is the county now? I was told there was a surplus when the current chairman came into office. I read in the Gwinnett paper that the county is now in debt over 100 million dollars. Is that true? I sincerely pray it is not. If it is, we can only hope enough people will clear the slate in '08 and hope someone with the proper training, education, and even common sense will come in and help us get back on track. Barrow County wake up! 07/06/07 4:56:37 PM MST
June's Poll:
Is our infrastructure adequate?
Out of 702 votes: 97% "No" / 2% "Yes" and Comments:
When Bear Creek runs out what then ? I hope the well diggers are working around the clock. 06/17/07 6:36:36 PM MST Where is the 1% driving? These roads are dangerous to everyone!!! 06/09/07 12:17:54 PM MST Bear creek will only supply Barrow for another 6 years at the current rate of growth... another reservoir is greatly needed. It takes about 8 years just to get the permits for a new one... BOC needs to get off the pot!! 06/05/07 8:11:36 AM MST Hell no, but again no one has ever planned ahead in this county! Only what is my cut from taking these rubes!! 06/01/07 5:12:26 AM MST
May's Poll:
Does Nepotism effect our County Government?
Out of 350 votes: 90% "Yes" / 10% "No".
Previous Poll: Should Doug Garrison run again?
Total Votes: 421 399 "no" 95% / 22 "yes" 5%
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