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JH Sep 03 : 09:33
Congratulations to Mayor Still and the Council. They successfully stuck it to the taxpayer again.
HelenAnn Aug 27 : 12:46
From Ani Dadron: My dog Gretchen died peacefully last week while we were up in Maryland. She's buried on my friends farm near the miniature donkey's corral. Thanks to all for your kind words about the good ole big red dog. She was a sweetheart.
Marvin Aug 02 : 18:26
Pool Hours for August 2010 11 am to 8 pm Fulton Co Schools Start August 23,2010 Pool Open (schooldays) 4Pm to 8pm 8Am to 4PM More Hours To Swim Pass Members Swim at Your Own Risk September Weekdays 4Pm to 8 Pm September weekend 4,5,6(Labor Day) 11 Am to 8 Pm September 7,8,9,10 4 Pm to 8 Pm September 11,12 11 Am to 8 Pm
Pool Closes Sunday, September 12, 2010
editor Oct 18 : 17:42
Members, Login to post a "milestone" in the Chatbox: happy birthday or anniversary, get well or welcome a new baby, or... The editor will post major announcements from time to time...
Time for a Change, An Opinion Started by Councilman Jim Still: During my time in office, I have formed some opinions regarding this community my wife and I have chosen as our home. With the increasing demands being placed on the city by State and Federal legislation as well as the more difficult day to day issues facing any government trying to run a city, we have to make some moves to remain effective, efficient and compliant. I think there are two things that need to be changed. These changes come in the form of reorganization of our city council and strengthening our city hall.
First, we do not need more than four council members and a mayor. (If they can’t a reach 3-1 vote on an issue then it obviously needs more work before going forward.) I watch with wonder how we manage to accomplish much of anything with so many “Chiefs” trying to reach a decision. This has caused us to become incapable of meeting serious deadlines and commitments much to our dismay and expense. I think we can sufficiently and productively accomplish the same goals and requirements of being a city with fewer egos and opinions on council while increasing the number of candidates running for a fewer number of seats. This would actually allow the voting public to have a choice at the polls. I would rather my candidate lose the vote in an election than to not have a choice of candidates at all.
Secondly, if we want to continue governing ourselves into the future then we should make it possible for the most committed and capable citizens in the community to run for a term in office. The way to do this is to separate the responsibilities of “thinking” from “doing”. Only the persons without a full time job or those that don’t have family obligations can afford to spend the amount of time we have created for elected officials. Having less time to physically work for the city does not diminish ones ability to accomplish more as an effective leader and planner. The council should be the decision making body and the City Clerk/City Hall should be the primary executor of the city’s business and the mayor the overall supervisor that reports to the council on their progress. (Originally Posted July 15, 2005)
Response from WJ (as a Guest Editor submission to the old site and entered for WJ in the transition to the new site):
I agree its time for a change. I've lived in Mountain Park for over thirty years. Life was simple, and Mountain Park was the dream place to live. Very Little Law and codes and Low taxes.
In some instances, building codes and tax increases have truly benefited the city and its Home Owners. In the Past, Our council and Mayor appreciated the City Culture we had, and they did a great job in maintaining what we had.
Unfortunately the present Mayor and council have decided we need to be a City full of new codes and laws that make us more like a Brookfield West or some of those sub divisions that require you to be in compliance with any thing you do to your Home.
This council has done a great job of sign pollution, in addition to unnecessary speed bumps. Now a tax increase on top of what we all know to be unrealistic Property appraisals from Fulton county, Now both the city and county taxes on most homes will go up a lot more than the example we where given.
Now we Read from JC that our council is over worked and bogged down in Egos. That is not good to hear after this council is responsible for more bad decisions based on their own opinions and egos and pocket books than any before them.
Our Present Mayor still lives in a fantasy that all residents can, and should, come to the council meetings. Unfortunately many of us work and have commutes that don't allow us the luxury of being at the meetings with the present schedule. Years ago, Saturday council meetings worked well.
Two of the biggest decisions could have been put on a ballot to let the true Home Owners of the city help make a decision, yet the Mayor says come to a meeting. If you do come to a meeting, and the majority of the residents there disagree with the subject, our wonderful council still votes as they wish.
Mountain Park residents, we do need a change! I do agree our lakes and parks are important but we are being misrepresented. JC is maybe right, less is better, and we as citizens may have a bigger impact on who our council is and what they do to our future. But what about NOW, Maybe its time to Look at an Impeachment before we all have to paint our houses the same color.
Response From DAMP (as a Guest Editor submission to the old site and entered for DAMP in the transition to the new site):
I appreciate people that are willing to be on the city council and that there is no question in my mind that most of the time (except for an occasional ego trip) that they make the best decision they can with their limited amount of experience and resources that are available to them. How many of these people, who have the best of intentions, could actually physically supervise a utility crew constructing a road, stabilizing a creek bank, installing a sewer or water main including pouring collar walls and blocking, yet this is included in their responsibilities because they pay for and make sure that this work in done correctly. Mountain Park must maintain all inferior work that is not done correctly. Also, changing subterranean conditions predicate how this type of work is done in each particular situation.
Unfortunately, utility work experience is gained by painful experiences in the field such as having a road collapse, a creek bank wash out, and a water or sewer main blowing out. Mountain Park is such a small community that there is not an opportunity for a local council person to gain this knowledge.
A contractor let a council person decide whether to install Copper or Polybutylene water services. The contractor was laughing about that decision when they were told to install Polybutylene rather than Copper. This was made at a time when all the other communities were removing the same material because it had been discovered that chlorine deteriorated Polybutylene. This is the predominate material used in Mountain Park and it will be giving problems in the future.
From Mayor Jim Wright (as a Guest Editor submission to the old site and entered for Mayor Wright in the transition to the new site):
Friends and Neighbors, Jim Still has boldly peeped around the corner and confirmed that there really is "an elephant in the living room", and I applaud him. It is indeed time to take another look at how we do the people's business. I agree that trying to find seven qualified and dedicated council candidates is a challenge. When attending gatherings of other mayors and elected officials, frequently they comment on the fact that we have eight elected officials to govern 542 citizens and wonder why such a system was adopted. The answer escapes me. In my opinion, three or four council seats is plenty, and a reduction would be a step in the right direction. You may recall in recent elections that fielding enough candidates to fill the open seats almost didn't happen. We have even seen a recent election where four candidates signed up for four seats and two of the "appointees" would not accept the position. The hours are longer than they should be and the wage is certainly meager. That is known by all candidates, but when your throw in a dose of personal attacks and baseless accusations, these jobs are hardly appealing. Much of this is internal wrangling between "too many chefs in the kitchen" in my opinion. Running unopposed was at the least confounding, but after 18 months I am beginning to understand better.
We have two wonderful and capable clerks and the time saved serving three or four, not seven councilmembers, could be better utilized in the administration of the people's business. The mayor is charged with being the CEO of the city and the chief administrative officer, but from time to time and administration to administration, much energy and time is wasted on "who's the boss" or "who's got the power", which is truly sad. Jim's points are both thoughtful and an accurate portrayal from the inside. I've heard time and again, "If we cut the number, who will do the work?" The answer is simple. The employees and those selected as contractors and vendors. Think of it as a business and it starts to make sense.
The "good 'ol days" have changed and the way we must conduct our affairs has changed with the times. Jesse Smith, God rest his soul, was a one of a kind public servant, who felt compelled to actually do the work in addition to leading. It is unrealistic to think we will ever have such a dedicated and skilled "volunteer" serving in elected office again. It can no longer be expected of your elected officials to do both tasks anyone. I would like to see a question on the ballot in November asking the voters if they support a restructuring of our city government. What do you think?
In closing, let me say that I am proud to be your mayor and sincerely believe that we are making progress. We can do better and need to explore our options. We are truly blessed to live in such a great town. Get involved, volunteer as you are able, and consider a run for elected office. We need fresh faces and ideas! Your mayor, Jim Wright
From DAMP (as a Guest Editor submission to the old site and entered for DAMP in the transition to the new site):
Hello Jim (Still), I want to give you an example why Mountain Park needs to make some changes and I appreciate you giving me this opportunity. Having unqualified council members responsible to do a job that they are not qualified to do is expensive and affects our quality of life.
Years ago when Mountain Park was paving the unpaved streets, I asked the council member over roads (a person who I really like), why they did not install storm drain pipe before paving the streets. I did not get an answer but the expression I got was that they did not think of it. Storm drain pipe is inexpensive. Rip rapping road drainage ditches; which would not have been necessary if we had the pipes, is expensive in labor and materials. This one mistake is for the duration of Mountain Park especially now, since we have more utilities under the paved roads and in right of ways. It would be difficult to install the pipes now. The problem is extensive and there are numerous locations that storm drain pipes should have been installed.
Storm drain pipe would have reduced the erosion into the lakes and we would have had the opportunity to extend the pipes all the way to the lakes which would have reduced erosion. If there was ever a siltation litigation concerning the lakes, a qualified expert witness for the developer may observe this.
My intent is to be constructive and I hope that I am not being offensive to anyone. The problem is not a person, it is how the city is set up to be managed. A politician, council member or mayor is not expected to know roads and drainage work. Believe me when I say that these mistakes are rare to see, even rural and impoverished communities. Don't get the wrong idea though, I don't expect changes and I do expect the same type mistakes to be repeated. Is the city council much different from home owners association?
Is there a list of who's council seat is up for grabs come November? Are there, in fact, two seats coming available? I would like to approch some unsuspecting souls and try to convince them to run for office as I believe it IS time for a change. And while we're discussing changing things, maybe there would be more people willing to participate in the process if the term of office wasn't so dang long...4 years is a long time. Is that something that could be changed?
I think one of the main sources of frustration from a community standpoint (at least what I've heard on the street) is the lack of communication FROM the city government TO its citizens. I agree with WJ 100%. The battle cry of "come to the meetings" or "look on the website" just isn't cutting it. The official city website is fairly useless if you want to find out what happened at the last city council meeting because the minutes take so long to be posted.
As JM States, there is a need for more communication with the public. If we can restructure the current roles and number of city council then we have more time to have regular "town hall" meetings. This would allow the citizens to come and discuss concerns without being limited to the 1-5 minutes you get in council meetings. Then it would be more obvious what the people of this community consider to be the most important since it would be the councils turn to listen. In the mean time we continue to miss critical deadlines and pay late fees because we don't have one responsible person making sure these things are getting done. Individual elected officials demand to have final say on paying bills but aren't able to get them paid on time. We have State entities that, after granting us numerous extensions, are about to start charging the city (citizens) $50,000.00 a day for failure to comply. I voted for the tax increase for three reasons: 1) we need to be putting aside more funds for future infrastructure upkeep 2) preservation of our lakes 3)and to also offset the cost of our inefficiencies. But that is all part of public record in city hall so anyone can see for themselves how much of your tax money is spent unnecessarily. As for me, I have no desire to run for office again in November and be apart of what I consider to be a truly inefficient means to an end (no pun intended). Jim Still Jim Still
I felt like a few alternative structures for the city should be suggested even though this is not my field of expertise.
1) We need an employee as a part time qualified City Manager that reports to the City Council. He or she should be experienced to handle the daily activities for the city. Finding one and being able to afford one would be the real challenge. I say part time because I question both the expense and necessity involved for a City of this size to have a full time City Manager.
2) We need two council members and a mayor that votes. -or- Three council members with a mayor that does not vote but he or she has veto power.
3) Also, we need to change the City Charter where the millage rate can only be increased by a referendum to the citizens.
I appreciate JS for being straight forward and honest.
Registered Member #59 Joined: Tue Aug 02 2005, 09:02PM {LOCATION}Posts: 100
Folks. I'm proud that we raised our taxes so that we can stand up to those who continue to pollute our lakes. Having fished here nearly 50 years Mountain Park is as precious to me as to anyone. To the mayor and council I say thank you for leading. Even if we lose we fight the good fight. Everyone should go to MountainParkWatershed.org and see the images of what has been happening. I hope we spank those developer creeps Hard! Grandma's Kid
JS, tell us more about the potential $50,000.00 a day charge. What's the history? What is the city not paying that can incur that kind of a late fee? What is being done to comply and avoid the charge?
Time for a Change, An Opinion
