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BARROW JOURNAL
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2011
A history...
Election 2011
Evolution of Barrow’s government
By Susan Norman
snorman@barmwjournal.com
Barrow County was established 97 years
ago with the passage of a 1914 act of Georgia
General Assembly.
Almost a quarter-century later, the leg
islature created a three-member “Board of
Commissioners of Roads and Revenues of the
County of Barrow” that was given broad and
exclusive powers.
Over the next five decades, the board’s
name changed, and it grew to its current
makeup of six district commissioners and a
chairman.
But it wasn’t until 1973 that the chairman's
position became full time, and at that point
he had the same voting power as any other
commissioner.
The chairman’s power began increasing in
1976 with a legislative act that stated that if
the chairman were to vote against a matter, a
matter would pass only if all three of the other
commissioners voted for it.
The major power shift to a “strong chair
man” form of government occurred in 1988.
With that legislative act, the three district
seats doubled to six, but the power of the dis
trict commissioners was diluted.
While the next elected chairman in 1989
lost his right to make motions and to vote on
anything other than in the case of a tie, he
obtained a new power in which he could veto
any board action.
He also was designated in the 1988 act as
the person who would direct and control the
administration of the government, and he was
given the authority to appoint all members
and chairmen of every board committee.
With such fundamental changes, the chair
man was given control not only of the opera
tion of the county government but also board
policy through the veto. That veto power
would prove difficult to overcome, because a
successful override would require the votes of
not just a four-vote majority of the six com
missioners, but a five-vote majority.
PROPOSED CHANGE
WOULD SHIFT POWER
The proposed change to a “county man
ager” form of government will go before
voters on Nov. 8.
Based on copies of the legislative acts over
the century, it appears to be the first voter ref
erendum to be held by the county government
on any proposed change since 1937.
The new proposal, which has been approved
by the general assembly pending the outcome
of the upcoming referendum, would become
effective at the start of the next chairman’s
term of office in January 2013.
It would restore the chairman’s ability to
make motions and to vote on all matters,
which he could do until 1989.
He also would continue to have the power
to call extra meetings of the BOC, to preside
at meetings, to represent the government at
ceremonial functions, and to perform other
duties delegated to him by the board of com
missioners.
But the chairman’s position would become
part time, his salary would be reduced to
$25,000, and the operation of the county
government would become the day-to-day
responsibility instead of a county manager.
The county manager would serve “at the
direction, supervision and pleasure of the
board of commissioners” and have all of the
powers not otherwise granted to the board and
chairman.
Most significantly, the county manager
would “supervise, direct and control the day-
to-day activities and business operations of
the county government.”
He would have the power to hire, supervise
and fire all employees serving under the BOC
other than department directors. He could rec
ommend the termination of a director, but the
BOC would make the final decision.
The proposed change also would eliminate
the chairman’s veto power and decrease to
four the number of commissioners, including
the chairman, who would constitute a quorum
for conducting county business.
However, at any meeting where only four
commissioners are present, an affirmative
action would require the unanimous approval
of all four in attendance.
EVOLUTION OF BARROW
COUNTY’S GOVERNMENT
Barrow County’s legislated powers have
been changed nine times since the county
was created by the general assembly in 1914.
Below is a summary of those changes.
1914: By an act of the Georgia General
Assembly, Barrow County was created and
Winder was established as the county “site.”
The act called for the first county election
to be held in January 1915 to elect an “ordi
nary,” a clerk of the Superior Court, a sheriff,
a coroner, a tax collector, a tax receiver, a
county surveyor and a county treasurer. An
ordinary at that time was similar to a probate
judge.
1937: This act called for an April 14 county
referendum on whether to create a governing
body called the “Board of Commissioners
of Roads and Revenues of the County of
Barrow.” The board was to have three elected
commissioners “of business qualities and
experience” and each was to be paid $4 per
day of service for up to 36 days per year — a
maximum of $144 per year.
Two commissioners constituted a quorum,
and the chairman had a vote on all matters.
The BOC had “exclusive jurisdiction and
control” over all county property, taxation,
purchasing, hiring of employees, and the pro
vision of services for the poor and for public
health — as well as other powers “granted
by law or as indispensible to their jurisdic
tion over all county matters and all county
finances.” The board was to be the purchas
ing agent for the county, and competitive bids
were to be required for all purchases of more
than $300.
The legislature also appointed the clerk of
the ordinary as the clerk to the BOC, with the
pay set at $75 per month, and authorized the
board to hire a county attorney for no more
than $25 per month. The clerk was to provide
the board with a monthly financial statement
and to provide the ordinary and the county’s
grand jury with an annual sworn financial
statement. The public was to have access to
all financial records.
1973: This act made the chairman’s posi
tion full time and raised the position’s annual
salary to $12,000. Compensation for the other
commissioners was raised to $200 per month.
The board’s clerk was to be paid $3,800-
$4,800, and additional clerical help could be
paid $600 per year. The act authorized the
board to retain an outside attorney for $1,200
annually. It also raised to $500 the threshold
for purchases that had to be bid out.
1976: This act established a four-member
board of commissioners. The chairman and
the three district commissioners were to be
elected countywide. They also were to be
allowed reimbursement for “necessary and
actual expenses in the execution of their
duties.” The quorum was raised to three
members, and three votes were required for
passage. The chairman was to preside at all
board meetings and to have a vote on all
measures. The act increased his power by
stating “if the chairman shall nay on any order
or subject matter, it shall take an affirmative
vote of three members to pass the said order
or matter.” The BOC continued to have the
authority to approve all purchases, and the
chairman and clerk were authorized to sign
the checks. However, if the chairman refused
to sign a check authorized by the board, the
other three commissioners were authorized
to sign the check. The act also created the
position of chairman pro tempore who would
preside at all meetings where the chairman
was absent.
1978: This act removed an earlier conflict-
of-interest provision that had prohibited the
county from doing business with a company
connected to a board member. It raised the
chairman’s annual pay to $15,000 and created
for every commissioner a per-diem payment
of $25 for up to three days per month - or 36
days per year - for each day of service other
than the mandatory monthly meeting of the
board. This act also established the county’s
fiscal year as starting on Oct. 1 and ending on
the following Sept. 30.
1979: This act allowed the county to pay
employees more frequently than once per
month.
1981: This act doubled to six the number
of days per month for which the chairman
and commissioners could be paid $25 per day
for service, not counting the regular monthly
meeting day each month.
1984: This act upped the compensation of
the full-time chairman to the “minimum annu
al salary to which the clerk of the Superior
Court of Barrow County is entitled...” The
new compensation method was to take effect
on Jan. 1, 1985.
1986: This act changed the compensation
for the board clerk, who then could be paid
“at an amount determined by the board.” The
act continued to set at three the quorum for
a meeting. It also introduced the practice of
the board designating other county officials
to make purchases at an established spending
level, and it raised to $1,000 the threshold for
requiring competitive bids.
1988: This act fundamentally altered the
balance of power on the board of commis
sioners. It created a board of six district com
missioners who would be elected by district
voters, and a chairman who would be elected
at large. It created a “strong chairman” form
of government, stating the chairman would
(1) preside at all meetings of the board but
not vote except to break a tie; (2) appoint all
members and chairmen of all committees of
the board; (3) be recognized as the official
head of Barrow County by state, federal and
other authorities for military and ceremonial
functions; (4) veto, approve or fail to approve
resolutions of the board; (5) be the chief exec
utive officer of Barrow County with authority
and responsibility to implement actions of
the board and generally to supervise, direct,
control and provide for the administration of
the affairs of Barrow County. The veto could
be overridden only by the votes of five of the
six district commissioners, and the quorum
for conducting business meetings was set at
four commissioners plus the chairman.
Early voting numbers remain sluggish
By Susan Norman
snorman @ barrowjournal. com
Early voting in the Nov. 8 county and
municipal elections has been sluggish, with
just 361 votes cast from Oct. 17 through 3 p.m.
Tuesday. Oct. 25.
Those votes were cast in either the county
special election or the municipal elections for
Auburn, Bethlehem or Winder.
Barrow County’s interim elections supervi
sor Monica Franklin said calls did pick up
significantly after how-to voting instructions
posted online Tuesday at www.barrowjournal.
com.
“The phones have been ringing off the
hook,” Franklin said. “People are checking
where they go to vote, and they are request
ing absentee ballot applications. So the phone
activity has been greater. I know a lot of them
said they read the Journal online.”
As of the newspaper’s print-edition deadline
on Wednesday, local voters had seven business
days left to vote early either in person at the
county elections office or by requesting an
absentee ballot.
The county elections office does not have a
website, and the regular county website has not
been updated for some time. So below are the
basic voting instructions, which Franklin has
confirmed are accurate.
HOW TO VOTE NOV. 8
No matter where you live in Barrow County,
you can vote in the countywide special elec
tion in the following ways:
•VOTE EARLY; Go in person to the Barrow
County Board of Elections & Registration
Office at 233 E. Broad St. from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
any weekday between now and Nov. 4. An
early voting location has been set up inside a
training room nearby. Follow the signs.
•VOTE ABSENTEE: Request an absen
tee ballot from the Barrow County Board of
Elections & Registration by calling 770-307-
3110. The ballot will be sent to you by mail.
You must request it no later than 5 p.m. Friday,
Nov. 4, and the elections office must receive it
before the polls close on Tuesday, Nov. 8. If
you bring your absentee ballot to the office,
you must bring it yourself.
•VOTE ON ELECTION DAY: Election Day
is Nov. 8.
Go to your regular county polling place. If
you do not know where that is, you can find
out by calling the county elections office at
770-307-3110 or by going online at http://
sos.georgia.gov/MVP/ and fill in the form
that requires your name, county and birthdate.
When you fill in the form and hit “Submit”,
the website will provide your county polling
place.
• RESIDENTS OF AUBURN, BETHLEHEM
AND WINDER: Some Auburn and Winder
voters will vote in one place for their city’s
municipal elections and another place for the
countywide special election. If you reside in
Auburn or Winder, you should have a new pre
cinct card that was sent to you in September.
That card tells you where you are to vote in
both the city and county elections. If you have
lost your new precinct card, call the county
elections office at 770-307-3110 for assistance.
There is only one voting precinct (community
center) in Bethlehem.
•RESIDENTS OF BRASELTON AND
STATHAM: Braselton and Statham conduct
their own municipal elections. If you have
questions, call city hall. Vote early in the
county election by going to the county elec
tions office, or by requesting an absentee bal
lot. Or vote on Nov. 8 at your regular county
polling place.
•RESIDENTS OF CARL: The Town of Carl
will not have a municipal election on Nov. 8,
because there are no contested races. But you
can vote in the countywide special election by
going to your regular county polling location.
•RESIDENTS OF UNINCORPORATED
BARROW COUNTY: You will not vote in a
municipal election, but you may vote in the
countywide referendum by voting early at
the county elections office, by requesting an
absentee ballot from the elections office, or by
going to your regular polling place on Nov. 8.
Remember these deadlines:
•Nov. 4 is the deadline for voting early at
the county elections office. The hours are 8
a.m.-5 p.m.
• Nov. 4 is the deadline for requesting an
absentee ballot.
• Nov. 8 is the deadline for returning absen
tee ballots.
• Nov. 8 is Election Day. Polls in all elec
tions are open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
Auburn City Council to consider using
itself as contractor for renovation work
By Katie Cofer
kcofer@ barrowjournal. com
The Auburn City Council discussed plans last
week to complete the renovation and construc
tion on the R and R Building at 16 College
Street. Braselton architect Ben M. Carter with
Carter, Watkins and Associates, the firm that
will be handling the project, recommended
Thursday to council that the city be its own
general contractor and bid out a portion of the
jobs on the project.
The city has offered to pay Carter, Watkins
and Associates $23,650 for its services, which
does not include the use of consulting engi
neers for mechanical, electrical and a sche
matic design. The fee only includes a schematic
design for the layout of the site and mechanical,
electrical and plumbing.
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business, the Auburn City Council
discussed:
•a 911 ordinance amendment. Police chief
Paul Nadeau recommends the council approve
a 911 charge on prepaid wireless service at the
retail point of sale. The change will impose a 75
cent charge each time a customer calls 911 from
their wireless phone.
•an update on drainage improvements at
Sue Lane. City staff recommends the council
approve the low bidder of Fortis Engineering
out of Atlanta to complete drainage improve
ments at 204 and 206 Sue Lane at a price of
$29,729.50 to be funded from the city’s storm
water enterprise fund. The costs cover labor,
materials, removal and replacement of storm
drain pipes.
•an update on a Governors Ridge stormwa
ter project. The mayor and council discussed
drainage improvements for Lots 18 and 19 for
removal of storm drain pipes and structures.
The mayor advised Public Works staff to work
out details with the property owners.
•improvements to the City of Auburn
ballfields. Parks and Leisure Director Gary
Schussler recommends council approve Gary’s
Grading and Pipeline Co. of Monroe for the
grading and construction contract for the back
half portion of the unfinished project at a price
of $143,950 to be funded through special pur
pose local option sales tax.
•a recommendation to approve a fee structure
for the use of the city’s new ballfields.
•a recommendation to purchase a mower from
Jerry Pate Turf and Irrigation out of Atlanta for
$6,142.90 and a utility vehicle from Green
South Equipment out of Dacula for $5,000 to
be funded through the parks and leisure special
events budget.
•a recommendation to alter city worker’s
medical plans to avoid a 13 percent premium
increase.
•a recommendation to adopt the 2011 Georgia
Municipal Employee retirement plan.
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