Newspaper Page Text
6A
♦ WEDNESDAY, JULY », 2008
SHELTER
From page iA
Councilman John Havrilla
- and that a reasonable
request added Mayor Donald
Walker - that the wording in
the last line be changed.
It read: “And, be it fur
ther resolved that the City
of Warner Robins supports
working with the other
jurisdictions in Houston
County to share the costs of
purchasing and maintaining
a hazardous weather emer
gency notification system to
protect the lives of Houston
County residents.”
The change is the word
“evaluate” has been substi
tuted for the word “share”
VINCENT
From page iA
trustworthy, good humanitar
ian.
Stand by my word. I am a
strong believer in getting the
people of the county involved
in the decisions that affect
their lives, and the taxes that
they pay to support govern
ment services.
Why should residents vote
for you?
I want to make a difference
in our county. Since I am
retired, I have the time avail
able to dedicate toward being
an active Commissioner.
WITTENBERG
From page iA
solicit as much information as
possible to reach an educated
decision.
My graduate education in
( üblic administration, political
science and economics provide
much needed insight into the
practical everyday challenges
that come before public ser
vants.
I have more than 30 years
supervisory and manage
rial experience which should
enable me to understand
the challenges facing county
supervisors and department
heads.
Why should residents vote
for you?
The most fundamental
reason citizens should vote
for me is my sincere desire to
provide our residents with a
better quality of life. I consider
it a sacred trust to faithfully and
truthfully represent the best
interests of all citizens without
regard to any special interests.
Name one-three issues you
believe should take top prior
ty in the county:
The most important chal
lenge is the need to diver
ify our county's economy.
lening our industrial base
enhances the economic viabil
ity of our existing commercial
enterprises by providing more
customers for their products
and services. Ideally the new
industries should not depend
on the future of Robins AFB for
their continued viability.
Second in importance is the
necessity to address quality
of life issues. Admittedly, this
covers a wide range of topics.
Among those to be considered
are recreational opportunities
for all our citizens including
parks with walking and bicycle
trails, picnic areas and green
space preservation. Since our
citizens are served by nine
local colleges and universities I
believe we must provide great
er access to our libraries.
Third, we must provide great
er code enforcement tools to
protect the environment from
inadvertent destruction caused
in part by commercial and resi
dential development.
Where do you stand on ait:
all-county siren system?
I strongly support a weather
warning system for the county.
However, I am concerned
whether the siren system cur
rently proposed is the correct
solution. Another thought
on the subject is whether the
commission has visited cities
or counties with such systems
in place to determine their
effectiveness and what is the
nature of research that they
have done. I have researched
the subject on the internet and
the constant theme regarding
weather siren systems is that
their primary purpose is to alert
citizens outside at the time of
an incident or citizens in high
traffic areas such as a mall or
as in “evaluate the costs.”
“When you think of share,
you think of cutting up,”
explained Havrilla. “And I
just don’t think we’re ready
to talk about how we’re
going to share costs.”
There was some still some
discussion about it, however,
leading up to his statement.
Sanders said the county
was going to look into using
insurance premiums as a
way to pay for it but the idea
that caught on most with
the council was something
similar to 911 fees.
“So that a $1 amount
could be tied into 911 some
way,” said Councilman
Terry Horton. “That way it
impacts everyone (through
out) the same way. Have we
Name one-three issues you
believe should take top pri
ority in the county:
The issues as I see them are
roads, education, taxes, and
long range planning.
All of these must be
addressed for proper growth.
Future budgets must consider
them all. Consolidation of gov
ernment services should also
be a top priority.
Where do you stand on an
all-county siren system?
The all-county siren system is
a must in our county. It needs
to be taken care of to protect
our businesses and community
from disaster as soon as pos-
outdoor stadium. The reason
for that is with currently well
insulated housing residents
indoors will not necessarily
hear the sirens. Also, weather
conditions such as high winds,
thunder or heavy rain limit
their effectiveness. Perhaps,
there are better alternatives
which might be revealed after
thorough research. I believe
more research may need to be
completed before we invest
our tax dollars on a plan that
may not be effective and cer
tainly not on a system that
does not provide coverage for
all our citizens.
I do question the proposal
that Flint Energies shut off
power to everyone's home in
order that people might hear
the sirens. What is the impact
of having no power so citizens
could be informed, via radio or
television, of any changing sta
tus regarding the emergency?
What is the assurance that
once power is shut off that it
can immediately be restored?
I would suggest a test of that
contingency be made before
relying upon it in an emergen
cy situation.
Where do you stand on a
joint venture between the
City of WR, City of Centerville
and the county on an animal
shelter?
I support the creation of
an animal shelter that serves
all the county's citizens. The
shelter being used in Warner
Robins uses a grandfathered
method of eliminating
unclaimed animals that is cur
rently banned by state legisla
tion. We must provide humane
treatment for those who can
not speak for themselves.
As Warner Robins has
changed the original agree
ment with the county, I cannot
state an opinion regarding any
new and, as yet, unstated pro
posal. I do support an animal
shelter that serves the entire
county and provides humane
treatment to those it would
serve.
The fact that Perry has
decided to provide a shelter to
serve its citizens speaks well of
the city government's desire
to address the needs of their
residents.
Where do you stand on
Vision 2020?
I support the concept of an
informal body composed of
representatives of our three
cities and the county as a
means of coordinating efforts
to address and serve the needs
of our citizens. I would not
support giving Vision 20/20
legislative or taxing authority
as the members are not subject
to separate election by our
citizens.
Where do you stand on
impact fees?
I do not believe that Impact
Fees are presently needed for
our county. However, I believe
that Impact Fees should be
given consideration at some
future time if necessary to
looked at the possibility of
doing this?”
Added Councilman Clifford
Holmes: “My only concern,”
he said. “And I’m in favor
of some kind of notifica
tion system. Let me make
myself clear in that. (But)
I’m opposed to it being the
City of Warner Robins’ proj
ect. Even though Centerville
and Perry is in this, this to
me is a county project.
“I don’t like idea of the city
(of Warner Robins) carrying
the burden simply because
of population. So if we tied
it to 911 or something like
that where everybody in
the county contributes, that
is something I could get
behind.”
Sanders - he thought he
sible.
Where do you stand on a
joint venture between the
city of Warner Robins, city of
Centerville, and the county
animal shelter?
Houston County needs a
joint animal shelter with all cit
ies participating. This would
help everyone in the county
with the animal control prob
lem and share in the expense
of a new shelter.
Where do you stand on
Vision 2020?
The Vision 2020 is a good
look at what direction the
county is focusing on.
However, it needs to be
provide infrastructure needs
caused by our continual
growth. Since we have deter
mined not to consider Impact
Fees in the past, would we also
decide not to consider SPLOST
or increase in property taxes as
a means to address future con
tingencies? I would hope not.
It is necessary to have all tools'
at our disposal as we consider
how best to fulfill our obliga
tions to the county's citizens.
The Georgia General
Assembly provided Impact
Fees to cities and counties
recognizing the possibility that
development might exceed a
government's ability to pro
vide through taxation capital
improvements needed to sup
port population growth. Future
circumstances often exceed our
ability to control events and
it would be unwise and fool
hardy not to consider all tools
available to meet the county's
needs as quickly and equitably
as possible.
Where do you stand on
construction/development at
the south end of the county?
The south end of our county
offers enormous opportunity
for future growth. Indeed, we
should expect industrial devel
opment and further residential
growth in the area.
To plan for expansion of
either residential or industrial
development we must begin
the provision of county or city
water to those areas.
I will work to ensure that
development is aided by the
county and not discouraged.
As the same time, we need to
proceed with the intention of
protecting the interests of all
citizens.
Where do you stand on
taxes?
Taxes are a necessity of life.
They are means by which we
pay for the public goods and
services needed by our people.
IF IT AIN'T BROKE , DON’T FIX IT!
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was going to get to answers
questions regarding the
siren system and he was
right - basically summed it
all up in a “we’ve got to
walk before we can crawl”
fashion.
“We can talk about that,”
he said. “We’ve not gotten
into that. We can explore
whatever we think we can
present to the public and
see if the public will support
us. If we put it into a refer
endum, I believe the public
would support it.
“That’s (getting every
body on board and getting
a preliminary analysis done
is) where we are now.”
As far as the animal shelter,
the decision to offer to bring
the county and Centerville
revised annually. Plans should
be changed as situations and
issues change. Consolidation
of city and county government
must be a viable part of any
plan since consolidation would
save tax payers dollars.
Where do you stand on the
impact fees?
I am not a strong supporter
for the impact fees. I would,
however, support putting it to
a referendum for the people of
Houston County to decide. I
am a firm believer in govern
ment of, for, and by the people.
Where do you stand on
construction/development at
the south end of the county?
Among these goods and ser
vices are roadways, bridges,
libraries, schools, police and
fire protection, emergency
management facilities, hospi
tals, animal shelters and many,
many more.
I consider the handling of
public funds a responsibility
not to be taken lightly. I will
strive to make certain all public
funds are wisely spent and sup
port the needs and desires of
the people I serve.
I will not vote to impose
increases in taxation without
the absolute necessity to do
so or failure to consider other
alternatives such as cutting
spending.
Other (awards won, major
accomplishments or recogni
tion):
David Wittenberg
Houston County Commissioner Post 3
Republican Party Primary
July 1 5, 2008
INDUSTRY: / pledge to work tirelessly to secure new industry for our county.
Houston County must secure new industry, not dependent upon Robins AFB,
to provide quality jobs that guarantee a promising future.
TAXES: / pledge that every dollar spent by the county will be justified
and prioritized. Over one 5 year period the county’s tax base increased
59 percent. Incredibly the County spent all the new tax dollars while raising
your property taxes twice.
OITAI.ITY OF LIFE: I pledge to work to provide our citizens a network
of parks to include areas enjoyable by all our citizens with features such
as bicycle paths and walking trails. Our County has willfully neglected this
important aspect of our culture, quality of life and well-being.
THE ENVIRONMENT: As development occurs / pledge to work to prevent
damage to our environment and citizens ’ property.
The county has failed in its responsibility to protect the private property right
of citizens. That failure has led to residents’ private ponds being polluted
and their yards flooded.
EQUITY: I pledge that no citizen will be shown preferential treatment over
another. All citizens deserve and can expect equal treatment and respect
under the laws and regulations of the county.
Together, we will do better!
back into the building pro
cess was a lengthy discus
sion as well with concerns
expressed over manpower,
responsibilities, on up to dol
lar amounts.
The decision to re-look it
came via a request letter to
the mayor from Sanders to
that regard, and as a cour
tesy to him. Again, he didn’t
know it was on the agenda
as his letter was dated June
3. (And he said afterwards
he didn’t know.) A follow
up letter from Councilman
John Williams seconding
that after looking at the
numbers again was also sent
to the mayor.
Again, following lengthy
discussion, the council voted
to offer to bring the ’coun-
All development must be
properly planned. I am a firm
believer in joint participation
in planning - city, county, busi
nesses, and citizens should
be involved. Infrastructure to
support development must be
planned in advance. Future
budgets must consider pro
jected growth and the support
required (from county and city
governments) for that growth.
A combined planning effort
is required to insure growth
needs are met.
Where do you stand on
taxes?'
Taxes must be as reasonable
as possible. Consolidation of
government functions, when
✓ While serving more
than 21 years in the Air Force
I was awarded 3 Air Force
Commendation Awards for
meritorious service and five
Air Force Outstanding Unit
Awards. I am most proud of
having been selected as Honor
Graduate of the Air Force
Communications Command's
NCO Academy.
Other (awards won, major
accomplishments or recogni
tion):
✓ During more than 22
years of federal civilian service,
I was awarded multiple Quality
Step Increases and Sustained
Superior Performance awards
in recognition of outstanding
performance.
Other (awards won, major
accomplishments or recogni
tion):
Paid for by Wittenberg for Commissioner
HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL
ty and Centerville - along
with the $260,000 ($200,000
for the county and SSO for
Centerville) previously
offered by them to increase
the size of the facility by
2,000 feet - back on board.
The deal, of course, still
has to be approved by
Centerville and the coun
ty’s board members. And,
it would also require them,
once it’s up and running,
to pay $45 for any animal
picked up as well as the
cost (an estimated figure of
$11.50 was used) “if” they
had to undergo euthanasia.
Note: For more on Warner
Robins’ City Council meet
ing, see Saturday’s Houston
Home Journal.
properly planned, provide the
most efficient use of tax dollars
for total county residents.
Other (awards won, major
accomplishments or recogni
tion):
* "Make Georgia A Shining
Example"
</ "Rebuilding of Georgia
Dome" presented by Governor
George Bush
</ State Vice President of
Georgia Vice President
✓ Vietnam Veteran
v Retired, 38 years Robins
Air Force Base
* Chairman of "Wild Game
Dinner" for 18 years
* Board member of Miss
Warner Robins Pageant
•e I have earned a Masters
of Public Administration from
Georgia College.
Other (awards won, major
accomplishments or recogni
tion):
</ I have been honored
to have served two terms as
President of the Georgia Horse
Council, appointed to serve
on the Georgia Agriculture
Commissioner's Equine
Advisory Board, and served
as a President of the Better
Management Association
Group H at Robins AFB.
Other (awards won, major
accomplishments or recogni
tion):
</ I am pleased to currently
serve our county's Red Cross
chapter as a member of the
Disaster Assessment Team and
as a Fire Team Captain.
I Having known Cullen
I Talton for more than
I 50 years, first as a
I young man working
I with his father at
[ Bonaire General Store
I then going to school
I with him at Bonaire
I School, he was my
I County Commissioner
I then, Sheriff for 36
I years. I've had many
I dealings with him and
I if anybody knows him,
I DO!
Howard & Rachel Wooden ask our
friends to vote and support Cullen.
Cullen is able, willing and ready to
be our Sheriff for four more years.
If It Aint Broke,
Don't Fix It.
Any Change
That Needs To Be
Made, Our Sheriff
CAN DO IT!
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