Charles Shiflett Column June 6, 2004

Bartow's Growing Pains

The issue of RASZ and Toyo Tire has been beaten to death, so I won't go there today. But that
controversy has raised a plethora of growth related issues facing Bartow County and it's municipalities
- and I'm not sure local residents are prepared for what's to come. We can already see our local
governments strain under the weight they're being asked to shoulder.

• Schools: A new home doesn't come close to generating property taxes sufficient to cover the costs
of educating the children from that home. Donations of land from developers near their planned
communities are nice, but not enough. Two choices: Higher property tax rates or significant increases
in commercial and industrial development to increase the underlying property tax base - which creates
a demand for additional workers and housing. This is an endless cycle that looks a lot like Gwinnett
County.

• Law Enforcement: There is no way the Bartow Sheriff's Department can adequately cover the county
with its current level of staffing. We are also in desperate need of countywide traffic enforcement -
which has not been a primary duty of the Sheriff in the past. Many neighboring counties have a county
police force in addition to the sheriff's department. Solution? More money for law enforcement.

• Infrastructure: More people means more expensive water, sewer, and traffic improvements. A number
of major road improvement projects are on the way, but will fall far short of what is needed to alleviate
local traffic congestion. Of course more recreation, maintenance, administrative, and judicial facilities
will also be required along with personnel. Again, more money will be needed.

• Water and Air: If we already face water restrictions with a metro Atlanta population of 4 million, what
do we do in twenty years when the population hits 6 million? Bartow County is also now part of the
metro non-attainment area for poor air quality. Like it or not, emissions testing for automobiles and
other air pollution restrictions are headed our way.

• Ordinances: Packing more people closer together means more of an opportunity for conflict and
disagreement. Some will call for more restrictive sign, noise, nuisance, and junk ordinances. Of course
the battles over rezonings will never cease. A farmer who has lived in peace for decades may suddenly
find himself under attack from residents of new subdivisions nearby who object to early morning tractor
noise or the smells from farm animals.

With Bartow's population rapidly headed toward 100,000 residents - urban, suburban, and rural
property owners are on a collision course over issues such as noise, sight, and smell which until now
only bubbled under the surface.

The opening round occurred a couple of years ago when residents near Barnsley Gardens opposed the
approval of a gun range at the resort. I can't blame them… I firmly support gun ownership, but regular
gunfire so close that nearby homeowners hear it indoors shouldn't be allowed. Nothing is more sacred
than being able to enjoy peace and quiet at one's own home.

As a child, our next-door neighbor worked second shift. Knowing his neighbors were probably asleep
when he came home, he quietly pulled his car into the driveway and gently closed the door - never
bothering a soul. Now, around midnight five nights a week, the thumping bass of a high-powered car
stereo can be picked up over a mile before the vehicle even reaches our neighborhood as a second-
shift worker passes by on his way home. No consideration of the people he's bothering and no county
noise ordinance residents can turn to for help.

With a larger number of transients regularly moving in and out of the county, good neighbors are
becoming more rare - and it unfortunately looks like additional local laws and ordinances are going to
be required and with them another layer of bureaucracy and expense. The Golden Rule would be much
simpler and cheaper.

No, I don't think we're ready for all the trappings and expense that comes with rapid growth. Some
folks may decide to move on to quieter places, but there are countless others ready to move here and
take their places - many of them looking to escape the noise and congestion of nearby metro
counties. Unfortunately, they are bringing with them what they so desperately want to get away from.