Charles Shiflett Column July 24, 2005

Sticking My Neck Out

Last week I wrote about how the old social, geographic, and political fault lines here in Bartow County
were keeping us from realizing our potential. I also highlighted how our neighbors to the west in Floyd
County have upstaged us in several areas recently. Today's column will be seen as controversial by
many as I propose some things we can do to improve the quality and efficiency of government in
Bartow.

Before you start firing off nasty e-mails… understand this is not some grand blueprint for change. This
column is only meant to raise issues for discussion. Changes of this magnitude don't happen
overnight, but if we're serious about being a leader in northwest Georgia we must at least begin the
process of studying the impact of suggestions like these.

For some time, officials in Rome, Cave Spring, and Floyd County have been discussing the possibility
of merging all these entities into one consolidated government. From all accounts, Floyd's leaders are
serious about putting a blueprint together and placing it before the voters for approval. They've already
spent considerable dollars funding various studies on consolidation.

Combining a county government with all of its municipalities into one entity is a trend gaining
momentum here in Georgia. In recent years Augusta merged with Richmond County, as did Athens
with Clark County, and Columbus with Muscogee County. Due to the many potential benefits, several
other counties are beginning to look at this option.

Here in Bartow County there are only so many property tax and sales tax dollars to fund our local
governments and the needs of our citizens. The two easiest ways to improve service and ease the
financial strain we face are through merging overlapping services and/or through privatization.

Adairsville has taken the lead by successfully privatizing its sanitation department and also merging
its fire department into the county's. There are also several areas where Cartersville and Bartow work
together… but we could do so much more.

With the annexation and rezoning of the property that will make up the new Carter Grove development,
Cartersville now stretches from the Paulding County line to White, Cassville, and Euharlee. Police and
fire jurisdictions overlap in many areas and cause confusion for citizens and government.

Cartersville recently opened a new fire station on Peeples Valley Road around the corner from the
main county fire department. Wouldn't it make more sense to consolidate fire protection countywide?
One fire chief, one administrative staff, a better assortment of firefighting equipment strategically
placed around the county, and lower expenses.

Sheriff Millsap does a good job with the limited resources at his disposal, but there is no way county
deputies can provide the level of traffic enforcement needed on our increasingly busy county roads.
Wouldn't it make more sense to combine all of the various city police departments into one
countywide police force?

This consolidated department could handle normal police functions and traffic enforcement, freeing up
the sheriff's department to concentrate on operating the jail, serving warrants, and handling judicial
matters. Of course both entities could work jointly on investigations and other issues.

Providing water to its citizens is a way for cities to make money. Kingston officials have made no
secret of this as they pour more dollars into drilling yet another well instead of allowing the county to
provide water service. The city of White has also seen its share of drilling over the years.

Bartow County already purchases a significant amount of its drinking water from Cartersville. Why not
combine all the various water and sewer departments into one efficient countywide system?

Of course the real solution might be to consolidate Bartow County and all of its cities into one
consolidated government. That would mean a lot of mayors, city councilmen, and department heads
would have to give up their fiefdoms… but look at the possible increased level of service that could be
provided plus the potential savings to taxpayers.

Rome and Floyd County understand this and they are several steps ahead of us. The one thing
preventing them from making consolidation a reality is that like us, they have two school systems.
Under current state law if a county and its cities form a consolidated government, then the school
systems must also merge.

If the schools have to merge, Floyd and Rome officials fear voters would turn down any consolidation
initiative. They aren't giving up however and have pledged to continue funding all consolidation studies.
Additionally, officials are currently looking at the possibility of local legislation or a change in statewide
law allowing them to merge without affecting the school systems, though this might be a tough sell for
the U.S. Department of Justice due to the huge imbalance in minority student populations between the
two systems.

Some officials believe that once citizens see how much better and more efficient the consolidated
city/county government is, it would only be a matter of time until citizens would also support the
merger of the school systems.

Bartow County Commissioner Clarence Brown has indicated he will retire at the end of his term, which
expires December 31, 2008. The timing is perfect for us to collectively begin the process of visualizing
the future of local government here.

Perhaps adopting a multi-member county commission would be a good intermediary step. Perhaps
beginning the process of studying consolidation would be even more valuable. Perhaps Bartow County
might take the lead while Floyd stumbles over the school issue… perhaps?