Charles Shiflett Column October 16, 2005

Which Group Do You Belong To?

We all have an opinion as to how a new multi-member county commission should be structured. What
influenced you as you looked at the issue? Did you factor in the potential impact on taxes? Who the
possible candidates for the posts might be? Past experiences in another county? How the change
would affect your business or job?

Let's look at some various groups and see what may be driving the debate. Obviously not everyone in
a particular grouping walks in lockstep, but it is easy to point out general trends.

So who would like to keep a sole commissioner method of government? Maybe you are part of the
current leadership team with Bartow County government. If so, you look at things like job security and
probably want to keep the status quo as much as possible.

The same could be said for developers who fear that slow growth candidates might gain a majority on
a new board. We've seen this growth battle swing back and forth next-door in Cherokee County. Also
lumped in this first grouping would be some whose companies do business with the county.

A third component of the “keep a sole commissioner” grouping are those who like government to be
out of sight, out of mind. A sole commissioner doesn't have to debate any issues, he or she just looks
at the facts presented and makes the call. Sometimes you like the decision and sometimes you don't,
but it is clean and efficient.

I've had a number of local business people over the past couple of years tell me they thought the sole
commissioner method had worked well, but they were growing concerned about the possibility of an
unqualified individual winning the spot down the road. They thought having a board might temper those
concerns, which brings us to group two.

The second grouping consists of those who prefer a part-time multi-member board with a countywide
elected fulltime chairman. Many of those from the first grouping also fall into this bunch. While they
like having a sole commissioner, they realize the writing is on the wall so they figure this is the next
best thing.

A fulltime chairman would direct the day-to-day operations of the county and would still retain a lot of
the powers currently held by a sole commissioner. While the multi-member board would set policy,
tax rates, and make some decisions; the chairman would still drive the show.

One need only look at DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett Counties to see similar forms of government in
operation. Under a countywide chairman plan, if the members of the board of commissioners didn't like
the way the commission chairman was handling the day-to-day activities of the county they couldn't
fire him because he would be an elected official.

This is very reminiscent of the old “elected school board against the elected superintendent” battles
that finally caused Georgia voters to change the state constitution in 1992 so that superintendents
would be appointed (hired) by the locally elected boards of education.

The third grouping includes those who want a part-time multi-member board elected by districts, with
that board electing it's own part-time chairman from among the board members. The board would then
hire a professional non-political county manager to handle the day-to-day operations of the county.
Floyd County operates under this style of government.

Individuals in this group tend to like for their government to be out in the open where all discussions
other than legal, personnel, or property purchase are there for all to see and hear. Yes it can be
messy occasionally, but at least the general public gets to see what factors are driving the decisions.

Another issue driving those in this group is many feel the far-flung reaches of the county like the
Allatoona, Adairsville, Pine Log, and Taylorsville areas would no longer be ignored, as each area of the
county would have representation on the board.

Some people in group three also fear that a sole commissioner or countywide elected fulltime
commission chairman could turn the county government and its employees into one huge political
machine… something that would be harder to do with a part-time chairman.

The temptation will be strong for representatives Graves, Lewis, and Loudermilk, and senators Heath
and Smith to let the 40-person advisory committee provide political cover on this issue. It will be easy
for the legislators to say, “Well we only did what the committee recommended.”

Many qualified people have been chosen to serve on the advisory committee, but regardless of good
intentions, important decisions in the final drafting of legislation concerning a multi-member board of
commissioners will always be tainted by politics and self-interests. That's why it's important for the five
members of Bartow County's legislative delegation to remember that regardless of what
recommendations come from the advisory committee; the final decision rests on the legislators'
shoulders.

I plan to crank out one more column on this topic looking at methods of electing the board members,
how the districts could be designed, and how the change might impact county finances. I don't have all
the answers, but I hope to get you thinking and talking about the issue.