New Dunwoody Blog!

Someone has been doing their homework!

www.theotherdunwoody.blogspot.com

Look how our local paper attacks a new councilman-elect for demanding open records and competitive bidding:

"Wittenstein prevailed with about 55 percent of the vote but not before angering many of his colleagues by suggesting in direct mail and e-mails that the new government favors “no-bid contracts and sweetheart deals for contractors.”

http://www.thecrier.net/articles/2008/09/17/front/election.txt


Look out Councilman Wittenstein! Politicians who tell the truth are vilified and persecuted in Dunwoody. If you are not careful they may accuse you of being friends with Rep. Jill Chambers.

coming soon - the Truth About Dunwoody City Candidates!

Congratulations to the cityhood proponents!

You have a lot of work to do in a short period of time.

Please let us know as soon as possible:

How much will taxes go up on my house?

How are you going to pay for adequate police protection?

Now that DeKalb is suing over the HOST tax for Dunwoody, how long will it be until we can collect that tax?

Will Dunwoody have to sue DeKalb to get commercial propert tax around Perimeter Mall?

New website with facts and downloads available

www.truthaboutdunwoody.org

they say they were inspired by this blog. Thanks!

CFD negotiating with CH2MHill as early as 2006?

If creating a city of Dunwoody is really about local control and self determination, why would CH2MHill be so interested so early in the process? Could it be that the RFP written by Oliver Porter, consultant for Citizens for Dunwoody, is really for CH2MHill?

http://www.citizensfordunwoody.org/documents/RFP20080601.pdf

Hey Mr. Porter, just who are you planning to give our $10 million to?

Check out this old email from 2006. Notice howTWO corporate officers from CH2MHill are copied on the email?


Subject: FW: Citizens for Dunwoody community meeting on Nov 12
Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2006 09:15:30 -0500
From: danweber@andersondailey.com

To: ecent@mindspring.com; janjones38@bellsouth.net; spruett@gmanet.com; TBAGGETT@gmanet.com; lnorton@gmanet.com; kbrannon@chambleega.com; j.anavitarte@worldnet.att.net; cityhall@doravillega.us; OliverPorter1@Comcast.net; jgalambos@comcast.net; dgreenspan@exchangeblvd.com; ashley_disque_jenkins@hotmail.com; wkwillard@hotmail.com; Fran_Millar@palmercay.com; jillchambers@msn.com; jacobs@KrevolinHorst.com; hcg@charter.net; Rick.Hirsekorn@CH2M.com; pcorleto@ch2m.com; danmoody@bellsouth.net; david@davidshafer.co

CC: kwright@ehealthcareit.com; joe@linuxgeneral.com; tetsujin@bellsouth.net; jdlifsey@bellsouth.net; rwittenstein@fcg.com; Brian_Anderson@ivivity.com

This community meeting will include a detailed presentation by Ken Wright, followed by a Q & A session. A small panel from the Citizens for Dunwoody group will help to answer questions.

Each of you has an expertise or particular interest in the incorporation issues facing Dunwoody, and it is my hope that you will attend to add to the discussion.

Please reply to this Email to indicate if you will or will not be able to attend.

Thank you.

Dan Weber


From: Citizens for Dunwoody [mailto:mailer.program@purereach.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 07, 2006 5:07 PM
To: Dan Weber
Subject: Citizens for Dunwoody community meeting on Nov 12

This is a reminder that the community meeting will be at:Dunwoody Baptist Church1445 Mount Vernon RoadSunday, November 12 at 4:30 PMWhere looking for to seeing everyone there.Joe DeVita

This message was sent by: Citizens for Dunwoody, Inc - 2526 Mount Vernon Road, Suite B-206 - Dunwoody, GA 30338 using Pure Reach Opt-in E-mail Marketing.danweber@andersondailey.com - This message was sent to you because you requested to be on the Citizens for Dunwoody, Inc member list.


And just who is Mr Hirsekorn with CH2MHill?

from: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/27/08
"...Rick Hirsekorn, vice president of municipal services for CH2M Hill, declined to disclose the private company's profits running city services in North Georgia...

CH2M Hill sees running city governments as a "growth area in the industry," Hirsekorn said....
Hirsekorn said CH2M Hill is interested in doing work for Dunwoody should its residents vote for cityhood in a July 15 referendum and then decide to contract out their services.

CH2M Hill recently contributed $2,500 to the Citizens for Dunwoody Inc., a nonprofit group that pushed for the cityhood referendum, to sponsor a "Dunwoody Right to Vote Celebration" on May 12."


Coincidence? one can only speculate......

Victory at League Debate

The first and only true debate on cityhood caused a peculiar response from the proponents - refusing to debate issues, Rob Augustine and Denny Shortall acted like children when they personally attacked Rep. Jill Chambers. Their utter disregard for the concerns of citizens and their silly behaviour show that perhaps Rep. Chambers is correct in her examination of the Dunwoody issue.

The following week, at the Dunwoody rah-rah rally at the church, the city proponents finally spoke openly about the potential litigation and admitted that there will have to be a tax increase to support the city. If the League of Women Voters had not hosted a successful debate, I doubt the rally organizers would have been so forthcoming in their final public meeting.

Two important questions came at the end of the rally:

Do any of the proponents have a financial interest in cityhood?
Which companies were approached with the potential $10 million contract to run the city?

here is the link to the citizens for dunwoody proposed contract: http://www.citizensfordunwoody.org/documents/RFP20080601.pdf

Those questions were not answered to the satisfaction of many attendees.

Will all city activists will pledge to not run for office and not take any payments for any services for Dunwoody (including city attorney and legal organ advertising!)?

Jill Chambers to speak on Dunwoody!

The DeKalb Chamber of Commerce and the League of Women Voters will host a forum on the city of Dunwoody finances.

Thursday, Georgia Perimeter College, building C, 7:00 - 9:00 pm.

State Rep. Jill Chambers has been nominated by the public to speak!

This will be the first time she has been asked to make a formal presentation within the community regarding cityhood.  For some reason, Rep. Fran Millar, the Dunwoody Homeowners Association and DunwoodyYes do NOT want her to have a microphone....  (see post below).

Chambers responds to Crier letter from Millar

From: jillchambers@msn.com
To: ccobbs@criernewspapers.com ; thecrier@mindspring.com

Subject: response to Crier letter to the editor
Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:15:17 -0400

My response follows the letter from Rep. Millar: http://www.thecrier.net/articles/2008/06/10/letters/letters.txt

Letter To The Editor: Chambers
Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:57 PM EDT

As many of you know, Representative Jill Chambers continues to raise the same old questions about a City of Dunwoody. This week she will try to rehash the legislative session at Perimeter College since the League of Women Voters and 'neutral' DeKalb Chamber of Commerce will give her a microphone for her re-election campaign.I agree that DeKalb County could always bring a lawsuit against the State of Georgia on HB264 (HOST Bill that Chambers voted for).

However, why would DeKalb County want to prevent the Perimeter CID (business community) from receiving $1 million to $1.5 million for transportation improvements which is one of the primary purposes of the bill? A large portion of the Perimeter CID will remain in unincorporated DeKalb (inside I-285 where major expansion is planned). Finally, DeKalb County will continue to receive all of the sales tax revenue and at least 90 percent of the property tax revenue from business properties located within the city of Dunwoody. If the commissioners have any sense, they will not take any legal action and to date they have not.

After two years, I have some questions that Representative Chambers needs to answer:Why did you sponsor legislation allowing people in unincorporated DeKalb to become part of the city of Doraville ($200,000 anticipated deficit) and yet you are opposed to people in Dunwoody voting to become a city with a possible surplus? UGA did both fiscal studies. We both know Representative Watson (DeKalb delegation chair) kept his word to me and let the Doraville bill go forward.

Why didn’t you draft the annexation bill for all of Huntley Hills to become part of the city of Chamblee when you said you would?Since you represent Doraville and Chamblee and both cities passed resolutions supporting the Dunwoody incorporation, why are you opposed?

Isn’t it true that you and your seatmate are the only Republicans to vote against the legislation which allowed people to vote on incorporation in Dunwoody (98-2)?

How did you know Roy Barnes was hired by Vernon Jones for a potential lawsuit and yet none of the Commissioners were aware of this action?

Isn’t it true that over the years your campaign donors include CEO Vernon Jones, Richard Stogner (Vernon’s Executive Assistant), former MARTA head Ed Wall (Vernon Senate supporter) and HJ Russell & Company (big Vernon supporter)? I was also one of the donors, but never again.

Anyone can vote for or against the creation of the City of Dunwoody. I have no problem with opposing viewpoints. When I see an elected official trying to create a re-election issue or carrying someone else’s water, then it needs to be exposed. This is particularly true when this elected official cloaks him or herself in the mantle of transparency and open government.

Further, factual information can be obtained June at the next forum at Dunwoody Methodist. I urge everyone to get informed and vote July 15.

State Rep. Fran Millar
404-487-7329
fran.millar@wachovia.com



June 10, 2008
To: Mr. Dick Williams and Rep. Fran Millar:

Thanks for the opportunity to respond to the letter in this weeks Crier newspaper; the answers requested from me by Rep. Millar are below. The Crier has my permission to reprint the unedited answers in next weeks issue.

"After two years, I have some questions that Representative Chambers needs to answer:

''Why did you sponsor legislation allowing people in unincorporated DeKalb to become part of the city of Doraville ($200,000 anticipated deficit) and yet you are opposed to people in Dunwoody voting to become a city with a possible surplus? UGA did both fiscal studies. We both know Representative Watson (DeKalb delegation chair) kept his word to me and let the Doraville bill go forward.'

When Senator Dan Weber was unable to get the required ten House signatures on his 2007 annexation bill, SB 32, you asked me to drop a House version so that the other DeKalb Reps would sign it. When you and Senator Weber supplied the wrong boundary description for Doraville for HB 1367, I had to redrop a corrected bill several days later, HB 1378.

'Why didn’t you draft the annexation bill for all of Huntley Hills to become part of the city of Chamblee when you said you would?'

The only part of the Huntley Hills subdivision that I represent is already in the city limits of Chamblee. Since the citizens in the unincorporated area are not in District 81, it would be inappropriate for me to introduce legislation that affects them. That is the responsibility of the Rep. or Senator who represents those neighborhoods. As I have stated before, I would be happy to co-sponsor a Chamblee annexation bill whenever you are ready to introduce it in the legislature.

'Since you represent Doraville and Chamblee and both cities passed resolutions supporting the Dunwoody incorporation, why are you opposed?'

As a Republican, I stand for less government and lower taxes. I am not convinced that a city of Dunwoody can provide similar or greater levels of service without a tax increase.

'Isn’t it true that you and your seatmate are the only Republicans to vote against the legislation which allowed people to vote on incorporation in Dunwoody (98-2)?'

Yes. I hope you noticed that several fiscally conservative Republicans walked out on the vote this year rather than support a tax increase.

'How did you know Roy Barnes was hired by Vernon Jones for a potential lawsuit and yet none of the Commissioners were aware of this action?'

DeKalb testified at the House Governemental Affairs committee that the county intends to sue regarding HOST if Dunwoody incorporates. This was also confirmed and discussed during DeKalb delegation meetings - these weekly meetings held during the legislative session are open to the public and all DeKalb Reps and Senators are invited. I do not know why the commissioners were unaware of this - you will have to ask them.

'Isn’t it true that over the years your campaign donors include CEO Vernon Jones, Richard Stogner (Vernon’s Executive Assistant), former MARTA head Ed Wall (Vernon Senate supporter) and HJ Russell & Company (big Vernon supporter)? I was also one of the donors, but never again.'

All of my campaign donors are disclosed on my campaign finance reports submitted to the Ethics Commission. In addition to those listed above, I have received contributions from former Congressman Bob Barr, State Senator Eric Johnson, Congressman Jack Kingston's PAC, and US Senator Bill Frist's PAC. I appreciate your past support from your own campaign account.

I hope this answers your questions and I now have additional questions:

Why are you so worried and afraid of my speaking to the citizens in the Dunwoody community? Why won't you welcome a public debate on both pros and cons of incorporation?

Thanks,
Jill Chambers
State Representative

Dunwoody testimony at the Capitol is a bit different than what the public has heard

Rep. Jill Chambers sent this email as a response to a question from a cityhood supporter. Jill, did you vote for HB 264?:

Voting for HB 264 was a mistake on my part, but at the time I still thought that the cityhood sponsors were being honest about their legislation.

The 2007 Attorney General's letter on HB 264 describes the possiblility of at least one lawsuit against the state and city regarding the HOST tax disbursement. This is why I handed out copies of the letter along with the original statute and referendum language that states HOST is for COUNTY purposes only.

If the AG advisory letter states that HB 264 can be challenged as unconstitutional, can we expect the state to vigoriously defend the legislation?

Just because I voted for it does not exempt it from legal challenges!

Watch Rep. Fran Millar's 2007 House floor testimony on HB 264 here - it is about 1 hour and 40 minutes into the video clip:

http://switchboard.real.com/player/email.html?PV=6.0.12&&title=ga%2Dleg%2Dhouse%2D3%5F27%5F2007%2D3%5F34%5F35%20PM&link=mms%3A%2F%2Fmediam1.gpb.org%2Fga%2Fleg%2F2007%2Fga%2Dleg%2Dhouse%2D3%5F27%5F2007%2D3%5F34%5F35%20PM.wmv

Now go watch what Rep. Fran Millar says this year in House committee about the Attorney General's letter. This testimony was one day after he wrote me a letter stating he did not want to discuss the lawsuit in a public forum. Well, why not?

Fran testifies about 15 minutes into this video, Finance Director Mike Bell testifies on HOST next, and then the author of the CVI study is about 1 hour and 23 minutes into the same video:

http://switchboard.real.com/player/email.html?PV=6.0.12&&title=gaff013108&link=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.legis.ga.gov%2Fhav%2F08%2Fcomm%2Fgaff%2Fgaff013108.wmv


Editor's note: Enjoy the videos as you learn the Truth About Dunwoody!

We just got this email from Rep. Jill Chambers:

Dunwoody city advocates were a bit upset last week that I was handing out the copies of the HOST Referendum with the Attorney General's advisory opinion letter, as well as the constitutionally mandated Cooperation Agreement between the County and the PCID.

Last thursday (at the DHA meeting), Bob Lundston, of the Dunwoody Homeowners Association, asked me to stop handing out information. He told me that it was HIS meeting and that he did not approve. Other fine citizens were distributing literature, red ribbons or wearing tags with question marks to indicate unanswered questions.

Since it was billed as a community meeting http://www.citizensfordunwoody.org/ , I told him that I had the First Amendment right to free assembly and freedom of speech. So Bob asked me to stand by a table and distribute the literature, which I did under his constant supervision.

I guess they plan to supress information and dissenting opinions from now on - see original email below: 'Informational literature must be cleared with the sponsoring organization before the event is held; this literature can be placed on a common table for distribution to attendees, not handed directly to them.'

__________________________________________________

From: billdunwoody@mindspring.com
To: jillchambers@msn.com; bwingate@bellsouth.net
CC: GJackson@paii-aviation.com; jim.boyea@dunwoodyumc.org
Subject: DHA Information

ForumDate: Mon, 19 May 2008 08:05:53 -0400

When the Dunwoody Homeowners Association obtained permission to use the Dunwoody United Methodist Church facility for the recent Information Forum, certain guidelines were established. So everyone is absolutely clear about the rules as they apply to the DHA sponsored June 19 forum (this applies to all other organizations using the church), I will outline what is required. Political campaigning, signs or literature are not permitted on church property. Information or directional signs will not be attached to walls or columns; the church has standard signs that are available for such postings. Informational literature must be cleared with the sponsoring organization before the event is held; this literature can be placed on a common table for distribution to attendees, not handed directly to them. Thanks.

Bill Robinson
________________________________________________

To: Bill, Bob, DHA, etc:
Why are you so afraid of the public seeing this information?

Does the GA GOP really support less government?

InsiderAdvantage is reporting from the Georgia Republican Convention this weekend. Check out this quote from Congressman Lynn Westmoreland:

... “Our base still believes in less taxes. They still believe in less government. They still believe in our ability to honor the 2nd Amendment ... (and) in personal responsibility. But they don’t believe that we believe that ... They’re tired of our talk, they want to see our walk.”

“Our base didn’t get lost, we got lost,” he said. “I want to be part of the leadership that leads us back home.”

So what part of LESS TAXES & LESS GOVERNMENT do the "Republican" sponsors of Dunwoody cityhood not understand? The passage of SB 82, the Dunwoody city charter, proves that the majority of state level Republicans are as tax happy as our national level politicians. They are RINO's (Republican In Name Only)! Where is true fiscally conservative leadership in GA?

the original InsiderAdvantage article can be found here (subscription news site):
http://insideradvantagegeorgia.com/restricted/2008/May%202008/5-17-08/Perdue_Westmoreland5171964.php

DHA meeting last night

The Dunwoody Homeowners Association held the most informative meeting hosted so far regarding a new city of Dunwoody. Although the panel was not really balanced, several of the participants discussed the issue of potential tax increases.

In spite of the "reporting" in a local paper, the panel members supportive of Dunwoody cityhood admitted the potential of lawsuits over the HOST tax collections for the city. It was made clear that if the new city does not get the HOST tax, then Dunwoody will not provide the promised $1.5 million for the PCID infrastucture.

State Rep. Jill Chambers was handing out information about the challenges with collecting the HOST tax and the control of the PCID commercial district. I stood near her for a while as she handed out copies of the HOST laws and a letter from the Attorney General. You could clearly see the displeasure of both the DHA president and several city-hood supporters. Some people made rude comments but even more people thanked the Representative for providing additional information.

Although Senator Dan Weber was gracious (his mama obviously taught him some manners!), Rep. Fran Miller displayed an attitude and refused to acknowledge his colleague even after she greeted him several times. He was seen sitting in the audience with Commissioner Elaine Boyer.

Judge C.J. Becker did a great job asking questions as a moderator but few real answers were given. It seems that many people still have questions about the true costs of incorporation.

Where is the one mill cap in the charter legislation?

In section 1.03 of SB 82, the Dunwoody Charter legislation http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2007_08/versions/sb82_AP_13.htm :

(A) The millage rate imposed for ad valorem taxes on real property shall not exceed 3.04 unless a higher limit is recommended by resolution of the city council and approved by a majority of the qualified voters of the City of Dunwoody voting on the issue;

(B) For all years, the fair market value of all property subject to taxation shall be determined according to the tax digest of DeKalb County, as provided in Code Section 48-5-352 of the O.C.G.A.; and

(38) Taxes: other. To levy and collect such other taxes and fees as may be allowed now or in the future by law

in section 5.02 there is a provision for a one mill homestead exemption - not a cap on the millage:

(b) Each resident of the City of Dunwoody is granted an exemption on that person´s homestead from City of Dunwoody ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes in an amount that provides the dollar equivalent of a one mill reduction of the millage rate applicable to the homestead property with respect to ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes for the taxable year. The value of that property in excess of such exempted amount shall remain subject to taxation.

Now contrast the above with this information presented on the Citizens for Dunwoody website: http://www.citizensfordunwoody.org/faq.htm :

TAXES/FINANCIAL

3.Would my taxes increase, decrease or stay the same?

The feasibility study performed by The University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government shows that the city of Dunwoody could operate without a tax increase. Since Dunwoody has been taxed at rates higher than the cost of services delivered by DeKalb County, the CVI study showed budget surpluses in all but the most extreme scenarios. Over time, these surpluses could be used to increase the quality of our services or be returned to taxpayers.

4.What is the impact of the 1-mill cap on the property tax millage rate?

The proposed budget does not include a tax increase to provide the same levels of service. The charter limits the authority of the city council to raise the city's millage rate more than one additional mill without voter approval.

Can Representative Fran Millar & Senator Dan Weber show us where the one mill cap is guaranteed in the Charter?

Rep. Jill Chambers still has questions....

This letter was published in the AJC letters to the Editor on May 11 and posted on GoDeKalb.com on May 12:

To the Editor:

In response to the letter from DunwoodyYES advocates, it has not yet been determined that a new city of Dunwoody will be able to collect the property taxes in the DeKalb PCID.

The Georgia Constitution (Art IX, Section VII, Paragraph V) requires that a CID and it's authorizing entity enter into a cooperation agreement. Among the provisions in the agreement with the PCID and DeKalb County:

The County shall retain full and complete authority over the provision of governmental services and over any of it's facilities located within the CID.

Plans adopted by the CID Board must comply with County policies and planning. The CID shall provide notice of meetings to the CEO of DeKalb.

The agreement can only be modified by formal written action of both parties (PCID and DeKalb County government.)

Since this constitutionally mandated agreement requires that the County provide the governmental services, will the property taxes that pay for these services continue to go to the County? Or will businesses in the area be required to pay an additional city property tax on top of the County taxes?

Will a new city of Dunwoody be able to enact or enforce zoning if the CID must comply only with County planning? Will both the PCID and DeKalb County be willing to dissolve the CID charter and transfer these powers to a new city of Dunwoody?

These contingencies were not examined by the Carl Vinson Institute study or by the citizens advocacy group.

I have asked these and other questions regarding the Dunwoody city study both in legislative committee and in public for many months. I do not know the answers and I expect that they will only be resolved in a court of law.

Will the homowners in a new city of Dunwoody be willing pay even higher property taxes if and until this legal issue is resolved? Personally, I want to know the answers before a referendum on cityhood.

State Rep. Jill Chambers
R - North DeKalb

The Truth About Dunwoody cityhood

Does a city of Dunwoody seem too good to be true?

If citizens are disappointed with County government, how can they create another layer of Government without raising taxes?

Why would people vote to lower the standard of services provided to the public?

Stay tuned to learn more about the true costs of incorporation....