Road to Milton County goes through Atlanta
One name you won’t see on the ballot this November is Milton, as in the once and maybe future county that we currently call north Fulton.
A constitutional amendment to allow the re-creation of former counties — Milton, like Campbell to the south, merged with Fulton in the 1930s — didn’t come up for a vote in the Legislature this spring. So, a public referendum must wait.
The bid to split Georgia’s most populous county has some powerful supporters, including the House’s speaker pro tem, Rep. Jan Jones, R-Alpharetta. It isn’t going away.
But neither are misgivings among the Fulton lawmakers and citizens — including yours truly — who’d be left behind after a split. And the legislative math is tricky for any attempt to pass the amendment without support from the rest of the Atlanta and Fulton delegations.
So, the pro-Milton crowd needs to make the case that the rest of Fulton would be better off, too. In an interview in her Capitol office Thursday, that’s just what Jones tried to do.
“The way the legislation’s written,” she said, “Atlanta could say, ‘Enough. We want to consolidate with Fulton County. South Fulton, go have a good day. North Fulton, have a good day.’ They have their own school system; it would be simple. And we have models for that already in the state, with [consolidated city-county governments in] Columbus and Augusta, and Athens.”
Consolidation, she said, would allow Atlanta and all or part of the remainder of Fulton to eliminate duplicate services and staff, and then fund needed changes or cut taxes.
“I lived in Atlanta about as long as I have lived in north Fulton, and enjoyed living in both,” she said. “But I will tell you that the overall sum of the taxes, and some of the intractable problems that I ran into as a resident … told me that Atlanta in particular needs real reform, structurally. There’s only so much people will pay in taxes, or they’ll leave. And I think Atlanta is there …
“I’ve heard the mayor [Kasim Reed] quoted, and he’s got some long-term problems that are facing the city. … He is going to be hampered by the total sum of the taxes that folks there pay now. You can’t just tax your way out of it. They’ve tried.”
A merged Atlanta-Fulton County would still be the state’s fourth-largest local government (Milton County would rank fifth), so she said it would retain the wherewithal to meet its needs: “You’d have Atlanta, really I think, in the driver’s seat, controlling its destiny. … They have a deeper tax base than either … end of the county.”
Too-big government isn’t the only problem. Jones said some governments and school districts in Georgia are too small.
“When you have [some] school systems that are smaller than individual high schools, it doesn’t take a genius to realize, it’s not possible for … some of the very small school systems, no matter how hard they try, or how good a job they do, to offer the broad array of opportunities that students need. …
“The same is true with local governments. In some cases, you can’t get … the economies of scale to serve the public.”
Still, Jones said she doesn’t consider herself “the champion or the catalyst behind changing how local governments work in other parts of the state … I feel very deeply that’s a local issue for them to decide.”
In the case of Fulton and Milton, a commitment from Atlanta officials to seize the opportunities that Jones outlined for the city would go a long way toward persuading local skeptics to decide to get on board.
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123 comments Add your comment
Linda
September 10th, 2010
7:42 pm
First! Not interested.
Tommy Maddox
September 10th, 2010
8:34 pm
Then don’t comment.
Tommy Maddox
September 10th, 2010
8:35 pm
It will be great for the North if it does happen. Atlanta however will become Detroit South.
vuduchld
September 10th, 2010
9:22 pm
If the citizens want to stake it out on their own, fine, I don’t have a problem. Just remember this, when that door closes, it won’t open back, ever. What I want to see is these “know-it-alls” to fund EVERYTHING themselves, even an airport. They shouldn’t be allowed to use ANY services that is currently provided by Atlanta. If you walk, walk out on your own, no more hand outs folks!!
Mark
September 10th, 2010
9:24 pm
You’re right Tommy …. it would be a very positive move for North Fulton but I think the politicians and many City of Atlanta residents will go down kicking and screaming to stop any consolidation efforts. I used to live in South Fulton and I think many residents there would be against annexation efforts as well….times are changing so anything is possible.
Hillbilly Deluxe
September 10th, 2010
9:34 pm
Milton County was originally formed in 1857, from parts of Cobb, Cherokee, and Forsyth counties. Rather than forming a “new” county, the cost effective way to go, might be to just fold it back into the 3 original counties. It’s not for me to decide, though; I don’t have a dog in the hunt.
Linda
September 10th, 2010
9:41 pm
It’s the eve of 9/11/2001. What have we learned from that tragedy? Nothing! Most of us have no clue why the Islamic terrorists want us dead or even when the assaults on us began. Few Americans understand what we have in store for us & how we can counterbalance our venerability. God bless America despite our stupidity.
Legend of Len Barker
September 10th, 2010
10:51 pm
The Constitution of the State of Georgia says…
“Paragraph II. Number of counties limited; county boundaries and county sites; county consolidation. (a) There shall not be more than 159 counties in this state.
——————————————————————————–
Page: 205
(b) The metes and bounds of the several counties and the county sites shall remain as prescribed by law on June 30, 1983, unless changed under the operation of a general law.
(c) The General Assembly may provide by law for the consolidation of two or more counties into one or the division of a county and the merger of portions thereof into other counties under such terms and conditions as it may prescribe; but no such consolidation, division, or merger shall become effective unless approved by a majority of the qualified voters voting thereon in each of the counties proposed to be consolidated, divided, or merged.”
http://neptune3.galib.uga.edu/ssp/cgi-bin/legis-idx.pl?sessionid=71ec186b-17511f6621-2227&type=law&byte=427236291
So, who is going to volunteer to kill their county so Milton can return?
(Georgia initially had a limit of 145 counties, but passed amendments to get it to 161. The updated Constitution closed that loophole. For anyone confused, Peach County – created in 1929 – was 161. Milton and Campbell merged with Fulton on January 1, 1932.)
Amy in the ATL
September 10th, 2010
11:33 pm
I’m an Atlanta taxpayer and I say, let it happen! I want OUT of Fulton County. Complaining about city taxes? A full 1/3 of my taxes go to Fulton County……which doesn’t provide police, fire, school or much of anything else for that matter to the City of Atlanta. I can at least reconcile my City taxes (post Mayor Campbell, that is) with services provided. But my Fulton County tax is a black hole. We in the city of Atlanta proper are subsidizing communities in North and South Fulton. We should be the ones to secede…and we will take that business tax revenue with us, thank you very much.
Jon
September 10th, 2010
11:39 pm
Jan Jones won’t rest until every Georgia citizen has their own personal county!
Ronin
September 10th, 2010
11:46 pm
I have to agree with Tommy. Atlanta depends of the tax revenue of North Fulton to balance expenses and services in other areas of the county. Without the NF tax revenue, they will be unable to maintain services.
Chris in ATL
September 11th, 2010
12:45 am
For Amy in the ATL: Actually, it is very easy to see where the full 1/3 of your taxes end up, when you consider the quality of services that Fulton County does provide. Fulton provides the Sheriff (e.g. Jackie Barrett), a Correctional Center (refer to the various Federal lawsuits over it) , the Fulton County Courts (Terry Nichols), and the Fulton County 911 (”Even if you’re lucky enough to reach us during your emergency, we probably won’t dispatch help to the correct address”) System.
In short, your taxes pay for (1) those services, (2) the attorneys who represent Fulton when Fulton is sued, and (3) for the judgements Fulton ends up paying out.
Mrs. Norris
September 11th, 2010
1:19 am
Very interesting Kyle. I’m glad Rep. Jones mentioned that Atlanta has a deeper tax base than both ends of the county. Hear folks up north talk, they’re the only ones paying taxes. I guess Ronin missed that sentence, or perhaps he meant to say “the county” instead of “Atlanta”.
Road Scholar
September 11th, 2010
5:54 am
Mrs Norris: North Fulton is very Republican/conservative and, in step with their mantra, they are over taxed (not); they want prime services though. But some of their revenue is used to “balance ‘ the books for south Fulton. What commercial development, on scale with Roswell, Alpharetta, and Sandy Springs ( and now Milton and Johns Creek) does the south end of the county have to develop revenue? Chattahoochee Hill Country? Not even close….yet. For years the urban and south Fulton Commissioners shifted money to prop up the south, esp in transportation projects.
Ronin and Tommy: Taxes collected in North Fulton do pay for certain services in Fulton County in the COA but most programs in the COA are paid for with COA monies.
Legend: Good work! The number of counties in Ga needs to be reduced overall. Many in south Georgia spend most of their tax dollars supporting their government instead of services due to the low density of residents when compared to the more urban areas.
marko
September 11th, 2010
7:09 am
Arizona has 16 counties. Georgia seems to think that 159 aren’t enough. Across th U.S. the average number of counties per state is 62. The average population per county is about 100,000. In Georgia the average population per county is about 62,000. On the surface, I’d say we already have enough counties. However, I kinda like the sound of Marko county. You gotta admit it has a nice ring to it.
Jefferson
September 11th, 2010
7:32 am
Yea well, I wish could leave both the county and the city and just do like I please too. Sound like a bunch of babies that won’t get active and fight for their share in the county revenue. I’d vote no.
TaxPayer
September 11th, 2010
8:07 am
It looks to me as though the solution to disagreement, confrontation, problem resolution, etc., here in Georgia is to break up. One hundred and fifty-nine county governments and we still cannot get along. Well, splitting up does create another batch of government jobs, doesn’t it. So, that’s got to be good for the economy. Right. Perhaps we need to let all the city governments secede from the counties and form new counties from all of them. Whatever it takes to help out us lowly taxpayers.
Bush's fault.
September 11th, 2010
8:14 am
If only Atlanta would “cut spending”, eh Kyle?
moron
SouthernLiving
September 11th, 2010
8:17 am
North Fulton residents are tired of being Atlanta’s Cash Cow. Milton was only taken in by Fulton County because of dire financial times during the Depression. Just let Milton reform..it is insane that North Fulton residents must drive 1 hour to Atlanta for jury duty.
J.B. STONER
September 11th, 2010
8:56 am
Leaving the slums/thugs of Atlanta, heading to Milton, people need to ‘put the petal to the metal’ and say ’so long crime, drugs and thugs, life is great’.
The air is cleaner, the sky is bluer, the rear view mirror is out the window.
Ah yes, a change is coming…..
Ayn Rant
September 11th, 2010
9:50 am
Linda, since you rudely disregard the subject Kyle has put before us …
The 9/11 terrorist attack was punishment for the US support of Israel and the secular governments in the Arab countries (Saudi Arabia’s king, Egypt’s “fake” democracy, etc.). Al Qaeda strives to unite the Arab countries under Islamic fundamentalist rule, and to destroy Israel. They don’t give a rat’s butt about America’s “freedom” or way of life; they just want us to butt out of the Middle East.
Regrettably, the 9/11 attacks succeeded beyond all expectations of the plotters. We Americans panicked, surrendered our freedoms to draconian “security measures”, disrupted our commerce and industry, and started useless wars on two fronts. In our addled state of mind, we elected for a second term the incompetent President who had ignored the warning on the al Qaeda threat given by his national security advisers two months before the 9/11 attacks. Our elected President kept the panic going, and under cover of “national security”, he proceeded to rack up federal deficits and the national debt as never before in history. He then presided over the Katrina fiasco and the 2008 economic blowout.
What do we have in store? More terrorist incidents by disaffected and unhinged persons acting on their own or in small groups, but nothing so clever and diabolical as the 9/11 attacks. Al Qaeda has inflicted the punishment intended for the US and has turned its attention back to undermining the Moslem countries.
Now, can we regain some of the sanity and freedom that we lost in the panic after 9/11? And, how about the topic of the day:creating some more useless counties in Georgia?
jm
September 11th, 2010
10:06 am
Splitting up Fulton is bad governance in the sense that Atlanta MSA already has too many jurisdictions.
But if it were to happen, here’s the only proviso: The new counties would have to take their pro-rata share of Fulton debt based on the tax digest. There’s $1.5 Billion in liabilities. If the new counties won’t take their pro-rata share of the debt, it’s just state permitted robbery. And I’m an Independent, but I’d vote and lobby tooth and nail that unless these stupid idiots want to take their fair share of debt, this deal is dead.
Therefore, I think this whole thing is dead and its mind boggling why people keep bringing it up, as much as I and everyone else hates Fulton county gov’t.
J.B. STONER
September 11th, 2010
10:18 am
Ayn Rant……. carry your jihadist/muslim loving self back to Iran or whereever you come and dont act like we deserved what we got 9 years ago.People like you need to be found and uthinized…….
Tom
September 11th, 2010
10:19 am
As with so many other things cooked up in Conservative Fantasyland, it simply ain’t gonna happen.
Raymond Huffman
September 11th, 2010
10:22 am
Ho-hum, another right-winged response that totally goes against their continuous cries of “smaller government.”
The faulty right-winged assumption here is that if North Fulton broke off and became Milton county, then all the suburbanites who spend 2 hours driving 10 miles downtown every day would no longer have to pay taxes to keep their expensive, high-rise offices from becoming dilapidated. Sales tax on lunch will not foot the bill. The lost revenues would have to come from somewhere, and a separate Fulton county would neither want to or have to allocate money for all the office space.
If you want to pay lower taxes, move to Rockdale or Clayton counties! But keep in mind, you’ll have to go to their schools. And North Fulton schools are only “good” by Georgia standards. Keeping that tax money local will do nothing more than create windfall profits for standardized test companies and electronic chalkboard manufacturers.
Milton county = bigger government. Its a bad idea. For proof, google the how much the mayor of Johns Creek spent in tax money to close down a Love Shack. Johns Creek and Milton were supposed to keep more tax money local. There has been zero benefit to anybody but a few republican bureaucrats and mega-churches.
Queen Emma Darnell
September 11th, 2010
10:58 am
If you have combined Atlanta/Fulton government, what are the likes of Emma Darnell and company going to do? They wont have the ability to waste huge amounts of taxpayer money on themselves, and what about limos and jobs for all their friends that do nothing….
jabster
September 11th, 2010
11:00 am
Get Taliaferro and Greene counties to merge. Taliaferro is the smallest county in GA with population under 2000 residents. Nobody knows how to pronounce it correctly anyway (Tolliver). Then Milton can split out of Fulton.
Georgia has the second most counties of any state, behind Texas. Some of these smaller counties need to be merged into others.
J.B. STONER
September 11th, 2010
11:00 am
Hey Ray-RAY……….
Like guns in your face???
Stay in Clayton, DEKalb, and in city of Atlanta .
Used to be (and not too long ago) , motor through Fayette Co. with a Fulton Co. tag and your arse would get pulled over to see what you were up to.
Man, the good old days…………………..
Scott
September 11th, 2010
11:01 am
Jan Jones wants local control unless of course it has to do with MARTA…then she decides (her and Jill Chambers of course)
J.B. STONER
September 11th, 2010
11:20 am
Used to know what m.a.r.t.a. stood for .
Anyone remember, please refresh my memory, please…………….
barking frog
September 11th, 2010
11:42 am
jabster 11:00 Georgia has the second most counties of any state, behind Texas. Some of these smaller counties need to be merged into others
———————————–
Remember ‘Divide and conquer’, there’s power in numbers. The cost of postage stamp
county governments to the citizens of Georgia is unbelievable and the same with
mini municipals…minimum population densities for both should be established and
boundaries adjusted accordingly as legislative districts are.
bob
September 11th, 2010
11:45 am
Why should n fulton put money in the pockets of the likes of emma darnell ? how many wasted millions on putt putt ? Now they want to build a 5 mil community center by Charlie Brown airport.
bob
September 11th, 2010
11:46 am
The fact is, fulton needs n fulton way more than n fulton needs fulton.
North Fulton Mom
September 11th, 2010
12:23 pm
So what if Fulton needs N. Fulton “more?” That we are ABLE to provide support to the south is a BLESSING, not a curse.
North Fulton would NOT BE a thriving, successful, well-manicured suburb if not for the metropolitan city a few miles to the south of us. We enjoy nice [relatively] safe neighborhoods, stable property values, well-kept roads, good schools, and plenty of shopping because Atlanta is a hub of career opportunities of which we took advantage, not because “we” attracted them here on our own.
Hubris is tacky.
Mrs. Norris
September 11th, 2010
12:25 pm
Jabster and Barking frog, you make a good point. There are a lot of counties that need to be merged. Douglas County (of which I’m a resident) should merge with Carroll County. I’m happy with my county government but Douglas County is a rather small county, as far as land mass. Look at it on the map. You think, “what’s that little county doing there?” It so obviously should be a part of Carroll County.
East Point and Hapeville are so connected to Atlanta, they should stay with Atlanta if it becomes its own county. College Park and Union City could merge with Clayton County. Fairburn and Union City could merge with Fayette, although Fairburn and Union City have a very small tax base and Fayette County may think it’s just not in their interest. That’s basically what Coweta County said about Chattahoochee Hills.
Anyway, that’s just a few suggestions. Georgia really does need to consolidate a lot of counties. It would save tax payers a lot of money, and smaller government is always a good thing.
Mrs. Norris
September 11th, 2010
12:35 pm
Oh, I meant to say Fairburn and Palmetto could merge with Fayette.
North Fulton Mom, the world would be a better place if there were more people like you. Hubris is indeed tacky and kindness and compassion are beautiful.
That's Just Peachy
September 11th, 2010
1:04 pm
@ North Fulton Mom- Kudos to you- “North Fulton would NOT BE a thriving, successful, well-manicured suburb if not for the metropolitan city a few miles to the south of us”
Precisely. I’m not sure if I buy Jones’ argument that Atlanta’s revenues would be made up, and if anyone thinks that North Fulton would continue to prosper if Atlanta slips further down, you’re kidding yourself. The entire Metro area is still dependent on a successful Atlanta.
bob
September 11th, 2010
1:56 pm
Raymond Huffmann, if it hurts the N Fulton group, they have to live with it. It seems as though you want them you don’t want them to split. Is it because you are wanting to help the N Fulton group or the rest of Fulton ?
bob
September 11th, 2010
2:03 pm
North Fulton Mom
September 11th, 2010
12:23 pm
So what if Fulton needs N. Fulton “more?” That we are ABLE to provide support to the south is a BLESSING, not a curse.
You are in the minority, Having hacks like Darnell run things into the ground is no blessing. Manicured lawns and safe neighborhoods are because of the people that live there, not because N Fulton has Atlanta to the south. Furthermore, most people on your side don’t admit the unequal split in services, at least you do.
J.B. STONER
September 11th, 2010
3:47 pm
Fayette Co. wants NO part of lowly Fairburn or Union City.
They don’t tolerate the crimes associated in those cities.
Go to jail in Fayette, your butt goes to jail…….
Brad
September 11th, 2010
3:49 pm
@ JB
“Moving Arrogant Rednecks Through Atlanta”
JF McNamara
September 11th, 2010
3:52 pm
Milton County has been part of Fulton since 1931, and was annexed because it was broke. None of the people there have nostalgia for Milton. Fact is, North Fulton has ALL of its wealth because it was close to Atlanta and part of Fulton County since it was bankrupt when Fulton rescued it.
The companies in Alpharetta are located because they are close to Atlanta. This is part greed and part racial, and its all wrong. Being included in Fulton, the North Fulton area is a nice place to work and live as evidenced by the enormous growth. If they hadn’t done such a good job for you in the past, you wouldn’t be successful and whining to leave now. How about paying your taxes, thanking the Fulton commissioners, and shutting up. You’ve got it pretty good right now.
Hawkeye
September 11th, 2010
3:54 pm
Then recreate Campbell County to the south as well. Good thing Kasim Reed’s proposal to create a city of South Fulton out of the area failed or it would have been misnamed. (Kasim aslo wanted the Sandtown area to join South Fulton over Atlanta. I wonder ho he feels about it now.)
MiltonMan
September 11th, 2010
4:00 pm
I cannot wait until we get out of the racists city of Atlanta & Fulton County. Milton County will prosper without the welfare state known as Atlanta & South Fulton. We will be able to keep our tax dollars & not have to ship them to the dumpy Grady.
MiltonMan
September 11th, 2010
4:03 pm
JF = moron. North Fulton is doing well because of the people who live there dufus. Very few single moms & very few welfare recipients. Look at our schools – best in the state. Are our good schools because of the great schools you have ion Atlanta??? You know the ones who have to have teachers & administrators change test scores to even pass.
Palin fan
September 11th, 2010
4:06 pm
This would be awesome. It would make a nice break with all of those filthy people in south Fulton
Brad
September 11th, 2010
4:07 pm
@MiltonMan
I’d like to point out that “dumpy Grady” has the best trauma ER in North Georgia, if not the entire southeast. So when your sorry ass is badly injured in a car crash in Milton, you’ll be flown here to the racist welfare state.
J.B. STONER
September 11th, 2010
4:14 pm
sorry Brad –
‘Red Neck’ is 2 words……….
Brad
September 11th, 2010
4:18 pm
Both forms are accepted, JB.
redneck
- 5 dictionary results
red·neck
/ˈrɛdˌnɛk/ Show Spelled [red-nek] Show IPA Informal: Often Disparaging .
–noun
1.
an uneducated white farm laborer, esp. from the South.
2.
a bigot or reactionary, esp. from the rural working class.
–adjective
3.
Also, red-necked . narrow, prejudiced, or reactionary: a redneck attitude.
Use redneck in a Sentence
See images of redneck
Search redneck on the Web
Also, red-neck .
Origin:
1820–30, Americanism ; red1 + neck
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
J.B. STONER
September 11th, 2010
4:23 pm
Brad ===
Not what m.a.r.t.a. used to stand for………
Necks don’t travel on marta.
Brad
September 11th, 2010
4:26 pm
I’m sorry, JB, I thought you would have figured out that I was referring to you.
North Fulton Mom
September 11th, 2010
4:49 pm
Milton Man,
Single mom here. My kid is class president and varstiy team captain, so your prejudices are misguided. Your little corner of nuthin was developed and thrives because businesses were attracted to the Atlanta area, and people like us are able to make a decent living as a result. If you think the money flowing into your nook would continue to flow in the vacuum you claim to seek, I want some of what your kids are smoking on their way-too-generous allowance!!
John Doe
September 11th, 2010
5:05 pm
I can’t say I blame North Fulton for wanting to split off into their own county. Forget taxes, it’s like a different world (North Fulton versus South Fulton). North Fulton doesn’t have near the crime and filth of South Fulton.
While it’s true North Fulton residents work intown (that is after all how most major metro areas work, people live in the suburbs, and work in the city), there are plenty of large companies setting up shop outside the perimeter now (and yes outside Fulton too). If anything, the City of Atlanta should clean up the city (literally crime and corruption) to keep companies wanting to be located here. Why has Atlanta lost to Houston and Dallas for number of Fortune 500 companies? Why has Atlanta lost company headquarters to its own suburbs? So yes it’s true the north suburbs depend on the city still for work, the city relies on the workers to commute there or else it would have quite a few empty office towers during the day. We should work this out together for everyone’s best interest.
not a separatist
September 11th, 2010
5:20 pm
Would not a newly separatist county leave the north fulton citizens in the same boat. This is still not a win situation for them. Or am I missing something? What is the real reason here? When are we going to fix problems rather than running away from them? Or is that the only conservative fix?
Common Sense & Sensibility
September 11th, 2010
5:39 pm
God bless you, N Fulton Mom.
fair and imbalanced
September 11th, 2010
7:12 pm
Is Wingfield a German name?
J.B. STONER
September 11th, 2010
8:35 pm
Brad may be too young to remember the old marta saying.
Most 4 year olds never heard of it.
J.B. STONER
September 11th, 2010
8:54 pm
And how can O-Blow-Me tell the world ”we must tolerate the tragic morning of 9-11-01 and move on”.
ARE YOU FRIGGIN KIDDING ME ?
killerj
September 11th, 2010
9:32 pm
Anyone want Henry county? More houses for sale and empty than I ever seen in my life,robbed me of 20,000 dollars(home value) to clear the books and raised my taxes,house insurance went up to cover what their losing,kids dropping out of school left and right,whole families living under one roof and you people are worried over splitting a county? Hell lets take out the pitch forks and shotguns and make it so. Go Tea Parties.
Fire Eater
September 12th, 2010
4:20 am
Milton county needs to be re-created so that the productive people of “North Fulton” will no longer be the cash cow for various ghetto boondoggles such as the Grady Crime Factory (maternity ward for fat welfare queens and anchorbabymamas), It would allow Atlanta and the rest of Fulton to fully realize it’s inner Zimbabwe as has Clayton and DeKalb.
Not DIRECTLY related to this issue but any comment about the recent murder of a Forsyth county security guard by “underprivileged victims of racism and poverty?” Thugs were all living in half-million dollar houses in south Forsyth…JBS was right when he said you can take them out of the ghetto but you can’t take the ghetto out of them.
DEWSTARPATH
September 12th, 2010
5:05 am
J.B. STONER – September 11th, 2010
8:54 pm
And how can O-Blow-Me tell the world ”we must tolerate the tragic morning of 9-11-01 and move on”.
ARE YOU FRIGGIN KIDDING ME ?
J.B. STONER – Uses a racist for a handle, calls other posters
4-year olds – and uses words like “FRIGGIN” and calls the President
“O-blow-me”.
STONER = Hypocrite.
DEWSTARPATH
September 12th, 2010
5:05 am
- Ditto for Fire Eater.
DEWSTARPATH
September 12th, 2010
5:10 am
killerj – September 11th, 2010
9:32 pm
“Hell lets take out the pitch forks and shotguns and make it so. Go Tea Parties.”
– Sheesh. No downward-spiraling pathology here. “Go Tea Parties” sentiment
makes perfect sense.
TICK… TICK…… TICK………
Tom2
September 12th, 2010
5:22 am
Just a few questions.
If Atlanta is to consolidate with the ‘remainder’ of Fulton, and is not contiguous with unincorporated S. Fulton, how can that constitutionally happen without dissolving several intermediate towns? What if they don’t go along with that idea?
How much will the ’split’ cost Atlanta in administrative/legal/technical costs – who will pay for that? Atlanta isn’t the one pushing a split, it shouldn’t have to pay for the cost of it happening.
Why not keep ‘Milton’ to it’s original boundaries? Why do the new boundaries gobble up some of what has originally been Fulton all along? Do you think it’s all about the money?
So you really think you’d get out of funding Grady and MARTA with a split? Really??? Whatcha smokin’ ?
Instead of creating such an mess – why not just get the folks in N. Fulton off their duffs and out to the polls to vote in some decent people on the county commission? Wouldn’t that be a whole lot less expensive?
If you think Atlanta is such a bad, evil place… why don’t you just move to – say – Kansas? If that’s far enough. Maybe you need to visit the city – you might find it’s not so bad. Ever wonder why so many people have moved back in town – and love it??? (OK… except for the taxes ….) On second thought … if you think the city is so bad – stay away. We don’t want you.
Willie
September 12th, 2010
7:23 am
The idea that people live in the suburbs and work in the city is long outdated. if you look where the jobs are, they are on the northside AND the trend is accelerating. Drive 400 sometime. It’s packed to Perimeter and not too crowded to Buckhead.
November
September 12th, 2010
9:07 am
Milton County should be allowed to split from Fulton County and form their own government. They have for too long been forced to subsidize the people of Fulton County South who can’t even, nor will they be able to support themselves after the split. Milton County should not be pulled down by people who don’t want to work to build something good…..plus, they’re not capable. This is akin the the Federal Government suppling welfare, etc. to those who don’t want to and will not work. We have the same situations all over the metro atlanta area and don’t even get me started on the schools.
zeke
September 12th, 2010
9:08 am
Ayn Rant? The only incompetent President is the buffoon currently residing in the White House! Because of ignorant voters such as you, this fool is on a path to complete destruction of our economic system! 2012 cannot come quick enough!!
MiltonMan
September 12th, 2010
10:20 am
North Fulton Mom = toots her horn for her child but labels my children as dope smokers. Here you go ignorant North Fulton Mom:
Son – Freshman in the Naval Academy; full ride scholarship. Eagle Scout
Another son – High School senior with a 4.3; already been accepted to Berry, UGA & soon to be accepted to Duke. Pre-dental; Eagle Scout
Daughter – All A’s; 8th grader; wants to be a lawyer
Please, oh please, tell us which school your son is dominating. We would love to meet the guy,
MiltonMan
September 12th, 2010
10:21 am
Another advantage to Milton County: very few Obama stickers seen in the area except in the school parking areas.
J.B. STONER
September 12th, 2010
10:28 am
Fire Eater ===
I appreciate you supporting my comments, however morons and kool-aid drinkers like ‘Dewstarpath’ (?) and Ayn Rant need to get a grip.
Yes, the ship is sinking, and idiots LIKE THEM are at the helm….. Scarry,isn’t it…..
J.B. STONER
September 12th, 2010
10:30 am
Am seeing LESS AND LESS O-Blo- Me stickers EVERTWHERE………..
Wonder where these twits went?
Real American
September 12th, 2010
11:08 am
JB shouldnt you be preaching a sermon in a church full of your inbred relatives somewhere?
J.B. STONER
September 12th, 2010
11:18 am
Real american…………..
Go to your mosque , take off your tinney-poos,drop to your rug and pray the one you elected stops destroying this country.
Stay thirsty my friend…….
JC
September 12th, 2010
11:53 am
Let Milton County secede. Their tax base isn’t enough to support their services since the highest taxes for local governments comes from commercial and industrial. While North Fulton has commercial, it has NO industrial – all that’s in Atlanta, Fairburn/Union City and Fulton Industrial. So go ahead, seceded and maybe the rest of Fulton County can stop subsidizing your schools, libraries, etc. Just look at what is happening in the City of Milton that can’t even afford to pave its own roads. Just think what happens when you have to build your own court system, jail system, etc.
Scott
September 12th, 2010
11:59 am
Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority …there you have it
J.B. STONER
September 12th, 2010
12:14 pm
Scott ———-
It’s “Moving Africans Rapidly Through Atlanta”………………….
You knew that, don’t act dumb…….
Scott
September 12th, 2010
12:15 pm
I’m not sure what the advantage is for N. Fulton. Most of the area is in the form of cities not unincorporated Fulton. Jan Jones is on a crusade that relies on a belief that she has, which gives no deference to what the facts are (seem familiar). People like Emma Darnell are in my opinion, vile holdovers who believe it is still 1960 in race relations (and seem rather racist themselves…aka…Fulton librarian lawsuit). But she is but one person, and you cant use her as a basis for the county to be split. The problem is Fulton County government itself. It needs to be reformed to reflect #1 the fact that there is very little unincorporated area compared to 20yrs ago. #2 population trends. The way it is now only fosters the us vs them and black vs white (where’s mine) gridlock. Reforming Fulton is something the state legislature will have to do, hopefully soon. That is a much better solution than the enormous costs of a new county (which we all will end up paying for somehow)
DEWSTARPATH
September 12th, 2010
12:20 pm
STONER – Enough already.
DEWSTARPATH
September 12th, 2010
12:21 pm
Here’s a thought – try practicing a thing called
reading comprehension . Pick up a book
instead of a keyboard sometime. Maybe you’ll be
able to participate in an adult conversation –
or at least be able to spell before you post
your ‘opinions’ online.
Scott
September 12th, 2010
12:21 pm
The question JB, was what it stood for…which I answered. I knew that one too, but I obviously have better upbringing than you since I saw it as tasteless, racist and inappropriate…but those three things are what you’re all about…so I guess if the shoe fits… and yes I know you’re trying to push my buttons I hope and you are not such a hateful person in your day to day life. I guess next someones gonna call me a liberal…cause you know
Liberal = what they call you when they run out of facts to support their argument
DEWSTARPATH
September 12th, 2010
12:21 pm
The ‘Kool Aid’ reference that you and other
fringe operatives like to use originated from
the 1978 mass – suicide of Jim Jones and his
religious followers in Guyana (So. America).
The cult members were forced to drink a con –
coction made up of Kool Aid laced with cyanide.
North Fulton Mom
September 12th, 2010
12:22 pm
Milton Man,
Congratulations! I’m thrilled to see the kids doing well!! I recently hugged several off on their journeys to higher learning, including one of my own. It’s a joy, but we will miss them! (*sniffle sob!*)
My apologies on the smoking comment, but I was merely tossing out the same kind of stereotypical prejudice that you toss around with apparently no compunction. Of course I will not name my child, who is well-known in our community, just to prove something on a blog.
My point is that your hubris for your own success, and your disdain for others you do not know, is misguided and does not serve a useful purpose. I stand by that observation unless and until you demonstrate otherwise.
Have a blessed day!!
Real Athens
September 12th, 2010
12:27 pm
Linda @ 9:41 PM
I learned long ago that hitting the sauce, composing something and then hitting the send button is a really, bad idea.
It makes you “venerable” (sic) to all kinds of jokes. Before long people like JB will be calling for your ‘uthinization’ (sic).
The idea of combining city and county services always sounds like a good idea. However, there are some in Athens that believe population centric areas receive an inordinate amount of services – more than their rural counterparts. I tend to agree.
But like another blogger on here, ‘I don’t have a dog in the that hunt’.
I will say this to the North Fulton folks. Be careful what you wish for. Gwinnett County benefitted from a mass exodus of folks (guess their race and ethnicity) from Fulton and Dekalb Counties in the 70’s and 80’s for a number of valid and invalid reasons. Where would you rather own a home today: In the city of Decatur or say, Oakhurst or a subdivision off of Jimmy Carter Blvd.?
DEWSTARPATH
September 12th, 2010
12:28 pm
That analogy is erroneous and shouldn’t be
used to describe current events. Do better.
Maybe one day you can ‘be at the helm’, too.
DEWSTARPATH
September 12th, 2010
12:31 pm
- Class separation has never been a reason
to create a city. There is no civil war – Milton
doesn’t need to secede from anything.
JF McNamara
September 12th, 2010
12:35 pm
MiltonMan,
I’m the moron, but you’re the one anonymously posting stereotypical comments about South Fulton. You have the best schools in the state because high paying companies moved into your area because they wanted to be close to Atlanta. It’s not because the people there were are so smart. Its because of the smart people who work in Atlanta and moved there for various reasons. Without Fulton and Atlanta, North Fulton would be a poor country county with mediocre schools and a small population.
My point is that everything that North Fulton is now became that way because they are part of Fulton county. As hard as it may be to you to acknowledge, the arrangement of being in Fulton has been excellent for you.
Scott
September 12th, 2010
12:41 pm
@DEWSTARPATH
“- Class separation has never been a reason
to create a city. There is no civil war – Milton
doesn’t need to secede from anything.”
Whereas that should be correct, there is real sentiment out there in varying degrees that it isn’t and we have to deal with that by making people have more faith in their local officials. Milton Co. is NOT the answer. Better, more transparent, less corrupt government is whats needed. A system where our money works for something other than cronyism (and thats on both sides people), and the best and brightest get the jobs not the person who contributed to someones campaign or their in-laws cousins aunt. Maybe its wishful thinking…hell I live in Dekalb anyway (unincorporated thank you very much…low taxes)
DEWSTARPATH
September 12th, 2010
12:45 pm
JF McNamara — September 12th, 2010
12:35 pm
“Without Fulton and Atlanta, North Fulton
would be a poor country county with mediocre
schools and a small population.”
– Excellent point, McNamara.
I wonder how many of those ‘mom and pop’
stores could accomodate the office inventory
and equipment necessary to run a Fortune 500
company ?
DEWSTARPATH
September 12th, 2010
12:50 pm
Scott —- September 12th, 2010
12:41 pm
“A system where our money works for something other than cronyism
(and thats on both sides people), and the best and brightest get the jobs
not the person who contributed to someones campaign or
their in-laws cousins aunt.”
No argument from me, Scott. But in a state with 160 counties
(Texas has 254; California 67), what is the chance of this
occuring ?
Real Athens
September 12th, 2010
12:59 pm
Scott:
The thing that is so frustrating is that the utopia you describe is so attainable if we could keep a factual, honest discourse about government (local, state and federal) separate from speech about mosques, Christians, Muslims, Koran burnings, “don’t ask don’t tell”, sexual orientation, the reproductive system of women and it’s functions, etc. ad nauseum.
Scott
September 12th, 2010
1:17 pm
@Real Athens
It starts one person at a time. You cant depend on government reforming itself. It has to come from each individual. The problem these days is that facts/respect for intelligence are demonized these days. In an age were misinformation can spread so quickly (death panels) the task is very hard
J.B. STONER
September 12th, 2010
1:19 pm
dewstarpath(?)…………
You have an opinion (like otherthings) and so do I, son…
You enjoy the ride ,note the scenic view out the window, and a year from now, get back to me on how great things are.
Oh, and by the way, don’t open your pie hole as you circle the drain.
You wanted him , you got him….ENJOY.
DEWSTARPATH
September 12th, 2010
2:15 pm
- Son ? You magically know everyone’s age now ?
I don’t recall giving mine out anywhere online.
And you don’t have to worry about my handle, either.
That’s for ME to understand – not YOU.
As far as a year from now – I presume from your post
you’re talking about the POTUS – don’t drink that Kool Aid
you mentioned. Your life shouldn’t ONLY be determined by
what politician is elected or who is President. You have to
be ‘the master of your fate and the captain of your soul’ –
– William Ernest Henley.
Willie
September 12th, 2010
2:25 pm
As long as Emma Darnell and Bill Edwards are being elected by the voters of Fulton County, there will be a growing demand for Milton County. No one wants to be governed by racists.
Hosea Williams
September 12th, 2010
4:53 pm
I remember jb back when the klu kluck tried to stop me from going into Forsyth and we made it anyhow. I had enough marchers and was determined to make it an we did.
Transportation Now...
September 12th, 2010
4:55 pm
Willie…Emma and Bill both represent South Fulton. You need to focus on your commissioners for north fulton and those from the county at large…I’m not for a new milton especially if it means land that was not part of the original milton. So should south fulton re-create Campbell county. I remind everyone that south fulton doesn’t go to Grady. We(union city, fairburn, palmetto) go to Fayetteville because its closer. We don’t have a marta station south of the Airport and thereby nothing outside of the perimeter unlike North Fulton…hmmm…Yeah lets talk about inequity…Remember all the Airport Industries are here so you know there is a significant tax base.
@@
September 12th, 2010
5:28 pm
Since I have no idea where Milton is, I have no comment to offer. There does seem to be an exorbitant number of counties in Georgia.
If there’s one with a total population of say….1,500, that’s where I wanna be.
Hillbilly Deluxe
September 12th, 2010
6:22 pm
@@
Milton was formed in 1857 from parts of Forsyth, Cherokee, and Cobb Counties. It , as well as Campbell, folded into Fulton during the Depression, for economic reasons. I don’t live there, so the people who do live there can sort it out. They don’t need me to tell them what to do.
http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/histcountymaps/miltonhistmaps.htm
On the larger question of the number of counties in Georgia, I have no problem with things being the way they are. Coming from a rural perspective, I probably see things a bit different than someone with an urban or suburban perspective. I like the fact that if I go to the courthouse, I actually know the people there. I’m not walking in and dealing with a bunch of strangers. I get treated a little more as an actual person, rather than a number.
As for economy, if the Clerk of the Courts office in county A employees 5 people and in county B they employee 5 people, merging the counties would still probably result in an office of 11 people. I don’t see where it would save a whole lot of money, and I like having representative government close to home (9 miles). If my county got folded into another, I’d probably have a 25-30 mile drive to the courthouse.
SouthernLiving
September 12th, 2010
8:09 pm
North Fulton area being attached to Atlanta makes no sense people. Just look at the map of Fulton County…restore Milton county.
Lil' Barry Bailout
September 12th, 2010
8:20 pm
Milton should absolutely be made a separate county, so that the folks paying the bills can enjoy the benefits their tax dollars are funding.
Lil' Barry Bailout
September 12th, 2010
8:22 pm
Ronin: Without the NF tax revenue, they will be unable to maintain services.
————
Well, they could just raise taxes, right? That seems to be the Democrat solution to most any problem.
Lil' Barry Bailout
September 12th, 2010
8:25 pm
Only 860 days until Mike Luckovich starts doing cartoons critical of the President.
Luckovich: Coward. Sellout.
Cutty
September 13th, 2010
12:52 am
As long as Milton reimburses Fulton County for al the infrastructure it has built up that way, they can do whatever they want. Otherwise, its theft.
We’ll really see the new Milton go the way as the old Milton, and these secessionists will have only themselves to blame. Atlanta is still the goose that lays the golden egg, no matter what anyone says. Georgia would be Mississippi without it.
itpdude
September 13th, 2010
5:53 am
Don’t we already have the most counties of any state in the US? And we want another county? Seems silly to me. But the North Fulton folks wanted those cities (how’s that workin’ for ya?) so we now have police doing some major revenue raising via speedtraps and police literally patrolling for seatbelt violations in hopes of finding something bigger with which to raise money.
North Fulton already has the best streets in the county, the lowest crime in the county, and the best schools in the county. What are they complaining about?
Do the Math?
September 13th, 2010
8:39 am
Hey, I am simply confused on the statement in the article above that says “an Atlanta-Fulton County consolidated” would still be the FOURTH-largest local government in Georgia (Milton would be fifth).
Wouldn’t it be the LARGEST (in terms of population like Fulton already is now)?
Or was that a reference to land size?
Not germane to the argument here; I was just curious because that comment didn’t seem to add up.
Carry on.
Do the Math?
September 13th, 2010
8:41 am
NEVER MIND…that’s without Milton…the whole point of the article…
Carry on.
CAIR Bears
September 13th, 2010
9:06 am
HA! Dewstar is arguing with other people instead of me!
CAIR Bears
September 13th, 2010
9:07 am
“JB shouldnt you be preaching a sermon in a church full of your inbred relatives somewhere?”
I always love how retards from GA talk about other people in the sense of being inbred but they themselves……reside in GA.
Intown
September 13th, 2010
11:19 am
Milton County would not be good for anyone. In the short term, whoever ends up making Milton Co would reap tax benefits. In the end it would polarize and tank the entire metro area.
Pro-Milton advocates have never been honest about this debate. They’ve spent State tax dollars on a one-sided study, they’ve included all of Sandy Springs in their plans even though most of Sandy Springs was ALWAYS part of Fulton County, AND their legislation would hold a referendum only in those parts of the county seeking to secede from Fulton.
If they were honest, they would have an independant unbiased study of the proposal, they would draw the boundaries based on the real history of Milton and they would let the entire county vote on the referendum to break it up. But, they are liars.
No More Progressives!
September 13th, 2010
11:27 am
Ayn Rant
September 11th, 2010
9:50 am
The 9/11 terrorist attack was punishment for the US support of Israel and the secular governments in the Arab countries (Saudi Arabia’s king, Egypt’s “fake” democracy, etc.). Al Qaeda strives to unite the Arab countries under Islamic fundamentalist rule, and to destroy Israel. They don’t give a rat’s butt about America’s “freedom” or way of life; they just want us to butt out of the Middle East.
They just want us to butt out.
Well why in the heck are they building mosques here? If we butt out, will they go home?
NO!!!
DEWSTARPATH
September 13th, 2010
11:29 am
CAIR Bears —- September 13th, 2010
9:06 am
“HA! Dewstar is arguing with other people instead of me!”
– HA! Hard to believe, isn’t it – since you are on here
more than any other poster in AJC history. Someone
else got a word in edgewise.
tommytwotone
September 13th, 2010
11:59 am
“So, the pro-Milton crowd needs to make the case that the rest of Fulton would be better off, too.”
—————
Um, no we don’t. Fulton can worry about Fulton. Like another poster said, let the dems in the city limits raise taxes on everything to make up for it. Since the Democrats love taxes so much, they won’t mind.
Mrs. Fulton
September 13th, 2010
12:31 pm
You think you can just take all the money you made while we were together and walk away! HA! You think you’ll be happier without me and everything *I* brought into this marriage? Good luck and good riddance! Of course it will cost you. What, do you think you can go from being broke to being wealthy during all our years together, then just take all the goodies and scram? TALK ABOUT YOUR ENTITLEMENT MENTALITY! Pay up on your way out.
Hillbilly Deluxe
September 13th, 2010
1:36 pm
Don’t we already have the most counties of any state in the US?
No. Texas has 254.
Jefferson Jackson
September 13th, 2010
3:57 pm
Whatever happened to “free determination.” If the prople in that part of Fulton want to split and form Milton County, so be it. The fact that central and south Fulton would “sufer” for loss of tax revenues is indicative of the problem.
CAIR Bears
September 13th, 2010
4:14 pm
“since you are on here
more than any other poster in AJC history. ”
Guess you’ve never visited Bookman’s blog. Guarantee you will change your tune once you see the clowns who post over there 24/7. I’ve actually cut back since Kyle got mad at me for calling other people retards.
catlady
September 13th, 2010
5:13 pm
Ms. Jones needs to understand that “economies of scale” doesn’t work well in education. In buying widgets, perhaps. But education is too sensitive to input to determine output. Kids are not widgets you can buy in bulk.
DEWSTARPATH
September 13th, 2010
6:36 pm
CAIR Bears —– September 13th, 2010
4:14 pm
– I’ve been to Bookman’s blog before.You’re right about the number.
Six or seven pages of posts is a lot to read through and respond.
Legend of Len Barker
September 13th, 2010
9:25 pm
@Jefferson Jackson: “Free determination” as in the creation of a new county, is currently prohibited in the state constitution.
Unless you can get two counties to combine. Or can convince Alabama or Florida to take Seminole off our hands.
chris
September 14th, 2010
10:54 am
A little history – the reason we have so many counties is the “county unit system” a jim crow era scheme for allocating state legislators. By creating a bunch of small white controlled counties they could out vote large counties with sizable black populations (Fulton.)
Jefferson
September 14th, 2010
11:00 am
Well I thought about this for the last 2 DAYS, and I still say NO.
Legend of Len Barker
September 14th, 2010
11:39 am
@chris
A – The vast, vast majority of Georgia counties predate the county-unit system, which was introduced in the 1910s.
B – The number of counties exploded thanks to the expansion of railroads in the state. County seats were also hugely affected. Fairburn became Campbell’s county seat because Campbellton refused to allow the railroad to come through.
C – In comparison with other counties, Fulton didn’t have much of a black population. Places like Glynn and Burke counties were 80% minority 100 years ago. Farming was the main industry and Fulton just didn’t have that. Well, not nearly at the same level.
South Fulton
September 21st, 2010
11:32 am
Again, I remind you that this is a mute point because the whole state would have to vote to change the state constitution….Not gnna happen.