Local Businessman: I Am Not a Fan of Current 'Runaway Government'

In this open letter, Cartersville businessman and resident John Cook opines on Bartow County Commissioner Steve Taylor's recent move to raise property taxes by 25 percent and describes a recent issue with city of Cartersville officials over a fire hydrant installed downtown. 

Okay, I am not a fan of our current government.  I think government has forgotten who they work for and who they ultimately answer to.  I equally can't stand as many Republicans as I can't stand Democrats - not sure what that makes me but here is my most recent encounter. 

I was in the process of inking a deal that would firmly plant Mellow Mushroom in downtown Cartersville (several new jobs, renovation work for our hurting local businesses and construction workers, and a ton of tax revenue for the city).  The owner of MM was coming to make a final inspection of the site and we were ready - or at least I thought we were.  In the meantime the city of Cartersville went over and cut out a huge section of sidewalk and installed a shiny new fire hydrant right in front of our location.  No communication (uh, we have a DDA whose director works for the city now, right?), no notice (on the door perhaps, maybe a phone call, an email, something.....), just BOOM here it is.  As soon as I saw this I went over and met with our Assistant City Manager and explained the predicament.  He rounded up a posse of high ranking City Department heads (fire, engineering, etc.) and came over to see what I was fussing about.  In the end they agreed to move it pending the MM plans for outdoor seating - also agreed to move the tree planter if needed.  Problem solved, right?  

My point is that the city determined without making any notice or soliciting anyone's opinion that a hydrant was needed at that exact location.  They don't seem to realize that now they have to move it at an additional cost to us taxpayers - we must now pay twice for one thing to be done right.  I don't think this is an isolated event, and if not, how much of our tax dollars are being spent twice (or more) to do one thing right?  Their solution is always tax more if the money is getting low.......
  
Government is a runaway train mowing down all resistance in front of it, and the only way to stop a runaway train is to hope it runs out of fuel. 

Commissioner Taylor just pumped about 5 million gallons of fuel into the county runaway train despite strong vocal opposition so looks like that train is going to stay out of control for a while longer.  And I love the comments from people saying that the cuts were placed on the backs of county workers.  I thought it was the taxpayers backs that were bearing the burden of funding dysfunctional and way too costly government........ 

John Cook
Cartersville (UCLA)

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