District 3 Commission Candidates Weigh in on Trash Plan

Next month, voters in Gwinnett County District 3 will decide if Mike Beaudreau, Tommy Hunter, Mike Korom or Jerry Oberholtzer will serve as the area's next county commissioner.

Patch asked each of the candidates to answer a series of questions relating to current political issues. The questionnaires were based in part on questions submitted by readers. Patch did not limit the length of the responses. Each candidate's answers are presented unedited and in their entirety.

Candidate:  Mike Beaudreau
Occupation:  national accounts manager
Campaign website:  www.mikebeaudreau.com
Campaign Facebook page:  Mike Beaudreau
Campaign Twitter account: @MikeBeaudreau

4.) Do you think it is appropriate to include the county garbage fee on the county tax bill? Would you support efforts to return the power to negotiate contracts with trash haulers back to the citizens? Why or why not?

The county’s current contracts with the waste haulers are in effect for the next six years.  Any candidate that is promising to cancel or return to the old system within our term as Commissioner is not being truthful with the people.  Canceling these contracts to allow residents to select their own hauler would subject the county to likely penalties and lawsuits, which I could not support.  As a result, decisions regarding modifications will be made at least four years from now, after my final term on the Board would end.

Since the Board approved the current waste collection system, haulers have reported a tremendous increase in the amount of recycling.  In addition, the amount of waste collected has also increased.  That is resulted in our Commercial property owners seeing a decrease in the amount of illegally dumped waste in their dumpsters as well as a decrease in the amount of waste found along our streets. 

The Board recently modified the waste ordinance to provide for a rate reduction for senior citizens, and a method of waiving the fee for certain unoccupied houses.  Our internal surveys show the vast majority of residents are satisfied with the current system.

Candidate:  Tommy Hunter
Occupation:  civil engineer
Campaign website:  www.ElectTommy.com
Campaign Facebook page:  Elect Tommy Hunter

4.) Do you think it is appropriate to include the county garbage fee on the county tax bill? Would you support efforts to return the power to negotiate contracts with trash haulers back to the citizens? Why or why not? 

Absolutely not.  I would support any effort to return to the citizens the power to choose who they do business with.  As a matter of fact, I do not believe government has the right to interfere with the citizens' right to choose who they do business with for any reason.  A free society and a free market comes with risks and inconvienences -- including more than one garbage company operating trucks in a neighborhood.

Candidate:  Mike Korom
Occupation:  independent contractor
Campaign website:  www.mikekorom.com
Campaign Facebook page:  Elect Mike Korom

4.) Do you think it is appropriate to include the county garbage fee on the county tax bill? Would you support efforts to return the power to negotiate contracts with trash haulers back to the citizens? Why or why not?

No, I do not think it’s appropriate to include a garbage fee on the county tax bill.  I would support efforts to return the power to the citizens of Gwinnett.  If homeowners want only one or two haulers in their neighborhood; they should band together to negotiate a lower fee.  If elected, I’ll immediately start the process to ensure the contract is not renewed.  As we heard from Commissioner Beaudreau, the fee is now higher due to the lawsuit brought against Gwinnett, so in effect, we’re paying for that lawsuit through our trash bill. 

Candidate:  Jerry Oberholtzer
Occupation:  former mayor of Snellville
Campaign website:  www.JerryOberholtzer.com
Campaign Facebook page:  Jerry Oberholtzer

4.) Do you think it is appropriate to include the county garbage fee on the county tax bill? Would you support efforts to return the power to negotiate contracts with trash haulers back to the citizens? Why or why not?

Gwinnett’s residents should not pay more for garbage service than they have to. If the county is going to negotiate trash service on behalf of its residents, it should be able to provide it at a price cheaper than individual negotiations.

Unfortunately, Gwinnett signed an eight year contract for garbage collection that is supervised and ordered by the Gwinnett Superior Court. Part of that contract was the provision that the fee be included on the tax bill.

While I do not agree with some of the terms and conditions of the contract, it is under court order.  Any effort to break this contract now may cost the county more money than it would save its residents in the long run. I am not prepared to spend an estimated one million dollars of taxpayer’s money trying to break the contract, an effort that may ultimately fail.

What I am prepared to do is help pass an ordinance requiring open, competitive bidding for any future contracts to give our residents the best rates possible.