Outgoing City Council Bids Farewell

Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer and Councilman Tod Warner said their official good-byes to city council business during Monday evening's meeting, as both men are leaving the bench.

It was the final meeting for both, with Tod Warner completing four-year term on council and Oberholtzer finishing a 12-year stint as a city councilman and mayor. Oberholtzer was first elected to council in 1999, and then in 2003, he stepped into the shoes of then-mayor Rep. Brett Harrell.

"I've had the pleasure of serving you for the last four years, and it has been my pleasure, its with a very heavy heart that I leave this position because quite frankly I love doing the people's work," said Warner, in his final comments on city council.

"I hope I've done more good than bad."

Warner, a father and husband, is not seeking re-election to spend more time with his family. He's had to make hard decisions in the past four years, like whether he would attend his children's ball games. And, to his wife, he added, it seems like "hours and hours and hours" that he is away. 

He does plan to serve on the , however. So, he is not going far.

"I wish I could've gotten more accomplished, but that's the way politics is," he said. "I truly enjoyed the last two years, the first two, nahhhh, not so much."

Warner was taking a jab at the contention that befell the city for years, with bickering among council members, unproductive sessions and negative media attention.

Oberholtzer, who cannot run again, will leave his position to either come November. The new council sits for its first meeting November 14.

In his last remarks, the mayor thanked his staff for their professionalism and help during . In addition, he thanked the council members -- and their have been several -- who he "talked into" stepping on city council with him.

"I wish my future mayor good luck," he said. "Thank you citizens for allowing me to serve for the last 12 years."

He also used last council report to state his position on the that Snellville and other Gwinnett County cities have worked to solve. Now that the county plans to fight the recent decision, Oberholtzer said it will cost the cities upwards of another $200,000 to contest. That would bring the total to some $1 million of taxpayers' money.

"This shouldn't have happened," he said. "We've had agreements numerous times," but since winning the county leaders still have "not been able to solve it."

"I believe that in the future, that'll be taken care of in the election of 2012," Oberholtzer added.

Two residents spoke on the record about the outgoing members.

Kurt Schulz, who helped start the city's farmers' market and , commented that he wished he'd gotten to know Warner more: "It's been a fast four years." Regarding the mayor, he said, "guess will be friends forever."

"It's been a rollercoaster for you," Schulz also said to the mayor. "Some very good times. Some very rough times. Some very good times again. But, one thing you always kept your head above board."

Michelle Couch, who is active in civic business, said to the mayor that citizen's always knew where he stood. To both Warner and Oberholtzer she offered gratitude.

"You all do so much," she said. "And, it's very thankless most of the time."