Rep. Brett Harrell Discusses 2013 Budget Hearings

Budget hearings, guns, vintage cars were among the topics of discussion.

Local Representatives Say "Keep In Touch"

State House Representatives Brett Harrell (106) and Joyce Chandler (105) meet with citizens before the start of the 2013 session.

Rep. Brett Harrell and new elected Rep. Joyce Chandler met with citizens in Grayson at a Town Hall meeting last week. It was an opportunity for citizen input about those things that are important to our community as well as an informational meeting pertaining to what our Representatives hope to accomplish during the 2013 session.  The informal discussion included topics ranging from Fair Tax initiatives to charter schools and ethics reform.  Fair Tax - This is not something the state can do in a single year; it is something that if approved, will take several years to phase into. We are already phasing out state property tax and last year's tax reform included definition of what is taxable. For example, consumers must now pay taxes on …

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State Legislators: State Law Does Not Prohibit Donating Sick Leave to Mark Rinehart

The decision to allow donated sick leave is not at the state level, but local, according to state legislators.

Update Aug. 12, 9:23 a.m.:  The Rineharts learned yesterday that Mark has 30 days of leave, not 60 as they originally thought.   In the latest turn of events surrounding the Rineharts, it appears that there is no state law preventing fellow teachers from donating their sick leave to South Gwinnett math teacher Floyd Mark Rinehart.  Rinehart is caring for his wife, Hannah, as she recovers from a bacterial infection that resulted in blood poisoning.  Both hands and feet were amputated.   Teachers at South Gwinnett have come together in support of the family, and offered to donate their paid time off (PTO) so that Mark could spend more time with his wife and still receive a paycheck.  At first, it seemed a state law prohibited those teachers …

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Lawyers and Officials Speak Out About Gun Laws

On and offline, local personalities and officials discuss the "discussion" on gun laws in city parks.

Although the city is not currently pursuing a ban on guns in city parks – specifically, Briscoe Park – an uproar was caused when the issue even made it to the June 11 city council meeting agenda for discussion. Mayor Kelly Kautz was quick to issue a statement clarifying her intent. “First and foremost, this was an agenda item on the mayor and council work session for discussion purposes only,” she wrote in a letter to the editor. “No action has been proposed in the City of Snellville in relation to firearms. ...Our city attorney has been asked to review the existing state laws on having a firearm in the city park, Briscoe, and to review the incident of what happen in a corresponding Gwinnett city.” That last statement increased the buzz …

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Rep. Brett Harrell Seeking Re-election

Snellville resident Brett Harrell announces his official bid for the newly formed House District 106.

(Editor's Note: This is taken from a press release from State Rep. Brett Harrell's campaign.) Rep. Brett Harrell, conservative member of the Georgia General Assembly, officially announced his campaign for re-election to State House District 106.   The new State House District 106 is comprised of the vast majority of Snellville and smaller portions of Lawrenceville, Grayson, and Loganville.   “I am grateful to represent the citizens and businesses in District 106 at the State House and I look forward to expanding that representation to include those newly added portions of Lawrenceville, Grayson, and Loganville beginning next session,” said Harrell.   Harrell is the former mayor of Snellville where he cut property taxes by 38 percent over …

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Seen and Heard: Gwinnett County GOP Town Hall Meeting

Snellville Patch attended the recent GOP town hall meeting in Snellville.

We attended the GOP town hall meeting in Snellville, Ga., on Nov. 1, 2011. State Reps. Brett Harrell and Len Walker; State Sen. Don Balfour; Gwinnett County Commissioner Mike Beaudreau; Carole Boyce, a school board member; and Dr. Robert McClure, school board chairman were present at the meeting to take the public's questions.  See the attached videos for a little of what we heard. Below, we gathered a few quotes of the night. On federal judge’s ruling, allowing Lake Lanier to be used for water consumption: “That was very, very good news. If we had overreacted to some folks a couple of years ago, we would have spent hundreds of millions of dollars. Gwinnett would have taken out loans and who knows how much money to build reservoirs.” --…

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Wednesday's Woman

Wednesday's Woman: Diane Kokinos Harrell

Seasoned Snellville hairdresser and wife of State Rep. Brett Harrell takes pride in her Greek heritage and being "my own person"

Diane Kokinos Harrell describes herself as “Greek and very strong-willed.” That determination is a big reason why her hairdressing business has amassed some 500 regular clients. But the hard-working Harrell also has a gregarious personality  that helps make her home-based establishment a happy place to be. “It’s like a constant party at my shop,” she said. Harrell, wife of State Representative Brett Harrell and mother to their grown son, who will turn 21 in July, said she’s always wanted to be a hairdresser and had inspiring role models that made the profession appealing. “I used to come with my mom to Siggers [Hairdressers],” Harrell said, referring to  the longtime Atlanta salon.  “I just thought the owner [Carol Siggers] was beautiful. …

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Legislation Proposed to Remove Fees from Property Tax Bills

Bill would prevent stormwater and trash fees from being included in tax bills.

Snellville State Representative Brett Harrell has introduced legislation which would prohibit non-tax fees from appearing on property tax bills. In Gwinnett County, property tax bills include fees for stormwater, street lights and street humps. Last year, a solid waste service fee to cover the costs of county mandated trash collection was also added. "I'm concerned my property could be liened for a fee," Rep. Harrell said. "I don't think it's appropriate that my home could have a lien on it because I didn't pay a street light fee or a stormwater fee." If H.B. 291 passes, no property tax bill in Georgia could include these fees. The law would require collections and payments of these fees to be mailed separately from the property tax bills…

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Harrell Talks With Citizens

State Rep. Brett Harrell hosts his first town hall meeting since being sworn in.

Rep. Brett Harrell (R-Snellville) met with his constituents Saturday during a special town hall forum, his first since being sworn in as District 106's newest legislator.  Meeting with a crowd of about 25 citizens and city council, Harrell detailed his first visit to state legislature, noting that they were already a quarter through legislation, only four weeks into the new year. "I’m having a blast," Harrell said. "There is a lot to see and learn." Since joining the state legislature, Harrell has become a member of the information and audits, transportation, and regulated industries committees. Harrell said he is in awe of the caliber of his fellow freshman class, noting that many legislators are already tackling under-examined issues …

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Rep. Brett Harrell Hosts Town Hall Meeting

Event to be held Saturday at Snellville City Hall.

Rep. Brett Harrell (R-Snellville) will have his first town hall forum since being sworn in as state representative for District 106. Rep. Harrell would like to hear citizen's concerns regarding the state budget, economy and jobs, transportation, education, water and any other issues of concerns for the area. District 106 includes Snellville and parts of unincorporated Grayson and Lilburn areas within Gwinnett County. Time and Date: Saturday, Feb. 5, 10 a.m. - noon. Location: Snellville City Hall, 2342 Oak Road in Snellville If citizens are unable to attend, they can e-mail Rep. Harrell at brett@voteharrell.com.

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