Blue Ridge Taxpayer Association April 15 Message

News

TO ALL ASSOCIATION MEMBERS AND FUTURE MEMBERS:On this Tax Day, we thought it appropriate to bring you our first update and report. At the time of this writing we are 230 members strong and growing. For those of you hearing about us for the first time, these are the values represented.

Blue Ridge Taxpayer Association Vision:
Our vision is a representative local government that is based on ethics, transparency and accountability whereby elected officials respect their constituency and act on behalf of the citizens they represent.

Blue Ridge Taxpayer Association Mission:
Our mission is to provide Taxpayers of The City of Blue Ridge and Fannin County with additional eyes and ears to see and hear the nuances of actions and decisions of their local city and county government, and to keep a watchful eye on those who spend our hard earned tax dollars, while promoting awareness among citizen-voters about incompetence, waste, mismanagement and taxpayer abuse by elected officials at the local level.

“On the Plus Side”
How refreshing it is to report that a “Master Plan” for downtown Blue Ridge is close to finish and being readied for a controlled rollout of our streetscape, greenspace, depot, restrooms, and gateways. Our Council members have collaborated with professionals in the field of engineering, design, architecture and GDOT to bring to fruition a vision in the making for some time. We applaud their efforts and thank them for having the foresight to bring this valuable project to completion.

“Still in Need of Attention”
Parking (or the lack thereof) still remains an unsightly blemish on the face of downtown Blue Ridge. Other than a lack of public restrooms for our guests, public parking is the chronic problem area in need of immediate attention. While there seems to be some light at the end of the proverbial tunnel with the Mayor’s proposed public lot at City Hall, a Master Downtown Streetscape Plan and some ancillary Church lots, there still is no immediate short term solution. We also acknowledge the Council’s efforts to identify potential new parking spaces; however we still think a short term fix is needed. Can we apply some constructive logic to temporarily reinstate some of the many parking spaces that have been arbitrarily and unilaterally deemed “off limits”. Has anybody actually seen a delivery being made to the Masonic Lodge that requires so much No Parking area? This is just one example of many that seem to defy common sense. If there is no safety concern, and perfect compliance with the parking ordinance is the only issue, then let’s just vote to change the ordinance! As we all know, all it takes is a 3 to 2 vote.

“Unacceptable”
Every resident of Fannin County and the City of Blue Ridge have routinely observed the conduct displayed by our elected officials. While we all appreciate their willingness to serve, we simply cannot tolerate the personal bickering that seems to be the rule rather than the exception. It has become increasingly obvious that our County Commission and City Council administer their duties like a dysfunctional family while denying any mutual respect for one another. While they claim to be representing the will of their constituents, they continue to push their own agendas with a total lack of transparency. Let us not forget that we are the envy of all the surrounding Counties. We are the ‘Belle of the Ball’, the ‘Captain of the Football Team’ and yet every time the City Attorney is contacted for another frivolous clarification we continue to WASTE valuable tax dollars that could be used for much needed and on-going County and City wide improvements. Want a real eye-opener…ask one of your elected officials how much money was spent on the City Attorney in the last 18 months. It is shocking! Let’s work together to retain our place of prominence. Please, stop the waste and do what’s right for the good of the City and County. We urge you all to do some ‘soul searching’ asking yourself, “Am I really doing what’s best for the City or the County?” “Would my voting record and past performance get me re-elected if a vote were taken today…Tax Day?” The answer may surprise you!

RESPECTFULLY,

THE BLUE RIDGE TAX PAYERS ASSOCIATION

TO JOIN: [email protected]

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