Minutes of City Council Meeting 6/16/14

MINUTES OF MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEETING

CITY OF KENNESAW

Council Chambers

Monday, June 16, 2014

6:30 p.m.

(Extract of Minutes for pages 26 to 36)

Zoning Administrator Darryl Simmons presented agenda items IX-D, E and F

concurrently.

Mayor Mathews said he was recently made aware of a blog implying that it comes from

him. The last date was June 10th. This is not his blog, he knows who owns the blog

and will look into it further. The blog does not express his opinions or comments. The

City will do all to help the developer and any outstanding issues for residents. Laws

have to be followed and you cannot be displaced from your home automatically.

Tonight, if you agree with public comments being made on agenda items IX-D, E and F,

stand up from your chair to show support of those comments. We will make every effort

to keep this as open as we can. He thanked everyone for coming this evening.

D. Authorization for approval of an ORDINANCE granting a rezoning request

submitted by Amak Partners and Masal Partners for property located at 1810 Old

41 Highway. Property identified as 1.29+/- acre tract in Land Lot 207, Tax Parcel

05 of the 20th District, 2nd Section, Cobb County. Applicant is seeking to rezone

property from City GC (General Commercial) to City PVC (Planned Village

Community) for inclusion into a commercial development with a residential

component. Application was advertised in the May 16, 2014 edition of the

Marietta Daily Journal. Property posted May 20, 2014. Planning Commission at

a meeting held on June 04, 2014 made recommendation to approve the rezoning

of the 1.29+/- acres from City GC (General Commercial) to City PVC (Planned

Village Community) with stipulations in attached May 30, 2014 letter from Sams,

Larkin and Huff law firm. In addition two friendly amendments to the list of

stipulations to include the following: 1). Garages to be used for vehicle storage

and 2). Driveways to be 18' in length. Vote: 5-0. Yeas: Adam Ambrecht, Jeff

Powers, Cindi Michael, Fred Moore, Craig MacNaughton. Nays: None. Staff

Recommendation: Darryl Simmons, Zoning Administrator recommended

approval with incorporation of all conditions referenced in stipulation letter dated

May 30, 2014 as prepared by law firm Sams, Larkin and Huff in addition to the

two additional conditions requested by the Planning Commission: 1) Garages to

be used for vehicle storage; and 2) Driveways to be 18' in length.

Zoning Administrator Darryl Simmons presented the rezoning request submitted by

Amak Partners and Masal Partners for property located at 1810 Old 41 Highway, the

rezoning on item IX-E and the annexation on item IX-F. The entire project is 32± acres

and the intended project is composed of four main components – 16,000 feet of retail

space along Old 41, 328 multi-family units (class A apartments), 49 townhomes, and of

that 32± acres, 11.4 is identified for future development. This is a logical extension for

the City. No objections were received from Cobb County and there were recommended

conditions from Cobb Department of Transportation. The Planning Commission

recommended unanimously to rezone and annex, along with existing conditions plus

two additional conditions: 1) Garages to be used for vehicle storage; and 2) Driveways

to be 18' in length. Attached to the agenda packet is a June 9th letter from the

applicant’s attorney Garvis Sams, restating all 36 conditions.

GARVIS SAMS (Applicant’s Attorney): Mr. Sams redistributed materials attached to the

agenda packet showing images of the project area. Since Mr. Fuqua’s 53 acre

annexation, this annexation is a logical step. Mr. Fuqua’s timeframe will be to close on

the 53 acre property at the end of this summer and vertical construction will begin in the

summer of 2015 for his $150 million development. Tonight his client is the current

property owner. At the Work Session there was an indication some issues needed to

be addressed tonight. This Cobb County property is surrounded on three sides by City

boundaries. The Intergovernmental Agreement between the County and all Cobb cities

states the County can object to the annexation, and they did not, but has certain

stipulations and steps to be addressed – traffic and transportation. These Cobb

recommendation were incorporated into the 36 stipulations within his letter. The

rezoning will be for a Planned Village Community consisting of 49 townhomes, 328

multi-family units, and retail. This proposal has been reviewed at a local and regional

level and any issues were incorporated into the stipulations.

One Councilmember

expressed that perhaps 36 stipulations may be too many. Not all of these stipulations

come from the County or the City, but from his client as well.

In Fuqua’s presentation there was not a specific relocation plan, but was incorporated to

be a part of plan review. In this instance they addressed existing residents with more

specificity. They will have $2,500 assistance for relocation to the head of household

that lives in the mobile home. These funds will not go to a homeowner or absentee

landlord, but to the resident. There are approximately 160 mobile homes on this tract

which is approximately $400,000 for assistance. Also, the property owners will provide

food and lodging allowance particularly from departure from their mobile home to an

apartment or a different mobile home. They are working with sales folks regarding the

sales of existing mobile homes. They’ll make sure schools, lodging, etc. is addressed

for the existing resident to be relocated. Fuqua is presently working with two relocation

experts. If this works well he expects this client will follow the same path. Mr. Sams

emphasized the Old 41 Highway entry that will connect with the Fuqua development by

a bridge between the two properties for vehicle and pedestrian traffic. They will have a

development agreement to pay for this bridge between the two property owners. This

will give access via Barrett Parkway as well. Some existing businesses along Stanley

Road are in negotiations with his client; Croy Engineering is working on a plan and

they’re working with Ross Memorial. His client will exert continued good faith talks. It is

estimated it will cost $235,000 to provide signalization. They agreed to Public Works

requirements regarding water detention and McCullum Airport building height

restrictions of 1,065-ft. No buildings will be this tall, it will apply to cranes during

construction. Parking ratio requirements are exceeded and there will be shared parking

between businesses and residents. These are conceptual site plans only; architectural

designs will come back to the Mayor and City Council. This will be the same for the

11.4 acre site which will come back to Council in its entirety. Branch Capital completed

a demographic study, especially regarding residential needs. There is a need for more

multi-family inventory. The report also showed rents will be $1.30 per foot. There is an

average of 95% occupancy presently in the City in multi-family units; townhomes are

anticipated to replicate Fuqua townhomes. Mr. Sams said the townhomes will sell for

$300,000 and up, will have 2-car garages, 18-ft driveways, 9-ft high ceilings and granite

countertops. Whoever develops this property will not participate in Section 8 housing or

any type of subsidized residences. He described plans and qualities of these Class A

townhomes which can be changed to condos. They will be owner occupied townhomes

only and no developers will be able to buy multiples for rentals. He discussed planned

amenities and layout – 50% will be 1-bedroom units, 45% will be 2-bedroom units, 5%

will be 3-bedroom townhomes and apartments and there will be no impact to the school

system. Retail will be similar as the Fuqua project including lighting and illumination

requirements and restrictions. He reiterated verbatim disallowed uses which are the

same as the Fuqua project. There will be on-site management; they will ensure the

Home Owners Association is properly funded and insured at all times. This is a great

opportunity to complete a five year dream with a $40 million project, expand the City

horizon and expand the tax base by over $1 million per year. Due to a humanitarian

approach for relocation and the number of stipulations, he thinks this is a great benefit

to the City.

Councilmember Killingsworth asked if Fuqua agreed to provide the same relocation

assistance. Mr. Sams replied no, Mr. Fuqua’s relocation plan has to be submitted to the

City. Councilmember Killingsworth asked for clarity on Stipulation #18 about conversion

from apartments to townhomes. Mayor Mathews said apartments can convert to

condos. Councilmember Welsh feels 600-plus apartments would be entitled and feels

this is a set up for disappointment. Mr. Sams said the plans for the 11.4 acres will come

in the future – the 300-plus would be the maximum.

Ms. Welsh said she is excited to

welcome this area into the City. She doesn’t feel a fairytale developer is the best

course of action and prefers having a developer in hand. She doesn’t want 6, 9, 12

months to go by and the residents still not know who the developer will be. Mr. Sams

assured that whoever the developer is, they will be vetted by staff, Mayor and City

Council and they can be rejected or approved in the future. Ms. Welsh commented that

entitlements really don’t mean anything – why not wait until a developer is in hand? Mr.

Sams replied that entitlements are important to a developer and all the stipulations will

be in place. Councilmember Sebastian questioned stipulation #1 – are the 328

maximum Class A apartments all on the 30+ acres? Mr. Sams replied yes. Mr.

Sebastian pointed out stipulation #18 and if you do the math, it does come to more than

600 [apartments]. What about the 11.6 acres – no more apartments? Mayor Mathews

stated that stipulation #1 is in conflict with stipulation #18. What is the intent? Mr.

Sams said both – 328 apartments is pertinent for the 34 acres; the 11 acres will be

considered later. City Attorney Randall Bentley confirms this does not include the 11+

acres and the two stipulations need to be re-written. Councilmember Welsh asked if

300+ apartments can be added to the 11+ acres? Mr. Sams replied conceivably, yes.

Councilmember Williams said the property owner has received three letters of intent

[from developers], yet this is being presented by the property owner instead of a

developer. We’re being asked to vote on a conceptual site plan from the current owner.

Mr. Sams said yes and that detailed plans would be presented at a later date. Ms.

Williams asked if the three potential developers are aware of the 36 stipulations. Will

they agree to give residents the same relocation assistance? Mayor Mathews added

the stipulations are tied to the property, not the property owner. Any developer has to

come before the Mayor and City Council. Ms. Williams questioned if the stipulations

were in place before or after the letters of intent were received – do the developers all

know? Mr. Sams said two of them know. Ms. Williams stated that she is being asked to

vote on something and she needs more than a hope and a prayer. Mr. Sams said it

was cut off at three letters of intent, but many more were interested. Ms. Williams wants

to know what a developer wants to do – they may want more townhomes instead of

apartments. It seems 600+ total, of which 50% are one-bedrooms seems to say no one

get married or have children.

Mr. Sams said he doesn’t feel developers want any more

townhomes with less apartments on the 11.3 acres. Mayor Mathews pointed out that

whatever happens, it has to come back to the Mayor and City Council. Planned Village

Community (PVC) is site plan specific. This conceptual plan may or may not look

anything like this in the future, but will have to meet these requirements. Ms. Williams

went back to stipulations #1 and #18 – if in the future this came back to us and we then

deny, she does not want to be setup for a lawsuit. Mr. Sams said this is not exactly

negotiating from a position of strength. The 11.4 acre site is starting from scratch and it

could be the same developer for both tracts. Councilmember Killingsworth went back to

the 95% need for apartments in the study – how old is the study? Mr. Sams said the

report was provided two weeks ago. Attorney Bentley recommended changes for

stipulation #1 to include “Uthis condition shall not include 11.40 acres for future

development.” Councilmember Sebastian requested the same language be added to

stipulation #18. Councilmember Williams asked if the third party management will be

on-site. Mr. Sams said typically no and also confirmed the HOA is mandatory.

8:13 PM Floor Open for Public Comments

JACQUELINE LOPEZ (Castle Lake resident): We realize we are not the land owners

and our rights are minimal, but there are two roads for every action. Treat us fairly and

with respect.

Mayor Mathews said that is the intent of the City. We don’t own the land, it’s not in the

City, we can’t act on the owners or renters behalf and are trying to be fair and equitable

to everyone.

Ms. Lopez to Mr. Sams - are the 34 acres under contract? No. Ms. Lopez confirmed

the $2,500 moving assistance is for the head of household – define head of household.

Is one single person also head of household? Mr. Sams replied said there is only one

individual as head of household whether it is one person or multiple people. Ms. Lopez

asked if she moved before a “certain event” would she still be compensated the $2,500

moving assistance. What is the “certain event?” Mr. Sams said upon Mayor and

Council approval of annexation. Mayor Mathews reminded this only applies to the 34

acres only. Ms. Lopez reconfirmed with Mr. Sams that once annexed one can move

and get the moving assistance $2,500. Mr. Sams said correct, if the Council approves it

tonight. Ms. Lopez would like that in writing. Mr. Sams pointed out it is listed in the

stipulation letter and part of the public record tonight. Ms. Lopez said that at the last

meeting [Fuqua] they said homeowners have 60-days to move once they receive a

written notice – how many days for renters? Mr. Sams replied the owner is required to

give 60 days minimum notice. Mayor Mathews said if the renter has a signed

agreement that states less than 60 days, then they must abide. Ms. Lopez asked if

management can ask us to move out of our premises before? Mr. Sams said it’s on an

individual basis, depending on the lease agreement. Ms. Lopez said many residents

have received a 30-day notice to move and doesn’t even say why. Mayor Mathews said

he heard the same rumor. Unless someone can show this in writingUwe want to see

and to share this with Mr. Sams.

Ms. Lopez said she will fax this. Not all notices to

vacate are for ethical reasons; perhaps some tenants received warnings before, but it

could have been for as simple as a barking dog or an unpaid parking ticket. A neighbor

let a visitor park on his property while visiting someone else, but management didn’t

agree and wrote a ticket. Mayor Mathews said Mr. Sams represents the owner and

may have more knowledge as it has nothing to do with the City. Mr. Sams asked her to

please fax and provide him more information. Ms. Lopez said it is important for

residents to know they have rights. If we do receive one of these letters, should we find

out why and go see a lawyer? Mayor Mathews replied that is safe advice. Ms. Lopez

thanked the smart ladies [referencing Councilmembers Welsh and Williams]. To

approve the annexation without knowing the developer who may have to start over

doesn’t make sense.

CAROL McLAUGHTON (new Kennesaw resident): She bought her trailer in March

2014 and no one told her it was obvious the property was going to be sold. She got a

letter saying there is no developer. She is 69 years old. She did some research and

found out you cannot move a mobile home if it is older than 10 years – most of them

are. She was told she has to move the trailer or get penalized. They offered to move to

the other section. She has no place to go, no money and doesn’t know what to do.

They are being kept in the dark. What’s going to happen – just throw me out with a 60

day notice? There are college kids looking for low end housing. She lives in a 53 acre

development. She understands it will happened. She’s been advised to consult with an

attorney because they should not have sold her the trailer in March. She feels she is

not the only one this has happened to.

Mayor Mathews said it was good advice to get an attorney. Anyone else in a similar

situation should get together to see an attorney. Ms. McLaughton said that when she

initially looked at Castle Lake with her brother, he asked do you know what this property

is worth. She didn’t care, this is a perfect location for her. They’re being told the

residents will be talked to individually, but she does not like letting strangers into her

home, especially because she lives alone. Mayor Mathews advised that if she is

approached by someone offering to help, contact City Hall; we will do our best to verify.

The developer will get a relocation company to administer the process and that will not

start until after they own the property. They are not going to come to her home on the

day of closing and say you have 60 days to move. Ms. McLaughton asked if she would

be notified by mail to anticipate a visitor to discuss relocation. Mayor Mathews said yes,

that is possible. City staff or the developer can perhaps send a letter out first notifying

residents to anticipate visitors.

DALE HUGHES (Kennesaw resident): He’s been a resident of Kennesaw for 26 years.

He’s getting to know these residents and the first speaker, Ms. Lopez, was the

translator. Mr. Sams gave a good presentation and first brought out the relocation

package. A few stories of people recently being sold trailers are true. It will cost $8,000

or more to move a trailer and its money the residents do not have. Mr. Hughes

implored the Council to hold back on entitlements. The property owner has proved he

will sell trailers even though he knows these changes are in the works. Mr. Sams is

selling the owner a good package with these entitlements. If the report/study he

referenced is accurate

CINDY BICKFORD (Castle Lake Resident): She moved in a trailer to Castle Lake on

May 5th for $15,000. She didn’t know any of this. It’s the best place she’s lived. $2,500

will not keep them in Cobb County and apartments are as much as mortgage payments.

We are your service people working in stores, restaurants, hotels. She’s raising two

kids and will not move to the projects. This is a safe area. Where do you want us to

go? She pays $500 a month for lot rent, which leaves money for food. She was told

she makes too much money to qualify for food stamps or Section 8 housing – and she

only makes $10.30 per hour. What we say is from our heart. What would you do if you

came home and had 60 days to move? Castle Lake outright lied to everybody. $2,500

will not be enough money. Moving trailers to the end [of the property] will be in a flood

zone and they can’t get flood insurance. We can’t make more money. She has a

school loan of $12,000 that is due. She had to take a retail job, but that’s okay. She

doesn’t understand what you want us to do. Let your conscious be your guide.

Christians don’t put Christians on the road with $2,500 in the pockets and children to

feed and no place to live.

Mayor Mathews asked Attorney Sams when he had an agreement with the property

owner to represent on this issue. Mr. Sams was contracted April 2014. The Mayor

asked doesn’t the property owner or management has to sign off on everything. Mr.

Sams said he is not cognizant of that occurring.

MARIA EREZ (Castle Lake resident): She does not want $2,500 and this other lady just

purchased that home. It isn’t fair. They use all their money from their life for just

$2,500. Her mobile home is very old and $2,500 is not enough to even rent an

apartment. Make sure to check the bad administration at the mobile park. That money

is not enough for anything.

MARY HEWELL (Castle Lake resident): She has lived at Castle Lake for 44 years. Her

main concern is the $2,500 to move. She bought the trailer brand new, has done a lot

of work to the home over the years, and it will cost $6,000 and up to move the trailer.

This is not a good choice or option to relocate. Her husband passed in 2012. To sell

her trailer she would ask more than $2,500. She does not have $6,000 or more to

move and tries to make her money stretch as it is. She knows they have to move. She

called the manager asking to call a meeting to notify the residents about a possible sale.

Management said the owner is not selling – she told her that last month. If there is no

money to move her home and she has to be out in 60 days, what is she supposed to

do?

Attorney Sams said he represents the owner specifically on the applications [rezoning

and annexation]. It may be prudent to continue or table these items so he can consult

with his client regarding these issues. He does not have answers to these questions.

Mayor Mathews said his opinion is to continue these agenda items instead of tabling so

the public hearing can continue to another meeting. Tonight was advertised for a public

hearing. Future speakers will have the opportunity in a public hearing if the item is

continued. The applicant is requesting the delay. Mr. Sams is a reputable attorney and

works hard to do what is right. By asking for a continuance indicates he is not aware of

these residential issues.

MARIA GARCIA (Castle Lake resident): She was told to leave in 30 days and she has

no time to raise $5,000 to move. She does not have money for a hotel. They say she

can’t be there even now. $2,500 won’t be enough money for anything. Stop the office

people from their harassment – they don’t even give back deposits.

GRAMMIE BILLINGSLY (Castle Lake resident): She had a small stroke and left

Kennestone to be here tonight. She has lived at Castle Lake for 37 years and everyone

calls her Grammie. She cannot speak with management whose name is Marilyn. She

was taught to respect elders and she gets no respect from Marilyn – Marilyn only

respects money. These people are not telling you lies tonight. Marilyn keeps saying

they are not going to sell. Ms. Billingsly has her faith to help carry her home.

MARY YOUNG (Castle Lake resident): She too has been told by management that

nothing is going on and yet another neighbor was given 30 days to leave. Ms. Young’s

daughter has this mobile home for 12 years. Ms. Aggie said the letter was a mistake –

all the way up to a month ago. She does not want Section 8 housing. This is a 1986

trailer; her daughter is disabled and will need special attention and help. Please stop

telling us stories.

FABIAN (Castle Lake resident): She and her family live comfortable in their mobile

home and she has a special needs child. The Castle Lake personnel keep saying

nothing is going on, on numerous occasions, each and every time they are asked. This

$2,500 won’t be enough for anything, especially on low income. A mobile home is very

expensive to buy or move. Please consider each individual family. Come now to visit –

our homes are open to see how we live now.

Mayor Mathews said to Mr. Sams there is a lot of work to be done. The Mayor asked

the audience to understand the property has not been sold and no offer has been made

yet. Each person, each situation is different and $2,500 is not adequate. He thanked

the audience for speaking or coming tonight and sharing their stories. Unless the

property is annexed into the City, we can’t do anything. If annexed, then we have some

control over the development. We’ll close the meeting tonight, do some research, open

the public comment the next time and hope to see and hear progress. (An unnamed

woman in the audience complained about the issues with management.)

DALE HUGHES: He learned on Saturday there is a lack of effective communication.

Brad and the church folks are trying to set up an email communications chain. Wanda

Steele and Steve Kennedy have been very helpful. Please get in touch with Brad so

folks know when to show up.

MANUAL SEDONE (Castle Lake resident): Riverstone Church said $2,500 for people

in the 34 acre zone; no money for the 53 acre zone. Mayor Mathews reminded

everyone that residents in the 53 acres will have conversations after the developer, Mr.

Fuqua purchases the property and they will have a relocation company take care of

those residents.

ANTONIO ALVAREZ (Castle Lake resident): One year ago he tried to purchase a

mobile home for $21,000 and gave $10,000 down and was not told of any sale due to

development. A neighbor sent a letter saying the land was being sold. He’s so scared

he went to the office and spoke to the manager. She got mad and said the land is not

being sold. We don’t know the truth. In the 34 acre site, just three months ago they

were selling a trailer, but told those purchasers they could not move the trailer. Please

tell the manager to stop or put a sign at the entrance/exit of Castle Lake saying no

purchases [of mobile homes].

MARIA [no last name provided]: She showed a document about the 53 acre sale.

She’s afraid to go home, she’s lived 35 years at Castle Lake and no longer has a home.

Where’s she going to go? She is very scared. Please stop management. They even

sell a bad trailer for $18,000. There are a lot of families here. It says in the coming

month they will have to leave. The meeting interpreter read the document which was

calling for a community meeting to explain annexation; that meeting already occurred.

ANTONIO SABENSES (Castle Lake resident): Why pay rent to people who don’t own

the land any more? Mayor Mathews stated they still do own the land. Attorney Bentley

added that even if the landowner changes, you still have to pay rent. Mayor Mathews

restated the 53 acres is under contract to sell. The 34 acres being discussed tonight

are not under contract, but are asking to be annexed into the City for development.

Until the property is annexed, sold, and the developer gets approval – there will be no

construction.

Councilmember Killingsworth referenced a bracelet he wears with a verse from James

1:19 which is quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. He is very angry. He

requested an Executive Session but all discussions have to be public, so it was not

granted. Mayor Mathews noted Mr. Sams has asked for continuance because of the

issues brought up tonight. Mr. Killingsworth said to Mr. Sams he hopes and prays that if

something illegal is occurring, they are held to the fullest extent of the law.

9:36 PM Floor Closed to Public Comments

Motion by Councilmember Killingsworth to continue agenda items IX-D, E and F to a

future date yet to be determined, motion seconded by Councilmember Church.

Councilmember Welsh asked if the date can be firmed this evening, and Mr. Sams said

that is impossible. Mayor Mathews requested an update be provided at the next

regularly scheduled meeting on July 7, 2014 at which time he can present a firm date

for the continued public hearings and the property owner will send a letter to all

residents of the 34 acres with proof of service given to City staff. Councilmember

Williams respectfully requests the property owner attend the final meeting. Mr. Sams

said he would like him there as well. Vote taken, approved unanimously, 5-0 on items

IX-D, E, and F. Motion carried.

Zoning Administrator Darryl Simmons presented agenda items IX-D, E and F

concurrently.

E. Authorization for approval of an ORDINANCE granting a rezoning request

submitted by Amak Partners and Masal Partners for property located at 1650

Cobb Parkway. Property identified as 30.86+/- acre tract in Land Lots 207, 212

of the 20th District, 2nd Section, Cobb County. Applicant is seeking to annex

and rezoning property from County MHP to City PVC (Planned Village

Page 34 of 119

Community) for purpose of commercial development with a residential

component. Application was advertised in the May 16, 2014 edition of the

Marietta Daily Journal. Property posted May 20, 2014. Planning Commission at

a meeting held on June 04, 2014 made recommendation to approve the rezoning

of the 30.86+/- acres from County MHP to City PVC (Planned Village

Community) with stipulations in May 30, 2014 letter from Sams, Larkin and Huff

law firm. In addition two friendly amendments to the list of stipulations to include

the following: 1). Garages to be used for vehicle storage and 2). Driveways to be

18' in length. Vote: 5-0. Yeas: Cindi Michael, Adam Ambrecht, Jeff Powers, Fred

Moore, Craig MacNaughton. Nays: None. Staff Recommendation: Darryl

Simmons, Zoning Administrator recommended approval with incorporation of all

conditions reference in stipulation letter dated May 30, 2014, and prepared by

law firm Sams, Larkin and Huff in addition to conditions added by the Planning

Commission: 1). Garages to be used for vehicle storage and 2). Driveways to be

18' in length.

Zoning Administrator Darryl Simmons presented the rezoning request submitted by

Amak Partners and Masal Partners for property located at 1650 Cobb Parkway. See all

comments under Agenda Item IX-D.

9:37 PM Floor Open for Public Comments

No additional comments – see item IX-D.

9:38 PM Floor Closed to Public Comments

Motion by Councilmember Killingsworth to continue agenda items IX-D, E and F to a

future date yet to be determined, motion seconded by Councilmember Church.

Councilmember Welsh asked if the date can be firmed this evening, and Mr. Sams said

that is impossible. Mayor Mathews requested an update be provided at the next

regularly scheduled meeting on July 7, 2014 at which time he can present a firm date

for the continued public hearings and the property owner will send a letter to all

residents of the 34 acres with proof of service given to City staff.

Councilmember Williams respectfully requests the property owner attend the final meeting. Mr. Sams said he would like him there as well. Vote taken, approved unanimously, 5-0 on items

IX-D, E, and F. Motion carried.

Zoning Administrator Darryl Simmons presented agenda items IX-D, E and F

concurrently.

F. Authorization for approval of an ORDINANCE granting an annexation request

submitted by Amak Partners and Masal Partners for property located at 1650

Cobb Parkway. Property identified as 30.86+/- acre tract in Land Lots 207, 212

of the 20th District, 2nd Section, Cobb County. Applicant is seeking to annex

and rezone property from County MHP to City PVC (Planned Village Community)

for purposed of commercial development with a residential component.

Application was advertised in the May 16, 2014 edition of the Marietta Daily

Journal. Property posted May 20, 2014. Planning Commission at a meeting held

on June 04, 2014 made recommendation to approve the annexation of the

Page 35 of 119

30.86+/- acres into the City of Kennesaw with stipulations in May 30, 2014 letter

from Sams, Larkin and Huff law firm. In addition two friendly amendments to be

added to the list of stipulations include the following:

1). Garages to be used for

vehicle storage and

2). Driveways to be 18' in length.

Vote: 5-0. Yeas: Adam

Ambrecht, Jeff Powers, Cindi Michael, Fred Moore, Craig MacNaughton. Nays:

None. Staff Recommendation: Darryl Simmons, Zoning Administrator

recommended approval with incorporation of all conditions reference in

stipulation letter dated May 30, 2014, and prepared by law firm Sams, Larkin and

Huff in addition to two conditions requested by the Planning Commission: 1)

Garages to be used for vehicle storage; and 2) Driveways to be 18' in length.

Zoning Administrator Darryl Simmons presented the annexation request submitted by

Amak Partners and Masal Partners for property located at 1650 Cobb Parkway. See all

comments under Agenda Item IX-D.

9:38 PM Floor Open for Public Comments

No further comments – see item IX-D.

                                                                

9:39 PM Floor Closed to Public Comments

Motion by Councilmember Killingsworth to continue agenda items IX-D, E and F to a

future date yet to be determined, motion seconded by Councilmember Church.

Councilmember Welsh asked if the date can be firmed this evening, and Mr. Sams said

that is impossible. Mayor Mathews requested an update be provided at the next

regularly scheduled meeting on July 7, 2014 at which time he can present a firm date

for the continued public hearings and the property owner will send a letter to all

residents of the 34 acres with proof of service given to City staff. Councilmember

Williams respectfully requests the property owner attend the final meeting. Mr. Sams

said he would like him there as well.

Vote taken, approved unanimously, 5-0 on items

IX-D, E, and F. Motion carried.

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 IS IT TIME FOR A BOYCOTT OF WHOLE FOODS? 

(New Store to displace low income renters)

IS IT TIME FOR A BOYCOTT OF WHOLE FOODS?

In March I wrote to them to bring to their attention the problems with their proposed site on a Jeff Fuqua property and to point out that the 1,500 tenants there were going to be evicted to make room for the development, which included their new Whole Foods store. Here is what I got back from them:

From:  Darrah.Horgan@wholefoods.com 

"Hello Mr. Harris,

Thanks for reaching out to Whole Foods Market about this development and its affect on the neighbors of Castle Lake. We are confident in our partners at Fuqua, and they will be working with the residents to provide assistance and a fair relocation package. At this time, please contact Jeff Fuqua         jeff.fuqua@fuquadev.com directly."

I have written again today and included all the new information on this project and a link to my blog site with even more information (see: http://mayormathews.blogspot.com/).

If Whole Foods is not part of the solution, then it is part of the problem and people should boycott this chain until they see that Fuqua (developer) and Ergas (owner of property) absolutely guarantee that a fair and equitable 'relocation package' is made available to tenants and mobile home owners on that Castle Lake Property.

Get ready, if they ignore this then there will be a boycott of Whole Foods!

Bill, Kennesaw

from craigslist post  http://atlanta.craigslist.org/wat/vnn/4525758729.html

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DELAYED: Kennesaw annexation, rezoning pushed back after resident outcry

by Haisten Willis

Marietta Daily Journal direct link to article at:  http://mdjonline.com/view/full_story/25300185/article-DELAYED--Kennesaw-annexation--rezoning-pushed-back-after-resident-outcry?instance=home_top_bullets

June 17, 2014 

Garvis Sams, Developer's Lawyer

Mark Mathews, Current Kennesaw Mayor

KENNESAW — A potential new development in Kennesaw has been delayed after its city council voted 5-0 Monday night to delay an annexation and rezoning vote on propery at the northwest corner of Cobb and Barrett Parkways.

The proposed $40 million development would include 328 new apartments and 49 townhomes on 32 acres, according to Garvis Sams, an attorney with Marietta-based Sams, Larkin, Huff and Balli, LP. Sams represents Amak Partners, L.P. and Masal Partners Ltd. L.P. of Vancouver, Canada, who are selling the property. Sams said there is a large amount of interest in the development, although no company has come forward to actually buy the land.

During public comment, nearly a dozen residents of Castle Lake Mobile Home Park — who would be dispersed to make way for the new construction — told the council the property owners had deceived them and the proposed $2,500 relocation money wouldn’t be enough to haul their trailers to another area.

Residents shared horror stories about the landowners. Several said they’d received notices saying they had 30 days to leave their homes. Cindy Blackford, who works at Northern Tool and Equipment in Marietta, said she bought a $15,000 trailer in Castle Lake on May 5, and management did not mention anything about moving or a new development.

“Castle Lake outright lied to everyone here,” she said. “Our neighbors flooded us with information. Castle Lake hid it.”

Several speakers said it would cost between $6,000 and $8,000 to move their trailers to another park. Some asked if they’d be evicted after the required 60 days’ notice if they couldn’t afford to move.

Juanita Billingsley, a housewife who has lived in Castle Lake 37 years, said she’d had a mild stroke that morning but checked out of WellStar Kennestone hospital to make sure she could be heard at the meeting.

Dozens of families live in the property’s 320 mobile homes, many of whom are Spanish-speaking Latino residents. An interpreter was present at the meeting, which drew more than 100 people from the community. Attendees were asked to stand up if they agreed with the person speaking, and almost everyone in the room stood up at several points.

After being asked several questions about the treatment of tenants by Castle Lake, Sams responded that he’s only representing the company regarding the new development and has no knowledge of the management situation.

One site, two developments

Sams said there is no construction timeline for the potential development because no one has purchased the property, but added that more than 13 builders are interested and said plans call for the owners to sell the property “as soon as they can.” Kennesaw’s Planning Commission voted 5-0 to rezone the property on June 9.

The annexation of the additional 32 acres would have meant the entire Castle Lake Mobile Home Park would fall inside Kennesaw’s city limits.

The proposed development sits adjacent to a 53-acre property annexed into the city by a unanimous vote in February, which will be developed by Atlanta-based Fuqua Development. That property will become a 450,000-square-foot shopping center — valued at $150 million and anchored by Whole Foods Market — Sams said will open no later than fall 2016. Sams said Fuqua will close on the property this fall, with major construction commencing in summer 2015.

However, Sams said Fuqua will work with Castle Lake tenants on an individual basis on that side of the property, rather than paying a flat rate.

During his presentation to the council, Sams said the new townhomes will sell for at least $300,000, while the apartments could be owner-occupied condominiums in the future, with nine-foot-high ceilings and granite countertops. Sams said previously they are mostly one or two-bedroom apartments meant to attract young professionals without school-aged children.

Sams said the two projects combined will generate more than $1 million in annual tax revenue for Kennesaw, compared to the current mobile home park which contributes “negligible” tax dollars.

Kennesaw Mayor Mark Mathews said the property owner requested the annexation.

Council hits the brakes

Following the lengthy public comment, city council members were less than pleased, including Post 2’s Tim Killingsworth.

“Mr. Sams, I hope and I pray that if something illegal is happening, somebody is held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” he said.

Post 4 representative Debra Williams specifically asked that the property owner and property manager be present when the issue comes before the council again. The annexation was tabled indefinitely, but the council asked for an update on the situation from the company at their next meeting July 7.  When the council hears the proposal again, more public comment will be taken.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Comment:  Bill H, Kennesaw

I have been blogging about this issue since Feb. at http://mayormathews.blogspot.com/ and I early on told the Council that this was going to be a disaster and the Council should NOT approve any annexation or rezoning until and unless a FIRM relocation plan was put on the table.

What happened?  The council voted 5-0 to roll over for Fuqua and the wealthy Ergas family in Vancouver.  Both got what they wanted with empty assurances that things would be alright at some future time.

Now I see the council has finally gotten their rear ends in gear and applied some common sense to this matter.  

But just in case this isn't clear to them or the reader, here it is in simple words that all can understand:  In my opinion the reason this deal was put off until August is so that the MHP owner can clear the decks of as many residents as they can intimidate into leaving before Fuqua has to actually provide any relocation funds.

Here is the contact info for the Castle Lake MHP slum lords, drop them a line and let them know what you think of them.
 

The Ergas Group, (Morris Ergas, Joseph Ergas, Marcos Ergas) Tel:  604-687-2310, 1185 Georgia St W, #1520, Vancouver, BC V6E 4E6, Canada, Joseph Ergas, Home (604) 926-6536, 2250 Bellevue Ave West Vancouver, BC V7V 1C6, Marcos Ergas, (604) 925-4350, 1340 Jefferson Ave, West Vancouver BC V7T2B2

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What Happened to the Often Promised 'Relocation Package?'

This seems to be the latest news of the Castle Lake MHP with residents getting a 30 day notice to quit.  But where is the often promised 'relocation package'.

Fuqua claims via his lawyer, Garvis Sams of Marietta, that by the time of the August closing that there will be one, but by then it seems the residents (or most of them) will have been removed leaving only a few for Fuqua to have to relocate at the 'claimed' cost of $3,000 per lot. 

So what we seem to have is a purposely delayed closing moved to August so the MHP can clean house and get rid of most of the affected residents before Jeff Fuqua takes over and is responsible for any relocation.

I never believed there was going to be a relocation package and I made this clear to the City Council.  They should not have allowed any annexation or rezoning to go forward without a firm package, they paid NO attention and rushed info approving everything Fuqua and the Canadian owners* of the MHP wanted.  

Now residents are being told to pack up and leave in 30 days.   

* 
1)  Joseph and Marcos Ergas of Vancouver, BC, Canada.  CLMHP opened in 1961 and has approx 377 lots and 1,500 residents (numbers vary on lots and residents)
2)  In March 2014 the Ergas Group sold the 200 unit Woodstone Apartments, 6051 Bridge Street in Fort Worth, Texas.  It was built in 1984 and Ergas had owned the property for 19 years.

Below item is from the much longer article of May 22, 2014  

Sprawled Out in Atlanta – Rebecca Burns – POLITICO Magazine

http://slinkingtowardretirement.com/?p=188684

Just four miles up Cobb Parkway from MUST, the entrance to Castle Lake Mobile Home Park is almost hidden by a cluster of trees. You drive through the park on pothole-filled roads lined on each side by dozens of trailers. You can hear the sound of a creek at the back of the property, and a family of geese waddles across the road before settling down in the grassy spot in front of a beige-sided trailer.

Ever Rodriguez has lived in Castle Lake for about four years. He works as a cook at Caper’s, a restaurant in a shopping center anchored by a Publix, an upscale supermarket just off Barrett Parkway. Menu items at the restaurant include herb-crusted grouper ($18) and baby back ribs ($14 for a half-rack; $22 for a full). Rodriguez cooks at home, too—with four kids, he has to, he says. “I’m pretty good,” he shrugs. His wife, Maria Garcia, also works as a cook, at Bahama Breeze, in Town Center Commons, less than two miles up Barrett Parkway. I met Rodriguez and Garcia on a sunny April afternoon, as they were walking their son, Miguel, home from the bus stop, along with a cluster of parents and children who live in Castle Lake. Miguel, who’s in second grade at Hayes Elementary School, says math and reading are his favorite subjects; he’s also a fan of Spider-Man.

We stood in front of the family’s trailer, which is butter yellow and surrounded by shrubs and plants. Garcia loves to garden. But she had already begun to dig up and pot her favorites. The family will have to leave Castle Lake; the 52-acre property is under contract to Fuqua Development, which plans to raze the trailer park to build a massive retail complex with a Whole Foods. Fuqua’s mixed-use development will include 30 townhomes—for sale, not rent. There are currently about 1,500 people living in Castle Lake, but what will happen to them is anybody’s guess. (“The developer will be working with them,” says Mark Matthews, the mayor of Kennesaw, the Cobb County municipality that will be annexing the Castle Lake property. Fuqua did not respond to requests for comment.)

“We got a letter telling us we have 30 days to leave,” Rodriguez says. His trailer hook-up at Castle Lake costs $576 a month—and includes water. Even with payments on a trailer, there are few cheaper options nearby, he says. There are several hundred units in a nearby apartment complex that takes Section 8 vouchers, but even those rents are higher—and most of the units are already leased. Rodriguez says that he has found a spot in a trailer park in Acworth, a city about 10 miles away. But moving the trailer will cost $5,000, he figures. “Who can get that kind of money in 30 days?”

From top left, clockwise: Sisters Ana and Diane outside of their home in Castle Rock Trailer Park in Cobb County; Ever Rodriguez and his wife Zuylema Coranado with their 8 year-old son, Miguel Rodriguez; Ana’s husband Avelardo Martinez with their 6-year-old son Angel in Castle Rock Trailer Park; kids come home from school to the trailer park in Cobb County. | Mark Peterson/Redux

It’s unlikely the residents of Castle Lake will have an easy time finding places to live in Cobb. The county tops nationwide rankings for lack of affordable housing for very low-income families. For every 100 households in Cobb classified as “extremely low income,” a recent Urban Institute study found, there are just 2.9 available affordable housing units. Two other suburban Atlanta counties, DeKalb and Gwinnett, also make the top 10 list.

=============================================================

4/4/14
The initial 'mid-June' closing on the property has now been moved back by several months and may change again before finalized.

---------------------------------------------------------------


An April 3rd article in Capstone Quarterly by Alicia Newton titled: "Kennesaw Mayor blasts owner of annexed Mobile Home Park", she reports on a lecture given by Kennesaw Mayor Mathews to KSU journalism students.  He said in part:

• “The mobile home residents are just being lied to everyday by the seller who is more interested in keeping his monthly cash flow . . . 
• What the owner is doing is borderline unethical in my opinion . . . 
• He is having his managers tell the tenants the land is not sold, which technically it is not, so he is continuing to rent to unsuspecting tenants never bothering to tell them they may have to be gone by June of this year . . . 
• It’s pitiful, taking something super positive and it gets undermined by the residents not even knowing they are about to be put out.”

The entire article is found at:  http://capstonequarterly.wordpress.com/tag/whole-foods-kennesaw-development/

Kennesaw’s transformation begins with 

commercial development

MAY 7, 2014  CAPSTONE QUARTERLY

By Alicia Newton, Ellen Eldridge, Destyni Thomas and Roderic Graham

This is an extract from a longer article

   KENNESAW—   The Castle Lake Mobile Home Park has been annexed into the City of Kennesaw and residents will have to move before the year is over, yet manager Yolanda was renting lots as late as April our field reporter Alicia Newton found out.

   The city of Kennesaw annexed 53 acres of county property at the Cobb Parkway and Barrett Parkway intersection, which is currently the home of Castle Lake Mobile Home Park.

   Darryl Simmons, the planning and zoning administrator for Kennesaw, said that Fuqua Development has the property under contract and the Kennesaw city council voted to rezone the property from a residential mobile home park to a city planned village community. Whole Foods will anchor the Fuqua development.
   
   While potentially adding economic impact through jobs and taxes, this new commercial development is not without controversy. Mathews said he believes what the Castle Lake landowner is doing is borderline unethical. Even though the Mathews said residents may have to be gone this year, management was still renting lots in April on a month-to-month basis, without informing tenants of the development plans, reporter Alicia Newton said.

   A lot to place a single-wide trailer cost $455 per month and $465 for a double-wide, manager Yolanda said in a taped interview secretly conducted by Newton. Yolanda makes no mention to potential renters about the impending sale, Newton said.

   “The lots are being rented month to month; it’s up to you if you wanted to move next month. If you have some money it’s your choice,” Yolanda said.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read the below article at:  http://www.cbsatlanta.com/story/24965294/development-moves-in-forces-out-families  If you want to drop Mr. Fuqua a line you can reach him at:  jeff.fuqua@fuquadev.com

Development moves in, forces out families

Updated: Apr 02, 2014 11:10 PM EDT
Jennifer Mayerle - ATLANTA (CBS46) -

Atlanta and the surrounding area is growing by leaps and bounds. Time and time again undeveloped or under-developed property becomes mixed use space or retail. That's what's happening in Kennesaw at the intersection of Cobb and Barrett Parkways. But it doesn't come without controversy.

Castle Lake is the only neighborhood Jennifer Arreguin knows.  "I like that we know this whole community," Arreguin said.  It's full of mobile homes, some owned, others rented, mainly by families.

"We're all immigrants in my household and this is the place we felt most at home because of the heavy immigrant population here," Arturo Zertuche said.

Moneita Lewis bought her retirement home a year ago.  "It belongs to me and I was planning on being here for the rest of my life," Lewis said.

Now, they realize their dreams will soon be dashed.  "They're gonna tear down all this place," Arreguin said.

That's because most of Castle Lake has recently been annexed into the city of Kennesaw and rezoned. The land owner and developer are working on a deal to build a mixed use space comprised of retail, restaurants, and grocery stores.  According to Kennesaw Mayor Mark Matthews the development will have a positive impact.

"It's jobs, its tax base, it's sales tax being generated in not just the city, the county, the schools, the state, it's an impact for everybody," Matthews said.

Just how much impact? The entire 84 acres at stake is currently valued at $1.3 million. Only 53 acres will be developed, but the assessed value is expected to skyrocket to $60 million.

Right now, only about $39,000 is paid in taxes per year to the county and school district. That should jump to $1.8 million. And because the property is now in Kennesaw, once complete, the city gets another $575,000. And that doesn't even consider job growth.

"To make it worthwhile it has to be sold and utilized to the highest and best use to justify the sale price. The value is a lot more than just what it's going to end up generating in property tax value," Matthews said.

And while the numbers stack up in favor of the development, these families feel it comes at their expense.

"It's obvious this is prime property. I know it would bring huge revenue into the city of Kennesaw and I know it's all about the dollar, all about the money, and it's not about people," Lewis said.

Many at Castle Lake live within walking distance of work. But most choose this neighborhood because it's affordable.  "It's a lot cheaper to live here especially with the amount of space you get to live in compared to what you have to pay at apartment complexes," Zertuche said.

And now they are forced to find a new place to live.  "I might have to move to Mexico, because they're going to tear down this place, and in Mexico I have this house where I can live," Arreguin said. 

Jeff Fuqua of Fuqua Development said he would like to do an interview, but can't because of a confidentiality agreement. The company will help the families with relocation. Here is the statement by Fuqua:

"Here at Fuqua Development we take pride in our constant efforts to be aware of community issues and concerns in all projects in which we are involved.

Our Castle Lake project is no exception. From the beginning, we have been sensitive to the possible impact of this project on some of the current residents (143 trailers) in this mobile home park.

At this point, however, months away from closing on the 52 acres we are acquiring, it is impossible to establish a clear timeline and a detailed program to address resident relocation issues. 

Nevertheless, we are already beginning to develop such a program, which we may be able to share with the affected residents probably in late spring. Those residents will be able to ask questions and comment on all elements of the program before its implementation.

While we are unable to provide relocation details for Castle Lake at this time, the tenant relocation plan that I managed during the development of Town Brookhaven is testament to Fuqua Development's commitment to put in place sensitive and beneficial relocation assistance programs when those are called for.

Town Brookhaven was developed on a 530-unit apartment complex, which required tenant relocation assistance for a large percentage of residents. Many community meetings were held to keep tenants abreast of the project and to discuss various assistance possibilities. Because a large percentage of the residents were Hispanic, all the meetings were conducted in Spanish and English, and all informational materials were in both languages as well.

Eventually, the Town Brookhaven relocation program included benefits such as assistance finding suitable apartments for relocation, security deposit assistance, moving and utility transfer assistance and cash bonuses related to individual moving dates.

Regarding the Castle Lake development, we want to reassure everyone concerned that Fuqua Development remains as committed today as it has been in the past to a substantive relocation assistance program for those affected and, further, that we will implement that plan on a timely basis, so that there will be no last-minute pressure to move."

Mayor Matthews said he, as well as, teachers and school administrators are concerned about the kids and families, and plan to help with the transition.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

A long article about Fuqua is available at:  http://clatl.com/atlanta/jeff-fuqua-atlantas-most-controversial-developer/Content?oid=9217716 he is called Atlanta's most controversial developer.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  RE:  Whole Foods

Subject: RE: Kennesaw Store 
Date: 3/7/2014 6:02:36 P.M. Eastern Standard Time 
From: Darrah.Horgan@wholefoods.com

Hello Mr. Harris,

Thanks for reaching out to Whole Foods Market about this development and its affect on the neighbors of Castle Lake. We are confident in our partners at Fuqua, and they will be working with the residents to provide assistance and a fair relocation package. At this time, please contact Jeff Fuqua jeff.fuqua@fuquadev.com directly. 

3/7/14
Speak Out

  - From:  Kennesaw Patch

Castle Lake M.H.P.

Posted by Kennesaw , March 07, 2014 at 08:29 PM

1

MR JEFF FUQUA

 

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On or about the 15th of March the residents of those 53 acres will end up as Kennesaw residents, although that will be a short term distinction for them as they will have to relocate before construction starts on the new retail development.

It seems that the park has been less than forthcoming in keeping residents in the loop as to their future and this has and does give considerable concern to the MHP residents on those 53 Acers.

Residents or other concerned people might contact Mr Fuqua and ask what is going on and suggest that it is past time for details of the promised ‘relocation package’ to be made public.

At a minimum they should expect:

1)  assistance of a professional real estate firm to find new housing for them,
2)  return of any posted security deposits and
3)  ‘Key Money’ to assist in any relocation from Castle Lake.

The parties with relevant information can be reached via:
jeff.fuqua@fuquadev.com and jennifer.ledbetter@fuquadev.com

Mr. Jeff Fuqua
FUQUA DEVELOPMENT HOLDINGS L.L.C. 
3495 Piedmont Rd., NE, Bldg 11, #905
Atlanta, Ga. 30305
Tel:  404 214-3332

and the Castle Lake MHP owners are at:
Joseph and Marcos Ergas
The Ergas Group 
1045-1185 Georgia St West
Vancouver, BC V6E 4E6
Tel: 604-687-2310  Fax: 604-687-2380

  (Typical store front for such developments)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  2/24/2014

‘We don’t live in a perfect world’

Advocates calling on community to assist Castle Lake tenants

By Rachel Gray   rgray@mdjonline.com 

KENNESAW — Two community groups will continue their outreach to a group of often marginalized residents, hoping the rest of Cobb will aid the same people when they are evicted. A 52-acre tract on the northwest corner of Barrett and Cobb parkways is slated for a commercial project by Atlanta-based Fuqua Development, which will close at least part of the Castle Lake Mobile Home Park that houses an estimated 1,500 people.

The mobile home park includes 250 lots, with both rented and purchased prefabricated homes lining the narrow, cracked roads that make a grid in the wooded area.

Last week, residents of the complex addressed the Kennesaw City Council in both English and Spanish, trying to stop the $150 million commercial development.

Those cries of dissent were joined by statements from two community advocates.

One speaker was Pastor Tom Tanner of Riverstone Church, which has been located off Stilesboro Road, less than a mile from Castle Lake, since 2006.

On Sunday, Tanner preached out of the book of Mark, where Jesus challenges his followers to give away their processions to the poor in order to serve the Lord and enter the kingdom of heaven.

On the walls of the Riverstone Church sanctuary are blocks with a few words, including outreach, development and community transformation.

Many members of the church have literally taken those words to the streets, hoping to shape one neighborhood at a time, not by just providing for the physical needs but in building relationships.

“We care deeply about the people of Castle Lake,” Tanner said.

Almost three years ago, Brad and Brooke Kireta started an outreach group for Castle Lake, offering English classes for adults while their children are tutored, providing materials and labor to build a new playground, donating free haircuts, playing host to cookouts and repairing the homes of single mothers and widows.

The promise of relocation help

On Feb. 17, The Kennesaw City Council voted 5-0 to annex much of the mobile home property into the city limits, with a condition requiring Fuqua to submit a relocation plan to move existing residents prior to the beginning of construction.

Attorney Garvis Sams, of the Marietta-based firm Sams, Larkin, Huff & Balli, LLP that represents Fuqua, said the project would break ground in six months and open in the spring of 2016.

After hearing the residents’ cries for help, Mayor Mark Mathews said the developer would work closely with the residents to help them relocate. Jeff Fuqua, who formed Fuqua Development LP in March 2012, attended the public hearing and through Sams told the crowd the company would form a committee this spring to start relocation assistance on a family by family basis.

With four extension churches throughout Cobb and another starting in Smyrna, Tanner said he is not concerned about the Castle Lake residents moving away from Riverstone Church, because there is a great chance a similar congregation will be nearby. But he wants to make sure their other needs are “intentionally cared for,” Tanner said. The Kiretas said Castle Lake is a strong community where neighbors rely on each other for rides to work and child care, and dispersing the close-knit groups could have a devastating impact.

“These people do life together,” said Brad Kireta, including the four busloads of kids who attend nearby public schools from kindergarten through high school.

Brooke Kireta said many of the residents may not know English, but are intelligent, hardworking people who want to contribute to the greater community.

“It is a cultural view that they come to the country to take, take, take, but often they are the ones being taken advantage of,” Brooke Kireta said.

Losing homes, way of life

Another outspoken advocate said the fear of outsiders now seems founded as Castle Lake residents are losing their only sense of security: their community.Shannan Smith Sikorski, who also gave an emotional speech to the City Council last week, is the owner of Big Shanty Barbershop off Main Street in downtown Kennesaw.

Born and raised in Kennesaw, Sikorski said she first began raising money for the Castle Lake residents more than two years ago after reading about a backpack program that provides lunches to hungry kids.

With the support of friends, families and businesses, Sikorski said her charity helps pay utility bills and provided 153 toys this Christmas season, mostly to people Sikorski said are too scared to ask for help or too shy to accept donations.

“We had to force turkeys on them,” Sikorski said about a program she organized around Thanksgiving. “They don’t want to take too much.”

During the holiday season, Sikorski said her charity gave $3,000 worth of donations, but that money could have been used for an even greater purpose if the neighborhood had been told about the impending development.

“Long-term housing might have been a better gift,” Sikorski said.

The young children, who Sikorski emphasizes are American citizens, and work diligently in school

---

Shannon Smith Sikorski, a small business owner in Kennesaw, has been working with the Castle Lake community to provide food and holiday gifts, and is hoping the Kennesaw community will rally behind Castle Lake to help their relocation be successful and keep families together. Below: A proposed 52-acre development is targeted for the northwest corner of Barrett and Cobb parkways and all 1,500 residents of the mobile home park could be affected or forced to move. 

to break the cycle of poverty, but she has been told by parents their grades are already slipping do to the stress of moving. “It is up to us to keep the dream alive,” Sikorski said. 

Although Sikorski said she has no plans to picket the new businesses or lie down in front of bulldozers, she will be “barking in everyone’s ear” until the last person is safely relocated. 

The city’s economic development 

In December, Fuqua filed papers with Kennesaw seeking to rezone the property from a county residential mobile home park to a city planned village community. 

The massive mixeduse project would include 450,000 square feet of retail space and 30 townhomes on the western side of the property. The townhomes would be purchased, not rented. 

Whole Foods Market has agreed to anchor the large shopping complex. There is also space designated for a sporting goods store, and room to add a drug store, casual dining restaurants, specialty retail shops, office space and even a gas station, Sams said. 

Darryl Simmons, Kennesaw’s planning and zoning administrator, said the Atlanta Regional Commission received a copy of the site plans and “determined that this mixed use development is not a Development of Regional Impact.” 

Developments of Regional Impact are large-scale developments that are likely to have regional effects beyond the local government jurisdiction in which they are located. 

As for the rezoning and annexation decision by the City Council, any party desiring to appeal would have to file with the Superior Court of Cobb County by the middle of March, Simmons said. Riverstone Church is not against the commercial development, “just the way it all went down,” Tanner said. 

Tanner, who lives in Kennesaw, said the new stores and restaurants would be good for the city, with more jobs and an economic boost. 

Organizers of the outreach from Riverstone Church said the Castle Lake management staff has opened land and buildings to allow the group to help residents. 

But Sikorski said the management company has hidden details and purposely miscommunicated, further breaking down the trust the residents have for other officials. 

“The most important thing right now is that they understand everything that has been done,” Sikorski said. 

At the Feb. 17 meeting, Mathews said the council was not aware the management of Castle Lake had not communicated the plan to sell the land until recently. 

Mathews gave his word that the Castle Lake families would be treated fairly and be placed in a better living situation than the one in which they are currently living. 

Even with the high possibility of leaving schools that have created programs for the Castle Lake children or quitting jobs that will no longer be within walking distance, Sikorski said in a “perfect world,” being forced to find new homes could be the best thing for the residents. 

“But we don’t live in a perfect world,” Sikorski said. 

====================================================================

2/18/2014

Kennesaw OKs rezoning for development despite protests

by Rachel Gray, Marietta Daily Journal  February 18, 2014 04:00 AM

Link to article:   http://mdjonline.com/view/full_story/24598373/article-Kennesaw-OKs-rezoning-for-development-despite-protests?instance=home_top_bullets 

KENNESAW — More than 50 adults, many with their young children, tried to stop a proposed $150 million commercial development during Monday’s Kennesaw City Council meeting. 

The proposed 52-acre development is targeted for the northwest corner of Barrett and Cobb parkways. 

Atlanta-based Fuqua Development plans to close at least part of the Castle Lake Mobile Home Park, which sits on the site and serves as home to dozens of families.

In December, Fuqua filed papers with Kennesaw seeking to rezone the property from a county residential mobile home park to a city planned village community.

On Monday night, the Kennesaw City Council voted 5-0 to both rezone the land and annex the property into the city limits.

An additional 34 acres of the mobile home park, west of the proposed development, would stay county property and remain owned by Castle Lake Mobile Home Park.

Attorney Garvis Sams, of the Marietta-based firm Sams, Larkin, Huff & Balli, LLP that represents Fuqua, said he believes that 34 acres will most likely be redeveloped and brought into the city limits in the future.

This first project would break ground in six months and open in the spring of 2016, Sams told the council.

Developer to plan the space

Mayor Mark Mathews said Fuqua has the site under contract and knows the market through demographic studies, so the developer will decide what mix of stores would work best.

The massive mixed-use project would include 450,000 square feet of retail space and 30 townhomes on the western side of the property, said Bob Fox, the city’s economic development director.

The townhomes would be purchased, not rented.

Whole Foods Market has agreed to anchor the large shopping complex. There is also space designated for a sporting goods store, with room to add a drug store, casual dining restaurants, specialty retail shops, office space and even a gas station, Sams said.

Fuqua has agreed to stipulations that pawn shops, thrift stores and tattoo parlors would not be allowed.

As a life-long Cobb resident, Sams said he is an advocate for this particular plan for the site.  “My wife wants to see a Whole Foods more than you can possibly imagine,” Sams said.

Mathews said neither the City Council nor the Kennesaw Development Authority have any plans to offer tax abatements or other monetary incentives to the developer or the businesses planning to lease space.

If any requests are made, including to the KDA, Mathews said he and the City Council would have to approve the deals.

Residents hold on to American Dream

Some of Monday night’s speakers made their statements in Spanish, with a city-provided interpreter translating the pleas of people who have invested their life savings to purchase and repair homes in Castle Lake.

A mother of two daughters, Jacqueline Lopez, 29, began to cry when she told the council their “American dream was being taken away.”

One man, Joaquin Banuelos, 22, who has lived at Castle Lake for over 10 years, said Fuqua’s plan sounds like a great benefit to the “millionaire” developer, but where does it leave the tight-knit Latino community?

“I don’t even know where I am going to go next,” Banuelos said.

Because he is “poor,” Banuelos said he is worried his words would not mean anything to the councilmembers.

“We work for you, the millionaire people,” said Banuelos, who works in the construction industry. 

Councilman Jim Sebastian, who moved to Cobb in 1976 and is an owner of a consulting and brokering firm which specializes in retail service contracts, said development of the land is part of the city’s expansion strategy.

Sebastian said the city has asked the Castle Lake Mobile Home Park property owners to consider annexation for at least three years, with limited feedback until a year ago.

The Kennesaw Planning Commission, at a Feb. 5 meeting, voted 5-0 to recommend approval of the annexation, with a condition requiring Fuqua to submit a relocation plan to move existing residents prior to construction beginning.

Where’s the relocation plan?

Although most of the speakers from Castle Lake came to object to the project, many said they realized the commercial development would not be stopped.

The consistent question became, if the development has been planned for years, why were the mobile park residents only informed of the sale now and why is the relocation plan not finalized? 

Sebastian said the exchange of the property was between two private companies, and if the development had been residential and remained part of the county, the deal would never have been reviewed by the Kennesaw City Council.

Monday’s public hearing about the rezoning and annexation was a benefit to homeowners in Castle Lake, Sebastian said. “It gives them time to voice their concerns,” he said. 

Mathews said the council was not aware the management of Castle Lake had not communicated the plan to sell the land until recently.

The mayor said the city made every effort to inform the residents about Monday’s meeting.

Mathews gave his word Monday night that from this point forward the Castle Lake families would be treated fairly and be placed in a better living situation than the one in which they are currently living.

“I can assure you the buyer will be working with residents very, very closely,” Mathews said.

Jeff Fuqua, who formed Fuqua Development, LP in March 2012, attended Monday’s public hearing.

After talking with his client, Sams said Fuqua would form a committee this spring to start relocation assistance on a family by family basis.

CASTLE LAKE HOMES CORP.

(Created March 24, 2009)

Officers:  

CEO Joseph Ergas, 

CFO Joseph Ergas, 

Secretary Marcos Ergas



Other names used are:
EGI International Corp
Masal Partners Ltd. L.P.
Amak Partners, L.P.
(all with the same Vancouver address)

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Blog | Time for a change

Castle Lake MHP, Kennesaw

Posted by Kennesaw , February 25, 2014 at 06:21 PM

1650 Cobb Pky, Kennesaw

If you don’t like what is happening at Castle Lake MHP you can contact the Canadian firm which owns the property and those millionares who are principals in this property investment firm:

The Ergas Group, (Morris Ergas, Joseph Ergas, Marcos Ergas) Tel:  604-687-2310, 1185 Georgia St W, #1520, Vancouver, BC V6E 4E6, Canada

Joseph Ergas, Home (604) 926-6536, 2250 Bellevue Ave West Vancouver, BC V7V 1C6

Marcos Ergas, (604) 925-4350, 1340 Jefferson Ave, West Vancouver BC V7T2B2

Wealthy Vancouver Canada property investors Joseph and Marcos Ergas, owners of Castle Lake Homes Corp (aka 'The Ergas Group'),  are probably watching the clock run out on the 30 day window for a possible Kennesaw annexation appeal on the pending sale of 53 of their 87 acre Castle Lake MHP to controversial Atlanta developer Jeff Fuqua and his Fuqua Development Holdings, LLC.

The entire property is valued at $3,250,000 but generates only $39,000 yearly for Cobb County in property taxes.

If the sale is finalized to Fuqua and developed as a mid-sized retail development considerably more taxes will be generated and additional jobs will come to the area.

With an initially estimated 600-700 impacted residents of the Castle Lake MHP you might wonder if there is any recourse for them in the recent 5-0 Council vote for annexation of the unincorporated Cobb County acreage.

There are avenues via both the Superior Court and a direct appeal to the City, if done in the 30 day window of opportunity.  The end date for such a challenge would be Wed. March 19th.  There is no change in the status of the 53 acres until then and as yet no indication of an appeal.

The major issue at present is the displacement of those on the affected acreage and those remaining 34 MHP acres which will shortly follow to other developers with an eventual removal of over 1,000+ retirees, low income and Hispanic residents, all probable Kennesaw residents/citizens, although such residency/citizenship would be of short duration for most.

An occasionally mentioned 'relocation package' has yet to have any details firmed up and this has caused considerable unrest and anxiety in the Castle Lake community.  Speaking at the City Council meeting where the annexation and rezoning was approved Hispanic residents put on record their concern about having invested their life savings into the purchase and repair of their mobile homes in Castle Lake.

A 10 year resident complained that Fuqua's development plan seemed a great benefit to the 'millionaire' developer at the expense of the Latino community at Castle Lake.  The MDJ quoted a Mr Banuelos having said that "his words would not mean anything to the Councilmembers" and "I don't even know where I am going to go next".

While the City and the attorney for Fuqua have both indicated that some plan would be put into effect for those to be displaced it remains to be seen what will be done.  At minimum it should include hiring a professional real estate firm to assist the displaced finding places in other MHP's or area rental housing, refunding in full all security deposits and providing reasonable 'key money' for those who leave to defray their relocation costs.

With circulation of 16,000 not everyone reads the Marietta Daily Journal on a regular basis.  Recently they have been keeping up with the issue of a lack of a firm 'relocation' package for those residents of the Castle Lake Mobile Home Park.

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MHP Reviews From:  
http://www.kudzu.com/m/Castle-Lake-Mobile-Home-Cmnty-706183/reviews/ 


Castle Lake Mobile Home Cmnty

2 reviews
1650 Highway 41 Kennesaw, GA 30152 Phone: (770) 422-7275

Truthbetoldatl
Reviews: 1 Posted on 8/2/2012

Stay Away From Castle Lake and MARILYN HAGY !!!!!
Out of curiosity I looked up Castle LakeI lived there back in the late 1990's / early 2000's. 
Marilyn was there way back then and what a dirty underhanded woman she was and apparently still is! Someone should investigate her and the way she runs the office. I'll bet the authorities would love to have some proof of the fact that she rents to illegals without papers! She was doing the same thing back then. AND they also had unregistered sex offenders living there back when I was there and I would not be surprised if they still did and she helped to hide them out. I had issue with her because she tried to put a fraudulent report on my equifax stating I owed money I DIDN'T owe and I had to have them remove it. I noticed some of her illegal business practices then, but had no way to prove it. STAY AWAY! THERE ARE MANY BETTER PLACES IN THE AREA. 
And if anyone has proof of her illegal renting activities turn her in She deserves to be in jail!...


gordagorda
Reviews: 1  Posted on 10/10/2010

worse maneger in the world
maneger is abusive toward tenants, abuses her athority as maneger, worst assistant manger yolanda!!!!!!!! very vebaly abusave to tenents, marilyn hagee threatents to evict to scare tenants, she always turns the water off but isist on not giving credits on water bill. exepts money under the table to allow illegals with no papers to move in. pays illegals under the table and americans to work for her. tis tis.

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Mathews accused, correctly, of being a bully

The below MDJ article of 1/23/14 is reproduced here as the MDJ circulation in Kennesaw is limited and residents might not have otherwise seen it.   

Speaking of Mathews 'bullying' I would direct you to the Oct 29th entry on this site where you will see many of the rude posts sent to me by this Mayor.  

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2 councilwomen, resident accuse mayor of bullying

by Rachel Gray

January 22, 2014 11:55 PM 

Front Row, L to R:  Larry, Moe and Curly

Councilwomen Cris Eaton-Welsh and Debra Williams and an outspoken supporter Tuesday night called for an end to what they see as bullying by Kennesaw Mayor Mark Mathews, accusing him of setting a tone that has divided the city. Attending Tuesday’s council meeting are, front row from left, Mayor Mark Mathews, Councilman Tim Killingsworth and Councilman Leonard Church. Back row from left are Eaton-Welsh, Councilman Jim Sebastian and Williams. 
Courtesy of Pam Davis

KENNESAW — Two councilwomen and an outspoken supporter Tuesday night called for an end to what they see as bullying by Mayor Mark Mathews, accusing him of setting a tone that has divided the city.

Eileen Alberstadt, a familiar face at city meetings, said during the public comment portion of Tuesday night’s council meeting that she was speaking on behalf of a group of concerned citizens who want to see the city “unite.”

Alberstadt firmly said that the bullying has to stop, or she will personally petition to have Mathews or members of the council recalled and removed from office.

Alberstadt, who has lived in Kennesaw for 10 years after moving from Tallahassee, Fla., to Cobb, said some council members are her friends. But, Alberstadt said she shares “bad blood” with Mathews and other council members over past disagreements.

On Tuesday night, Councilwoman Cris Welsh said she had prepared a statement, but she went off the script to address the crowded room of residents.

Welsh said Mathews has been condescending toward her during their conversations.

And, for the majority of the time she has been on the council, Welsh said she has spent two and a half years “avoiding slings and arrows.”

“I’m done with that,” she said.

Welsh says ‘stop the infighting’

The infighting has caused Welsh to neglect her family and business, she said. Welsh has two young daughters, Isabelle and Shelby, and runs Eaton Chiropractic on Main Street in downtown Kennesaw.

Welsh said her antagonists have accused Welsh of owing past-due property taxes. Welsh said Tuesday night that during the slow economy she has tightened her belt and is paying the taxes in installments, just as other property owners have been forced to do.

“I am not ashamed. I am not alone,” Welsh said.

Welsh won re-election in 2011 for a second term and took office in January 2012. Her term expires at the end of 2015.

“Despite what’s gone on up here the last two and a half years, despite the tone that has been set,” Welsh said the city staff has done an excellent job and the city has moved forward, with more positive news on the horizon.

But, she said, “the infighting has got to stop. It’s the last thing we need. We are going to disagree on a lot of stuff, but we don’t have to disagree and take it personally.

“I just want to finish up my final two years in peace.”

The mayor versus the council

On Tuesday, Councilwoman Debra Williams said the council is composed of many personalities with strong convictions.

And, each council member has supporters “who are going to defend us till the end,” Williams said.

But, she asked those people not to make disagreements between Mathews and a council member personal.

“When we divide, we cannot make progress,” Williams said.

Mathews did not address the outcry by Alberstadt during the meeting, but said afterward he does not know what the real issue is.

“It has evolved into something where no one can pinpoint specifics,” Mathews said. “For months I have asked to be called out on any actions of mine that are questionable.”

Mathews accused members of the council of not talking directly to each other or with him, instead using social media or supporters in the community to address issues and come down on one side or the other.

He said council members should “take responsibility” for their actions, matching what they say.

“I feel like my actions and my words are consistent,” Mathews said.

Mathews said any change in attitude by the council will be up to each individual.

After the public meeting Tuesday night, each council member and Mathews posed and smiled to take a picture together to be hung in the foyer of city hall.

Speaking for the residents

Alberstadt was the only resident who spoke during the public comment section Tuesday night.

She said Kennesaw residents are fed up with the power struggles happening on the City Council, which swore in three new members about two weeks ago.

“I would like to know and the citizens would like to know, when are you going to work together?” Alberstadt asked.

Alberstadt said she does not expect the council members to all vote the same, but they need to join together to address the needs of Kennesaw.

The council should have “no secret projects or backroom handshake deals,” Alberstadt said, and all information about future developments in Kennesaw should be shared between all the council members and Mathews.

Alberstadt is a retired legal assistant who served on the Kennesaw Ethics Board until a year and a half ago. Now, Alberstadt said, she wants to “work in the wings,” helping businesses write grants to update their signage to beautify Kennesaw.

The high voter turnout at last year’s election has stirred Kennesaw residents into action, Alberstadt said, including some community members with extensive educational backgrounds who want to join city boards.

Alberstadt said it will be clear if the council and Mathews heard her warning by their personal encounters with her in the future.

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6/19/14

Saw this in the MDJ of 6/19/14 and I will park it here for now as the top of the blog is for Castle Lake info, sent off my 'comment' but who knows if it will be run.  I did get a 'letter to the editor' published 2 days ago.

Bill

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Kennesaw rejects trip to Dallas for mayor

by Haisten Willis

June 19, 2014 04:00 AM | 6 views | 0  | 0  |  | 

Mark Mathews

KENNESAW — Taxpayers likely won’t be sending a local mayor to Texas after the Kennesaw City Council voted against funding for his trip by a 3-2 vote.

Monday night, the council denied Kennesaw Mayor Mark Mathews a $2,500 trip to Dallas for an economic development conference Aug. 24 to 25.

“This was on the agenda as a professional courtesy to my peers, and they decided they didn’t think it was a worthy expenditure,” Mathews said.

Council members Cris Welsh, Debra Williams and Jim Sebastian voted against paying for the trip. Tim Killingsworth and Leonard Church voted in favor of it.

The trip is part of the Cobb Chamber’s Economic Development for a Growing Economy initiative and is called Opportunity Dallas 2014. The agenda item from the council meeting said the trip “is an elite opportunity to gather best practices related to all areas of the EDGE strategy. During the trip, visitors will examine how Dallas attracts talent and defines its communities as well as tour the city’s business incubators and sporting facilities and meet with Dallas’ economic development leaders.”
The agenda item said the $2,500 price tag covers “ground and air transportation, hotel and some meals.”

Welsh said it was too expensive.

“I don’t think it was a wise use of money,” she said. “The price was a huge part of it; $2,500 is a lot of money for a three-day trip.”

New members shake up council

Williams and Sebastian both are in their first year on the council. Williams said the previous council likely would have sent Mathews to Dallas.

“It’d be 3-2 in favor,” she said. “The new members — I know I can speak for Sebastian and myself — we’re looking at this entirely different.”

Williams talked about how some politicians think taxpayers should pay for programs that benefit them personally. She said former Kennesaw councilman Jeff Duckett, who lost to Sebastian last November, worked out a deal where the city paid for half of his $3,000 cost to participate in Leadership Cobb, another Chamber program. Williams said the city paid $1,500 for the program even though Duckett lost and is no longer representing the city.

“Those are the types of things that make career politicians and set politicians up for a lifestyle of staying in politics,” Williams said. “I have a huge issue with that. The citizens paid half of Duckett’s Leadership Cobb, and he was not an elected official.”

After the vote, Mathews seemed upset the council members did not mention anything about their opposition to the trip before voting against it.

“The irony of the whole thing is this was put on the agenda as a courtesy to get the authority to do so,” Mathews said. “The courtesy wasn’t extended to me. They didn’t support it or tell me they would vote against it.”

Mathews said similar expenditures were approved in the past, including “around $2,000” to pay  for Welsh to attend a Cobb Chamber program in December 2013.

Welsh said that was a different situation.

“They are not even remotely the same,” she said. “I’m in the Honorary Commanders program through the Chamber. It’s $1,700, which the council voted for. It’s a year-long program and when we do excursions I pay with my own money. It’s also a program Mark has gone through. This is $2,500 for a three-day trip on economic development. Economic development is not his job.”

Welsh said Bob Fox, the city’s economic development director, would have been a better candidate to go on the trip. 

Mathews said he may still attend the conference. He could veto the item, pay his own way or go using city money despite the vote. 

“I haven’t made a final decision yet,” he said. “Typically, those items are put on just as a courtesy and spread on the minutes. Our charter and everything allows us to do the business of the city as we deem necessary.”

This isn’t the first time Mathews’ use of taxpayer funds has come under fire. 

Between December 2012 and September 2013, Mathews spent more than $8,000 on restaurant tabs, flights to conventions and events across the country, iPad accessories and memorabilia for city residents using a city-issued credit card. 

Kennesaw has no documented limits on credit card spending by the mayor and council members, who are given the cards after being sworn into office.

The MDJ exposed the council’s use of credit cards in October 2013, and Kennesaw council members Duckett, Jenkins and Matt Riedemann were swept out of office the next month.

Other officials not going

None of the other five mayors in Cobb County said they planned to go on the trip, though Brooks Mathis, executive director of the EDGE initiative and a vice president of the Cobb Chamber, said all were invited. Cobb Commission Chairman Tim Lee, who co-chairs the EDGE program, said he will not be attending either.

EDGE is a five-year initiative which is in its second year. The program’s goals are to create 7,500 new jobs, increase payroll earnings and income by $420 million and $7,000 per capita in Cobb County, reduce unemployment to 5.5 percent, increase the public school graduation rate by 4 percent and increase the number of college-bound students in Cobb by 7 percent, according to the program’s annual report.

Mathis said this is the third trip taken as part of EDGE. The first trip was to Fairfax, Va., and the second was to Cleveland, Ohio, where the group toured that city’s bus rapid transit program. Mathis said the trips help leaders learn from the places they visit.

“They’ve got a stadium in Dallas similar to the project we’re working (with the Braves),” Mathis said. “It will show how they are able to develop and work a stadium project. There are small business incubators we’re going to look at… We compete with Dallas quite a bit on economic development.”

Comments

(8)

 Post a Comment

Andrew Jacobs

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13 Hours Ago

Mark Matthews' idea of economic development is simply the word 'yes'. Whatever anybody wants to build, wherever they want to build it. Why does he need training for that.

The City of Kennesaw is being greatly damaged by too many apartments and too many extended stay motels and too few nice neighborhoods.

Mark is just as bad as Leonard. They've merely swapped seats but the City still lacks leadership that will ensure Kennesaw develops in a quality way. Bravo to the ladies on the Council for stopping him on this.

Reply

Be Careful

|

13 Hours Ago

The next election can't come soon enough.

Mark and Tim are "bye bye".

How totally SHAMEFUL that he would even threaten to veto when counncil members expressed concern on spending that much TAXPAYER money on a 3 day trip (that NO other county mayor is attending).

If he wants to go so bad, write it off as a sales trip and have his buddies at Metro Ambulance pay for it.

Reply

Jeff Duckett

|

14 Hours Ago

Sorry that you are so ill informed Mrs Williams. Every council member and staff before that were privileged and honored to be chosen for Leadership Cobb had it paid for by the City. Any company or government entity should be proud and encourage their employees to improve upon themselves in programs like this one and others. A small price to pay to improve and enhance employee knowledge and bring new perspectives and ideas back that will benefit all. The reason that the City only paid for half of my program is because I was only guaranteed to serve on council through half of the program. I didn't think it was ethical that the City pay for the other half if I were not re-elected. If I had been, then the council had already approved to pay the other half at that time.

I believe that is the same for Honorary Commanders, GMA Conferences, Economic Development summits, etc. Leaders are always challenged to hone their skills and knowledge to continue to be effective and great leaders.

I guarantee Kennesaw would not be where we are today and in this economic boom if our leaders had not branched out and gathered the knowledge and acquired the relationships that would help us to do so. Look at all the past great events, they were not accomplished on an individual basis. It takes relationships and partnerships, as well as friendships. It takes prior knowledge, existing knowledge, and continued learning.

You say this economic summit is not worth it. How do you know?? I believe learning something to improve or enhance is always worth it. The return on investment can prove to be huge if you are in it for the right reasons.

Reply

curious about articl

|

8 Hours Ago

I don't know anyone involved in this but I applaud Jeff Ducket for replying himself. It sounds to me like he did the ethical thing by only accepting half; and as he said, without stating he is the only person whose leadership cobb membership is paid for by their respective politic, you have presented a very biased story.

Bruce Jenkins

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14 Hours Ago

In my terms on the City Council, travel,training and many meetings expenses were covered with the phrase “shall be reimbursed” with the use of City credit cards,(quoting from the City Charter). In retrospect I feel many of the expenses I used the City credit card were justifiable and in line as a representative of City business. However, the taxpayers needed the understanding of why and for what these expenses where being placed on their shoulders. To speak one on one with constituents, it was made clear to me that there is an respectable cost of doing business that relate in expenses such as luncheons, training and travel. What is usually the frustration is the repeated lack of clear written documentation as to why and for what purpose each of these were taking place, to the masses and the Council. Minutes should reflect an attachment or statement from the Council member or Mayor as to why they are requesting reimbursement and not only a receipt or expense report. An update as to what transpired on the trip or meeting, giving clear transparency as to what was being discussed during a “luncheon or breakfast meeting”. Many meetings, training seminars are in good intentions to help the Council serve more effectively, however this is usually only understood by a select involved few. This “documentation” could offer insight to members to continue to share insights with the group, creating better dialogue between meetings outside the Council chamber. Since I have left office I have noted little progress in the changes or creation of a Elected Official personal policy manual that I was working on before my term expired. I hope that this is completed and guidelines are placed so that all understand and have clearer expectations of fiscal responsibilities to taxpayer expectations.

This article refers to the City credit card, in many cases the City credit card carries as an open and accurate expense account of the individual that is using it. It also has certain advantages of savings to taxpayers if it is used in travel. For example, in the travel industry certain local sales or “Hotel/Motel tax” are removed if the purchaser has a credit card that bears the name of the entity he/she represents and the entity is tax exempt, and in most cases municipalities are tax exempt. In some cases the advantages are easily justified for having the City card. The gray area is created by the phrase, “shall be reimbursed” when the card is used in advance and clear guidelines as to what is expected in return on its usage to the owner, i.e. “taxpayer” (other then just receipts). The City charter needs an amendment to more accurately dictate policy on what exactly is a “justifiable and reasonable” reimbursement, and requiring documentation for future references as to the details of the expense. In this case the people, (taxpayers) are and “shall be reimbursed” with clear understanding of how their funds are being used. Just my thoughts...

Reply

Bill in Kennesaw

|

18 Hours Ago

As the article pointed out Mr. Mayor spends about $1,000 a month on restaurant meals and assorted junk. He lives high on the taxpayers funds but that is no surprise as he stiffed 140 or so people and businesses when he went bankrupt for over $1,000,000 in 2009. He put in to the paperwork even the tiniest amounts, like $30 to UPS and $32 to Georgia Oak Floors. Not much chance of him being elected again so he wants to get as much as he can while he can. We could pass the hat for a collection to send him, but he would have to promise not to come back.

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A poor start for the new City Council?

Posted by LegalService , January 08, 2014 at 01:44 PM

Time to find a new job Mayor?

I understand that the new Council is off to a rocky start with relations to the Mayor.  

Did he veto an appointment already put up by the Council?

Why was he giving them a hard time as to the procedure would be for swearing in new members? 

Rather than trying to 'get along' with the new lineup on the Council it seems that he wants to bump heads with them right from the start.  

If he dosen't like things now that he is a 'lame duck' mayor then he might want to resign and go back to washing Metro ambulances for a living.

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The below appeared in the MDJ 1/1/14 and is a good summary of the past years election.  

The MDJ has a limited local readership and their online edition has gone to a pay site so the item is reproduced here FYI.

Residents oust three Kennesaw City Council members

Controversies over late councilman’s replacement, spending fuel elections 

by Hannah Morgan - hmorgan@mdjonline.com 

December 31, 2013 09:57 PM 

KENNESAW — After months of political sniping and controversy over spending and other issues at the City Council, Kennesaw residents voted to oust all three councilmen who were up for re-election in November.

Some say the divide in the council was exacerbated when longtime councilman Bill Thrash died from bladder cancer in May. The council was split in deciding who should take Thrash’s spot on the five-member council.

Mayor Mark Mathews made the tie-breaking vote in electing Matt Riedemann to the council in June, which added angst to the city’s split council members and residents.

Council members Cris Welsh and Bruce Jenkins voted to install Thrash’s wife, Suzie, as his replacement on the council, while Jeff Duckett and Tim Killingsworth opted for Riedemann.

Mathews voted to break the tie in favor of Riedemann.

From there, the council became a two-headed governmental body, split on most of the important votes, with council members Riedemann, Killingsworth and Duckett consistently voting in a bloc to overrule motions made by council members Cris Welsh and Bruce Jenkins.

Welsh brought forward motions this fall to ban smoking in nearly all businesses and public outdoor spaces and another to prohibit elected officials from texting during council meetings. Both motions were overruled and dismissed by Mathews and his allies.

Museum, credit cards spark controversy

The council was repeatedly petitioned by residents concerned with the city’s finances. Critics believed the city’s financial position was burdened by taxpayer subsidies of its top two tourist attractions, the Southern Museum of Locomotive History and the Smith-Gilbert Gardens.

Both attractions have been running deficits for years, pulling money from the city’s general fund, which is fed by fees and taxes paid by Kennesaw residents.

In the 2013 budget, city officials transferred $557,643 to the gardens and the museum in order to balance the annual budget. That figure is expected to rise to $616,322 in the 2014 budget, which was adopted in September by a 3-2 vote of the council.

In late October, city officials came under fire again for the city’s lack of a credit card policy. Residents were upset to learn their elected officials had been using credit cards with very little rules and regulations, funded with their tax dollars.

The mayor and council members had spent together about $33,000 on dinners, including one at Vic’s on the River in Savannah from July 2012 that totaled $923.20, various flights and embroidered clothing between September 2012 and September 2013, according to credit card statements.

Duckett spent roughly $4,500, Jenkins, $6,500, Welsh and Killingsworth almost $3,000 each, and the mayor about $8,200 from December 2012 through Sept. 9, 2013.

The bills were paid for and unquestioned by the city. As news of this and other hot-potato issues broke, residents responded by signing up to run for council.

By the filing deadline, residents had seven candidates to choose from on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Clean sweep of council candidates

Debra Williams, a local businesswoman who owns her own public relations and marketing business and serves on the Kennesaw Planning and Zoning Board, stunned incumbent Matt Riedemann by garnering 60 percent of the votes in the Post 4 race. She outpolled Riedemann by nearly 400 votes, tallying 1,142 to her opponent’s 757.

Jim Sebastian, chairman of the Citizens Advisory Committee and owner of SAFE LLC, a consulting company, squeaked out a win over incumbent Jeff Duckett by about 30 votes.

Former Kennesaw mayor Leonard Church made a political comeback, beating incumbent councilman Bruce Jenkins and Briggett Washington in a tight race, as no candidate won 50 percent of the vote.

Read more: The Marietta Daily Journal - Residents oust three Kennesaw City Council members

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Misc Info:  
The election is now history with all 3 incumbent councilmen having been replaced by other candidates.

So the original purpose of the site, and the others, is now gone but the information will remain as it has historical value and might be useful to people who have an interest in what goes on in Kennesaw.

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Misc Info:  Despite the article's claim of a 'runoff' there is no provision in Kennesaw for one if candidates do not get over 50%, so Church is the winner in Post 3.

Voters oust two Kennesaw City Council incumbents, shattering its voting bloc 

Bruce Jenkins, Leonard Church in runoff Dec. 3
By Hannah Morgan, MDJ Reporter  hmorgan@mdjonline.com  

KENNESAW — Two new members will join Kennesaw’s City Council as they knocked off incumbents, and a third race will go to a runoff, shattering a tight voting bloc that has controlled many of the city’s policies for months. 

Williams in a landslide 

Debra Williams, a local businesswoman who owns her own public relations and marketing business and serves on the Kennesaw Planning and Zoning Board, stunned incumbent Matt Riedemann by garnering 60 percent of the votes in the Post 4 race. She outpolled Riedemann by nearly 400 votes, tallying 1,142 to her opponent’s 757, according to unofficial results posted on the Cobb Board of Elections website. 

Duckett goes down, barely 

Jim Sebastian, chairman of the Citizens Advisory Committee and owner of SAFE LLC, a consulting company, squeaked out a win over incumbent Jeff Duckett by about 30 votes, according to county election results.

“You did it, Jim, you did it!” Williams shouted across the crowded restaurant, 41 Cork and Tap, off Cobb Parkway in Kennesaw Station Shopping Center, pointing to Sebastian, as the election results came in Tuesday night. 

Jenkins in runoff with former mayor 

Former Kennesaw mayor Leonard Church and incumbent councilman Bruce Jenkins will be in a runoff election Dec. 3, as neither candidate garnered 50 percent of the vote, plus one vote, according to Cobb County election regulations.

Briggett Washington also ran for Jenkins’s seat but tallied only 23 percent of the vote, not enough to make the runoff election next month.

With Duckett and Riedemann going down in defeat, Mayor Mark Mathews will finish out the rest of his term without the voting bloc he has enjoyed. 

Posting in pink 

Councilwoman Cris Welsh, who was not up for re-election, posted the numbers as they came in from the county on a neon pink sheet, taped against the glass door at 41 Cork and Tap.

Peg Rhoad was excited about the potential for the new faces on the council, and said she hoped they could help to “Get the mayor out of town … and start getting the city where it needs to be,” both financially and ethically, said the owner of Dog Grooming by Peg on Main Street in downtown Kennesaw.

The Hickory Wine Bluegrass Band, with players from Tennessee and Woodstock, played as more than 60 supporters of Jenkins, Williams and Sebastian waited for the numbers to come in.

When Williams heard of her victory, she began to cry, “I made a promise to the people that I fully intend to keep,” she said.

Her best friend for more than 20 years, Lisa Lott, had driven in from Montgomery, Ala., to surprise Williams earlier that afternoon in the parking lot. She hugged Williams when the numbers began to come in.

Jenkins stood in the parking lot and said while he was disappointed with the results, he vowed to continue to support the city and all of the council members, whether or not he wins the upcoming runoff election. 

“We need new blood, not old blood. Leadership is about everyone having a chance to serve. We need fresh faces, fresh ideas,” on the council, said 50-year-Kennesaw resident Mike Serkedakis, when he heard about Church’s slim plurality. 

Across town, at Mazzy’s Sports bar and Grill off Cherokee Street, more than 50 people came out to support Riedemann, and to watch election results come in. 

Riedemann said he felt “wonderful” and happy that so many people had been involved in voting Tuesday. Recent reports of his personal financial difficulties had both hurt and helped his campaign, he said. While the reports had certainly lost him a few voters, Riedemann said that he received many emails, text messages and calls from residents who felt that he was “a real person” that they could relate to. 

Duckett, who was narrowly beaten by Sebastian, could not be reached Tuesday night. 

In the current council, Mathews has received strong support from council members Tim Killingsworth and Duckett, while Jenkins and Welsh have previously voted against the mayor on important issues for the city, including the city’s budget. 

Riedemann joined the council in July, after the death of former councilman Bill Thrash, and has not been on the council long enough to establish a voting pattern. 

Riedemann was appointed to the council, however, by a tie-breaking vote from the mayor last June, after Thrash’s death. A picture of Thrash sat nearby on the bar Tuesday night at 41 Cork and Tap, facing out at the crowd as the final numbers came in. Residents were more involved in this year’s election than ever before, they said, as news reports revealed the city’s struggling financial situation, and complaints about a lax credit card spending policy drew them to the polls. Williams, Sebastian and either Jenkins or Church will take office at the start of January. Council members Welsh and Killingsworth, along with the mayor, were not up for re-election this year. 

Staff/Jeff Stanton Above: Kennesaw City Council candidate Jim Sebastian, right, receives a victory smooch from his wife, Karen, at the 41 Cap and Cork. Sebastian narrowly defeated incumbent Jeff Duckett. Below: Incumbent Kennesaw City Council member Bruce Jenkins is embraced by Suzie Thrash, the wife of former council member Bill Thrash, who died from cancer in May. Thrash was supporting Jenkins, who will now face former mayor Leonard Church in a runoff.

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Mayor Mathews is now a 'lame duck'

With an unusually high turnout for a Kennesaw Council election, just over 1,900 voters turned out to cast their votes for the 3 Kennesaw Council positions.

   

3 incumbents have been swept out of office.  

The financial problems with the mis-use of City credit cards was a late developing major facor, also voters expressed their annoyance with the Mayor over his actions in putting a financial burnout on the Council to replace a deceased Councilman.

This was much more than an election, it was a referendum on Mathew's stewardship and almost surely means that in 2 years both Mathews and his remaining Councilman Mr Killingsworth will be gone from Kennesaw politics.

The 3/2 Mathews majority on the Council is history, he now has to deal with 4 Council members who are 'anti' Mathews and in a mood for some major reforms both in financial matters and in any new Council business.

Post 3 
L. Church     768  40%
B. Jenkins    720  37%
Washington 434  23%
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Post 4
D. Williams 1,142  60%
Riedemann  757   40%
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Post 5
Sebastian  964 51%
Duckett      934 49%

==================================================================== PM's from Facebook Account of JimJimgg, now closed

Below are both incoming and replies from me via a now closed Facebook account.  When active the account had 30 'friends', one of them was Mathews. 

He initiated an exchange of Private Messages and since I found them both annoying and a distraction I initially blocked/unfriended him.  Shortly after that I decided just to cancel the account and it was deleted by me. 

After this Mathews started contacting me via emails, none of which I replied to.
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https://www.facebook.com/NEVRL8

/mobile//mobile/ 7:52pm l

Mark Mathews

Bill, i hope you are having a great Labor Day weekend. In all of your research on the Burger-Fi project,how did you not see that one of your "anti-mayor" angels was the lead council member over the KDDA for this project? As thorough as you are, I have to assume that you saw that little tidbit but including it would make you look even more foolish. Keep up the good work! Oh, and On your election analysis, I have to thank you for giving me so much credit. It's quite flattering.

https://www.facebook.com/waterstone.suckz

l l 8:37pm l

Jim Jimggy

Always glad to help! I've said about 20 times that all those on the Council should be replaced. Don't care whether they are 'pro-Mayor' or 'anti-Mayor', all of you did a poor job on the Pawn Shop fiasco and I could not care less if one of you is on the KDDA or if that person is pro or anti Mayor.

https://www.facebook.com/NEVRL8

l l 8:43pm l

Mark Mathews

Pawn Shop was definitely a fiasco. That crazy thing called "Due Process of Law" really slows things down. Personally, understanding what we had to go thru with "Due Process" I think it went very well. We were made aware of a problem and resolved it.

https://www.facebook.com/NEVRL8

l l 10:03am l

Mark Mathews

It must be a very rewarding feeling to try to tear down people and progress. I'm sorry that you are such an unhappy man. What a man!

"Today "

https://www.facebook.com/waterstone.suckzhttps://www.facebook.com/waterstone.suckz

l l 1:29pm l

Jim Jimggy

Just remind me how many creditors you stuck in yoour 2009 bankruptcy? I am sure more people are pissed off with you than are with me. Wasn't that a bit over one million bucks you got out from under? People who live in glass houses should probably not annoy others who like to throw rocks.

Mark Mathews

2:08pm Sep 6

Again, I'm glad I can bring enjoyment to your obviously lacking life. Harping on something that is 4 years old really says a lot about the kind of person you really are. It's all public record and I've been in a glass house for over 16 years. While I too enjoy throwing rocks, I've never tried to hide from anything, cover anything up, or take out my personal deficiencies on others from behind a keyboard. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have "man to man" or "face to face". Enjoy your weekend "Mr. Big Man".

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  Background Information on Mathews:

(This 2 part article is presented with Part 2 first as this is the more interesting of the 2 and deals with current Mayor Mathews and how he handles his financial obligations)

Political Vine:  The Insider's Source on Georgia Politics
See article at:   http://politicalvine.com/politicalrumors/georgia-races/city-of-kennesaw-elections-part-2/ 

The Political Vine is the home of political news, satire, rants, and rumors.

City of Kennesaw Elections-

City of Kennesaw Elections - Part 2
by PV

Mark Mathews is the current mayor of Kennesaw, and is running for reelection this Tuesday, November 8th (2011).

First elected as mayor in 2007, he started his term in January 2008.

According to his reelection Website, he states the following as part of his business resume:

“1989-2009: Mathews Carpet Company – a company started by his parents in 1974. In 2001 MR Mathews, Inc. was created to purchase the business, Mathews Abbey Flooring, providing all types of flooring products and services to the residential, commercial, and new construction markets. Forced to close business due to economic downturn.”

A more accurate statement (and, truthful one at that) with regards to being “Forced to close business due to economic downturn” would have been “Filed bankruptcy in 2009 as a result of economic downturn.”

See, Ladies and Gentlemen, there is a difference between merely “closing a business” and a business filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. One denotes the act of merely ceasing operations after settling all debts…while the other one denotes a legal filing to a federal court to officially tell 44 some-odd creditors “Hey…ummm…sorry, we ain’t gonna pay you what we owe” to “close” the business.

So, if he’s not accurate in his description of what actually happened to his business, one might wonder if it really went bankrupt due solely to an “economic downturn” OR…could it be because Mathews was spending too much of his time playing mayor and dealing in the “fun” of politics rather than keeping his eye on his business enterprise?

Also in 2009, Mathews and his wife had to personally file for bankruptcy. (We are not in any way implying or inferring anything negative with regards to the character of Mark Mathews or his wife.)

HOWEVER…in referencing the actual filing (a 23 Megabyte PDF file should you choose to open or download it), there are significant instances of the taxpayers of several government jurisdictions being left on the hook for Mathews’ tax debt.

Specifically:

- City of Marietta: $2286.53 (Page 31 of 83 in PDF)
- City of Marietta Section 8 Housing Authority: $2003.43 (Page 39 of 83 in PDF)
- Cobb County Tax Commissioner: $626.00 (Page 40 of 83)
- Cobb County Tax Commissioner: $1553.32 (Page 40 of 83)

All told, Mark Mathews (via himself and MR Mathews, Inc) has left several Cobb County-based municipalities $6,469.28 in the red and OTHER taxpayers having to foot his tax bills (by having to pay higher taxes on their tax bills owed)

Now, the 2nd-term seeking mayoral candidate just happens to be one of the big, Big, BIG proponents of next year’s T-SPLOST. You know, that little vote that will require all Kennesaw inhabitants the additional responsibility of paying 1% more in sales tax on everything they buy in Cobb. Yeah. Mathews is in favor of you paying more taxes so that he can have a hand in spending on your behalf.

Councilman Tim Killingsworth, Post 2 is running for reelection to the Kennesaw City Council. He is also known to be a tight ally of Mark Mathews.

On October 24th, there was a candidate forum held by the Kennesaw Patch (an online local news site that is owned by Huffington-Post).

Here is a link to a PDF version of the transcript.

It is interesting to us that Councilman Killingsworth, at Time Marker 7:32 states “We haven’t raised your taxes, and we don’t plan to do that anytime soon.”

Then…at Time Marker 7:45, Killingsworth answers the question of whether he supports the T-SPLOST vote next year by saying “I would have to say I do support it.”

So, for Killingsworth’s mind, maybe there’s a distinction in his mind of what constitutes “anytime soon” and intending to push (along with Mathews coordinating) for passage of next year’s T-SPLOST vote to…do what? Oh, yeah. RAISE TAXES.

PV’s Conclusion: Frankly, in our opinion, the existence of Mathews’ two bankruptcies (personal and business defaults) are not the direct issues here.

What should be important in this case is the following:

1)  Mathews had an obligation to be truthful as to why his business “closed.” It’s easy to blame the downturn…but, not everyone has gone out of business due to the downturn. AND, filing a bankruptcy is NOT the same thing as “closing a business.”

2)  The failure to pay nearly $6500 in various taxes to the City of Marietta (hey, Thunder has deep pockets to cover this default, right, Thunder?) and the Cobb County Tax Commissioner’s office (hey, Tim Lee and Helen Goreham will cover for Mathews in a heartbeat…they’ll just raise the rest of our millages, right?).

No, defaulting on taxes should immediately disqualify anyone from “serving” the people. We hope that come the Election Night of November 8, the voters of Kennesaw disqualify the reelection of Mark Mathews.

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This entry was posted by PV, on Tuesday, November 1st, 2011 at 11:25 pm and is filed under Cobb County, Georgia Races and Tagged: Candidate Bankruptcy, Kennesaw Mayor, Mark Mathews, Tax Debt, TSPLOST
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
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Political Vine: The Insider's Source on Georgia Politics
See article at:  http://politicalvine.com/politicalrumors/cobb-county/city-of-kennesaw-elections-part-1/

The Political Vine is the home of political news, satire, rants, and rumors.
City of Kennesaw Elections-Part 1
by PV

Last week, we issued a Poll to the Vine readership consisting of this one question: ” If a person running for public office has a bankruptcy of any type in their background, should it be disclosed?”

Out of 142 votes cast, 111 voted “Yes, it should be disclosed” and 32 voted “No, I don’t care to know.”

There was an opportunity for people to give their own insight into the subject, and the personal opinions ran the gamut (see here for opinions…by the way, the site that the Poll is on is not controlled by Political Vine in any way, and it will not be monitored).

In reviewing these opinions, as well as consulting with other people in the world of politics, we’ve come to the following conclusions about bankruptcies (you are free to disagree):

1) Not all bankruptcies are the result of a character flaw in the people who file. It does not mean the person is immoral or unethical for filing a bankruptcy (of course, if any US Senator from Georgia ever files for bankruptcy, we’ll be scratching our heads and wondering why they didn’t get enough ROI from their crony capitalist bank pals after they voted in 2005 to give the homeowner less of a chance for recovery, all the while giving more power and absolution to the banks themselves).

2) Not all bankruptcies are entirely the fault of the person or business making the filing.

3) Barring the actual attempt to defraud, defaulting on money owed to creditors is not a sign of anyone who is being inherently dishonest (the creditors voluntarily took a risk to give credit to the borrower…that is an agreement between two private parties as far as we are concerned and a happenstance of the free market).

4) However, if the person has defaulted on taxes owed to a government entity, AND….that person is a candidate for a publicly-elected office for some position at some level of government, then everyone’s pretty much in agreement that that is a sign of hypocrisy present that is not going to be tolerated for very long by the voters and taxpayers.

It is this 4th point that is crucial to understand why there’s “hypocrisy” if someone is elected to office who hasn’t paid their own tax bills. It is the reason why we felt it was necessary to expose, not only the $137,000 some-odd of current tax liens that HD 43 candidate Robert Lamutt had on his current books, but also his documented 7-year history of having liens at both the federal and state level field against him that made it relevant.

When you are elected to public office, you are, in effect, using the force of government to extract tax dollars from us to pay for your fiefdom.

And, unless you think, as an elected official, that you should be exempt from paying taxes to support your infrastructure, your failure to pay taxes means that the burden must fall on the rest of the taxpayers.

And, taxpayers don’t particularly care to shoulder your load while you are put in charge of making decisions on how to spend their money.
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This entry was posted by PV, on Tuesday, November 1st, 2011 at 11:09 pm and is filed under Cobb County and Tagged: Kennesaw Elections, Kennesaw Mayor, Mark Mathews, TSPLOST
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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Mark Mathews
Manager - Government Relations
Greater Atlanta Area Government Relations
As posted on the site Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmarkmathews?trk=pub-pbmap 

Current
Board Member at Atlanta Regional Commission
Manager - Government Relations at METROAtlanta Ambulance Service
Mayor at City of Kennesaw

Past
Owner at Mathews Abbey Flooring
Council Member at City of Kennesaw
Communications Specialist at Honest Face Systems Inc.
Recommendations
14 people have recommended Mark
Connections
500+ connections
Websites
MetroAtlanta Ambulance
City of Kennesaw
Mark Mathews' Summary

Local elected official with over 15 years experience in federal, state, and local government relations in Georgia.

Specialties
Government relations, government liaison, project management, research, computer networking, contract negotiations, sales, dispute resolution.

Mark Mathews' Experience

Board Member
Atlanta Regional Commission
Nonprofit; 51-200 employees; Government Relations industry
July 2009 – Present (4 years 4 months)

Represent the six cities of Cobb County for the region.
Manager - Government Relations
METROAtlanta Ambulance Service
Privately Held; 201-500 employees; Hospital & Health Care industry
June 2009 – Present (4 years 5 months)

Mayor, City of Kennesaw
Government Agency; 201-500 employees; Government Administration industry
January 2008 – Present (5 years 10 months)

Owner, Mathews Abbey Flooring
January 2001 – March 2009 (8 years 3 months)

Family owned and operated flooring store. Provided all flooring products and services to the construction and retail trade. Carpet, Vinyl, Hardwood, Ceramic Tile sales and installation. Purchased business in 2001 from parents.

Council Member
City of Kennesaw
Government Agency; 201-500 employees; Government Administration industry
January 1996 – December 2007 (12 years)

Communications Specialist
Honest Face Systems Inc.
May 1982 – November 1989 (7 years 7 months)

Coordinated and managed all Data Processing functions, network specialist, and project management

====================================================================== Mathews Bankruptcy Information

Below Bankruptcy Schedules B, C and the 22 page listing of the 108 Schedule F unsecured creditors.

Written off debts ranged from $382,353 to the law firm of Haynie, Litchfield & Crane to $30 for UPS.  The total liabilities were $1,446,583.43 v. assets of $360,268.
for a larger image right click and open in a new window-

For larger image right click and open in new window:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Bankruptcy information is coming soon about the Mayor and another Councilman.

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for a larger image right click and open in a new window-

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  The Georgia Campaign Finance Commission has some problems with the failure of 2 candidates for the Kennesaw City Council, 1 Kennesaw Mayor and one sitting Kennesaw Councilman (not up for election) in their failure to provide 'Personal Financial Disclosure Statements' as is required by Georgia law. 

Riedemann owes $125, Killingsworth owes $125 and Ms Washington owes $250 for a missing 'Personal Financial Disclosure Statement' and a missing 'Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report'. 

In the case of the Mayor it goes back to 2011. Mathews owes $250 for 2 seperate failures to file. 

The Commission Invoice states in part: 
"If you fail to pay the required late filing fee(s) as indicated above, the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission may issue an Administrative Subpeona commanding your presence before them to give reason why you have failed to remit the required late filing fee(s)."

 

 

 

 

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Kennesaw Campaign Contribution Disclosure Reports are available at the below direct links, copy link and put into your browser to bring up the site:

Riedemann:
http://media.ethics.ga.gov/Search/Campaign/Campaign_ReportOptions.aspx?NameID=18848&FilerID=C2013000368&CDRID=95442  

Duckett:
http://media.ethics.ga.gov/Search/Campaign/Campaign_ReportOptions.aspx?NameID=9030&FilerID=C2011000437&CDRID=96774  

Williams:
 http://media.ethics.ga.gov/Search/Campaign/Campaign_ReportOptions.aspx?NameID=19097&FilerID=C2013000572&CDRID=96560

Sebastian:
 http://media.ethics.ga.gov/Search/Campaign/Campaign_ReportOptions.aspx?NameID=18917&FilerID=C2013000420&CDRID=96586

Washington:
 http://media.ethics.ga.gov/Search/Campaign/Campaign_ReportOptions.aspx?NameID=19089&FilerID=C2013000566&CDRID=97571

Jenkins:
 http://media.ethics.ga.gov/Search/Campaign/Campaign_ReportOptions.aspx?NameID=5901&FilerID=C2009000157&CDRID=97342

Church:
 http://media.ethics.ga.gov/Search/Campaign/Campaign_Name.aspx?NameID=19088&FilerID=C2013000565&Type=candidate

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The below information comes from the site:  http://notmathews.org/notmathews/default.htm

NotMathews.org  - Integrity Matters This site was established by those who have been exposed to the 
lack of character and integrity of Mark Mathews
and believe that he would not be a good mayor of Kennesaw.

NotMathews.org - Integrity Matters
This site was established by those who have been exposed to the 
lack of character and integrity of Mark Mathews
and believe that he would not be a good mayor of Kennesaw.
Character and integrity matter: we suggest that you not vote for Mark Mathews for Mayor of Kennesaw.

Whether Democrat or Republican, you have to admire the courage and conviction of the Swift Vets and POWs for Truth during the 2004 presidential election. The Swift Vets knew from their own personal experience that John Kerry lacked integrity and deliberately misrepresented the truth. They felt it important that someone with lack of integrity should not be President of the United States: “John Kerry … exhibits serious flaws in character and lacks the potential to lead.” They stepped forward, presented the facts, addressed all rebuttals, and stood up to the personal abuse from the Kerry supporters.

While the Kennesaw mayoral race is nowhere near as significant,  the mayor of Kennesaw will serve for 4 years and much can happen to influence our town's reputation and our lives here.

In that spirit, this site represents those in the area who have had personal experience with Mark Mathews and know, firsthand, that he lacks the character and integrity to be Mayor of Kennesaw. We will present the facts that are available and allow Mark Mathews to respond at any time.

We shall begin by reviewing Mark Mathews' own words about himself on his website. You will see that he distorts the truth to deceive you, takes credit for the work of others, or really does no work at all.

The "About Mark" and "Accomplishments" pages on his website have only three relevant activities: education, work experience, and city council membership:

EDUCATION:
At first glance, you might think "taken classes at Southern Polytechnic and Kennesaw State Universities" says that Mathews has a college degree or at least a significant college education - this is what he intended that you deduce. The reality is that he quit a computer science degree program from Southern Polytechnic because he was on academic probation after only two semesters. He then transferred to Kennesaw College (not a University at the time) in a business degree program and quit again. Given this poor performance, he was asked why he thought it important to put college classes in his biography and he could only agree that it was lack of  commitment and poor planning and that he was "not as well in tune with myself, my goals for life, or my plans for the future." There are at least three things that must be derived from putting his failing college education in his bio:

1. He was trying to deceive the voters into thinking he had a college education. Why else would he place it in his bio? He was asked what courses he took that were relevant to being mayor and he refused to respond. If he wanted you to know the truth, he would have said he was a college drop-out. 

2. He failed, twice, at a task that most of the voters would like their children to accomplish. Mark Mathews is not a good role model for our children - not for education, not for commitment and perseverance, and mostly not for integrity.

3. If he is unwilling to commit to an education, how can we expect he will commit to the job of mayor? This was already demonstrated when he was on the city council where, after 12 years, he has still not completed the Georgia Municipal Association classes, required of all public officials. Even knowing he was going to run for mayor, he dropped out of a scheduled class.

Some compensate for not getting a college degree and are honorable citizens. Mark Mathews did not and continues to demonstrate his lack of education and integrity. He could at least have someone check the grammar and spelling on his website.

WORK EXPERIENCE:
The first half of Mark Mathews' work experience was as a LAN administrator and a technical career. He quit this to take over his father's carpet business. We must ask why was there no mention of this in his bio? This would be far more significant to being mayor than running his father's business. But a more significant indicator of his lack of integrity is his carpet experience. This is where his true character is exposed. There are two types of contractors and the test comes not on a job that goes well but when there are problems. Here is where Mark Mathews clearly shows his lack of character and integrity. Here are just a few of his "contractor tricks":

1. Quit an incomplete job and claimed the remainder of the work was warranty. Then demanded full payment before he would do warranty work.

2. Personally showed up and demanded payment and became belligerent when female spouse was at home alone.

3. Used the courts as a weapon instead of  an arbiter. Even when he lost the case, he refused to pay and used lawyer tactics to wear down the customer.

Other than demonstrating his poor character, this is important because he is a contractor and a considerable amount of city business deals with contractors and building. Having a contractor of Mathews' integrity as mayor can only cause a conflict of interest that is not in the best interest of Kennesaw residents.

CITY COUNCIL: 
As with his deceptive education statement, his "accomplishments" as a city council member are written to deceive the voters. Here are some things to watch for in his claims:

1. His claim under "Leadership" was that he was "elected" by the council as Mayor Pro-Tem. There is no "election" involved. The position is a backup position in case the mayor is absent from a meeting and it is "rotated" among all the council members. Yet using the words elected, mayor, and leadership were meant purely to deceive the voters into thinking he has been elected and performed as mayor.  

2. His claim under "Commitment" is again similar to his false education claims. This is actually a failure in commitment for, in 12 years, he has only completed 102 of 120 hours of the GMA education for elected officials. 

3. Be very careful reading some of his other accomplishments noting particularly the verbs he uses. "Led the push", "served on", "instrumental in", "worked for", "worked with", "worked to maintain", "supported", "promoted", ... These are passive statements and amount to just talk. His "Vision" claim seems to use the active verb "led" but the reality is that he did not lead the automation project as the statement tries to deceive the voters. He didn't even lead a push, and when asked what specifically he did, he had no reply.

4. Regarding his statements on "Taxes," it is not clear what he actually did because the city manager is responsible for this area. As to his statement about working to maintain the current tax rate of 6.75 mils, his action at a council work session on June 27th, 2007 is to the contrary: "Councilmember Mathews recommended publishing at the highest possible millage rate (9.5 mils)." 

5. Lack of character is reflected in his judgment, as well. For example, shortly after Jeff Miller was publicly reprimanded and removed as Vice President by the Legacy Park Community Association Board for improper conduct, Mark Mathews recommended him for the city planning board. Another example is his desire to disband the Kennesaw Police Department. 

6. Mark Mathews says his reason for wanting to be mayor was to "bring parties together" to resolve "The slow progress on recent projects in the city [which] has been hindered by weak relationships, both internally and externally." When asked what projects and delays he was referring to, he had no answer. When asked why he hadn't accomplished these things as a councilman, he had no answer. 

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So, in his two short website pages, Mark Mathews has deceived, mislead, and demonstrated his lack of integrity, skill, and background for the position of Mayor of Kennesaw. His slogan is "building our hometown" but his actual behavior indicates that socializing and self-promotion are his priorities. To summarize his accomplishments from his own words, Mark Mathews is a college drop-out whose only business experience is running a business created by his father. Surely Kennesaw can do better.

This information on this website has been reviewed by Mark Mathews numerous times and he has been given, and continues to be given, the opportunity to correct any errors. Comments, experiences, and corrections may be sent to integrity@notmathews.org.

 

 

 

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On October 24th, there was a candidate forum held by the Kennesaw Patch (an online local news site that is owned by Huffington-Post).  

See original transcript at:  http://www.politicalvine.com/kennesaw/KsawPatchForumPodcast.pdf


Monday October 24, 2011

7:23 And we're live from Ben Robertson Community Center.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:23
7:25 The candidates have been introduced. Now moderator Rep. Ed Setzler takes the podium.

Monday October 24, 2011 7:25
7:26 Format: Four general questions to be asked to all candidates, and two individual questions to each candidate.

Monday October 24, 2011 7:26
7:27 This will be followed by a Q&A from the audience.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:27
7:27 Now 3-minute opening remarks from all the candidates.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:27

7:27 Mayor Mark Mathews takes the podium
Monday October 24, 2011 7:27
7:28 Mathews: Four years ago, ran on platform of "building our hometown."
Monday October 24, 2011 7:28
7:28 Mathews: With hard economic times, budget has been reduced by 12 percent.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:28
7:29 "Thank you very much for the opportunity tonight. I look forward to answering your questions."
Monday October 24, 2011 7:29

7:29 Next, City Council challenger Jimmy Dickens, Post 2, takes the podium.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:29
7:29 I'm concerned about our community. I want to be part of it...
Monday October 24, 2011 7:29
7:29 Dickens: Currently running three mentoring programs.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:29
7:30 Dickens: I have eight kids, beautiful wife.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:30

7:30 Councilman Tim Killingsworth, Post 2: been in Kennesaw for 15 years. Retired from Marine Corps.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:30
7:31 "We changed a lot of attitudes about the way people look at politics and look at leaders here in Kennesaw."
Monday October 24, 2011 7:31
7:32 "One of my passions being a retired Marine is to follow and stay with the veterans groups."
Monday October 24, 2011 7:32
7:32 "We've got a lot of things happening and a lot of things about to happen."
Monday October 24, 2011 7:32
7:32 "We haven't raised your taxes, and we don't plan to do that anytime soon."

Monday October 24, 2011 7:32
7:33 Councilwoman Cris Eaton-Welsh, Post 1, takes the podium.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:33
7:33 "I work here, I live here, my husband Steve and I have chosen to raise our family here."
Monday October 24, 2011 7:33
7:33 "We have got a $1 million renovation going on with the old Cowboys location."
Monday October 24, 2011 7:33
7:34 "I'm very proud of this mayor and council for the relationships that they've built."
Monday October 24, 2011 7:34

7:34 First group question: 
There's been a lot of talk for the need for economic development in downtown Kennesaw. What's your vision for downtown? How will you get there?
Monday October 24, 2011 7:34
7:35 Eaton-Welsh: That's my vision for downtown—a walking breathing downtown
Monday October 24, 2011 7:35
7:36 Killingsworth: The development that she's talked about, everybody has seen the Underpass under the railroad tracks. All that land on the other side of that street has been put together by the Development Authority. Now we've got Camp MacDonald. That's gonna be a passive park. Plus 4-story parking deck.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:36
7:37 Killingsworth: Our downtown is moving. We've got development already happening. Kennnesaw right now is staged and prepared to be on the front of the stage.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:37
7:38 Jimmy Dickens: Trackside was a good start. Me personally, I would like to see more restaurants downtown.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:38
7:38 Right now, other than the Trackside, there's not a lot of restaurants.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:38
7:38 People want to be in downtown Kennesaw. If you look at Pigs and Peaches and the big festivals that we have. I would want to redevelop downtown so we're more family friendly.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:38
7:39 Mark Mathews: The vision that we've got for Kennesaw is shared by the entire council at this present time.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:39
7:40 Downtown on Main Street, there is a rendering as well where we have assembled a property behind City Hall. That is intended to be amixed use facility. One of the big problems we have—lack of parking.
Once we address parking problem, we should have influx of additional
business, restaurants and shops opening up in downtown. That vision is well underway and being executed as we speak. The biggest hindrance right now is the economy. I envision over next two or three years, we will start seeing drastic, drastic changes.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:40

7:44 Individual questions for Eaton-Welsh:
With your stated focus on communications, how have you helped increase communication between city and residents? With what tangible results? 
Eaton-Welsh:
Communication is the key to everything. The first thing I did when I came into office is I put together a blog. Then we started doing Facebook. Now Parks and Rec has Facebook, Police dept. has facebook.
Favorite thing is electronic newsletter. We've got a good percentage of people that have signed up and staying on top of what's going on.  Started doing Survey Monkeys and got great feedback.

Next question: Which of projects currently in development would take first priority for completion if you are re-elected? Eaton-Welsh: The Sanctuary over at McCollum, everything coming together perfectly for this parking garage and downtown development.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:44

7:44 Group Question: 
Do you support passage of the TSPLOST?  Specifically the proposed mass transit system from Kennesaw to midtown Atlanta.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:44
7:45 Killingsworth: I would have to say I do support it.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:45
7:46 They (Roundtable) all had to work together. You've got all these
county commissioners, you've got these mayors, they're all trying to figure out a way to make it work.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:46
7:47 I'm here to tell you that they did a pretty good job when they
started butting heads and getting together. Tim Lee and Mark Mathews came up here, and they started talking to Cobb County. Everybody knows how that went. Then they went back to drawing table and got in the trenches again. If you look at return on the dollar, I think Cobb County fared pretty well.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:47
7:47 In the event that it comes down to it, I'd probably have to vote
yes. Because in 15 years, we're gonna be in trouble if we don't do something.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:47
7:48 Jimmy Dickens: I'm gonna give it to you straight. Yes, I do support it. I do think it should have been done years ago. Now's a bad time because of the economy.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:48
7:49 Ten years ago, something should have been in place then. If you look down the road, the congestion of traffic, we need to do omething now.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:49
7:49 I do support it, but I want to make sure the monies are gonna go exactly where they say they're gonna go.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:49
7:50 Mark Mathews: No ifs, ands or buts is a little unfair. I've maintained my position since we adopted the final project list. It is too early for me, there are too many unanswered questions that require the state legislature to take action, specifically on the transit
piece.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:50
7:50 Without a regional transit governance model in place to oversee that...if that's not in place, I can't support it.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:50
7:50 But assuming it's in place, will support it.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:50
7:51 I didn't have the choice to say yes or no as to when we would do it. All I had was the choice to be involved in the project list.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:51
7:51 Alternatives analysis study will take 18 months to complete—won't be complete until after the vote.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:51
7:52 Once study is done, then we can move forward with whatever that recommendation is.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:52
7:53 Eaton-Welsh: I do actually support it—something has got to be done about transportation. I've got to commend Mark. He put his neck out there. You know something needs to be done about transportation.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:53

7:53 Question for Jimmy Dickens: 
As Kennesaw business owner, why are you running for office? Why now?
Monday October 24, 2011 7:53
7:54 Dickens: I'm not just a business owner. I'm a father. I hear the
complaints. I hear from customers, from knocking on doors. I hear needs people are asking for. People want somebody that's real. Instead of just complaining about the stuff that Kennesaw needs—get involved. I think the best way to get involved is to get on the side making decisions.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:54
7:54 Dickens: I want to do whatever it takes on your behalf.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:54
7:55 Question: If elected to council, what are first changes you would make to what current leadership is doing?
Monday October 24, 2011 7:55
7:55 Dickens: The main thing I want is communication. I feel there is
a link missing from the needs of the people and what's currently going on in some of the positions on the Kennesaw Council.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:55
7:55 I want to be the one that's listening to you because it's you
that makes Kennesaw. Without all of you, Kennesaw wouldn't be what it is.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:55
7:56 As a business owner, I learned a long time ago that the people are my boss. I don't have a supervisor, I don't have a manager. The
customers are what makes the business run.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:56
7:56 You all would be my boss.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:56

7:57 Question: 
In a struggling economy, what is your plan of action for bringing jobs to Kennesaw?
Monday October 24, 2011 7:57
7:57 Dickens: We have to first make Kennesaw attractive. We need to work with KBA to have something to attract more business. We need to redevelop downtown Kennesaw so businesses will want to invest.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:57
7:58 Mathews: The plan of action for bringing jobs to Kennesaw is
really a multi-fold solution. I've been asked to work on economic
development plan and identify key opportunities we currently don't take advantage of. Results should be back by end of year. There's initiative called One Georgia at state level. Once we get those plans
in place, we can focus on industry or trade best suited for our area.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:58
7:59 So, our plan is really mainly just to continue focus on economic development in downtown, the student housing projects, continuing to
partner with KSU.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:59
7:59 Eaton-Welsh: Our job as councilmembers is to promote Kennesaw inside Kennesaw.
Monday October 24, 2011 7:59
8:00 With Economic Development Department, we've got all these developments coming in. Cowboys will bring 40-50 jobs into the area.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:00
8:01 Killingsworth: One of the things that we want to be sure to look at is Kennesaw State University. Putting together student housing facility. KSU is gonna start doing something they call football. When football comes in, that's gonna bring a lot more people into Kennesaw.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:01
8:02 We're working with the museum. One little project I've been
doing is looking at our hometown heroes. One of the things we've started doing is interviewing people who are real close to right here—you have a Pearl Harbor survivor, a D-Day survivor, the first female Post Master General right at the end of Moon Station.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:02
8:02 One of my dreams is to interview these people and having them digitized and having them on these tapes, so our grandchildren will be able to say, 'Hey, they lived right here.'
Monday October 24, 2011 8:02

8:03 Individual question for Killingsworth: 
You've talked about importance of partnerships and thinking regionally as a city. What is partnership you've helped establish? To what benefit? 
Killingsworth:
When this council looked at me and asked if we could get Marine Corp
Platoon here. We got em here twice.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:03

8:05 Question: 
If re-elected name at least one project you hope to
complete in your next term that will benefit Kennesaw in the long-run.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:05
8:06 Killingsworth: Camp MacDonald Park, first African American museum. That's the kind of impact we're making. We're gonna make an impact. That gun law will only take us so far.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:06

8:06 Final group question: 
KSU is third largest university in Georgia. While KSU is not in city limits, how does university fit into larger picture?
Monday October 24, 2011 8:06
8:07 Eaton--Welsh: There's really two groups of people in economy that have money—seniors who are retired and college students.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:07
8:07 Purpose-built student housing is gonna be great. Also working closely with KSU and having great relationships with KSU.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:07
8:08 Killingsworth: One of the things Kennesaw State's gonna be doing is bringing football. This Wednesday, meeting with new athletic
director. Actually getting to meet with these people and talk with
these people. Dr. Papp has embraced the city government and city of Kennesaw.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:08
8:09 They are asking for our help.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:09
8:09 Dickens: Student housing—we need to give kids something attractive so that they'll want to be part of Kennesaw. Give them something they can gravitate to.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:09
8:10 We need to work on developing downtown area. That will draw them also.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:10
8:10 Mathews: Some of the things we've already put into place at KSU—I was asked by President Papp to be on Citizens Advisory Board.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:10
8:10 We've got two choices: we can either partner with KSU, or we can ignore it.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:10
8:11 Up until last four years, we've ignored it. What we've been able to do in last four years has been amazing.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:11
8:11 We've had high-level discussions with the team, the president's cabinet, to talk about additional housing in or around downtown.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:11
8:11 If I'm allowed to stay in office, we will continue to cultivate that relationship.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:11

8:14 Question to Mathews: 
Taxes and trash pickup are higher within city limits. Benefits of parks and rec available to nonresidents. What are benefits of living in city?
Mathews: People do pay nonresident fee. Looking at creating more fees for nonresidents. The areas within the city that we stand out: our police services, the protection we offer you. The average police
response time in Cobb County—20 minutes. In Kennesaw—2 minutes.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:14
8:15 Kennsaw is in a unique position. Kennesaw's age is actually getting younger. Not just because of KSU. It's because we've created a family-friendly environment.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:15

8:16 Question: 
If re-elected as mayor, what will be your number one priority?
Monday October 24, 2011 8:16
8:16 Mathews: To continue building our hometown.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:16
8:16 One of the key steps is having property available and having cooperative land owners.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:16
8:17 We can't make people sell, or open business here. All we can do is try and provide the connections and try and facilitate some of these deals to actually be completed. If elected again, one of key
projects will be to continue that downtown development.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:17
8:17 The Pedestrian Underpass is one key piece. If downtown is mall, our job is to create the anchor stores. I think we've done that with
the museum. We've created framework for pedestrian-friendly downtown.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:17
8:18 We have to have something that's drawing people downtown if they don't live here. Things like Dinner at the Depot (food trucks that come in Monday night in downtown area).
Monday October 24, 2011 8:18
8:18 This city has become successful because of the volunteer boards.
Much bigger than just the mayor and council.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:18

8:19 Now, starting Audience Q&A.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:19
8:31 First question for all candidates: 
Kennesaw Elementary School enjoys great relationship with city of Kennesaw. What would you do to strengthen relationship?
Monday October 24, 2011 8:31
8:31 Mathews: The only way to improve that, in my opinion, is to improve communication.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:31
8:31 Dickens: I have two kids that go to Kennesaw Elementary. I see that there's a great link that needs to be set forth.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:31
8:32 Killingsworth: In middle of November, got contacted to help in
Jump Rope for Heart.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:32
8:33 Eaton-Welsh: My daughter goes there. I serve on their legislative committee. I'd like to see kids get involved.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:33

8:33 Question: Trash services have been reduced, while costs remain the same. Are you open to competitors?
Monday October 24, 2011 8:33
8:34 Eaton-Welsh: If we bring people in, I think it will be a big mess. A lot of these places dump illegally.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:34
8:35 Dickens: Myself, I would agree to have competition come in. No one should have a monopoly. I think the competition is good.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:35
8:36 Mathews: Sanitation is one of our services. We have tremendous recycling effort going on. As we continue to recycle more, those costs will go down. In order to reduce rate, we have to increase recycling.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:36
8:36 Long and short of it is: Increase recycling and sanitation fees
will go down.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:36
8:36 We surveyed residents: overwhelmingly, people opted for reduction in service rather than increase in monthly bill.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:36
8:38 Sorry, had some connection issues. Now we're back on.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:38
8:40 Why should large company with more than 100 jobs bring them to Kennesaw?

Mathews: Primarily—quality of life for the employees.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:40
8:41 You can go from beginning to end and never have to leave Kennesaw.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:41
8:42 Eaton-Welsh: We've got great economic incentives. We have a fantastic university system, we're right on 75 and we're developing relationship with Cobb Chamber.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:42

8:43 Question: 
With growth, comes diversity. What would you do about Wildman's business if you were going to develop downtown?
Monday October 24, 2011 8:43
8:43 Eaton-Welsh: He and my father have butted heads for 20 years. When Wildman called me and asked me for a yard sign, my jaw dropped.  Great thing about community—we can agree to disagree. We've just got to build everything beautiful around him.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:43
8:44 Killingsworth: I don't agree with him, but we have to let him
stay where he is. As Cris said, we will grow around him. He won't be here forever. And we'll grow around him.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:44
8:45 Dickens: Knocking on doors and talking to you all, I've been asked this question a lot. My response is, I've had lunch with Dent a few times. He's even come by my barbershop. It's not Dent Myers that concerns me the most. You see his views a mile away. But it's people who have it in their hearts that you can't see that I'm concerned about. Maybe they're serving on a board or are a policeman—that's the scariest thing.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:45
8:46 My concern is beautifying downtown. We must be concerned about overall Kennesaw, not just Dent.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:46
8:46 Mathews: He is a business owner and deserves same respect that any other business owner deserves. As long as he stays within standards we've set, he's just as entitled to be there as anybody else
is.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:46
8:46 I see him as just another piece of that diverse landscape we have here.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:46
8:47 He is a prime example of a diverse business.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:47

8:47 Closing Remarks
Monday October 24, 2011 8:47
8:48 Mathews: I want to thank the Patch for putting this event together. I think it's very unfortunate that all the candidates didn't
choose to show up.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:48
8:48 We've got a lot of things that need to continue to stay in place and to maintain that focus so that we can come out of this strong on the other side.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:48
8:50 Dickens: I do ask you for my vote on Nov. 8 so your ideas, your voice, can be heard and passed along.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:50
8:51 Killingsworth: Who wouldn't want to be part of this? Who
wouldn't want to be part of a great team? We've been able to assemble great people. We've been able to hear your voice. A lot of ideas we've moved forward with have come from you.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:51
8:51 Eaton-Welsh: It has been an absolute pleasure. I would humbly ask you not only to get out and vote but get your neighbors to vote.
Monday October 24, 2011 8:51

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From:  Political Vine:   
The Insider's Source on Georgia Politics

Nov 2013

City of Kennesaw Elections-Part 1

by PV, See article at the direct link:

http://politicalvine.com/politicalrumors/cobb-county/city-of-kennesaw-elections-part-1/

Last week, we issued a Poll to the Vine readership consisting of this one question: ” If a person running for public office has a bankruptcy of any type in their background, should it be disclosed?”

Out of 142 votes cast, 111 voted “Yes, it should be disclosed” and 32 voted “No, I don’t care to know.”

There was an opportunity for people to give their own insight into the subject, and the personal opinions ran the gamut (see here for opinions…by the way, the site that the Poll is on is not controlled by Political Vine in any way, and it will not be monitored).

In reviewing these opinions, as well as consulting with other people in the world of politics, we’ve come to the following conclusions about bankruptcies (you are free to disagree):

1) Not all bankruptcies are the result of a character flaw in the people who file. It does not mean the person is immoral or unethical for filing a bankruptcy (of course, if any US Senator from Georgia ever files for bankruptcy, we’ll be scratching our heads and wondering why they didn’t get enough ROI from their crony capitalist bank pals after they voted in 2005 to give the homeowner less of a chance for recovery, all the while giving more power and absolution to the banks themselves).

2) Not all bankruptcies are entirely the fault of the person or business making the filing.

3) Barring the actual attempt to defraud, defaulting on money owed to creditors is not a sign of anyone who is being inherently dishonest (the creditors voluntarily took a risk to give credit to the borrower…that is an agreement between two private parties as far as we are concerned and a happenstance of the free market).

4) However, if the person has defaulted on taxes owed to a government entity, AND….that person is a candidate for a publicly-elected office for some position at some level of government, then everyone’s pretty much in agreement that that is a sign of hypocrisy present that is not going to be tolerated for very long by the voters and taxpayers.

It is this 4th point that is crucial to understand why there’s “hypocrisy” if someone is elected to office who hasn’t paid their own tax bills. It is the reason why we felt it was necessary to expose, not only the $137,000 some-odd of current tax liens that HD 43 candidate Robert Lamutt had on his current books, but also his documented 7-year history of having liens at both the federal and state level field against him that made it relevant.

When you are elected to public office, you are, in effect, using the force of government to extract tax dollars from us to pay for your fiefdom.

And, unless you think, as an elected official, that you should be exempt from paying taxes to support your infrastructure, your failure to pay taxes means that the burden must fall on the rest of the taxpayers.

And, taxpayers don’t particularly care to shoulder your load while you are put in charge of making decisions on how to spend their money.

This entry was posted by PV, on Tuesday, November 1st, 2011 at 11:09 pm and is filed under Cobb County and Tagged: Kennesaw Elections, Kennesaw Mayor, Mark Mathews, TSPLOST

City of Kennesaw Elections-Part 2

by PV

http://politicalvine.com/politicalrumors/georgia-races/city-of-kennesaw-elections-part-2/

Mark Mathews is the current mayor of Kennesaw, and is running for reelection this Tuesday, November 8th.

First elected as mayor in 2007, he started his term in January 2008.

According to his reelection Website, he states the following as part of his business resume:

“1989-2009: Mathews Carpet Company – a company started by his parents in 1974. In 2001 MR Mathews, Inc. was created to purchase the business, Mathews Abbey Flooring, providing all types of flooring products and services to the residential, commercial, and new construction markets. Forced to close business due to economic downturn.”

A more accurate statement (and, truthful one at that) with regards to being “Forced to close business due to economic downturn” would have been “Filed bankruptcy in 2009 as a result of economic downturn.”

See, Ladies and Gentlemen, there is a difference between merely “closing a business” and a business filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. One denotes the act of merely ceasing operations after settling all debts…while the other one denotes a legal filing to a federal court to officially tell 44 some-odd creditors “Hey…ummm…sorry, we ain’t gonna pay you what we owe” to “close” the business.

So, if he’s not accurate in his description of what actually happened to his business, one might wonder if it really went bankrupt due solely to an “economic downturn” OR…could it be because Mathews was spending too much of his time playing mayor and dealing in the “fun” of politics rather than keeping his eye on his business enterprise?

Also in 2009, Mathews and his wife had to personally file for bankruptcy. (We are not in any way implying or inferring anything negative with regards to the character of Mark Mathews or his wife.)

HOWEVER…in referencing the actual filing (a 23 Megabyte PDF file should you choose to open or download it), there are significant instances of the taxpayers of several government jurisdictions being left on the hook for Mathews’ tax debt.

Specifically:

- City of Marietta: $2286.53 (Page 31 of 83 in PDF)

- City of Marietta Section 8 Housing Authority: $2003.43 (Page 39 of 83 in PDF)

- Cobb County Tax Commissioner: $626.00 (Page 40 of 83)

- Cobb County Tax Commissioner: $1553.32 (Page 40 of 83)

All told, Mark Mathews (via himself and MR Mathews, Inc) has left several Cobb County-based municipalities $6,469.28 in the red and OTHER taxpayers having to foot his tax bills (by having to pay higher taxes on their tax bills owed)

Now, the 2nd-term seeking mayoral candidate just happens to be one of the big, Big, BIG proponents of next year’s T-SPLOST. You know, that little vote that will require all Kennesaw inhabitants the additional responsibility of paying 1% more in sales tax on everything they buy in Cobb. Yeah. Mathews is in favor of you paying more taxes so that he can have a hand in spending on your behalf.

Councilman Tim Killingsworth, Post 2 is running for reelection to the Kennesaw City Council. He is also known to be a tight ally of Mark Mathews.

On October 24th, there was a candidate forum held by the Kennesaw Patch (an online local news site that is owned by Huffington-Post).

Here is a link to a PDF version of the transcript.

It is interesting to us that Councilman Killingsworth, at Time Marker 7:32 states “We haven’t raised your taxes, and we don’t plan to do that anytime soon.”

Then…at Time Marker 7:45, Killingsworth answers the question of whether he supports the T-SPLOST vote next year by saying “I would have to say I do support it.”

So, for Killingsworth’s mind, maybe there’s a distinction in his mind of what constitutes “anytime soon” and intending to push (along with Mathews coordinating) for passage of next year’s T-SPLOST vote to…do what? Oh, yeah. RAISE TAXES.

PV’s Conclusion: Frankly, in our opinion, the existence of Mathews’ two bankruptcies (personal and business defaults) are not the direct issues here.

What should be important in this case is the following:

1) Mathews had an obligation to be truthful as to why his business “closed.” It’s easy to blame the downturn…but, not everyone has gone out of business due to the downturn. AND, filing a bankruptcy is NOT the same thing as “closing a business.”

2) The failure to pay nearly $6500 in various taxes to the City of Marietta (hey, Thunder has deep pockets to cover this default, right, Thunder?) and the Cobb County Tax Commissioner’s office (hey, Tim Lee and Helen Goreham will cover for Mathews in a heartbeat…they’ll just raise the rest of our millages, right?).

No, defaulting on taxes should immediately disqualify anyone from “serving” the people. We hope that come the Election Night of November 8, the voters of Kennesaw disqualify the reelection of Mark Mathews.

This entry was posted by PV, on Tuesday, November 1st, 2011 at 11:25 pm and is filed under Cobb County, Georgia Races and Tagged: Candidate Bankruptcy, Kennesaw Mayor, Mark Mathews, Tax Debt, TSPLOST

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