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For anyone interested in learning more, my website is www.billmulrooney.com

Hello Bill. I personally have a problem with the District only vote for Commissioners. The County is small enough for us to track the couple of commissioners in the election cycle.

When I first moved to Forsyth we had a chance to get at all the Commissioners at the ballot box. Now I'm limited to one.

Question: If four unprincipled Commissioners vote to harm me and my family ... how do I go about voting them from office if they are not my District Commissioner?

I don't want to hear the State District argument. It's much more onerous to keep up with all the State Reps and that should be by District.

http://vimeo.com/22138470

Bill this is my answer to the animal shelter argument. I believe it is short sighted to build a warehouse to store animals prior to being euthanized.

Bill I'd like to hear more about reducing the size of government in Forsyth County, not growing it. I'll look at you website more closely.

Bill,

I am happy to answer your questions. First, the argument for and against district voting is a couple of years old. Like it or not, district voting is the system we currently have. If you want to help change out a politician that you cannot vote for, I suggest you get involved in the campaign of the one you favor. Either volunteer to help or make a contribution.

I have not brought the issue of an animal shelter up with regard to my campaign, but since you asked, I’ll tell you my thoughts. I did review your video. We agree on the source of the problem. However several of the statistics you are working with are wrong.

The average kill rate in Georgia is closer to 60%, not 85% as you state.

Contracting out animal services does not necessarily equal reduced costs. Forsyth County currently contracts our shelter services at a taxpayer cost of $150 per animal. That is one of the highest in the state. We need to reduce those costs.

Forsyth County currently has a tag differential. It is $3 for altered, $5 for unaltered. This tax is collected by the Vets when you get a rabies shot. Fulton County’s tag fees are $10 and $25.

A well run animal shelter (contracted or county run), offering education and spay/neuter services, can reduce the cost to the taxpayers. In your video you site New Hampshire as a model program. What you may not realize is that it is a taxpayer funded State program. For every $1 New Hampshire spends on prevention, the taxpayers save $3.15 on impoundment costs. There are many examples throughout the country, both local and state wide of the same kinds of savings.

I am a conservative that believes the role of government should be limited. I would argue with you that if you want to save money on animal control costs, then you need someone like me on the commission that actually knows the industry.

@Bill. I had long conversations with the shelters in Dawson, White, Hall and Gwinnett. I was told nearly 85% of animals entering the shelters are euthanized. I'm not getting hung up on the percentage as 60% is ridiculous too. Dawson County has a remarkably good shelter system using the Humane Society as the conduit. I can introduce you to the man responsible as we've spoken many times. You should at least visit and hear him out. I am impressed. btw ... this is a function that should not be done by government.

I would like to change the system whereby we can only elect people in our District. It is a method used to protect incumbents and it stinks. For example, what if four commissioners decided to buy Lanier Golf Course using tax dollars of 100% of Forsyth, while only 2% utilize this subsidized golf. I can't get at the statists who would have voted for this.

The same thing happened with all this parks and green space. Ridiculous sums of money wasted and I am unable to get at Commissioners still buying grass, weeds, and trees.

Mr. Mulrooney, You claim that the role of government should be limited yet you were part of a group demanding the county build a new animal shelter. You supported Jim Harrell's idea of approving a $2 million shelter even though Jim had no information on what type or size of shelter the county needed. How do you explain your position there?

Not only were you part of the group making those demands, I seem to recall Jim Harrell had suggested your company run the shelter. Didn't you submit a proposal to the county? What is your statement on your involvement and desire to run the facility?

Fred, You attack Evelyn and Mulrooney for their involvement with these poor animals? I don't know these guys. But it seems to be good to introduce their ideas one way or another. Ya think??

I have an idea you might be intrested in.

It's funny Fred attacks Mr. Mulrooney for his support for the approved animal shelter last year that would have cost the county $2 million, but yet supports the man who made a mockery out of that process by rescinding the vote at the first meeting so he could have his little commission and recommend the county build an animal shelter at the even larger cost of $3 million in SPLOST funds. The recent commission proposal that Mr. Mulrooney and others supported would not have needed a SPLOST bond to be built. I find it comical that you disregard the work of county staff that put months of hard work to plan for a county owned shelter while this little commission has not said where or what type of facility is going to be built. I guess we will find out after the election this November so the county can decide how best to spend the $3 million.

Bill, good luck with your run at the D4 seat. I look forward to hearing more about you as the election season gets closer and what ideas you have for the county if elected. Lord knows we need leadership on this commission and especially from that seat.

Gary,

Thank you for the kind words. My website is set-up as a blog so as we progress to the campaign season I will continue to add to it.

The reason I didn't respond to 'Fred' directly is because I suspect I know his true identity.

You see the non-profit shelter I volunteer with did submit a proposal for operation of a new shelter at the request of the Forsyth County Purchasing Department. However those proposals were never made public, nor were they ever discussed publicly. They were only made available to the BOC. So for ‘Fred’ and Jim Harrell to have had a discussion about the proposals means ‘Fred’ was one of only 5 people who saw them.

I do however appreciate 'Fred' letting me know that Jim Harrell liked our proposal. We never got any feedback from the county on it.

HA HA HA HA.....BUSTED!!!

I find it strange that you people say I have attacked Evelyn and Mulrooney! I never said anything about Evelyn and only asked Mulrooney to explain himself.

As far as the proposals, Mulrooney was many of the work sessions and it was mentioned that his firm submitted proposals. I have seen Jim Harrell several times and he mentioned to me that he liked the ideas submitted by Mulrooney and some guy names Paul. There is no big secret on those things!

Just dodging the question as far as I see it. How about answering the question there, Bill?

Cooper, are you telling me you think the Harrell plan was a well thought out and sensible idea? Commissioner Levent said at a recent meeting that had the Harrell shelter get built that it would have been a waste of money because there was no research put into it and the county would have built something that was not right for the services needed.

Please explain how the Harrell plan was better then having a group do research to put forth a plan created in a business like manner. I can only see Harrell's plan as a typical government plan where you set a budget, build a facility then figure out how to operate it and how to fund operations.

Please, do us all a favor, tell me how Harrell's plan was a better route to take.

In the words of the world's smartest man, "Chirp, chirp, chirp".

If I were Bill, I wouldn't bother answering anyone's questions if they are unwilling to identify themselves with their full name.

Anonymous bloggers are so full of what makes the grass grow green.

Well, look what the dog sh...coughed up! Hello David. What were those names you posted under for so long? Oh yeah, Darwin? Now go back under your rock you hypocrite. My name is Fred Thomas and my email address is freddietom@comcast.net

Bill? You can't continue to ignore the questions, big boy, if you expect me to consider voting for you.

Mr. Thomas

If you remember, the issue of the county building a shelter was started by the BOC. When the current contractor gave notice the commissioners asked staff to investigate options.

The end result was not Commissioner Harrell’s plan, but the culmination of months of work by senior staff. The staff did an excellent job researching the county’s needs, talking with experts and visiting neighboring shelters. The proposals submitted to the board were very detailed and contained needs analysis for the next 20 years. All of this is a matter of public record.

For the most part, the Animal Shelter Committee has spent the last 9 months validating the staff’s findings. For Patrick Bell to ignore this work and claim it never existed is an insult to the hard work the staff members performed, and a waste of taxpayer funds.

The non-profit shelter I volunteer with was one of two organizations that submitted proposals for operation. However you apparently do not understand the legal status of charities. No one can own a non-profit, by their very nature they are public organizations. I volunteer with a non-profit organization, but it is not my company.

And finally, I never demanded the county build a shelter. As a representative for one of the organizations bidding on operations, I felt it would be inappropriate and appear self-serving to lobby the county to build a shelter. I never publicly expressed an opinion, either for or against.

I hope this answers your questions. But Mr. Thomas since you are rude and profane in your postings, this is the last time I will comment on them.

Fred probably doesn't even live in District 4.

Since he can't even name one decision the previous board made that he disagreed with, it's not every likely he even knows he can't vote for Bill unless he lives in District 4.

Oh, and the fact the he believes one bit of the tripe that idiot Milum puts out shows Fred ain't too bright . . .

Bill, thank you for your answer. I think it is not accurate and a bit fantasy on your part but at least you attempted to answer.

Are you saying that a commissioner should simply take a report from staff, for a multi-million dollar project, and just run with it? I vote to have an representative on the Board and someone to look out for my interests. I sure don't want another corporate drone that will rubber stamp whatever they are spoon fed.

I have gone to a few of the committee meetings. I have heard first hand they are thankful that the Harrell boondoggle was not allowed to go forward. This group has gone a visited shelters, talked with operators, humane societies and neighboring government's staff. I'm not happy that they want to spend more money but also accept the fact that they showed how the Harrell plan was a failure from the start and was not the right plan for Forsyth County. As much as I don't like the higher cost I'd rather they do it right or not do it at all. Call or email Commissioner Levent if you think I am wrong.

David, you nimrod. First you complain I did not use my name and when I cleared that up you now say I don't live in District 4. Wrong again and clearly the reason you were fired. Is the sock business so slow that you have to lurk around here and post your irrelevant chatter? Oh, regarding anonymous postings, you have not cleared up those two names you used to post under. Darwin was one, what was the other?

Bill, I think your non-profit is a wonderful thing and glad that you help animals. However, can you explain a few items shown on the Form 990? There seems to be a pretty high percentage of mileage reimbursements compared to revenue.

2005 $3,330 in mileage to 20,128 in revenue, 2006 $9,657 in mileage to 59,945 in revenue, 2007 $7,934 in mileage to 51,318 in revenue, 2008 $6,662 in mileage to 36,493 in revenue, 2009 $9,245 in mileage to 36,858 in revenue, 2010 is not yet available, can you provide those numbers please?

Thanks.

Fred, I find it ALWAYS happens that when you can't argue the facts, attack the person. It's what you do constantly. The "sock business" is the lamest one you Bell supporters started over 4 years ago, and you haven't changed tactics since, even though I no longer work retail.

And

I

never

post

under

an

assumed

name.

Got it?

Form 990, Fred?

Looks like the Bell campaign is already out looking for dirt so they can begin their usual campaign of lies.

Simply amazing!

OK Darwin. Got it. (wink, wink)

Campaign??? I'm just asking Bill to clarify a few things. That's not lies!

Your an idiot, and a terrible sock salesman to boot!

Fred, I think that Bill has already made it clear he's not going to play your corrupt little game.

And we've all seen this game played out before in 2008. You Bell supporters excel at innuendo and lies.

What innuendo and lies are you referring to?

Seems you are teaching Bill how you excel at evading questions!

"What innuendo and lies are you referring to?"

That would be the entire Bell campaign of 2008, Fred. You should know, you were obviously part of it.

"Seems you are teaching Bill how you excel at evading questions!"

This from the poster who could never come up with a response to my question (asked 3 times!) about providing examples of decisions made by previous commissions you felt this county was "stuck with".

You are a joke.

Dave and Fred need their own chat room and maybe a LIFE!

Mr. Mulrooney, what makes you think growth and expansion are going to return in 5 years? Is this just speculation or is there some source for this information?

Also, since you have made this an issue, what exactly is your plan to address this?

Thanks.