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TODAY'S
ISSUE
"Balancing"
of highway funding causes enormous problems
By Wayne Shackelford
Chairman, Georgians for Better Transportation
Special to GwinnettForum.com
(Editor's Note: this article first appeared last
Saturday,, April 3, in the Savannah Morning News, and is re-printed
with permission of the author. -eeb.)
APRIL 9, 2004 -- Travel Interstate 95 along the coast, and a 112-mile
project to widen the interstate to six lanes instead of four is
only partially complete. For 29 miles in Glynn and McIntosh counties
the interstate is only four lanes while in most of Chatham and all
of Camden, Bryan and Liberty it is six.
 Unfortunately,
because of something known as "congressional balancing,"
these counties won't have their widening project launched until
at least 2013. That's because when money is used up for a project
elsewhere in a district, it prevents the completion of important
projects, such as the widening of interstates.
That's why the General Assembly must not let an opportunity pass
again this year to correct this enormous problem. Congressional
balancing is hurting rural Georgia and urban areas, and it must
be fixed.
The Legislature adopted the congressional balancing formula in
1999 when it created the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority.
It was done out of fear that more money would be spent in metro
Atlanta than the rest of the state. Of course, this has not been
the case.
The 85 percent formula exempted maintenance on the state highway
system, the Governor's Road Improvement Program, GRTA, the Ports
Authority and MARTA. But it is critical that it also exempt our
interstates.
Interstate projects relieve congestion in urban areas while sparking
economic development in rural Georgia. They also play a major role
in safety. For example, when the highway switches back and forth
from four lanes to six, it is not safe for motorists.
When I was DOT commissioner, there was no such thing as congressional
balancing. Instead, the DOT set a goal: it attempted to spend 70
percent of transportation funds equally among congressional districts.
The remaining 30 percent was spent at the commissioner's discretion,
with the consent of the DOT board, based on need. That really is
how it should be: a goal, not a concrete requirement.
But if the Legislature is wedded to this fixed formula, then we
must at least exempt our interstates. Georgia's interstates handle
26.5 percent of total vehicle miles traveled yet account for only
1.1 percent of total road mileage in the state.
While many non-interstate arterials show a drop in volumes during
off-peak periods, our interstates maintain steady volumes all day
long. Without the exemption for the interstates, we make congestion
worse statewide.
And we will be making traffic worse in the future. For example,
the DOT cannot afford to build slated projects for Georgia 400 and
Interstate 75 in metro Atlanta at the same time because they are
both in the 6th Congressional District. One project would eat up
the entire amount of money for that district for the entire five-year
cycle of transportation spending. If interstates were exempt, then
the I-75 project would not count against money spent in the 6th
District.
Denying the people of the 6th Congressional District two much-needed
transportation projects because of a balancing formula is unacceptable.
We have two potential solutions in the General Assembly this year.
One is a bill sponsored by State Sen. Ginger Collins, R-Smyrna.
That legislation passed the Senate and would exempt our interstates
from congressional balancing.
The House, meanwhile, has adopted a bill by State Rep. Paul Smith,
D-Rome that also would exempt interstate projects from congressional
balancing. But the legislation also would divert one penny of sales
tax on motor fuel that goes to the general fund and dedicate it
to transportation spending. It would primarily go to the state program
that aids local cities and counties in paving their roads.
Both are worthy pieces of legislation. It would be foolish for
lawmakers from rural Georgia and metro Atlanta to not find a compromise
on these two approaches to the same problem. No part of Georgia
can afford to lose another year.
ELLIOTT
BRACK
Tub
manufacturer thrives with innovations in design
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com
APRIL 9, 2004 -- Seeing a local firm do well brightens your heart.
 Innovation
comes easily at MTI Inc. (Mr. Tubs) in Sugar Hill. The acrylic tub
manufacturer is clicking along smoothly these days, turning out
distinctive whirlpool tubs, sinks and shower enclosures. Its employment
base was up 15 per cent during the hard times of the last year.
President Kathy Adams has continued the smooth sailing the company
enjoyed under J.C. Henry. He was the Gwinnett Chambers' Small Business
Person of the year back in 1995. A few years back, J.C., courted
by larger tub manufacturers, declined to sell his firm to them,
but sold it to his employees instead.
As a result, Sugar Hill and Gwinnett continued to have this steady
employment base, and the firm has prospered. No tub is made for
inventory; all are custom-made for the buyer, with completion in
seven days, the fastest turn-around time in the industry. Buyers
can choose from over 50 colors and 70 styles.
Even though located in Gwinnett, you can't buy a tub directly from
Mr. Tubs. You must go through plumbing supply houses, such as PDI
in Lawrenceville. Prices are amazingly affordable for most people
in Gwinnett.
 In
the last few years, the company has put out new products, including
its "Jentle Jet" Laundry Sink; and its "Jentle Ped'
foot spa, all distinctive products. As to be expected from this
savvy marketer, now they have a new product, with only the first
two off the production line, its "Jentle Tread." (see
right).
This new tub appears to be an oversize tub at first appearance,
but it is much more. It offers space for water exercises. It's long
enough to kick in, and wide enough to stretch your arms in. And
it's deep enough when sitting on its second tier so that you can
get your shoulders under water to exercise them, too.
Here's what MTI says it can do: "This aquatic aerobic exercises
uses the passive resistance of water coupled with the power of full-size
whirlpool jets to enable the user to have a 'no impact' workout.
Jentle Tread is the ideal solution for people who want to exercise,
but suffer from joint pain, arthritis and sports-related injuries."
 Kathy
Adams says that her first sale of this new product came during the
Kitchen and Bath Industry show in Chicago recently. "A steel
manufacturer felt he was dragged to the show by his wife and would
not find what they wanted. After looking over most of the floor,
then he saw our new Jentle Tread, and it was exactly what he wanted.
He is already installing it in his home in Chicago. He got the first
model, but I'm putting the second one off the line in at my house,
so that I can do water aerobics in it."
The Jentle Tread tub is massive, 72x84 inches on top, and 41.5
inches deep. It holds 520 gallons of water, which continually flows
through a filter to cleanse it. A heater can raise the temperature
of the water to 110 degrees.
One market the Sugar Hill firm anticipates to be a user is nursing
homes and other medical units, allowing residents to have individual
water therapy within the facility.
It's great to see MTI in Sugar Hill doing so well!
* * * * *
Previous Winners of the Gwinnett Chamber Small Business Person
of the year include:
1983 Grant Hayes ... Hayes James and Associates
1984 Larry Bailey ... Bailey Cabinet Company
1985 Betty Smulian ... Trimble-House Corp.
1986 Jim Hinshaw, Sr. ... Precision Molding
1987 Katherine Robinson-Cox ... The Tannery House
1988 Ed Grove ... Grove Service Industries
1989 Elvin Price ... Atlanta Attachment Company
1990 Jimmy Brannan ... Lawrenceville Auto Parts
1991 Ray Sosebee, Sr. ... Sosebee Auto Supply
1992 Wayne Sikes ... Sikes Schools, Inc.
1993 Payne and Allen ... Hughes Network Publications
1994 Henry and Barbara Howard ... Suzanna's Kitchen
1995 J.C. Henry ... Mr. Tub's, Inc.
1996 Tim Mansour ... Fitness International
1997 James P. Dykes ... Dykes Paving and Construction
1998 Wayne M. Powell ... Mobile Communications
1999 Donald Dawson ... International Safety Instruments
2000 Buck Lindsay ... Lindsay, Pope and Brayfield
2001 Mike Bugg ... Architectural Concepts, Inc.
2002 Sonny Deavours ... Brayson Homes
2003 (tie) Mark Tibbets ... Tibs Group; Randall Pierce ... Pierce
& Pierce Millwork
ABOUT
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McLEMORE'S
WORLD
4/9: Some lions get
too big
The latest from cartoonist Bill McLemore
FEEDBACK
4/9: Upset over portrayal
of "Jesus and Paul" television program
Editor, the Forum:
I am profoundly disappointed in the bias of ABC reporting in "Jesus
and Paul." Understanding that this is a viewpoint of ABC and
many non-believers.
I am equally saddened that ABC would allow this type of ridicule
and demeaning of the Christian faith as simply a "Jesus movement."
I suppose that for being a movement that has lasted well over 2000
years.
This special was another example of ABC's, disrespect for the Christian
faith.
-- Charles Lorentz, Loganville
Editor's Note: Perhaps Forum readers who watched
this show could give Mr. Lorentz their views.-eeb)
4/9: Takes contrary
view about ban on exemption on smoking
Editor, the Forum:
I couldn't disagree more with your view on the proposed smoking
ban exemption.
Your point that Georgia, as with the country, only has about 22-23
percent of the population that smoke. With Gwinnett county at approximately
600,000 people, that means there are about 138,000 people who are
negatively impacted by the smoking ban. That would be a pretty decent
demographic that needs to be serviced.
I'm also not certain that other non-smokers were overly concerned
about a smoking ban. There was never any war in the streets over
this issue. The push for the smoking ban was from a highly concentrated
and well-financed propaganda campaign (financed with the extorted
funds from the tobacco companies). The compromise of the smoking/non-smoking
sections had worked successfully for years. They were plenty of
non-smoking establishments before the ban.
I'm a non-smoker, but the smoking ban was ram-rodded through without
debate or consideration for business-owners rights. The business
owners are bearing the brunt. The fallacy of making it a county-wide
ban is really more about restricting freedom of choice than creating
a level playing field.
The lack of compromise on this issue is crippling us. "Will
Bill's" went above and beyond what was required with their
ventilation system. The owner invested considerable funds and turned
a vacant store into a thriving business. He has every right to do
whatever he can to protect it. The only ones hurt by an exemption
will be those that support the "nanny-state."
This crucial matter should have been given to a vote of the people,
not the commissioners. Chairman Hill and Commissioner Nasuti made
their votes clear long before there were any meetings. I will be
in contact with my district commissioner on this matter.
-- Anthony Rivera, Suwanee
(Editor's note: Dear Anthony: We have representative
government. Every time the people's representatives take a stand
which some in the minority oppose, they always yell "Let
the people vote." See such issues as the flag, gay marriage,
etc. Not only that, but allowing the people to vote on matters
usually confuses the issues even more. Be happy that representative
government works so beautifully, and all you have to do is decide
who is your representative. And by the way you mention 138,000
Gwinnett smokers....well, over 500,000 in Gwinnett, based on the
670,000 estimated population today, are non-smokers, itself a
pretty big figure.-eeb)
ENCYCLOPEDIA
TIDBIT
4/9: Historical markers
throughout state offer history tidbits
Georgia offers residents and visitors alike an interesting and
educational opportunity to walk in the footsteps of its earlier
inhabitants.
 The
Georgia Historical Commission has erected some 1,800 historical
markers across the state since its creation in 1951. State historical
markers in Taylor, Marion, and Chattahoochee counties show the route
of the Federal Road, either of two early-nineteenth-century roads
that facilitated a surge of westward migration, expanded regional
trade and communication, and contributed to the removal of the Creeks
and Cherokees to Indian Territory in present-day Oklahoma.
And Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails divides the state into six
distinct "trail regions," each representing a geographical
area and/or a significant event from the Civil War period. Traveling
along these historic routes and taking time to stop and read the
markers can bring glimpses of the state's past into the present.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Now in, now out,
now in, now out: About some of our friends
"A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of."
-- Poet Ogden Nash (1902-1971).
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