When will the citizens of Griffin and business community stand up and say we have had enough. The City of Griffin politicians who are elected by us appear to be more self serving then they are community oriented. I refer to being nickel and dimed to death with a fee for everything that you want to do. Let me explain. As a small business owner, I obtained the business license but after opening learned that to put up a sign, and to place a banner you have to pay additional fees. I was told that I had to pay a fee of $35 four times a year to have a banner telling potential clients what I provide. That plus the additional fee of $80 for my fixed sign, and the $70 fee for the business license this makes it impossible for much else unless I raise my rates to the consumers which in this economy will put us out of business in a short time.

With the outlandish rates we pay for utilities in this town and how they hit us with storm-water fees and yard waste disposal fees but when you don’t have yard waste you pay fees for this that the city then pockets to help us pay their large salaries, benefits and other things such as their extravagant vacations. We are being asked to foot the bill for an Airport which will be used most likely by those same politicians to take trips around the country all at tax payer expenses. When will it all end, they even tried to push through a pet license fee which would have forced folks to pay for owning a pet, which we pay for by feeding and housing our pets. This town government has gotten way out of control. It’s time to act and get these folks out of office and get people in who will truly serve the people of Griffin. If I had the resources I would run for City Commission, or City Administrator. One person I think should be replaced is the city manager and also call for an audit by the Federal Government of the City’s Finances. Something is fishy in Denmark when they want to keep creating more fees to in my opinion to replace what they have misused. The City should focus on real issues such as crime, and jobs and stop trying to punish those of us who are trying to make an honest living. It is my thinking that the City is part of the problem with unemployment because with all the fees they charge who can afford to hire employees. If I didn’t have so many fees to pay I could hire and train an employee but at the rate of the number of fees that may not be possible for at least a year.

Harry Greene

GRIFFIN