The Georgia Senate has voted unanimously to eliminate tie votes of the six-member Snellville City Council that have reportedly created a gridlock for issues important to the city. Authored by Sen. Don Balfour (R-Snellville), Senate Bill 258 will change the council’s charter this year after the election by allowing the mayor to vote only in the case of a tie.
“The citizens of Snellville overwhelmingly believe that the city is in gridlock,” said Balfour. “Issues critical to the progress of this city are being left in a stalemate with no resolution. City government should be solving problems, not creating them.”
A professional poll of Snellville’s registered voters who voted in the last two Snellville City Council elections yielded results showing that 79 percent believe the city has a problem with gridlocked votes. Balfour also sent a mailer to every Snellville resident inside Snellville city limits inviting them to a town hall meeting, in which the 200 attendees agreed that the city has a problem.
The bill now sits in the House to be taken up for a vote.
Everyone who is interested in the bill is encouraged to contact Rep. Melvin Emerson (R-Snellville), the city’s representative in the Georgia House. Anyone wishing to voice their concerns or opinions may contact Rep. Emerson at his Capitol office at (404) 656-0188 or by email at melvin.emerson@house.ga.gov.
