On June 15th, five Forsyth County Commissioners are going to demonstrate to all of us, the voting public, what it means to “honor your word.” Now, I am of the notion that honoring ones word and living with integrity is really very simple: you say what you mean, and mean what you say. That’s it. Playing both sides of the fence is for the uncommitted.

The issue of concern on June 15th, is the rezoning of 141.6 acres for a 214 house development. It not only does not adhere to the Land Use Map for our county, but also more importantly, it will scale up the side of Sawnee Mountain, the skyline of our county and infringe upon the Sawnee Mountain Preserve, an area that we the tax payers, by the guidance of our elected officials, have spent millions of dollars to develop and maintain.

The following are quotes taken from the websites of two Forsyth County commissioners:

“I'm letting everyone associated with the re-zoning process (county commissioners, planning commissioners, lawyers, land owners and developers) know one thing - you and your predecessors have messed up this county in a big way, with your lack of common-sense growth and no sensible planning. You have made your money and have burdened this county with an infrastructure bill that can never be paid without seriously increasing taxes for everyone left in this county as you sold out and left. If you want to continue to mess up districts 2, 3 and 5 further, be my guest. But district 4 will be developed using the rules we have established for good planning, and we will enforce the rules we have established in this county to be fair to all. We do not have to pay back our supporters with unfair advantages to develop their property because we don't take the legalized bribes you have taken in your campaigns. We do not prioritize projects to benefit our friends, we prioritize projects to benefit our county. In district 4, we remember our campaign promises, and do not go back on them.”

-- David Richard, Forsyth County Commissioner. www.davidrichard.info

I am a bit concerned that Commissioner Richard does not even mention District 1 in this quote -- the area where the rezoning and infringement of Sawnee Mountain will take place.

See what Distict 1 Commissioner, Charlie Laughinghouse has to say.

“With the July 2006 elections, I hope to gain the support among my fellow commissioners to implement a countywide moratorium on residential rezoning until the commission can re-evaluate our residential zoning rules. I believe that returning to larger lots sizes and lower density are two of the most important steps we can take in the right direction.”

-- Charles Laughinghouse, Forsyth County Commissioner: www.laughinghouse.com

Our other three county commissioners do not have websites, thus no direct quotes can be taken. Two of our commissioners have taken a stand and pledged their word to preserve our community and protect it from haphazard development.

Remember Mr. Richard and Mr. Laughinghouse, a promise is a promise.

Circumstance is what the uncommitted use to sidestep responsibility.

Andrew Goetz, Forsyth County

Editor's Note: Mr. Goetz reports that he has received 130 signatures since Thursday, 6/9/06, on an e-mail petition he is circulating throughout the county regarding this issue.