In May, Cobb became the first county in Georgia to join the federal Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers program.
That agreement opens employment records of county employees to audit by federal officials to ensure everyone who is employed by the county is legally permitted to work in this country.
IMAGE differs from the E-Verify program in that employers who participate in E-Verify agree to stringent checks on all future hires, whereas IMAGE is looking back at records of people already on the payroll.
“I get phone calls at home from Americans, including real legal immigrants, who are frantic trying to figure out why they can’t get a job in Cobb County in construction when they know … there are illegal aliens working on Cobb County jobs,” King said.
Lee said a proposed code amendment requiring all businesses that perform work for the county — which in 2011 totaled 4,600 different firms — likely won’t be ready until January.
“While we compliment and understand where he’s trying to take the issue, you have to be careful to follow the process and procedures that are in place,” Lee said.
Commissioner Ott agreed.
“You’re talking about basically writing a law,” Ott said. “You can’t just rush through something … I’m about protecting jobs for the people here legally, but as we take the next step, we have to look at the legal ramifications.”
Ott points to the “conservation subdivision” zoning designation as an example of the need for the county to be cautious in writing a new code amendment. That designation, approved in April 2004, allowed developers to build houses clustered together in exchange for more open space in a development, such as wetlands and floodplains.
The designation was scrapped after two years.
“A committee worked on that for a year, and it still had issues,” Ott said. “Everybody thought they had it just right. That’s just an example of why we need to get it right.”
King addressed commissioners during the public comment portion of Tuesday’s meeting.
“There is no reason that taxpayer dollars, including my own, should go to pay one dime to illegal labor, when there is a tool right in front of us that you are ignoring that would all but eliminate the possibility of hiring any contractor using illegal labor,” King said. “I am outraged.”
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From the MDJ: "The Cobb Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Atlanta-based Market Street Services, unveiled a plan on Thursday afternoon to spawn economic development in Cobb County through a 501(c)3 public-private partnership."
But the Chamber of Commerce will fight to stop the IMAGE program. Wake up America!
Thank you D.A. King!
Guess cos' I'm just not asleep, stupid or brainwashed, like you expect many Americans to be.
I understand full well what is happening to this country and the means being used to accomplish it.
Just because you ask me how I know, does not give your open borders arrogance one ounce of weight!!
They obviously have been PAID OFF in donations,.. to look the other way!!
Just look right around the corner from Bob Otts house - the Sope Creek Elementary School is flooded w/ illegals working for Baldwin Paving.
This is the same company working right under the Smyrna mayors nose, as well as the overseeing project managers, Croy Engineering on Smyrnas ridiculous 10 foot wide sidewalks & unnecessary medians!!
These companies are pocketing MILLIONs!!
MILLIONs!!
And they are paying BIG MONEY to get Tim Lee reelected!
This should be handled as an emergency in our country,..
but as we all know,.. the illegal labor is here to make the rich,.. RICHER!
You wanna see what Re-settlement looks like?
It looks like South Cobb County!!
Citizens of America,.. BE DAMNED!
Thanks D.A.!! Look under ALL the rocks!!
The number of LEGAL Hispanics available to work on Baldwin's paving crews just does not exist in Georgia.
If indeed they are legal, then Baldwin should be willing to prove it and sign up for the IMAGE audits without even being required to do so.
So, Baldwin, can you pass the test? If you can, then you should be willing to prove it.
Tim Lee isn't fooling anyone and Ott had already moved to draft an ordinace until he was caught by Chamber Lee the way I hear it. I was undecided on voting for Tim Lee again. I'm not anymore. Adios Tim! Go to work for the Chamber of Commerce officially.