Report and Comment From The County Commission Meeting 20 Jan.
Item One: The meeting began with a report from the Industrial Recruiter Mr. Dan Speer. Mr. Speer reported that we have "the most aggressive marketing of any rural community" and that "other counties look to Giles County for leadership". Mr. Speer also reported that currently the county has an unemployment rate of 8.6% with the expectation of it going higher. "Like a fireman when you have a fire the economic developer becomes the first responder", he stated.
My question is if the unemployment rate is so high and expected to get higher and the present economy is doing so poorly with the expectation of it getting worse is there really a means to justify the huge salary the county is currently paying the Industrial Recruiter? Why are we paying such a high salary for activities that could be done by the Chamber of Commerce? More and more empty speculation buildings are being built to join the ones that are already standing vacant. Is it reasonable to have such an expenditure in such financially difficult times?
Item Two: The motion was made to change the time of the Commission Meetings to 5 or 6 PM in order to allow more people to attend. Mention was also made that the meetings should be returned to radio broadcast. The motion failed to get a 2/3 vote and thus failed.
Item Three: Voted to bring new roads into the county system which means that the county would be responsible for their maintenance. There was much discussion on this matter as the roads in question are in a new subdivision that currently has not had the plots recorded thus the developer avoids paying approximately $30,000.00 in county taxes. According to some commissioners the roads should not be taken into the county until after the land has been plotted and recorded thus avoiding a greater burden on the tax payers of the county.
I certainly agree with those commissioners who were looking out for the interest of the taxpayers but the majority voted to take the roads in without a firm time frame for the developer, Mr. Bass, to record the property. There are no reasons these plots are not recorded other than the fact it saves the developer about $30,000.00 in taxes and cost the county that same amount.
Item Four: In one of the most amazing developments discussed and put off was the proposal to sale the Hunter Smith Building at auction. It was announced by Commissioner Terry Harwell that the City of Pulaski had shown an interest in purchasing the Hunter Smith building. The County Executive announced also that there were a group of ladies from Lawrencenburg who were interested. It was decided to put off the matter until a later time.
I spoke with two city council members right after the meeting and both stated that this had not been a matter of discussion at any council meetings and both were certain the city had and would have no interest in purchasing the building.
This is the same ploy used when the last offer of $125,000.00 was made to the property committee for this dilapidated eyesore. Suddenly there was great interest in the building, "calls weekly from people interested in purchasing the building". After the $125,000.00 offer was rejected there were no more offers for over a year. No interest at all until the matter of a public auction was mentioned. One of the benefits of an auction is to allow all those with a real interest to show up and bid thus putting their money up and not just imagined interest.
Item Five: Commissioner Lee had asked for and was given five minutes to make a statement and what a statement he made. After making a very reasoned and logical plea to place term limits on chairmanships of committees he spoke to the matter of the Financial Management Committee. The condensed version of his statement was simply that because of the powerful school and highway lobbies in Nashville the requirement to have the Highway Commissioner and the School Director on the committee along with others having school ties the result is that the foxes are now in charge of the hen house.
This is the most costly development of the Financial Management implementation, having the committee that oversees the budget controlled by those with a direct financial benefit gained from their votes. Allen Barrett
My question is if the unemployment rate is so high and expected to get higher and the present economy is doing so poorly with the expectation of it getting worse is there really a means to justify the huge salary the county is currently paying the Industrial Recruiter? Why are we paying such a high salary for activities that could be done by the Chamber of Commerce? More and more empty speculation buildings are being built to join the ones that are already standing vacant. Is it reasonable to have such an expenditure in such financially difficult times?
Item Two: The motion was made to change the time of the Commission Meetings to 5 or 6 PM in order to allow more people to attend. Mention was also made that the meetings should be returned to radio broadcast. The motion failed to get a 2/3 vote and thus failed.
Item Three: Voted to bring new roads into the county system which means that the county would be responsible for their maintenance. There was much discussion on this matter as the roads in question are in a new subdivision that currently has not had the plots recorded thus the developer avoids paying approximately $30,000.00 in county taxes. According to some commissioners the roads should not be taken into the county until after the land has been plotted and recorded thus avoiding a greater burden on the tax payers of the county.
I certainly agree with those commissioners who were looking out for the interest of the taxpayers but the majority voted to take the roads in without a firm time frame for the developer, Mr. Bass, to record the property. There are no reasons these plots are not recorded other than the fact it saves the developer about $30,000.00 in taxes and cost the county that same amount.
Item Four: In one of the most amazing developments discussed and put off was the proposal to sale the Hunter Smith Building at auction. It was announced by Commissioner Terry Harwell that the City of Pulaski had shown an interest in purchasing the Hunter Smith building. The County Executive announced also that there were a group of ladies from Lawrencenburg who were interested. It was decided to put off the matter until a later time.
I spoke with two city council members right after the meeting and both stated that this had not been a matter of discussion at any council meetings and both were certain the city had and would have no interest in purchasing the building.
This is the same ploy used when the last offer of $125,000.00 was made to the property committee for this dilapidated eyesore. Suddenly there was great interest in the building, "calls weekly from people interested in purchasing the building". After the $125,000.00 offer was rejected there were no more offers for over a year. No interest at all until the matter of a public auction was mentioned. One of the benefits of an auction is to allow all those with a real interest to show up and bid thus putting their money up and not just imagined interest.
Item Five: Commissioner Lee had asked for and was given five minutes to make a statement and what a statement he made. After making a very reasoned and logical plea to place term limits on chairmanships of committees he spoke to the matter of the Financial Management Committee. The condensed version of his statement was simply that because of the powerful school and highway lobbies in Nashville the requirement to have the Highway Commissioner and the School Director on the committee along with others having school ties the result is that the foxes are now in charge of the hen house.
This is the most costly development of the Financial Management implementation, having the committee that oversees the budget controlled by those with a direct financial benefit gained from their votes. Allen Barrett
posted by Allen Barrett | 2:50 PM
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