Tuesday's Meeting (May 19)

Well, I'm telling you guys, you really ought to try and get out to these things...I would never have thought it could get so "intriguing" - is that the word I should use? Hmmm.

Anyway, the public hearing began with Phillip Lovelace, George Stanhope, Allan Gross and Richard Shumate speaking against the Uranium mining and drilling. Allan Gross made the point that while the Uranium Mining may produce 300 to 500 jobs, the farmers in the county provide many jobs. The four dairy farms that were recognized the week before provided 60 jobs and there are 1,300 farms in the county! If the farms only produced one job each, that's far more than the mining would produce locally; and once the mining comes in and buyers find out that the farms are in the "uranium district" no one will want to buy the produce. Good point.

On to the public hearing about the Chatham Elementary School. Mary Cathering Plaster literally pleaded with the Board to carefully consider their decision. She said that the school could be refurbished much more economically than building a new facility, and what a wonderful structure it could be for housing county offices. What a tribute it would be to the historical value of the building.

Others spoke as well on the Chatham Elementary School, some wanting it given to the town of Chatham, some wanting the county to keep in and use it, and some that just wanted to make sure that whether the county or town had it, that it would be fixed up and used. There was some worry that the Town intended to simply sell it, if they received it, and put the money into the town coffers. Marshall Ecker said that he wanted a stipulation saying that if the Town didn't use the building, they could not sell it - it would revert to back to the county.

Marshall Ecker motioned to keep the building; Hank Davis agreed, adding that the county should work together with the Town to make the best use out of the building.

Well, Mr. Snead (I think) made a substitute motion to give the building to Chatham with no strings attached. Tim Barber spoke up, agreeing, saying it was going to cost 5 million to refurbish the school. Mr. Snead said he understood it was 8 million. Mr Ecker said that Mr. Hawker said it would cost 2 1/2 million to occupy the building and the part of those larger figures included fixing the Moses building and the jail. He again voiced the opinion that if given to the Town, there should be a 'No Sale' stipulation. He said taxpayers paid for that school, and it shouldn't be sold and the town take all the money. He said that it was in the citizens best interest to renovate the school, and he didn't care who did it, as long as it got done....if the the town can take the building and renovate it, then yes, give it to them, but not without stipulations.

Ecker then made a third substitute motion to table the issue until Chatham decided if they wanted to "take on" responsiblity for the building. Well, here we go folks -

Vote on tabling issue - 4 to 3. I'll let you figure it out.

Then came the vote on the second substitute motion to just give the school away, with no stipulations - Vote: 5 - 2. Ingram likes to be on the winning side in the end.

Well, then the circus began. A map that had been given to the Board well in advanced were obviously not paid attention to until that evening. It was a map of a local subdivision and the land around it...the people in the subdivision wanted an ordinance that would require that pet owners would keep their pets from running loose.

I know I'm not supposed to voice a comment, but I can't help it - here's my take:

Business: Local citizens need an ordinance to keep dogs from running loose in your subdivision:
Answer: OK

Instead, the board discussed it longer then they discussed the School, or it certianly seemed like it...it was absolutely ridiculous....they split hairs over something that's common sense and make snap judgements on matters that will affect the whole county for years. They hummed and hawed for over 20 minutes - and here's the answer: OK.

Then there was discussion on the naming of the Social Services Solarium. Mr. Pritchett had a statement about it, but I can't tell you what he said or what he wants the place named. I sit on the front row, and I literally couldn't understand a word he said. Not a single word.

The Board voted 6-1 to fund Regional One again this year. Surprisingly, Mr. Ecker was the "1" - and my thought is this: that end of the county can also use Altavista's Life Saving Crew. Ecker doesn't realize how critical it is in other parts of the county to have a back up. I have the greatest respect for all our county volunteers - but they are volunteers....they are not usually ready at the Squad building to go in a moments notice; many of them are at work and have to leave and go to the squad building before they can get their vehicle on the road....and when they are on call, who fills in if another call comes in....We need Regional One. It's critical to saving lives.

Mr. Sleeper made a request to the Board to fill a vacated position in the IT Department. Mr. Ecker asked if they would have to lift the hiring freeze to do so; Mr. Harville said "No, it was up to the discretion of the Board" - or something like that.

The Recreation Board wants $12,500 from the County that they will match, to pay for a comprehensive plan of recreation for the county. There was a 10 day layover on that - whatever that means.....I really don't know, and you can't talk to the Board to ask a question.

Mr. Sleeper also informed the Board that they had to re-advertise the Budget; the original wasn't clear. He also told the Board that the Utility contract at the Gretna Park was going to cost $191,430.96.

The Board set the first Board Meeting in July (the first Monday) as a Public Hearing on the Gretna Boundary Adjustment.

And there you have it....keep in mind that all this is from a regular citizen just like you - I can tell you I don't have all the details in here, because I can't get it all down....I'm just doing the best I can to let you know in simple, plain words what I perceive is going on.

We will not be at the next meeting, because we will actually be on Star TV -Talk TV that night, doing a show with Jessica Robinson about the blog. If you have cable, it's Channel 17 at 7:30.