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editor@estherstrumpet.com
ESTHER’S TRUMPET
NEWS AND VIEWS FROM ALABAMA’S BLACKBELT
BY: Barbara Evans
editor@estherstrumpet.com
February 13, 2012
BROADBAND PROJECT SUSPENDED!
Trucks and equipment parked; rolls picked up
Hayneville: Commissioner Charlie King, Jr., admitted under questioning today that the broadband project is suspended. He said he knew it on Tuesday, February 7. He confirmed what ET was told much earlier. King refused to tell us why it is suspended, but one of the reasons may be that the contract included $500,000 to be deposited into escrow by Karl Bell, and that check bounced.
Also confirmed in the 10 a.m. meeting today was that the county took money out of the roads and bridges fund to make a payment on one of the bonds, which now total $12 million. This includes the $8.3 million to build the Industrial Park (where there is one tenant, Daehan, who is tax exempt for 10 years) and the bonds for the jail and the Bell building. Commissioner Joey Barganier made a motion to form a finance committee to deal with shortfalls. Commissioners Dickson Farrior and Robert Harris will serve on this committee, along with Commissioner Barganier.
We are in a world of trouble. There’s a good chance the whole broadband project will be terminated, and we will be stuck with the bill for the building in Hayneville because we did not fully investigate the folks we are dealing with. I know that Trillion has several lawsuits against them, and AD2 has problems as well.
The Commission voted to rescind the motion made in the last meeting where they voted to borrow $250,000 from Karl Bell after his $500,000 check was returned for insufficient funds. This vacates the motion.
The county voted to monitor gravel distribution because District 2 has been getting speciality gravel without going through the County Engineer. Joey Barganier said they should be more fair with gravel useage, and that each district should get the same amount. When a commissioner gives out big amounts of gravel during election time, and that commissioner is running for re-election, that may be considered an ethics violation.
Commissioner Robert Harris once again brought up “current use”, which is when landowners get a reduced tax rate under certain conditions. Harris said that if the Legislature passes home rule, that the Commission would be able to scruitinize those that claim current use and penalize those who are not in compliance. Commissioner Farrior suggested that the Tax Assessor be allowed to do her job, and that if they had questions or concerns they should go through her. Farrior suggested that they ask her for her recommendations. Harris said that 160 people had come forward recently with current use tax applications. He feels this is costing the county money. Harris also suggested we begin to look at a Planning and Zoning Plan for the county, and he said the reason we did not get a hotel a couple years ago was because without planning and zoning, anyone could put any business anywhere, and the hotel was afraid that something like a chicken house would be placed close to them. Nearly 10 years ago, Elvis Harrison, Sam Howard and I attended a workshop on planning and zoning and all that it entails, and we presented our information (not recommendations) to the commission, but it was ignored.
The high point of the meeting was a presentation by Mr. Joe Parnell, a Burkville resident who has just returned from active duty. Mr. Parnell, in a most eloquent manner, laid out the basis for all successful economic development. He said that we need transparency in government, and for the commission to work with citizens, and he focused on the importance of educating our children. He asked the commission to consider asking themselves why a company might want to locate here. He said (much better than I) that we need an educated, competent workforce. He said that in 1900 we had three times the population we have today, and said that enhancing the quality of life here in Lowndes would spur economic development. Even though Charlie King prodded Parnell about “who he was”, he got an earful as Parnell described his education, work experience and commitment to Lowndes County. He was dynamite! You can expect Charlie King to put the moves on Parnell and try to cajole him to his side. I don’t think that will be happening.
WSFA was there, and so was the Lowndes Signal.
In other actions, Walter Hill, EMA Director, presented Calhoun Fire Department with a check for $2,000. Blackbelt Fire Department got $1,000, Extension Youth Livestock got $500, REACH got $750; Lowndes County Community Life Center got $2,000 and the Town of Fort Deposit was given $3,000.
Let me end this by saying that I was absolutely on top of the world because I see Commissioner Farrior is no longer going to allow resolutions being passed without reading them to the public. That is a huge move, and one that has been long in coming. He is fighting for us, and we need to support him! More later; I just wanted to get this out today.
In other news….maybe…..I “hear” that the county owes the Board of Education $1 million dollars and they are considering legal action. This has NOT been confirmed yet.
Please consider attending county commission meetings (2nd Monday at 10 and 4th Monday at 6:30 p.m.) and the upcoming meetings of the South Central Alabama Broadband Commission (call the Commission office to find out dates and times; 334-548-2376. If we get involved and speak up, things will change for the better!
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