By Sid Riley
Issue Was Discussed at Tuesday’s Board Meeting
As a final item of discussion at Tuesday’s regular County Commission meeting, Chairman Chuck Lockey brought up the issue of the planned new $18,000,000 building for county administration. "With the projected $1.3 million dollar shortfall in revenues from the impact of the passage of Amendment One, combined with the $400,000 decrease in revenues from jail operations, I do not feel that the $280,000 in increased revenues from Waste Management will approach paying for our future needs and the added burden of the payments for the new facility", Lockey stated.
Commissioner Spires stated he was in favor of proceeding with the new construction, and he felt the commission should be proactive in planning for the future needs of the county. Commissioner Branch also agreed the commission should proceed. Commissioner Pittman said he agreed with Commissioner Lockey, and he felt it was of questionable judgment for the commission to put the county into a position of paying off a large, thirty year debt when there is so much existing financial uncertainty.
Lockey stated he felt additional "due diligence" should be conducted to determine what the financial condition of the county would be in meeting the needs of next years budget, with and without the added burden of the new building project. County Attorney Baker stated that clauses existed in the existing contracts with Ajax Construction and Donofroe and Associates which would allow them to only pay for the time and services provided up to this point.
The discussion then closed. We assume at the next meeting a more detailed projection of funding and available revenues will be presented. No mention was made of further investigation of the Wal-mart/Sally Mae building as an alternative site.
Commissioner Spires stated he was in favor of proceeding with the new construction, and he felt the commission should be proactive in planning for the future needs of the county. Commissioner Branch also agreed the commission should proceed. Commissioner Pittman said he agreed with Commissioner Lockey, and he felt it was of questionable judgment for the commission to put the county into a position of paying off a large, thirty year debt when there is so much existing financial uncertainty.
Lockey stated he felt additional "due diligence" should be conducted to determine what the financial condition of the county would be in meeting the needs of next years budget, with and without the added burden of the new building project. County Attorney Baker stated that clauses existed in the existing contracts with Ajax Construction and Donofroe and Associates which would allow them to only pay for the time and services provided up to this point.
The discussion then closed. We assume at the next meeting a more detailed projection of funding and available revenues will be presented. No mention was made of further investigation of the Wal-mart/Sally Mae building as an alternative site.
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