By Karen Hall

Editor

County commissioners gave themselves at least another month to study the proposed school building project and how to fund it.

Last week their education and budget committees moved the proposal forward to the full commission, though the budget committee's vote was a close one, with commissioners Dean Delk and Phil Willis voting yes, Barry Spivey voting no, and Sheldon Davis abstaining.

Spivey counseled caution at the budget meeting, saying. "We've been borrowing $1 million every year for something that's not highways. The county employees have had one raise in four or five years. Until we get into the budget process, we won't know" if we should borrow for a building project.

"Rates are as low as they're going to get," financial advisor Steve Bates pointed out.

"If we're going to do a building project, now is the time to do it," agreed commission chairman Nathan Johnson. "The key is borrowing at the right time and taking care of the school system."

"We don't know what's coming down the pike," exclaimed Spivey. "I'd hate for us to get out on a limb."

"Both advisors have assured me that won't happen," said Johnson.

"Can we swing this deal?" Delk asked Bates.

"Yes," answered Bates.

"Do you recommend it?" asked Delk.

"Yes," Bates said. "This is the way you're supposed to be doing it. I'm afraid of what will happen if it's delayed."

Schools Director Jackie Abernathy explained again why schools are overcrowded, and noted this is not a short-term proposal, but a program that should, when completed, leave schools in good shape until 2021 or beyond.

Abernathy, school board members, county commissioners and financial advisors held a workshop before the commission meeting, but some commissioners evidently remainded unconvinced that the county could, or should, borrow money to finance the building program recommended by the school board. The resolution authorizing the borrowing of $19.2 million for the schools was "pulled for reconsideration."

Fiscal caution was evident when another resolution was discussed.

Resolution 13-03-10 would have authorized Sheriff Norman Dalton to hire one additional School Resource Officer, starting immediately.

"I move to postpone this until after the budget process is completed," said commissioner Mickey King. "If we pass this, we'll be hiring an officer to send to the academy and SRO school to be ready to start in August."

This means the full cost of an additional officer would have to be added to the budget for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2013. This cost will be between $52,000 and $74,000 per year, depending on how salary, benefits and the cost of a patrol car are calculated. (Judge Lee Bowles has promised money from the Juvenile Deliquency Prevention fund for the SRO's equipment.)

"That's why I want to postpone it, to let the budget process decide if we have enough money," King said.

"What is the price of one kid's life?" asked Commissioner E. W. Hill.

Nevertheless, the vote was 10-7 in favor of postponing the decision on hiring an SRO. The 18th commissioner, Rocky Bowden, was absent.

Before the commission meeting started, a public hearing was held on whether Curt Denton's land on Spring Place Road should be rezoned from A-1 to C-1 so he could have a shooting range and teach gun-safety courses there.

Denton and the commissioners appeared surprised by the depth of feeling displayed by neighbors who took turns at the podium to speak against rezoning.

The man who spoke last, Paul Jones, said Denton was "one of the worst neighbors I've ever had. He don't need to carry a gun, let alone give somebody a permit,"

"I did not know I was going to be slandered like I was tonight," Denton exclaimed when he was given a chance to speak. "No one has come to me before to complain about the noise. A vote "no" is not going to stop the noise; it's not going to stop me firing my pistols."

When commissioners asked for a show of hands from the audience to indicate whether they were for or against Denton's rezoning, no one was for it, and more than 30 people raised their hands to show they were against it.

The commissioners' vote was 17-0 against rezoning.