{"id":211,"date":"2013-01-10T18:54:21","date_gmt":"2013-01-10T23:54:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2013\/01\/how-are-we-paying-on-something-that-was-100-paid-off-john-s-quarterman-lcc-2013-01-08.html"},"modified":"2013-01-10T18:54:21","modified_gmt":"2013-01-10T23:54:21","slug":"how-are-we-paying-on-something-that-was-100-paid-off-john-s-quarterman-lcc-2013-01-08","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2013\/01\/how-are-we-paying-on-something-that-was-100-paid-off-john-s-quarterman-lcc-2013-01-08.html","title":{"rendered":"How are we paying on something that was 100% paid off? —John S. Quarterman @ LCC 2013-01-08"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\n<\/a>\nWhy are we furloughing librarians to save $30,000\nwhen we apparently floated bonds for unbudgeted millions on the county palace?\nThat’s essentially what I asked\nthe Lowndes County Commission at their\n\n8 January 2013 Regular Session.<\/a>\nNobody had an answer.\n<\/p>\n

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\nJust to add to what Commissioner Lee said,\nin addition to everyone appreciating all your service, I’m sure\nwe all appreciate all his long years of service.\n<\/p>\n

\nOf course there are some things that have come up since he was first\non the Commission.\nFor example, Internet access.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe Internet is the roads of the future.<\/p>\n

\nPerhaps funding that might be as important as\n\nstriping roads.<\/a>\nIt’s a thought.\n<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\nFor more on that, see \nwhat Idelle Dear said just before.<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

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\n\n<\/a>\nAnd I really appreciate that clock there.\nIt’s a sign that sometimes change is good.\n<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\nAt least they are doing a few things differently.\n<\/p>\n

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\n\n<\/a>\nWhen this building complex was opened in 2010,\nthe county put out a double-sheet flyer saying it\nwas completely paid off out of SPLOST money,\nwith zero dollars owed.\nI’m wondering how it is that then, either in November or December,\nthe Commission just before your one here,\nrefinanced bonds that included I think it was six or seven million dollars\nfor this very building complex?\nI’m very confused by that.\nI wonder if someone could clarify how we’re\npaying on something that was completely 100% paid off with zero owed.\n<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\nIt’s actually about $8.9 million.\nWhy are we paying that?\nNobody answered.\nCounty Manager Joe Pritchard, pictured below,\n\non that 2010 flyer I mentioned,<\/a>\npaid no attention.\n<\/p>\n

\nA prominent local member of the fourth estate said nobody was\nallowed to answer.\nActually, the Commission’s own\n\nPolicies and Procedures for Citizens Wishing to be Heard<\/a>\ninclude these lines:\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \n
  1. \nCommissioners may in their discretion respond to a speaker at the\nconclusion of the speaker’s presentation.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \n\n<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

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    1. \nWhen a speaker makes a request for specific action, the presiding member of\nthe Board of Commissioners may refer the subject to the County Manager.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \nThey can answer if they want to.\nIt’s true most of them probably never heard this question before,\nso let’s see what they say in a few days when they have time to think\nabout it.\n<\/p>\n

      \nWhat about you?\nWould you like to hear why we owed nothing on the county palace in 2010,\nbut apparently now we owe millions of dollars?\nHow many library employees could those millions pay for?\n<\/p>\n

      \nHere’s\n\nthe video:<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

      \n