Loud Opinions Expressed
These two gentlemen, Frankie Powers (L) and Greg Rossi (R) were in attendance for different reasons. Photo by PJ Martin
By PJ Martin
Editor
The Herald-News
The Metcalfe County Fiscal Court met in a regular session on Thursday, September 26th with all magistrates present. Attorney Holly Coleman sat in for Attorney Sharon Howard and Occupational Tax Administrator Lorrie Gilpin took notes in Treasurer Page Edwards’ absence.
The agenda was adopted and the minutes from the September 26th meeting were approved after motions were made by Magistrates Kevin Crain and Harvey Hawkins.
The first item on the agenda was the Amended and Re-Stated Interlocal Agreement for the Barren-Metcalfe Emergency Communications Center. Judge/Executive Larry Wilson explained, “The only thing that has changed in the interlocal agreement will be it opens the door, we can find other means to generate funds to pay our portion. Right now, the phones (landlines) are not quite doing it, and this will just open the door for that. The city here, they’ve already adopted this…”
Magistrate Daniel Bragg spoke, “But we don’t have a vote. And it’s not that our vote necessarily would matter, because even if we had a vote, we’d still be double outnumbered, but we at least have a seat at the table as a fiscal court and ability to hear and understand what’s going on. Because now none of us have a seat at that table…argument would be that all these municipalities have a seat that are paying nothing. You know, Park City, they don’t have a role to pay. Cave City doesn’t pay anything. We’re actually funding this. I think the fiscal court should get a vote.”
Despite the lack of the fiscal court being allowed a voting member, it was relayed by Wilson that the meetings are open to the public and the magistrates could attend.
Magistrates were in agreement that Metcalfe County is only paying 19% in the Interlocal Agreement.
A gentleman named Frankie Powers was in the audience and stood up to ask a question, “I’m wondering if I, you know, if I could put my view in on y’all spending a whole lot of money on a whole lot of stuff and not having the money to do stuff with it?”
Judge Wilson informed him, “And we can do that in other business unless you have a comment on the 911. Do you have a comment on the 911 situation?”
Powers then said, “You should have plenty of money for it, because you took the or moved out where we registered to get our license and moved it to Columbia. Yeah, that’s supposed to have saved.” He also wanted to know why that wasn’t voted on by the citizens.
Bragg responded, “That’s the state, that has nothing to do with the county. We didn’t have a say in that. The State Department of the Courts does that.”
Powers then asked how $8 million could be used to build a football complex, “We need roads and everything else!”
Bragg then answered, “I agree, but we didn’t have any say in that either. That’s strictly through the school board.”
Wilson politely said, “I am going to have to ask you to be seated. We’ve got an agenda we have to follow…” adding that he could ask questions when the court got to the other business.
Magistrate Ronnie Miller then made the motion to accept Resolution 24-1010 allowing Wilson to sign the Interlocal Agreement on the court’s behalf and that was seconded by Crain. The motion was approved.
Golden Years Contract
“Next would be the approval discussion on the painting invoice from Golden Years,” said Wilson noting the invoice was not paid at the last meeting. He also restated that the new contract with Golden Years would require the payment of $1,500 per month in rent, but since they had already paid several months ahead, the new amount would begin at the first of the year.
Bragg asked if they had signed the new contract yet and Wilson stated they had not.
After a brief discussion, the motion was approved for a survey and appraisal to be completed and the contract signed before discussing or paying the invoice.
Recycling Center
Solid Waste Coordinator Kim Jandt worked out a contract deal with Pulaski County Solid Waste to pick up all baled materials from the Metcalfe County Recycling Center. Metcalfe would receive payment for 70% of all baled recyclable material. This includes #1 plastic.
Jandt explained #1 plastic as, “anything you can drink out of.” In other words, plastic water bottles, coke, or juice bottles will be accepted. Any type bottle/jug with a handle is #2 and not accepted.
“I have a question on that, recycle. Does the resident recycle? Or is there a drop-off?” asked Greg Rossi a citizen who was attending the meeting.
Jandt relayed that the recycle trailers at the Dollar Store, in Center, and Summer Shade will be relabeled for accepting plastic bottles and a container will be at the recycling center also.
Rossi also asked, “Where do the funds go to?” referring to the 70% payment received for the materials. Gilpin read a text message reply from Edwards, “The money, the funds, will actually go back into the recycling labor.”
The contract with Pulaski County Solid Waste was approved by the magistrates.
Next, due to the holiday in November, the meeting dates were changed to Tuesday, November 12th, and Tuesday, November 26th at 9 a.m. in the fiscal courtroom.
Other Business
“I have a question. I don’t know how concerned I should be about it, but I have seen people outside our town like Haitians walking around. Then I heard some rumors that they had dumped off a bunch in the Cork-Gascon area…I’m just curious. Are these rumors true or not?” asked Rossi.
Wilson replied, “No, we have no knowledge of it…It’s new to me.”
Rossie then asked what if the rumors were true, “Is there any recourse to it…Are we gonna allow this to happen or are we gonna fight back?”
Powers then said,” Are y’all gonna accept it!”
“Well right now we’re in theoretical, cause we don’t have any knowledge,” said Bragg.
“They’re not American so they’re illegal!” Powers got very upset and loud arguing with Bragg and at one point referring to him as ‘cocky’.
Wilson cut in and answered Rossi with, “My response would be, if they’re here illegally, they need to be picked up and sent back.”
Attorney Coleman spoke up attempting to calm the situation; however, was met with arguments.
Wilson brought the discussion to a halt and back to business and the meeting was adjourned shortly after.
Re: Haitians: Don’t let this happen here!!!! I moved here many years ago from the northeast (Which is now a place where you feel like a foreigner in your own country!). This is one of the nicest, safest, lowest cost-of-living locales left in this entire country! Don’t allow these politicians to ruin one of the last bastions of real America!!!!! These people only know how to take, take, take; and your taxes will go up as your quality of life goes down, and crime increases! I watched it happen 40 years ago in my former home town…DO NOT let it happen here!!!!! This will affect your children, and everyone, for generations to come! These people breed like rabbits, and offer no positives!!! My former home town feels like a foreign third-world slum now (despite being one of the most expensive places in the country to live)- all you see are Mexicans, Indians, Asians, middle-easterners, South-Americans and blacks, anymore! (And don’t EVER allow them to impose ‘zoning’!). Guard your freedom and your culture…it is already destroyed in most other places.