Here is a write up sent to us from another member of the public that attended the meeting (we sent out Dennis Hills perspective yesterday). THANK YOU to our occasional reporters that go to the meetings and take time to write up what they saw for the rest of us! David
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>Turnout at the meeting was sparse, probably because of the questionable condition of the roads. One person spoke in opposition to the agenda item placed by Commissioner Gage and another made a plea for Commissioner help in quieting the barking coon hounds that keep them awake.
> Much of the meeting was given over to representatives of Moseley Architects who were awarded the job of researching various options for a new or remodeled jail. Constructing a new 74 bed jail on out of town 5 to 10 acres was deemed best. This would not include Sheriff's offices, would require 9 new staff and would cost about 7.9 million not including cost of purchased land.
> The county attorney, Jana Berg gave options for funding a new jail: issue bonds, self-finance, installment plan with a financial company. None of these options were discussed by the Commissioners who instructed the County Manager to find an architect and some land. Ray Gasperson objected to not starting with a budget first but was ignored.
> County Engineer, Dave Odom, was on the agenda to present a change order request for $515,000 in additional payments to Steppe Construction for running the water line extension along Hwy 9 toward Lake Lure. The original contract was for $1,567,340. Several change orders later, including this one, the total cost is up to $2,499,976. But he asked to be rescheduled for the next Board meeting because it had been pointed out to him that the county has to have bids to choose from. Surprising that the no one (Chairman, Vice-chair or County Manager) thought of this when setting the Agenda. Ray questioned the need for the waterline extension at this time but was given no answer.
> Ray spoke at the beginning of the meeting expressing his displeasure at the agenda item requesting him to present his plan for making Lake Adger a drinking water source for the county. He was never consulted or given a "heads' up" in advance. But he did take the opportunity to present a plan which was then dismissed by the majority.
> Lisa Krolak was not reappointed to the Planning Board. Presumably due to being a part of the Protect Polk Water group that was against the ICWD water contract.
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>Turnout at the meeting was sparse, probably because of the questionable condition of the roads. One person spoke in opposition to the agenda item placed by Commissioner Gage and another made a plea for Commissioner help in quieting the barking coon hounds that keep them awake.
> Much of the meeting was given over to representatives of Moseley Architects who were awarded the job of researching various options for a new or remodeled jail. Constructing a new 74 bed jail on out of town 5 to 10 acres was deemed best. This would not include Sheriff's offices, would require 9 new staff and would cost about 7.9 million not including cost of purchased land.
> The county attorney, Jana Berg gave options for funding a new jail: issue bonds, self-finance, installment plan with a financial company. None of these options were discussed by the Commissioners who instructed the County Manager to find an architect and some land. Ray Gasperson objected to not starting with a budget first but was ignored.
> County Engineer, Dave Odom, was on the agenda to present a change order request for $515,000 in additional payments to Steppe Construction for running the water line extension along Hwy 9 toward Lake Lure. The original contract was for $1,567,340. Several change orders later, including this one, the total cost is up to $2,499,976. But he asked to be rescheduled for the next Board meeting because it had been pointed out to him that the county has to have bids to choose from. Surprising that the no one (Chairman, Vice-chair or County Manager) thought of this when setting the Agenda. Ray questioned the need for the waterline extension at this time but was given no answer.
> Ray spoke at the beginning of the meeting expressing his displeasure at the agenda item requesting him to present his plan for making Lake Adger a drinking water source for the county. He was never consulted or given a "heads' up" in advance. But he did take the opportunity to present a plan which was then dismissed by the majority.
> Lisa Krolak was not reappointed to the Planning Board. Presumably due to being a part of the Protect Polk Water group that was against the ICWD water contract.