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County considers possible cuts
Plans to use bond money to install $300K roof at courthouse
Published Thursday, December 4, 2008
The Covington County Commission Wednesday asked for details about possible cost-cutting options, including closing, selling or leasing the Covington Center Arena.
District 1 Commissioner David Ellis also asked for specific information about costs involved with the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture building and Point A Park, but is also interested in other ways of saving money or generating revenue for the county.
Commissioners met Wednesday in a workshop session to discuss the county’s financial situation, which is expected to become more serious after the commissioners agreed yesterday to spend nearly $600,000 in capital improvement funds it has been using as a cash-flow cushion.
“What I’d like to ask is that Brenda (Petty, county administrator) bring to us at least three solutions of what we can do — increase revenue or ways to make some cuts,” said Ellis said. “She’s got the experience and she’s just trying to pay the bills each week, so she would know how it can be done.”
Ellis, ‘amened’ by other commissioners, asked that Petty bring back any suggestion that she might have to remedy the county’s current financial situation.
“I have three specific areas that I want you to look at — Point A Park, the (Covington Center) Arena and the (U.S. Department of Agriculture) building,” Ellis said. “Two of those points are 50 percent of our debt.”
Ellis also suggested contacting PowerSouth to determine if the company would be interested in taking control of the Point A park back.
“That’s $83,000 in expenses we could save,” he said. “We see very little revenue back from the use of the park.”
Additionally, each of the commissioners agreed that there was “something that need(ed) to be done about the arena.”
“I don’t know what needs to be done with that arena,” Ellis said. “I don’t know if we need to close it; if we can sell it; if we can lease it or if we can figure out a way to make it pay for itself. I don’t know if we need to change the way we promote it or what, but something needs to be done.”
As for the USDA building, it is a county-owned building constructed in 1998 that houses the Natural Resources Conservation Service (a.k.a. Soil Conservation), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development office. The Rural Development office is tentatively set to close Jan. 12, leaving a vacancy in the building.
Commissioners also discussed holding off making a decision to hire an additional appraiser in the Revenue Commissioner’s office until January since the county can’t afford its portion of the salary.
“It is a position that would generate revenue for the county,” Ellis said. “The cost to the county is $8,300, but we don’t have it to give. Plus, we could maybe offer that position to Tony (Wells, arena manager) if there’s a change at the arena or maybe another person from another office staff.”
Petty said one of the first things she would like to ask the commission was to give her the authority to work with all department heads in making line item budget adjustments throughout the year. She also suggested the commission could cut costs by asking each department head to cut a certain percentage from his or her budget.
No matter what the commission decides, the plan cannot include the use of $540,000 in funds left over from a 2005 bond issue.
For the past three years, the commission has used that portion of the bond issue to make ends meet by loaning the capital improvement money to other county accounts or funds that ran short in operating funds. The funds are repaid to the capital improvement account at the beginning of the year when property taxes are paid and provide an influx of cash to the county.
During the last commission workshop, commissioners learned that a clause in the 2005 $6.2 million bond issue required that the money be spent on capital improvements within three years — a deadline that expired at the end of November; however, commissioners agreed Wednesday to spend the money.
At one time, the commission had planned to use the money for a joint recreation venture with the city of Andalusia to construct a recreational facility; however, the money now will be used to put a new roof on the courthouse and possibly add an elevator. Plans are to install a new metal roof with an estimated cost of $300,000 and to pursue installing an elevator for the three-story courthouse, as well as any other inside improvements allowed within the budget.
Commissioners also agreed to present the following resolutions for approval at the next meeting:
• a request to the Legislature to increase the county’s lodging tax to 4 percent. Currently, the county only has a 2 percent lodging tax that nets approximately $60,000 per year.
• a new county vehicle use policy that would limit an employee’s use of said vehicle to only county-related business. Two such notes in the policy are (1) it prohibits any unauthorized individual — including family members — from operating or occupying a county vehicle. It also applies to carpooling with a spouse and delivering a child to daycare or school; (2) prohibits an employee to traveling to an eating establishment outside a10-mile radius.
• an amendment to the county’s personnel manual that dictates attendance and working hours for employees.
• appointments to various boards with seats occupied by county representatives.
• to hire an engineering firm to handle the courthouse roofing/elevator project.
The next commission meeting is scheduled for Mon., Dec. 15, at 9:30 a.m. — this is a change from the normal meeting of the second Monday in the month.
Comments
Posted by Festus (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 7:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
At least now, we are looking at some of the problem.Let me if you will,implant the idea that you never send the FOX to count the chickens.You're right Mrs.Petty has been at this a long time,Thats not always a good thing.I promise you now when she returns with her report it may have a few minor cuts but be assured none will affect her office.I think a closer look at this office may see several ways to cut a lot of double dipping.
Posted by Blondie (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 1:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
why cant point a park be a "state" park? I still go there, have since I was a teenager ( a looooong time ago...lol) and I think it could be handled in a better way!
Posted by bobthathead (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 5:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think Festus is right, I remember when that office had only 3 people , now who knows, and the bad part of this is she's seldom there.
Blondie , It could be a state park, So could the Arena be state operated, Garrett Coliseum, is now state owned, same kind of a deal we are looking at here.
The Commissioners need to stop the Trucks from going home, That would save over $100,000.00 or so a year. Also, Commissioners should stop getting Mileage, that's around $12,000. a year ,each, Let them have a Truck to travel on. Stop the Bleeding of our tax money.
Posted by admin23 (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 8:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I see where a lot of changes could be made. Festus, you're right, of course, Ms. Petty once again is asking for her to be in charge of other's accounts, that's not a great idea. She hasn't been able to handle the ones she's got to take care of. I say, find someone, an accountant and make him/her responsible. Someone who isn't paid directly out of the percentage of the funds him/her decides is reasonable. Set an amount, do it. I promise you, this day in time there are plenty of young accountants willing to take on the responsibility of putting this county in a "green" area. There are ways to make the money we have work. You just have to have the guts to do them. So, County Commissioners, you got the guts to get rid of some of the excess or do we as citizens have to wait another twelve years to find out?
Posted by hambone (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 10:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well point a is not managed as it should. Which this falls under Tony Wells from what I understand after he went over and threw the widowed woman out after her husband passed that originally overseen the facility. This place "point a" is not managed, does that not sound familar like the arena. Like I had written before I believe no one pays to get into the park and there is no enforcement to pay the $2 entry fee. But to turn things over to Brenda Petty seems a little outrageous. I don't think the commissioners should be passing the buck to the administrator. I think this may have been some of the problem with the Petty and White show in the past. But don't mention accountant, then White will be worked himself back into the County picture.. I think it is quite ridiculous to offer an appraiser position to Wells. First is he even qualified, and his track history hasn't proven well in the past. He'll just be an overpaid appraiser at that point! But the fact of asking to increase bed tax to 4% makes me quite angry as this was originally intended for recreation and arts for the county. Oh I forgot the clause in there "whatever else the commission deems necessary to use the funds". Still no balls fields. money that was proposed is going to be spent elsewhere. Atleast put lights and maybe a scoreboard at the fields that has been scattered throughout the county here recently. If the commissioners would have put the fields in the place where they should been built we would be that much further. But still no ground broke where originally intended.. $60,000 generated from bed tax and the county gets a small, small portion and we have to rely on United Fund money and there's no guarantee on that money as it is dependent upon donations! The kids are shorted once again... Commissioners if you read this, dont be surprised if you have a bunch of kids show up and one of the meetings wanting to know why!! Hey why don't we have meetings so those who work can show up!!!! Maybe evening meetings so your people from your district can see you at work in a meeting!!
Posted by d_scarbrough (anonymous) on December 5, 2008 at 5:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Does the city and county employees also have permission to drive their children to and from school in these trucks? Look at the schools the next time you are there and see how many "trucks" are there, also look at walmart , and if that isnt enough drive down Hillcrest Drive and see how many are in the middle of the street talking. I thought they were privided with "Linc" so they could contact each other. Since I PAY someone to drive my child to Andy High, could the City take over that job since I've paid my taxes?
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on December 5, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That's right d_scarbrough. I see county trucks everywhere. I have seen Cov. Co. work trucks in Kinston, at the cafe. The last time I looked, Kinston was not in Cov. Co. I also see the employees driving with family members in the trucks. Who's going to pay the medical bills, for the family member, if they are involved in an auto accident on the Co. truck? There's so many things the Co. Comm. could do to scale back on the transportation cost. Hambone, It would really be nice to haqve a night meeting of the commission. Maybe one of the Commissioners will read these comments and decide to have night or evening meetings. Thanks
Posted by bobthathead (anonymous) on December 5, 2008 at 6:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why don't they have night meeting? Sometimes anyway, this is our tax money we are talking about. Why should we not have a say. The kids need the ball fields, if they stopped the trucks going home, that would pay for them. I’m not out and about where I can see the trucks, but the people that comes in the store sure are talking about it.. like Mel is talking about. And as far as I know Mr. Wells is only Qualified to sell Insurance.
Posted by JMMJ (anonymous) on December 9, 2008 at 9:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If the Covington Arena is going to stay open it needs someone in there who can promote it, not sit on their backside and collect a county paycheck. The idea of Mr. Wells being offered the appraiser position is ludicrous! Is he even qualified?
I completely agree with d_scarbrough and Mel. There are county trucks EVERYWHERE. I've seen a county truck all the way up in Montgomery on numerous occasions. I can't count the number of times I've seen children riding in county trucks. Are they on county payroll, too?!?
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