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Sasser: Unit system switch by May
Published Friday, April 3, 2009
Chairman Lynn Sasser said he has chosen a start date of May 1 for the county to begin operating under the unit system, and he hopes commissioners agree when he puts the measure to a vote at the next commission meeting.
Sasser, who spoke Wednesday to the Andalusia Lions Club, said it was a move that should have already occurred.
“It should have been April 1, but the engineer said he’s got some more stuff he has to look at,” Sasser said.
Commissioners have previously discussed the official start date for the move. Most recently, District 1 Commissioner David Ellis urged commissioners to push for an April 1 date, but commissioners agreed then to allow county engineer Darren Capps to make the change in June. Capps’ reasoning was there are two large paving projects — one in District 1 and another in District 4, which need to be finished before the June equipment sale, which is when Capps said the biggest savings to the county would be seen.
Sasser said Wednesday he felt that date was “too long of a wait” for the county.
“We are halfway into our fiscal year,” he said. “We need to make that move now.”
When asked how the new system would operate and what the role of a county commissioner would be, Sasser had some answers.
“Our plan is to lease out the shops in Opp and Red Level,” he said. “We’re hoping Florala will lease the county yard to store their equipment and pay the county rent.
“All the county road employees will come under the supervision of the engineer,” he said. “They will be divided into three divisions — a northern division, a southern division and a bridge crew.”
Sasser said the bridge crew is the smallest of the three divisions, with just three employees. The remaining 27 employees will be divided into the northern and southern divisions. While Sasser did not comment on how the county will be divided into divisions, he did say each division would be overseen by two supervisors.
“Those guys will report directly to the engineer and their job is going to be seeing to the roads — making sure the services are there,” he said. “I know there has been a lot of comments about how we’re going to lose services, but I can tell you, our citizens will get the same level of services.”
With the division supervisors taking over what has generally been the commissioners’ responsibilities, Sasser said those four men will now have time to concentrate on the most pressing issue of the county — its budget.
“The thing of a road commissioner is a thing of the past,” he said. “That is what they are teaching us these days. The county commissioners’ responsibility is to handle the administrative portion of county business.
“Every dollar that comes through this county is the responsibility of the commission,” he said. “So what are the commissioners going to do? Worry about the budget. That’s what they’re going to do.
“I know it’s going to be something new, but we have to make it work,” he said.
The next county commission meeting is scheduled for Mon., April 13, at 9:30 a.m.
Comments
Posted by biscuitsandhoovergravy (anonymous) on April 3, 2009 at 6:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Under the unit system what will be the role of the elected commisioners? Will there still be elections for these positions or will they be eliminated? What is the current salary of a commisioner?
Posted by lookeyhere (anonymous) on April 3, 2009 at 6:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What about the Arena? Everyone was saying how much it is costing tax payers. It just seems like it got pushed to the side.
Posted by whatyaknowjoe (anonymous) on April 3, 2009 at 7:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Do ya think Mr. Sasser really knows what the unit system is? I wonder while he is wandering if he even knows what county this is. Or where he lives. Or what today is. Or what year it is. Or if he even knows he was elected as the County Commission Chairman. Reckon he's still in shock from woopin Greg White? I don't know who is / was worse. White or Sasser. At least White could lie about how bad a shape the county is in. Sasser hasn't even figured out how to lie just yet. Ya know, a good politician always tells good lies. Sasser ain't figured that out just yet. White on the other hand, he's sill lying right now. Wherever he is, you can bet he's lying to somebody. Come on Lynn, a little white lie ever now and then might at least make us feel like you're doing something.
Posted by kathystephens (anonymous) on April 3, 2009 at 8:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Seems to me it may only take one to worry about the budget, if that many. I say fire the rest of them and save the money. They are not going to be doing anything but taking up butt space in a chair. This engineer is going to be doing all the supervising work. We don't need any more commissioners. When they switch to the unit system that should be their last day being commissioner.
Posted by Festus (anonymous) on April 5, 2009 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I had to wait a couple of days to let all this sink in before responding.I think its time we as the tax paying people of covington county had a say.I think we all knew this was much bigger than Mr.Sasser when we voted him in(and I did vote for him).I can only speak for myself,but after a conversation with Mr.Sasser during his campain he assured me and several others he would surround himself with good people,do away with certian people that we all knew were moving monies from one pot to another to cover their butts,(his Quote not mine).Well? Here we are in April nothings changed except you take the other four out of any accountabilty.I live in district 3,so I didn't have a commissioner anyway.There hasn't been a grader by my house in over 5 years but thats o.k.we've managed.Maybe we'll have a change in that too in a couple of years.
But back to what I was saying,Lets be at the meetings,we pay the taxes,demand a change in the way this is going.We don't have to sit back and watch with out saying what we think.
We have this web site to gather as a group and make plans to be at meetings.These people need to go.This hole bunch is a joke.I think its time we let them know how we feel.
Posted by cbrown05 (anonymous) on April 6, 2009 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OK...now I'm curios. What does a commissioner earn for serving the people of Covington County?
Posted by ctyres (anonymous) on April 6, 2009 at 7:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The working people of this County can't attend the meetings that they schedule for 9:00 in the morning!!! They know this and their not going to change it. I have been observing Mr. Sasser before and after the elections and before you would see him every where...now he is in cognito...come on Lynn show your face and do the right thing!!!! This Unit System WILL NOT work in this County!!! Darren Capps can't do his job now much less run a Unit System!!!
Posted by wildb (anonymous) on April 8, 2009 at 9:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
First, Sasser has lied to my face! He told more than one person that he was going to take care of this county and its employees. That was a lie! Meeting after meeting he and the other commissioners are eating away at their workers. The very people that do the work in this county... First of all, why do they not cut their mileage checks which are huge? That is enough to make a working man sick! Every time they want to cut something, they hit their workers. Why do they pay Brenda extra for doing paper work when its her job? Why did they take their workers uniforms? Why do they have secret meetings When there is a law against it, this happens alot! Yet they still make their mileage checks, they still lie to the people. The horse barn sits there milking the county while workers lose what benifets. Tony Wells makes a fat check while not bringing any funds into the county. I would bet that the next thing they try to do is take insurance from the workers,and cut their hours. If they really want to save money I think they need to fire Tony Wells, sell or lease the horse barn, give up their mileage checks,cut pay for anyone who makes over $80,000 , and sell off all old worn out equipment.
As far as the unit system goes I think it will work if given a chance. They cannot rush it in it takes time to work something like this out. They are dealing with alot of equipment alot of workers, and a large area to cover.
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