Commissioners hear courthouse plan

Riley Shackleford points to areas of chipped paint on the courthouse ceiling.

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Wednesday, July 7. 2010

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By Kay S. Pedrotti

Pike County property owners would not have to shoulder the burden of taking care of the courthouse if local voters approve a renewal of the one-cent Special Local Option Sales Tax in November, Joy Walker told the county commissioners June 29.

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#1 Concord Resident on 07/07/10 at 11:11 AM

Whether I vote for this depends on how much other "junk" gets added to the list of things this SPLOST is proposed to pay for. If the commissioners can resist adding personal wish-list items to it, it may get passed this time around.

#2 David Rawlins on 07/07/10 at 12:26 PM

I would say courthouse renovations ONLY!!

#3 Anonymous on 07/07/10 at 04:13 PM

'''Pike County property owners would not have to shoulder the burden of taking care of the courthouse if local voters approve a renewal of the one-cent Special Local Option Sales Tax'''

UH, what? Either pay thru property taxes or sales taxes, either way, you gone pay!

Doesn't this statement mean that property owners are ALREADY taking care of the courthouse? If so, where's the money? Why aren't they using it to fix the problems NOW?!?!!?

#3.1 Anon Tribe Southern District on 07/07/10 at 08:16 PM

You need to understand the difference in property tax and sales tax. We the property owners shoulder all the property tax burden. Sales tax comes from everyone spending money, local or not , property owner or not. The courthouse has not been taken care of for years, therefore our taxes did not take care of it. I will suport the Splost only if the courthouse is the only item on the list and not all the wish list stuff.

#3.1.1 David Rawlins on 07/08/10 at 05:25 AM

What you say is true if you have businesses where people from out of town come to buy things. My guess is that 95-99% of sales tax in PC are paid by PC citizens so a sales tax IS more or less the same as a property tax.

As far as the maintenance of the court house, the commission could have also chosen to cut spending in another area and apply those savings to the courthouse project.

#4 Wizard on 07/07/10 at 07:11 PM

Well stated, I am of the same opinion too. The (BOC) cannot be trusted with our tax dollars. If there was a simple courthouse renovation splost on the ballot I too would support the cause.

#5 Tightwad on 07/08/10 at 07:48 AM

I'm wonderin if anyone has thought of building a replica of the courthouse rather than restoring the old one. Mebbe cheaper.... certainly cheaper than another splost

#5.1 Sheila Tolley on 07/08/10 at 08:18 PM

It started off as one million...now it is three million. Jesus will be back before they get through talking about it.

#5.1.1 Anonymous on 07/08/10 at 10:08 PM

Sheila, The Restoration started out at 2.4 million. Don't know where you got your number. The rest is the cost of moving people around, professional supervision (something the county has never had before) utilities at temporary site, etc.

#5.1.1.1 Sheila Tolley on 07/09/10 at 10:06 AM

Just what I was hoping to do....drag someone out of the scrap heap that knows some facts.....Anonymous....Can you please, or have one or your subordinates, scan and post the itemized bids for the renovation for us taxpayers to see on this site. thanks...Sweetie.

#5.1.1.1.1 Anonymous on 07/09/10 at 01:13 PM

Final Bids are not in. Estimate by architectural firm was 2.25 million. Bid by Hughes Construction (prior to final specs) was 2.4 million. Will post more when finals are in. Any day now I hope.

#5.1.1.1.1.1 Jay Bird on 07/09/10 at 03:11 PM

Hughes Construction is that David Hughes if He's going to do it I VOTE NO.

#5.1.1.1.1.2 Sheila Tolley on 07/09/10 at 05:00 PM

You will be so kind as to provide an itemized list of "Chores" and all bids, right? You put it all out here and I will vote for Anonymous. Don't be sneaky now. I trust you. Who wants to charge how much for what task? Example:
Fred Jones-repair chipped paint on ceiling $???
Buba Smith-repair chipped paint on ceiling $???
Sally Dunn-repair chipped paint on ceiling $???

You are a sweetheart. If you cannot make this happen, where can I pick up a copy of the tax-paid "Request for bids."

#5.1.1.1.1.2.1 Anonymous on 07/11/10 at 05:11 PM

Final bids must be opened at a BOC meeting. I know. I would be cautious to. But this is the way Government works. We have the best group of Commissioners in office now that we've had in the 30+ yrs I've lived here. And all indications are that our new County Manager is far and away the best we've ever had. I know and trust the Committee overseeing this project and the Architectual Firm of Carter and Watkins is excellent.

It's have cofidence in all involved.

I've never been able to say that in Pike Co. before.

#5.1.1.1.1.2.1.1 Sheila Tolley on 07/12/10 at 07:26 AM

You are a sweetheart. If you cannot make this happen, where can I pick up a copy of the tax-paid "Request for bids."

#5.1.1.1.1.3 Say what? on 07/11/10 at 11:54 AM

Let me get this straight. Hughes Construction, operated by David Hughes, has bid $2.4 million on the restoration project. This is the same no-new-taxes CFA David Hughes that helped shoot down the last SPLOST.

It might just be me, but bidding on a project paid for with taxes that someone so vehemently opposes makes that person a hypocrite. Anyone else see that?

#5.1.1.1.1.3.1 Anonymous on 07/11/10 at 05:02 PM

My thoughts exactly, I don't trust that man, period. Check his dealings in Clayco and His best friend Crandle Bray.

#5.1.1.1.1.3.2 fat bass tard on 07/12/10 at 06:54 PM

he was also in the bid for the one that CFA worked to vote down so I say that makes him a pretty stand-up guy. to work against something that was so full of pork even though it affected his own wallet.

#6 thinker on 07/08/10 at 03:43 PM

i say scrap it ,for 3 million plus i can build a nice court house or upgrade the food giant,these workers do not have to work in a two or three story building theres plenty of square footage in the old grocery store put a nice stucco front on it and some walls inside and plenty of parking a million dollars and you could have judges paneling

#6.1 Sheila Tolley on 07/10/10 at 10:29 AM

You got it. Just repair the courthouse so that it has its' antique integrity. Just for people to look at, walk through, read old records. You can use cubicles at Food Giant...you got too many secrets anyway. LOL.

#7 Sheila Tolley on 07/08/10 at 08:19 PM

I asked before about the bids that went out for this project? Can someone put them out here for us taxpayers to admire?

#8 citizen on 07/09/10 at 07:50 AM

You folks are already paying that penny on the current SPLOST which expires in September. The Court House Restoration would be done under a new SPLOST which would be basically a continuation of the current one. The judges have already complained about the court house condition and now we are going to have two and maybe three new judges. The restoration is needed before the roof caves in--so go with the SPLOST continuation or pay for it with property tax increases in the future. It is a no brainer. The last SPLOST continuation was voted down and rightly so as it has a wish list from every city in Pike. The court house restoration SPLOST is for it only and would be just a continuation of what you already do.

#9 Anonymous on 07/09/10 at 11:47 AM

Ok everybody. On January 2011. New Lamar County Fire Station. 9 full time paid firefighters with the firehouse 24/7. Good job Lamar County commissioners. No tax.

#9.1 Anonymous on 07/10/10 at 12:02 PM

If t ey have all that, why is their budget short and they are planning cutbacks. Sounds like wishful BS to me.

#9.2 Bob the Builder on 07/10/10 at 01:17 PM

Are you just that dumb? Your post has nothing to do with the topic. You must be one of Henderson's flunkies that are clueless like him. Take your crap to the pollcat. You will be joined by more clueless folk.

#9.2.1 Winnie on 07/11/10 at 10:50 AM

If Commissioner Parrish Swift had not given a volunteer fire chief $18,000 salary and benefits our county would still have a trained code enforcement officer.

#9.2.1.1 Anonymous on 07/11/10 at 05:03 PM

The $18,000 was with No Benifits.

#9.2.1.1.1 Captain Anonymous on 07/11/10 at 07:56 PM

Are you saying a salary for a volunteer position with a Pike County Fire Chief automobile is not a benefit? Henderson was allowed to drive the Pike County vehicle to work in Clayton County. It was a sore sight for a Pike Chief's automobile to be parked at his ClayCo workplace. Who buys your car, insurance and gasoline and cellphone??

#9.2.1.1.2 Well Driller on 07/11/10 at 08:05 PM

Try this one on for size. A commissioner gets a free well paid for by the taxpayers after being in office for less than 120 days. Is that a benefit?

#9.2.1.1.2.1 Anonymous on 07/12/10 at 05:07 AM

Parrish Swift had two choices. Either sell or donate more of his land to the county for the well, or allow the county to drill on His property.

Parrish paid for the well house himself, that's a fact.

I say we're lucky to have someone as Commissioner who is young enough to have children still in our schools and is active in Pike County Recreation. He brings alot to the table that the old farts don't have a clue about.

Give the Man a break.

#9.2.1.1.2.1.1 Sheila Tolley on 07/12/10 at 05:31 PM

Well, I wish he would stick Teen Challenge in his well. I hope all the incumbents go to Well...

#9.2.1.1.2.1.2 Not a fact on 07/12/10 at 08:13 PM

Show a receipt for the well house. Now go back and check county work records from Building & Maintanance. Ask the former department head who went and purchased the supplies with a county PO# and built the well house with the assistance of his department county employee who still works there.

#9.2.1.1.2.1.2.1 Anonymous on 07/13/10 at 05:29 AM

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire.

#9.2.1.1.2.1.3 Pike Patriot Homeowner on 07/13/10 at 11:02 AM

The well is there and there is nothing anyone can do about it. Fact is there were 4 choices Commissioner District 2 Parrish Swift could have made. In his position he could have instructed the county attorney to draw up Eminent Domain procedures for that small amount of property the county needed. Remember he moved on Sovereign Immunity for the same property throwing setbacks out the window. The problem is the county is responsible for maintenance of the well and it serves the Swift household. The Swift's will never have to purchase a well pump or pay costs if the well is damaged due to freezing. Time to get off Parrish and his free well.

IN GOD WE TRUST

#9.2.1.1.3 but,but,ah,duh on 07/12/10 at 10:15 AM

That is still $18,000 more than we were paying a true volunteer. This deal was struck by Marro and Swift to bring Henderson in and dump Tyree.

#9.3 Anonymous on 07/10/10 at 05:36 PM

They are cutting back and prossobly laying off people to make this work it it does.

#9.3.1 Anonymous on 07/12/10 at 08:13 PM

Law Enforcement cut? But no cutting back.

#10 pharmacy technician work on 07/11/10 at 11:42 PM

found your site on del.icio.us today and really liked it.. i bookmarked it and will be back to check it out some more later

#10.1 Concord Resident on 07/12/10 at 12:01 PM

Ya'll do yourselves a favor and don't click on the blue name up there ^. It can open a virus that will eat your computer's brain.

#11 Irwin Corey on 07/12/10 at 06:06 AM

The perfect solution..... how about makin all those businesses that are just clamoring over each other to move into the industrial park... give them a special "moving in" tax, kinda like a welcome to Pike County tax, since most of them don't pay taxes here anyway .

#12 Anonymous on 07/12/10 at 11:38 AM

Dorry worry. We can help you. You know. 9 full time paid Lamar County firefighters with the firehouse. New Lamar County fire station. Not volunteer. No tax. No budget cuts.

#13 Giant Mart on 07/13/10 at 08:41 AM

The idea a using the Giant Mart location instead of spending $3 Million to "fix" the court house is a wonderfully smart idea. Why not REALLY push for this and not have such an empty "eye sore" with an empty building and benefit the county/city. We as a county have to be smart, the movie gallery building is empty also and right now there is no money or business that private individuals are willing to invest into. Everyone is watching their pennies, the county should do the same.

#13.1 Sheila Tolley on 07/13/10 at 10:40 AM

Can anyone answer this question from comment #13? I know the commissioners do not have the gonads to answer it, can anyone? Why do commissioners, as other elected people, have diarrhea of the mouth during campaigns and get lockjaw after elections?
Cubicles for Giant Mart.............$5,000.00
Welcome Mat from Wal Mart...........$ 12.50
Open Cubible Policy for Taxpayers...PRICELESS

More good news, there is room for the commissioners also. Then we can move Teen Challenge by the sheriff's office where it belongs. Things just keep looking better.

Answers please, anyone with enough guts, gonads, spunk, facts, etc. I didn't think so.

#13.2 Really Bad Idea on 07/13/10 at 10:43 AM

The Giant Mart building is sinking into the pile of mud it was built on top of. The floors and walls are cracking. The roof has leaked from day one. It was poorly built has fire damage and should be condemed.

Someone is selling a bill of goods......

#13.2.1 Sheila Tolley on 07/13/10 at 01:06 PM

Well, let's build a new Giant Mart and use it. We can buy two welcome mats with the money we save.

#13.2.2 Sheila Tolley on 07/13/10 at 06:06 PM

Did they forget to get that little paper from the building inspector's office? Somebody drag the records out of the vault.....I think we got a story here....who, why, why not, kick-back, brown bag, commissioners, Teen Challenge..oops not relavant, sometimes it just pops out. Help! I am talking and I cannot shut up1

#13.2.2.1 No need on 07/13/10 at 09:59 PM

just find out who built the piece of crap to begin with and you'll have all your answers.

#13.2.3 Anonymous on 07/13/10 at 09:36 PM

Who built the Giant Mart in the first place? Don't use them whomever it was.

#14 Anonymous on 07/13/10 at 11:55 AM

Ok everybody. 50 full time paid Lamar County firefighters with all the firehouse. No volunteer. Congrats good job Lamar County commissioners, John Oxendine and House of Representatives. Tax Free.

#15 The Wizard on 07/13/10 at 12:15 PM

Look at where Sandy Springs have located their new city offices. They rent/lease space in an office complex & that is a smart move in my opinion. No need to break the bank on glitz and glory. Times have changed, we need to think outside the box and be more creative and resourceful.

Now, if the BOC and others want the splost to pass, they have to prove to us taxpayers they can be frugal with our money and make wise choices.

#15.1 Sheila Tolley on 07/13/10 at 06:19 PM

I like the way you think, Wizard. The more I think about it.....I believe they will all fit into the Teen Challenge Building. I know the commissioners will approve, they approved it before. Herd 'em up....move 'em out. Another benefit, we know the Sheriff's department can get there in a mighty big hurry and keep the incidents totally quiet. I bet they are 'a-packing up right now because of my great idea. They can even use the orange jumpsuits. I heard the building is empty now. And you people thought they had really solved the problem, didn't you? Yep, the building is up for grabs. Tax-free...don't forget that! Just mail a little brown bag to Florida once in a while. (Or drop it off at FAG in Griffin ATTN: Greg Keylon & Associates.)

#16 Win or lose on 07/13/10 at 05:55 PM

Matters not for Parrish Swift. From now on the unemployed Parrish will never have problems with his well. It is now the county that will have to maintain his source for water.
Once again the taxpayers foot the bill. Just say no to further misuse by incumbent commissioners. Vote the bums out.

#16.1 anonymous on 07/13/10 at 07:59 PM

Unemployed, is he? What is his profession? You sure cannot support yourself of family on a commissioners salary. Is he no longer the county coroner? Voters need to know how he makes his living.

#16.1.1 Not a incumbent on 07/15/10 at 11:57 AM

District 2 commissioner claims he is independently wealthy, wife has a job, lives with his mother so needs very little income. His profession is elected commissioner. Use to sell insurance, tried his hand as a auto insurance adjuster for a friends new shop on County Line Road, it went belly up. I'm a district 2 voter and we need someone with a education to carry out county business. Four years as a Clown and Jester is enough. No longer are we laughing at the Clowns acts, ticket cost too much.

#16.1.2 Sheila Tolley on 07/27/10 at 07:19 PM

Oh no, is he the coroner? If I am not dead when he checks me...I will be when he leaves.

#16.1.2.1 Anonymous on 07/27/10 at 08:09 PM

If he is the coroner he won't be after Jan. 1. The IDA Chairman does not need him now.

#17 Anon certifications on 07/13/10 at 08:05 PM

Commissioner Roosevelt Willis stated recently he was the only commissioner with all required certifications. My commissioner in district 2 Swift went to school, is he not certified like Mr. Willis? I understand the county manager Marro never got certified but he conducted county business.

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