Early Voting Begins; Candidate Forum Held

Early voting begins next Monday, Oct. 17, and will continue until Friday, Nov. 4 in the Registrar’s office on the ground floor of the Courthouse from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

In addition, voters may vote on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

After that the only time to vote will be Tuesday, Nov. 8, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. when all polling places will be open.

Voters had to be registered by this week to be eligible to vote.

In addition to the presidential race, there is a contested local county commission race for District 3, a public service commission race, a contest for U.S. Senate, and perhaps as important as those, four proposed constitutional amendments.

The amendment questions will be published in the legal section of this paper beginning next week, and can be seen below. In addition, a copy of the entire proposed amendments are on file in the office of the Judge of the Probate Court and available for public inspection.

There are numerous other races, including local and statewide, that are not contested, but voters will have the opportunity to give a show of support by voting for those that were decided previously in the primaries or were uncontested completely.

To help voters in District 3 determine their choices for County Commission, a forum was held last Thursday at the Piedmont Firehouse in the Smithboro Community. Another is scheduled for next Thursday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m. at the old Ben Hill School in the Hillsboro Community.

In the candidate forum held last Thursday at the Piedmont Firehouse on Smithboro Road, the candidates for County Commission District 3 introduced themselves, then answered questions for the next hour and a half.

Most of the questions were aimed at incumbent Commissioner Gene Trammell, and challenger Ross Hays had opportunity to weigh in. For example, the first question was from Skip Nowetner who said in the last three years taxes have gone up, either by artificially inflating property values or an actual increase. No services have improved, he said. Where is the money going was his question.

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Mr. Trammel said when they came into office, the digest had dropped by some $100 million. Cutting had been done, he said, and some things you just can’t cut. He said they now have a plan to rotate cars through the sheriff’s department, we have a new fire truck, fully equipping all fire houses, and they have purchased two new ambulances. The county has a fund balance of $2 million, he said, and there was none when he took office. He said the digest is $360 million now, and in 2008 it was $460 million. He said employees got the first raise they’ve gotten in eight years, and that health insurance has gone up and up.

Mr. Hays said he thinks the sheriff is doing his job, that he sees the effects of drugs, and it’s not good. He said the county did cut the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) by $64,000. He said things can be cut. It won’t be fun, and won’t make people happy. He said he doesn’t know that he has all the answers, but we have to come together as a community, and may have to do without necessities.

Mr. Nowetner said it takes 45 minutes for an ambulance to get there (apparently referring to the Smithboro Community), and they see a police car maybe every two weeks. He said it takes them 20 minutes to respond and they could do better. He also complained about the landfill not being open but three days a week.

Mr. Trammell said the landfill regulations require a certified operator be on hand, and that it would cost an additional $50,000 to keep it open all week.

Mr. Hays said he served on the landfill committee which recommended the three day a week operation because of the cost of the service, and the amount of use.

After Joe Johnston gave the parameters for the forum, saying everyone who wanted to ask a question had to sign up, Mr. Trammell opened the forum by telling a little about himself. He said he has lived here 10 years, and that he has always been active in public service. He said he saw a need for organization, forward thinking, and civility on the commission, and that’s why he ran. He said you have to serve two to three years before you learn the ropes. He said so much goes on behind the scenes that it takes one term to learn, and then another to be effective. He indicated he would not seek a third term. He said that as a commissioner you are one of five, and you have to work together as a team. Minimize disagreements, he said, as arguing is a waste of time. He said his goals are to create jobs, increase the tax digest, and lower the millage rate. “Jasper County is a diamond in the rough,” he said, and it has much potential. He said it is poised to happen. He said we can go great or fall back, and he wants progress.

Mr. Hays said he sees thing differently. He said it is necessary to get along, and you have to be polite and courteous. But you don’t have to be agreeable, he said. He said the biggest thing different from Gene’s goal is his goal is to be your voice. I know what I intend to do…figure out what direction we want the county to go and get started now making a difference, he said. He said he has the ability and capacity to learn quick.

Ken Tillman spoke of the cost for the county to do a road, and said it was a waste of money, pointing to the recent bad job of repair done on Bullard Road. If you’re going to fix roads you need someone qualified in charge, he said.

Mr. Trammell talked about the various costs for paving, and said the county has been looking for a civil engineer, and not been able to find one. It will cost $80—100 thousand a year, he said, but also indicated that an engineer would pay for himself.

Mr. Hays said there are a lot of roads in bad shape, and everyone knows the most important road is “my road.” He said the county must prioritize, biggest to smallest. He said there are very serious issues on a lot of roads all over the county.

Mr. Johnston commented on the way the roads in Turtle Cove were built back in the early 70s, saying they will never be right.

Patrick McMichael asked how Mr. Trammell proposed to produce jobs.

Mr. Trammell said that the county has added 150 new jobs in the last year and a half, pointing to Norton Industries and Thompson and Thwaite. He said the county has 1,460 acres available along the rail, and many industries need that. He mentioned maintaining the rural, rustic atmosphere while creating jobs. He said codes have not been visited in 10 years, and that work begins on the Comprehensive Plan next year, when a new land use map will be devised.

Mr. Hays said he doesn’t think it’s his job to lure jobs here. He said to a degree the county needs to support the Economic Development Authority, but county government doesn’t need to be involved.

Joey Morris asked each candidate what they saw as five alternatives they propose to increase the quality of life here.

Mr. Trammell said the county has applied for a grant for a new Older Americans building. He said it serves 50 people now, and mentioned the population is aging, and more services will be needed. He also named job creation, lower taxes, a manned fire department, enhanced medical services, and supporting the school system.

Mr. Hays said, “My number one priority is y’all…finding what direction people want to go in.” He also named improving recreation, the hospital, which has already done much to keep viable, being involved in the schools, and revamping the EMS system.

In a follow-up, Mr. Trammel said the county has hired a local guy to head EMS, and he is fire/EMS certified. He said they must be together.

Mr. Johnston said it took an ambulance 1.5 hours to get to Sprayberry Road.

Melvin Campbell asked why the county has a five acre minimum for a home, saying it deters people from locating here.

Mr. Trammell said that lot size and house size need to be addressed.

Mr. Hays said we need not overprotect, but must maintain property values.

Joey Morris asked why a county would sign a non-disclosure agreement when the county commission is elected to represent the people.

Joe Johnston said that is not representative government.

Mr. Hays said he doesn’t like non-disclosure agreements, and doesn’t feel the commission job is to do what’s best for the county, but instead to do what the people want. “I work for you,” he said.

Mr. Nowetner then said everything is done behind closed doors. Charles Forsythe said you can’t find out what’s on the agenda until time for a meeting. “You are not open to the public,” he said.

Mr. Hays suggested that the whole agenda packet should be put on website no later than Friday afternoon before the Monday meeting. He said much of the problem is rumor. Posting the packet would eliminate many of the rumors, he indicated.