1977 - 03-21-77 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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BC~tm ~ iP~x ' the enactment-of Senate Bill 'No.,155 and directing that notice of its action be given to the-Senators and Representatives who represent Lee County in the General Assembly. .Commissioner Dotterer seconded the motion and upon a yote,it,was unanimously adopted; Commissioner Rhyne reported that the Cumnock Cemetery Association had requested assistance in maintaining the road to.-their cemetery. After discussion, Commis'sioner Rhyne moved that the Department of Transportation be requested to render-such assistance as it was' authorized to do in maintaining the road leading to the Cumnock Cemetery, Commissioner Franklin D. Wicker seconded the motion and upon a-vote it was unanimously adopted. Chairman.repo,rted that. the Clerk of Superior Court had requested an additional $300. 00 for the purchase. of office furniture and equipment. Comm- . _ issioner Franklin D:. Wicker moved that the-,sum of $300; 00 be appropriated from the unappropriated surplus in the General Fund'to 'the fund for the Clerk of Superior Court's office for the purchase of additional office furniture and equipment. The motion was duly seconded and upon a roll call vote, was unanimously adopted. Commissioner Dotterer spoke in favor, of the employment of a County Manager and moved that the Board conduct a public hearing on the propo- sition of whether. or not the Board should ernploy,a County Manager, on the third Monday in April. Commissioner Rhyne seconded the motion. Commissioner Gordon A. Wicker Tread the following :statement whichl'e asked to have recorded m the "minutes: "Approximately five years ago, the Lee County Board of Comm- issioners hired a ,County Manager, This 'took'place'over the- objection of myself along with that.of Commissioner Frank Wicker. A few `months' later after` Mr. Hal Hancock was sworn in as a new Commissioner, .he, myself; and,. F.rank~ Wicker voted to do away-with'the County Manager form of government. The cost df this position to the County at that time was something like;$30,t00'0 to'$40, 000 per 'year. So for the past four. years we have operated without..a County Manager form of government. I I might point out that great strides have-been made during this four year period such as,the Lee County Landfill;`, renovation of the- Wilrik Office " Building,, Armory,. Courthouse' and Railroad Depot.for the: aging. : Also, the community development programs of the pumping stations for recreational facilities, new schools and many other improvements. This was accomplished by the Chairman and four other commissioners with their assignment to look after different departments. I feel. that, this action has. saved the citizens of'Lee County for the past 4 to 5 years between,$140, 000 to.$I80, 000,,:I also feel'that if we go to a County -Manager form, of government that today with' the salary of.a competent manager, secretarial help, office space, transportation, we are speaking of ; $30, 000 to $50, 000 dollars additional expense to the 'citizens of Lee County. Frankly, I feel thatwe have.highly- qualified Department Heads and personnel. in these . departments, and that they are-dedicated to their jobs. They do not need additional supervision.' -1 notice d'in the Sanford Herald several days ago that Mr. Cooper, ' our Chairman, was quoted as favoring.a site for facilities for metro government. . I want it very clear that I am not being critical of Mr. Cooper, however, I feel'. the hiring of a County Manager is getting farther away from metro government.."I .,can not,, with a'clear -cons cience, :support a movement to spend money fora County Manager; Chairman Cooper, requested that the minutes reflect that Comm issioner Gordon A. Wicker had voted against the enactment of the sales tax',- `'...and that he thought that the employment of a County Manager would save money in the long run. Upon a vote, the motion was- carried by. a majority vote, with Commissioner Gordon A: Wicker. voting "no".