County Judge Casts Tie-Breaking Vote For
TIF Agreement Between County and City
For "Green Light" on Square Revitalization

 

by: Bobby McDonald

It was a large crowd of City Councilmen, Veteran's Memorial Principals, Downtown Business Owners, and interested citizens that came to Monday morning's Hopkins County Commissioners Court Meeting, at 10:00 a.m. Up for discussion was the TIF Agreement between the City and County, involving the "green light" to proceed with the Downtown Square Revitalization Plan. After much discussion, Commissioners Beth Wisenbaker and Don Patterson voted "nay" on the agreement and Commissioners Burke Bullock and Danny Evans voted for the agreement, forcing a tie on the court. County Judge Cletis Millsap cast a "yeh" vote, breaking the tie and approving the agreement.

Mayor Gary Spraggins had earlier addressed the court asking for approval of the measure, that would allow the City Council to proceed forward with action on the plan.

And, City Manager, Marc Maxwell, begged the court to vote "for" the agreement, "as we're dead in the water, without this being approved!"

Members of the Hopkins County Commissioners Court had been concerned over three major issues in the proposal....that being adequate restroom facilities in the downtown area, parking, and the amount of property needed from the county to provide for the Veteran's Memorial.

"I'm not against the plan, per se," advised Commissioner Beth Wisenbaker, speaking to both the court and the audience. "However, our attorney has advised us that we need certain language in the agreement to make certain that we can meet our legal and fudiciary responsibilites to our constituents. I don't want to block progress, but I want to insure we retain oversight of our property!"

"How sad would it be for the City to proceed with their plan, spending millions of dollars, and then it come down to a decision that we couldn't sell them the property that they thought they were going to get and needed?" questioned Wisenbaker. "I just feel that as a representative of the county's money that we need the language in the agreement to make certain that we keep oversight of the needs of the county and our property. I'm not saying the plan is not what we need!"

 

 

Maxwell offered that he felt that the language could be added in a future document that would address the differences that the county might have over the issues. "This language could be used in our construction agreement and doesn't need to be in the TIF Agreement," offered Maxwell.

County Commissioner Don Patterson, stated, "I've never said I was for or against this project, and regardless of what I personally feel about it, my job is to represent my constituents on the Hopkins County Commissioners Court. I've never been provided with a plan that shows how much property will be needed for the plan on Oak Avenue and on the south side of the County's property!"

"I also understand that the plan calls for the use of the property south of the current jail, for a parking lot," continued Patterson. "We can't pledge that property until we find out what we are facing from the Commission on Jail Standards. We may need that property to build a jail, if we can't get the current facility to their specifications. So, I can't vote for anything that might designate that property for a parking lot. If this is what the people of Hopkins County want, I'm all for it, but you must realize our restrictions and future needs!"

"I think we can trust the City Council and I may want them to trust me in the future, so I feel we need to approve this agreement," voiced Commissioner Danny Evans. "I think this plan complements the Courthouse!"

"You're protected in the plan, because we can't just take County property," advised Mayor Spraggins.

"Can we contact our attorney in Austin and let Maxwell explain what he's wanting to do with the construction agreement and get his advice on this matter?" questioned Wisenbaker. "If the attorney says it's O.K., I'm all for it!"

"This plan is about like Obama's Health Care Plan in Washington, we've about worn it out, and everybody knows what is at stake!" expressed Commissioner Burke Bullock. "I say we vote yes or no on the project today. It's time to vote!"

On a motion by Danny Evans and seconded by Burke Bullock, the vote passed to remove the agreement that had been "tabled" at the January meeting.

The item was brought back before the court and voted upon.....Commissioners Wisenbaker and Patterson voted against the agreement and Commissioners Evans and Bullock voted for the agreement. County Judge Cletis Millsap cast the affirmative vote, breaking the "tie" on the court and the agreement passed.

The Commissioners Court attended to other routine matters, at their regular meeting, on Monday morning!

The City Council will be meeting on April 6th, for the regular council meeting, where the matter will be discussed further.

 

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