citizen beverly eskridge grilled the lamar county commission tuesday night regarding the dissolution of the ag. authority.
at issue is the authority's assets which include some 80 acres of prime real estate and nearly $500,000 in splost funds.
"is it being given away to the city," eskridge asked.
commission chairman jay matthews said the city and county are in negotiations regarding the authority assets.
eskridge said citizens are considering litigating the matter.
see barnesville.com for more info
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22 comments:
Is the Ag Authority still getting SPLOST funds, even though it is inactive. Hmmmmm
no the ag authority only got a one time lump sum and that was from the previous SPLOST not this one.
$500,000 in SPLOST funds just sitting around. Voters should remeber that the next time a SPLOST vote comes up.
The Ag Authority Briefly Defined –
The Act creating the Lamar County Livestock and Agricultural Exposition Authority, approved March 25, 1996 (Ga. L. 1996, p. 3703), is amended by inserting at the end of Section 2 there of the following:
"The authority established by this Act shall be organized exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or corresponding section of any future federal tax code."
The Ag Authority dissolved Defined –
Said Act is further amended by inserting at the end of subsection (a) of Section 3 the following:
"Upon dissolution of the authority, its assets shall be distributed for charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government for a public purpose."
However, the act says the authority SHALL have perpetual existence.
The authority shall make rules and regulations for its own government. It shall have perpetual existence."
Perpetual existence defined –
A corporation continues to exist until the shareholders decide to dissolve it or merge with another business.
Just my opinion but in this case, I think the shareholders might be considered the taxpayers in all of Lamar County. Therefore, the people of the county have a vested interest and, dissolution should be decided on by the people.
Rudy is so oppressed by 'da man' I think we should give all the money to his defense fund.
Kent K....
Let me put some perspective on the 500k of SPOLST money. I wanted that money to go to the recreation dept, to complete the Barnesville Rec. renovation and to build what was supposed to be phase II of the recreation master plan, a facility in the vicinity of Milner. A majority of commissioners wanted instead to fund the "dreams" of the Ag Authority and chose instead to redirect those funds to the Ag Authority.
I hope the county recovers those funds and uses them for an expansion of our recreational facilities in the north end of the county.
Kent,
I have nothing against the purpose that you would like to see the funds used. However, I believe Lamar misuses SPLOST funds. First, the county must decide what they need the money for and how much is needed. Then they must get it approved my the people by voting for it. If adopted, the money must be in separate account and can never be mingled in with the general fund. The money can only be used for the purpose it was intended for as approved by the people.
I know that you already know this but many people do not.
So, my first question would be; what was on the ballot that the people voted on for the "Special Purpose" that the money was intended for?
Kent K...
The purpose of my comment was to let people know how the Ag Authority received the money in the first place. They received it at the expense of the kids.
Second, legally what happens to that 500k since it obviously won't be spent for the purpose the voters approved? I'm unsure, but my "vote" is for it to go Rec department to build a facility in north Lamar.
Money should have been put into the rec dept years ago!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wonder, is Johnny Poore being paid to run the Land Fill, and being paid to be a consultant to the county? Looks like double dipping to me. I question the propriety, if this be the case.
What all this means is vote NO for the next SPLOST...they lie about its use from the get go.
Before money is given to the Rec dept. the city/county needs to clean house and hire a competent director and employees. After 3 poorly managed years we are now taking our children to another county to play sports.
Kent K....
I'm sorry you haven't had a good experience with our Rec Dept. That is really a seperate issue for the county to look into. Only the county has responsibility for the Rec Dept. The city gave up the Rec Dept about 5 or 6 years ago. I would suggest you talk to your County Commissioner with the problem.
Back when the old coot was hired as the director of the Rec dept. there was a very competent, college educated applicant that was looked over. Hmmm, must've been because he was black and our "good ole boys commission" couldn't have that.
anon 10:54...why the race card? I am not, have not ever been a racist, but I have to admit I do get weary when I hear comments like that. Anyway,"the old coot" has done a pretty good job, so what is your beef? You will never please everyone, anyway, and there is usually more prejuidice in those who argue that they are being discriminated against.
My husband has a college education and was overlooked for the job too.......and he is WHITE. Who the hell am I gonna blame? I was not brought up to be racist but I will admit that I am now. IT has been forced upon me by the black race.
Kent K.
You're sounding very political these days. Are you getting ready to announce??? Inquirng minds want to know?
Kent K. What is your authority, that you seem to make readers think you have. If you have none say so.
A concerned tax paying citizen of the county. How much more authority should a person need? He tried to respond to a comment. What's wrong with that?
Kent K....
Last question first, what authority do I have? No more than any citizen has. I do have the experience of being involved when some of these actions/decisions occured. I am only trying to put some perspective on things that occured several years ago, plus voice my opinion on where the founds sound be spent.
I sound political and do I have anything to announce? Absolutely no, besides as many who know me know, I do not think it is appropiate for a realtor to be on the county commission due to the number of rezoning issues it has. I am enjoying my livelyhood far to much to think about giving it up to run for the commission.
One other point, I also think it is inappropiate for a realtor to be on the IDA. It gives the wrong appearence. I throughly enjoyed working on the IDA and working to bring jobs here. But again, now as a realtor I do not think I or any realtor should be on the IDA.
Kent K...
That is funds...not founds. Sorry for the typo.
The splost funds should be refunded to the tax payers via property tax and sell the ag property to the highest bidder and again return this to the property owners. I have never voted for a SPLOST for this reason...property taxes keep going up and our funds are mismanaged. AMEN
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