LETTERS
To The Editor:

This letter is in response to Sonny Boyer's letter to the editor of October 25, 2007 and Mike Sims letter to the editor last week, Nov. 22, 2007. I feel it is only appropriate that I respond with the real facts on the issue. Mr. Boyer has a long history of bringing up issues to the public with only part of the facts and much of his personal interpretation. In this case, Mike Sims apparently has taken the same avenue. The only difference is while Sonny Boyer insisted the Finance Corporation was illegal; Mike Sims has at least acknowledged that it is a legal entity, although he does not agree with its use.

These individuals like to quote certain laws to solicit the opinion from the reader that their interpretation of the law happens to be the only method related to county purchasing policy. In fact, as usual, they are incorrect. When I was elected as your commissioner, I, as well as the other elected commissioners in Georgia, was elected to run, operate and set policy for the county. We are not elected to ask the voters to vote on every single issue that comes along. While I appreciate the fact that Mr. Boyer and Mr. Sims both would like to vote on a regular basis and help me run the county, thankfully that is not their job. I was elected to make the decisions that are in the best interest of the public, not the best interest of just Mr. Boyer and Mr. Sims. It would be fairly ridiculous for me to call an election every time I wanted to make a significant purchase in the county. Should we have an election at a cost of $12,000 to $15,000 every time I need to purchase dump trucks or a quarter of a million dollars for a motor grader? Should we have an election every time we want to purchase some fire engines or sheriff vehicles? Should we have an election every time we need to purchase some property? The answer is no. Should we have an election for a new jail or courthouse? Absolutely. As an elected commissioner I am fully capable of making these decisions, since that is part of my job.

When I was first elected as commissioner, I knew that there was a tract of property (9.392 acres) on the open market adjacent to the Union County Road Department's 6.3 acres and the Union County School System. I spoke with the school and they were unable to purchase the property at the time. We were all concerned with what would happen if a retail business, with no controls as to what they sold, ended up right in the middle of the school campus. In addition, at that time the county had no property for expansion in the future. I was able to obtain an option on the property to purchase it at a very reasonable price of $939,000. Since I was a new commissioner, I asked the county attorney what would be the best, simplest, and least expensive way to purchase the property. He suggested setting up the Union County Finance Corporation (originally to be called Union County Public Facilities Corp.). He made it very clear that this was legal and would eliminate the expense and time necessary to call a special election and that this process had been utilized in several counties throughout the state. As commissioner, I made the decision to use this financing method to save time and money, not to eliminate the public from the process.

Just to make sure that the public would know and understand exactly what was going on, I advertised for a public hearing in both the Sentinel and the North Georgia News. In addition, I asked the legal organ (North Georgia News) to write a news story prior to the public hearing to explain the proposed land purchase further in hopes of attracting a large crowd at the meeting. That front page news story that I had requested was published May 2, 2001 and explained in detail what I was intending to accomplish with the Corporation and why we were using this method of financing. I also stated in the article that if the public did not want me to purchase this property at the public meeting, I would not purchase it. I presented a 27 page power point presentation at the May 7th meeting explaining every preliminary detail of the transaction, including not only the two appraisals that were significantly higher than the purchase price, but we also included recent purchases around town and demonstrated further the bargain that we were obtaining in the property purchase. The NGN did a follow up story in the May 9th issue, again on the front page. The Sentinel probably did a story as well, but we do not have access to their past issues. The NGN reported 30 people in attendance and an informal vote of those present overwhelmingly supporting the purchase. I then immediately contacted the county attorney and asked that he set up the financing.

I can not help it if Sonny Boyer chose not to read either newspaper or attend the public meeting and then six and a half years later tries to insinuate that I attempted to sneak this by the public. As written in Mike Sims letter, he states that I told about this in my question and answers column Oct. 17, 2007 in the NGN. It is obvious that this was not a secret nor has it ever been. I am baffled that now nearly seven years later; these two want to make an issue out of a non-issue. (It must be election season). While one option for purchase would have been to hold a public referendum and vote on a bond, it was not necessary or appropriate for such a nominal expense and obligation of the county of only $119,500 per year in payments.

A couple of years ago, the county also set up a Building Authority through the legislature which was recently utilized to purchase the five new fire engines. It is a very similar financing method as the Financing Corporation. Could I have held a referendum and had the public vote on this purchase as a public bond issue instead? Sure I could have and then Sonny Boyer and Mike Sims would have gotten to vote. However, here again, I did not feel the amount of money ( $880,000- similar to the 2001 purchase) was significant enough to pay the extra cost for a special election when there was a better and legal method. Prior to becoming a commissioner, I was in the financing business for many years. I, along with exceptional county staff, have done an excellent job of managing the county money, which is one reason we are so financially sound today with very nominal debt.

We will have a SPLOST (sales tax referendum election) in February 2008, which WILL include a public vote on financing with bonds, because the amount of several million dollars is significant and requires and should have a public vote. So at that point, Mr. Boyer and Mr. Sims will have an opportunity to vote. However, in the mean time, they will just have to continue to complain. To date, they have apparently tried to get FOX TV 5 to take their story (I received a phone call from their reporter) and also the Attorney General. I am confident that their attempt to confuse this issue with the truth will be a deterrent for them in seeking further publicity.

As one last explanation, there are many mechanisms for government financing other than public bonds. Many counties build their jails and courthouses with lease / purchase financing of millions of dollars that bypasses the voters. However, my personal opinion is that when the cost is significant, then indeed the voters should be able to vote it up or down. However, as long as we are complying with the law and doing what is best for the citizens of Union County, I will continue to run and operate the county trying to save the taxpayers the most money and give them the best services. I am sorry if a few do not agree.

Mike Sims states that because of this financing mechanism that, "the Commissioner deprived the citizens their rights, duties and responsibilities of having a say in the operation of local government…" Further he states that, "our rights as citizens to vote in a referendum have been taken away from us and placed in the hands of three unelected Directors appointed by the Commissioner. I ask the Commissioner to dissolve this Corporation, will he do it?"

Well, Mr. Sims, I trust this will not come as a surprise to you, but I will NOT dissolve the corporation because of the benefit this corporation has already been to the county in saving us money and providing us a LEGAL means of purchasing property should it be needed again. Until and as long as this is legal and legitimate, it will remain as an option for use in Union County. The Directors of the Financing Corporation are well respected citizens and are fully capable of making sure that the operation of the corporation is not only legal, but is operated in the best interest of the citizens of Union County.

Today this property contains the new driver's license center, the new public health department that just opened this week, the practice football field for the high school (where they can walk from their dressing room) and there still remains about six acres for future expansion.

If you have any other questions on this issue, please let us know. As always, our records are available to the public. I can be contacted directly via email at unioncounty@uniongov.com or at my office at 706-439- 6000.

Lamar Paris Union County Commissioner