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Wilkes Co. Commission declines to risk tax money for regeneration Following a lengthy discussion before an overflow crowd, county backing of the proposed hospital regeneration project became a dead issue after the commissioners indicated their determined opposition and declined to put a motion on the floor at last Thursday's regular meeting of the Wilkes County Board of Commissioners. Insisting that their support for the hospital is as strong as ever, the commissioners said they objected to the financing plan the "way it was presented" and they were not willing to risk tax money even though that risk might be minimal. "We do not want to risk any tax money in support of something over which we have no control," Commission Chairman Sam Moore said. "We put in $800,000 [for the hospital] in sales tax and they have that money now to do some improvements with. We're elected to look after your tax money and that's what I intend to do." "The Hospital Authority is the governing body of the hospital," Moore also said. "We are not involved in the hospital's business and it was set up that way from the beginning." Peggy Barnett, identifying herself as an elderly, retired teacher, said she and her husband would have moved to Wilkes County even without Wills Memorial Hospital, but she said she was afraid others would not. "We are not asking the commis- sioners to run the hospital - there is already a good team doing that," she said. "It seems to me that having the support of the county on the bond issue would be the most time-efficient and cost-efficient way to keep the hospital operating while it is rebuilt," Barnett continued. "We need help getting this done efficiently and we would like your support," she added. Commissioner Donna Hardy pointed out that earlier that day, the Authority's Planning Committee had found out that the hospital is eligible to get a Federal FHA 242 loan on its own. That option had previously been known but eligibility was somewhat in question. However, going that route would take longer and cost more, according to the Authority. "It's not uncommon for a governing body not to back this type of loan," Hardy explained. The good news, she said, is that there are other options and the committee is exploring other things. "As a community, we need to pull together and we all need to pull in the same direction to go forward and get this completed." Wiley Crittenden challenged Moore's position on letting the Hospital Authority run the hospital. He objected to the current system of appointment by the county commission to the Authority and he also objected to a county commissioner (Hardy) sitting as a member of the Authority. Crittenden agreed that the hospital is in better financial shape than in recent years but was frustrated over the situation. "They have something to work with over there but they are not [really] in charge," he said. "If the Hospital Authority is in charge," Crittenden continued, "let them be totally in charge. Don't have a county commissioner on it and let them appoint their own members." As the discussion continued, Earl Elsmore suggested a county-wide referendum to determine the wishes of the public. The suggestion was met with applause from those in attendance but Moore questioned the effectiveness of such a vote. "I don't know how you could vote on that without voting on exactly where the money would come from," he said. Later in the meeting, Amy Johnston reissued the call for a referendum and suggested that it be included on the ballot in the special Congressional election in June. There was some concern over whether such a referendum could be prepared in time for that election but there was an indication that the possibility would be checked out. "I think it's obvious that the hospital will get the support that it needs, but it is a little unnerving knowing our leadership is not supporting us," said Sissy Murray, a hospital employee. "If you're not willing to support a future investment like this, what are some of the investments for businesses and the economy that you are willing to support for the future?" Moore responded that the Payroll Development Authority is constantly looking at prospects for industrial and land development and currently has a number of hopeful opportunities. "What is the holdup here?" questioned Dr. Stan Coe. "Are we worried about the potential potential potential of financial embarrassment sometime later" versus the possibility of structural failure forcing part of the hospital to close at any time. "How do we regenerate the existence of a hospital which is running well if you have to close it down for a period of time? Property taxed be darned!" he continued, "We'll be talking about cemetery taxes if this hospital isn't here." Avola Callaway, who sat on the Hospital Authority for 27 years and said she fought with all kinds of problems, said, "I've never seen a time when the hospital was faced with a board of commissioners not working with us and supporting us." "Our support of the hospital has always been there and is still there," Moore said. "But we can't risk a three-mil tax increase when we are not the governing body of the hospital. You do what you can afford to do and our supply of tax money is limited and it's our job to look after it." "There has got to be some safety valves," Commissioner John Howard said. "I'm for it [the hospital regeneration project], but I can't get on board with the way it has been presented," he continued. "The 242 loan looks like a very viable alternative. We're not just sitting still - I want to go forward and I'm going to support the hospital as long as they're prudent." As discussion drew to a close, Ross Maynard asked the commissioners for their positions on the issue. Indicating that Moore, Hardy, and Howard had already made their opposition to the Authority's proposal clear, Maynard asked Commissioners Jerry Stover and Divenski Lee if they would accept the proposal or reject it. Both said they would reject it.
Reflecting that fact, there was no
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