A packed meeting room at the courthouse greeted the Haywood County Commission Budget Committee on Monday afternoon for the first regular session of the calendar year. Commissioners attending in addition to the six members of the Committee included Wally Eubanks, Robert Earl Thornton, Bob Hooper, and Chris Lea. Several members of the Concerned Citizens group also were there. Progress reports on the renovations at Haywood High, possible tornado safe spaces at schools, and just under $90,000 in budget amendments - $40, 000 of which was for jail overtime - were the business of the day.
    Haywood Cy. Supt. of Schools Dr. Marlon King provided the Committee with an update on the status of renovations at the high school. Approximately $2.6 million of the allocated $4.4 million for the project has been spent, leaving about $1.8 million for completion, which hopefully will occur in late August of this year. When asked whether the renovations were on budget, Dr. King replied that expenditures were on schedule with one notable exception, an anticipated quarter of a million dollars in architect's fees that were not incorporated into the original budget. Mr. Kenneth Emerson, Director of Pupil Services, Logistics, and Planning, added that future operating expenses such as utilities will be significantly reduced as a result of the improvements, which include low wattage light bulbs and programmable thermostats in large spaces like the cafeteria and gymnasium.
    Mr. Emerson and Dr. King were also there to discuss potential budgeting by the Commission for tornado safe spaces. Mr. Emerson had reported at a previous Budget Committee meeting of applications for grants to cover a significant portion of the costs to install tornado safe spaces at Haywood Elementary School and Sunny Hill School. On the Committee's request, Mr. Emerson has revised the grant applications such that the local required expenditures for the two spaces would be approximately $80,000 to $90,000 each, for a total local outlay of from $160,000 to $180,000. Dr. King invited the Committee to consider changing the grant and location of the spaces to one large space at the high school or the junior high school in light of his revised plans for reconfiguration of the school system. Those plans now contemplate location of early childhood learning and kindergarten at Anderson ; first, second, and third grades at Haywood Elementary ; fourth and fifth grades at Eastside; and sixth, seventh , and eighth grades at the current Junior High location. Under the revised reconfiguration plan, Sunny Hill would be used for over age learning, adult education, handicapped learning, and as the alternative school. The current alternative school facility would then become a technology center.
    Dr. King explained that one large space could be used as needs require for instruction, which is anticipated to be especially keen at the junior high if sixth graders are moved there. Budget Committee member Leonard Jones noted that to provide a haven for the public at large, the junior high location makes more sense as there would then be tornado safe spaces on opposite sides of Brownsville : one at the Justice Complex off of East Main and potentially one in West Brownsville on Haralson at the Junior High. Concerned citizens group spokesperson Danny Simpson wanted to know how the potentially $180,000 would be funded. "Tell us what the plan is.," he stated. He reminded the Budget Committee of its commitment to the citizens of looking for ways to trim the budget in light of the recent large property tax increase, and he offered as an example Commissioner John Gorman, Jr.'s motion at a County Commission meeting - tabled on motion by Budget Committee Chairman King - to cut Commission and Committee compensation by 50%. Committee Vice chairman Jerry Smith said that the Committee had no intention of raising property taxes to fund tornado safe spaces. Committee Chair Allen King then requested that Dr. King and Mr. Emerson return at a later meeting to present a revised plan with costs for a single tornado safe space at a recommended location. Chairman King emphasized his view of the need and importance for a tornado safe space.
   The Budget Committee next unanimously approved almost $90,000 in budget amendments for the current fiscal year. Just over $7,000 was for juvenile detention costs. $25,000 of the total related to the County's part of $50,000 provided to Marathon Heater to move its manufacturing operations from out of state to the industrial park in Brownsville. The largest single item among the amendments was for overtime pay at the jail. Mayoral assistant Larry Livingston stated that based on the rate of overtime pay spending by the Sheriff at the jail for the first six months of the fiscal year, about $60, 000 in additional budgetary appropriations would be needed to fund overtime for the year. According to Livingston, the $60,000 figure would cover an existing nearly $20,000 in excess of the current budget, plus an anticipated $40,000 for the remaining six months of the fiscal year. The current approved budget allocated a total of $29,000 for the year for jail overtime pay. Through December the out of pocket costs have soared to just under $49,000 for just the first six months. December overtime costs alone were just under $7,000, even though two additional jailors were previously added to the payroll. Budget Committee Vice Chairman Jerry Smith expressed concern about the $60, 000 figure and mentioned instead the sum of $40,000 as an overtime pay amendment , which the Committee unanimously voted to recommend to the Commission. Committee member Leonard Jones expressed his concern that the $60,000 figure would be spent whether the Committee approved it or not. Notwithstanding the overtime pay excesses, Mr. Livingston noted that County General spending for the first half of fiscal year 2011 - 2012 overall was well under budget, as demonstrated by a chart indicating over $161,000 less in spending than approved by the County Commission.
    County Mayor Franklin Smith requested $2,500 in funding for a 10 hour per week part time employee at $8 per hour to assist in implementing Workforce Initiatives Families First program. The Committee unanimously recommended funding for the mayor's request. Mayor Smith also announced that the board of directors of the Mustard Seed had decided to close operations after some thirty years of service to the needy in Brownsville and Haywood County. He sought and was granted approval by the Budget Committee to ask the full Commission to allow him to move forward with plans to place the Salvation Army in the old Department of Human Services building space formerly occupied by the Mustard Seed.
   In other news, Mayor Smith announced that Precision Coils , currently located in Somerville, will be moving its operation to the industrial park in Brownsville. Many of the existing employees are expected to commute to Brownsville to work, but the company anticipates employing about 26 new people here, bringing its total workforce to about 80 people.

Neola Farms reported to be closing
January 5, 2012