After some discussion, Commissioner Ronnie Whetstine stated that the property had lots of history, although the history has now been buried at the landfill, or sold by the good-ole-boys, and made the motion to continue with option 2. Commissioner Johnny Hutchins then made a replacement motion to continue with options 2 AND 3. Doug Bridges seconded Hutchins Motion.
County Attorney Tim Moore was asked by Chairman Susan Allen to provide some advice on parliamentary procedure. In the end, Attorney Moore advised that Hutchins Motion was a replacement motion, with a second, and would have to be voted on first. Hutchins also added that he believed the studies that provided the options was one-sided. In the vote, Commissioners Deb Hardin and Doug Bridges joined Hutchins to approve Hutchins Motion and Whetstine and Allen voted no. The motion carried 3-2 to continue the “study” of options 2 and 3.
Nowhere in this discussion of the Doran Property was there a provision for any input from the public. So, at this point, I will add my recommendation for what to do with the Doran Property.
I recommend an Option 4. DO NOTHING!!! for the following reasons:
1. The property is ideally located near the 74-Bypass construction and will only increase in value as the bypass construction nears completion. Perhaps the property could then be sold at a profit, even when $1 Million plus in assets were just given away. Since the property is now remediated and planted in grass, graze cattle on the property. Waiting for better times would prevent commissioners from giving the property away again to another set of good-ole-boys so THEY can make a profit.
2. Pushing another industrial project at this time is dangerous financially. The Clearwater Paper Expansion project has been reported to be $80 Million over budget and the county has invested about $30 Million in incentives there that might be in jeopardy of never being recovered or recoverable.
3. Cleveland County is officially designated a “dying county” which is not conducive to bringing in other economic development projects without major give-away incentives. Same with tourism. What tourist plans on visiting anywhere that is “dying?”
4. Cleveland County Workforce Development has been cited as failing on many fronts. Providing local employees trained with the proper skills is impossible today and not likely to improve until CCS and CCC can be coordinated properly to educate and train workers for new jobs.
5. The $5 million in tax-dollars secretly funneled into the American Legion World Series over the years, as well as money loser projects such as the Earl Scruggs Center and the LeGrand Center; plus, the $6 million budgeted for economic Development and tourism this very year, that will benefit only a few, if any, citizens represents money NOT well spent. All this needs to see the light of day before any other county funds are spent in these areas or anywhere else.
6. The failed and leaderless Cleveland County Department of Social Services needs special attention in hiring a new Director. I have recommended the Rev. Dante Murphy for this position as he has the qualifications and experience as well as the knowledge of where the cancer of corruption is at CCDSS and understand correctly that when cancer is treated, all of it must be removed. The fact that some insiders are running down Rev. Murphy with the classic Cleveland County “Whispering Campaign” only proves me right and reinforces my recommendation.
7. Too many county personnel were recruited and willfully participated in failed policies and projects that are now being exposed to the light of day. Just like the CCDSS, these folks need to be retrained or removed and replaced if they resist seeing the light and doing better for all Cleveland County citizens. And not just for themselves and their buddies.
8. The Commissioners themselves need another “attitude adjustment” that can only be accomplished by the resignation of a few or replacement by the voters in the 2020 Election process. Just like the vote on the Doran Property. Commissioners Doug Bridges and Deb Hardin represent a better future for Cleveland County. Long time Commissioner Johnny Hutchins appears to be learning his lesson. While Commissioners Susan Allen and Ronnie Whetstine appear to be the most “stuck” in the past. Stuck to the “Tar-baby” that they can’t or won’t get loose from.
9. Since Cleveland County Schools has no strategic plans for building new schools to replace all the 50+ year old plus schools, like all the High Schools in Cleveland County, this property on this location might be better suited for a new High School.
I also suggest Option 4, Doing Nothing with the Doran Property as a good “wait and see” plan when Cleveland County’s “present” is cloudy and dying and the direction of Cleveland County’s “future” is even more questionable. Figuring out what to do with the Doran Property can wait until we in Cleveland County figure out how to handle the MORE pressing problems and issues listed in the nine items noted above. Our graduating students can’t wait to leave Cleveland County because of all of this. Option 4 is just a way to prioritize our problems and fix the most pressing first. What to do with the Doran Property-long term-should be at the bottom of our priority list.
Stay Tuned!!! Making Cleveland County Great Again is a project just starting. Finding and fixing problems is what we have to do. Don’t be misdirected by the fluff.