Jones Defends Record at Forum

Sole Commissioner Robert Jones defended his record Tuesday night against a series of accusations made by opponent Wesley Weaver. Hosted by the Pickens County Chamber of Commerce, Candidates Robert Jones and Wesley Weaver sparred in a debate for the candidacy for commission chairman. Come January, Pickens County will move to a three person board of commissioners, including two post commissioners (one from the east of the county and one from the west) and a commission chairman.

As early as the first round, Weaver assailed Jones’ previous record as commissioner. The first question asked the candidates to discuss the courthouse project and why voters should be pleased with its progress or, conversely, displeased with problems and deficiencies with the plan. Answering first, Jones explained that, at this point, the project is expected to cost approximately $12 to 14 million, where the building itself accounts for $9.8 million; roads/infrastructure around the courthouse, the paving of sidewalks on both sides of Depot Street, a railroad crossing at the train tracks and a parking lot accommodating between 130 and 150 cars accounts for the remainder of the cost. The project is a $17 million SPLOST project, Jones noted, adding that currently the project is $3 million under budget. Despite this, though, Weaver called the project wasteful.

Weaver said the downstairs area of the annex could have been used for courtrooms before it was “cut in half” before the $90,000 renovation. He also suggested building courtrooms in the near-by building that was formally the Side-Bar Restaurant. Continuing, he criticized the parking arrangement (the new parking lot behind Piggly Wiggly) and money spent on the rail road crossing. Weaver said the new parking lot will be too great a distance from the courthouse for people to walk, especially in the rain. He also highlighted the $50,000 it will cost to pave the rail road crossing and the $200,000 for the crossing bars, calling it wasteful and dangerous for pedestrians. Additionally, the courthouse should be closer to the jail, Weaver argued, which he said would save money in fuel transportation cost. In his rebuttal, Jones explained that the project was the result of several public hearings and that the citizens voted the measure. Once the citizens voted for the project, Jones said he was given his “marching orders” and was then responsible for executing the plan. In a counter rebuttal Weaver said that someone was responsible for writing the ballot.

Later, Weaver expressed further concern of the county’s fiscal management.

“There was $20 million left over from a previous 2003 SPLOST,” he said, “20 million gone; I don’t know where it went.”

Jones declined a response to the statement.

The candidates also debated the county’s debt. Weaver said that according to the last audit from 2010, the county’s debt is $18 million and criticized the slow progress of the 2011 audit, which Jones said is due to last year’s tornadoes and their subsequent recovery. The commissioner assured him that the audit is in its final stages. Also, Jones disagreed with Weaver’s debt figure, saying it’s only $2.8 million, not 18.

Through out the evening Weaver continued to assail Jones. Responding to a question on the importance of water and sewage resources, Weaver commented that water resources are the type of infrastructure the county needs to attract businesses.

“Adequate water and good roads, that’s what’s needed,” he said, “not $17 million courthouses.”

For his part, Jones said that his administration has made great strides in addressing the water issue, saying that it has brought water to all four corners of the county, although he credited extending water resources to the Gordon corner of the county to his predecessor.

“We’re trying to…partner with Big Canoe, maybe use their sewage for the foothills area,”

Jones explained, adding,

“We already have an agreement with Big Canoe to either buy or sell water into Big Canoe for emergency situations.”

He also mentioned working on a similar deal with Bent Tree and the possibility of a reservoir. Weaver claimed that Jones has done nothing to improve the water situation of the county and said the county lacks the money to invest in a reservoir.

“We’ve spent too much money,” Weaver said, “money’s going to things like an inflated budget for the commissioner’s office. I want to know why Commissioner Jones is making $105,731 when he’s supposed to make $1200 more than the highest paid county official, who makes $69,000; he’s making $35,000 too much.”

In a recent interview with FYN, Jones explained his pay structure. When Jones was elected to office, the highest paid official was Sheriff Billy Wofford, who, at the time made $98,296. As such, Jones made $1200 above this salary and an additional $1200 for earning his commissioner certification. Also, as he explained in the interview, he received a 4 percent increase for each year in office. According to state law, though, when Wofford left office, Jones’ salary remained the same, even when the current sheriff was elected, who now makes $69,000. His pay scale was locked in. Jones or the county does not have the ability to change this schedule. Also, Jones that the $105, 731 salary includes benefits. However, if Weaver is elected he will be paid $1200 over the highest paid county official, which is $69,000, plus $1200 for earning his commissioner certification, which will save the county $35,000.

Later in the debate, both candidates said they opposed TSPLOST and agreed that infrastructure and tax abatements were needed to attract industry to the area and retain them.

In the end, Commissioner Jones defended his positions and past decisions against his opponent, while Weaver prompted the vetting process by addressing a litany of issues.

The post one commissioner candidates also participated in the event, discussing their approaches to the new post and their positions of the pressing topics.

FYN will continue to bring you coverage of the 2012 Election and will soon post the video of this event.