Chuck Hughes
♦ As a citizen of Rowan County and a captive-by-annexation-citizen of Salisbury, I want to commend our commissioners for what I consider to be an honorable tour of duty. The Board of Commissioners continued their trustworthiness this week when they scheduled time to allow an unlimited number of citizens to comment on the West End Plaza/LGC issue. Although the board withdrew its application requesting the LGC to approve borrowing money to replenish the county’s fund balance to purchase The West End Plaza at today’s meeting and canceled the scheduled follow-up meeting, the planned opportunity to speak was in stark contrast with what the city did not allow during Fibrant’s Certificates of Participation discussion. (Reliable sources assure me that the city is just barely two uncomfortable points above junk-bond status.)
I had not planned to add to the anticipated overdose of tonight’s speakers, (a mute issue now that the meeting has been canceled) most of whom would not likely have been supportive of the county’s application. My decision was based upon my faith that the LGC’s decision would be made free of any political halos. However I changed my mind when I read that the LGC planned to genuflect to La Résistance by considering adding public opinion to its decision making formula. This new interpretation of the LGC’s public responsibility sets a precedent that should get the attention of both the Legislative and the Executive branches of State government.
I also question the intellect of those who consider the current Board of Commissioners to be LAME DUCKS. A primary election resulting in a band of POTENTIAL commissioner candidates does not trump the authority of the current board of ELECTED commissioners or their obligation to duty until both are muted by a general election.
