Dear Editor,
As reported in the Lake Oconee News last week, SPLOST No. 10 has been resurrected.
A huge concern and one reason SPLOST failed at the ballot last time (besides being tied to a bond) was the lack of detailed estimates.
The jail (our countywide project) still has no drawings and no estimates.
Open records request 25-77 asked, “Please provide any drawings, plans, and estimates on a new jail and/or jail renovation.”On Feb. 19, I received the following response: “Putnam County Board of Commissioners does not possess documents or records that are responsive to your request.”
I emailed Board of Commissioners Chairman Bill Sharp, with the county manager and other commissioners on copy, to ask if an estimate would be forthcoming. Apparently, Mr. Sharp feels no duty to reply as he ignored this email and all my others regarding different concerns.
However, County Manager Paul Van Haute replied back stating, “You need to understand that the only thing that the BOC is doing is allocating 9.1M dollars.”
Mr. Van Haute elaborated further, saying the sheriff will build what he needs within the budgetary constraints of the SPLOST funding, and if he needs additional funding, he will return to the BOC with the request. Jasper County did a jail renovation that was just over $10 million, but that was more office space, a gym, etc. … and perhaps an oranges-to-apples comparison.
I want to ensure that our sheriff gets what he needs. Sheriff Sills is frugal and focused on fiscal responsibility. I wish we could replicate his approach for all departments in our county, especially the Uncle Remus Golf Course, which continues to lose money annually.
As a result, taxpayers subsidize every round of golf played there. Ironically, they have a SPLOST wish list totaling just under $1.5 million. Meanwhile, I have a wish list that the golf course would develop a three-year plan to achieve profitability, or the county should consider selling it to someone who can either repurpose it or find a way to make it at least break even.
I contacted Sheriff Sills to inform him that I had sent an email to the commissioners and the county manager regarding the jail. I wanted to ensure that he was aware of this and wouldn’t be caught off guard.
In response, Sheriff Sills graciously replied with an excellent email. He highlighted that there has been a lot of misinformation circulating about the jail initiative, and he plans to propose a public meeting on the issue to the county commission to be held in the near future.
I look forward to attending the sheriff’s meeting whenever it takes place and supporting him in this initiative.
Sincere thanks, Jennifer Ray, Putnam County