Mount Vernon Optic-Herald

Franklin County Commissioners voted Monday, May 24 to create an auditors position beginning Jan. 1, 2011.  The controversial action was approved in a three to two vote.
The motion was made by Pct. 2 Commissioner Bobby Elbert, with Pct. 1 Commissioner Danny Chitsey making the required second. Pct. 4 Commissioner Sam Young joined them in passing the measure. County Judge Jerry Hubbell and Pct. 3 Commissioner Deryl Carr voted nay.
Just how divided the Court had become over the matter became more apparent after the vote, as Judge Hubbell told the court that in 1912 when the courthouse was built against the wishes of the people, those office holders were not re-elected.  Commissioner Chitsey retorted, “A lot of people didn’t agree with restoring the courthouse too.” Judge Hubbell has been an advocate for the courthouse restoration project, which is about to be undertaken with an 85/15 grant from the State.
A public hearing was conducted prior to the action by the court. Voices were raised, along with blood pressures, as 10 of the more than two dozen people present spoke passionately about their views on the proposal. “I don’t understand the urgency of hiring someone when you don’t have a job created yet,” said Leon Pless, who along with several others waved copies of earlier court meeting’s minutes from their April workshop.
Commissioner Young explained his reason as facilitating a smooth transition. The county will have two new members of the Commissioners Court, the judge and place two commissioner, as well as a new treasurer beginning Jan. 1, 2011.
“County government is totally different from business and even from other government entities,” stressed Commissioner Young. “All of the processes and requirements take time to learn for these new people.”
See the details in the May 27 edition of the Mount Vernon Optic-Herald.