Almost right: Save money, please, but think before you vote

It seems impossible that the Wayne County commission could possibly come up with yet another scratch-your-head decision.

And what is really sad about this one is that it was so close to being a good one.

The commission's Facilities Committee -- which is three members of the county commission, by the way -- has recommended that the county ask the Steering Committee for the Mount Olive Library project, which has already paid more than $235,000, to cough up another $35,000 from funds they had hoped to use to augment the new library's services. Those services and materials, by the way, would be available for use by all county residents.

And what is the reason?

Not an unreasonable request from committee members for a change to upgrade the project.

The Facilities Committee -- which includes County Commission Chairman Steve Keen -- has decided to go with a new design/build concept.

That is the good part of the decision. The design/build formula will save the county nearly $500,000 on the project and could actually end up providing an even better library.

That's a no-brainer.

But there is a cost to implement the change -- $35,000.

And yes, the seemingly clueless members of the Facilities Committee want the community to pay $35,000 more.

Shoot, we were so close.

Chairman Keen and his band of merry men had a chance to redeem themselves when Keen asked County Manager Lee Smith what he thought the county should do.

Smith said the county should pick up the cost of the change.

Of course, Keen ignored the advice -- why in the world would you listen to your county manager -- and voted to pass the motion to assess the cost to the community group.

Too bad Smith was dead right.

This is an expense the county incurred because it has made a change in the plan. The Mount Olive library committee has lived up to and surpassed its promise. The county should keep its promise.

To ask a group of community members in this economy, who have worked so hard, to pay even more is insulting and, frankly, inane, since in the end, taxpayers will pay for the relatively small extra cost for the public facility, which will benefit the whole county.

Now lest you think this will be another county commission decision to shake your head at, don't despair, it is not final yet.

The Facilities Committee only recommends a course of action, the full board makes it official.

Think this is ridiculous? Well, tell them.

Think they made the right call, heck, call them and tell them that.

Here are their numbers:

Facilities Committee

• Committee Chairman Ray Mayo, 919-920-1728

• Wayne Aycock, 919-222-4616

• Steve Keen, 919-920-7023

Rest of the commission:

• Joe Daughtery, 919-273-6065

• Bill Pate, 919-922-4991

• Ed Cromartie, 919-658-6263

• John Bell, 919-735-0253

And while you are at it, perhaps you might have a few suggestions about how the county could save the $35,000 necessary to pick up the cost -- fewer meetings, not paying thousands of dollars for a television program that no one is watching, not hiring an outside videographer to cover their swearing in, talking to the media themselves rather than hiring someone else to do it.

The list goes on and on.

Published in Editorials on May 2, 2013 12:20 PM