For full coverage of the supervisors’ discussion before voting and background on the situation, please see Wednesday’s print edition of the Smyth County News & Messenger.
By DAN KEGLEY/Staff
Three Smyth County supervisors voted Friday in favor of a $28 million bond issuance for courthouse renovations and construction of a temporary courts facility, a parking deck, and new emergency communications system. Four supervisors voted against the bond, stopping the project, at least for now.
Supervisors Marvin Perry, Todd Dishner and Chairman Charlie Clark voted to proceed with the bond issuance. They were defeated by Mike Roberts, Brenda Waddell, Darlene Neitch and Wade Blevins.
That same vote configuration defeated issuance of a $5 million bond to finance the first phase of the project.
The four supervisors voting against the issuance cited the apparently universal opposition among citizens and the current economic climate. Neitch said she hoped the state and local judges ordering improvements would allow the county a year “or longer to see if the economy improves.”
Wade Blevins said “not one person had stepped up and said ‘do this.’”
Dishner said he favored the courthouse project as “the best way of handling” a situation he described as being “dealt a bad hand.”
Clark urged his colleagues to heed financial advice that the low interest lending environment makes now the best time to borrow. “There’s not a better deal out there,” Clark said.
Roberts cited faith in the courts and said the state supreme court is there for the good of citizens. “How can it go up from $28 million?” he asked.
dkegley@wythenews.com
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