Win or Draw?

editorial-logo3Last week the Jefferson County Commission voted 14-4-1 to approve the initial funding for the Megasite project. The vote came as no surprise to those that keep track of the actions of the County Commission. Attached to the motion to approve, was a motion that would eliminate the use of County funds for the Megasite project if eminent domain is invoked. Both the opposition to the project and the supporters of the project called this a win. Frankly, I would more consider it a draw than a win and if it had to go to one side or the other I would give it to the supporters of the Megasite. While I understand what some members of the Commission were trying to accomplish with the no eminent domain amendment attachment, the reality is that the Commission could come in to the next meeting and resend the action. Beyond that, should the State decide to invoke eminent domain, I seriously doubt that the Jefferson County Commission is going to refuse to participate in the project. More than likely they would consider their hands washed of the issue and capitalize on the State’s move. And reasonably, if the State did invoke eminent domain then the issue should be revisited. However, once the initial funding is spent, it is spent, no matter the final outcome. My fear is that some property owners in the footprint of the Megasite came away from that meeting thinking that eminent domain was off of the table-a done deal. Believe me, nothing is a done deal until the deal is done.

Though I knew that eminent domain was going to be an issue at the Commission meeting, I didn’t expect it to be the only issue. Questions all centered around the property owner’s willingness or unwillingness to sell. Let’s speculate for a moment. Suppose that the negotiators add enough zeros to their offers to make them attractive and the property owners sign on the dotted line. The question still remains…Is the Megasite project a good proposition for Jefferson County? I have been asking a lot of questions in the past few weeks and have been surprised at how few answers that I am getting. How is the cash flow going to be handled? No answer. What is the projected increase to property tax? Some have indicated that there will be an increase but no one knows how much. Yes, you read that correctly, no one has projections for what this project will do to property taxes until the County begins to generate money from the Megasite. When is the County projected to start seeing revenue from the Megasite? No answer. 10 years, 20 years, 30 years? Yes. Well, which one because there is a huge difference. How are we, Jefferson County, planning to market this site to industry and who will be in charge? The Chamber of Commerce? EDOC? Some outside entity that we contract with? Yes. Huh? The Department of Education is in the process of looking at what impact the Megasite is projected to have on schools. Good for them, at least someone is thinking ahead. Is the State actually going to provide any funding? Well…maybe…probably…yes…we have reason to believe…we are not sure…Call me crazy, but isn’t it time to be sure.

Why were none of these questions asked before committing to $442,311 of funding for this site. The party line is that the Commission is giving property owners the opportunity to sell or pass, which ever they choose. I believe that the more fiscally sound approach would have been to determine if the project is something that Jefferson County can even afford to do. Ask some real question and get some real answers, then give property owners the choice to sell or pass. It is very possible that the whole issue might be moot if the project has no significant State backing and/or the property tax increase is astronomical. What can we support, how long will we be asked to support it and do we have any significant, committed help in funding this project? Some in the County are going to support this project regardless, but creation of jobs cannot be at the cost of bankrupting the County because it is counterproductive. How can anyone in the County be on board with the Megasite when there are so many things unanswered? I know that I am still waiting for legitimate information instead of press releases.   It is fine to be a cheerleader for the project when it is announced but, at some point, there needs to be real questions and real answers and they need to be real consistent. It is time to put away the pom poms and get down to business. Actually, it is $442,311 past time.

Source: K. Depew, News Director