ADAPTING TO CHANGE. Johnny Usry, local businessman, dicusses the possibility of wind turbines coming to the area during a recent meeting of the Cherokee County Commission. Usry urged local residents to keep an open mind to change.
The wind turbine proposal, approved recently by the Cherokee County Park Board, has generated a great deal of discussion and some controversy in recent weeks.
“The park board has done some wonderful things for is in Morrison Park across from the library,” said Usry, who is also a member of the Cherokee County Library Board.
“I got hold of this study from JSU on this wind turbine thing and that was very encouraging to me because I thought if they get it worked out, that is going to give you a lot more money to spend on education and I have two granddaughters here that can always use that. And I know there had been a lot of talk going back and forth.”
“Some people don’t like change,” said Usry.
“I am one of them too sometimes. When I was a kid living at Slackland, I always loved to hear the train every day at lunch. They did away with that train line.
“And then, when the state decided to do the 411 project, they took 14.9 acres of our best farmland off our farm which was very upsetting, but on the other hand I realzed that we are going to have to have change in order for our county to grow and prosper.
“And if they continue with that project they are working on, it is going to end up being on the mountain above our farm.
“I thought this is not a bad thing because I think it will draw people to come see them (wind turbines) and we are not uipset because it is going to be on the mountain above our farm.
“I just wanted to say I hope you will back that board and help them make the right choices.”
Since the commission was unable to provide a cost of living raise for county employees in its fiscal 2012-2013 budget, members approved a $200 one time salary adjustment for 127 employees, not to include elected officials.
The total cost of the adjustment, as discussed in the work session prior to ther regular meeting, would be approximately $32,572.18 which will be paid out of the commissioners’ tobacco tax (discretionary) funds.
“We have wonderful employees for our county,” said Cherokee County Commisson Chairman/Probate Judge Melvyn Salter.
“They worked awfully hard, are a tremendous asset to our community and our county and because of the tightness of our budget, the commission was not able to give any kind of raise and show appreciation to them. But the commissioners have offered to provide a $200 one time salary adjustment coming out of the tobacco tax. I think it is very commendable they are doing this.”
The commission also approved using discretionary funds to pay $1,400 for Shop at Home ads which will run on WEIS Radio Station in preparation for the upcoming Christmas Holiday season. The ads will run through November and December at a cost of $700 per month.
The commission also Adopted the Sex Offender Registration Fee Resolution pursuant to Act 2011-640. During the work session prior to the regular commission meeting, Sheriff Jeff Shaver explained that examiners require that the sheriff collect these funds and advised him to ask the commission to adopt a resolution setting up an account for this purpose.
In other business, the commission:
-Approved selling forfeited real property interest for the official use of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Unit.
-Approved excess land redemption to Reba Ray for $140.03.
-Approved installation of emergency exit doors with panic bars at the Cherokee Historical Museum. The project will be contracted with Ronnie Strawbridge for $5,600 to be financed by the county’s capital improvements fund.
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