Although he did it because of a lack of support, resigning as president of the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors has freed District 1 Supervisor Harry Sanders to better fight for his constituents.
“It takes up more of my time,” Sanders, who served as board president for about six years and two months, said of the duties of the office. “I”m not able to devote 100 percent of my time (to District 1).”
In addition to being the county”s official representative and signatory on contracts, legal documents and “anything official from the county,” holding the office means representing the Board of Supervisors by attending official functions, banquets, and award ceremonies.
“Since I”ve been president, with all the banquet meals I”ve eaten, I”ve gained 40 pounds,” Sanders laughed. “Being president takes an awful lot of your time. I had to focus on the whole county and now I can focus on my district.”
“You”ll probably see me more vocal or stand up more for what my philosophy of government is,” he responded, when asked if a change in the board meetings will be evident, since he resigned his position.
Sanders considers his biggest accomplishment as a supervisor, which he has been for 10 years, his instrumental role in the sale of Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle for $30 million.
“We sold it for $30 million cash and we have an agreement where, for 38 years, (the hospital) is responsible for the indigent care for county residents, the hospital bills for prisoners and for lunacy cases,” he noted. “So, we got more than $30 million, plus they”ve added a $50 million expansion to the hospital.”
His best accomplishment as board president was “helping the Industrial Development Authority create two megasites and the recruitment of Severstal and Paccar” as well as the negotiations of related fee-in-lieu agreements enabling the county to finance needed infrastructure work, without raising taxes, added Sanders.
And he”s also proud of his work as president during the current term of the supervisors, he said, pointing to construction of the county”s new Health Department facility and the purchase of the former First Federal Bank building on Main Street, which is being renovated for county administrative office space.
Sanders additionally is proud of the county purchasing land for a new soccer complex in the Burns Bottom area and matching the city”s $850,000 contribution for upgrading and improving neighborhood parks, all without raising taxes, he said, noting interest money from the hospital sale financed the projects.
“That could be the goose that”s laying the golden egg,” he said of the principal $30 million from the hospital sale, which he long has stressed should not be touched by the current Board of Supervisors. “That”s the goose that”s going to pull us out of this recession we”re in.”
Lastly, Sanders cited his pride in the county”s roads and improvements to the Lowndes County Sheriff”s Office”s capabilities.
“People don”t realize how improved our Road Department is (compared to) 10 years ago,” he explained. “They just take all that for granted. And our Sheriff”s Office is the same way. (The LCSO) got new equipment and up-to-date radios and people just take all that for granted. I think I”ve been a very big part of it, to tell you the truth.”
The supervisors will meet Tuesday to elect a new board president; District 2 Supervisor Frank Ferguson, who also serves as the vice president of the board, is serving as president in the interim.
“My advice (for the next board president) would be to not tax and spend and be very conservative of the finances of the county,” Sanders said. “We”re in very uncertain times and we don”t need to be borrowing money, unless it”s for something like economic development that is going to create more money. We need to pay as we go (on various projects). Paving roads and building parks doesn”t create wealth.
“Whoever is (the next president) is going to have to know Robert”s Rules of Order and the law,” he continued, referring to the book on parliamentary procedure the supervisors are supposed to observe to ensure fair, orderly and smoothly-conducted meetings. “And you”re certainly going to have to be able to say, ”No.” You can”t please everybody. They”re going to have to realize the word ”no” is a complete sentence. If the economic times stay as they are, there are going to be a lot of people with a shortfall in their budget and they”re going to come to the Board of Supervisors with their hat in their hands.”
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