HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93011_0484 (2)Animal Grievance Committee (1 appointment): No nominations were submitted, and
Commissioner Norman made a FotToR to postpone the appointment until the November 23
meeting.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Nursing Home Advisory Committee (1 a pointment): No nominations were
submitted, and Commissioner Williams made a olio to postpone the appointment until the
November 23 meeting.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Future Forward Economic Alliance (2 appointments): OTIO by Commissioner
Madison to appoint Marvin Norman as the commissioner representative to tFe Alliance and to
postpone the private sector appointment until the November 23 meeting.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Hazardous Waste & Low Level Radioactive Waste Management Board (1
appointment): OTIONi by Commissioner Norman to postpone this appointment until the
November 23 meeting.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Chairman Johnson Speaks Regarding Newspaper Coverage of School Funding
Issues: Chairman Johnson said he appreciated the articles written by the local media
representatives concerning county issues, and he had nothing but respect for the Iredell
Neighbors, the Iredell Citizen, and the Charlotte Observer. He said that in the past, the
representatives from these papers had demonstrated journalistic ethics, and he could always
count on the fact that their editorial positions would not cloud the news reporting. Johnson said
these papers could make an objective and honest determination of the leaders of the county and
the public policy being decided. He said lately, however, he had come to the realization and
made the determination that in regards to the actions of the board of commissioners, particularly
in reference to school funding, that factual reporting on what transpired among the debate of the
board and the Iredell-Statesville School Board, along with subsequent committees, that the
Record & Landmark was no longer a reliable source of news for the people of the county.
Johnson said, "I draw no pleasure from saying this. I can offer no more than what has transpired
during the last week. On Friday, November 5 the Record & Landmark reported that I was in
favor of $140 million worth of debt, and the school plan was workable. As Commissioner
Norman will testify, I never made any such comment. The only part of the plan we have
discussed up to this point is the part of plan that relates to high school expansion and
construction. I said that part of the plan appeared to be workable given the current flow of
revenues. Is that right Mr. Norman?"
Commissioner Norman said, "That is correct." Mr. Norman said the editor of the Record
& Landmark continued to "beat up the commissioners" in the Sunday, November 14 paper in
regards to the matter. Commissioner Norman said, "I hope he (newspaper editor) can someday
get his facts straight."
Chairman Johnson said that in Sunday's edition of the Record & Landmark,
Commissioner Tice and Commissioner Williams were accused of being political cowards in
postponing any agreement with the schools until after the election. Johnson said Tice and
Williams had never seen the recommendation from the joint school task force, because it had not
been completed. Johnson said he would not speculate as to whether the articles were due to
someone being incompetent, lazy or unethical, but the end result was the same. He said the story
was unreliable, it was not based upon facts, and it had no business appearing in the paper.
Johnson said that if the goal of the newspaper was to give an honest presentation of the
proceedings of the political process in the county, then the people were being poorly served by