Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Thomerson Suggests Tax Cut

Justice of the Peace, Larry Thomerson stunned the Clark County Quorum Court at its monthly meeting Monday, August 14, by mentioning reductions and/or elimination of specific taxes.

Thomerson spoke to the court saying, "I believe in November we should consider lowering the county general millage and the county road millage to zero. I think this is a chance we could take. The financial committee could put it on the agenda for the September and October meetings and possibly the November ballot."

JP Bill Kirksey reiterated, "That's a good political move" (a pun, commenting on the tax decrease and partially on Thomerson's move to a seat under the air-conditioning vent). Judge, we should be prepared to fight the Gurdon' sales taxes issue before they raise 800 signatures on that petition they're circulating to get it on the ballot."

Judy Beth Hutcherson, Clark County treasurer, said, "Many of the funds Thomerson's referring are not available for our use." Further, Hutcherson explained $500,000 of the money shown in the budget is earmarked for the library, indigent, recorder's cost fund and a business park grant. All of which are unaccessible by the county.

Don Morehead of International Paper Co. presented a industrial development bond request before the court. Morehead informed the court about a $13.8 million upgrade for the sawmill side of Gurdon Wood Products Plant, Gurdon.

Currently, IP pays $339,000 in property taxes to the county. Morehead said IP will not be reducing or lowering its property tax payment. The bonds will provide IP with a small discount in property taxes on the upgraded equipment without the county losing money on the retired equipment. The savings is an incentive toward continued investment in the state.

IP will now be exempted from paying some taxes which would have been charged to the new equipment and the county is insured the previous amount will be paid.

Morehead said there would be no layoffs during the nine-month upgrade beginning this fall. This would be achieved by using up vacation time and staggering the crews. The sawmill currently employs 150 people.

However, according to Morehead there will not be an "increase in head count as to persons" IP employs.

"We employ 600 people at the plant, 150 on the sawmill side, we're trying to secure those jobs for the next 20 years," Morehead said.

He said IP buys $55,000,000 in raw materials from this area, and mentioned the $90,000,000 impact IP brings to the county each year.

The IP: Whelen Springs Sawmill is not included in this bond or upgrade.

The motion to approve the industrial development bond was passed.

Municipal Judge, Randy Hill requested the employing of a bailiff. Judge Hill and his court were witness to a shouting match last week which precluded his request for a bailiff to be hired. Motion was passed.

Prosecuting District Attorney, Henry Morgan, request $5,000 to continue employment for the position of domestic violence coordinator. Formerly, the position had been paid for by a grant, according to Clark County Judge Floyd "Buddy" Manning.

Both Morgan and Manning believe the grant will be reinstated at a later date, and wished to ensure the funds regardless. The court agreed and approved the funding.

JP Jonathan Hubert and JP Dick Batson were assigned to represent the court on a committee Manning formed to work with Clark County Sheriff Troy Tucker on the renovation of the old county extension building adjacent to the jail.

Tucker responded to the courts questions concerning the need for a kitchen, more women's facilities and improvement details for the men's facilities in the future.

Tucker informed the court as to his visitation of other jails to see what sort of improvements he might be interested in making. For now the jail is overcrowded for men and women. Tucker commented, "We're set up to house five women inmates, last week we housed 11."

The court passed an ordinance for the specific additions and deletions in the budget. Frequently referred to as a clean-up ordinance.

Court business was then concluded after discussion of the Master Gardner Club plans for the county courthouse lawn and electric-door service contracts.