By Karen Hall

Editor

At their monthly meeting Monday, a majority of county commissioners voted to buy two parcels of land adjoining Cornersville High School, though the motion faced opposition from Commissioner Seth Warf.

"I don't think we need this land," he said. "It has no educational value. We would have to tear down the two houses."

Warf pointed out the main problem at CHS was lack of parking, and the county bought 3.3 acres north of the current parking lot several years ago. When work on this site, which may include a bridge, is completed, traffic congestion will be relieved, and there will be more parking space.

"I would like to see this completed" before we buy anything else, Warf said. "We haven't even approved a budget for the year. We don't know where this money is coming from, and we have put a great debt burden on our taxpayers."

"Buying this would be more of an investment right now," said Commissioner Mickey King, noting that a man has already bought one of the houses and is planning to remodel it.

"We will not be able to buy it if he remodels" because the price will go up out of our reach," King said.

"As an investment, it would be nice," Warf agreed. "But a lot of things would be nice. I don't see adding more debt for a vacant lot."

Purchase of the two parcels was discussed by the Land Price and Sale committee on July 25.

At that time, Commission Chairman Nathan Johnson said, "Any time you can buy adjacent to a school and make a full block, you should consider it."

Johnson said he had negotiated prices of $40,000 for one property, and $36,000 for the other.

The motion was made to purchase the two at the negotiated price, and it was unanimously approved by committee members Rocky Bowden, Dean Delk, Mickey King, and Kevin Vanhooser.

Monday, six commissioners voted against buying the properties, but 12 voted for the motion, so the purchase will go ahead.

In addition to Warf, those voting against spending the money were Richard Hill, Don Ledford, Reynelle Smith, Barry Spivey, and Phil Willis.

In other business, commissioners unanimously agreed to ask the General Assembly to agree to naming West Ellington Parkway, between State Routes 50 and 373, the "Detective Eugene Leverette Memorial Parkway."

Commissioner Tom Sumners' resolution described how Leverette began work in law enforcement as a dispatcher in July 1960, and studied Criminal Justice with the goal of becoming Lewisburg's first detective. He achieved this, and was the original crime scene investigator for the city. Leverette died of a heart attack while on duty on Nov. 25, 1978, at the young age of 39, and was mourned by his wife, three children, other family members, and the many people he helped in the course of his job.

Commissioners also unanimously approved a motion to ask the General Assembly to agree to name the bridge on State Route 270 over Spring Creek the "James Caldwell Memorial Bridge." Commissioner E. W. Hill's resolution described how Caldwell worked until just a few weeks before he died on May 13, 2011, at 90 years old. Caldwell was a farmer, a hunter, and a dog trainer and founder of the Clay Hill Beagle Club.

"He crossed that bridge countless times," Hill said.

Commissioners also approved the appointment of Lewisburg City Manager Randall Dunn to the 911 Committee, to fill the unexpired term of former City Manager Tommy Engram. Dunn was introduced to the commission, and greeted with applause.