Finances - With the state poised to pass the cap on property taxes, the local budgets will take a big hit. I see this as a challenge and not simply a barrier to our progress. I will use my experience in finding efficient manufacturing methods to stream line our county budget. Out of this major issue, the following items will have to be addressed.

     County Jail - The county must act on this issue sooner rather than later. The jail is overcrowded and the county has already been sued by inmates. We can find a solution now or have the federal government mandate the facility in the future. I see this as an opportunity. There are several potential sites for the facility close to the current jail. The existing jail could remain open as a youth offender facility for the entire southern region of the state with the potential to pay a significant portion of the new facility’s cost.

     Youth Shelter - This situation is just as important as the jail. The shelter has been neglected for far too long and decisions on a solution cannot wait. Several locations have been considered, but I believe one stands out. That is the property on State Street that I will discuss further in the following section.

     County Building - The current building, within the city building, is not adequate for the county’s needs. This item has also been discussed for years with no action. I believe the property on State Street, behind the Home Depot and Tucker’s, offers the best solution for several problems facing the county. This location offers more than enough developable space for the county to create a new youth shelter, county building and recreation park for our little leagues and other youth activities. The owner of this property has a desire for it to be used in this manner, rather than adding more apartments.