Last week county judge/executives and mayors offered their thoughts and opinions on the possible merger of Fulton and Hickman Counties. This week the magistrates and commissioners from both counties ponder the same question.
It takes at least 50% of voters from each county to agree with merger before it can happen. The vote would take place in a special election, and then it would be up to one of these counties to begin the consolidation process by petition or through county ordinance. The special election would be paid by the state. According to some research by Hickman City Manager Larry Myatt, “Legislation that could decrease Kentucky’s number of counties and cut their operational cost by allowing them to merge passed a house committee on March 12, 2008.” Kentucky has 120 counties. Only Texas and Georgia have more.
City Manager Myatt stated, “The consolidation could help both the cities and the state.”
“It could help the state because the state is often asked to fund services in small counties that don’t have a large enough tax base to cover the cost,” City Manager Myatt said. “Does that ring a bell for Fulton and Hickman counties?”
“It could help the counties because often the smaller, more sparsely populated counties often try to act like the larger counties and offer services that they alone can’t pay for because of their lower tax band and the county then must go to the state looking for more money to help fund these services,” he added. “It takes money to make money,” he said, quoting the old saying.
Ultimately on the decision to merge or not to merge he said, “Let the voters decide.”
The magistrates in Fulton County have strong feelings on the subject. Magistrates James Black and Henry Callison strongly oppose the merger of the two counties, while Magistrate George A. Jones does not favor on the merger but sees it might be needed in the future. Magistrate Billy (Bubba) Nelms, Jr. doesn’t want to see Fulton County lose its identity.
“I don’t see it working,” said Magistrate Black. “With three magistrates in Hickman County and four in Fulton County and two judges, I think they can do a better job running the two counties than one judge and less magistrates (if the number of magistrates were decreased after the merger).”
“They will put half as many people drawing twice as much salary,” he added. He said the citizens will be properly served with the two counties finding ways to save money by combining services, not the counties.
Magistrates Callison believes voters in District 4 will not want to see a merger happen. “The will of the people is no and I will support that as Magistrate of District 4 in Fulton County,” he said. “As a voter and resident of Fulton County for these many years, I stand in opposition to the merger of Fulton County, Ky., and Hickman County, Ky., into one county government.”
“I am not for consolidating the counties,” said Magistrate Jones, “but I am for consolidating services. If it came to it (the merger), I would go with it.”
Magistrate Jones would like to see Fulton County and Hickman County each “hold on to their individual identity as long as we can,” he continued.
“Initially the people of Fulton County will pull together more and work together more. I realize the towns want to keep what they have,” he added, “but by working together for one would result in better services for everyone,” commented Magistrate Jones. “We need a dispatch that will reach Sassafras Ridge,” he noted.
He also agrees that the two counties can work together by “not duplicating equipment.” If one county buys one piece and the other another, they can share the equipment. “A lot of money needs to be saved everywhere,” he reiterated.
Magistrate Nelms says, “I have learned over time that anything is possible,” he said regarding the rhetorical question.
“On the surface does consolidation of counties sound feasible?” he asked. “I would not want to see the people of Fulton County give up their identity as a county,” he continued. “I feel it would not be in the best interest of the residents to give up representation of their county by combining with others. Having a county seat is vital to all residents and loosing it would be bad for us. The business of Fulton County is best served by the people that live and work in Fulton County,” he said.
“Who will represent the best interest of the people in Fulton County better than the ones that have a vested interest here?” he asked. “There are lots of things to consider when looking at combining counties, some are good and some are not.”
Fulton County has already begun to work at combining services. “We have in the past, and will in the future look to see if we can combine services and manpower to help cut costs for county residents.”
“We should all work together to try to make the financial burden on the residents and the local governments less. As most of you well know combining any services with political wheels on them will be met with lots of resistance,” concludes Magistrate Nelms.
Fulton County has four magistrates, and Hickman County has three. One of those three is Ricky Deweese, who was appointed to his position approximately two months ago. “I am still in the learning process,” he stated, and was apprehensive to respond, adding he would like to become more familiar with his position as magistrate for voicing his opinion.
He did say “I can only see that happening some time in the future,” as there does not seem to be enough of an economic base in the two counties to sustain two separate governments.”
“I think it will happen in the future,” said Hickman County Magistrate Tommy Roberts. “I do know it will be when the taxpayers get tired of paying so much in taxes to keep each county alive,” he added.
Hickman County is the third smallest county in the state, he noted with Carlisle County in fourth. “With so many unfunded mandates coming from the state,” Roberts said this is one area of government that will draw other counties, not just Fulton and Hickman Counties, into making decisions such as this.
He also would like to see the schools combine. “We can provide a better education for the students,” he said. “Through consolidation we can offer more opportunities to our students as the bigger schools do,” added Magistrate Roberts.
“I have been looking at this (possible merger) to come for several years,” commented Magistrate Harold Jackson. “The two counties, even small ones like Carlisle County, will probably come down to mergers in order for them to survive in the future.”
“I really believe that if people want our communities to grow and attract merchants and prospective industry,” he continued, “that is what is going to take to get them interested.”
“I hope everyone pulls together and makes this work when and if it does happen,” he concluded.
Fulton Commissioner Mike Farmer was the first Fulton City Commissioner to respond.
He said there would be several advantages to combining the counties. “It is no secret that both counties are continually losing population, and “unfortunately, barring some unforeseen event I anticipate this trend to persist,” he stated. “I can see where having services merged would certainly save both counties money, and result in a higher quality of public services such as police, fire and ambulance services.”
He also noted the negative aspect of a possible merger such as the loss of each county’s identity. “I may be wrong, but I do not feel like the residents of either county are ready to give up their identity at this time. If in the future it is necessary to merge the counties for financial reasons, then the residents may be more inclined to consider a merger,” added Commissioner Farmer. “I feel that if this were put to a vote, the majority of the residents of each county would choose not to merge at this time in order to retain their own identity,” he said.
On the other hand, if the merger were to take place he does believe, “it would be a cost savings to both counties,” with the elimination of duplication services such as “jails, courthouses and county offices.” At the present time he would “prefer to see each county continue to operate independently but working together on projects that will benefit both in the future,” he said.
“When we (cities of Fulton and Hickman) were having the talks regarding centralized dispatch, there were a lot of good points brought up,” he reminded. “I thought we were going to continue to have discussions and public workshops on this proposal, but for some reason it has not happened.” He would at least like to “entertain the idea once again, to have the workshops where the public can provide their input and obtain a better understanding of the whole concept of central dispatch,” concluded Commissioner Farmer.
Fulton Commissioner David Prater added, “Consolidation is definitely a topic needing to be addressed.”
With both “counties financially strapped, to say the least,” commented Commissioner Prater, “merging of county services would possibly ease this financial strain.”
“However, I believe there would be marked taxpayer opposition to this type of change,” he continued.
“At worst, we should continue to work together on programs like economic development and strive to find other areas where the two counties can work together,” concluded Commissioner Prater.
Commissioners in Hickman were a more willing to provide their thoughts on the possible merger.
David Lattus has only been a commissioner since January 2009 but has held the seat in previous years. He said the people should decide this issue.” “The Judge/Executives and Mayors could appoint a Commission of people from the cities and the two counties to study the possibility of the merger,” stated Commissioner Lattus. “They could conduct research and hold public forums to get input from the citizens and report back to the elected officials their findings. If enough interest is shown, the issue could possibly be voted on by the citizens to determine what the majority wants,” he added. “I believe that consolidation of services is a good idea and could achieve a great deal of cost savings,” he did offer.
Commissioner Barbara Yandal is in her second term and said merging services is a “win, win situation.”
“Our city (Hickman) is hurting for finances. We are sinking at a very fast pace. We have experienced lost revenue due to job losses, and the economy,” she points out.
“Our tax base has been lost due to an aging generation of workers that are retiring and the majority of younger workers that are entering the work force have a very different opinion as what it means to have work ethics,” she said. “Plus our community consists of mostly seniors that are tax exempt. We have just as many vacant properties as any other community and the city can’t seem to get a handle on it because there is not enough money available to research and dispose of it as it should be,” added Commissioner Yandal.
Commissioner Yandal added “If a merger could occur, we could pool our resources and ideals and move into the next decade with a better outlook on the future for our children. I am not sticking my head in the sand and thinking that this could happen without problems, but by hard work and togetherness we can accomplish greatness.”
With regard to each county losing its identity Commissioner Yandal added, “I’m sure that there are those who will say that we will lose our identity and I know that most people are not comfortable with change.”
“I am afraid that if we don’t make plans now to move ahead we will be non- existent as a city in another five or seven years,” she commented. “We have talked about centralized dispatch for six or seven years,” she added, “and we are still talking.”
“It is my opinion that we have talked too long already. No one wants to make a commitment,” she concluded.
Commissioner Charles Choate was elected last fall and began his two-year term in January and like, Commissioner Lattus he has served the City of Hickman in this capacity in the past.
He said “there is the possibility that working in partnership with another county, through committees, groups or open forums to discuss specific issues such as economic development, tourism, transportation or law enforcement, could bring new ideas to benefit each area.”
On the subject of merging the two counties he said, “but to consider a plan to put both counties under one roof, under one name, with children attending one school and operating under one government to me is “unrealistic anytime soon.”
“The issue of combining and busing students from Fulton County, Fulton City and Hickman County to a centrally located school would probably in itself end the merger possibility, if put before the people on a referendum,” continued Commissioner Choate.
“Still, a major consideration for all of us to realize is that we do not have to have a “merger” to work in productive partnership or produce “regionalized” projects. Our area has the resources of transportation needed to recruit industrial prospects with rail, highway, airports and barge traffic,” he said.
His personal opinion “is that all concerned people for local community growth to focus their ideas and commitments on realistic ideas which can make a difference today, and to leave the door open for a two county, or more, board of individuals willing to listen and share ideas and resources to make each one more prosperous in the future,” concluded Commissioner Choate.
Columbus Mayor Richard Frizzell, who has been in his position for one year is all for a “merger” if it “would help or improve the two counties,” he said. Columbus has a population of about 250 residents. Mayor Frizzell commented on the fact that the one store they had went out of business. “We do have one restaurant that is doing a little better business since the store went out,” he added.
The little restaurant that closed had been located in Columbus for many years before the owners closed it and moved to California. For reasons such as this, Mayor Frizzell leans toward being in favor of consolidating or at least combining services “even if you have to change the name and have both of them in one word so to speak,” he said.
He wasn’t sure if the people would be for a possible “merger” or not, but does feel if the “merger” would assist the town of Columbus economically, “they might be for it.
Fulton City Manager Kenney Etherton and Commissioners Martha Vowell and Jeff Vaughn elected not to voice their opinions either for or against the rhetorical question of merging the two counties.
Hickman City Commissioner Phillip Williams’ comments will be published in the July 9 issue.
Those wishing to voice an opinion should e-mail hickmancourier @bellsouth.net or mail a response to: The Hickman Courier, P.O. Box 70, Hickman, Ky., 42050 by July 6.
