Politics

County Commission: Who should pay for a new Fletcher library?

Tommy Thompson says because Fletcher as a town receives sales tax money, ‘I think they ought to go out there and build their own library’

By Bill Moss, Published: April 20, 2014

Candidates answered questions on the Ecusta Trail, teacher pay, the Flat Rock Playhouse and a new Fletcher library during forums this month.

Candidates (all Republicans) for the three Board of Commissioners seats are:

• District 1: Hogan Corn, J. Michael Edney and Andrew Riddle.
• District 3: William G. Lapsley and Larry R. Young.
• District 4: Tim Griffin and Tommy Thompson.

Do you think Henderson County should build a new library in the town of Fletcher (as the Fletcher Town Council has asked)?

Thompson: "Whenever a community incorporates, they take monies away from the county by virtue of the sales tax dollars. Fletcher decided to become a town of its own, they are now receiving a tremendous amount of tax dollars, they told their people that they wanted to incorporate and they wanted to be on their own, and I think they ought to go out there and build their own library. In that last 10 years, Henderson County has lost $10,114,896.30, tax dollars that went to Fletcher because they incorporated. They can take care of themselves with a town library. ... I wouldn't mind operating it but building it, no."

Michael Edney: "I think we could partner with them, making them bear the brunt of it but I have no problem operating it and working with them in that regard."

Tim Griffin: "I agree with Mr. Thompson. If you incorporate, you know what you are encumbering. You are encumbering the services in that municipality, that being one of the services that you have assumed."

Larry Young: The library property was donated to the county by the Youngblood family, he said. "The county paid for books and equipment. If that library is sold, that money goes to the Community Foundation. If they put up the property, we're responsible to see that a new one is built in Fletcher because those people give the original library to the county. I say yes to the library."

Bill Lapsley: "The town of Mills River provided the building and the county runs it. I think that's the example — Green River, Mills River — and I would support continuing that practice."