Ray: County has 'a serious problem' with budget

County Mayor Eugene Ray, during his quarterly report at Tuesday's meeting of Bedford County Board of Commissioners, said the county needs to continue tightening its belt as it heads into the budgeting process for a new fiscal year.

"We've got a serious problem in the county," he said. "Our expense exceeds our revenue."

Ray said he'd just left a meeting with representatives of a local employer, which he did not name, whose prospects were "not good."

"We're going to have to cut back our expenses," said Ray.

He praised some county officials for trying to do more with less, noting that Register of Deeds Johnny Reed painted his own office during a recent expansion and others in the courthouse annex have pitched in in similar ways. He noted that there are some areas where expenses are fixed -- the county can't avoid having to house prisoners, for example. But he said creative ideas are needed.

Meanwhile, Kay Demonbren of the county zoning office offered some good news. Although the fact that only one building permit was issued in January made it "the bleakest month that we have had on record as far as permits issued," the number has been on the rebound, increasing during the months since January. She said a surveyor has been making inquiries about a possible new subdivision.

"Things are looking up," said Demonbren.

Circuit Court Clerk Thomas Smith noted wryly that a bleak economy has the unfortunate effect of increasing crime, and thus the court system activity which funds his office.

"When the business goes bad," Smith said, "my business gets better."

E-911 board

Commissioner Mark Thomas was appointed as the ninth district representative for the Emergency Communications District board. Last month, County Mayor Eugene Ray had nominated Rick Overcast, but then Thomas' name had been placed in nomination from the floor. Ray, who chairs the commission, later said he should not have accepted the nomination from the floor; the rules require that the county mayor make the nominations and that the commission either confirm or reject them.

The commission deadlocked between Overcast and Thomas last month, with neither receiving the 10 votes needed for election. This month, Ray nominated Thomas and said he would not accept any other nominations.

Thomas was confirmed by voice vote.

Rezoning

Commissioners approved a rezoning request for property at 3164 U.S. 231 North from A-1 (agriculture) to C-1 (commercial). William Ty Irby had requested the rezoning in order to open a professional real estate services office.

No one spoke in favor of or against the request during a public hearing that had been scheduled just prior to the commission meeting. There are other commercial businesses in the immediate neighborhood, according to discussion at the commission's rules committee meeting last month. The commission approved the rezoning by voice vote without any discussion or debate.

Economic plan

The commission approved the updated Economic Development Strategic Plan as submitted by Shelbyville & Bedford County Chamber of Commerce and the Joint Economic Development Board.