Well we could have seen this coming. Let's see....What were the names Commissioner Richard used to describe the YMCA folks?

He calls the mayor names and the people lose. He calls the YMCA people names, and the people lose.

He lacks the ability to conduct himself in a professional manner, and the people lose.

Face reality....David Richard is BAD for Forsyth. We can't afford to lose any more.

Southside voter,

Your logic is typical of Bell supporters - missing.

Please describe the process by which the U.S. Corps of Engineers people in Moble Ala. are influenced to award Bethel Park to the YMCA based on my comments about the YMCA?

This one should be interesting. Do I need popcorn to watch this entertainment?

Ladies and Gentlemen (or boys & girls as DR likes to refer to us) this afternoon is the public hearing and meeting at the administration building. It's on the 2nd floor.

Please, if you can on short notice, why not go down to the meeting and see what's going on? It starts at 5 o'clock today.

I cannot believe I am saying this but DR is correct on this. Still too much sarcasm though.

Why oh why is it that unethical and illegal practices REIGN in this dang county?! which politician this time paid off the corps and their people? seriously.

Do you think, Commissioner, that just MAYBE, if you had been tending to the business in your district instead of spending God only knows how many hours arguing with people online, you could have been a little more on top of this situation?

The district commissioner has (again) failed the people. And now he wants the county to spend (even more) money in court to fight the ACE. How much money do the taxpayers have to spend on David Richard's temper tantrums?

David Richard and his temper and big mouth are bad for Forsyth.

Southside voter,

If you knew anything about what you were talking about (What am I saying? You're a Bell supporter!), you'd know that there is nothing you can stay on top of with the COE. They make a decision with their own information, with their own agenda, and on their own time.

Go ahead and make your case that the county shouldn't fight to keep Bethel Park as a full-access PUBLIC park. Go ahead. Try that one. And try making any case that the COE knows me or what I have done or not done from Adam.

I've got the popcorn cooking for this entertainment.

Southside,

Please leave politics out of this.

I have witnessed the corps mismanagment for 30+ yrs and this tops all I have ever seen.

This is simply an issue of our rights as citizens and the law. We need to unite and fight this outrage. Are you a ymca member ?

Can we afford to have this park?

I mean, if the COE let's us lease it can we afford to put in staff, pay operating costs and maintenance?

A few years ago we probably could have put it in the budget but now we are facing a shortage.

Sometimes there things we really, really want we just can not afford. I realize that is not the popular thought but it may be the realistic one.

Food for thought.

Comm. Richard, your ideas please?

Two things:

Yes, we can afford the park. While the cost to develop it is not in any budget right now (because we don't have the park), we've done some preliminary number-crunching and the fees charged for use will help offset some of those costs. Ours is a passive to semi-active use, so staff, operating costs and maintenance are minimal.

The second point is the more important one. If Forsyth County doesn't get the park, it will be eliminated from public use for a private use. The Corps own numbers showed that over 22,000 people used Bethel Park when the lake was full. It is the deepest boat ramp (three lanes, even) in Forsyth County, if not the entire lake. Dozens, if not hundreds of homeowners wil see their property values drop if the YMCA comes in. Traffic on pickup and dropoff times will be a nightmare. The YMCA can't even build what they want to build there, which violates the very lease that the Corps proposes to grant them.

I'll add one other point here. The YMCA plan decimates Bethel Park. The county's plan preserves much of it's native beauty. The county's plan preserves the park for the 22,000 people who use it annually. The YMCS'a plan restricts it to about 3,000-5,000 kids each year. Can you explain why the Corps, whose mandate is to provide the most use for their parkland, would choose the YMCA over keeping Bethel Park the way it is?

I can't explain the Corps methods any more than you can.

I understand your position, but again, sometimes we want things that we just cannot afford or does not work. For example, I badly want a place in the mountains, have looked at them many times. When I look to make the decision though I cannot afford the insurance and upkeep. I can meet the monthly payment easily but I can' take on the additional unknown cost risk. It is not prudent.

We are going to face tough times here in the next few years. I just don't think we can afford it anymore. You see, most like the low property taxes and we cannot continue to take on expenses. If we do, the only option is going to be to raise property taxes. Did you not say in the last 12 months or so that we would see property tax increases anyway?

Now you say that the prelimnary numbers show fees will offset those costs. Is that development costs or upkeep costs? Offset, by the way, does not answer the real question. That is a bland, try and appease answer.

If 3,000 to 5,000 kids use the faciltiy and the program put on by the YMCA saves but one child's future is that not worth something? You see, it is not private as in John Doe gets to lock it up forever. It will used to enhance the lives of children. 22,000 people using the park is wonderful for recreation but the other use can have life changing impact.

Are we such a selfish society that we can't see the good these kids will receive versus our ability to go swimming?

As to the ramps, while it may be great ramps it is not the only location and we can create ramps at other places.

Can you tell me what basis is being used to validate the property value loss? Is is speculation or is it backed up with a study?

I am not member of the YMCA and do not know one person that is involved with them or the park. In fact I may or may not support it. I am just trying to get some q & a going so we can see all sides.

I also have to take into consideration that this is election season.

As a similar issue, do you support the golf course being bought by the county?

Jerry,

Property values in that area have already plummeted ever since the YMCA was proposed there. The plummet is far, far greater than home prices dropping across Forsyth. Some people can't sell their homes at all, even when forced to relocate.

And I'm sorry, but public use is public use. I do not value one life over another - all are equal. The "It's for the children" argument falls on deaf ears if one person's private property is affected by the actions of government. Maybe if your home was the one that couldn't be sold, or maybe if you're the one having a heart attack some Sunday morning and the fire truck can't get to you because the narrow street is blocked with cars waiting to drop off Jimmy or Judy for the week, you might think a bit differently.

If the YMCA wants to do some good, they can find a spot that doesn't affect others lives and property values. And no, you can't just create boat ramps at other places.

Development costs could be funded by the Park and Rec bond just passed, or by funds during any given year through the Parks department. All numbers are preliminary, and subject to modification based on what and when we build something.

And if the financials are good, I would certainly take a look at buying Lanier Golf Course, provided we have a good funding mechanism for it. But not in this economic environment where sheriff's deputies and fire fighters are not being added to our growing county.

And I don't do anything to curry favor for votes. You may not believe that, but it is consistent with my voting record for the past 3+ years.

So it is okay to take over the park but not the golf course? That does not sound like equality to me.

Money is money and you have just answered the question about the golf course like I said for Bethel.

The one thing you cannot argue is the golf course has a revnue stream that can allow it to cover operating costs. Bethel Park does not.

But I am not going to sit here and back and forth with you as you have just shown me that you are not capable of straight answers. You can say what you like but you are pandering for votes.

Do you own (in any way, shape or form, in your name or a friend or family) a piece of property near Bethel?

Jerry,

You are missing the point, big-time.

I didn't say it was OK to take over the park but not the golf course - you did.

Bethel Park is different from Lanier Golf Course in that Bethel's use is yet to be determined; it will be changed from today's use to the planned use, therefore, we don't know the exact implications of what those changes may bring. Lanier's use is on-going; it is a golf course today, and if the county buys it, it will be a golf course tomorrow. We have a much better idea of what those costs are going to be, because the use doesn't change.

Your attitude shows that you are not the innocent independent uncommitted voice you claim to be. You clearly have an agenda here, and we now know what that is.

And I do not own any property anywhere except for my home. I have no interest in any property anywhere other than my home. No friends property, no relatives property, no nothing.

And I never, ever pander for votes. If you had been paying any attention to my actions during my term, you'd never make that statement.

I never said I was uniformed. That would be some of your nonsense.

My agenda is to point out things as I see them, point out your differing points of view, your contradictions and mistruths. That's all. Nothing more, nothing less.

By your answer it is evident you have a public platform and your own little hidden platform.

And the sad thing is, Jerry, that you failed miserably at making any points, or exposing any mistruths or contradictions on my part.

Open government. No hidden agendas - ever. You can't handle the truth, Jerry.

Your "truth" is what I cannot handle. Your "truth" is full of half-truths and lies.

Hello again, I'm running in District #5 and heard about Bethelview Park for sometime. The issue got away because someone did not man the helm properly. (hint) Commissoner... I talk about volunteers on one of my videos on my website doing some of the work to relieve the pressure on the tax base which includes knowing what is really going on by way of imput from the Citizens. The sheriffs dept has a crime watch thing going on. They are volunteers! My district # 5 will have volunteers and it may trickle down to other communities here in Forsyth, I hope, We are in a crises. No true leadership what so ever.

Thanks, Terry Sweeney

Mr. Sweeney,

In the first place, it is Bethel Park, not Bethelview Park. At least get that right.

The issue never "got away" because the BOC can't act until the Corps acts. Once they did, we then have to choose the course that is best for the citizens of Forsyth County. You'd probably know that if you actually did some research on any subject.

Nice Going Mr. Richard..falling for the anti-Y propaganda ? You know that the Y is a judeo-christian organization that is NOT exclusionary to anyone. If you believe otherwise, you would be wrong....AGAIN!