County Watch
by G. L. Penney

 I continue to be amazed by the county government of which I am now a part. In particular, I am amazed that I heard nothing at all from the other county legislators at our latest scheduled work session regarding the scathing report of the State Comptroller that was issued on the previous day. In that report, the comptroller castigated the county for mishandling federal funds in the amount of $1,800,000. Of that amount all that remains is real property valued at $700,000.

 Do the other legislators feel that the State Comptroller will let them off the hook as did the U.S. Housing and Urban Development? Or do they think that the letter sent to the comptroller by Mr. Barton will placate the comptroller's office? Do they not realize that the comptroller issued his press release after having received Mr. Barton's letter?

 Certainly, the legislature has not discussed adopting a corrective action plan as was requested by the comptroller. Do they think that placing the property with the Local Development Corporation instead of the Industrial Development Agency is sufficient?

 As things stand, the county now has a million dollars less to loan to small businesses and has established no oversight of such loans except for that of the Director of Economic Development who also happens to be the president of the Local Development Corporation. I would strongly urge everyone to tell their individual legislators that this is not acceptable.