Today we, the voters of Tate County, own a hospital that has been bought and paid for without increasing taxes. We are the proud owners of 43,000,000 dollar’s worth of new roads spanning 128 miles of Tate County. And the board found a way to pay for it without raising taxes.
In fact, under the leadership of our existing board voter’s tax burdens have been reduced in both 2021 and 2022, in large part due to their budgeting and prudent spending practices. For voters residing in the County School District, the tax burden has been reduced by 13%.
On the economic development front, we have a new 95 room Holiday Inn Express being built as a result of their efforts.
The Board members I have talked to are asking for 4 more years in office so they can finish getting our county back on the right track and I am inclined to give it to them: four more years, that is.
If you are thinking I don’t live in a mobile home, you would be wrong. I have a 1997 double-wide. Like other mobile homeowners I got my hackles up when I first read the proposed ordinance. In fact, they are still up.
I personally believe that allowing mobile homes is a way to attract young families and retirees to our county. At the bottom of this disagreement is the real Issue: as Americans we don’t like to be told what we can or cannot do on land that we own.
This controversy is not a sufficient justification for firing a group of men who have done a yeoman’s job of improving the county in which we are privileged to live. If you live in a subdivision, retirement community or own a business you are subject to rules and ordinances. Our new zoning plan subjects us to similar rules.
While it may feel like we were singled out, that is not the case. In fact, our new plan of development is an inclusive one that looks to establish a direction that is best for all of us. I, for one, do not want to vote for someone whose goal is to deliver payback for a decision that directly impacts me and the other 29% of mobile homeowners.
The body of work from our existing board speaks loudly for itself. And I believe these successes are a sufficient reason for giving them four more years to finish what they started: an effort to get Tate County back on the right track.
The mobile home debacle actually showed the flexibility of our Board. The voters spoke out and they listened. They made changes to the ordinance as a result of public feedback.
Here are the facts: An ordinance in place since 2009 would not let a mobile homeowners replace their home in Zone R1 if it were destroyed by a fire or tornado. Now mobile homeowners in that zone can replace their homes if destroyed by fire or storm. You can put a mobile home on land with an Agricultural designation.
If you own a mobile home and it needs to be replaced, you can replace it with another mobile home If you own a mobile home and it needs to be moved you can re-locate it on your property. The biggest challenge the voters of Tate County face, is electing a qualified conservative Supervisor from district four. The county needs a man who will help to bring momentum to the current efforts to improve Tate County.
All the evidence I have seen that speaks to the efforts of our present Board of Supervisors tells the story of a job well done for Tate Co. No coach would take his quarterback and key players out of a ball game at the 50-yard line if they were marching to the end zone for a winning score. I for one, will vote to keep our supervisors and our young highly competent County Administrator in the game by voting for my existing Supervisor in District One. I am inviting you to do the same.
John Eubanks
Sarah, MS
