Published: Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010 / Updated: Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010 10:50 AM
Clover School Board needs to answer Whys
In regard to the planned school site purchase at Allison Creek, and as a taxpayer, a member of the Clover Town Council, and candidate for the York County Council, I have to ask why were the citizens of the Lake Wylie area not invited to be part of the process in the selection of a school site?
The Lake Wylie Civic Association who represents the majority of the homeowners associations in that area was not notified a site selection was under way, their input was not considered. To have them totally engaged in the process would have simply been the right thing to do, since the majority of the tax revenues for the schools come from the Lake Wylie area and it is a school for their children.
Why does the school board have ability to tax and spend without accountability to the citizens it represents?
Why spend $6.8 million or $39,700 per acre for property nearly outside of the district’s boundary?
All of the District 2 areas (Clover, Bethel, Bowling Green, Allison Creek, Lake Shore, Filbert and New Home) should have been engaged as well. They should have been informed and involved when such a large amount of their tax money is being spent.
Why was the site that was chosen, right against Rock Hill’s School District? This puzzles me.
Why was the Crowders Creek site good a few years ago but not now?
Why can’t we have more communication with our citizens before we make moves like this and spend such enormous amounts of tax money?
Why in these tough economic times does the school board pay this much for property?
Why 172 acres, which by the way, will add almost half as much land to the system as they already own for one or two more schools?
Did anyone ask or anyone offer, information about growth patterns possibly going north toward the planned Garden Parkway ? What about east or west of Three Points?
Seemingly, no one knows which way the growth is going except those who want the sale to take place.
Why was a “Professional Commercial Site and Land Acquisition Specialist” not involved in analyzing and negotiating the purchase of other sites? Why did they rely of information by unqualified individuals for help in this complex issue?
Does it matter to our leaders what we (District 2) may want or think? It will in the future!
With my experience on the Clover Planning Commission, Clover Council and Economic Development Board, having worked with land and site developers, I have to ask why didn’t we negotiate for donated land that’s “free to the tax payers?” We could have obtained a better deal. I will always look for the biggest bang for the buck. It’s not their money, it belongs to the public.
All of these “whys” must justify that we take another look at this, before moving forward.
Should I be elected as York County Councilman, I will always be impartial, seek transparency and encourage community involvement in all government decision making processes.
BRUCE HENDERSON, candidate for York County Council District 2
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