By Fred Guarino
The Lowndes Signal

The Lowndes County Commission is seeking a copy of a “buyers prospectus” showing the tenants and amount of the rent on the Hayneville Plaza building prior to its purchase by the county for used by the South Central Alabama Broadband Commission (SCABC).

At Monday night’s regular meeting, the commission voted unanimously to authorize County Attorney Henry “Hank” Sanders to interact with Robert Woods, a real estate consultant, to obtain a copy of the document.

The action was taken after Sanders, Commission Chairman Charlie King Jr. and Robert Harris all stated they did not have copies of the prospectus.

Sanders said he looked at a copy of a letter in which it was stated a copy of the buyers prospectus was presented to him. He said Woods, who was alleged to have said that, said he did not say that.

Sanders said he was not handling the bond issue, but Woods said he gave a copy of the buyer prospectus to Commissioners Charlie King Jr., chairman, and Robert Harris.

“Your letter said that somehow it (a buyers prospectus) was confirmed to be in my office on the day of closing,” Sanders told Lowndes County Economic Development Director Gene Crum. “And, of course, there is no way to confirm that that was in my office because I wasn’t there and nobody was going to tell somebody about it. And the person alleged to have said that said he didn’t say that.”

“Well, that’s what he told me sir,” Crum said.

Crum said later it was his understanding that since Sanders was handling the closing that he had a copy of the buyers prospectus.

Farrior moved that Sanders interact with Woods to get a copy of the prospectus and any other information the commission needs concerning the amount of rent on the building.

The commission approved a resolution honoring late former Lowndes County Commissioner and Civil Rights icon Robert “Bob” Mants who died on Wednesday, Dec. 7.

The commission voted the fourth Monday of December will be a holiday and that there will no commission meeting.

County Administrator Jackie Thomas said county offices would be closed the Friday before and the Monday after Christmas.

The commission went into an executive session on sensitive matters regarding economic development.

Following the executive session, the commission voted to have Sanders help hire an attorney for an economic project.

On a motion by Harris, the commission also voted that requests for approval by the commission be submitted in writing two weeks in advance.

Harris said it would help the commission avoid having to make “snap decisions.”

Under the consent agenda the commission approved the payment of November invoices, an appropriation for $500 to Edgewood Tutorial and an appropriation of $600 to Friends of the Historic Trail.

The commission heard a request from Santina Rogers for 911 vehicle to replace one damaged in an accident.

Commissioners asked Rogers to work out something with County Engineer David Butts to use one of his department vehicles until the insurance is settled on the current vehicle.

Dr. Walter White and Lakeshia Griffin of the Family Guidance Center appeared before the commission to seek help with cost of repairs to the old library building the county is allowing them to use. No action was taken, but Harris said the county would help them bargain on repair costs.