County Commissioners remain at odds over purchase of former FirstBank building
One month after the Benton County Commission voted 10-6 to move ahead with the proposed purchase of the former FirstBank building on the court square, commissioners continue to quarrel over the best way forward.
At the Benton County Commission meeting on Monday, September 16, Commissioner Keith Arnold expressed his ire and disappointment with comments attributed to Commissioner Debbie Bain on social media. The comments related to the purchase of the former FirstBank building and insinuated that the citizens should remember the issues at election time.
Arnold read the remarks attributed to Bain and commented that the comments did not show teamwork between the commission. Additionally, he spoke to comments that were specifically directed at him. He said, “I am pissed off. How dare you say those things. Get your facts straight.”
Bain’s post on the Hip Camden TN group on Facebook stated “Mayor wants the first bank on the square for him a new office ($480,000 tax payer dollars) here is the voting remember this come election time!” The post included a photo showing the voting record from Resolution No. 20240819-17, regarding the decision to purchase the former FirstBank building. The resolution passed with 10 commissioners voting yes and six commissioners voting against it.
The post has attracted some commentary and, as of Tuesday evening, had 195 comments and 14 shares. Among these comments is one from Bain’s account and says “Keith said at the meeting that a breezeway needed to be built from the first bank to the courthouse the price for the building does not include what it’s gonna cost to bring that bldg up to code repairs remodel get ready taxpayers. Remember I voted no”
Arnold says that he did not recommend a breezeway connecting the courthouse to the former FirstBank building.
Commissioner Dwayne Fowler questioned the purchase of the First Bank building. He was concerned about the ultimate cost, considering the prime interest rate at this time, and whether a purchase of this size might have been held off until the county could attain a better interest rate. He said, “I hate to see more and more money spent.”
With the citizen’s forum the issue arose again, citizen Nic Bolton was adamant that the county didn’t need another building especially if it was going to raise his property taxes. Mr. Bolton also took issue with monies spent by the county on law enforcement items. He expressed that in his opinion, money would be better spent on body cameras and cameras in patrol cars rather than buying new cars.
The initial agenda item for the meeting was the election of a commission chairperson and a pro-temp. Commissioner Roseann Ward was elected chairperson, with Jeff Murphy as pro-temp. The agenda resolution to appoint Barry Holland onto the Airport board was approved. Five notaries were approved as the agenda was addressed further, along with budget line item transfers for the BCSO and the Benton County Schools.
