Over the past week, the Greensboro News & Record has run a story and editorial on the mystery surrounding the delay of the demolition of the old Guilford County jail in downtown Greensboro.
When Guilford County Facilities and Property Management Director Eric Hilton gave a presentation to the Guilford County Board of Commissioners at the beginning of the year, he stated that in a matter of weeks the commissioners would start to see the building come down.
That hasn’t happened and now the demolition has been postponed indefinitely and no one is saying why.
That spawned a Tuesday, Feb 21 editorial in the News & Record that criticized the commissioners and other county officials for not being transparent.
The editorial reads, “The point is, when public officials don’t level with the public, rumors will fill the void. So will distrust. The county is spending $23.9 million in taxpayer money on this project, up from an original price tag of $12 million. But no one will even explain why they won’t say it’s taking longer.”
Actually, at least when speaking with the Rhino Times, several county commissioners have been very open as to why they are keeping silent on the matter: They’ve been informed by the county attorney in closed session not to say anything at all about the situation because doing so could result in a lawsuit against Guilford County.
The Board of Commissioners recently went into a closed session during an afternoon work session for the stated purpose of consulting with the county attorney. The matter and the legal ramifications were discussed in the meeting and at that time the attorney warned the board to remain silent.
Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Skip Alston said on Wednesday, Feb. 22, “The attorney said we can’t make any comments on it at all.”
When Alston was asked directly if the old jail was the location where the space aliens that the US government has been shooting down were emanating from, Alston said, “Obviously someone has been talking – but I’m sworn to secrecy.”
Standard Guilford County lack of Transparency and somebodies pocket getting filled. Just look at Sheriff’s pay raise (17%) when all the working level Deputies got 2% (not enough to keep up with Democratic inflation). Thats why they are leaving for private sector jobs.
What’s the secret? Is it coming down or not ?
Lol…at both socialistic parties.
That’s Skippy and his minions. Hiding behind someone else’s skirts. In the meantime the price tag that has doubled will continue to rise. Perhaps one reason an “anonymous “ Commissioner is inquiring about property tax increases.
Strong rumors Barnes had set aside some money that was supposed to go towards that building then when Rogers took over he pulled the money for his projects…
I wonder if the same rumors Rogers took from the Inmate Cateen when he first took office. Rumor also says he should not have been able to touch it at all. Supposed to be office limits and to be used for inmates only. Whos smells a cheat?
What in the world is this about?? Space aliens?! Lawsuits???! I wonder if someone has been in an accident or something?!
GET OUT OF THE COUNTY! In my opinion, it is run by criminals. Elected by a few people who bothered to show up to vote.
It’s always the same old story in this country for government at all levels from town level to national level….epic failure. Everything costs much more and takes much longer to complete than is originally budgeted. Strange that some other countries don’t have this problem and strange that this hasn’t always been the case here in America. Incompetence must be the most-valued “skill” nowadays in any type of government here.
I don’t know but this smells like a contract dispute to me. Why else would the county officials refuse to explain why the work has stopped? Next thing you know the commissioners will go out of state to find some demolition company to finish the job.
Why go out of state when we have a great local firm: DH Griffin?
“The attorney said we can’t make any comments on it at all.”
That’s such a cop-out. You’re a grown man with freedom of speech, you can say whatever you want to say. They are just using the attorney as a shield to hide incompetence.
Keep digging Scott!
Insiders say this mess is all over someone getting their feelings hurt over MWBE related something or other. If that’s actually true, it’s absolutely absurd that the county staff, or commissioners would add months, or years in time and millions in tax dollars to a project over some malarkey such as that.
The MWBE angle sort of rings true, at least at the GSO city council. When given choice between low bid or MWBE, the taxpayers aren’t in the equation.