RE: Grant falls through for Stokes garage

“We’ve learned a lesson here,” (Commissioner Ron Carroll) continued. “If we have a venture that is truly a joint venture, we need to be involved in every aspect of it.”

No kidding... Somebody fell asleep at the switch.

Jimmy Walker, the board’s vice chairman and the county representative on the YVEDDI board, said that everything seemed on track at the YVEDDI meeting last Thursday. There was no discussion of a possibility that the deal wouldn’t go through, he said.

“It really concerns me that this opportunity that was there has slipped away,” Walker said. “I think it’s too early to unplug at this point. Is this the final answer, or is this something we can negotiate around?”

Hey Jimmy: Stick a fork in this "opportunity", it's done. Since you are the county representative on the YVEDDI board, they pretty much made you look foolish.

Stokes had bought about 2 acres for the project, costing the county about $30,000. The county had also made plans to move Stokes-Reynolds Memorial Hospital’s helicopter pad.

“I certainly would have never obligated this county for $30,000 to buy land if I’d known what I know today,” said Leon Inman, the board’s chairman.

You don't say... That's $30,000 down the drain. This could be good 'o8 election fodder to be used against Leon and Jimmy next year if somebody wants to use it.