Christian County Fiscal Court magistrates passed a resolution Tuesday morning to support the nickel tax approved by the Christian County Board of Education earlier this year which was recalled and will now be placed on the November general election ballot.
During public comments, District 4 Magistrate Darrell Gustafson stepped up to the podium and brought up the nickel tax issue and shared his support for the future of the county’s children.
Gustafson’s comments were echoed by District 5 Magistrate Rich Liebe and Judge-Executive Steve Tribble who voiced their support for the nickel tax. However, District 6 Magistrate Phillip Peterson said he found out about this resolution late Monday afternoon and didn’t have time to talk to his constituents about the issue. He said magistrates should not be voting based on personal feelings because they are elected officials and represent the people.
District 7 Magistrate Jerry Gilliam said he’s not personally sure how he will vote for the nickel tax but there have been a lot of questions raised from the people he has talked to.
Gustafson then made a motion for a resolution that Fiscal Court supported the nickel tax, which passed by a 5-1 vote. Peterson cast the lone nay vote and Gilliam and District 8 Magistrate Terry Bowman abstained. Bowman explained he abstained from voting because he has not talked to one constituent that is in favor of the nickel tax.
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Bowman agreed they want to do what is best to equip the children, and he also agreed with Peterson that votes should be based on what their constituents elected them to do and not their personal opinion.
Judge Tribble, who would only vote if there was a tie, said he would vote for what he believes in and what he feels is right.
To hear the entire discussion on the nickel tax, go to the Christian County Fiscal Court’s video posted on Facebook.
In other action, after a lengthy discussion, magistrates voted 4-3 to approve a request by District 1 Constable Clarence Clark to put blue lights on a 2000 mini-van. Magistrates tabled action of a request from his Deputy Constable Glenn Rickard to have blue lights until they could investigate some issues further.
The next fiscal court meeting will be Tuesday morning, November 12, at 8:30.
