Does anyone else see some underhanded stuff here.... they have 20+/- acre on Bethel Road... yet want to buy land from the former principal... Eitherway I for one have no advantage on shopping in hartselle anymore

Oh My!!!! I will be broke now. I have been trying to save pennies for years!! Now look what this darned council has done. I will have to spend my saved pennies on groceries now instead of buying Cigerettes,Beer and paying for my Internet. I may even lose my $250,000.00 home and darn it I can't buy a new vehicle every other year!!! I think I will spend $5.00 in gas and drive to Decatur and pay them 9% tax or better yet I may even spend $10.00 in gas and drive to Cullman or Madison... no wait... forget Madison... they are wantng to increase the sales tax there to 8.5%. Hey I think I will just move away cause this darn 1 cent tax increase. Get the picture!!! STFU!!!! The interstate is open both ways if the penny will kill you!!!

Just remember these gougers next election. I for one will not vote for any encumbant in any of the next elections. It's time for a change and it darn sure can't be any worse than the representation that we do not have now. Everything is going up but income, and numerous families are struggling NOW just to stay afloat. It's really not the penny, its the timing........

I agree with Kay. Why spend money on the awnings downtown why we could have spent that money on a new school. Look at the Millions the mayor made when he sold his property to walgreens, but you can't use your political gainfor personal use!! Now they want to buy the former principle's land out by the interstate to build a new school? I am glad someone else can see the railroading that is happening!!!!!!

VOTE THEM OUT!!!!!

Good job Councilmen! Glad to see some progressive action in Hartselle. One cent will not bankrupt anyone, and will guarantee our city's future academic excellence. Growth is occurring east of I-65 and that is where Hartselle's future lies. It must not have been a tough decision, since the Stimulus loan was so easy to get and will probably not happen again.

Once again promises not to raise taxes are just a campaign ploy to get elected. What this is really about is your 5 council members cannot be trusted to keep their word. They are liers, and not trust worthy. That's why they will be voted out of office.

A mans word means nothing to them. Great example for your children. Thanks for the knife in the back. You will be a hero to some who want the school built But the people I know see you for what you really are, a LIER.

All those for the hike act as if the council is going to go door-to-door asking for one penny. No, my friends. It's a penny on EVERY dollar you spend from Jan 1, 2010 until Dec 31, 2041. That's a helluva lot of pennies. Ronald....you don't have a clue.

I agree 100% with the council. 1 cent is not going to kill anybody. If 1 cent affects you that much then maybe folks should reconsider their uses of funds on unneeded things. The city desperatly needs a new high school as the current one continues to show its age with problems arising every school year. I can remember walking the halls and be in classes there and it was such a cluster with the # of students vs. the small size. The downtown money spent on new canopies wouldnt have even be a good down payment on the school so therefore that wasnt an option. With the city getting the funds, it opened the idea of actaully getting a new high school and therefore influenced the council to vote the way they did. As for not building on the land they currently own on bethel road, it is b/c of the rate of traffic. It is tough enough with just the elementary school there much less adding a high school where 1/2 the students are of age to drive. Therefore exploring options for new land seems like the only option. It just happens that Mr. Cain owns enough land to suit the need of a new school. Folks you need to look at the growth rate of residents of the city of Hartselle over the last ten years. At that rate of growth the city will continue to grow and expand and in turn makes for more students and more development. Build on an area not surrounded by big communities or developments where in 30- 40 years when we have to expand the school even more, we will have the needed room to expand.

Congratulations Hartselle. Your council has done the right thing. Before you send them packing, though, be reminded of a similar event in Decatur a couple of elections ago. The last good leadership this city had was run out of office over the penny tax hike. We still have the tax and look what a fine mess we made of our local government.

The sales tax is a mean tax on the people. But until Alabama effects real change in property and income taxes, we are stuck with the sales tax as the only way to pay for schools. This one time interest free loan of stimulus money (your federal tax dollars)will do what it was intended to do by putting a lot of people to work with the added benefit of improving education. Hartselle has taken a big step in making itself attractive to new residents, all of whom will be paying that extra penny on the the dollar. The big picture looks much brighter today for Hartselle than it has in quite awhile.

Maybe you do need a new school but don't you think the teachers need a pay raise since they have not had one for a long time and won't get one for 6 years?

where is all this sand that you are using to stick your heads into. the penney is not the problem, its the lies told about not raising taxes to get elected, then after getting elected doing what they want, and the voters cant do anything about it untill the next election, when it is to late. by using all this "free" money, they are adding to the already overgrown budget deficit, that your grandkids will be paying for the rest of their lives. there is no such thing as an honest politician, never seen one in my life, and the longer they stay in office, the more they lie, and cheat. remember oil can harry with his big smile, putting little missy on the railroad track, in an attempt to get her land. seems like i remember a track going thru your city, better take a look and see if any one is chained to it.

Seems hartselle politicians are no different than any other politician, crooks. Liars, you should all be ashamed of yourselves.

Based on the way people spell on this forum......some of yall need to go back to high school and take spelling all over again. (if you cant even spell the word liar correctly{lier????} nathan must have been a baseball player)

Being a citizen of Hartselle, I have to say this.......good for the city council in FINALLY getting the nerve to govern the city and do what's best for the people, even if the people cant figure it out for themselves. The idea that the council members lied about raising taxes to get into office is preposterous. Let me guess, the city would rather let $22.1 million pass the city by just to not raise sales tax 1 penny??? I would be upset if the city just said, we are not going to take all that money because that means we have to raise the sales tax to 9%. I would vote every one of them out if they didn't take the opportunity!! You have to strike while the iron's hot and do what is best for the city, even if there are people who cant see whats best for the city right in front of their own faces.

I graduated from HHS in 1993 and back then the school was falling apart, I cant imagine what its like today in 2009 going into 2010. The new high school is just what the city needs.

Hey Ronald....great commentary....it describes about 75% of the citizens of Hartselle.

Crystal when did yall become a word? " The idea that council members lied about raising taxes to get into office is preposterous." The 5 who made a promise not to do it, did it. You still don't see it do you. Follow like a sheep and drink the koolaid.

Obviously, Nathan YOU are the one who doesnt get it. When an opportunity presents itself, you take it. Let me guess, you would rather pass on $22.1M to make the city better than pay 1 penny more for every dollar you spend? Passing on this money is ignorant. Its people like you that have been holding this city back, just because they can't find that 1 extra penny somewhere. If you don't want this city to move forward, fine. Go live in the county somewhere, better yet, go somewhere else and cry and moan about how you cant afford 1 more penny.

Nice to see you pulled out a dictionary and spelled lied correctly.

The money should be used to REPAIR the current school buildings. Crystal you talk about the shape of the high school well they are still going to USE that building. Are we going to be any better off? NO. The 1 cent sales tax does not bother me but our "WONDERFUL" school board does not allow the non certified staff to have substitues because it saves money. They want

"to SAVE jobs" thats a bunch of bull. Where will the money for the extra staff that adding a new school to the system will need. They don't care that the lunchrooms are working 1-2 or 3 short. They don't care that the equipment is not working. They don't care that the special needs kids that HAVE to have an aide with them don't because no sub is allowed. Why is the new school only going to hold 300 more than the current? If Hartselle is going to grow so much shouldn't they be looking at even more room.

Bottom line is the people of Hartselle spoke on this issue and said no. Then the council basically said , we don't care what the people that voted us in said. We will do it our way. Maybe we need a new school, Maybe we don't. It definately depends on who you ask. Everyone has their own opinion. That is why I think you let the entire city vote on the issue instead of letting a handful of people make the desicion. I guess the thing to do if you live in Hartselle would be , QUIT VOTING. It obviously does absolutely no good. For now on just let Kenny Thompson, Mark Mizell, and Bill Smelser vote. I wonder how much they wind up making based on where the school is located?

Hey Crystal, if I'm not mistaken you tried to call me out once before for a misspelled word, then turned around and misspelled the same word yourself. You really shouldn't try to call others out on this, as it is obvious to me that you are not the brightest crayon in the box. You wouldn't even respond after I called you out. Also last time I checked spelling class is something you have in grammer school, not high school. Try sticking to commenting on the issue a little more, and stop trying to rip on other people in this discussion.

With that said, would it not be a plausible alternative to make Hartselle a wet city. I think the tax money spent in Decatur, by Hartselle residents on alcohol would generate much more money than a 1% sales tax increase. Does anyone else agree?

THINK OF WHAT DECATUR GOT WHEN THEY VOTED AGAINST THE PREVIOUS MAYOR ! BE CAREFUL CITIZENS OF HARTSELLE !

Let's vote for Hartselle to go WET now!!!!

the opinion is what counts, not the spelling, and math is what should be used. some property taxes are used for schools. hartselle will never go wet, then the church people would have to speak to one another in the state store, as it is now they still buy it, but no one knows them. falkville was the first to talk about being wet, let them get the outback, then you can go and eat, and smoke, and pay less taxes, and still not speak to anyone when buying your favorite adult drink.

If Hartselle went wet, it would bring more money into Hartselle for the new school, than the tax raise would, A LOT MORE MONEY FOR THE SCHOOL

AH WHERE 4 BAPTISTS ARE GATHERED---LOOK CLOSELY YOU MAY FIND A 5TH--

THAT CAME FRO THE ABC

so true, so true......

I could blow my every penny of my money on *edit*, that still doesn't make the fact we are taxed to death ok. What is wrong with you people? For the life of me I just don't understand how anyone would be ok with more taxes.

I am a 92 grad of hartselle high I really dont remember the school falling apart I was there tuesday night for the basketball game the gym was nice the new field house for the football team looked nice Is the reason for a new school because of to many kids or the hartselle folks want to have better stuff than everyone else in surrounding cities just wondering .my kids dont go to hartselle and will not ever

by the way what they are doing on main street looks like crap besides the light poles

--Mythbuster-- Alcohol is not the factor of getting restuarants-- population is. Go and check about getting a franchise for a upscale eatery and you'll find that most won't consider it unless the population is around 50,000 for a few mile radius.

your are half right....if it aint wet....you dont get

HOW DID CULLMAN GET A RUBY TUESDAY THEN??? THEY AINT WET!!

go a little more up the ladder, lobster, outback, ruths kriss, olive garden. rubys is kinda like a waffle house, except the food is not as good, and it cost more

If memory serves me right, when Decatur opted to go wet, that was going to solve all of their money problems. Has that worked out for them? Just curious.

Right on Smiley!! My place of employment is asked every year to sponsor a class at a elementary school so the kids will have supplies for the year. All that alcohol money made no improvements to the decatur school system. Lets just say that you get a nickle tax for every can of beer. There would have to be 30,000,000 cans or 1.25 million cases sold to generate the 1.5 million needed each year to repay the "stimulus" money borrowed. With the population of Hartselle at say 15,000. That would mean that every man, woman, and child would need to consume 2,000 cans or 83 cases of beer a year. DRINK ANOTHER ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The "alcohol" money that Decatur got by promising improvements is sitting in a bank account drawing interest and not being spent so that the city can get a better rating on the money they have to "borrow" to accomplish the improvements in Decatur. Go figure.

I have an idea:

1- Audit the job descriptions of some of the "big dogs" in central office.. Does the city of Hartselle realize Jerry Reeves makes100k a year to plan our schools lunch room menu..

2- Ask Mr. Cain to donate the land and then name the freaking school after Him..

3- Politicians need to seek bringing more restaurants and businesses to Hartselle (create a stronger revenue tax base)...