The second and final meeting to allow the public to view a Power Point program on the proposed Mineral County School projects was held at Frankfort High School on Thursday evening.
Superintendent of Schools Skip Hackworth addressed the group of citizens present to explain what improvements county schools would receive from the combination of the bond levy, along with the grant funding of $9 million from the State Building Authority, and board contribution of $600,000.
Hackworth stated that in addition to the upgrading, renovations, and new construction at the Burlington Primary, Frankfort Intermediate, and Wiley Ford Primary schools, the total funding would include the building of a new Keyser Primary School.
A slide on the Power Point presentation showed what the new primary school would look like in relation to its location — near the rear of the Mineral County Technical Center — on board-owned property.
“I see a beautiful valley, and I see a new school that looks like it belongs there,” he said, indicating the on-screen rendering.
He said that with the construction of the primary school, the present primary-middle school would house students in grades five through eight, and overcrowding could be eliminated.
Hackworth said that the Burlington School was built in 1938.
“Very few Mineral County residents live in 70-year-old homes,” he said. “It’s our generation’s turn to step up and make better schools.”
He also mentioned that Mineral County Schools continue to turn out “welders, nurses, lawyers, professional people, and successful students,” while praising teachers who are the “best around.”
Of those local residents present at the meeting, David Hendricks stated that he came to Frankfort High to be informed about the school bond levy.
“We need better buildings for the students, and I will vote ‘yes’ for the levy when I go to the polls,” Hendricks said.
Dale Aldridge, another citizen who came to the public meeting to seek information, was concerned with the raise in taxes on his property.
Pointing out that he had a fixed income and was not yet eligible for the Homestead tax exemption.
“Because of the economy, this is a bad time for a bond levy,” he said.
Hackworth gave an explanation of tax rates to Aldridge — and others in attendance — by referring to an available tax chart.
He gave an example of a single family residence that has an appraised property value of $125,000, with a 60 percent assessed value at $75,000, making the taxes at the current market rate of 4.35 percent around $103.80 annually.
Hackworth said that the rise in taxes would be estimated at 17 cents per day.
Someone in the audience asked why the levy has returned, pointing out that it was defeated three months ago.
 “The children are no less important,” Hackworth responded, saying the need hasn’t disappeared since February.
Assisting with the meeting was Associate Superintendent/Treasurer Steve Peer, and he offered information about the levy and the Municipal Bond Commission.
He stated that the collected taxes will be forwarded to the Commission, and that state agency in turn will invest the money.
Continuing on, Peer said that the investment will generate funding that could pay the final two-years of payments, making the 15-year bond paid in full in 13 years.
“Mineral County is the best place to live,” said Tyler Dixon, a graduate of FHS.
He said he was “for the students” and his interest in the bond levy was narrowed down to “inflation and a proposed tax raise in this county.”
Hackworth ended the public meeting by giving the philosophy of the MC Board of Education: “We will teach and treat every student in this county the same as we teach and treat our own children.”