QC contemplates Pafford letter

An item of interest at the Hempstead Quorum Court meeting Thursday night included a particular letter from Hempstead County , Mrs. Jamie Pafford Gresham , Owner of Pafford Medical Services. 

Pafford’s letter states to County JP C.David Clayton:

“Thank you for reaching out to get clarification on the rumor about the bank building.

The whole conversation started in passing when we questioned what was going to happen to the bank because it had been sitting for quite some time. Pafford is not trying to stir anyone up or take anything away from the county. If the county is in a position that they will not be utilizing the bank or would like out of the bank Pafford would offer the county to buy the bank for what they paid for it.

If the county intends to continue to move forward and make it a courthouse, which I hope they do because we need one, but will need some more time to gather proper funding And have a plan then Pafford is willing to possibly Lease the bank for a year or more while those things are being worked out if the bank is still furnished with office furniture.

I am very fortunate that my company is in a growth mode and both our corporate office and billing office will be expanding. Again this was just a conversation over lunch one day that has blown up into something massive and people all in the community talking about it.

We are thankful and blessed to be a part of Hempstead county and want to see it continue to prosper and anything Pafford can do to help that we are here as a good corporate citizen.

In case anyone wonders Pafford Inc. employees over 1100 people in four states we have  about 120 employees in Hope at three different locations

Our intent is to put on another 25 jobs in the near future and to continue to grow off of that.

Again, please stress to board and judge it was not our intention to stir the pot -”

Clayton said in response to the letter to which a decision wasn’t made by the court yet, that he “is not going to vote for the county to borrow money. “

Clayton said he would like to see the county look at Pafford’s option. “ It is either that or us deciding to borrow the money, or go to the voters for a sunset tax.

“ We are going to have to go to the voters, borrow money, or take Jamie’s option,” Clayton said. JP Jesse Henry said that they should think about things and pray about it and then come back and make a move to go forward. Judy Flowers said that when making decisions about the courthouse to please take into consideration the workers and the health of the workers who have been in the building for several years. Flowers said that several county employees have had health problems related to being in the courthouse.Clayton agreed that the situation of the employees needing to be out of that building was indeed an urgent one.