USEFUL LINKS

Since I consider a good number of Cobb County high school coaches and administrator friends, it's tough to stay truthful about my thoughts on artificial turf and high school football fields. And the turth really won't set me free, but it's the only way to go.

The truth is, I voted against the 2008 SPLOST for Cobb schools because it had $16 million set aside for artificial turf. Read it, talked about it, didn't like the idea. But because I did read about it and talked about it, I know it was there and passed.

Now that Cobb County Superior Court Judge Watson WhIte has ruled to temporarily hold any placement of turf at 16 Cobb schools until Superior Court Judge Stephen Schuster can hear the case in about a month, all hell has broken loose with supporters on both sides of the case. Those against the fields say SPLOST funds can only be used for educational purposes. On the other side, supporters for the fields say the turf will be used by classes that wouldn't normally use them because of the conditions of the fields after rains.

And while I still haven't been provided a solid answer for what happens when the fields wear out, whether that's in 10 years or 15 years, I do know this. If my memory serves me well, the 2008 SPLOST passed with 60% of those who actually voted in favor of it. And turf was not only advertised at the time but also debated.

For anyone who says that's because only 10% of the voters decided the fate of that SPLOST, I must ask them the same question twice, just for drama's sake. Why? Why just 10%?

Simple. Because it didn't mean enough to the other 90% to get their butts out and vote, and sometimes you get what you don't vote for; or against. It's how our system works. So here we are, once again, debating a certified election in court; a place no voting decision should be decided, expect in the case of voter fraud.

Until the rules governing an educational SPLOST are changed to allow for monies to go toward improving teacher salaries or basic classroom items, such as tissues and other items elementary school parents are asked to bring in, my vote will remain as it was in 2008.

Whether my vote leads to a win for "my side" or puts me on the losing team, I respect the process that leads to the final vote tally. Put the turf on the fields because that's what the legal vote requires. Just make sure booster clubs start saving now for replacement turfs, and please help them find someone who truly knows when that day will arrive.