Growth slowed

down in Fayette County during the two years Harold Bost was chairman of

the County Commission.

And while that

might be considered a negative in many areas, Bost says he is proud of

it.

"In the

unincorporated area during 1999, building permits were down 10 percent,"

Bost said during a brief farewell speech during last week's organizational

meeting of the commission. "For 2000, they're down 22.1 percent compared

to 1999.

"I'm very

pleased with that happening," he added.

Planning Department

records show permits for new construction in the unincorporated areas

dropped from 574 in 1998 to 519 in '99 and 404 in 2000.

"One of

the reasons I ran in the first place was because of the rapid growth we

were having," Bost told The Citizen this week. "I feel very

good about the fact we've been able to bring it more under control, at

least in the unincorporated areas."

Bost was elected

chairman in January 1999, midway in his first term as a commissioner,

following two years of often rancorous disagreements with former Chairman

Robert Sprayberry and former Commissioner Scott Burrell over development

issues.

Sprayberry

and Burrell were defeated in the 1998 elections, replaced by Linda Wells

and Greg Dunn, both of whom called for a more conservative approach to

growth that would be more in line with the positions Bost had taken.

Following their

election, Dunn and Wells helped elect Bost chairman.

During last

week's organizational meeting, Bost told his fellow commissioners he didn't

want to be chairman for a third year, and commissioners elected Dunn chairman

and Wells vice chairman. Commissioner Herb Frady abstained in the otherwise

unanimous vote for Dunn as chairman. He has consistently favored having

the chairman chosen by the voters, instead of the current system in which

the chairman is chosen by the board.

"It's

time to move on to new ground... for someone other than myself,"

Bost told the board. He elaborated for The Citizen. "I think we have

enough talent on the board, and they need an opportunity to contribute

in that position."

He also wants

to have more time to travel, Bost said, adding that between negotiations

with other governments and other duties like ribbon cuttings, the person

serving in the chairman's post works 30 or 35 hours a week in what is

officially a part time position.

"I know

Greg and Linda will do a great job as chairman and vice chairman,"

he added.

"We as

a board have had a good two years," Bost told the commission last

week.

He pointed

with pride to the fact that plans are in place for a new county jail and

courthouse complex, with construction expected to begin this spring. Impact

fees to help pay for new fire stations and equipment also are on the verge

of completion, awaiting state approval.

He also is

proud of the board's quick passage of a new and "meaningful"

ethics ordinance, he said.

His biggest

disappointment, he told The Citizen, is failure to come to an agreement

with local cities that would allow for impact fees to help pay the cost

of the new jail.

"I thank

the board for the confidence you have had in electing me as chairman for

the last two years," he told the commission.