Last week's budget hearing of the Fayette County Commission was not the tempest that many leaders were predicting.

Instead of a public outcry over the lack of funding for an additional officer for the Sheriffs' Department Drug Task Force, the commissioners heard only two residents concerned about the issue.

Resident Jim Lancaster told the county's leaders that crime was already here and he wanted to see everything done to prevent the further spread.

"I don't want to see Fayette become a feeding ground for criminals," he said.

He added the drug task force was understaffed and urged the county to hire another officer.

Resident Lee Richardson echoed many of Lancaster's comments and said the county would be wiser spending money on the task force than another project that is under consideration.

"I'd rather see it spent on this than for a new senior center where only 60 people attend," he said.

The County Commission and Sheriff's Department have been in a tug-of war over this issue since the budget hearings back in May.

The county's staff had recommended hiring another drug task force agent and an officer to work identity theft, but the commissioners rejected the recommendation.

Instead, they suggested the sheriff should shuffle existing employees around to the new positions.

The denial incensed Lt. Colonel Bruce Jordan who called the commissioners "liars" for voting his proposal down as soon as he left the commission chambers. Jordan has been asking the community to call on the commissioners to fund the additional officers.