Pulaski Electric System Public Meeting

The public meeting to discuss the Pulaski Electric System was held last night at the City Hall? It started at 6:30PM and lasted until 10:00PM.
After much filibustering by the Electric System speakers, over an hour was used before the first questions were able to be asked, the meeting got down to business.
I greatly appreciate the City Council forcing this meeting and for the agenda that allowed the people to express their questions. I appreciate the Mayor and his attempts to move the meeting along while giving each speaker a respectful greeting and opportunity to speak. I appreciate Mr. Holcomb, who was in a very uncomfortable position most of the night, making such a strong effort to answer each question. I appreciate the huge number of citizens who were in attendance, standing room only, and asked some incredibly good and appropriate questions while maintaining a decorum of civility. People who feel they are being given a fair shake usually do act respectful and orderly.

Here is your opportunity to discuss the meeting last night.

There will be an Electric Power Board Meeting on 23 July at 5:30 PM in City Hall to continue this question and answer opportunity. What began last night must continue with a huge crowd of citizens if we are going to make a difference in our future and the future of our children. People who faced the crowd and asked their questions last night should feel very proud of themselves for standing up and firmly declaring
this is our lives and we are going to take responsibility for what happens to us.
Allen Barrett

Did You See The $12,000.00 Tossed Out The Window At The Courthouse Annex???

It was learned today that eight million dollars, principle from the hospital sale, was used to purchase a 30 day CD at .5 percent, from LGIP, this will result in a yield of 40,000 dollars interest. Problem is the very same amount could have been invested in a local bank under the exact same conditions with the exact same protections for .65 percent which would have yielded 52,000 dollars interest or a difference of $12,000.00. While $12,000.00 may not seem like much to some folks it's a lot to me, but more importantly it's just another indication of how little effort goes into handling county money. Allen Barrett

Ambulance Committee Meeting Cancelled

This report is from the WKSR website posted today

The Giles County Commissions Ambulance Committee was to meet Friday in an emergency session to discuss a resolution to adjust the Ambulance Service tax rate. Committee Chairman Ramona Flacy has cancelled the meeting.

WKSR has learned that one of the items to be discussed Friday was the closing of the Ambulance North Substation.

Director of Finance Loretta Garner said in a phone interview, that the only way to make a seven cent cut in the property tax rate work is to make cuts in the budget. Agencies that will take a hit will be the rescue squad, public library, senior citizens center and any other agencies the county is not required to fund. Included in that list is the Ambulance Service North Station.

“We’re not going to make the Ambulance Service take the entire cut,” Garner stated, “but even with the tax cut spread out, there is no way to continue to operate the North Station.
Allen Barrett

Questions Needed In Advance Of PES Public Hearing?

This topic was taken from the newspaper.

The Pulaski Board of Mayor & Alderman will conduct a public hearing Tuesday, July 14th at 6:30pm at Pulaski City Hall to discuss the Pulaski Electric System.
According to Pulaski Mayor Dan Speer, all questions for the PES public meeting must be submitted in writing to City Administrator Terry Harrison by noon Friday.

Why would these questions now, at this late date, be required to be submitted to the city administrator when it was not a part of Mrs Harwell's 23 June motion setting up this hearing?
As reported and posted by WKSR on 24 June 2009, "Harwell restated her motion to ask for a public hearing so the public could ask general questions of officials with Pulaski Electric System. The motion passed and a public hearing will be held Tuesday, July 14th at 6:30pm at Pulaski City Hall.

Now weeks later we are told that only questions submitted for review by the city administrator will be allowed. This is censorship in its most vile form. Will there be a committee that determines which questions will be asked or will this be left entirely up to Mr. Harrison to choose which questions will be asked? Will these questions be given to Mr. Holcomb to prepare smoother pat responses, he certainly did not fair so well when asked direct questions by the City Council?
Why must this hearing exclude spontaneous questions and follow up questions? Mr. Holcomb has already demonstrated that the veracity of his responses are somewhat less than principled.
Allen Barrett

What Happened With Commissioner Bill Holt At The Little League Ball Field?

I have been bombarded with questions about what happened at the Little League ball field when Commissioner Holt's grandson wasn't chosen for the All-Star team. I have been accused of covering this up and protecting Mr. Holt because I had not posted it on this Blog. I want to assure folks that there has been no effort by me to cover this up, I simply was not there when it happened and could not get direct confirmation until recently.
I am posting this topic due to the overwhelming request for it and to avert further charges of a cover-up. Allen Barrett

PUBLIC MEETING ON THE COUNTY BUDGET

There was a public hearing held at Pulaski Elementary School on 6 July 2009. The budget committee was there, the cable network camera crew was there, several county commissioners were there and three private citizens were there.
One person addressed the committee with comments about the budget.
Indifference won the day. Allen Barrett

PULASKI ELECTRIC SYSTEM PUBLIC MEETING????

A very interesting and well written article appeared in the "Pulaski Citizen" this week. A guest column by Mr. Randy Jones asked some very interesting questions that I am posting here for discussion.
Hopefully at sometime in the near future there will actually be a public meeting where the Electric System will respond with straight answers to these and other questions the public seeks answers to.
1) What is the exact financial condition of PES, including the Internet, phone and cable TV division?
2) What has been spent and what is the total revenues of PES, separated into it's divisions?
3) How much are the debt service payments on the current nineteen million dollars in bonded debt?
4) do adjoining electric systems have similar long term debt?
5) What are PES's current overhead cost?
6) how much has overhead increased under the current PES management both in actual dollars and annual percentage increases?
7) How much have wages and benefits increased under present PES management in both total payroll dollars and annual percentages?
8) How much has Mr. Holcomb and his guest spent on travel and related expenses during his tenure and how does that travel relate to the day to day management of PES?
9) How much has system usage in total units purchased annually from TVA increased or decreased since Mr. Holcomb assumed the leadership role?
10) Would the customers of PES be better served with a totally new management team?
11) Would the PES customers be better served if the power board were dissolved and control returned to the elected officials of the City Council?
The following questions were not asked directly in the newspaper article but were apart of the article.
12) By what authority did Mr. Holcomb spend half a million dollars on a pilot project that had not been approved by anyone but him?
13) How is the 200 to 300,000 dollar expense for recent work at the Pole Yard justified without a competitive bid process?
14) Does anyone really think that the electric system will reduce usage by ten percent without raises rates to offset that lose?
Allen Barrett

Who Cuts The Grass At The US Post Office In Pulaski?

The question has arisen as to who is responsible for cutting the grass at the Pulaski Post Office? It seems that recently none other than the chief custodian of the Courthouse was seen cutting the grass at the post office in the middle of when he should have been working at the courthouse. If there is too much work at the courthouse, as has been claimed, how can the chief custodian take time from his "duties" to cut the grass at the post office? Was he paid by the post office to do this, was he being paid by the county while he was doing this, was he paid by both?
Isn't it time job evaluations were done on county employees and actual duties identified. Being overworked and not having enough time to do a job doesn't seem to limit some employees from visiting other offices thirty and forty minutes at a time, hanging on the rail or sitting in the Gazebo smoking and drinking coffee, shopping or leaving early. Allen Barrett

FBI ORDERED TO MIRANDIZE TERRORIST!

This was taken from the Weekly Standard on 10 June 2009. I have not read about this in the Tennessee newspapers nor or other media outlets dominated by the obama worshipers.
When 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammad was captured on March 1, 2003, he was not cooperative. “I’ll talk to you guys after I get to New York and see my lawyer,” he said, according to former CIA Director George Tenet.
Of course, KSM did not get a lawyer until months later, after his interrogation was completed, and Tenet says that the information the CIA obtained from him disrupted plots and saved lives. “I believe none of these successes would have happened if we had had to treat KSM like a white-collar criminal – read him his Miranda rights and get him a lawyer who surely would have insisted that his client simply shut up,” Tenet wrote in his memoirs.
If Tenet is right, it’s a good thing KSM was captured before Barack Obama became president. For, the Obama Justice Department has quietly ordered FBI agents to read Miranda rights to detainees captured and held at U.S. detention facilities in Afghanistan, according a senior Republican on the House Intelligence Committee. “The administration has decided to change the focus to law enforcement. Here’s the problem. You have foreign fighters who are targeting US troops today – foreign fighters who go to another country to kill Americans. We capture them…and they’re reading them their rights – Mirandizing these foreign fighters,” says Representative Mike Rogers, who recently met with military, intelligence and law enforcement officials on a fact-finding trip to Afghanistan.
Rogers, a former FBI special agent and U.S. Army officer, says the Obama administration has not briefed Congress on the new policy. “I was a little surprised to find it taking place when I showed up because we hadn’t been briefed on it, I didn’t know about it. We’re still trying to get to the bottom of it, but it is clearly a part of this new global justice initiative.”
Under the "global justice" initiative, which has been in the works for several months, FBI agents will have a central role in overseas counter-terrorism cases. They will expand their questioning of suspects and evidence-gathering to try to ensure that criminal prosecutions are an option, officials familiar with the effort said.
“When they mirandize a suspect, the first thing they do is warn them that they have the 'right to remain silent,’” says Representative Pete Hoekstra, the ranking Republican on the House Intelligence Committee. “It would seem the last thing we want is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed or any other al-Qaeda terrorist to remain silent. Our focus should be on preventing the next attack, not giving radical jihadists a new tactic to resist interrogation--lawyering up.” That is precisely what some human rights organizations are advising detainees to do. “The International Red Cross, when they go into these detention facilities, advise these terrorist to, ‘Take the option. You want a lawyer.’”
The move is reportedly creating chaos in the field among the CIA, FBI and military personnel, according to Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich. The soldiers, especially, he says, are frustrated that giving high value detainees Miranda rights -- the right to remain silent, the right to an attorney -- is impeding their ability to pursue intelligence on the battlefield.

"What I found was lots of confusion and very frustrated people on the front lines because of this new policy and confusion is the last thing you want in a combat zone,” said Rogers, who serves on the House Intelligence Committee.

A THREAD TO BLAST WAB AND OTHER "TROUBLEMAKERS"!

In an effort to try and keep comments focused on the topics this thread offers everyone the opportunity to criticize me without detracting from the posted topics. Allen Barrett

A Positive Thread!

I have started this thread for positive posts only. This is not the first thread that was focused on positive statements, they all died with very few comments.
Please feel free to post anything positive you desire. Allen Barrett

How Did A Small Circle Of Family And Friends Of The Mayor Get So Much Power Over Your Checkbook?

Why do the same names keep coming up every time you turn over a rock?
Consider that tomorrow 9 June 2009 the Pulaski Electric Company will ask for approval from the Pulaski City Council to borrow 7.2 million dollars, while still owing over eleven million for the energize programs. This is supposed to enable the electric company to install controls that will allow remote reading and slow downs of power usage. Now consider that before approval has been given that Mr. Holcomb has been so sure of approval he has already begun spending the money.
No doubt many read in last weeks paper that there would be no rate increase accompanying this loan but now we find that in a resolution sent from Mr. Hoover who is both the Power Board attorney and the City attorney, that either this loan will be approved by the Council or else the people will have their rates increased.
Consider how it is that the same person Andy Hoover serves as the city attorney and also the power board attorney. How does one person sat on both sides of the same table representing each side equally? It’s sort of like playing checkers with yourself you can absolutely predict the outcome with complete certainty.
How does the mayor sit on both sides of the table representing the City of Pulaski and also the Power Board? Perhaps that helps explain why the City pays the Electric Company over $200,000.00 a year for billing of water, sewer and gas?
Consider that Mayor Speer and company are appointing themselves, family and friends under their control to positions on the Power Board and the Chamber of Commerce then they interact through those positions to the detriment of the taxpayers.
Isn’t it time taxpayers started demanding accountability and separation of family members and friends being placed in these positions who are enriching themselves while continuing to place financial burdens on the average citizen?
Conflicts of interest abound, bully tactics dominate and lies pave the way. When will the abuse of power stop? Allen Barrett

Evaluation of Finance Director

This topic was made by a blog reader and posted at their request. Allen Barrett

Can you post a topic for the blog titled the evaluation of our Finance Director, Loretta Garner? I'm curious if there has been an evaluation by the finance committee or if there will be one in the near future.
I believe many citizens would like to know how the committee is viewing her performance. I'm sure she'll get high marks from Tee Jackson and Bill Holt but would like to know how other members will or have rated her.

What's Happening With Richland Basketball?

Reports keep coming in of a huge problem at Richland with the girls basketball program. Claims of verbal abuse by the boys towards the girls with ineffective leadership from the coaching staff. I have been told that several parents have complained to school administration, the school board and the Director only to be left with frustration and unacceptable responses. Allen Barrett

Where's the money?

From its beginnings the "Leaps and Bounds" after school program has been controversial at least.
Many felt it was an inappropriate use of tax money to provide a day care service. Some felt it was being poorly administrated, overly funded and under supervised. It has been the topic of much discussion on this blog and other places.
The question now is what happened that this program was shut down unexpectedly, putting people out of work and parents left scrambling for a place for their children to go after school?
At the recent school committee meeting amendments were made to the school budget that moved $16,400.00 and $12,700.00 from the school general funds into the Leaps budget. This was explained as the $16,000.00 was donations made to the Leaps program this year and the $12,000.00 was donations made to the program in previous years. Understand that these were clearly identified as donations not fees. Upon further investigation it was revealed that of the $16,000.00 donated this year $5,000.00 is "expected" to be an amount realized from a "future" fund raiser. How do you justify taking money from the school general funds for use by the Leaps program when the money doesn't yet exist?
Now we are told that the program is out of money and that is why they had to shut down early. In April eight of the "staff" went to a convention at a cost of over $7,000.00, if this program was in financial difficulty why was this trip taken and especially why did it include someone who was not planning to be part of the program next year?
Money has been given through the state lottery funds, fees from parents, donations, fund raisers and from the school general fund........ where has the money gone that the program was abruptly discontinued and teachers told they were no longer needed? Allen Barrett

Condition of Judge Lee

As many know by now Commissioner/Judge Lee is in St. Thomas hospital and his condition isn't the best. There are a number of issues with internal bleeding nine units of blood already given and now his heart is acting up. I'm writing this to solicit your prayers for him and also to ask as many as will to please send him cards and notes and even calls to help cheer him up and let him know that he is not forgotten.
He is in Room 789

Judge Robert Lee
Room 789
Saint Thomas Hospital
4220 Harding Road
Nashville, Tennessee 37205


1-615-222-6617 will connect you to his room.

Associated Press Analysis Of Obama TV Appearance 29 April

His assertion that his proposed budget "will cut the deficit in half by the end of my first term" is an eyeball-roller among many economists, given the trillion-dollar deficits and economic calamity that the government is negotiating.
He promised vast savings from increased spending on preventive health care in the face of doubts that such an effort, however laudable it might be for public welfare, can pay for itself, let alone yield huge savings.

A look at some of his claims Wednesday:

OBAMA: "We began by passing a Recovery Act that has already saved or created over 150,000 jobs." - from news conference.

THE FACTS: This assertion is flawed on several levels. For starters, the U.S. has lost more than 1.2 million jobs since Obama took office, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Even if Obama's stimulus bill saved or created as many jobs as he says, that number is dwarfed by the number of recent job losses.

OBAMA: "We must lay a new foundation for growth, a foundation that will strengthen our economy and help us compete in the 21st century. And that's exactly what this budget begins to do. It contains new investments in education that will equip our workers with the right skills and training; new investments in renewable energy that will create millions of jobs and new industries; new investments in health care that will cut costs for families and businesses; and new savings that will bring down our deficit." - news conference.

THE FACTS: While the budget does set a roadmap for achieving the president's goals, it says nothing about how to pay for his health plan, expected to cost more than $1 trillion over the next 10 years. And while the deficit, under the plan, would drop to $523 billion in 2014, it achieves it with unrealistic assumptions, such as projections that spending in Iraq and Afghanistan will amount to only $50 billion a year.

OBAMA: "Number one, we inherited a $1.3 trillion deficit. ... That wasn't me. Number two, there is almost uniform consensus among economists that in the middle of the biggest crisis, financial crisis, since the Great Depression, we had to take extraordinary steps. So you've got a lot of Republican economists who agree that we had to do a stimulus package and we had to do something about the banks. Those are one-time charges, and they're big, and they'll make our deficits go up over the next two years."

THE FACTS: Congress, under Democratic control in 2007 and 2008, controlled the purse strings that led to the deficit Obama inherited. A Republican president, George W. Bush, had a role, too: He signed the legislation.

Obama supported the emergency bailout package in Bush's final months - a package Democratic leaders wanted to make bigger.
To be sure, Obama opposed the Iraq war, a drain on federal coffers for six years before he became president. But with one major exception, he voted in support of Iraq war spending.
The economy has worsened under Obama, though from forces surely in play before he became president, and he can credibly claim to have inherited a grim situation.
Still, his response to the crisis goes well beyond "one-time charges."
He's persuaded Congress to expand children's health insurance, education spending, health information technology and more. He's moving ahead on a variety of big-ticket items on health care, the environment, energy and transportation that, if achieved, will be more enduring than bank bailouts and aid for homeowners.
The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimated his policy proposals would add a net $428 billion to the deficit over four years, even accounting for his spending reduction goals. Now, the deficit is nearly quadrupling to $1.75 trillion.

OBAMA: "I think one basic principle that we know is that the more we do on the (disease) prevention side, the more we can obtain serious savings down the road. ... If we're making those investments, we will save huge amounts of money in the long term."

THE FACTS: It sounds believable that preventing illness should be cheaper than treating it, and indeed that's the case with steps like preventing smoking and improving diets and exercise. But during the 2008 campaign, when Obama and other presidential candidates were touting a focus on preventive care, the New England Journal of Medicine cautioned that "sweeping statements about the cost-saving potential of prevention, however, are overreaching." It said that "although some preventive measures do save money, the vast majority reviewed in the health economics literature do not."
And a study released in December by the Congressional Budget Office found that increasing preventive care "could improve people's health but would probably generate either modest reductions in the overall costs of health care or increases in such spending within a 10-year budgetary time frame."

OBAMA: "You could cut (Social Security) benefits. You could raise the tax on everybody so everybody's payroll tax goes up a little bit. Or you can do what I think is probably the best solution, which is you can raise the cap on the payroll tax."

THE FACTS: Obama's proposal would reduce the Social Security trust fund's deficit by less than half, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center.
That means he would still have to cut benefits, raise the payroll tax rate, raise the retirement age or some combination to deal with the program's long-term imbalance.
Workers currently pay 6.2 percent and their employers pay an equal rate - for a total of 12.4 percent - on annual wages of up to $106,800, after which no more payroll tax is collected.

Obama wants workers making more than $250,000 to pay payroll tax on their income over that amount. That would still protect workers making under $250,000 from an additional burden. But it would raise much less money than removing the cap completely.

OBAMA: "My hope is that working in a bipartisan fashion we are going to be able to get a health care reform bill on my desk before the end of the year that we'll start seeing in the kinds of investments that will make everybody healthier."

THE FACTS: Obama has indeed expressed hope for a health care plan that has support from Democrats and Republicans. But his Democratic allies in Congress have just made that harder. The budget plan written by the Democrats gives them the option of denying Republicans the normal right to block health care with a Senate filibuster. The filibuster tactic requires 60 votes to overcome, making it the GOP's main weapon to ensure a bipartisan outcome. The rules set by the budget mean that majority Democrats could potentially pass health care legislation without any Republican votes, sacrificing bipartisanship to achieve their goals.

Associated Press writers Matt Apuzzo, Kevin Freking and Jim Kuhnhenn contributed to this report.

One Hundred Days Of Obama!

Without the overwhelming support of the biased liberal media, the "Tennessean" has yet to report on the low level fly over of NYC that sent people into a panic and was authorized by the White House or the total embarrassment of the failed teleprompter, this guy would have been laughed out of the country before he was ever elected.
He has put our great grandchildren in debt, proposed things that will increase our power bills over 100%, he has endangered our military in the field, endangered CIA agents and those working for them, he has lied about the benefit of so called "green jobs", the experiment in Spain tells the true story, he violated two hundred years of protocol by bowing in submission to an Islamic king, he has lied about who he would appoint to positions of power, instead of those with high integrity he appointed tax cheats, lobbyist and radical crazies (his Homeland Security appointee doesn't believe entering this county illegally is a crime and feels Christians, veterans, legal gun owners, those opposed to perverted marriages, etc are enemies of the country and his Health Sec.Kathleen Sebelius lied about accepting donations from the most notorious abortionist in the country).
He gave billions to Goldman Sachs and others based on the lobbying efforts of his appointed Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, the former CEO of Goldman Sachs who put them in bankruptcy while making over thirty million a year, He has already or is set to nationalize private industries, he claims to not want to run GM but demands they make a certain kind of vehicle. General Motors is now owned, at the expense of private investors through their IRA's and other retirement funds, by the government and the UAW both are responsible for bankrupting the company. He is set to destroy the medical health care system placing that care in the hands of bureaucrats instead of doctors. Already he has announced that many medical procedures your doctor feels are necessary will be eliminated and that expensive medical care should not be "wasted on those who may not recover". In the huge spending bill, approved without a single member of the congress reading it, he set up a board of appointed individuals to determine what kind of treatment a patient can receive this is patterned after a board in England.
He talked down the economy, even Bill Clinton warned him about the destruction he was causing, then without any money actually being spent he claims it's his spending that has now saved the country. The truth is nothing has changed but the rhetoric of doom and gloom.
The man can not say anything but "UUUUUUUHA" without his teleprompter or make a decision without the approval of George Soros.
He lied about what he would do in Iraq, instead of bringing those troops home they are being sent to Afghanistan where they become in effect targets and leaving those left in Iraq for open attack.
This guy is a socialist disaster that couldn't even pick out a family dog without telling a lie about it being in a pound.
Allen Barrett

Retired or Unemployed????

Is it reasonable that people retiring from the school system and receiving retirement benefits be carried as "lay-offs" and receive unemployment benefits also? Is the county being hit financially twice as hard through our contributions to the retirement system and the unemployment benefits? While, on the surface at least, it may seem like a nice benefit for some it is being paid for by others and the cost keeps increasing each year. This is unconscionable and should be stopped immediately. Allen Barrett

Industrial Recruiter Or One Man's Gold Mine????

What does an Industrial Recruiter do to earn a salary and benefits of $100,000.00 a year and what are the qualifications possessed by the current recruiter and how long has he actually held these qualifications?
Some things they have not done is bring an abundance of industry into Giles County and give timely reports of activities to the County Commission who pays much of the salary.
The question arises as to the appropriateness and justification of having an industrial recruiter at such a high salary when there is such a downturn in business expansion and new business start-ups. Is it appropriate to have people appointed by the mayor or at his suggestion to paid positions on boards then have those same people appoint him to be the industrial recruiter and set his salary and benefits so high? Is this an example of the notorious good ole boy network operating at high speeds? Is it appropriate to have an appointee accountable to only those he himself has appointed?
If there is something rotten in Denmark as the saying goes, what is that smell coming out of city hall? Allen Barrett

Why Has The Issue Of Insurance For School Employees Become Such A Mess???

For a number of months now the School Board has been trying to sort through and make some sense of an absolute maze of insurance obfuscation, benefits, half truths and plain lies. A large part of the problem seems to be the result of not having an insurance expert as an adviser, the efforts of some to influence the acceptance of a favored vendor, and a total lack of integrity involving the bid process. I believe this School Board, while somewhat slow, is asking the right questions and making a real effort to resolve this matter.
The result is that a $100,000.00 life insurance policy for some means over $250,000.00 while for others it means less than $70,000.00. While some beneficiaries have been paid $10,000.00 in death benefits others have received only $5,000.00. There seems to be an equality among some that does not exist among others. Allen Barrett

What Is Zero Tolerance And To Whom Does It Apply?

This topic was suggested by a poster to another thread who reports that GCHS has decided against expulsion of violators of the Zero Tolerance Policy and put them into a single classroom on the GCHS campus?

The question is whether the Zero Tolerance Policy is being applied equally and justly? Is the penalty for violations of "Zero Tolerance offenses being changed because recently the children of two separate teachers were involved in violations? Should those guilty of a Zero Tolerance offense continue in the school environment and do they pose a risk to other students either by actions or examples?

Here is the School Board Policy on disciplinary actions taken directly from the school website.

Each Student Has The Right To: have the opportunity for a free education in the most appropriate learning environment. --have the opportunity for freedom of speech, expression of ideas, and of the press. expect that the school will be a safe place with no fear of bodily harm. --expect an appropriate environment conducive to learning. --not to be discriminated against on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, or disability. --expect to be fully informed of school rules and regulations.
Each Student has the Responsibility To: --know and adhere to reasonable rules and regulations established by the Board of Education and implemented by school administrators and teachers. --respect the human dignity and worth of every other individual. --refrain from libel, slanderous remarks, and obscenity in verbal and written expression. --study diligently and maintain the best possible level of academic achievement. --be punctual and present in the regular school program. --dress and groom in a manner that meets reasonable standards of health, cleanliness, modesty, safety, and abide by School and Board rules. --help maintain and improve the school environment, preserve school property, and exercise the utmost care while using the school facilities. --refrain from disobedience or misconduct or behavior which would lead to any physical harm or that disrupts the educational process. --respect the reasonable exercise of authority by school administrators and teachers in maintaining discipline in the school and at school sponsored activities. --obey the law and rules so as not to be subjected to ill effects or endanger others by the possession or use of alcohol, illegal drugs, and other unauthorized substances. --carry only those materials which are acceptable under the law and accept the consequences for the articles stored in one's locker.

THE ROLE OF SCHOOL STAFF
Appropriate order and discipline must be maintained in school if every student is to have the opportunity to benefit maximally from the program offered. It is the responsibility of all staff members to apply discipline toward improving behavior and creating an atmosphere conducive to learning. It is expected that all officials, teachers, and other employees of the school system will treat the students with fundamental fairness in applying these rules. Consistency of enforcement of disciplinary codes is critical to achieving this end.

LEVELS OF OFFENSES
When a violation of the rules governing behavior occurs, the imposition of sanctions is to be expected. The following is a for level analysis of procedures and options that are designed to protect all members of the educational community in the exercise of their rights and duties. The examples of misbehavior should not be interpreted to be all inclusive because every undesirable behavior can not be listed.

Level I
The first--least serious--level involves minor misbehavior on the part of the student which impedes orderly classroom procedures or interferes with the orderly operation of the school.
Examples of undesirable behavior: --classroom disturbances --classroom tardiness --cheating and lying --abusive language, profanity, or notes—non-defiant behavior to do assignments or carry out directions --loitering in unauthorized places --excessive absences --failure to have hall pass --excessive noise outside the classroom --radios or tape players --playing cards or dice --chewing gum --violation of dress code --harassment (sexual, racial, ethnic, religious)
disciplinary options might include” --admonishing the student --restricting activities --requiring special assignments --assigning work details --temporary removal from class in a time-out room --issuance of demerits that might affect citizenship or deportment grades --behavior modification activities --denial of class privileges --imposition of corporal punishment--requirement of restitution. Such consequences are typically imposed by the classroom teacher. Before imposing such consequences, the teacher, concerned for the welfare of the students and guided by the principles of fundamental fairness, will make an inquiry into the incident to assure that the culprit is accurately identified, that he understands the nature of the offense, and that he was on notice as to the consequences to which he is subject to for the offense. It is important that the consequence should be reasonably related to the offense and that the more severe consequences should be reserved for important offenses or for repeated actions that have not been controllable with lesser consequences. Any explanation of conduct that the pupil may offer should be considered as the teacher decides upon the appropriate consequence.

Level II
The second level of consequences is reserved for those problems that the teachers cannot control within the scope of their classroom authority. Many of these infractions result from a continuation of level I misbehaviors, and require the intervention of personnel on the administrative level because the execution of level I disciplinary options failed to correct the situation.
Examples of undesirable behavior: --Continuation of unmodified LEVEL I misbehavior --school tardiness –truancy --smoking or possession of tobacco products --using forged notes or excuses --disruptive classroom or bus behavior --bus disturbances --failure to sign out --parking in unauthorized areas --leaving school grounds --cutting class –defiance --selling and distribution of over-counter drugs when implied to represent something other than what they are –gambling --disrespect to teachers and bus drivers --immoral conduct --harassment (sexual, racial, ethnic, religious)
Disciplinary options might include: --in-school suspension--detention before or after school --suspension from school sponsored activities or from riding the bus --corporal punishment, under local board policy --changing the student's instructor within the school --restricting the honors the student is otherwise due --prohibiting the student's attendance at school functions--demanding restitution for lost, damaged, or stolen property --out of school suspension --parent conference.
These would normally be imposed by the pincipal/assistant principal upon a student who has been referred by the teacher, but only after the administrator has made his/her own inquiry into the incident. This inquiry should include hearing the accusation made by the teacher or other party, notifying the offender of the accusation and permitting him the opportunity of explaining his conduct, denying it, or stating any mitigating circumstances. In cases where there is substantial disagreement about the offense, the principal should satisfy himself as to the truth of the accusation.

Level III
For student discipline problems for which neither of the preceding is appropriate or effective, the third level of consequences may be recommended by the principal. These acts may be considered criminal, but most frequently can be handled by the disciplinary mechanisms within the school or system.
Examples of undesirable behavior: --continuation of unmodified LEVEL II misbehavior --fighting (simple) --vandalism (simple) --selling and distribution of over-counter drugs when implied to represent something other than what they are –stealing --threats to others (extortion, intimidation) --harassment (sexual, racial, ethnic, religious)
Disciplinary options might include: --assigning the student to an alternative, disciplinary day-school --short-term out of school suspension --corporal punishment --temporary removal from class --call police (may be ordered to appear in court)
The change in a student's program to place him/her in the Alternative School may be mandatory as a result of a suspension or expulsion or may be voluntary based upon the recommendation by a team composed of the principal or assistant principal, the school guidance counselor, and the student (and parents when possible). Students eligible for special education services will have rules and laws pertaining to special education applied.

Level IV
The final and most severe consequences that can be imposed upon a student are LEVEL IV violations. These are acts that are criminal and are so serious that they require administrative actions which result in the immediate removal of the student from school, the intervention of law enforcement authorities, and a hearing by the Disciplinary Hearing Authority. School authorities are obligated to report clearly established criminal offenses to law enforcement authorities.
Examples of undesirable behavior: --unmodified LEVEL III misconducts –extortion --bomb threat --possession/use/transfer of firearms or dangerous weapons --assault/battery –vandalism --theft/possession/sale of stolen property –arson --furnishing/selling/ using/possession of unauthorized substances --harassment (sexual, racial, ethnic, religious)
Disciplinary options might include: --suspend the student out of school for a period exceeding ten days--expel the student --alternative school --call police (may be ordered to appear in court) Behaviors in this category require a review by the Disciplinary Hearing Authority. The hearing by this group must be held, a decision rendered, and notification of the decision must be provided to the parents and/or the student and the principal no later than ten days after the beginning of the suspension. The principal or the student has a right to request a review by the Board. If this occurs, the Board shall review the DHA records and affirm the decision of the hearing authority, modify the decision to a lesser penalty, or grant a hearing before the Board.¹ When either a long-term or short-term suspension occurs during the last ten days of any term or semester, the student may seek permission of the principal to take such final examination or submit such required work as is necessary to complete the course of instruction for that semester.

ZERO TOLERANCE OFFENSES
The Board has zero tolerance for the following offenses, with these violations carrying an automatic one full calendar year expulsion from school:
Firearms Students shall not possess, handle, or attempt to use a firearm in school buildings or on school grounds at any time or in school vehicles and/or buses or off school grounds at a school sponsored activity. Firearms include, but are not limited to any firearm, explosive, explosive weapon, bowie knife, hawk bill knife, ice pick, dagger, slingshot, switchblade knife, or knuckles.
Drugs Students will not possess, distribute, or be under the influence of illegal drugs in school buildings, or on school grounds, in school vehicles or buses, or at any school sponsored activity at any time, whether on or off school grounds.
Battery Any student committing battery upon any teacher, principal, administrator, School Resource Officer or any other employee will be expelled for one full year.
Allen Barrett

Requested Topic About Bicentennial Celebrations

This topic was suggested by a reader who asked the following questions

Is anybody but me ticked off about all this bicentennial crap????
Who picked the committee of rich folks and left the majority of folks OUT of the celebration?
The pavers are $1000. Do they not know we are in a depression and folks here are out of work?

The dinner and dance tickets are $100 PER PERSON are creating a selective crowd of blue bloods, is that the intention? They price is so high it creates their own little private event. How many just regular Joes and regular Janes can attend the grand bicentennial events?
Can you name those who picked the committee and who is on the committee? I think that would explain everything.
Can you start a thread on this Mr. Barrett and see if anybody else feels this way.

Monday, April 27, 2009 10:12:00 AM

BIG MEETING 23 APRIL!!!!!!!!!!

If you have a concern about county government, not satisfied with 200 years of the same tired failures and ideas, you will plan to be at the TENNESSEE TECHNOLOGY CENTER (1223 East College Street) on 23 APRIL AT 6PM.

The signatures have been gathered for including the County Charter on the ballot now plans need to be discussed and finalized about who is interested in running for election to the charter board.

The speaker for the night will be Mr. Ben Cunningham a well known tax activist who will offer more insight into this great opportunity to make our county government more responsive to citizens and bring it into the 21st century.

There will be door prizes given away and ample opportunity for questions to be asked and responded to. Allen Barrett

Property Tax Reduction?

By far the most passionate and interesting request made during this morning's Budget Committee Meeting was the one made by Commissioner Tommy Pollard. While Commissioner Pollard is not a member of the Budget Committee he is a regular attendee of the meetings and when given the opportunity to address the committee he asked that every consideration be given to a reduction of seven cents in the property tax rate.
I am in full agreement with Commissioner Pollard's proposal and while this may seem like a small amount it would certainly be a huge step in the right direction.
The proposal was met by the committee, for the most part, with silence, before deciding that it was a matter that could not be considered before work on the budget for next year is begun.
After the meeting several other Commissioners I spoke with were in firm agreement with the reduction, among them were Commissioners Adams, Risner, Beets, J. Harwell. Others I did not get a chance to speak with may also be supportive.
I urge everyone to contact your County Commissioner and ask them where they stand on this issue and why. Don't wait until it's time to decide, start calling them today and if they are not for the reduction nicely suggest they reconsider. The county and all of government must return to the ideology that it exist to serve the people and not to be a master over the people. Allen Barrett

Babe Ruth Baseball Tournament

It was announced today that the Babe Ruth Southeastern Regional Baseball Tournament will be held here in Pulaski this summer. $2500.00 was requested and approved for this event.The expectation in that in addition to the favorable publicity and good will this event will bring there will be at least nine teams with family members that will be in attendance during that week of games. This should prove to be a big boost to our local economy. Allen Barrett

Request From Register Of Deeds.

The Register of Deeds presented a request that the County Budget Office take over that office's payroll for the next three months. This request was made because of the decline in revenue through that office. The standard practice of the county has been that the "Fee Offices" pay salaries out of their revenues and the excess be turned over to the county's general funds. This has allowed the "Fee Offices" to set their own salaries. The problem now is that revenues have decreased so much in this office they are not able to garantee enough income to meet salaries totally from those fees.
By putting the office under the Financial Management Office the salaries are guaranteed from County funds. This request was unanimously accepted.

A motion was then made that the county investigate and pursue the possibility of placing all fee offices under the control of the Financial Management Office.
Allen Barrett

Budget Committe Refuses To Spend Money On Turkey!

In one of the few times the budget committee has been unanimous in a decision to NOT spend money, today they refused a request by the TWRA One Shot Turkey Hunt Committee to pay $2500.00 for the turkey hunt dinner.
It was mentioned by Mrs Vanzant that this request was made the day before the dinner was held. In the past the group has been supported by allowing them the free use of the Courthouse and/or Ag. Park. It was felt that, as with other groups, this group should pay for their own dinner.

Also turned down was the request by the Bi-Centennial committee for an additional $1100.00 to purchase more brackets to hang banners from light post. $25,000.00 has already been given by the county to this committee. Voting against this expenditure were commissioners Flacy, Beets, Jackson and J. Harwell. Voting for the expenditure were Commissioners Campbell, Reedy and Holt.
Is there hope that future spending will be better controlled, only time will tell but there seems to be a new wind blowing in Giles County. Allen Barrett

NEW PROGRAM/CHALLENGE PROPOSED FOR THE COUNTY

A the Budget Committee Meeting this morning a program/challenge for the county was presented by Mrs. Beverly Murrey. In conjunction with the county celebrating its 200 year anniversary the county will be challenged to collectively lose 73,000 pounds, one pound for each day of the past 200 years. This program will be officially launched in a newspaper article in the next issue and a ceremony at the Gazebo on the courthouse lawn 4 April. Allen Barrett

Pulaski Police Activity!

This subject was submitted by a reader, it has been posted without any changes.

Why is Pulaski police dept. ticketing everything that moves? Seems that it is becoming excessive and stopping people for no legit reasons. Again, another request for blog topic.

What's Happening To Giles County?

This subject was requested by one of the readers. I have posted it just as it was submitted.
Several of the few factories we have left in Giles Co are reducing staff by early retirement, closing some shifts, closing for a week at a time, etc. Why is this happening here when Lawrence Co is adding industries and has active stores, etc. Same thing goes with Fayetteville. Those squares and stores are buzzing with shoppers while downtown Pulaski, even on a Saturday is dead! Persons who asked me to pass this on are suspecting for some reason we are not hearing about it in paper so asked that it come up for discussion on blog.

IS THERE A DOUBLE STANDARD ON THIS BLOG????

There have been a number of posts by an individual questioning whether there is a double standard in reference to posting on this blog.
As has been stated before the only thing censured on the blog is language. The hope is that people would stay on topic but there is no enforcement nor is there a desire to censure. This new topic is added with the hope other topics can be focused on without the distractions attempted by some posters.
My belief, as I have addressed a number of times already, is that when a person puts something on here with supportive evidence it is a very different matter from just feeling something. I am a plain spoken person and have called some people names based on the evidence I listed with each name supporting that name. So if I have referred to a person as a liar I have included the evidence of the lie told by that person. If I have referred to a person's behavior by some name I have included evidence of such behavior.
The question as I understand it is, am I given a pass for the things that I post while this other person is criticized? My contention is that if a post is supported by clear evidence it will carry more weight than a post based entirely on the feelings of that poster, but you be the judge. Allen Barrett

AUCTION OF HUNTER SMITH BUILDING????

It was finally agreed to sale the Hunter Smith building to the highest bidder at auction sort of. A stipulation was placed on the auction and a reserve of $50,000.00 was set.
If this "white elephant" is finally sold and put back on the tax role instead of being a tax drain it will be an accomplishment that will finally correct a terrible mistake made when the building was purchased over ten years ago.
One incident of interest took place during the discussion of this sale and that was the utterly false statement by the County Executive that there never was a bid made on the building. I along with a number of other people was in the meeting where a man offered a firm $125,000.00 for the building as it sat, I even wrote about this on the blog and I believe there was an article about it in the newspaper, the committee turned down the offer stating they wanted more money. This request for more money was made in part based on the statement of the County Executive that she was receiving offers for the building every week. While the County Executive has had much trouble with her credibility in the past this reached an new low even for her.

IF THE MEANING OF IS "IS" THEN WHAT DOES BEFORE MEAN????

By far the topic that took the most time and debate to pass today was the simple matter of an amendment offered by Commissioner Harris stating that no highway or roads be brought into the county system until after the property had been properly registered. This simple amendment took over seventeen minutes and the county attorney explaining what they were voting on, even then the County Executive had to read the amendment at least five times. The amazing thing is that everyone agreed with the amendment some just could not understand what "before" meant.

RESOLUTION ASKING FOR ELECTION OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS

The Commission today passed a resolution to be sent to the State Legislature in support of counties being allowed the option of electing their school superintendent instead of appointed. Commissioner Reedy spoke against the resolution saying that appointed school superintendents are better because School Boards appoint superintendents on their qualifications instead of being elected on popularity. Commissioners Reedy and Lovell voted against the resolution while Commissioners Holt and Brown abstained.

SENIOR TAX FREEZE

In 2006 the people of Tennessee overwhelmingly voted in favor of placing a tax freeze on the house and up to five acres of certain low income senior citizens. Several counties have implemented this optional action. Giles County has discussed this issue over and over without a decision until it's become right embarrassing.
Today in the County Commission it was to have been voted into existence or into oblivion, yet once again it was tabled for more discussion.
The hang-up seems to be the "added work load" to the County Trustee and Tax Assessors office. With approximately only 800 senior taxpayers being involved the idea that these offices will need additional personnel to implement this program is beyond absurd, especially when you consider that they now work approximately 35 hours a week for forty hours pay and only about 200 days a year. A little added to the work load of these folks when it benefits some folks who are having a hard time paying their taxes seems a fair trade off. Allen Barrett

Words And What They Mean!!!!!!!

Please read this statement from the School Board Memorandum and tell what it means.

"The Board will pay $10,000.00 to the beneficiary or the estate of any employee who dies while in service."

This has been explained by some as to mean that the school board will make up the difference between what the insurance company pays in order to make a total payment of $10,000.00.

What is actually written is that "the Board will pay $10,000.00 to the beneficiary or the estate of any employee", there is nothing written about insurance policy or the difference between the policy and the age reduction decrease.

"Who dies in service", is this simply service to the school board or perhaps in service to their country through their military service?

Were I the beneficiary of someone who died while working for the school system I would be asking the Board to give me my $10,000.00 as stated in this policy. This has nothing, as written, to do with whether I had received a payment from an insurance company or not. It doesn't even depend on whether I had a life insurance policy the board by this written policy has obligated themselves to pay $10,000.00 to the beneficiary or estate of any employee that has died.
It's this kind of words meaning one thing and thoughts about those words meaning something different that has helped get this system in the mess it's in. Allen Barrett

Once More With Feeling, please!!!!!!!

Once again the Property Committee will take the proposal to the full commission to sale the Hunter Smith Building at auction.
This was proposed for the last Commissioner Meeting but was sabotaged when the County Executive told Commissioner Terry Harwell that the city was interested in buying the building. This turned out to be news to everyone on the City Council. Now the County Executive reports that there are two groups of people interested in buying the Hunter Smith Building. Lincoln said "you can fool some of the people all the time and all the people some of the time" but you apparently can't keep fooling the Commissioners all the time with the same ole tricks. Today they voted to send the recommendation to the full commission, in March, to sale the Hunter Smith at auction and anyone wanting to purchase it before then should put up their money before the Commission meets or be left to bid at the auction. Wise move. Allen Barrett

Now To Steal Money From The County Without even Trying!

What you do is create a subdivision in the midst of some farm land, set up some roads then con the County Commissioners into believing if they will take the roads into the county system repair and maintain them the subdivision would be brought into the county as developed land instead of undeveloped and the increased taxes would be paid.
So after the county takes in the roads you just renege and keep the subdivision listed as undeveloped. That's the situation with Mr. Bass and the Town Hill development and the county is being robbed with the extra burden being put on other citizens. Allen Barrett

Why Pay A Non-Employee For What An Employee Should Be Doing????

The request was made and approved in the budget meeting to pay $300.00 to an employee of the County Co-Op to complete and submit the paper work to qualify for the governors' Three Star Program. It seems this lady, lady #1, while employed by the county had done this as part of her job. When she left for the job at Co-Op she trained another person, lady #2, to complete this paperwork. Now lady #2 transferred from the County Executive's office to Financial Management and no one else was trained thus lady #1 is called back into service. The question I have is why isn't lady #2 completing this task and why was there no one trained to replace her in this task?
Allen Barrett

Why Are County Employees Paying Nothing For Their Insurance?

According to reports this morning in the Budget Committee Meeting presently county employees pay nothing for their medical insurance. They pay for family members. This year the premium for the county was approximately $900,000.00 with an expected increase of 4% next year.
Is it time to start requiring county employees to pay a portion of their medical insurance? Shouldn't there be a prorated system in place so that at least a portion of those premiums would be paid for by the highest paid employees?
Allen Barrett

How To Lose $300,000.00 Without Really Trying!!!!!

How does a person manage to lose $300,000.00 for seven months then come to the Budget Committee and basically say, oops? If the books are reconciled each month would that amount of money normally stay hidden? Is $300,000.00 a significant amount to be bothered with?
I can understand making a mistake, CPA's and other professionals make mistakes, even regular folks like me make mistakes but how can you go for such a long time without realizing that mistake when it involves this amount of money.
Combining this mistake with some other shortfalls in budgets the county was told this morning at the budget meeting that there is a short fall of $223,009.54 now in the budget and would have to be taken from the general fund.

Now just moments before this startling announcement Mr. Griggs from the Ambulance Service stated that the cost to mount two boxes on a chassis for the Ambulance Service was $14,000.00 less than had been expected. In his way of thinking that was his money and should be used on the Richland station not returned to the general fund. His request was presented as "no new money' involved. My question is when will the Commissioners start seeing that because there is no new money there is new spending. Whether it's new or old money it still has to come from somewhere and at last check all the money trees on Minor Hill Highway had been replaced. It's this kind of thinking that has put the county into a very deep financial hole with little hope of getting out. Allen Barrett

COUNTY ZONING AGAIN

There will be a meeting of the Land Use Management Committee tomorrow morning, 19 February, in the basement of the Courthouse Annex (Suntrust Bank). According to the County Executive's office this meeting is to implement the county's land use management plan (county wide zoning). This plan, as written, will greatly restrict new businesses throughout the county. It will inhibit enterprise and concentrate even more control into the hands of the few well connected and political insiders. This county- wide zoning under the control of the county executive and a few commissioners will ultimately determine what you can and can't do on your own land. For more information on the plan, as well as the history of the long standing fight for our country's freedom go to kendrickmcpeters.com.

FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS TO GO FROM PHYSICIANS & SURGEONS TO HILLSIDE!!!

At the Ambulance Committee meeting this morning a complaint was stated by Commissioner Pollard that a citizen was charged $400.00 to have an ambulance take him from the Physicians and Surgeons office on Cedar Line to Hillside Hospital. Even at the standard $10.00 a mile rate that seems excessive. No one including Mr. Roy Griggs was able to explain why this was? Hopefully by the next meeting there will be some explanation.
Also at the meeting it was announced that the Ambulance Service lost $273,000.00 this past year. Later in the meeting it was stated that the total budget for the Ambulance Service was 2.059 million dollars ($.20 of every tax dollar goes to the Ambulance Service) now only between 1.4 and 1.5 million was collected thus with a bit of quick math over half a million dollars was actually lost not the $273,000.00 that was originally mentioned.
With the failing economy and rising expenses associated with this service isn't it about time to seriously consider selling it to a private company as many surrounding counties have done? This would take a huge drain off the county budget and actually increase the tax base.

School Property Donated To Ambulance Service?

The School Board last night agreed to give a certain plot of land near the Richland Elementary School to the Ambulance Service to build an ambulance station there.
This land is being given based on the plans and promises of the Ambulance Director.
These plans included at least two buildings, water and sewage, a chain link fence surrounding the property, a vehicle wash station, landscaping and other improvements to be paid for by taxpayers. At this time the County Commission has not approved these expenditures estimated at over two hundred thousand dollars.
Some questions that were asked but not answered were; If the property isn't used as described will the property revert back to the school board? If the Ambulance Service were to be sold to a private service at some future time what then happens to the property? Is there an absolute guarantee that no school funds will be used? Are these questions dealt with in writing somewhere? Allen Barrett

School Director's Evaluation

At the School Board Meeting last night, 12 Feb. 2009, the evaluations of the School Director were presented. Unlike past evaluations where the "5's" and near "5's" were announced with some fanfare the latest evaluation was not announced at all. There was some discussion about the vagueness of most evaluated categories. I am in full agreement that a more specific means of evaluation is needed however the system available is the system that should be used until a better one is developed.

Listed below are the evaluation results, they are on a scale of 1 to 5 with one being the lowest. The name of the Board Member is listed with the average grade they gave.
Ms. Turner - 2.5
Mr. Greene - 3.2
Mr. Young - 4.2
Ms. Glover - 1.0
Mr. Story - 2.7
Ms. Norman - 4.6
Ms. Murrey - 1.7
Total Average Score - 2.76
Allen Barrett

Sam Davis Cost!!!!

At the last City Council Meeting WKSR reported that "Council members approved amending the 2008-2009 budget to include the estimated $3.5 million Sam Davis Park Renovation Project". Maybe I dosed off and missed the part where this project moved from an estimated cost of 2.5 million to 3.5 million. Are they inching their way back up to the four million dollars taxpayers were so opposed to? Allen Barrett

Principal At Minor Hill

The principal at Minor Hill school was bound over to the Grand Jury to consider an indictment. Her innocence or guilt can not be determined by this blog but the matter of whether she should continue in her position until this matter is resolved is open for discussion.

Some questions that you the readers can give feedback for are; should she have been put on administrative leave when charges were filed and should she now be on administrative leave while the matter is before the grand jury? Should she be on unpaid leave until the matter is resolved with money restored if she is found not guilty? Allen Barrett

AMENDMENT TO 2008-2009 SCHOOL BUDGET

The first question that comes to mind on these amendments is how almost a million dollars in the school budget can be moved?????

Some examples of money moved in the "regular budget" are these DECREASED amounts $10,000,00 in contracts with private agencies; $43,000.00 instructional equipment; $31,195.00 other salaries and wages; $20,000.00 instructional equipment; $38,816.51 contract with private agencies; $35,000.00 other contracted services; $15,000.00 maintenance equipment; $22,000.00 diesel fuel.

DECREASES From the LEAPS program: $23,462,00 supervisor; $86,000478.00 educational assistants; $20,950,.00 part-time personnel; 7.362.00 medical insurance; $5,900.00 maintenance and repair services equipment; $35,800.00 other contracted services; $60,650.00 instructional supplies; $34,000.00 other equipment;

DECREASES From the PRE KINDERGARTEN program: $16,000.00 contracts with private agencies; $3,148.00 other supplies and materials; $16,086.00 other equipment; $19,500.00 other charges.

This is a budget that was presented last year as a bare-bones budget yet almost a million dollars is able to be moved into other catagories, how could it be?

Some on the School Board showed a tremendous amount of character and determination in questioning this budget amendment and have given great encouragement to the idea that next year will be very different than the usual rubber stamp placed on the Directors personal budget. There Is Hope! Allen Barrett

COUNTY CHARTER/HOME RULE

What Is a County Charter/Home Rule?
The Tennessee Constitution allows any County to adopt a HOME RULE form of Government. Home Rule grants to citizens much more control and flexibility over how they are governed.

How will Giles County Benefit from a County Charter/Home Rule?

Some of the things a County Charter/Home Rule would provide for is such things as ...

Taxpayers elect the School Director instead of being appointed by School Board

Term limits for elected officials

Taxpayers vote to approve all tax increases or decreases

Recall vote for government officials

Provision for People's Initiative

Detailed job descriptions for elected officials

All job openings in Giles Government advertised properly

No hiring of immediate family members by department heads

Enable commissioners to adopt ordinances passed by commission

Sunshine Law must be adhered to or fine imposed on offenders

Commissioners who are an employee of the county denied ability to vote on appropriations or budgets

Court house open for business forty hours each week

All County Financial statements and Contracts available on line

Copies of All County Checks and disbursements online

These are some of the things that would be available that taxpayers presently have no say in.

Understand this has absolutely nothing to do with a Metro Government as some claim.
Allen Barrett

PROBLEM READING POST AFTER ABOUT 200 ENTRIES

I read a post where a reader was having trouble viewing the latest entries on some threads. What happens is after 200 entries are posted the next 200 go on a different page. At the top right and the bottom right in blue letters by the number of post entered you can see the words "newer" and "newest", if you click on "newer" it will take you to the second page where the latest post are located. Hope this helps. Allen Barrett

Should There Be Term Limits For Committee Chairpersons????

Commissioner Lee raised the question at the last Commission meeting about the appropriateness of commissioners staying on the same committees year after year.
This especially appears inappropriate when a county employee is able to decide the budget that puts money directly or indirectly into their pocket.
Would the county tolerate a commissioner pushing to have new sidewalks put around the square then allow that same commissioner to set aside the money to pay for those sidewalks then allow that same commissioner to have their spouse bid on the project, of course not but commissioners are allowed to be school employees or have spouses work for the school, set the budget to include pay increases then take the money while saying there is no conflict of interest.

It's past time for this matter to be changed, Term limits should be implemented for committees and no one should benefit financially either directly or indirectly from their votes on the commission. Allen Barrett

Say It Ain't So Joe, Say It Ain't So

It seems that the former County Attorney Scott Spear is now an agent for the corporation Ice River Springs. Does this mean a new effort will be made to incorporate the Spring at Campbellsville into a money making development for Ice River?

Report and Comment From The County Commission Meeting 20 Jan.

Item One: The meeting began with a report from the Industrial Recruiter Mr. Dan Speer. Mr. Speer reported that we have "the most aggressive marketing of any rural community" and that "other counties look to Giles County for leadership". Mr. Speer also reported that currently the county has an unemployment rate of 8.6% with the expectation of it going higher. "Like a fireman when you have a fire the economic developer becomes the first responder", he stated.
My question is if the unemployment rate is so high and expected to get higher and the present economy is doing so poorly with the expectation of it getting worse is there really a means to justify the huge salary the county is currently paying the Industrial Recruiter? Why are we paying such a high salary for activities that could be done by the Chamber of Commerce? More and more empty speculation buildings are being built to join the ones that are already standing vacant. Is it reasonable to have such an expenditure in such financially difficult times?

Item Two: The motion was made to change the time of the Commission Meetings to 5 or 6 PM in order to allow more people to attend. Mention was also made that the meetings should be returned to radio broadcast. The motion failed to get a 2/3 vote and thus failed.

Item Three: Voted to bring new roads into the county system which means that the county would be responsible for their maintenance. There was much discussion on this matter as the roads in question are in a new subdivision that currently has not had the plots recorded thus the developer avoids paying approximately $30,000.00 in county taxes. According to some commissioners the roads should not be taken into the county until after the land has been plotted and recorded thus avoiding a greater burden on the tax payers of the county.
I certainly agree with those commissioners who were looking out for the interest of the taxpayers but the majority voted to take the roads in without a firm time frame for the developer, Mr. Bass, to record the property. There are no reasons these plots are not recorded other than the fact it saves the developer about $30,000.00 in taxes and cost the county that same amount.

Item Four: In one of the most amazing developments discussed and put off was the proposal to sale the Hunter Smith Building at auction. It was announced by Commissioner Terry Harwell that the City of Pulaski had shown an interest in purchasing the Hunter Smith building. The County Executive announced also that there were a group of ladies from Lawrencenburg who were interested. It was decided to put off the matter until a later time.
I spoke with two city council members right after the meeting and both stated that this had not been a matter of discussion at any council meetings and both were certain the city had and would have no interest in purchasing the building.
This is the same ploy used when the last offer of $125,000.00 was made to the property committee for this dilapidated eyesore. Suddenly there was great interest in the building, "calls weekly from people interested in purchasing the building". After the $125,000.00 offer was rejected there were no more offers for over a year. No interest at all until the matter of a public auction was mentioned. One of the benefits of an auction is to allow all those with a real interest to show up and bid thus putting their money up and not just imagined interest.

Item Five: Commissioner Lee had asked for and was given five minutes to make a statement and what a statement he made. After making a very reasoned and logical plea to place term limits on chairmanships of committees he spoke to the matter of the Financial Management Committee. The condensed version of his statement was simply that because of the powerful school and highway lobbies in Nashville the requirement to have the Highway Commissioner and the School Director on the committee along with others having school ties the result is that the foxes are now in charge of the hen house.
This is the most costly development of the Financial Management implementation, having the committee that oversees the budget controlled by those with a direct financial benefit gained from their votes. Allen Barrett

Should School Directors Be Elected or Appointed?

It was requested that this subject have its own thread. So here it is.

Property Committee Meeting Held 12 Jan. 2009

The following items were discussed in the Property Management Committee chaired by Commissioner Connie Howell this morning.

Item 1 Proposal to move the tax assessor's office to the area formally occupied by the elections office at an approximate cost of $163,000.00 was presented by an architect. The matter was discussed and alternative proposals were offered but rejected by the Tax Assessor. The committee finally rejected the move at this time as being much too expensive. Further study was to be done with new proposals to be presented at a later date.

Item 2 An estimate of $54,270.00 was presented for repairs to the Hunter Smith Building. This would include removal of loose plaster, removal of the covered walkway, pressure washing the brick, repointing the brick, repair of the roof and repainting.
After a report that it would cost approximately $100,000.00 for the county to tear down the building and much discussion a proposal to sell the building at auction was made and accepted. After an auction company is found to manage the sale the building will be sold on the courthouse square to the highest bidder and finally returned to the county tax role.

Item 3 Proposal was made by architect to repair plaster in courthouse ceiling at a cost of $40,000.00 to $50,000.00. This would remove the old damaged plaster and canvas and replace it with new and some sound baffling.

After the meeting was adjourned six ladies from the Tax Assessors Office sought to be heard. Their very emotional complaints involved no pay raises, no space, and broken promises of being moved to the former election area in the courthouse basement.
Allen Barrett

From The Legislative Committee Meeting 12 Jan 2009

These items were discussed at the Legislative Committee chaired by Commissioner Faulkner this morning.

Item 1 SENIOR TAX FREEZE. Much negative was said against adopting this legislation including the false assumption that extra people would have to be employed at a cost of over $80,000.00.
This is legislation that has been passed by the people as was expressed by Commissioner Adams on more than one occasions. One response to Commissioner Adams was that the people didn't know what they were voting for and the commission had to decide what the people really wanted.
Finally Commissioner Adams motioned that it be taken before the full commission and Commissioner Bailey seconded the motion which passed.
This item was discussed without any public input which resulted in less than full accurate information being available.

Item 2 Commissioner Lee stated that some commissioners had been on certain committees far too long and served as chairmen of some powerful committees much too long and that there should be term limits placed on how long a person could remain as chairman. A second part to this concerned conflicts of interest. Those employed by county entities should not be in position of deciding matters that involve that employer. In such matters a conflict of interest exist either by reality or perception regardless of whether the little statement is read stating there is no conflict.
The matter was put aside to be studied.

Item 3 Proposal to place financial statements on the county website was met with much enthusiasm.

Item 4 Statement from Rep. Eddie Bass was read in response to the Tourism Board requesting the county be named "Turkey Capitol of Tennessee". After some laughter and assurance that this was not an identification of the County Government the committee agreed to propose the designation be changed to "Wild Turkey Hunting Capitol Of Tennessee".

Item 5 Discussion was held about requiring the Industrial Development Committee submit reports of activities to the Commission each quarter. Some felt a written report each month of how the money was being spent was appropriate along with a personal report from the Economic Development Recruiter each quarter.
Presently no one in County Government has any clue as to how money the county contributes is being used.

Item 6 Questions were raised about when the Ethic and Courthouse Security Committees would meet since none had been held in the past year. Allen Barrett

Language Use

Because I have a strong belief that censorship is wrong I have been very lenient and not removed anything posted for it's content other than for language used. Some comments I have strongly disagreed with but did not remove because of the belief open communication is just that. Please do not use vulgarities in expressing your thoughts and comments as one word causes the whole post to be deleted. Thank you. Kent Allard

Report From Finance Committee Meeting 6 Jan 2009

These actions taken this morning by the Finance Committee still must be approved by the Full Commission on 20 January 2009.

ITEM 1 It was agreed that the fifteen members, five county commissioners and ten non-commissioners, of the Planning Commission would be paid $30.00 per meeting retroactive to July 2008. The total would amount to $5,400.00 per year for this committee to hold its twelve meetings each year.

ITEM 2 Was a bookkeeping maneuver where approximately $23,000.00 would be paid to the tax office for the county's share of property tax on the Suntrust/Courthouse Annex Building this money would then be transferred back to the county general fund.

ITEM 3 $4000.00 was approved to remount two older ambulance boxes onto new chassis.

ITEM 4 Thanks to TIMKIN a grant was given to fully fund the purchase of a rescue squad vehicle but another $8,400.00 was approved to match a partial grant from another source to purchase a separate vehicle for the Rescue Squad.

ITEM 5 $125,000.00 was allocated to study the Campbellsville Spring.

ITEM 6 Up to $5,000.00 was allocated to the Highway Department to tear down two buildings at the Agriculture Park.

ITEM 7 $3,000.00 was added to Judge Damrons budget. Last year the state mandated an unfunded raise for him that was taken out of his budget. This three thousand dollars was a replacement, as stated by the Financial Director this $3,000.00 is for travel expenses to two conferences he attends each year. This expenditure was not mandated by the state only the salary increase that had already been paid. This was approved reluctantly with a one vote margin after at least three commissioners stated they didn't want to approve it but felt they had to.

ITEM 8 $898.00 was approved for the purchase of CTAS Manuals. The suggestion was made that there only be one hard copy kept in the County Executives Office and other offices either use that one or simply use the free copy on the internet. It was agreed by the County Executive to investigate that possibility.

ITEM 9 A request for $30,000.00 to finish the skateboard park was presented and postponed until the next fiscal budget is presented.

ITEM 10 $10,000.00 was requested and approved for the Economic Development Board.
This is supposedly to prepare the county for a "huge" influx of military personnel to be transferred to Redstone Arsenal.

The last time there was a "huge" influx of military at Redstone the number of military families who moved to Giles County could be counted on one finger. With the new administration about to take control in Washington and the many promises made to cut the military budget can anyone really depend on this "huge" influx of families? This $10,000.00 amounts to nothing more than the equivalent of another empty speculation building for the industrial park. Since Mayor Speer has done such an outstanding job recruiting industry to the county what's another ten thousand dollars for him to spend. This is the most absurd expenditure approved this morning.

As was stated in the meeting in response to the direct question, "How much is in the General Fund that is not committed for anything". The answer was approximately four million dollars. When this question was asked twice more and the Financial Management Director was told "I do not believe there is that much uncommitted money in the general fund balance" it was revealed that $2,700,000.00 had to be kept in reserve and could not be used, it became clear that the fund balance is only about a million dollars to operate the county on until July, yet those in charge still can not say no to additional spending. Allen Barrett

Merry Christmas

May Your Holidays And Every Day Be Filled With The Real Joy Of Christmas And Not Just The Temporary Presents. May We Each Become The Blessing Christ Desires Us To Be.
Allen Barrett

If There's Smoke Does There Have To Be Fire?

There seems to have been an ongoing problem at Southside concerning the possibility that some unknown person was smoking in the school in direct violation with state and school policy.
Now what started out as a simple matter of smelling smoke has grown into a war of words, lies, cyber-bulling, secret personnel files, and an attack against the person who first mentioned the smell of smoke.
It seems as with many other things in Giles County and especially in the school system undesirable information, like smoke is simply ignored until it becomes a huge fire.
A number of E-mails reveals that the principal tried to deal with the situation in an appropriate, simple and easy manner. The problem grew, I believe, with the overly paranoid response by the director of the Leaps and Bounds program.
Soon the problem moved up the chain to the Director of Schools office. How did the director deal with this situation? As I posted on another thread he reported to the School Board that the matter had been investigated and resolved, but can a matter be thoroughly investigated when not all the participants have been interviewed? Can a matter be resolved when the participants are still experiencing harassment, bullying, having separate personnel files kept on them, and being frustrated from appealing to a School Board that still lacks the resolve to actually direct the director?
What does a School Director do when they can't deal with a situation effectively?
I have attached a letter from the School Director revealing how he has chosen to deal with this situation. Notice the threatening tone and the untruth that the matter has been closed by the School Board. Keep in mind this is a letter to the person who has only asked that school policy be followed and that she be treated fairly instead of with disrespect by allowing unsubstantiated statements to those in authority to go unchallenged and to eliminate all secret files about her. So far, it seems, all negativity from authorities has been directed toward the person who first spoke out about the smell of smoke in the school and none has involved the teacher who is at the center of the violations and sender of slanderous e-mails. Allen Barrett

This is the letter sent by the director to Mrs Weisser. I could not cut and paste it so I had to re-type it but it is accurate word for word.
December 5, 2008

Mrs. Weisser,

The purpose of this correspondence is to stress the importance of bringing the issues of which you have complained to an end. This matter has been investigated, the employees who have knowledge of the events have been interviewed. A conclusion has been reached by the office of the Director of Schools and published to the Giles County Board of Education.

It is in the interest of the students and the faculty and staff of Southside Elementary School to have a harmonious environment. Continuing this matter is becoming a significant disruptive force at the school and its mission to educate students.

The school board has entertained this issue, and from all indications, the school board now considers this matter closed. Your continuing attempts to revive or keep the issues alive are hedging on insubordination and unprofessional conduct.

I have held you in high esteem, and have always appreciated your many contributions to the success of our school system. It is with both appreciation for your service, and a grave concern for the effects that this matter is having on the environment at Southside School that I request your prompt cooperation in bringing this matter to an immediate close.
Sincerely.
Tee Jackson

Jackie McMillan To Retire!

It's with both sadness and joy that I announce the upcoming retirement of Ms. Jackie McMillan from the school system. It's sad to see someone who has been so totally helpful, to so many over the years retire. She always managed to be much more than just pleasant even in the most trying of personal and professional circumstances. She is a pillar of integrity in a system seemingly dominated by half truths and lies. So it's with joy that I celebrate her finally getting out of the mess and having time to do as she chooses for a while. I wish you well in all your coming adventures and activities. You leave some terribly big shoes to fill and everyone who comes into the central office will miss that wonderful smile and helpful attitude. Have a great retirement. Allen Barrett

1st Lay Offs In County Government!!!!!

For the first time in my memory there are people being laid off from their government jobs in Giles County. Two people in the Register of Deeds Office were let go because of a lack of funds coming into the office. Last year approximately $24,000.00 in excess fees were channeled into the general fund, this year they can’t even pay the employees. How long before other offices are effected?

After much protestation from the County Executive that the county was in good financial shape I wonder if she might now admit that if the county’s not broke it’s at least badly bent. Even with these revelations there is still no serious effort to cut the spending and more people are being added to Mrs. Vanzant’s staff. Is it possible that the County Executive’s plan for dealing with the unemployment problem is to eventually have everyone in Giles County working in her office?

For several years the county has been spending money like it was growing on trees. Many have warned that the spending was out of control especially when coupled with the facts that so many jobs were being lost in the county. But no one was concerned in county government enough to actually do anything. Some tried but you can’t beat a system built on fantasy, denial and buddies to the end. Even when reserves were being tapped this year to meet an overly optimistic budget some commissioners and the county executive continued to be in a state of denial about the financial situation.

It’s past time to get the county’s finances in order by getting school employees and dependents of school employees off the budget committee, off the Financial Management Committee, and off the County Commission. It’s time those without any understanding of economics, finances and budgets were taken off key committees where they sit numbed by their lack of understanding. It’s way past time the County Executive realize the rosy pictures she presents are painted with the crimson red of deficit spending. As the leader of the county she must become more accountable and thrifty in her leadership.

If action is not taken soon to stop the financial bleeding the county will be in a far worse financial mess than General Motors. Allen Barrett

Happy Thanksgiving To Everyone

With this Thanksgiving Day in danger of losing its true meaning, like most of the other Christian holidays, I pray everyone will take at least a few moments to reflect on all that we are thankful for and express that thankfulness to each other and especially to God.

I invite you to post some of those things you hold most valuable in your life and pray even more of God’s wonderful blessings will be recognized in your life in the coming days and years. May we always be a blessing to God.
Allen Barrett

Abuse of Sick Leave

I have a few questions, I need help with concerning a situation in the Tax Assessors Office.
1st Question: Why would a county employee or anyone else be allowed to accumulate 222 days of sick leave? Most businesses even those with very liberal sick leave policies put a cap on the amount of time you can accumulate. Not so with the county which allows an unlimited amount of sick leave to be accumulated.
Another problem with unlimited sick leave is the added difficulty and expense of hiring a temporary replacement for an unknown period of time and the burden placed on other workers who have to take up the slack. Understand I'm not talking about a couple of days or even a week but at this moment over nine months and many months yet to go.

2nd Question, If a person is determined to be unable to work shouldn't they be declared disabled and put on workman's comp or permanent disability? This person hasn't worked in the Tax Assessors office since 15 February 2008. Is it reasonable that they draw full pay keep their position and continue to accumulate even more sick leave while not working a single hour at their job? Is it fair for the others in that office?

3rd Question: If a person is determined to be unable to work how often should an update of condition from a doctor be required? For this particular person there was one statement issued from a doctor on 4 March 2008. Since then the person has not spent one hour at work in the Assessor's office yet has been able to ride his motorcycle many miles including one trip to South Carolina and back. Is it reasonable that a person would have the stamina and ability to ride that far on a vibrating motorcycle but can't sit two or three hours a day in an office doing what he's being paid for?
Shouldn't there be a requirement for an update from the doctor at least every three months?

4th Question: Is it reasonable that those working in the Assessor's office be subjected to the additional frustration of not being able to hire a replacement and absorb the extra work left by this person's absence? If it is not an added burden then is it necessary to hire a replacement when this person retires at the end of his sick leave?

5th Question: Why has it been so difficult for those in charge, the Tax Assessor, the County Executive, Financial Management Director and the County Commissioners, to take the responsibility and change this current situation by requiring timely updates from the doctor about the work status of this individual and for changing this situation so it's not repeated in the future? Allen Barrett

County Bankrupt????????

Recently there seems to have been much protestations about the county not being bankrupt. It seems that the County Executive heard a rumor, according to her words, then made a very strong denial in a committee meeting, on the radio, in the Commission Meeting and in the newspaper. Doth the lady protest too much?

While I agree that the county is not bankrupt financially it is certainly headed in that direction. By her own words the County Executive stated the county is spending more than it is taking in. Certainly that's, in part, a problem that is caused by some months being periods of slow collections. There is a greater problem however in that when the budget was made it was adopted knowing that reserve funds would have to be used to finance it. Many times the budget committee, the financial management office, the county executive and the commissioners have been warned of the financial problems, even before the collapse of the markets, yet they have chosen to ignore the problems and increase spending even above what was originally budgeted for.

Three million dollars in reserve may sound like a lot but when you keep taking 10 an 20 an $30,000.00 chips away from it soon it's not so big.
Fact, Giles County has a shrinking tax base but continues to grow the government.
Fact, with a decreasing tax base and increasing expense a tax increase is on the way.
Fact, with a shrinking population and increasing unemployment how can the people who are left pay the increased tax burden?

While the county may not be bankrupt at this moment it's leadership is certainly bankrupt of common sense and a will to control spending. Allen Barrett

Surprise of Surprises!!!!

The position in the Financial Management Office has been filled by none other than Karen Higgins formally of the County Executive's Office.
After one announcement in the paper that the job was open, that coming on Thursday with the deadline for resumes to be in on Monday, interviews were held and Ms. Higgins
is now employed by the Financial Management Office.
I suppose progress is being made at least there was an announcement and an interview, unlike some jobs.
Now the question arises as to whether there will now be an opening in Mrs Vanzant's office or will there no longer be a need for another expensive go-fer.

Hunter Smith One More Time !!!!!

What's happening with the Hunter Smith Building, nothing good or cheap. Many have noticed the latest addition to the Hunter-Smith building, a nice canopy of sorts built on the north side. This isn't to keep the rain off those on the sidewalk but to keep the plaster and brick off their pretty heads. As the building continues to sit waiting for the imaginary "white knight" to come buy it for a million bucks it continues to rack up huge expenses and liabilities. The talk now is to have someone scrape the plaster from the bricks at an estimated cost of about $50,000.00. It may be much higher when the person actually inspects the building and sees that it's the plaster that is holding up the bricks.
One question is what happened to the "many offers that were coming in each month" as reported by the County Executive when she advised the Budget Committee against selling the building for, if I remember correctly $125,000.00. It seems the County Executive and some commissioners wanted $150,000.00 so the only real offer that has been officially presented to the commission was turned down. Meanwhile that desire for another $25,000.00 has cost the county at least $150,000.00 or more.
Realistically, and most commissioners know this but are unwilling to make such an unpopular decision, the only thing left for this decrepit eyesore is to tear it down and either sale the lot or build on it. It is way past time for something to be done with this bottomless money pit. It was a mistake to buy it in the beginning and an even bigger mistake to hold on to it instead of admitting it was a mistake and getting rid of it even at a loss. In total all expenses including tearing it down and hauling it off I estimate the county will have paid out well over half a million dollars. Each month that cost goes up. Allen Barrett

$20,000.00 added to budget for custodial care

After a heartfelt plea by the County Executive during the County Commission Meeting the commissioners, with the exception of David Adams, voted to move $20,000.00 from building upkeep to hire of a new custodian. According to the statement of the County Executive not all the money will be used for salary but she doesn't know if it will be a full time or part time position. The County Executive stated justification for this new hire was because the current custodians could no longer do the work. She outlined some of the problems the custodians were faced with including the annex and the requirement to clean the Suntrust part.

Only one question was asked by a commissioner. Commissioner Connie Howell asked, "if this is coming out of building upkeep this year will it come out of a different line item next year?" "Yes" was the answer from the County Executive. So this will be a new annual expense.
A couple of questions that should have been asked are, If Roger is primarily for maintenance and no longer has time to do any cleaning why is he spending approximately two hours a day (this according to the County Executive's statement this morning) sorting and delivering mail in the courthouse? Why isn't each office responsible for getting and sorting their own mail? If the custodian in the main courthouse doesn't have time to do all the cleaning why does she only work 35 hours a week and get full time pay? Until these questions are answered it seems more of a problem of supervision and time management than a lack of personnel.
If the problem is, as stated this morning by the County Executive, that the people simply can not do the work anymore then isn't it time for replacements that can do the work or a cleaning service hired to do the cleaning?

Three Star Rating

The County and cities within have been given the prestigious "Three Star Award". The Three-Star Program is designed as a road map to assist local communities in their effort to achieve excellence in community and economic development.

New Attorney For Giles County

At the November County Commission Meeting this morning Ms Lucy Henson was appointed as the new County Attorney. This appointment will stand until the July meeting when consideration will be given for permanent appointment.

School Board Approves $10,000.00 Life Insurance Policy For Employees??????

At last night’s School Board Meeting and after almost a year of preparation and procrastination, the School Board approved the bids for $10,000.00 in life insurance for each school employee. On the surface this seems like a very generous and worthwhile benefit but, as is often the case in Giles County, very little is as it seems.

The request by the Board was for insurance carriers to provide bids to supply $10,000.00 in life insurance coverage. The bids after much wrangling and attempts to get it right were finally opened a week ago and discussed. Last night was the official approval with a company from Alabama, getting the bid having beat out a local carrier by less than $300.00.
Now as Paul Harvey says here’s “the rest of the story”. The Alabama agent “AXA” provides a declining policy which means when a person reaches a certain age the amount of payout goes down. So if you happen to be seventy years old or older and happen to die you only get $5,000.00 not $10,000.00. The Board has had this same type of declining insurance policy for employees for a number of years.
The local agent had offered a non-declining policy which means as long as the policy is in effect regardless of your age if you die you get the full $10,000.00.

Now to make the situation even more interesting in the past when a TEACHER died if they had reached the age where the policy paid less than $10,000.00 the school system would take money from the general funds and make up the difference. However if a BUSDRIVER or NON-TEACHER died and they had reached the age where the policy paid less than $10,000.00 they were just out of luck. In simplest terms if a seventy year old teacher died they got $10,000.00 but if anyone else at age seventy, with the same exact policy, died they got only $5,000.00.

Does this seem fair and equable to have and/or continue such a policy? Would it not have been much simpler to accept the insurance with a non declining payout instead of committing to take money out of general school funds and make up the difference? As has been stated in response to the question, “what happens if four people die and the school system has to pay out $20,000.00 where does the money come from? “We’ll have to go to the commission and ask for more funds.”

Nepotism is alive and well in Giles County !!!!!

With the appointment of former deputy Dustin Sigmon to a job in the Clerk & Master's office there seems to be no shortage of jobs for those with family in county and city government.

There are a couple of questions that need to be answered about this appointment.
1. Was this job position posted and advertised so other people might have the opportunity to apply and be considered? If it was not advertised can there be any assurance the best qualified person is now in the job?
2. What are the qualification for this position and were those qualifications met or exceeded by Mr. Sigmon?

KENDRICK McPETERS

It is with a sad heart that I report that my friend and a good friend of Giles County passed away this morning. Kendrick had been in the hospital for about two months, much of it in the critical care unit in Madison, Tn. He was transferred to Stallworth at Vanderbilt a couple of weeks ago. This morning his heart just stopped beating. Arrangements are incomplete at this time but plans are to have a memorial service at Carr & Erwin on Monday about 5PM. Kendrick had a strong belief in Jesus as The Christ and his Savior and is now in heaven. Please pray for his family and friends that they will find comfort in their loss. Allen Barrett

How Much Is Too Much?????

If you make a budget that is more than you actually have and must use the reserve funds that have been saved for hard times does it seem reasonable to keep adding expenses to that budget?
The current budget that was approved just months ago has already required using the reserve funds. Last year the commissioners approved $110,000.00 for the stadium. That money was left out of the actual budget presented for approval by the commissioners, yesterday it was put back into the budget. Was this a simple mistake or a simple slight of hand. The budget as presented was already bloated and unrealistic, did the absence of these monies make it appear less problematic?
This wasn't the only item left out of the budget $18,000.00 approved to reimburse Lynnville was also put into the budget yesterday. A 15% increase in the amount given to the libraries in Lynnville, Ardmore and Minor Hill was added. Up to $23,000.00 was approved to move the bleachers from Sam Davis to Richland was approved.
The question that keeps coming to my mind is how when you have no money do you keep spending? The Budget Committee seems unable to say no to anything with a price tag. Will the full commission follow this destructive pattern or will common sense step up and say no? At the rate of current spending and raiding of the reserves can there be a reasonable expectation of less than a ten cent tax increase next year? When everyone else is required to say no in their personal budgets, when unemployment is so high, when jobs and the tax base are shrinking should government not show a greater restraint in spending our money? Allen Barrett

More Janitorial Help????

At the Budget Committee Meeting on 28 October it was agreed to take $20,000.00 form the county maintenance funds and hire either a part-time or full-time custodian. The reason I state either part or full-time is because the County Executive has not decided. As I stated in the meeting this would bring the custodial staff up to the very number proposed and turned down by the commissioners less than a year ago. If you can't come in the front door I suppose the backdoor is just fine. The justification for this expenditure was that the chief custodian was hurt and "might" not be able to do all his job.

Pay Raises For Some?????

At the Budget Committee Meeting on the 28th a request was made for a 10% salary increase ($6,175.00) for the Circuit Court Clerk. While Mrs. Greene gave a reasonable and extensive justification for the salary increase it seems that life is not as simple as "A" is followed by "B" and "C".
The question is not one of whether Mrs. Greene deserves, needs or should have a raise. Her salary is paid out of the fees charged by her office so a raise would not be taken directly out of taxpayer funds.
Here's the problem, the state has a structured pay schedule for some officials. By law the county executive most make at least 5% more than any other elected official in the county. The sheriff and the Highway Supervisor must make 10% more than any other elected official excluding the county executive. These salaries are taken out of the general funds of the county, which means a near 25% of these salaries would be an annual liability against an already broken county budget. By state mandate elected officials received a 4.89% salary increase earlier this year. In this time of financial crisis when many can not even find a job is it reasonable to give a near 15% salary increase to anyone especially those already making in excess of $60,000.00 a year from taxpayers.
This matter was tabled by the Budget Committee Tuesday until Mrs Garner could provide a more exact dollar amount the county would be responsible for. Look for this to come up in the November County Commission Meeting. I urge everyone to call their commissioners and the county executve and voice your support or dissatisfaction with this plan. Allen Barrett

WILL GILES COUNTY HELP ELECT A SOCIALIST TO THE PRESIDENCY ????

With only a few days of early voting left will Giles County be part of an Obama election or will common sense and love of freedom prevail? Senator Obama has made it very clear that his agenda is that of a socialist seeking to take the earnings of some and give to others. It's amazing that he claims to only want to tax the rich but then proposes higher withholding on payroll taxes (for those who are unaware that's social security). A man claimed to be the Messiah but whose history reveals only a cheap Chicago politician, drug addict, who never had a real job except with ACORN and even that is suspect, a friend of terrorists, slum lords, racist and criminals. A man who made over four million dollars last year but gave less than ten thousand dollars to charity, the year before that he and his wife gave less than four thousand to charity yet wants to take other people's money and give it to those he considers needy. The man is an unrepentant liar who claims to be a Christian but it's "above his pay grade" to say when life begins however it's OK to kill unborn children and in some instances born children for the convenience of the mother at government expense.
Senator Obama has the most liberal voting record of any legislator in the congress, his running mate is number three with the openly socialist Bernie Sanders coming in at number three. The senator is in the top ten at getting earmarks including a huge one to pay his wife's salary. If this man is elected along with his buddies Nancy Polise and Harry Reid heading up the House and Senate does anyone think those responsible for this financial crisis will ever be brought to justice. Franklin Rains made over nine million from Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae before they went broke, Sen. Chris Dodd (D) got huge loans at bargain basement rates from Countrywide as it was filing for bankruptcy, Barney Frank and Maxine Waters prevented any action being taken to control the worthless loans. This is just the tip of the iceburg of corruption surrounding Sen. Obama. Allen Barrett

MORE POLITICALLY CORRECT INDOCTRINATION IN GILES SCHOOL SYSTEM

Why has the school system chosen to allow the film "An Inconvenient Truth" to be shown to students as a factual representation of global warming when well over 80% of it has been proven to be nothing but a lie? In Great Britain and a number of other places the film can only be shown in schools when a disclaimer accompanies it.
At Richland recently not only was there no disclaimer but the film was presented as 100% factual. Families have complained to the administration as many are very unhappy with this kind of distortion and outright lies being used to pervert the minds of their children. In many places schools have become the breeding ground for political correctness instead of education I had hope this school system would be able to avoid such perversions, sadly it seems I was wrong. Allen Barrett

Update On Pre-Kindergarten !

An update on the Pre-Kindergarten Program was given last night. It was announced that a total of 86 students are enrolled in the Pre-K Program. Plans were announced that these children, parents and other family members would soon be going on a bus trip to Limoland as an activity.

The budget for this program is set at $527,356.00. When the budget was being discussed earlier in the year it was stated by Mr. Jackson that the program would include between 94 and 100 children. With the current actual enrollment at 86 that is a cost to taxpayers of $6132.05 per child. That is more than it cost to educate a child in grades one through twelve. With all unbiased reports revealing no significant advantage to a child past third grade, over one not having attended Pre-K, this is one very expensive daycare program that is eating a huge hole in the education dollar.
Allen Barrett

Congratulations to The School Board

Last night at the School Board meeting the results of a long awaited telephone audit was announced and a new agreement was entered into by the school system that will save over $1200.00 a month. Thanks to the School Board's proactive stance there will be no more $1.00 per minute calls made at taxpayer expense. There is reason to be encouraged by this Board.

Now if the city and county would only follow suit. When I asked the city manager over a year ago now many phones were being used by city workers, how many personal calls were being made and at what cost to the city he very defensively responded that he didn't know and wasn't concerned about it. This was stated in a City Council Meeting. It's this kind of attitude that keeps cost up and confidence in public officials low.
Allen Barrett

Recently Ron Shirey Left The Giles School System

When Ron Shirey left the school system there was much speculation as to why and who would replace him. Mr. Shirey wore many hats at the central office from Safety Officer to Attendance Supervisor. People were told that because of his many duties he was an invaluable member of the administrative staff.

Now it seems that maybe he wasn’t so valuable after all, as Mr. Jackson has decided not to fill his position!!!!!!
Three interesting aspects must be considered concerning this situation.
First, will these duties be spread out among other administrators? Who will be able to absorb the many duties of the Attendance Supervisor and Safety Officer among other things and still complete their present duties? If this can be done at this time why wasn’t it done before?
Second, what will be done with the salary that was set aside in the budget for this “much needed” position? Will this money be spread among other administrators and will the School Board and Financial Management Office go along with this?
Third, why did Mr. Jackson decide not to fill a position he has identified as “vital” to the school system? Is it possible that since Mrs. Murrey, the present School Board Chair, applied for the job and is the most qualified applicant, that Mr. Jackson has made this decision to prevent her getting the job and possibly being replaced on the School Board by someone he might have even less control over?
Clearly there are a number of unanswered questions that need to be addressed with this issue and Mr. Jackson should explain his actions and reasoning to the public.
Allen Barrett

What Is A Custodian That Doesn’t Clean Really Worth $32.00 An Hour?

It seems that 32 dollars an hour is what the GCHS football coach made this summer to keep the Field House open. That may not seem like much to some folks but it does to me and I have to wonder what it seems like to Coach Billy Holt that was paid NOTHING to keep the Gym open during the summer. Here's an interesting question, "which program makes the most money for the school, football or basketball and which burns up the most money? Maybe Coach Holt needs to glue a couple of pointed ends onto his basketball if he wants to get into the big money.
Other Coaches also got the same thing Coach Holt got for their efforts during the summer. Allen Barrett

What Has Happened To The Minor Hill Band Program?

What once was a very active Band program now seems to have all but vanished?
Is it due to a lack of interest on the part of the students, the staff or the parents? Perhaps it’s a combination of all three or something totally different.
Perhaps priorities have changed such that the band no longer matters? Allen Barrett

Is There A Backbone Growing In The Financial Management Office?

Word comes that there is finally some action being taken in the Financial Management Office to correct a long time situation where a $44,532.00 a year employee keeps missing. Seems she has continued to follow her well established pattern from her days at the School Central Office by failing to show up on time, taking extra long lunch breaks and just plain vanishing for hours at a time.
What has been so obvious to most observers seems to have finally gotten to the overly patient and easy going Director so that she has now officially counseled the employee and warned against future unacceptable absences. Hoorays for Mrs. Garner.
Allen Barrett

School Director of The Year

Giles County Director of Schools Tee Jackson was recently named District School Director of the Year by the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents. This district covers some seventeen different school systems. Congratulations to Mr. Jackson
on this award.

ONE RESULT OF FROM THE COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING

Today the Financial Management Committee was totally sabotaged by turning its control over to the school system. While there were many attempts and successes at destroying the effectiveness of this very worthwhile and productive committee, today the final nails were driven into its heart.

The County Commission ignored the opportunity to improve and strengthen both the Budget and Financial Management Committees by refusing to appoint non-commissioners and expanding the membership of these committees. Some brave commissioners cast their vote for change and supported a highly respected former comptroller of a Fortune 500 company but they were out voted by the ugliness of self serving out of touch commissioners stuck in the pockets of cronies.

With the appointment of Commissioner Rose Brown, a school system employee, along with Commissioner Bill Holt, a school system employee, Commissioner Roger Reedy, a dependent of a school system employee, and Commissioner Tommy Campbell, the Director of Schools will have much support for his agenda. Already the Financial Management Office is packed with former school employees.
As these join the Highway Supervisor and County Executive on the board what hope is there left for the citizens of Giles County? I fear very little.

Ron Shirey Leaving Giles School System

It was announced that Mr. Ron Shirey a long time Giles County educator is leaving his position, effective 5 September, for a similar position in Marshall County. What would make a person with so much invested in this school system decide to leave for basically the same job in another county?

The Election Isn’t Over Yet!!

Five people are seeking to be elected to the Pulaski City Board of Aldermen they are the incumbents Mr. James Gentry, Mr. Jeff Hatfield and Mrs. Vickie Harwell and the challengers Mr. Colby Baddour and Mr. Robert E. Lee Jr.

Three people are seeking the unexpired term of the late 2nd District Commissioner Terry Hughes. They are Mr. Mike Goode, Mr. Wayne Hutton and Mr. Tommy Pope.

The Wall for What?

During the move into the Courthouse Annex the Election Office made a strong case for building a wall to create a smoother traffic pattern for voters on Election Day. Alternatives were offered by different commissioners and citizens including a temporary wall that could be moved during non-election days at a significant savings. Finally at the insistence of the Election officials a permanent block wall was built at a cost of about $18,000.00.
As those voting on Election Day know voting no longer is done in the courthouse Annex but is now at Martin College.
Why was this wall, at such great expense, built then the Election Commission move the voting precinct to Martin College?

Ambulance Station for Minor Hill!

The Budget Committee this morning approved putting an ambulance station in Minor Hill at a cost of between 250 and 300 thousand dollars a year. The last station that was established cost over $400,000.00. To accomplish this it would add $.05 to the tax rate.
The question isn’t do they need or deserve an ambulance station in Minor Hill but can the county afford it and what happens when the folks on Rose Hill/Campbellsville ask for one; don’t they also need and deserve a station? How many other communities would like to have an ambulance station?
The ambulance service has lost a tremendous amount of money each of the past number of years and while the service is needed isn’t it about time that it be made a more efficient less costly service. Is it unreasonable to suggest they at least break even if not make money?

Are People Getting Good Service from Public Officials

This topic was suggested by a reader who submitted the question, “Are people getting good service from the Financial Management Office”. I chose to open the topic up a bit more and include any and all departments. So please share your experiences with the different departments, who gets a thumbs up and who gets a thumbs down.

Why Aren't County/City Public Records Available On The Internet?

Is it reasonable for the city and county to charge citizens twenty five cents a copy for public documents considering that they cost less than five cents a copy to make? A copy of the recent county budget cost over twenty dollars for a taxpaying citizen to obtain. Why aren't more public documents made available to the public via the internet as most counties do?
The city administrator stated that he has charged $.25 a copy for documents for over eighteen years, yet never placed a sign in the office announcing that, could not produce any authorization for doing such(until recently), has not kept a record of money taken in or how it was used.
Why are citizens paying for public information they have already paid for through taxes?

Report Finds Tenn. Pre-K gains Fade by 2nd Grade

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- An outside study has found the advantages of participating in Tennessee's public pre-kindergarten program wane by the time students reach the second grade. The report conducted for the state finds that children who attended pre-K performed better in reading, language and math in kindergarten and in the first grade. But the study conducted by the Columbus, Ohio-based Strategic Research Group found that by the second grade, there was no statistically significant difference between those who went to pre-K and those who did not. The report measured student achievement using the results of standardized tests given in three academic years between 2004 and 2007.

Gov. Phil Bredesen, a Democrat, has grown the state's pre-K program since coming into office in 2003 from about 3,000 students a year to more than 17,000. Bredesen said the report shows that pre-K better prepares children for school. But he acknowledged that more work needs to be done. "It probably makes it fairly obvious we have some more work to do in the first, second, third grades to hang on to those kinds of gains," he said.

Pre-K report: http://www.comptroller1.state.tn.us/repository/RE/prekeval08.pdf

One Positive Thread Deserves Another!

Somewhat to my surprise, the thread on "good things about Giles County" has thus far not been contaminated by "negative" remarks. To see if lightning can strike twice in the same spot, I'm launching this thread, dedicated to things that are praiseworthy in general, in or outside of Giles County.

I'll start with a Giles County topic: the nice fellow who cuts my grass, Danny Bowen. Mr. Bowen works fast, does a great job, and has amazingly reasonable prices. And the low, low price he quotes you includes everything: he provides the mower, the gas, and even an assistant that runs a weedeater. I know it's a little late in the lawn care season, but, if you need your grass cut, Mr. Bowen is your man... call him at 207-8623, or by cellphone at 652-4169. You won't be sorry!

For those of you in the same "need to lose weight" boat that I am in, I'd like to recommend an online "all natural, free range" beef merchant: Ney's Big Sky. I strongly endorse their "95% lean hamburger" which costs a modest $3.50 per pound plus shipping. A quarter pound patty of this tasty, but extra lean, meat has only 140 calories, which makes it terrific for any weight loss plan. Throw in an 80 calorie high-fiber wheat bun, and a 30 calorie slice of fat free cheese, and you've got the equivalent of a McDonald's Quarter Pounder.... with only half the calories!

Not only does Ney's Big Sky sell the leanest ground beef I can find, they have truly good customer service. For instance, in my last order, I ordered a bunch of 95% lean hamburger in one pound tubes, but received instead 80% lean hamburger in quarter pound patties. So, where's the good service, you may ask? Simple: I notified Neys about their mistake, and they were quite apologetic, and immediately shipped out a replacement order. Plus, when I offered to mail back the 80% lean meat (which was useless for my diet) they insisted that I keep it, at no charge.

I like doing business with a company that follows the "customer comes first" rule. And it is a comfort to be able to eat lean meat that comes from cows that not only aren't shot full of questionable chemicals and hormones, but -- in a humanitarian manner -- are allowed to graze outdoors, rather than living their whole lives cooped up in smelly barns. So, if you need some beef, and want the best, I suggest you go to:

http://www.neysbigsky.com

Last, but certainly not least, I'd like recommend an excellent blog put out by a fellow Middle-Tennessean, Byron Smith. Blogging as "Byron 1776," Mr. Smith has a great knack for taking a complicated economic or political theory, and explaining it quickly and understandably, while using everyday language. This is easier said than done, and so I salute "Byron 1776" not only for making the effort to lay a foundation for a better world, but for doing such a good job in the process. Looking for a surefire wealthbuilding strategy that involves Congress? Curious about how John McCain can beat Obama? Then read Byron's blog, and find out for yourself:

http://byron1776.blogspot.com/

Note: I'm not getting paid a thin dime for any of the above recommendations. I just wanted to share my enthusiasms, and I encourage the rest of you to use this thread to do the same. Positive comments only, please!

In What Ways Would You Like To See This Area Grow???

"In what ways would you like to see this area grow and change and what businesses would you like to see move here"

"What Do You Like About Giles County?"

Firearm safety

It seems from a recent article on WKSR that there may need to be some safety classes held for people using firearms in the county. According to the report an officer with the Pulaski Police Department was cleaning their hand gun when it accidentally discharged. There is no possible way a hand gun can fire its self if proper procedures are being followed. Some simple issues of handgun safety is do not think but know by checking if the weapon is unloaded. Never attempt to clean a loaded weapon and always treat a firearm as if it is loaded until you know for certain.
A question arises as to whether the officer involved was following proper procedures.... obviously not. If not why not and was there any disciplinary action taken. Fortunately this did not turn out to be as bad as it could have been but if no changes are made what will the next incident result in?

Sales Tax Increase For Sam Davis Stadium????

Even though there is a thread for the Sam Davis Stadium it seems the subject is beginning to drift into other threads such as the discussion on the school board election. So in an effort to keep subjects separated and continue to give plenty of opportunity for discussion this new thread is being offered. Please feel free to comment about the stadium, the tax or those other subjects related to the remodel of the stadium.

Looking for a worthwhile Presidential Candidate?

Then please vote for the 2008 nominee of the Constitution Party, Chuck Baldwin.

I Am An American!
by Chuck Baldwin
July 18, 2008

Free republics are not known to have long life expectancies. At the ripe old age of two hundred and thirty-two, America is definitely showing her age. She is long past her prime, and some are predicting her demise. No, some are PLANNING her demise.

Thomas Jefferson and the other founders of this once-great country believed there was a controlling cabal that was crafting America's servitude. With the assistance of Heaven, they decided to fight those forces. Pastors fought with fiery sermons from the pulpit; newsmen fought with the power of the pen; statesmen fought in the halls of Congress; and merchants fought with the sacrifice of their material gain. Together, they lifted Lady Liberty to her feet and defeated the powers of darkness.

It took the global elite a long time to recover, but they have reemerged with a vengeance. They are now on the precipice of accomplishing what their great granddaddies failed to do: bring the "Liberty or Death" colonists under their power and control.

Sadly, we no longer have the will to resist servitude. Our pulpits are too busy preaching a prosperity gospel; newsmen are in bed with the forces they once disdained; statesmen have been replaced with opportunistic, self-serving politicians; and merchants know no god but money. Hence, it is left to a small--and I mean very small--remnant to sound the clarion call for freedom and independence. Unfortunately, few seem to be listening to their cries.

2010 seems to be a banner year for these designers of despotism. That is the target year for the implementation of the North American Community, which will commercially unite the United States with Canada and Mexico. The global elite suffered a minor setback when the U.S. Senate failed to pass the Bush/McCain/Kennedy/Graham amnesty-for-illegal-aliens bill. But if you think that John Mccain is going to let that bill lie on the floor of defeat, you don't understand these people. Should McCain become President, He will do everything he can to implement some kind of amnesty law. Barack Obama will do the same. The reason? It is essential to the designers of despotism that our borders be eliminated.

Yes, I am saying it: George W. Bush, John McCain, and Barack Obama are part of the global elite that seeks America's entrance into an international New World Order. In fact, neither Presidential candidate from the two major parties will offer any resistance to this obstinate and oppressive oligarchy.

Perhaps one day the American people will wake up and realize that they are being led as sheep to the slaughter. I'm just not sure that it will be soon enough, however. 2010 is just around the corner.

There seems to be only one obstacle standing in the way of the globalists: America's citizens are the most heavily armed people in the world. That fact must surely stick in the throats of the globalists like a chicken bone.

Thank God that America's founders put the Second Amendment in the Constitution. Without America's deep-rooted commitment to the right of the people to keep and bear arms, we would have been sold into slavery decades ago.

Without the intellectual understanding of the principles of freedom and the moral resolve to maintain those principles, however, guns, by themselves, will only protect us for so long. In the end, our strength and protection come from God, and not too many people these days seem to be interested in His opinion.

Lady Liberty is walking very gingerly these days, and the path she treads is laden with traps and quicksand. The globalists have their handpicked puppets positioned to take up where The Three Amigos (George Bush I, Bill Clinton, and George Bush II) have left off. The pieces of the puzzle are almost all in place. 2010 just might be the year that Lady Liberty lowers her torch, folds her arms, and falls fast asleep.

For what it is worth, however, I pledge no loyalty to this emerging New World Order. Neither will I let Lady Liberty die without a fight. I will say it again: the battle today is not between conservatives and liberals or Republicans and Democrats. It is a battle between Americans and globalists. And, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am an American!

*If you enjoyed this column and want to help me distribute these editorial opinions to an ever-growing audience, donations may now be made by credit card, check, or Money Order. Use this link:

http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/donate.php

© Chuck Baldwin

Candidates For School Board

Following are the names of those appearing on the Ballot seeking to be elected to the School Board.
Christie Glover and Ronald Stogner from the 2nd district; Billy Kennedy and Don Story for the 4th
district; Rhonda Turner 6th district. This is your opportunity to speak about the strength and weakness of each candidate.

Candidates For Tax Assessor

The following people will be on the ballot seeking your votes for County Tax Assessor
Jim Fralix, Terry Harwell, Tommy Hyatt, Stoney Jackson and Steve McGill.
Here is an opportunity to enlighten the public about the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate and who you are supporting and why?

Headlines From Columbia Paper!

Cameras roll, DESPITE policy

Citizen balks at restriction

By D. Frank Smith

dfsmith@c-dh.net

PULASKI - Despite a new school board policy barring the filming of meetings without prior authorization, one resident recorded Thursday’s board proceedings without reprimand.

The policy allows the press and individuals to film the meeting only with the consent of the board. But at Thursday’s Giles County School Board meeting, resident Allen Barrett kept his camera rolling.

At the outset of the meeting, a motion was made by Chairman Kathy Norman to grant Barrett permission to film but discussion was sidetracked and the motion was never voted on.

Board Member Jim Greene said the board allowed Barrett to keep recordings even though it was within their rights to stop him.

“If we were going to be strict about it, we could have had him shut it off,” Greene said. “We’ve given him the courtesy to keep recording.”

The new policy manual requires public comment and video recordings to have board consent. The manual was approved by the board earlier this month after being reviewed by the Tennessee School Board Association.

Green said no policy manual would be perfect, and this may need some clarification. He said the camera and public comment policies were in place just in case.

“It gives the board an option to exercise if they need to control the meeting,” he said.

Board Member Beverly Murrey made a motion to suspend the public comment and video consent portions of the policy until further review could be done, but her motion failed for lack of a second.

Norman said the policy was not instituted to block “genuine documentation” of meetings, but was done to prohibit potential disruptions. When asked who would make the distinction between the two, Norman said she couldn’t answer because the meeting had adjourned. “I can’t speak as an official school board member outside the meeting,” she said.

Giles County Commissioner Robert E. Lee, Jr., called the policy ridiculous. “People should be able to have their say,” he said. “You’re at the mercy of the people running the show.”

Though the board has no concerned citizens portion on its agenda, Barrett addressed its members throughout the meeting.

“Why is it so difficult to allow the public to speak and address this board that the public is paying the salary for?” Barrett asked, but was not answered by the board.

Barrett, the pastor of a local church, films the board meetings each month and posts them online to his blog. He said he records them so others can view the meetings without attending and to keep public officials accountable for their actions.

He said he believed his First Amendment rights were being squelched and that the policy was formed to prohibit him specifically from recording the meetings.

“They’ve approved a policy they can follow whenever they feel it’s convenient, and for me I’m always inconvenient,” he said.

Forget Obama and McCain....

...They're two socialist peas in the same pod. We can do much better... and we must! So, I humbly suggest the following "long shot" candidate for the Prez:

Article From The Daily Herald Newspaper

Candid camera

Giles man claims school board policy infringes rights

By SKYLER SWISHER/sswisher@c-dh.net

PULASKI — A Giles County blogger said Wednesday his First Amendment rights are being squelched by a policy that bars unapproved cameras from school board meetings.
Allen Barrett says the policy is directed solely at him in response to articles and videos on Giles Free Speech Zone, an Internet website that has been critical of the Giles County School Board.
“They are trying to stop news from being disseminated to the community,” he said.

The policy, which took effect Tuesday, states “the press or individuals shall not bring a camera, camcorder or photographic equipment to board meetings without consent of the board.”
The board made provisions to allow the local print media to take photographs during the meeting and for a public-access television channel operated by Pulaski Electric Service to film proceedings.
Kathy Norman, chair of the school board, said the policy is in place to prevent disruptions and would not apply to parents photographing their children receiving awards or other honors during a meeting.
“It’s in place in case something inappropriate should happen or want to be done,” she said.

The policy does not stipulate how consent should be given for a camera to be used. It also includes no exception for photography by parents.
Director of Schools Tee Jackson said the policy was not directed toward any single person. He said the board was updating its policy manual and received legal advice from the Tennessee School Boards Association.
“We make sure we meet all the necessary standards and laws,” he said.
A spokesman with the Tennessee School Board Association could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Barrett said he is the only person who films the school board’s meetings. He has posted several of the clips on YouTube, an Internet website that allows users to post videos.
“Clearly, what they are doing is they are trying to stifle public communications,” Barrett said.

One of those videos showed an argument between Barrett and Nashville attorney Charles Cagle, who was representing the Giles County School Board. That video led to allegations of assault because of an alleged push to Barrett’s chest.

Story created Jul 03, 2008 - 16:13:41 EDT.

5% increase for Director of Schools!!!!!!

There is much to talk about in the new proposed budget especially the submitted school budget for 2008-2009. For this thread I want to offer only one subject for discussion and that is the salary of the School Director. This year classroom teachers, the heroes of education, are once again getting the financial bamboozle while those in administration look down from the hill and say aren’t those worker ants just wonderful.

In the proposed budget approved by the School Board and the Budget Committee the School Director’s salary goes from $96,864.00 to $102,000.00 and increase of $5136.00 or just over 5%.

I asked the Director about this raise in the Budget Committee Meeting. His response was that he was not getting a pay raise. When I pressed the issue over the objections of Commissioner Holt the Director mumbled something about leave days, but did not complete the statement as Commissioner Holt, the Budget Chairman, would not allow the question to be repeated or the answer expressed.

The bottom line is this; Line item 72320 101 County Official/Administrative Officer reveals 2007/2008 Actual was $96,864.00 and the 2008/2009 Proposed Budget $102,000.00.
I hope teachers will be at the public hearing on the budget Monday 14 July and ask some question about this increase, and many of the other increases going to personnel but not classroom teachers or support personnel. Allen Barrett

Public Meeting Posponed

Due to uncontrolled inabilities or will to follow state law the public meeting scheduled for 7 July at 9 am to discuss the county budget has been postponed until 9 am on 14 July at the Pulaski Elementary School. All the other requirements are still in place, if you requested to speak you may want to re-submit your request just in case. If you have not yet requested permission to speak do so soon and come prepared to ask all the questions you have been asking your friends and neighbors. Allen Barrett

The "Right" To Bear Arms

The United States Supreme Court yesterday handed down their decision to uphold the U.S. Constitution and allow individuals to continue to possess firearms for hunting and protection.

While this may have seemed like a “no brainer” since the Constitution plainly states in Amendment Two “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed” understand it was a five to four split. One vote was all that stood between our losing this right and keeping it. One more liberal judge on the court and that would have been the end of “our right to bear arms”. There may be much discussion about “no one will take my guns” but the reality is one vote allowed us to keep that right. There will be much discussed during this presidential election, many promises will be made with no intentions of keeping them but one thing is true….. The next president will appoint judges to the different district around the nation and he will appoint Supreme Court Justices. When you go to vote consider what kind of judges do you want deciding your future and your rights a liberal with no connection to the Constitution or one who seeks only to see the Constitution applied correctly. Senator Obama has the most liberal voting record in all of congress and refused to sign on to brief supporting the right to bear arms. There can be no question as to what kind of judges he will nominate and have approved by a democrat controlled Senate. Senator McCain has been less that conservative in many areas but has stood firmly with those who defended our right to bear arms, and has pledged to nominate only those judges committed to interpreting the Constitution not making new laws out of it.

One vote is all that prevented our loss this time, will that vote be cast next time, you will decide. Allen Barrett

Public Meeting On Budget

On 7 July at 9am in the Pulaski Elementary School Auditorium there will be a public meeting about the county budget for the coming year. This is an open meeting for the public to ask questions about the county budget held in accordance with the Financial Management Act mandate.
There have been some questionable restrictions placed on those wishing to speak at this meeting; hopefully they will be resolved before the meeting.
Presently as planned anyone wishing to speak at the public hearing must give five days written notice to the Financial Management Director, Loretta Garner, of those intentions.
Mrs. Garner's office is on the 2nd floor in the Courthouse Annex.
Those requesting to speak will be granted three minutes to share their views on the budget and ask questions.
I urge everyone to attend this meeting, the first of its kind. Notify Mrs. Garner you wish to speak and present your questions about the budget which should be printed in the local paper several days prior to the meeting. Allen Barrett

Graduation Rates for Giles County

These are the Graduation Rates for Giles County according to the State Department of Education. The state goal is 90%.

2005 – 82.0 % 2006 – 84.8 % 2007 – 76.5 %

While Giles County has shown some improvement in the TCAP scores there is not one single category where Giles County has reached the state projected goal.

How long are we willing to pay more each year while getting less? Allen Barrett

Too Many School Supervisors Or Not Enough?

At the School Board Meeting held on 12 June 2008 I stated to the Board that the number of administrators in the school system was outrageous, then compared our school system with the Murfreesboro City School system, they have far more students with fewer administrators than we have. Mr. Jackson told me he did not believe those numbers were accurate.

Here are the numbers for the Murfreesboro City School System which only instructs students from Pre-K thru 6^th grade.

Twelve (12) Schools; 7,200 Students; Fifteen (15) Supervisors including the Director.
One (1) Supervisor for each 413.3 Students.

Giles County School System: Eight (8) Schools; 4,325 Students; Twenty-one (21) Supervisors including the Director, but not counting the Leaps & Bounds and Pre-K directors. One (1) Supervisor for each 205.9 Students.

One of the closest counties to Giles in terms of students is Coffee which has 8 schools, 303 Teachers, 4,433 Students and 18 Administrators.
Giles has 8 Schools, 303 Teachers, 4,325 Students and 21 Administrators.

This information came from the Tennessee Department of education and can easily be verified at their website. You can decide if there are too many supervisors or not. Allen Barrett

County Gives Back $18,000.00 to Lynnville

At the Commission Meeting yesterday Commissioner Jackson made the motion that the county give back to Lynnville $18,000.00 they had paid the county for land a number of years ago. This was done in response to the city of Minor Hill requesting land partly owned by the city and county be given to them at no charge. They desire to make a part with walking trails. It is reported the land has more than enough marketable timber on it to pay the $18,000.00 price the county budget committee originally voted to ask for the land.
In a time of severe budgetary problems how can the county justify a $36,000.00 blow to the budget? Allen Barrett

Approved or Not Approved

At yesterdays County Commission meeting this question was asked by Commissioner Holt of School Director Jackson; Mr. Holt, "this budget amendment was passed by the School Board, right?" Mr. Jackson, "Yes, the school Board passed it last week".
At tonight's called School Board meeting on the agenda was item #6 Approval of Revised 2007 - 2008 School Budget Amendment. During the discussion Mr. Jackson stated that the Commission had rejected the amendment yesterday". Clearly what was spoken of tonight was the same subject spoken of in the Commission Meeting yesterday and was the same subject discussed last Thursday by the School Board which postponed the vote until tonight's meeting.
The question is if the amendment wasn't approved until tonight what does that make Mr. Jackson's statement yesterday that the amendment had been approved by the School Board????????
By the way the amendment passed tonight had the $75,000.00 taken out ( or more deeply hidden depending on your point of view). Also removed were recurring expenses attached to the reserve funds. Allen Barrett

Admiration for Commissioners

At yesterday's County Commission Meeting thirteen commissioners finally stood tall and said no to Mr. Tee Jackson and a budget amendment that was so full of holes it could have passed as a fishing net. After Commissioner Campbell read the state law that prohibits using reserve funds for recurring expenses, he then Commissioner Pollard couldn't get a straight answer from Mr. Jackson Commissioner Howell asked a direct question, "Mr. Jackson can you guarantee there are no recurring expenditures coming out of these reserve funds you want to spend". After heeing and hawing Mr. Jackson finally said "No I can't go that far". He then turned his attention to the old stand by "roofs need to be fixed", when that song wasn't accepted he turned to Mrs Garner who also after much defensive maneuvering finally admitted she didn't think there was any recurring expenditures but couldn't say for certain.
For the thirteen that stood tall spoke against the deceptions and voted against the amendments I salute you. To those who still refuse to see reality or found it necessary to protect their jobs I can only offer a bowl of raspberries. Allen Barrett

Leaps and Bounds

A request was made to start a thread on the Leaps and Bounds program in the local school system.
I would also like to add the topic of Pre Kindergarten in this thread. So if anyone would like to discuss, explain, or ask questions about these two very expensive programs please have at it.

Assistant Principal Position

Dear Mr. Barrett:

Thanks for the opportunity to give the "blog" readers the real facts about the new assistant principals position that has been advertised for Pulaski Elementary School. It appears that I have been accused of "whining" until I got my way. While, to that I have to plead guilty. At our last accreditation visit from the Southern Association of Colleges and School (SACS) we were told in our exit interviews that we should have an assistant principal due to our pupil numbers and the other programs that we run in our school (Pre-K, Pre-school special education that is open to all students county-wide, and a extended resource room for special needs that is also county-wide). We were told by SACS that this needed to be in place before our next five-year visit. I immediately began talking to school board members and Mr. Jackson about the importance to Pulaski Elementary to go ahead and get the position in place as soon as possible. This would enable us to meet SACS standards and remain a fully accredited school at our next visit. While the next SACS visit will not be until the 2012-2013 school year, getting the position in place and functioning will be an asset to our school. Mr. Jackson advertised for the position beginning next year and an assistant will be hired. I can assure you and your readers that this will be a position that I will hire and that no one has been promised this job. I want to hire someone that can step in as principal since I plan to retire within the next three or four years, if not sooner(I am sure most of your readers will say good riddance) . While I have not personally read the commits in the blog, I felt it would be good to set the facts straight. Thank you in advance for allowing me the opportunity to set the record straight and as always, my door is always open and the phone is always available if any one wants to call. (363-5233)

Sincerely,

Bill Holt, Principal

Pulaski Elementary School
This was sent to me by Mr. Holt after we had a conversation so I can vouch for its authenticity. I did not know exactly where to post it so decided on a new tread. Allen Barrett

To Quit Or Not To Quit, That Was The Question!

Recently Ms. Adrienne Braden decided to resign from her position as School Payroll Clerk rather than go to the Financial Management Office. Now, I'm told, she has been re-instated to that position. The question I have is, "Was Ms. Braden really persuaded by Mrs. Vanzant to come back because there is a need to have a person of color in the Financial Management Office to help in the racial discrimination complaint filed with the EEOC and upheld by them? Is there really a thought this action will help in the secret settlement with the EEOC? Allen Barrett

Bonus For Classroom Teachers???

In May Mr. Jackson moved $75,000.00 from one area of the budget into a new line item identified as 72310 299 “other fringe benefits” when this was questioned by Judge Lee and others Mr. Jackson stated it was for possible insurance. He was then told the school board insurance committee had turned down his request for new life insurance for volunteers. Mr. Jackson stated they were still considering obtaining the insurance.

Good news for teachers because of the pressure applied by several people it seems that now the plan is to use the $75,000.00 to give classroom teachers a bonus this year, and you thought no one in the big chair loved you. You earned it.

Allen Barrett

Ghost Staff

The school system on Friday 30 May had seventeen central office staff members not counting the eight clerical staff members. Can anyone explain how it is that the reports going to Nashville list several of these staff members as “classroom teachers” instead of supervisor and assistant supervisors? Mr. Chunn and Mr. Shirey aren’t even listed as central office staff so where are they?

Allen Barrett

Another Bonus??????

Why was Mrs. Ferguson given a $5,000.00 payment to retire? How many “classroom teachers” get a $5,000.00 going away present?

Allen Barrett

School Positions Opened Or Closed?

Were jobs filled at the school system before anyone even knew there was a vacancy? Jobs include asst. principal at GCHS and two positions to replace Mrs Ferguson. Those positions are being filled by none other than Ms. McMasters and Cindy Young wife of school board member Mike Young. Are these positions really necessary after all there are still two assistants to Mrs Ferguson already?

Is Mrs Young qualified for this position, probably. However the real question should be, based on the way this was done, is this a pay back for all the favorable votes board member Young has cast for Mr. Jackson? Why was Mr. Young’s daughter given tenure after being turned down just days earlier? Is she deserving of tenure, probably but again the way it was done leaves many smelly questions to be answered.

How did the school system go from one person doing the job of Supervisor of Instruction to having four people do the same thing with approximately the same number of students?

Allen Barrett

Budget Committee 27 May 08

The Budget Committee decide by a four to three vote to set the budget, that will be presented to the full commission, at the same as last year's amended budget.
Those voting for the same amount was Commissioners Jackson, Beets, Woodard and Flacy.
Those voting against were Commissioners J. Harwell, Campbell and Holt.
Had this not passed it was stated that a property tax increase of at lease eight cents would have to be imposed. Allen Barrett

Graduation

Now that graduation for both GCHS and Richland is over perhaps the graduates would like to leave a good-bye message to the teachers, administrators and other workers in the school system.
There may be some thoughts about the graduation itself you would like to express. Please keep it clean.

The Latest From YouTube!

With all the "negativity" cluttering up this blog, perhaps it's time to lighten things up. Sooo.....

Presented below, is a clip from a (German language) movie about Hitler. Someone with a wicked sense of humor created new captions for Hitler's ranting, and the clip now tells the story of Hillary Clinton coming to terms with her inevitable defeat. PLEASE NOTE: "Hitlary" uses a LOT of very foul language in this clip, much as the "real" Hillary does (according to those who know her) whenever she's angry. So, please don't view the clip -- funny as it is -- if you have a low tolerance for profanity.



Looking for something less serious? Check out the clip below, which features members of the Red (Russian) Army singing "Sweet Home Alabama." Less than twenty years ago, these folks were planning ways to kill us all... and now they're singing odes to the South? My, how times have changed!

Is $14,000.00 a pay increase or a bonus??????

This is the statement from Mr. Tee Jackson that appeared in the Pulaski Citizen on 6 May 2008. This statement was issued by Mr. Jackson the school Director in response to Mr. Steward, the editor asking for clarification on the issue of an employee’s salary.

“Our employees who work with fiscal matters are multi-tasked. The workload is always extra heavy in the spring and summer as we work on budget amendments, develop a budget for the next year and close out the current year. This year we have had more fiscal employee absenteeism along with the additional planning and implementing of the transition phase to the financial management system. One employee was given several extra duties in order to allow us to meet the many needs of the school system. The employee was naturally given extra compensation to perform the numerous additional duties.”

What Is Going On In Elkton?

Elkton annexed the area of the Shady Lawn Truck Stop but can’t provide services. They had money to build a sewer line even got the OK for a grant to match the money but then they spent the money on a walking bridge and trail. Suddenly the grant was taken away because the city no longer had the required money to match it. Now the state has condemned the sewer system at the truck stop….. and just guess who the city of Elkton wants to pay the $250,000.00 price……. Giles County taxpayers.?

Clearly the city has been irresponsible with the money they had, and now wants everyone else to pay their bills. The county is already looking at a property tax increase because our own leadership problems why should we also be required to subsidize the stupidity of the Elkton leadership. Allen Barrett

Illegal Actions By The County Executive

At the Financial Management Committee Meeting held on 24 April action was taken by the committee that is in direct violation of Tennessee Law. The Financial Management System of 1981, as passed twice by the voters of Giles County, states “T.C.A. 5-21-103 requires all employees performing the functions of purchasing, payroll, accounting and budgeting in the various departments to be transferred to the finance department.”

The committee refused to allow me to question their proposal and voted unanimously to not only allow some identified book keepers to remain at their present work stations but to allow their current salaries to remain with them. Not only does this circumvent and undermine the Financial Management Act it increases the budget for that office by a considerable sum.

The question is how long will the County Executive be allowed to run rough shod over the law, causing lawsuits against the county and costing its citizens untold amounts in unnecessary expenses? Allen Barrett

Vandals At Richland

A request was made to post this subject for discussion. What happened at Richland School, what was done and by whom?

The Wonder of "Popularity Contest" Democracy

Meet some of the highly informed people who will be choosing the next Maximum Leader of the glorious American World Empire:




Here's a fake political ad that is somewhat more honest than most:



The only political "choice" our globalist overlords allows us, amounts to little more than this:

Proposed Landfill Near Cornersville

What are the thoughts of readers about the possible creation of a huge landfill in Marshall County near the banks of Richland Creek? How will this impact the Creek and those whose drinking water is drawn from it? Today a special meeting of citizens met in Cornersville, prior to the Marshall County Commissioners meeting this evening, to discuss this issue. I wasn't able to attend these meetings so would be very interested reading your reports. Allen Barrett

The Wondrous Glory of "Feminism"

THE FOLLOWING WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED IN ANOTHER THREAD. PER THE REQUEST OF AN ANONYMOUS READER, I'M GIVING THIS TOPIC ITS OWN THREAD. ENJOY!

Anonymous, Thursday, March 20, 2008 2:31:00 PM, said:

And they might be interested in a male chauvenistic commissioner, bus driver, preacher who preaches women in the kitchen making biscuits. What a real jerk!!!

I don't know Mr. Harwell, and have very little interest in the bus system. So I really have no dog in this fight. However... I'm really amazed at the "five minute hate" that's been whipped up over his alleged "chauvinism."

If there ever has been a mass movement more out of touch with reality than feminism... I've never heard of it. "Feminists" act as though one of the basic facts of life -- that the most important job a woman can ever do, which can't be "outsourced" to any man, ie, the continuation of the human species -- is some sort of cosmic injustice. Rage against the "patriarchy" all you want, ladies, but it won't change a thing. God made men different from women, and gave each of us a specialty-- procreation and child rearing for women, and "bringing home the bacon" for men.

But of course that wasn't good enough for some women, was it? So they demanded, and got, "equality in the workplace" at the point of the gun weilded by Uncle Sam. And what are the results, after forty odd years of this?

Well, marriage has gone down the drain. The promotion of consequence free "casual sex" has led to massive increases in illegitimacy and venereal diseases. Children that are lucky enough NOT to be slaughtered in the womb, are often raised without male role models, and grow up to be delinquents and criminals. And the size of government has doubled, largely to provide services to "single moms" and deal with their hell-spawn children.

Hey, but at least women in the jobforce have done well financially, right? Um, no. Anyone with even the most rudimentary understanding of real world economics, knows that when you increase the supply of something, you necessarily lower it's worth in dollars...

So, when the women of America got fed up with "making biscuits," and trooped out of the home, and into the workforce, what happened? Simple. By nearly doubling the amount of labor available, they permanently depressed the wage rate for everyone, men and women both. And where once, a man working alone was able to support a family, now it takes both a man AND a woman.

Thanks, feminism! Destroying the traditional family, slaughtering millions and millions of babies for the sake of mere "convenience," and creating a labor glut that impoverishes the middle class... was one HELL of an accomplishment. You've come a long way baby, indeed!

(click on picture for an enlarged view)
Brutally Honest "Pro-Choice" Tee Shirts

140% Water Rate Increase

At the recent city council work session it became very obvious why a 140% utility rate increase was imposed on the citizens of Pulaski. At the time it was imposed we were told it was necessary in order to pay off the loan for construction. At the time I questioned the amounts as being excessive and far more than necessary to pay off the loan, now it has been made clear that the water increases are being used as the city's cash cow paying for a long wish list of such items as excessive pay increases and unused spec. buildings.

There will be no discount to senior disabled or low income citizens because there is only one person on the city council who has even been interested enough to add up the numbers in an effort to provide such a discount. Mrs Harwell has done all she can but with a lack of support from both citizens and council the possibility is about gone.

The huge water discount is still given the soccer league and the schools but no consideration for those on fixed incomes. The good news is at least one other council member is beginning to find a voice and question the deception taking place. Allen Barrett

Are Gangs Active In Giles County

The question has been raised by a reader about gangs in Giles County. Is there an active or growing gang problem in the county? Have there been signs of gang activity?

Meeting After School Board Meeting

After the School Board meeting last night, 13 March 08, there was an impromptu meeting in Mr. Jackson office. There were several commissioners, a school board member, Mr. Jackson and myself. This meeting resulted from the question I had asked during the School Board Meeting about the recent salary increase and promotion to office manager of Mrs. Beth Sigmon the present internal auditor for the school system.

Mrs. Sigmon, along with two other book keepers from the school system, is scheduled to move into the Financial Management Office beginning on 1 July. I had asked the question about the appropriateness of her having been given a $13,500.00 pay increase on the first of March when she would be moved in July, what line item the money came from and if it had come about as a result of moving money out of teacher salaries in the last budget amendment? Mr. Jackson sought to explain the situation. The explanation was that the raise was temporary and on 30 June 2008 she would revert back to her salary as of February this year. Mr. Jackson explained that the extra pay was for extra work expected to be required prior to Mrs. Sigmon moving into the Financial Management Office. Basically Mrs. Sigmon was given a $13,500.00 bonus spread over four months.

There have been questions raised about this meeting being about the bus situation, it was not. Allen Barrett

Should Home School Children Receive The Same Treatment As Government School Children When It Comes To Tax Supported Activities?

Mrs. Paige Griffith wrote a very interesting letter to the editor in the Pulaski Citizen about her treatment at a recent ballet performance at Martin Methodist College. There appeared in the same issue a letter from Mrs. Martha Ferguson commending several who had been involved in securing this performance of the ballet. Indeed all involved should have been commended but should children who are home schooled be punished and treated like second class citizens? Having been seated Mrs. Griffith and her children were required to move from their seats and stand in the aisle until government school children were seated. This event had been advertised as a public performance and the public invited there were no reserved seating.

I personally believe, if her description is accurate, that Mrs. Griffith and her children are owed a public apology and the assurance that such behavior will not happen again.

What are your thoughts? Allen Barrett

Question of Giles County High School Graduation

The proposal was presented that in order to have GCHS graduation in Sam Davis Park approximately thirty thousand dollars would have to be spent on temporary measures to shore up the stands and the work needed to begin yesterday. The question was asked since the plan is to hold the ceremony in the gym in case of rain why not plan to hold the graduation ceremony in the gym to begin with and not spend the money on temporary and rushed fixes. Another possibility is to have the ceremony at Martin as has been done in the past. Allen Barrett

New Proposal for Sam Davis Park

A proposal was made by the Brindley Company for renovations on Sam Davis Park. All the preliminary work was made without charge to the county and without any advantage in the bidding procedures. Removal of stands, grading, utilities moved, new concrete poured, new restrooms, new state of the art press box with restroom, move fence back from the playing field, all for 2.1 million dollars. There was no representation from the city present so the issue was tabled until the city could be contacted and the proposal studied. Allen Barrett

From the Budget Committee Meeting 4 March 2008

Consideration is being given for the following expenditures.

$330,000.00 for three new ambulances; $41,500.00 for new computers to go in ambulances; $150,000.00 for a new animal shelter; $500,000.00 for water resolution; between two and three million for Sam Davis Park. The meeting was recessed without decisions being made on these items. Allen Barrett

Is This Deja Vu All Over Again?

It looks like the plan is now to put on the August ballot a request for the city to increase the sales tax. It seems, as with the Financial Management Act, it takes two defeats before those elected with only one vote can accept the will of the people. Allen Barrett

Looking for a reason to vote against Obama?

Watch this very short YouTube clip:



Forget the pledge... forget his religion... the real deal killer is that Barack is a commie! Of course, the Democrat (Evil) Party has been "Communism Lite" ever since LBJ, so this isn't really much of a surprise, when you think about it!

Someone on this blog once issued a challenge to go to the Obama website, and see for yourself what he stood for. Well, I did exactly that, and discovered that -- no matter what the "problem" -- more government, and more taxpayer's money poured down the drain, was always the "answer." That cinched it for me... this Fall, I'm NOT going to throw away my vote on "the lesser evil."

Instead, I'm going to cast my vote for the GREATER EVIL -- Hillary Rodham Clinton for President in '08!!! Working together, we can put this dying shell of a country out of its misery, once and for all!

Flag of Our Fathers

Does this make anyone else's blood boil?
When the Pledge of Allegiance is said or when the National Anthem is played the proper position for those in civilian clothing is to stand erect facing the flag with their right hand over their heart. It’s incredible that the others can’t seem to find the flag but at least they are trying to show the proper respect. Senator Obama shows an incredible amount of disrespect by his position not only does he not repeat the Pledge but turns his back on the Flag. Maybe unlike his wife he hasn’t yet found any reason to be proud of this country. Allen Barrett

Water Discount to Senior and Disabled Citizens

The issue was presented by Councilwoman Harwell, during the work session, that consideration be given to giving senior and disabled citizens a 20% reduction on their water bills. She stated that since the rate increase the city is taking over $370,000.00 per month which is over $120,000.00 per month more than they did before the increase. With approximately 1538 senior citizens and 1051 qualified as disabled many of these come under the same household thus the cost to the city would be minimal and the benefits to the citizen while small would be something. Allen Barrett

Change to City Ordinance on Beer Sales

Discussion was held in the city council work session on the matter of Duncan Food Store being sold on the condition that the new owner would be allowed to apply for a beer permit. For this to happen the ordnance would have to be changed to allow the selling of beer closer to a city park than is presently allowed. Some members expressed concern about the appropriateness of making such a decision prior to an official request being made. Allen Barrett

Contract for the City Administrator

Also discussed at the work session was the structure of the City Administrators contract of employment. Presently the Administrator works without a contract and has for over eighteen years. The proposal was originally to give a five year contract, which was amended to a three year contract with automatic one year extensions on the anniversary of each year. Attorney Hoover made the observation that the idea was to put the Administrator beyond the reach of political reach. He clarified that by saying it would prevent political influence such as “if new people were to be elected with the agenda of removing the Administrator” he would be protected.

To Mr. Harrison’s credit he publicly stated he was “fine with keeping the situation as it is now”. Also included is an automobile allowance. This matter is scheduled for more discussion by the council. Allen Barrett

Skate Park Near Completion

A report was given at the city council work session this afternoon that the skate park was nearing completion but that much labor intensive work was still needed and volunteers were being welcomed. Contact City Hall if you would like to volunteer.

When the park is finished the plans are to turn it over to the city as part of the park system. A warning was also issued that no one was authorized to use the park prior to completion of all construction. Allen Barrett

Sale of Hunter Smith Building?????

A proposal was presented to the Property Committee on Thursday to buy the Hunter Smith Building for a price of $125,000.00 and allow the county to remove any items that had been built or installed during renovations. This was the only inquiry about the building since being placed with a real estate agent in December.

The committee gave a counter offer and asked for $150,000.00 with a two week response time. Allen Barrett

School Calendar

The suggestion was made by Board member Mrs. Murrey that since the school calendar was being made out by the Director there was no real need to waste the time of those on the Calendar Committee. Discussion revealed that after the Calendar Committee had spent many hours and much effort making out the new school calendar the Director changes it to his preference thus yielding the committee as useless.

The calendar situation was tabled; to be addressed on Thursday 21 February at either 5 or 5:30 pm. The reason for the confusion is it was very confusing and you would have had to be thereto appreciate just how confusing. Allen Barrett

Request to move funds in school budget

A budget amendment was presented at the school board meeting with the announcement that no new money was involved; it was merely a matter of moving money from one area to another. Part of this money, approximately $300,000.00, comes from teacher salaries.

One question that arises from this amendment is what happened to the $20,316.00 that was taken out of the budget but not put into the increases? Where is this $20,316.00? Allen Barrett

Evaluation of School Director

It was announced at the recent school board meeting that Mr. Jackson had been evaluated by the school board and was given a composite score of 3.8 which was announced by the school board chairperson, Mrs. Norman as being excellent. Allen Barrett

School System Recognized For Excellence

WKSR announced today that the Giles County School System was awarded the prestigious District of Excellence in School Nutrition by the School Nutrition Foundation. This award is sponsored by the National Dairy Council.

The award is given to school nutrition programs that demonstrate superior knowledge and performance in providing all students with healthy school meals and managing financially sound and food service operations.

So, Where Is The Crime????

There are only two ways to see my dad's old van, without trespassing on private property. Here's the view from Northside Drive:

And here's the view from Columbia Highway:

Anyone -- like, say, Officer Bue -- who gets any closer to the van than these two camera positions, can only do so by trespassing on private property. Assume for the moment that you are stupid enough to consider "flat tires on a vehicle parked in a private driveway" to be some sort of crime. Would anyone go so far as saying that this "law" should be enforced, even when it means that, in order to detect the "crime," a police officer must trespass on private property? Unlikely.

Speerites like to call this harrassment -- which, "coincidentally" began a few days after I gave Allen Barrett a couple thousand business cards to spread around, in order to promote this blog -- a "Quality of Life" law. But whose quality of life has been enhanced??? Not mine-- I've got to pay a fine of over a hundred bucks. And not my neighbors, since none of them ever filed a complaint with the police. Surely not the folks who buzz by on Columbia Highway, blissfully unaware that a heinous "crime" is being committed right under their very noses.

I don't think ANYONE'S "quality of life" has been enhanced by the mindless enforcement of this purported law. This whole ludicrous enterprise has been pure and simple harrassment, most likely aimed at "punishing" me for allowing the "little people" to anonymously express their opinions on this blog.

On the other hand, if it's been something other than spiteful harrassment, it is probably time that officer candidates at PPD receive CAT scans of their head, before receiving their tin badges. I'm pretty sure that no-one with more than half a brain, would stoop to enforcing a law as utterly ridiculous as the one I'm accused of breaking!

Resignation of County Commissioners as Topic

During the past few days there has been much discussion among Giles County Citizens about a few select County Commissioners going against the will of the people. In the General Election of 2006, Giles County voters sent a loud and clear message by a 58 percent majority vote that they wanted the Financial Management Act of 1981. Current County Commissioners, Edwin Lovell (Leader) and followers, Tommy Campbell, Rose Brown and Jack Woodard decided that the overwhelming majority of citizens who voted for the Act in the General Election of 2006 simply did not understand what they were voting on and thus set about to alter the decision of that majority. On Feb. 5, 2008 citizens have sent another clear message not only did they know what they wanted but they were determined not to let money and influence bully them into changing their collective minds. The word on the street is that since these commissioners have so little regard for the people and their decisions these commissioners need to resign their seats on the County Commission. Please post your feedback on this issue.

High School Consolidation????

There is a buzz beginning to develop that some movers and shakers in the school system have determined that there should only be one high school in Giles County. The rumor is that it will be discussed at the next school board meeting. I hope this is just a rumor but I was asked to post it for discussion and so here it is.

Presidential Election

Who is your choice for president and why?

Newspaper Ad Against Financial Management

In the Pulaski Citizen of 15 January 2008 there were two very large ads opposing the Financial Management Act of 1981. These ads cost several hundred dollars and stated they were paid for by County Commissioner Edwin Lovell. Others mentioned were Paul Walker,Joe Henry, Corky Wakefield, Chris Edgmon, Ed Harsell, Bill Dunavant, Jack Woodard and Tommy Campbell. Have these ads influenced mind changes about the Financial Management Act?

Newspaper Ad Against Financial Management

In the Pulaski Citizen of 15 January 2008 there were two very large ads opposing the Financial Management Act of 1981. These ads cost several hundred dollars and stated they were paid for by County Commissioner Edwin Lovell. Others mentioned were Paul Walker,Joe Henry, Corky Wakefield, Chris Edgmon, Ed Harsell, Bill Dunavant, Jack Woodard and Tommy Campbell. Have these ads influenced mind changes about the Financial Management Act?

Closing of Another Business

It was announced at the City Council work session this afternoon that Intermet would soon be closing and 105 people would be losing their jobs. Allen Barrett

City Alderman Resigns

The announcement that businessman and long time Alderman Tommy Watkins has resigned from the City Council has left folks with many questions. This resignation comes only a few weeks after resigning from the position of vice mayor. Does this have anything to do with the police chief's sudden retirement, is it connected to questions that have been asked of the mayor but ignored, could it be that he finally had enough of the shenanigans taking place in the mayor and city managers offices? A good man can only tolerate misdeeds for so long.

County Looks At Blanket Speed Limit

It seems that the County Commission is once again planning an effort to “help” the citizens with their lives. The idea of a blanket speed limit is absurd all by its self but the suggestion that the speed be 40 MPH is beyond absurd it’s just plain stupid. With all the problems the county is faced with, water being a major one, why would anyone be so concerned about fixing something that isn’t broken.
Already traveling on Hwy 166 north at 50 MPH is incredible. Highway Patrolman Corey Jordan spoke to the Highway Committee and stated “THP receives many complaints about speeding on secondary roads, which he said contributes to wrecks”. There are many things that contribute to wrecks including driving to slow. Does Officer Jordan drive 40 on secondary roads or even 45 MPH? Officer Jordan, added, the secondary roads in the county are not engineered for more than 45 miles per hour. It is a safety concern”. I’m sure there is no expectation of increased revenues from writing tickets? The state sets the maximum speed limits with counties having the option to lower those limits. So what Officer Jordan is saying is that the state has set terribly unsafe speed limits based on the engineered design of the highways. That’s absurd since every person having a wreck on a secondary road posted over 45 MPH would be suing the state for willful endangerment.

Officer Jordan said a balanced and safe speed limit should be determined, and then the county posts the speed limit high. He noted that 40 mph is a popular speed. This is just another effort by those who think they know better how we should live our lives imposing their will upon us. Kent Allard

Appeal of $10,000.00 Fine Denied

I know there is another blog topic where this fine is discussed but this is somewhat different.
This is information you will not read or hear much about for sometime yet.

It has been kept quiet for the must part and even many on the School Board were not told about it. In October 2007 the Giles County School System received word that they were being fined $10,000.00 for consistent tardiness in submitting teacher contributions to the Consolidated Retirement Fund. This contribution is 5% of each teacher’s monthly salary. It is supposed to be received at the retirement center not later than the tenth of each month. The fine was paid on 7 December 2007 in order to prevent accrual of interest.

At the November School Board meeting I asked about this fine, if correction had been made to prevent future violations and if anyone had been disciplined or would be disciplined as a result. I was ignored by the Board and Director. The Director of Schools, Mr. Tee Jackson, later did offer the statement that “the report was late once and that was only by one day and the fine was being appealed”.

Well, the fine was appealed and the appeal was rejected. The Director of the Tennessee Retirement System, Jill Bachus has denied the appeal on the basis that, “over the past four years the contribution from Giles County had been late consistently”. The letter was received here on 19 December and to this date there has been no information disseminated to the public about this fine being upheld.

Why hasn't this information been announced on the radio or printed in the paper? This money is wasted with absolutely no benefit to the county, the school system or any child in the system. Will the School Board do more than hide their collective heads in the sand or will they finally get a backbone and demand action. Yes there are a couple on the board that are trying but it's mighty hard to stand against the others and their determination to keep things looking good while the termites of inefficiency and incompetency eat away the very foundation. Allen Barrett

Commissioner Pay Hike Proposed To Accompany Tax Increase

Should County Commissioners vote themselves a pay increase? The proposal presented to the Legislative committee and approved by a four to three vote to recommend approval by the full commission is to pay each commissioner thirty dollars if they attend a committee meeting whether they are members of that committee or not. It seems some commissioners are not please with the pay they agreed to when accepting the position. As was stated this morning by one commissioner, It cost a lot to run for office then drive to town to attend these meetings, I just think the people want us to be paid for our expenses to serve them. Another commissioner stated, "Every commissioner knew what the job was about and how much they would be paid before they took the job. They agreed to the pay then why change it now". This was the sentiment echoed by other commissioners in the room. One commissioner stated, " Some of our commissioners have to drive fifteen to nineteen miles to attend these meetings. The state pays their people forty cents a mile it don't seem wrong to pay commissioners thirty dollars to attend these meetings". Correct me if I'm wrong but would forty cents a mile for a twenty mile, forty mile round trip, not be sixteen dollars about half the thirty dollars proposed.
Now comes the question, is it appropriate to increase the pay of commissioners at the same time they are acknowledging a tax increase will be necessary in the near future? Seems to me the need is for a decrease in spending not another increase. Call your commissioners and voice your support of opposition to this proposal. It is scheduled to be voted on at the next full Commission Meeting. Allen Barrett

WATER PROPOSAL FOR THE COUNTY

It’s reported county officials have a solution to the problem of many being without water in the county. This plan calls for the county to borrow four million dollars install approximately 60 of the needed 400 miles of water and then turn those water lines over to the individual water districts.

This is without doubt the dumbest of all options other than to do nothing. Why in the world would any thinking person, other than a government official, seek to correct a problem by borrowing money and basically turning it over to the very entity that have been primarily responsible for the problem to begin with. It’s like going to John Dillinger and saying, Mr. Dillinger I have observed that you have a knowledge of banks, I would like to open a savings account with you and deposit a million dollars.

Look, are the water districts doing a good job, for the most part they are but as separate districts they simply are under sever limitations that could be easily overcome by one consolidated system. It is a totally failed system, not necessarily the individuals involved, that buys water sells it over triple the purchase price and still loses money and can not provide water to every citizen in the county.

One consolidated water district covering the entire county is the only reasonable answer to the problem. The county commissioners know this, the county executive knows this, and most citizens know this. When the representative from the Southern Water District presented his case for improving the water system he was asked straight out, “Is there any solution to the water problem better than consolidation?” His response, after apologizing to some water officials, was an emphatic “No”. He went on to explain that each county that had consolidated their water system not only experienced great saving from reduced duplication of services, but each county experienced unprecedented growth.

The problem isn’t just a matter of meeting the needs of the county today, which the current districts have not been able to do, but for the future. Most everyone understands that the major obstacle to getting people and businesses to move here is the situation with the water supply. That’s why there has been practically no development at the interstate exits. Ask yourself why is it that Lewisburg is extending their water lines to provide service to the Milky Way Development? Many complain about businesses moving to foreign countries but is it any different than having other counties provide basic services to our county? I urge everyone to contact their commissioner and politely ask them to stop supporting a failed system and demand consolidation of the county water districts. If they are opposed to consolidation ask them to please explain their opposition. Allen Barrett

Petition to repeal Financial Management Act

The recent audit of the county reveals many violations, some are habitual violations. Most of these violations and each of the habitual violations will be corrected by the next audit for one simple reason, implementation of the Financial Management Act of 1981, overwhelmingly voted for by the people of Giles County in the last election.

From the beginning, when two lone ladies sat in the courthouse day after day getting signatures and explaining the benefits of the Act, it has been under attack by those more interested in their own power and financial gains than in the well-being of the county as a whole. The Act was adopted and efforts to sabotage it began almost immediately. Money was spent unnecessarily (it should have cost a total of less than twenty thousand dollars to set up the Financial Management Office), rumors were spread about the cost, poor communication between governmental offices created fear and resistance, the interview process was twisted and subverted but the people had spoken and those on the commission who could see the tremendous long term benefits to the county persevered and the Act began to be implemented.

Now the Financial Management Act of 1981 is again under attack by a group led by those more concerned about their personal power base than the well being of the county as a whole. Many in the school system have reported feeling intimidated by supervisors seeking their signatures for the petition. Government employees have reported the same feeling of being forced into signing the petitions. Led by a County Commissioner fearful of losing his power to manipulate the budget to benefit his pet projects and friends and a former Highway Commissioner that, through his vindictiveness and disregard for the law and what was decent, already has cost this county untold (only those who won the law suit against him and the county know the price the county paid and they are ordered to silence on the matter) thousands. These men using misinformation, fear and intimidation if successful will cost the county millions and unnumbered audit violations in the years to come. If approached to sign this petition challenge the petitioner to explain how this act will hurt the county when in every county it has been properly implemented in that county has saved thousands of dollars each year and avoided violations in the annual audits. It’s your money why let others spend anymore than is absolutely necessary?

Two Questions Asked At School Board Meeting That Go Unanswered?

In reference to the $10,000.00 fine from the state for a continual tardiness in getting payroll information in on time. "Will there be any disciplinary action taken against the employee responsible for this situation?"

In reference to persons in school management positions going to those who work under their supervision and seeking them to sign their petition to recall the Financial Management Act of 1981.
In light of the conflict of ethics and the employees feeling "pressured to sign" will this Board prohibit this action and inform those managers to stop this behavior?"

2007 AUDIT FOR GILES COUNTY

I realize this is a long post but it is well worth reading. Please post your responses for after all it is your money. Allen Barrett

RESULTS OF AUDIT ENDING 30 JUNE 2007

UNCORRECTED FINDINGS FROM PRIOR AUDITS:
COUNTY: Government wide financial statements were not presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Office had deficiencies in purchasing procedures.

DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLS: 1. Had deficiencies in purchasing procedures. 2. Office had accounting deficiencies.

OTHER FINDINGS: Duties were not segregated adequately in the Offices of Highway Commissioner, Director of Schools, Trustee, Clerk and Master, and Register.

SUMMARY OF AUDITORS RESULTS:

1. An adverse opinion was issued on the financial statements of Giles County.

2. The audit of the financial statements of Giles County and the Giles County School Department disclosed significant deficiencies in internal control. One of the deficiencies was considered to be a material weakness for the Giles County School Department.

3. Audit disclosed significant deficiencies in internal control over major programs.

FINDINGS GILES COUNTY:

Finding 07.01 - Giles County financial statements are not presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, thus we have issued an adverse opinion on its fincial statements.

FINDING 07.02 – 1. The office had deficiencies in purchasing procedures. ITEM 2. Office issued purchase orders after purchases were made.

OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLS

Finding 07-03 – The office had deficiencies in purchasing procedures. ITEM 1. In several instances purchase orders were issued after purchases were made. ITEM 2. In several instances disbursements were made without proper documentation of purchases. ITEM 3. Competitive bids were not solicited for sidewalks $15,100 built at two schools during the 2006-2007 year.

MANAGEMENT RESPONSE- DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLS: ITEM 1 Board of Education implemented purchasing procedures effective July 1, 2006 to provide more accountability and improved internal control. We are continuing to improve internal controls within our purchasing procedures to insure that purchase orders are not issued after purchases have been made. ITEM 2 We realize this is an area of concern and have established improved internal controls requiring documentation at the time a purchase order is requested.

Finding 07-04 – The office had accounting deficiencies audit disclosed. ITEM 1. Post-employment medical insurance benefits were not paid in compliance with the School Department’s negotiated agreement with employees. The agreement provides for the School Department to pay for retiree’s medical insurance premiums up to a maximum of $2,880.00 per year. Insurance premiums paid on seven retired employees exceeded this maximum by amounts ranging from $324.00 to $2,186.00. The total amount paid in excess of maximum of the year ended June 30, 2007 was $8,409.00. ITEM 2. Our examination disclosed a total of 223 journal entries that were posted to the general ledgers for the four funds maintained by the School Department. Many of these journal entries were not adequately explained. Such a high number of journal entries indicates weakness in internal controls over the recording of financial transactions. Fifty-four of these entries were to correct previous entries. In addition to these entries accounting personnel used the cash disbursements journal and the cash receipts journal to make various adjustments to the general ledger. The cash dispersements and cash receipts journals should not be used to adjust the general ledger. ITEM 3. Financial records of the general purpose school fund reflected a reservation of fund balance for the Basic Education Program (BEP) totaling $697,729.00 at June 30, 2007. However school personnel were unable to provide any documentation to support this reservation of fund balance. Our examination disclosed that there was no reserve for BEP at June 30, 2007. ITEM 4 During the year the School Department opened an escrow account to deposit funds withheld from contractor payments as required by Section 66-11-144, Tenn. Code Annotated. The funds held in the escrow account are paid to the contractor at the conclusion of the project if the contractor fulfills the terms of the contract. At June 30, 2007 the School Department had deposited the proper amount to the escrow account, however subsequent to June 30, 2007 construction billings indicate that the School Department should have deposited an additional $42,294.00 but it actually deposited an additional $109,276.00. Future deposits to the escrow account should be reduced by the overpayment of $66,982.00.

MANAGEMENT RESPONSE - DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLS: TO ITEM 2 We made every effort to decrease the number of journal entries made in the general purpose school fund and in the central cafeteria fund. Also we will try to improve the supporting documentation for journal entries. TO ITEM 4 The overall contract was never overpaid, and the project was still ongoing at June 30, 2007. The funds in question were not accessible by the contractor. The excess deposits were corrected with the payment of the next pay request after we discovered the situation. At no time was the contractor over paid. We will be more diligent in the future concerning escrow calculations and deposits during construction projects.

FINDING 07-05 OFFICE HAD DEFICIENCIES IN ADMINISTRATION OF FEDERAL GRANTS

ITEM 1 – The School Department did not designate a person to be responsible for monitoring the request and subsequent receipt of grant reimbursements. This resulted in a May 2006 reimbursement payment ($6,327.00) for the Education Technology State Grants program being mistakenly deposited into the Improving Teacher Quality State Grants program. This error went undetected until discovered by auditors in Oct.2007. ITEM 2 – During the year, the School Department received Hurricane Education Recovering Act Grant funds of $21,780.00. These funds were posted to the School Federal Projects Fund however these grant funds should have been posted to the General Purpose School Fund. School Department personnel were not aware of this error until notified by auditors in Oct. 2007.

MANAGEMENT RESPONSE DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLS – ITEM 1 Federal projects grant administrators will monitor the projects that they are responsible for to ensure accurate reporting. ITEM 2 We will try to be more detail oriented in the future in regard to revenues. Sometimes there is a problem identifying specific non-recurring revenues due to revenue being reported on the monthly trustee’s repost as a total.

FINDING 07-06 EXPENDITURES EXCEEDED APPROPRIATIONS

ITEM 1 Expenditures exceeded total appropriations by the County Commission in the Central Cafeteria Fund by $19,915.00. ITEM 2 Expenditures exceeded appropriations in the Vocational Education Program ($546.00) and other Student Support ($25,998.00) major appropriation categories (the legal level of control) of the School Federal Projects Fund.

MANAGEMENT RESPONSE – DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLS ITEM 1 This has not occurred in the past in the Central Cafeteria Fund and every effort will be made to ensure that this does not happen again.

FINDING 07-07 GENERAL LEDGER PAYROLL LIABILITY ACCOUNTS – ITEM 1. General ledger payroll liability accounts were not reconciled with payroll reports and payments. The failure to reconcile payroll liability accounts on a regular basis allows errors to remain undiscovered and uncorrected. Records of the School Department reflected negative account balances in 23 payroll liability accounts at June 30 2007. The failure to reconcile these accounts led to these negative account balances not being corrected.

FINDING 07-08 OTHER FINDINGS DUTIES NOT SEGREGATED ADEQUATELY IN THE OFFICES OF HIGHWAY COMMISSIONER, DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLS, TRUSTEE, REGISTER AND CLERK AND MASTER.

ITEM 1 In the Director Of Schools and employee who was responsible for preparing and posting disbursements to the accounting records and reconciling disbursements with the trustee’s report also had access to the mechanical warrant signing machine for all funds administered by the Director of Schools. ITEM 2 In the Offices Of Highway Commissioner, Trustee, Register and Clerk and Master employees responsible for maintaining accounting records were also involved in receipting, depositing and/or dispersing funds.

MANAGEMENT RESPONSE

DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLS – Giles County is now under a centralized system of accounting resulting from the adoption of the County Financial Management System of 1981. This new system should ensure the segregation of duties for all county departments including the Office of Director of Schools.

REGISTER – The cost of hiring enough employees to segregate each step involved is not feasible for the Register Of Deeds Office. The budget will not allow us to increase our staff to comply with these guidelines.

Fine For The School System???

There has been a very disturbing report that the school system recently received a $10,000.00 fine from the state for continually failing to get their payroll numbers into the state on time. If this is true, will the fine be paid from school funds? Will there be any disciplinary action taken against anyone? Will anyone be held personally responsible?

Referendum on Tax Increase

The city agreed today to hold a referendum to increase the current sales tax to a full ten cents on the dollar. Their plan is to use the increase to pay for a Five Million Dollar loan to renovate Sam Davis Park. Now, according to the Mayor, County Executive Mrs Vanzant has agreed to not seek this same increase throughout the county thus the full increase would go to the city. Now under this agreement, as it was stated today in the City Council Meeting, If the county were to impose this increase at some future date the county would reimburse the city for any lost revenue. That lost revenue would be a result of the schools and highway department being required to share in any county wide sales tax. While I appreciate Mrs Vanzants' unwillingness to impose an additional tax on the county I certainly am shocked, if it is true, that she would enter an agreement that would hog tie the county's ability, at some future date, to raise the sales tax and leave only the option to raise property taxes or service fees. Allen Barrett

Expensive Stadium or Legacy To A Big Ego

Here are the latest numbers on the proposed cost for remodeling Sam Davis Park. Presently there are three options that are being discussed.

A 1,500 seat stadiu