Graduation
There may be some thoughts about the graduation itself you would like to express. Please keep it clean.
The purpose of the "Giles Free Speech Zone" is to identify problems of concern to the people of Giles County, to discuss them in a gentlemanly and civil manner, while referring to the facts and giving evidence to back up whatever claims are made, making logical arguments that avoid any use of fallacy, and, hopefully, to come together in agreement, and find a positive solution to the problem at hand. Help make a difference! Email "mcpeters@usit.net" to suggest topics or make private comments.
This is the statement from Mr. Tee Jackson that appeared in the Pulaski Citizen on
“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.”
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…….
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
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

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
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
$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
Does this make anyone else's blood boil?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
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
The committee gave a counter offer and asked for $150,000.00 with a two week response time. Allen Barrett
The calendar situation was tabled; to be addressed on Thursday 21 February at either 5 or
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
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.
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
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.
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
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
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
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?