E-mail topic: Is losing Robert Barnes...
...as Economic Director for Giles County a plus or a minus?
posted by J. Kendrick McPeters | 6:26 PM
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68 Comments:
PLUS !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you Casper,WY.
Is the whole family moving?
No, he left his wife and her children in October, moved out and that was that. Pulaski should have checked his history in Shelbyville and other places he's lived and worked before hiring. That's just like the powers here. Remember David Little and now Tee Jackson. Anyone from our of town is an expert to these rubes.
It's about time. I'm glad he took the initiative, the city and county weren't. He took alot of money from this county. But will the economic board be stupid enough to hire someone else just like him? You hear buy at home, then why not hire at home.....
The economic board ought to get a printout of his cell calls. betcha ain't all business.
Heard they're not going to announce the position or take applications ......... hear they've already picked the successor and he will be announced tomorrow. It shouldn't come as a surprise ...... or maybe it will.
Word on the street is that the mayor is going to give the reins to Tommy Watkins and Mr Speer will step over and be in control of Economic Dev. OR is he so great that he can run both jobs? One of the chamber board directors told me last week that he is trying to take over the chamber and tourism both. Apparently he wants to place the chamber and tourism under econonic development to be controlled by the edc person. The mayor tried this same tactic in the middle or late 90's. I was on the Chamber board at that time, and the chamber board voted to not allow edc to control them. Good for the chamber. Now the powers are trying to say that tourism and chamber can't get along, when in actuality, it is the powers that are starting the rumor. In the past two months the chamber staff and tourism employee are working together just like they did back when the former director of 15 years was there. They have had problems in there in the past year, but only because they got a new director who was spending most of her days taking direction from one city official and the electric company. Noone in Giles County wants to play the control game, thefore noone wants to reun for mayor or any other political position. It is sickening---takes a sick mind to want to be in control of everyone.
It was on WKSR, Dan is going to do both jobs, interesting huh?
Dan Speer was selected to be the Economic Development Director at an annual salary of $65,000, with full benefits, 6% contribution to an IRA account, free vehicle and all out of pocket expenses to be reimbursed.
Oh yea .... he is still Mayor of Pulaski
Good by Chamber and Tourism offices
This has the smell of good ole boy politics. Did anyone else apply for the job besides Dan Speer?
To anonymous thursday at 3;28;01
This is Giles County at its best (worst ) with Nepotism and stinky politics . Would be interesting to see the list (hah !!) of applicants wouldnt it ?? A list of one !! Nobody with skill need apply -we take care of local indigents and despots .It's not the Milky Way , it's the Giles County Way.
Prune Juice -keeping it flowing .
Allen is absolutely right!!!! the "selection committee" did not publicly announce the position. Mays admitted that "they did not consider any one else".
A horse race of one. Good thing Mrs. Speer did not want the job; Dan would have lost.
Mayor and Director? The "letter of the law" says it is not a conflict. Morally it is plain and simple. Why not eliminate the Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Tourism? Dam has always had his thumb of each of those offices and now he can run them. Save the tax payers a bit of money. Why have false fronts?
Way to go DAN you have finally reached the pinnacle of your plan.
Job well done.
GTC
How can this not be a conflict of interest. The Mayor and the Director of the EDC the same person. Does the City of Pulaski financially support the EDC?
I know the City of Pulaksi and Giles County have together purchased the land that became industrial park south - there is also a joint spec building paid for by contributions by both entities. This is all mentioned on the EDC website.
Appointing Speer in this manner shows the EDC, Giles County and the City of Pulaski are involved in Good Ole Boy Politics. At the very least, the position should have been advertised and a selection process followed. If Dan Speer is as wonderful as he thinks he is then he should have applied and went through the process and if selected as the "best candidate" then RESIGN as Mayor of Pulaski.
Holding the job as Mayor and Director may not be a conflict under the law, but anyone who knows how local governments operate and espicially how they appropriate money to the industrial development board/EDC will see it is a conflict.
Shame on the County Officials and City Officials that are on the EDC board of directors for allowing this to happen.
You are right. Shame on the County officials and city officials on the EDC board ...... they are Janet Vanzant, Stoney Jackson, Charles Greene, Dan Speer, and Tommy Watkins. Ron Holcomb, also on the EDC Board and selection committee is director of Pulaski Electric System, a board where Dan Speer is a member and where Dan and the city council appoints the other members. Shew weeeeeeeeee! What is that smell???????
I hear EDC Board tried to hold a closed door meeting when Barnes resigned? Anybody know if there is any truth in this??
Did you notice who was on the search committee? Wonder who selected the committee. Three people whom Dan controls. I thought Haskell Mayes was smarter than to let this happen. Guess he is controlled by Dan also. One of the reasons Dan is not steping down as Mayor is Tommy Watkins is not smart enough to be Mayor.
To Anonymous:Friday, June 30, 2006 11:21:48 PM
You are so right about Tommy Watkins not being smart enough to be Mayor...went to school with him!!!
I know for a fact that when Home Depot came to Pulaski they had a pay scale in place and was told by Dan speer they could not pay that much.
That sounds familiar. I know for a fact that the real gripe with the FTI incinerator was the $15.00 per hour starter wage they were going to pay. That was back in 1990, and it looks like some things never change.
Why would they not want higher pay for giles county workers?
If people don't have money it is easier to control them. They have no way out!!!!
IF THE ABOVE "KNOW FOR A FACT" ON THESE ITEMS, HOW ABOUT DISCLOSING YOUR SOURCE FOR THE FACTS| BOTH ARE ABSOLUTELY WRONG|
Whats facts (both) are you talking about?
Let's face it. Most of the jobs around here start at $8.50 per hr with no benefits. If higher paid jobs start coming in here then the local business owners will have to start paying more, and they are the ones who only offer $8.50 and want to keep it that way. It keeps people supressed.
Jobs around here start at $8.50 an hour because the labor force in Giles County is:
1.) Usually uneducated
2.) Low Skilled
3.) Aged
Once a person gets either item 1 and/or 2 they can expect to receive higher wages.
Also, why would a company want to pay more then it has to for labor? A company is trying to “make money”. Cheap labor is an incentive to a company. If it was not, why is so much work be moving to Chain and India.
If you want unskilled and uneducated people to be paid more money, just wait a few more years. America is moving to a Socialist Society anyways.
Benjamin Harrison
Have to disagree with you Benjie. Many workers from Giles Co, both educated and skilled, are having to either move out of county to find a decent job, stay here and commute long distances, or take a low paying job in Giles Co just to keep their head above water. Will be interesting to see what Speer can accomplish.
Benjamin Harrison speculates America is moving to a socialist society - is that so bad? At least the AVERAGE person has food in their mouths, a roof over their heads, and medical services available. Are you lacking a touch of compassion?
Joe, I agree that there are educated and skilled labor in Pulaski. Who are having a difficult time in finding high pay jobs. However, the majority of the labor force is not as skilled or educated as surrounding areas.
To Anonymous,
If you enjoy a society that punishes achievement, goals and bettering of oneself or are an under achiever then I guess socialist society isn’t that bad. Feel free to visit Russia or any of its former states and see what they think about socialism.
Let me quote a book, "God helps those who help themselves!"
Hezekiah 6:1 I have all the compassion in the world for people who help themselves, but that isn’t what we are currently fostering in the states. I feel and believe the average working person deserves to have food and a roof over his/her head…but it seems the average American feels they need a cell phone, Nike shoes and a new car to go along with the food and roof.
What about the below average or the very bottom, do they need to be considered equal and receive all the same benefits as say a Medical Doctor?
I promise you, we could give everyone in America the same assets and income, thus creating an “equal” society. Within a year, you will still have homeless and hungry people.
Benjamin Harrison
To WAB: but were not the people you speak of already living at their lowest ebb and completely helpless in the situation? Shame on you. Maybe you are also lacking in compassion and you a preacher!
To WAB: you post a cynical response but since you are never wrong, I stand corrected.
MR. WAB you sound like a great person, BUT i am proud there are not many like YOU.
Mr. W A B
I don't like cooked egg, fyi
That is just so funny...
Speaking of Mr. Barnes leaving his wife and children...Mr. Barnes wife is dating the Judge Damron. Don't you think that that is just as fast as him moving on. Maybe both sides were playing around. That is probably why he left her here. Now is voting time and we need to think about voting for Damron if he gets involved with people of that nature. The Barnes family did not do well in the ecomonics area and now she is left to destroy our legal system. I think Damron should have thought about showing her off after the election. I sure do not want her input in the legal system. Giles Co. you better think....
I agree with the above statement..John Damron what are you thinking? I was going to vote for you but after seeing you two together and so fast after the divorce it made me think differently of you. Sorry I voted for someone else. Don't be surprised when everyone who know's the Barnes family votes against you. We have had enough of those people.
This is the silliest thing I ever heard. Damron has brought dignity, fairness and professionalism to the general sessions court. He bought a house so that his mother, in her 80s, can live with him since she cannot drive. His stepfather, a retired minister, is in the nursing home in Murfreesboro. I know for a fact that the judge had never met Stephanie Barnes until long after her husband left. I also know for a fact that they NEVER dated or anything like it until her divorce was final, which was almst eight months from the time Robert Barnes left her. Stephanie is a registered nurse, a teacher of nursing at Tennessee Technology Center, a regular and faithful attendee of church (and not just at election time like some people) and a dedicated mother. Her daughter, who graduated 5th in her class at GCHS, is an outstanding young woman who will be going to UT to major in a medical field. Stephanie Barnes is the kind of woman that anyone should hope your judge would be friends with. She is honest, insightful, mature, spiritual and very, very smart.
This is just another petty lie about Damron. and for the record, he was never arrested anywhere for anything as the local liespinners have tried to perpetuate. No DUI. No brawls. Nothing. I checked every rumor myself with the courts in the alleged places so I could say this.
I would trust my children's lives with Judge Damron, literally. Other than my own father, he is the finest man I have ever met. For anyone to deny him the chance to have a lovely and upstanding person like Stephanie Barnes to share some of his time during this election is a hypocrit.
And I don't believe that a real voter even said that statement. I think it is a plant by Tycer's camp. Becuase if the voters here really think like that, Giles County is in trouble.
Is Tycer's history of living with men she's not married to an issue? Or the fact that she is acting like she will begin having a morning and afternoon docket? It's been done that way for 8 years by Damron to help keep the officers from being tied up all day or having to pay overtime. Or Bobby Lee's lack of legal experience (he only practiced law for 6 months in the 1950s)? or the fct that Bobby Lee's court was really held in his office for his friends?
What does John Damron's romantic life have to do with his re-election? If people's professional careers were judged by whom they date, many of us would be out of a job.....especially that married county commissioner who is well known in Giles County as a "player" and has been spotted many times over the years in such places as Gatlinburg and at UT football games with women who were definitely not his wife. He is running for re-election. Should we vote him out because he is an adulterer or should we re-elect him because he has done much for Giles County? Please help me decide.
By the way, is it Stephanie's fault that Robert Barnes wasn't a good economic director? She divorced him didn't she? She should at least get credit for that, not to mention that she is now dating the decent, moral, and totally handsome Judge Damron. She obviously makes smart choices.
Mr. Barrett
Amen to the above statement. Maybe that person is jealous, the judge is handsome, in my opinion and we all have our own opinions.
to gimme a break:
(This is the silliest thing I ever heard. Damron has brought dignity, fairness and professionalism to the general sessions court. He bought a house so that his mother, in her 80s, can live with him since she cannot drive. His stepfather, a retired minister, is in the nursing home in Murfreesboro.)
AMEN. Good job. He takes care of his mother and that says a lot to me about this man.
(This is just another petty lie about Damron. and for the record, he was never arrested anywhere for anything as the local liespinners have tried to perpetuate. No DUI. No brawls. Nothing. I checked every rumor myself with the courts in the alleged places so I could say this.)
Amen, again - I too have checked this out in the courts and it is a false statement, those are just lies and not true at all.
It appears that some are grasping for straws to find something out about the judge, well, anyone that I have talked to has all stated that he is fair and firm, it does not matter who you are or even if it is his family, period.
keep up the good work judge.
I can spot Claudia Johnson a mile away and I know she is the one who wrote the big long spill about Stephanie Barnes. When she mentioned her dad that was telling on herself. Claudia, if you think he is so handsome then why didn't you continue to date him? Claudia is close friends with her and that is how she knows her life history. So, knowing that,you are only defending her because she is your friend. Please...Stephanie is not that innocent. She was married when she started dating Robert. They each broke up their home and now she is trying to shame the judge. Please I know Stephaine too. I have no plans of not telling the truth about that woman.
How did I get into this? Judge Damron is my friend and I think the world of him. He has been for years and will always be. I am glad someone knows how much I love my daddy, but I daresay there are other people in Giles County who love their daddy too. But since you pulled me into this discussion, John Damron and I are friends. Stephanie Barnes and I have become friends over the years because our sons are best friends. I worked with Robert Barnes in whatver way I was asked to do so by the paper or the industrial board. If you look at the ECD site, you will see most of the stories there were by me. The quality of life brochure they use was written by me and is also downloadable there. I was happy to do my job and work with Robert when asked, and in that same vein I would work with your new recruitor if I were still there.
But since you obviously want my thoughts on Damron, I am voting for him because I know him and have seen him work and believe he is the best candidate/person for the job. His integrity is without question, and in this world, that means something. As for his looks, I have no idea what his looks have to do with this. I read that comment and laughed. He is not a conceited person. Few people know he is a first-rate guitar player, and in fact, used that talent to make money for his family as a teenager and young man in West Virginia. John is a nice looking man, sure, but the person who above that assumed I said this obviously does not know that I would not date or not date due to looks. As far as I am concerned, people's interpretation of my past or future relationship with the judge are for their own amusement.
Also for the record:
I like Stephanie Barnes, too, very much in fact, and think she deserves a good man like John.
I am a John Damron fan. If he is happy, I am happy for him. I support him 100%. and just for the record, so does my daddy!
When I put my opinions on anything, it has my name. So you may want to look to the 1,000s of other Giles County women who love their daddy before you make assumptions.
Claudia,
Put your hand up to the computer so I can give you a high-five. You go girl!!! Thanks for showing "Miss (or Mister) 'I can spot Claudia Johnson a mile away'" how incredibly bad he/she is at guessing identities. Sounds like a bad case of jealousy. It's easy to assassinate someone's character behind the veil of anonymity.
It is the privilege of Stephanie Barnes and Judge Damron who they date. She is obviously a wonderful lady to align herself with a decent and moral man such as Judge Damron, and I say the same about him. I don't know her personally...wouldn't even recognize her if she walked in the room at this very moment. My only connection to Mr. Damron is that thirty-two years ago I played softball in the same league as his niece.
Way to go again, Claudia, set em straight.
Bull Crap that was Claudia and I will never think a day different. I have worked with her. I know the way she writes. Believe me! Stay in Cookeville Claudia.
I am a single man. I voted for Judge Damron. But in all the light of the gossip I had to do a little research on the past few blog responses. I found out that he did date Claudia, It ended. Judge then became friends with a woman who married into Claudia's family. She is now his treasurer. Then I found out that the woman is still married. No luck there. So now he is dating Claudia's friend. Still has the other woman as Treausrer. What a triangle. I am only telling this because he is the man. I hope when I am your age I still have it too. You go Judge! Since everyone is so interested! Here's a little advice Judge from a younger generation "Treasuer your Treasurer. She is HOT! You have my families vote!
Must be Jackie Stubble who worked with Claudia. Jackie the exconvict who spent time in jail in texas for stealing computer equipment from the catholic newspaper where she worked. the same one who Janet Vanzant had a resolution done for when she became some writer at Martin College. a resolution none of the commissioners knew about until Janet gave it to her friend. the same Jackie who... well ask the people at the herald, the citizen, buffalo valley the mcminnville newspaper... ask them about janets friend. hey ask her dead husband who lives in nashville.
I agree Claudia should stay in Cookeville. glad she got a way out of town. maybe jackie stubble can get her job back at the citzen. that may be what giles county people want.
Let's all try to think of all the people who worked at the paper in the years Claudia was there and see who it is that we think is so knowledgable about everything? there are so many outstanding employees there producing such a great product.
Anonymous Friday at 9-22 PM said
"ask her dead husband who lives in nashville."
Holy Crapola Batman !! We are now advised to communicate with the dead . Where is the seance being held ...and when ??
"Speak to us Nashville Man . We await your advice and guidance"
Giles County needs more believers like this !!
Tom
why is someone dragging a person who moved away into this sewage? can people who leave the county not get out of the muck? don't worry. see how good the paper is doing. and the radio station. its all the information we ever need here. they didnt need somebody like claudia to write at the paper. we'll get all the news in the six pages of the paper left when you take out the ads.
if we're going to start listing Giles Co political pin-up boys, my votes go to Charles Green and Tommy Campbell. Wadda think girls?
I want John Damron to be my pin-up boy...watch out Stephanie Barnes.
To always looking, yuk, you have very bad taste.
As they say,"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". I like the rugged beefy type.
Tom,
That's the best laugh I've had in days. I love your sense of humor!
To alwayslooking,
Tommy Campbell? You're joking, right? Surely!
Now thats not fair. Who would your Number One be?
Well, okay, if we're scraping the bottom of the barrel, I'd choose Tommy as well.
To Tom
just ask Janet Vanzant's friend Jackie Stubble if her husband is dead. she'll answer that she's a widow. but HE LIVES AND BREATHES in nashville. no need for a medium to conjur this one up.
Hey someone out to warn the people who are trying to fund her ministry. what church is she scamming now.
hey tom,
i have a better question for you, HOW MANY HISSY-FITS DID MRS. VANZANT THROW HAVE AT THE PAPER OFFICE AND DEMAND THEY BETTER NOT PUBLISH ABSOULETLY NOTHING RE" HER-----WITHOUT HER PERMISSION FIRST??
I saw them and that is the reason she hates Claudia and the newspaper.
SOUNDS LIKE A HITLER MOVE, DON'T IT?
There's an affidavit filed in federal court about this. It's public record. Seems Janet did not realize that she could not control the press when it came to covering for her incompetence. well, at least one member of it.
I wonder exactly how much of the tax payers dollar has been spent paying the county mayor to run around and do damage control. Covering up for things she has said or done. Or for Ms. Jones to provide care for the county mayor's son. Or for the legal fee someone said we paid when the mayor was supposed to pay it herself. Does anybody know how much that was. If so please post it here. Or for them to go campaign while on our time clock. Does anybody know a total her salary and benefits has cost us the last four years. I would like to know.
To Mad Tax Payer
ALL County expenditures are public knowledge and supposed to be easily available for you to go and review .Go to the Courthouse and ask . I wish you luck in doing it as the present system of 'accounting' lacks a certain degree of openness .
Which is a good reason why Giles taxpayers need to vote for the Financial Management referendum that is the very LAST item on this years voting form . Fin Mgmt will require that there are clean and clear line-item budgets instead of mumbo-jumbo . Tell all your friends to vote for it.
anonymous said...
(we'll get all the news in the six pages of the paper left when you take out the ads.)
i've heard this before and was wondering what is wrong with the ads? is the newspaper not a buisness too? i think the ads are part of the newspaper not somehting their to bother you. if you look at the ads they tell you what is going on and they tell you what local buisnesses have for sell. maybe i'm different from everybody else i like our newspaper. there are things i would like to see different in it but i think they do a good job. i miss claudia's wiriting but i see why someone would want to go to something better.
The point is that there is practically nothing but ads!
Friday, July 21, 2006 9:04:41 PM - Back off of Claudia, she certainly knows more about our county government and the county executive than all of us will ever learn. All of us know who is glad she is gone and that name would be Janet and her cohorts.
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