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
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
posted by Allen Barrett | 3:00 PM
69 Comments:
I applaude these women. If anyone of these outstanding commissioners' do a little looking, they will find out that this office brings in 50 to 60 percent of all the money, they and Mrs. Vanzant spend every year.
They should receive a raise before any one else!
Not be left out any year. Make one ask, how many years were they overlooked???
First of all the amount of money the tax assessor's office brings into the county is totally immaterial, it's their job. Second they do not bring any money into the county they assess property that results in citizens paying their taxes each year.
Now that being said, part of the problem at the Tax Assessors office is simply very stupid leadership. In today's events for example Mr. Bluegill was less than honest in getting to the emotions of the ladies who work there. He has proven to be out of touch, lazy and a sexist neanderthal.
The question is not do the ladies who work in the tax assessor's office deserve a pay increase, they do, but the real issue is simply that the county can not afford a pay increase for them. Should others have received a pay increase,including the fee offices, absolutely no. The county has no control over the fee offices and what they pay employees, however if county employees are not treated equally it not only destroys morale and productivity it is just not fair or reasonable.
Was the amount of $160,000 plus an absurd amount to consider as a realistic cost for moving the offices into a different part of the basement, certainly. Do the people in that office deserve better working conditions, absolutely and there is no reasonable excuse for not moving them into the vacated election offices at a reasonable cost. When there is no money for raises an alternative way of expressing appreciation other than verbally, is in the working conditions a worker is placed to. An improved working environment in this office is not only desirable it has now become a necessity and should be accomplished with the utmost expediency. Allen Barrett
We need a reality check. When anyone is lucky enough to get hired to a county job they know there employer is a not for profit.Courthouse workers only work a 35 hour week. They get about 11 paid holiday annually and then vacation time and good benefits. Compare those jobs to the private industry. The coounty people make much more than hourly than most workers in private industry. There working conditions are good compared to a lot of places. These people should be thankful to have a job. Period. Complain. Complain. Complain. If they dont like there job they should leave so somebody else who would be grateful can jump in.
The Hunter Smith building has got to go! It's an eyesore which has just been ratcheted up since the lovely covered walkway has been added.
Cut your losses and auction it! The new owner can't do any worse than the present owner.
This is one time I will completely agree with WAB. It is a slap in the face to the tax-payers of this county to present a $160,000 proposal to MOVE AN OFFICE. (Maybe I should get in the office moving business.) This is especially true when hundreds of people are being laid-off left and right and thousands more go to work not knowing if they will have a job tomorrow. McGill already has a nice shiny Ford truck (I think that is his sitting there at the courthouse)what more does he want. It seems that all he has done since taking office is beg for more funding.
I also agree with WAB. A proposal of $160,000 to "move" an office from one basement to another basement in the same building, no less, is absurd. Sounds like someone needs to put a pencil back to that figure...he must know one of the commissioners or have a "Shiny" new truck to pay for himself. As for anonymous who commented that the ladies in the tax accessor's office need a "reality check", you must not have been in that office before or you could see there are six of them that work in an area so small they are running over each other and not to mention the smell of mold that most know has been there for years that was cleaned up again just last summer. So yes, they do have good benefits as they deserve them but they definetly do NOT make much more than someone who works for a private industry. There are kids fresh out of high school that start out being paid not much less than those ladies that have been there for years.Believe me, those ladies are grateful for their jobs as they have families to support as we all do but they deserve a better working enviroment. So reality check, please don't be sarcastic to those ladies. I'm sure you would "be grateful" to jump in but you should learn the difference of when "their" or "there" should be used in a sentence before you do.
wab
Well, looks like you've made yourself another enemy. Don't look for Mr. McGill to show up at your church wanting your prayers! I am astounded that you cannot see the stumbling block. Or better yet, that you can't see the splinter in your brother's eye because of the beam in yours. Amazing.
wab, I don't know what kind of a preacher you are, but I really don't know how you can preach God's word to faithful Christians with a straight face. You seem to live for the moment when you can resort to name calling and putting down someone who you don't like.You are definitely the straw that stirs the drink. May God bless you and shame on you for trying to run down your fellow man. I have always heard that "it takes all kinds", but I haven't figured out,yet just what kind you are. Seems to me that you ought to run for some office, since you know more than anyone else about all the offices, yet I don't think you have enough followers to get elected.
It appears to me that Mr. Barrett is always supporting truth. Why bad mouth him? We need more to stand up for the truth.
420 Wab can't see the splinter in your eye cause it's not that big. It's how big a pain in the rear end you are that's worriesome
good to see you reading the Bible - keep it up & you'll amount to something, sure nuff
WAB, your post 1-12-2009 @11:39 am. is WRONG and overshot the first comment posted here! This is not about Blue Gill, it is about the workers there.
The Assessors' Office, and the work they do, generates the tax roll for not only Giles County, but for the city of Pulask, Ardmore, Elkton and Lynnville.
Now go back and research what the duties of that office is, what the State of Tennessee mandates and also how it is to be funded and by WHO!
Then when you fully understand, I will expect to see a new post from you.
No, I don't work there but I can read! Something more of our Commissioners' either need to learn and do more of, which ever fits their indivual chase.
McGill should not have made promises to his employees unless he knew he could deliver. To me the amount of money he wants for moving is outrageous. It sounds like he wants all or nothing. If that is the case he should get nothing. Everyone has to comprise at times.
10:03 PM
You are wrong, not Mr. WAB. Since you dont work in tax ass. office you must not have been at the meeting under discussion, would be true if you dont work there.
10:30 PM
Your post is not very clear! Would you like to re word it?
Sounds like (maybe a Commissioner) that was there that has never read a State Code (tca).
To the anonymous of the 13 Jan. 5:38 post.
You ask some interesting questions and make some absurdly wrong statements that I will try to respond too with the same openness I believe should permeate our government.
#1 You state “I don't know what kind of a preacher you are, but I really don't know how you can preach God's word to faithful Christians with a straight face”.
I try to be the kind of preacher that believes and tries to live by the words I preach. I do not understand how or why you are anyone else would want or tolerate someone preaching one thing while doing the opposite. You can not speak in church about the wrongness of abortion then do nothing about it throughout the week. If sinful behavior is worth speaking against on Sunday then isn’t it worth standing against during the week? Is there anything that you believe so strongly in that you are willing to face ridicule and criticism in order to remain true to that belief?
When I was younger because of the influence of people like Gene Autry and Hopalong Cassidy and other cowboy heroes, I had no other men except my uncle to be male role models, I determined to try and develop the same kind of principles to live by that they seemed to uphold. Those beliefs were forged in the housing projects of Murfreesboro and twenty years as a soldier. Part of this is the belief that you speak straight, tell the truth as you know it and do the right thing. This isn’t always welcomed by some but when you know what your motivation is you don’t allow critics to interfere.
#2 You state, incorrectly that, “You seem to live for the moment when you can resort to name calling and putting down someone who you don't like.
I have yet to be critical of someone on this blog or else where based on personal feelings. I very seldom allow feelings to be involved when making an assessment of a person’s behavior. For me there are certain behaviors that can not be identified as anything other than what they are, no shades of gray just plain black and white, so a person who lies is a liar, a person who steals is a thief, a person who is satisfied with not learning anything is stupid. I never put anyone down who is trying to make an effort, period.
#3 You state, “You are definitely the straw that stirs the drink. May God bless you and shame on you for trying to run down your fellow man.
I make no apologies for, as you say, “stirring the drink” when the drink needs to be stirred. I have never stirred the “Kool-Aid”. It’s no different from a newspaper or TV news program or even the weather forecast, the information is presented but no one makes you carry your umbrella.
I have not run anyone down only been critical of behaviors that directly affect me and my family. If a person’s behavior sullies their reputation it is their doing not mine.
#4 you state, “I have always heard that "it takes all kinds", but I haven't figured out, yet just what kind you are. Seems to me that you ought to run for some office, since you know more than anyone else about all the offices”.
It does take all kinds and the purpose of my posting this is to help you understand what kind I am. I post my name on what I write so I will be accountable. I never claimed to know more than anyone else just expressed some things I do know. I do plan to run for office again but will be much better financed next time and more able to physically get to people’s homes. I hope this gives you a better insight into whom and what I am. Allen Barrett
To anonymous of the 13 Jan. 10:03 post.
You state "WAB, your post 1-12-2009 @11:39 am. is WRONG and overshot the first comment posted here! This is not about Blue Gill, it is about the workers there."
How can a post "overshoot" a topic when there are no parameter placed on that topic.
The topic is as much about the men in that office as the women and in some aspects much of the problem there is with the Assessor and his attitude and behavior.
wab...
Are you insane? You say you are going to run for office again? Didn't your maiden voyage into elected office teach you anything? You came in LAST in a four man race. I don't like to hurt anyone's feelings, but you have to know this.
By the way, I got a laugh out of the way you defended your actions by again stating that you merely describe behavior. You say it's ok to go on a public forum and call a thief a thief and a liar a liar. Consider the adulterer. Do you think it's acceptable to go public and name the guilty parties just because you know about it? I hope you would say no to that. Even your Bible speaks against those who are swift to sow strife.
To anonymous of the 14 Jan 4:55 post.
You are such a hypocritical cowardly waste of energy. Unlike you, I would never allow a defeat or the fear of a defeat keep me from trying to do something.
See if you can get someone to read and explain item #3 that state s "I have not run anyone down only been critical of behaviors that directly affect me and my family".
If someone were an adulterer, as you suggest, involving my family I would do as I have done with others, tried to address the issue in private and if no change depending on the situation would not have any problem addressing the issue publicly if the situation was appropriate. There are many things I know that would be inappropriate to discuss either publicly or privately.
As for the rest of your post I'm glad to be able to add some humor to your day, I was becoming concerned that you were a hebephrenic sitting there alone laughing to your self. Allen Barrett
Preachers with any decency about them would never publically humiliate ANYONE for a misguided thought or act. Not right, not right at all.
Do you know how humiliating it is to be arrested, So shouldn't we stop arresting people who break the law.
Your statement is so typical of the liberal mindset, it's better to allow evil than hurt someone's feelings by pointing out that it is evil. You must have loved the Emperors new clothes. Allen Barrett
Getting off track. Mr Barrett perhaps if U could ignore the poster they wouldnt have anything to feed on. Everyone else knows you are an all right Joe. Keep up the good work.
wab..
You know very well that we would both agree that lawbreakers should be arrested and prosecuted. But the difference between you and me is that I do not think it my responsibility to go after them. We have a criminal justic system that takes care of those matters.
As for your being thankful that you could provide some humor, let me just say that you do that quite often. You see, I can usually tell when you are being "facetious" and/or "describing" someone's behavior. And you have the nerve to accuse me of hypocrisy? What a joke!
By the way, I'm not sure what you mean by "hebephrenic". I can't find it in my DSM-IV, so perhaps you have coined a new mental disorder. Impressive. By the way, I still think you suffer from Narcissistic Disorder and delusions of grandeur. In addition, I've about decided that you have an additional condition known as Histrionic Personality Disorder. In simplest terms, that is one in which the person has a pervasive pattern of excessive emotionality and attention seeking. Seems to fit, wouldn't you say?
Hey Dumbo, if you're to stupid to know how to use a simple dictionary then you can't be as smart as you try
to make people believe. Even I know that a hebephrenic is a type of schizo that just sits in the corner laughing at nothing while in their fantasy world.
6;27 Do I understand that if you knew someone had done wrong , you would do or say nothing, you would just leave it up to the criminal justice department? Keep up the good work Mr. Barrett.
You better believe she would. She would probably help them all she could.
That's what Dumbo is all about - corruption!
When corruption directly affects me, I will always be active! Taxes are not passive. Everyone, including Dumbo knows about all about TJ's phony tax increase demands. Holt, Lovell, & the rest of TJ's puppet show would have flat out passed every one of them. iI they had a majority vote on the council all would have passed & the property tax would be sky high! It's close!
If you don't fight, they'll break us! There is fraud & falsification of public financial records. Our enforcement system is afraid to attack "education". One would think everyone would be real anxious to make sure education was about truth, but that isn't the case. Political correctness trumps truth.
Dumbo, wear your aluminum hat, cause we're going to be throwing lot of reminders at you. How corruppt thou art describes you.
Thanks to Barrett & Winkles, the bad guys are almost out of power. their majority headed for the hills & out of sight! GOOD!
Can you please make this a new topic:
If you want your right back to vote for Superintendant of school call Eddie Bass as you State Legislature. Also call all your commissioners letting them know you want them to do their part in doing a referendum from the county. The counties are hopefully going to be able to do county by county and not the state as a whole. If this sight could stay within the thread and no profanity used maybe it could be sent to Representative Bass. So let's hear from you and make some positive use of this blog.
A person wanting back their right to vote for Superintendant or choose to have an appointed Director.
Why didnt the post about the plush offices the surrounding counties have get published. There was no bad words in there.Was there something you didnt like in it about the truth? Yea the Giles county assessors office is a dump! Property Owner!
to the anonymous (riddler?) 6:24
If you were as bright as you think you are, you would know that you misused the word "to" in your first sentence. It should be "too". And you suggest that I need to know how to use a dictionary? Hilarious!
By the way, my post was addressed to your mentor and hero and not to you. Are you his spokesperson now? Again, hilarious.
You continue to call me corrupt. You love that word, don't you? You are absolutely ridiculous and your hatred is eating you from the inside out. Bet, as the old saying goes, "better you than me"!
And finally, you mentioned barrett and winkles and portray them as champions of the people. Now there is a true irony. They are the ones who never had any power and probably never will. Thank God.
Dumb-oh, Your aluminum hat is on two low & to tight around your ears - cuts off the circulation too whatever brain matter you might have. Also, cuts off the flow of air between the ears, regenerating crainial overheating & danger of a recollection prolapse!
be head to fat
or ears two flat
on backwards be it at
don't need no aluminum hat
cause you ain't up to bat
and that is that
weren't me
it bee you see
you come two dumb
to learn to hum
go bank your head on the wall for a while
on U-tube & we'll all smile
I'll bet you got your dippyloma at WALMART
I asked Eddie in person to see what he could do about getting the School Director back to the election of the people. Please if you agree tell Eddie.
riddler..
Please do yourself a favor and see a psychiatrist. You again try to project onto me your insecurities and mental issues. The hatred you obviously hold toward certain people whom your hero has told you to dislike is driving you out of what little mind you have. The irony lies with the fact that you are the nut case you accuse me of being. Again, hilarious.
Finally, where I got my degree is none of your business.
That which squiggles
uncontrollably giggles
found her degree
under a tree
With no real degree
or fancy pedigree
Dumbo scowls sad
upon her lilly pad
riddler..
You must have a sad and boring life. I say that for two reasons. First, you seem to have a lot of time for getting on this blog and calling people names. Second, you use this blog to sharpen your skills at prose. I must admit that yours is of Robert Frost quality. You continue to make an ass of yourself, and I just have to laugh. Kepp up the "good" work; you are so amusing.
The page here needs to edited by someone to remove Kendrick's name as contributor.
A life filled with wonderful people of all walks of life is never sad or boring & there really is no time left over for hate.
God loves his children. They are his pearl, in our care, with trust that we will bring them up somewhere close to right.
As is said in the Bible - don't cast pearls before swine. As citizens of this country who are paying for an education system that is supposed to answer to our demands, the mandate is simple - remove the swine from the midst of our pearls. If we are to manage, it's get rid of lust, deception, and so forth. Really quite an easy & delightful tast to remove the bad by doing some good. Got to properly identify that which must go, which has been done by many good folks over a long period of time on this blog. He who lies is a liar, he who engages in fraud is a fraud, and so forth. For those who have difficulty with the message - toss the black cat with a white stipe down his back out & let the one who meows in --- & the eyes will stop burning & the stench will go away.
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This Blog is about the meeting not how stupid you are! All I know is $160,000 is a drop in the bucket compared to the amount of money I will be awarded after I sue the county for falling after my high heel falls down in that grate at the bottom of the steps entering into the assesors office! You can take that to the bank. High heel wearing broad!
anonymous 3:32
Wow! Your post started off so good and positive and then it sadly dropped over into the negative. Dang, that's disappointing. And you didn't even use the word "corruption".
1111 four aces? must be a joker.
Obviously your eyes are still burning & you missed the message. Toss out the black cat with a stripe, not the black cat that purrs. Guess the "positive" in a sentsation is in the eyes & nose of the beholder
Typical negativity.
10:36 Your post will probably help the county if you do fall. It will appear to be staged.
It could also be a notification to the county that they have a problem there and if they dont fix it then they knowingly let a problem go without fixing it. Let a business knowingly be neglegent in not fixing a problem and someone get hurt!
Put a sign up that says DANGER OF BROKEN BONES, DEATH, & GREAT BODILY HARM - no women or perverts wearing high heel shoes. Clod hoppers only!
Just one little point...doesn't Bluegill's wife work at a job too??
Reckon she & him could possibly pay for the things they want to buy for themselves?? and it would be ole Aunt Nunya???
Anonymous..
You are right. It's none of your business or mine what Mr. McGill and his wife choose to do with their own money. Nevertheless, I'd not be surprised to see an investigation started to find out followed by an "exclusive" report on this blog.
Once again we have been plain old fashioned lied to about the Hunter Smith building.
It seems Mrs Vanzant convinced Terry Harwell that the city was interested in the Hunter Smith building in another effort to delay its disposal. If Mr Harwell were more involved with what's going on in commission committee meetings perhaps it would not have been so easy to be misled. I believe Terry has the best interest of the county at heart but when you aren't actively involved you just don't have enough information to act appropriately and when you rely on someone who is unreliable you put yourself in an even deeper hole.
I just cannot believe that Terry Harwell would have listened to Mrs. Vanzant on this. I didn't think they talked that much.
Oh I get it; , wab should be be the commissioner instead of Terry Harwell? No, I don't think so. Terry is a good man. I've never heard of him running around town calling people idiots and liars. More importantly, Terry had the votes to be elected. Sorry.
What do you think about the situation anonymous not the personalities involved. We all understand that you dislike anything WAB puts on here whether its right or not. It is a well established fact that the city has no interest in the Hunter Smith Bldg.
Poor 502 - all eaten up with envy & jelousy. Can't measure up to WAB. Bought some elevator shoes, but still just not "tall" enough. All that success & none for you. People looking to WAB for advice & they don't even notice you exist.
11:00 and 22:00 (probably the same person)
You are nuts (describing behavior) if you think I want to be anything like the exalted one. Envy and jealousy? Over what? No, I'm afraid you are once again terribly wrong about me.....and your hero.
Just by your comment that he is the exalted one shows a great deal of envy. No one could spend so much time and energy talking about how much they dislike someone without actually secretly admiring that person. Now before you criticize me as practicing psychology 101 this was something I learned in my third year.
849 You must gain control. You might sneak in his church on Sunday & actually learn something worthwhile. It's OK to wear a trenchcoat, hat, and sunglasses, but you might attract attention if you don't take off the hat when services start.
Whatever you do, don'e wear a ski mask & headscarf, the Pulaski SQUAT team might mistake you for a terrorist & blow up the church to protect the citizens of Pulaski.
Just chill out & everything will be better. We love you even though we suspect you are the missing genetic link between man and ape. Beating your chest followed by uncontrolled laughter for no apparent reason....
anonymous..
Didn't you understand that I was being facetious when I referred to YOUR exalted one....not mine?
You did not say your exalted one, you said the exalted one, and you are always being facetious or laughing.
Well, Jan 28 1:37 looks like Jan 29 9:33 has proven that you aren't just dumb as many have thought, but you are a liar as well. Just laughing here.
anonymous..
Ok, you guys always have the last word. Think what you will, but I think we both know what I said.
What is the matter? Do you not know how to go back and read what you typed in. It is on here in black and white.
The "exalted one" can say anything he wants to about people on this blog and then you defend him when someone like me points that out. And I am not being facetious about that. No, I'm describing your behavior again!
No one was defending him, they were talking about your lying and and acting so stupid. If you have an opinion about a topic, please have your say. Otherwise you should refrain from making your stupid remarks.
As long as they keep calling people names, I will point that out. OK?
1018 you're too stupid to describe with words. You were obviously not raised by wolves. HOw about a frog - ribbit ribbit ribbit
sittin on log a waitin for someone to gig ya
Boy I can tell all of you are from the Pulaski area! This blog was supposed to be about Property Committee Meeting Held 12 Jan. 2009. LOL! I just laugh at how you are acting! All of you Anonymous, Wab and all! Did you guys also go to school here or did you transplant!
Most of the ones who know best how we should live and what we should think are in fact transplants.
8:30
With your mentality and attitude is it any wonder?
Open your mind and listen to other people's opinions. Regardless of who they are or where they were raised. It would be a good lesson for Giles folks to wise up and listen for a change. There is life outside of Giles County. Perhaps, those transplanted are enlightened in some areas that would be beneficial to our county. This county could progress and do things better if our elected officials would give it a chance. We are living in the dark ages in this county. Just as soon as someone has an idea to better things around here they are diagnosed as troublemakers and then the thought they must not be from around here crosses their mind next. Please open your eyes and minds and give other people's suggestions some thought. Everyone is sooooo scared of change. Change is what our new president ran his campaign on. Seemed to be a popular idea, he got elected,right. Think for a change and don't be so critical. Just some food for thought!
5;24 Right on! Appreciate your post.
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