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
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
posted by Allen Barrett | 11:55 AM
114 Comments:
Why was the June 23rd citizen's meeting cancelled and when will there be another?
there will be a public meeting held on July 14th. the information should be in the paper as well as on the wksr news.
Mr. Barrett,
Looks like you got your answer without having to start trouble. Refer to the 4:18 post.
Public Hearing July 14th, 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. Being held in the evening so no excuse not to be there and raise questions.
#15 how come most of the people that work at PES are furnished a car or truck to drive? #16 i have been told that mr.holcomb does not even live in giles co.he lives in nashville because our schools are not good enough for his children
Holcomb lives at Minor Hill. Thought that was in Giles County.
Have you bothered to get a copy of PES' Annual Report before you start sniping ? Or are you just shooting from the hip ? Answers to questions 1 thru 6 are probably answered in that audited report . Suggest a little light reading -under your electric light (brought to you by who ..? )
PES is a PUBLIC UTILITY so by law all of its information has to be available to the PUBLIC .
You , the PUBLIC , can walk in their front door and ask to be shown just about anything you want to see for free . If you want copies they can charge you a reasonable fee for the copies .
Instead of ranting and raving do yourself and us a favor by doing what your attorney would describe as 'due diligence' and simply ASK .
When you've done that then plan to be at that public meeting with the ability to ask intelligent questions rather than just rattling on.
PES needs $$ to run their business -or would you rather have your airconditioner unable to get juice in a few years time as the Globe warms up ? BUT there are things to wonder about -like how many paying customers does that fancy-schmancy Internet system have for the $8.5 million that the PUBLIC has invested in it? They DO have a tendency to 'gild the lily' -or is it 'polish the resume`?'
Colodny
Sure wish that internet came out my way. I would be a paying customer.
Trust me you are already paying without getting the service. Where do you think the money came from to install the fiber optic lines and the swanky new building to support all the high tech crap? Everyone!
I feel there is wastfull spending. I have seen with my own eyes a PES owned vehicle at a mall in huntsville on a saturday and the PES employee shopping.
Why did PES have to buy all new trucks at the same time? Holcomb must think we have money trees growing in our yards.
People think this only affects the people living in the city. It affects EVERY PERSON who gets any services from Pulaski Electric system!!!!!!!!!! Anybody heard about the charge on your bill even if you don't use one penny of power? Yeah on cars. They are everywhere. I hear they can drive them anywhere they want as long as they put gas in for their personal use. But who is paying the insurance. Who pays if there is a wreck. But who is making the car payments and paying maintenance. But who else gets a vehicle where they work.
Not me! I don't even get a cost of living pay raise!
Dear Colodny
Have you seen the Annual Report that you point everyone else to? If so, you should be sitting on the front row at the public meeting!!!!!
We citizens may need to run off Tee Jackson but we certainly don't need to run off the top management of PES. If you will do some basic homework Mr. Barrett, you'll see that PES is run quite efficiently in terms of human and financial capital. We'd be well served to have the same caliber of people on our county commission and school board.
Prior to Mr. Holcomb's arrival, PES was a bloated inefficient bureaucracy. With his leadership he has removed the non performers and replaced them with talent that any top organization would be fortunate to employ. I have worked in both for profit and non-profit industry, and I am basing my comments on my 30 years as a professional.
Mr. Barrett, other than your self proclaimed title as 'Righter of all Perceived Wrongs', what are your qualifications to accurately assess how well PES is managed?
11:04
You will be accused of attacking a private citizen! Laughing here.
Hello PES employee of 11:04. It has to be you because you are the only one who would think it was "bloated" before Ron. Are you one of the top paid? Course it could be the mayor or one of his yes men. Charles Higgins ran a system that was efficient, lean and mean. You need to look further than your nose. Could it be that some of those "non performers" were folks that told Ron what he didn't want to hear. Like you are too deep in debt.
LOL @ 11:54 AM. To set the record straight...I never have been and never will be an employee of PES, the city or the county. Perhaps you are one of the former employees?
What do you recommend happen? "Fire the whole lot of 'em"? Yeah, that's progress. I'll put PES up against any of the utility service providers in this state. Pulaski should be proud of what they've been able to accomplish these last few years.
1:10 PES can't hold a candle to Duck River when it comes to keeping the power running. I'm getting kinda sick and worn out by the number of power outages at our home.
11:04 Please help me with this....What in the H--l IS efficient about spending HALF A MILLION tax $$ on a 'plan' the city council HAS NOT APPROVED YET??!! Now I am NOT a 'big educated manangement executive' NOT 'qualified to run PES'. However, I learned a LONG time ago one DOES NOT spend OTHER PEOPLE'S $$ BEFORE IT IS APPROVED!! Unless of course you are Obama, Ploise, Reed or some of 'gang' that is RUINING AMERICA!!!!! Or maybe Jackson or Speer......... Oh, I am basing my opinion on 32 years of professional experience and 6 years in college.
11:04 IF it weren't for concerned citizens LIKE WAB, Giles County would be racing to ruin like 'H--l in a Handbag'. Sean Hannity is America's 'WAB' and I FOR ONE AM GRATEFUL SOME FOLKS ARE STANDING UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT AND DEMORACY!!
Wonder if YOU are going to fly the American Flag over the 4th and really search your heart as to the meaning of the day and the colors on the flag?......
3:46 You can be sure I'll be flying the flag to celebrate the 4th as several of my family members have given their blood in order that you have the freedom to vent your anger on this blog.
I'm sure we agree on at least three things...I'm not a fan of Obama, Pelosi or Reed.
Now go take your anger management pill before you bust an artery.
Little touchy there aren't you 11:04. In my experience I have found that the vast majority of the time, the people who spout off the most extreme, yet authentic "sounding" statistics are basically covering the fact that they have no iron clad facts to reveal. How's the saying go: "90% of the time, 50% of the people are involved in 75% of the corruption." I paraphrased of course and used my own #'s, but the point is, you can basically make statistics say whatever you want them to say, IF, (that's important here), IF statistics is all that you are using. Watch while I prove it with my next question...When EXACTLY did Mr Barrett claim to be "the righter of all perceived wrongs"? I've been reading this blog a while and I have never heard him claim that.
Are you like 90% of the people who dislike a topic only because WAB comments on it 25% of the time or the other 10% of citizens who don't like him but are far too busy and important 50% of the time to find the post where Mr Barrett made such a claim?
I am 100% sure that you cannot or will not reveal that post to anyone here.
Carolyn
4:46 My family has "shed their blood" so YOU can state unproven 'information' on this blog! I come from a LONG line of family in the military. My step-father was a Marine who earned the Bronze Star. "Bust an artery"? Thanks for your compassion; the same you give the people of Giles County who MUST use PES electricity?? I AM NOT angry. I AM expressing my STRONG feelings. Get a grip!!
Not to be a fan of the 'three stooges' (Obama, Plosi & Reid) YOU sure seem to promote 'socialistic' behaviors or at least defend them.....think about it.
All I know is several months ago I saw a drastic increase in my electric bill-when TVA raised the rates-I saw no decrease when they later lowered them and I am sure with the new rate decrease from TVA I still will not see a decrease in rates.
I live in the county and my lights go on and off all the time. I am forever having to reset my clocks.
6/30 11:04 is most like board member or attorney hoover since they use words non performer. Know so much about former employees. They seem to think talented management team would be wanted other places in a heartbeat. Not IF they make the salaries I am hearing they make. Please. Will somebody take them off our hands. Then our rates might go down.
Fire the whole lot 'em! That always makes things better.
carolyn
You are the one who is spouting off. And I always heard that the bitten dog is the one who barks loudest.
To the 30 June 11:04AM poster.
While I never claimed to be the "Righter of all Perceived Wrongs"
it's never really taken a genius to know when some things are wrong. I was taught that most all people of moral character and a sense of responsibility seek to correct those things they perceive to be wrong.
You ask, "what are your qualifications to accurately assess how well PES is managed?"
Well, again I haven't claimed to be qualified to run PES but simply because I'm not qualified to drive at the Talladega Superspeed Way doesn't mean I can't drive a car.
Here's part of the problem for me.
1) The way PES went about tearing down a building that was not clearly theirs at the time of demolition.
2) Having Mr Holcomb be less than truthful about the amount of debt PES is currently carrying.
3) Having Mr. Holcomb be less than truthful in what the impact would be on rate payers if energy usage was reduced by the ten percent he claimed the "smart meters" would provide.
4) Having Mr. Holcomb spend half a million dollars of rate payers money without proper approval.
5) Having Mr. Holcomb, as has been reported, making a salary higher than the governor of the state.
6) Having Mr. Holcomb use bully tactics in trying to get a seven million dollar loan for a pet project.
7) Increasing the debt load for an unnecessary pet project during a sever economic downturn.
8) Having the Power Board appointed by one person and thus becoming a rubber stamp for that person with no direct accountability to the rate payers.
9) Having employees use PES vehicles for personal use at rate payer expense.
10) Having PES management show such little concern for the economic stress many rate payers are under at this time.
These are a few of the things I, though unqualified to run PES, as a rate payer and citizen have some concerns about. What is surprising is that you seem to have such little concern for the effects this monopoly has on your finances and those of your fellow citizens.
Allen Barrett
June 30, ll:04 I thought that you weren't going to be commenting on the blog anymore. Got ya!
Excuse me. It was 11:o6 instead of 11:o4.
To 11:04 and/or 8:58-You could be right-I don't like being "bitten" by having my hard earned tax dollars or utility dollars squandered and I most certainly think that all concerned, mature, intelligent, informed, caring, responsible, and morally upright citizens if when seeing a wrong, should bring it to light. Any person who possesses at least ONE of the above characteristics would have no problem revealing a waste of public monies. Now having acknowledged that I am a "bitten dog" and thus not arguing with you, I cannot help but notice that you also "barked" out many statistics and made a blatantly false statement regarding Mr Barrett's claim of being the "righter of all perceived wrongs."
Do you care to admit your statements were less than truthful, produce the location where Mr Barrett made such a claim, or prove that my perception of you is right on target with my last statement that you cannot or will not produce proof of your claim. I guess it boils down to this:did you knowingly lie about a person and commit libel on here or did you make a mistake by your accusation? Seems pretty black or white here, but again I will make a prediction. You will spout off that you will not "stoop" to "our" level by continuing this discussion, which simply means you are a liar. You already "stooped" when you made the accusation and refuse to provide proof. All of the character traits listed above seem to be the antithesis of your character make-up. I would personally have no problem believing your accusation if you would kindly provide proof, but the ugly accusations without it is what you supposedly despise about Mr Barret and his posts; either that or you do not want corruption exposed.
Your serve:
The coming economic disaster fostered by the implementation of the federal government “nanny state", will wash over us like the Red Sea over Pharaoh’s men. PES, the School Board and who cuts the grass at the Post Office will all be nothing more than a simple sweet memory of the good ole days.
WAb
What is Holcomb's salary and the salary of the Gov. of the State?
Has Mr. Barrett added yet more enemies, Mr Holcombe and PES staff? Yeppers.
I'm sure WAB is all broken up about it. Not. You on the other hand probably don't have the backbone to come forward with info if you had any that is or question wrongdoing because you are probably easily intimidated. Well, good thing WAB is not like that. Go along now,go back and stick your head in the sand 3:47.
You are funny.
Wab doesn't care who he makes an enemy of but maybe he will next time he tries to run for an office. He might come in last in a four man race next time instead of third.
If he came in third he should be in office now. Assume you are talking about the commissioner race.
Colodny,(Saturday, June 27, 2009 7:50:00 AM)
Please tell me you voiced your same concerns and rants to the editor of the Pulaski Citizen or did you see WAB's name and just immediately feel the rage and anger and have to lash out at him.? He did just merely post what was written in the local hometown newspaper. Are they not instigators and trouble makers for reporting the same news as WAB?
You are truly a dumb butt 7:32 just like another poster said if he came in 3rd he would be in office now. Aren't you the smart one..haha. WAB did post the same thing as the paper. So do you want to crucify the local paper too. Dang, do you work for PES?
I am soooo sorry. What was I thinking? Silly me! How could I forget that it is okay to crucify WAB and not any one else. I am so sorry for wasting everyone's time with that sensesless post. So sorry!
Wab came in third in a four man race in his district. That told me a lot about what people think. I guess you would say the electorate in his district are not too smart? After all, they obviously didn't want him. Regardless of the position, the POINT is that he lost, thank God.
In reference to negative writers - I have Pulaski Energize - Phone, Cable & Internet - best thing that's happened around here in many years- excellent service & knowledgeable employees & when you need help with a problem, they are there!
Merlin
Google search says gov of TN makes $155,000. Also says that Phil does not take the pay.
Merlin You SHOULD be HAPPY with your PES services; YOU ARE PAYING TOP $$.....so are we country folks who can't get the service!
Why when WAB wrote what was in the paper some of you get so upset at WAB?
Did you not read the paper?
If you can't forgive anyone or if you hold a grudge against someone, can you get to Heaven?
To Thursday, July 02, 2009 8:15:00 AM-- I am happy and will be happier when it is expanded to reach all Giles County citizens. Merlin
to 6:28
I thought WAB ran for a commissioner seat? If 3 seats in each district up for grabs and WAB came in third in a four man race, wouldnt he be in office? What am I missing here? Surely that would have put him in 4th place.
To:Thursday, July 02, 2009 8:15:00 AM
I'm paying top dollar for phone, cable, tv and fiber optic internet service? You have got to be kidding or just don't know. I've had nearly all of them , in one combo or another with other companies. As far as my telephone, TV and the fiber optic internet service package goes , it absolutely beats anything I've had - by a country mile! Their reliability AND ESPECIALLY their speed and ability to answer questions and to correct what has been any problem, is the best. Merlin
He did run for a commissioner seat, and I am not sure how many were running or what. Regardless he did not win. Maybe he came in last.
What is so hard to understand people? There are 3 commissioner seats in each district. If WAB came in 3rd he would be in office. The moron who keeps saying he came in third is wrong. He came in 4th. If he came in 3rd he would be in office. Can you people comprehend that or shall I get out the crayolas and draw a picture for you??
What is the famous quote "It is better to try and fail than to succeed at doing nothing". That just might apply here. It seems that the only thing you succeed at is criticizing the messenger. At least AB offered himself up for service. At least he cares about what is going on. At least he provides info he actually hears at the meetings he attends and passes it on so that those who don't care to go or can't go can know what is being said that affects us all. Sure let's hang the man because he ran for office. Better yet let's hang you for not running yourself so we can talk about what place you would come in. Sign me Tired of Your Dribble.
Offered himself for service? You sound like he was about to be crucified. If I said his motives were born more out of egotism than wanting to serve, I would be judging, si I'll not go there.
Still, what is so hard for you to understand about the fact that, regardless, he lost?
This topic is about Pulaski Electric. Its an important concern to EVERYBODY in Giles Co. Stay on track please.
She is the same one that tries to throw everyone off track that said she was not going to get on this blog anymore. Wish she would do what she says for one time, but she is known for this. Also bet she will come on here next and say she is a man.
Such angry and unhappy people here. Gracious!
I would ride a bicycle to work before I would give up my electricity. Greatest invention every made. I would give up a whole lot to pay my electric bill. It sure is nice not to have to wash my clothes on a wash board or go outside to the john in the middle of the night.
Just something for everybody to think about.
654 Good news for you Obamalites - oil up the gears in your bike - things are changing. You won't have to worry about washing clothes or an indoor tiolet. There won't be any water. After a few weeks, you won't know the difference cause everyone will smell the same & every place you go will smell the same. Won't have to worry about which bathroom is closest - no toilet paper to worry about - just do it wherever , under the rug if it floats your boat.
nothing to worry about anymore - everything's the same
Maybe some folks can't hang it out the window & let'er fly. Some windows ain't wide nuff.
How'd they get in the bedroom? Tore the wall out!
TO: Thursday, July 02, 2009 9:30:00 PM ---?????What the H(eck) has your post got to do with PES ???? Have trouble reading? You certainly don't seem to have trouble running that mouth - in print of course.
Each blog post follows the same script.
1) WAB posts the latest and greatest issue facing all of mankind...at least in Giles County anyway.
2) A few agree and point out how brave he is to post the latest threat to civilization as we know it.
3) A few disagree.
4) Those who agree inform those who disagree the stupidity of their beliefs.
5) Those who disagree point out to those who agree the stupidity of their beliefs.
6) Blog degenerates into the proverbial name calling, etc.
7) End of the thread.
11:43
Excellent post that hits the proverbial nail on the head, even though you will probably be accused of attacking a private citizen. What a laugh.
Again, great post!
Amen!!!!
great post , Friday, July 03, 2009 11:43:00 AM!
1143, 203, 836, 1158 Looks like a meal schedule, or is it pottycall? Keep up the good work, we're sure you'll convince yourself that someone loves yourself as much as you do. Self esteem is important, especially when there is no measureable steam.
Let me repeat...
5) Those who disagree point out to those who agree the stupidity of their beliefs.
6) Blog degenerates into the proverbial name calling, etc.
7) End of the thread.
I rest my case.
Those who post their always right perceptions of issues or opinions let those who disagree with them know how stupid and ignorant they are. Is that what you mean? That's how it appears to me.
Just got to have the last word don't you?
Well go ahead and post one more time so you can feel infinitely superior. I can just hear you now..."there, that proves I'm right. Why? Because I had the final say so."
Go on, I dare you.
I thought WAB had a seperate thread.
In the election there was Campbell, Harwell, Faulkner and Barrett.
Harwell ain't been to committe meetings in three years, even one he chairs ain't been held. Faulkner sold his commission seat to the First National Bank and don't attend committee meets. Campbell worked hard for Speer tax increase and wasted money at ball field never been able to say no to tax increase or spending.
So Barrett lost, seems like the big loser was the county.
2:19
You aren't serious surely.
I'm as serious as can be 6:04
Thank God he lost! I'm quite serious about that.
Do any of you losers not have anything better to do than complain about WAB? I mean really??? That is always the direction every thread takes and I'm quite tired of it. How could those of you who apparently detest the man give him so much power as to constantly dedicate each thread to him. It is as if you have nothing to talk about in this county. If he is always going to be the topic of each thread it leaves me to believe that each of you "WAB complainers" really are out of touch and clueless. Give us all a brake and make at least a slight effort to make your comments substantive. You truly show your ignorance by posting redundant comments regarding "WAB" when there is specifically a thread to complain about him. You all sound like a bunch of elementary children who can't follow rules. How is anyone supposed to take anything you say seriously if "WAB" is always forefront on your mind? Just give is all a break for a change. Why don't you all focus on the real issues facing our county instead of using "WAB" as a distraction for facing reality?
You guys are the ones who apparently refuse to face the reality of his behavior.
8:00 Yea, like the Democrats and some Republicans turned a 'blind' eye and 'deaf' ear to Obama.......
I believe WAB is doing a service for all who seek the truth and care about making GC a better place to live.
Ruby doesn't know as much as she would lead us to believe. Her post is filled with errors.
July 6,8:00am what do you mean you guys? You always discount what someone says based on who says it? Come on now, grow up. Seems shallow of you to me. Actually, ignorant is probably a better description. It is silly to not weigh what one says based on the information they deliver. Seek the truth and find out if what WAB is true or not before you make your judgments. You do a disservice to all when you do that. People do pay attention to what is being said on this blog and people follow other person's leads. If you condemn WAB and his information before you do your research to find out if there is any validity you look foolish and mislead others. You should really think about that before you spout off.
9:16
I meant you guys the same way you mean you losers.
Oh yeah, wab is truly making Giles County a better place to live.
On this thread WAB posted what was in the paper.
Then others make comments.
Strange to me why you jump on him because of posting what was in the paper. That only makes you look bad.
Like someone that don't like WAB and wants to talk bad about him any chance you get. Like children, haven't you grown up.
The paper said the electric company already owed 19 MILLION. They want over 7 MORE. Everyone should be at the public meeting. City property owners may have property taxes raised. People out in county who get electricity from local electric company are involved too. This debt is on the backs of the property owners of the city AND the people out in county who get their electric power from PES. I have my questions ready and hope you do too.
10:09 what is your contribution to your community? Your mere existence must be your thinking. Well, let me bow before you. NOT. Get off the negative way of thinking towards WAB and start to seriously consider if he may be right. If he his of which his information came directly from our paper, you stand to lose as we all do. And imagine you shun the truth just because of who showed you the light. You are a real dummy! You going to criticize Scott Stewart too? If so, you really need to seek counseling somewhere because you are just flat in denial. I feel sorry for dingbats like you. Your stubbornness won't even allow you to entertain any possibilities. I would certainly hate to know I had to rely on you for direction or leadership in anyway. If you have a family they must be real proud that you choose to be ignorant in spite of it all. Sad indeed. You probably couldn't find your way out of a wet paper sack.
12:50
You guys typically resort to name-calling when you have no other argument. Go back and read my simple post again about you guys as opposed to you losers and see if you can see any hypocrisy in what you just said.
Callie here....8:52am Good golly child, you say "Ruby doesn't know as much as she would lead us to believe. Her post is filled with errors." Sir/ma'am down home we call this an 'empty pole cat' post! You have shook me to my core and straightened my delicate curls. Land sakes, child, p-l-e-a-s-e think before you go and post, honey child. (Some might think you are dim witted or a little touched.) Precious baby, you have made an outlandish statement and backed it up with pure hot air. In other words, my dear child, no facts. Dear baby, do you feel like you have 'mud' on your little ole face?
It hurts doesn't it 6:08? The truth that is. Where on earth do you get you guys? What guys? Who? Please do enlighten me as only you can. On second thought, that is impossible. I have had more intelligent conversations with elementary children. I will cut you some slack though. Just don't keep making a habit out of being ignorant on this blog. You will be rooted out and you won't win. Those of us tired of the crap going in our county are weary of your type trying to mask the problem. When you can form a cognitive sentence then maybe you will be engaged in further dialogue. Until then...your kind is like a fly...I just swat,squash you and move on.
I got "you guys" from the same place your guys get terms such as "you losers".
The truth hurts? Mask the problem? What on earth are you guys talking about. Rooted out? Not on your life. The Lord willing, I'm here to stay.
Those of us are sick and tired of a small group of complainers always keeping something stirred up. And when we challenge you about what you are doing, you accuse us of trying to hide something. How paranoid is that?
You are just plain ignorant. I never said anything about losers. Again, where did you get that?? Again, you have me confused with someone else.
You got it..the truth does hurt. You can't handle the truth obviously. You don't have a clue and if you had any idea you would certainly head for the hills with your tail tucked between your legs from the embarrassment of your comments . Stay tuned and see what happens in our county in the coming days and months. But, then again you like to deny the truth so, it is doubtful you are capable of recognizing it. Root you out was not a term meant as you perceived, to move you out of the county. Where is your mind?? Paranoid? Hardly, I base my opinions on the cold hard facts and the research and knowledge I gather from being involved. Something you wish you clearly do not do. How active are you in our community?? Go to any meetings? School, county or otherwise?? That is what I thought. You don't. You are shooting from the hip. Blind when you speak. You can't speak with knowledge on issues facing our county or you would feel as I do and many, many other citizens do. Or, the alternative which is deny anything is wrong because you are wrapped up in the cover ups and wrong doing. Yep, I said it wrong doing. Lots of it going on..but you don't believe that do you??? If you are sick and tired of those complaining you are sick of a lot of the citizens of this county. That is a pretty harsh thing to say. It takes all of our tax dollars to fund this county and you have NO IDEA how that money is being spent. Or do you??? What do you stand to benefit from denying the truth?? Any reasonable person would question the decisions that are being made that are hurting our county. I feel sorry for you that you don't know the difference in being a "complainer" and being a concerned citizen. Do you mean to tell me that you would be willing to turn your personal finances over to our county government to spend at will unquestioned??? My guess is no. So, why??? Two options. Either you are totally ignorant to how this county operates and your duty as a citizen to be informed on how your tax dollars are spent or you are aware of what is going on and stand to benefit from it. If you call me paranoid and a complainer, then what do you call some of the county officials questioning things? I will be waiting your answer. Although, I am sure it will be drivel about being paranoid, a loser, a complainer and troublemaker and when all else fails and no more excuses you will throw the ole WAB crap into it. You are about to see your property taxes skyrocket and you don't have any idea. Out of touch and out of your mind. Since you don't seem to mind that novel idea, I suggest you pay mine.
I said from the same place that "your guys" got you losers. Read my post again. I never said that YOU said it. What makes you think you are so important that everything centers around YOU?
I think you have watched one too many Tom Cruise movies. That's obviously where you got the idea of saying I can't handle the truth. Horsehockey!
Where did you ignorantly get it that I would favor turning my personal finances over to government. We will have plenty enough of that with the obama administration. I would agree with you that it ISA my duty to stay informed about how tax monies are spent, but it is NOT my role to attack, accuse, call names, and the like just ebcause I may not agree with those expenditures. And everyone is not a crook just ebcause things don't go YOUR way! So why can't you guys give it a rest? Oh, and there's that word drivel agaion. It's drivel because it's not in agreement with your lofty thoughts. Again, horsehockey!
Thanks for your brilliant suggestion that I pay your taxes. No thanks. I care about my fellow man, but it's all I can do to pay my own, thanks to all the corruption here.
Callie here....Children, children! Oh, me...such angry words. Folks do you all know there is a little ole Board of Education meeting Thursday at 5:00pm. A dear friend just happen to give me a copy of a little ole letter from the State of TN that jus might interest ya'all. The following information is from our 'cousin', Laura Nichols, in Nashville. I here tell 'cousin' Laura is incharge of the Leaps and Bounds money at the little ole State level:
(The following is a little ole hand written note from 'cousin' Laura:
"I have added up the numbers of staff to be paid out of the salaries allocation and breakdown of those funds. As you will see, the maximum salary the coordinator (director - Sherry Polly) could earn from this grant is $45,850.
I hope this information helps to answer some of your questions.
Laura"
The following is a little ole budget breakdown 'cousin' Laura enclosed with her personal note:
Leaps and Bounds
Budget 2008-2009
$162,000
Salaries $107,400
Director $45,850
-Ed.S with 13 years experience & Career Ladder 1
-Annual Base Pay according to Giles County Pay Scale as 12 month employee
-40 additional days above contract days
Building Coordinator/Public Relations
-Annual supplement for extended work days $15,000
Certified Teachers
-Five Certified Teachers working 60 days @ $20/day $6,000
-Five Certified Teachers working 40 days @ $40/day $8,000
-Three Certified Teachers working 60 days @ $15/day $27,000
-2:45-3:30 Homeowrk/Tutoring (3-8 kids per group)
-One Certified Teacher working 10 days @ $160/day $1,600
-Field Trip Days (Pd hourly but average trip day is 8 hours)
Paraprofessional (Employees of G.C.B.E.) (Giles County Board of Education)
-One custodian working 80 days @ $25/day $2,000
-One secretary working 80 days @ $25/day $2,000
-One bus driver working 25 days @ $80/day $2,000
-Two bus drivers stipened for daily route for $1,000 $2,000
Paraprofessionals
-Three parttime working 100 days @ $22.50/day $6,750
-Five part time working 100 days @ $21/day $10,500
-60 Certified Sub days $3,000
TOTAL STAFF = 29
I am sure 'cousin' Laura would jus love to hear from you all. Jus give her a little ring at 615-741-3248 when you get done shellin' those peas.
Yeah, yeah more of the same ole same ole from you. Do you go back and read your post before you submit? You don't make any sense.
I don't think I am anymore important than the next person. However, I have some insight on things going on in this county that apparently you and others do not. Not saying that no one knows and not saying there is some great conspiracy and not saying I know it all. But, for crying out loud listen to yourself condemn those questioning things. How do you suggest questions be posed to our county officials? How is it they can be questioned that won't hurt your feelings or offend you?
The issue with taxes that I bring up is you blindly want to cast the issues aside and begin with the personal attacks with towards posters on here when someone submits an opinion. We the ones questioning things who have knowledge of what is going on get attacked by the likes of you for trying to inform others who can't make meetings or be involved as much as they would like of what is taking place. Getting involved and I don't mean sitting here reading this blog, drinking coffee with the local hangerouters and buddies in social circles being your only resources for information. There was a meeting this morning pertaining to our money and the possibility of a property tax increase because we have people in government that don't exhaust all possibilities or even the intellect to find solutions or see danger signs.
As far as attacking those in government, it is your duty as a citizen and tax payer of this county to hold accountable those in elected positions especially when you have knowledge of wrongdoing and frivolous waste of our tax dollars. What are you thinking? So, you just sit there and say oh darn another property tax increase...hmmm my oh my guess I will just pay it no questions asked? That is called being brain dead my friend. If you think you don't have the right to criticize and question the accountability of those representing us in county government and making all the decisions of how money is spent that really scares me. Please don't ever run for political office. We don't need people of your intellect making the hard decisions we need to progress as a county not stay the same or go backwards.
And, what do you mean, "things don't go my way"? Is it your way to sit back and let all the government bureaucracy and red tape keep us from being in the know?? You really don't know what your rights are do you?? You are a pushover if you allow it,not question it and just take it for face value. I understand there are a lot of people not savvy when it comes to government spending and how government works but, does that mean you put your head in a hole and say "I guess they know what they are doing"?
10:54
You just can't help your arrogance, can you? You accuse me of slothfulness, ambivalence, and even the enabling of corruption. But that's not true. And while you may have "insights", why do you talk down to me as if I don't? Can you see any arrogance in that?
Once again, I must make the point that I am not condemning thos who question government. However, I DO question the method.
People of my intellect? That too is a very arrogant statement on your part. I have no desire to run for an office, because I'd have to put up with people like you were I elected. I call that pretty savvy. Lastly, I think your idea and mine about "getting involved" are polar opposites.
1203 you are a true idiot. Do you think your dribble is going to placate the bees while you steal their honey?
12:03 I think that you are in office and are just trying to keep everyone from knowing what is really going on in the county. You think if you blow smoke enough that everyone will not be able to figure out what is really happening.
12:03 What method of questioning government would be an acceptable alternative to whatever it is you object to. Care to step up to the plate and lay out a better plan, one that you would be proud to put your name on?
Carolyn
9:48
Sure, I'm an idiot because I don't see eye-to-eye with YOU. Thanks for the nasty name. You are a true legend in your own mind.
Do you like dribble better than drivel?
Let's get back on track kiddos. WAB how about setting up a topic where folks employed by board of education can slug it out and not take over these other topics.
Back to this thread. Anyone read today's paper yet? Sounds like Mr. Holcomb makes over $170,000 per year. Said next in command makes whopping salary too. Looked like Mr. Holcomb had all his answers ready for Mr. Stewart. Mr. Lake wrote some eye opening stuff! Everybody that gets utility from the local electric system should be at the public meeting. City leaders did set it at night so working folks can attend. Let's be there next tuesday.
You People are all idiots. This thread is supposed to be about PES. Quit cutting each other down and stay on topic. The Problems at the Light Department are serious and deserve some serious attention.
This may not be the proper forum for what I want to say but, nevertheless, here goes.
I was sent an e-mail from a very reliable source today about a HUGE find of crude oil out in the Dakotas and Montana. This was discovered approximately two years ago and under the Bush administration. It is called the Williston Basin or BAKKAN. It is said that there's enough oil there alone to allow the United States to become totally independent of foreign oil. Astoundingly, it is reported that there's enough oil there to last our country better than two thousand years!
George Bush wanted to start drilling two years ago, but guess who stopped that dead in its tracks. The liberals and environmental kooks who would rather see us at the mercy of foreign oil than to see America become energy independent. Go figure!
Please check this out for yourself. Google it or go to the following link:
http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?
I hope this infuriates you as much as it does me.
No comments about BAKKAN? I'm sure that would be plenty of activity had the post been about slamming some public official. Maybe it wasn't important enough to talk about.
The oil reserves in the Williston Basin have been known about since the fifties at least There are even greater reserves, 2 trillion barrels of oil, beneath parts of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming that have been known of for a hundred years. The problem is basically the same as with the reserves on the North Slope and in the Gulf, getting permission from the environmental fools to develop it. An additional problem is developing the technology to make production profitable. Allen Barrett
I'm not quite sure they knew just how vast those reserves are. And, in light of being held hostage by the Saudis, it looks like something tould be done to override the foolishness of the liberal left. This reserve offers a chance for energy independence, and it baffles me that it's not full speed ahead. President Bush tried, but you know how that goes with democrats, tree huggers, and environmental kooks.
I agree with you 3:21 One of the problems that I see is that the socialist are determined to destroy our economic system and replace it with there socialism and of course that will be enforced for communistic tactics and laws.
Our future as a nation of innovators and achievers is very near its end, we are self destructing at an alarming rate. Our debt has now enslaved us as much as our dependence on foreign oil. Allen Barrett
True, and we have hillary rodham clinton running around all over the place APOLOGIZING for the United States. Of course, obama is doing the same thing right now. What a joke other leaders must think he is. It's embarrassing and, worse yet, dangerous.
And when he gets through fleecing the achievers (aka rich) where will the rest of us be? In dire straits, I fear. I think those obama bumper stickers will start coming off soon.
I never could understand why all the class hatred until I learned where it had roots. Most people who have been paying attention know the class envy and warfare started will william jefferson blyth clinton and his VP egore.
I'm afraid our nation may be headed toward bankruptcy if obam keeps spending money like a drunken sailor.
For heaven's sake people, stay on topic. Wandering from topic is just as damaging as the one(s) who start blasting WAB in an attempt to divert. And now WAB, you are even doing it yourself.
7:24
You don't think talking about energy independence and how this presidnetial administration is spending us into banktruptcy is important? Or would you prefer to talk about how dishonest and corrupt local county officials are? There are bigger fish to fry, you know.
WAB, you must me joking right? Bush did NOTHING to curb our dependency on foreign oil. The Bush family and the Saudi royal family go back a long way, have you ever seen the picture with Bush and King Abdullah. Do you think Bush would take money away from his friends?
I think the point you aren't seeing is that we have enough oil reserves here in our own country to operate on for better than two thousand years. Bush DID try to begin drilling, but guess who stopped that? It was the liberal tree-hugging democrats.
HAHAHA - boy this one went to hell in a hand basket! Keep up the comedy, it's great!
Don't remember Bush bowing & licking the kings hand. The Nigerian president must have gotten the war plans mixed up when told we need to go over there and lick the muslims radicals rear end. Oh my goodness .... surely he didn't .... ????
To the anonymous 10 July 8:40 poster.
I'm sorry but after going back and re-reading my last two post in this thread I fail to understand what your post was about. Other than preventing another attack within this country Bush has little I could praise him about and I consider his last year in office a disastrous prelude to an even faster transfer to socialism.
Allen Barrett
Well, obama's poll numbers are dropping like a rock, and I feel confident that those obama/biden bumper stickers will be seen less and less as time goes on.
When blacks see that he even lied to them about more entitlements, I believe they too will turn on him. But, then again, I have wondered for years how blacks could hang on to the democrat party almost as if it were some sort of umbilical cord.
Liberals play blacks like a fiddle and then laugh at them behind their backs......after they have voted for democrat candidates of course! When will these people wake up and stop supporting the party of the KKK - the party that keeps them in chains of dependency and never asks them to become self-reliant?
Obama is pushing sotomayor (a Latino and a female) to shore up those voter groups. And when he grants amnesty to all the illegals here, just look what a voting base he will have. I hope time proves him wrong.....as he is wrong about a lot of things.
The thing that bothers me the most is the fact that he truly is a socialist and is, whether deliberately or not, taking this great country down a path from which it may never recover. And yet, I go to church with people who praise him almost as "the messsiah". Please note that I did not capitalize messiah, because I was in no way making any reference to Christ.
Thank you for clarifying that point otherwise we would probably by in a major debate about your reference comparing Obana to Jesus Christ.
We sure don't need a big blow about that after the last one.
Very well put 8:41! I totally agree with every word you said!
11:22
Thank you. I truly am amazed at blacks for not seeing how they are being duped for their votes. As I recall, it was the Republican party that set them free. How quickly they ignore that probably because the democrats claim to love them and care about their welfare. Right! And then they throw them an entitlement bone every now and then to keep them hanging on. They need to stop listening to jessies(never had a real job) jackson and al sharpton and hear what allen keyes and other intelligent blacks have to say.
You got it 11:40 and that is why no one can argue your point of view because it is fact based. Anyone doesn't believe it can read a history book to find out or simply google it. Again, great post!
I would be very interested in what blacks think about this issue.
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