When You Do The Same Thing Should You Expect A Different Result?
At the City Council work session planned for today the Mayor intends to nominate Mr. Houston and Mr Bryant to another term on the Power Board. While both these gentlemen are very nice and thoughtful with many admirable abilities the fact is, whether by laxness or being in over their heads, they were a part of the Board that allowed such excesses as were exposed in the recent meetings.
Why should anyone believe that these gentlemen should be given another chance to lead the Power Board when their previous actions or inaction led to so much distrust, expense and lack of proper oversight? Allen Barrett
Why should anyone believe that these gentlemen should be given another chance to lead the Power Board when their previous actions or inaction led to so much distrust, expense and lack of proper oversight? Allen Barrett
posted by Allen Barrett | 9:08 AM
68 Comments:
Because Dan 'sprinkle them with Twinkie dust' Speer says so .
Pure and simple
Squeegee
What is appalling is that the citizens were in favor 10:1 of changing the guard at PES, and the board of mayor and aldermen completely ignored the citizens.
Correction. Five of them ignored the citizens. Two of them did not.
Who were the two?
More importantly who were the five. They are the ones that ought to be run out.
Council members Baddour and Howell voted to not approve the appointments. They both expressed concerns that the appointments should be withheld until after the city and power board could sit down and collectively decide a number of issues.
Members Paysinger, Jenkins, Gentry, Miles and Speer voted without discussion to confirm the appointments.
I did speak with Mr. Gentry after the meeting and was told he had been given a list, by Mr. Bryant. of ten major changes the Power Board would make to insure better
supervision and results at the Electric Company.
While I may have an uneasy feeling about these appointments, because of the character of the individuals appointed I must believe that lessons were learned and the needed corrections in the Power Board will be made, including a much greater awareness of the mayor's actions and a willingness to say no to him. Time will tell and citizens must remain involved. Allen Barrett
Other than excess salary paid to Holcomb and a couple of mistakes on his part, no worse than others that have been made in both city and county government, the public hearings turned into expressing dissatisfaction with Speer and the many conflicting hats he wears and actions he has taken that certainly benefit Speer. Add to that Andy Hooever who is PES attorney, city attorney and LOBBYIST for PES! Nothing will change if we don't get Speer out of office and Hoover's responsibilities reduced. As WAB says, the public MUST continue to stay interested in both the city and county government actions. If we dont, we deserve what we get.
I wish this action came as a surprise. Unfortunately, this is EXACTLY what I expected to see.
It is true we need to continue to be engaged. I pray there is not a letdown, as pressure must continue to be applied until we clean up the mess we have allowed to be created.
I personally think Holcomb's resignation is partially aimed at making him a sacrificial lamb, and others in power hope we will go away and leave them alone. (again)
6:04 Agree. Although Holcomb will be doing ok in his new job.
Dan Speer is the most arrogant, pompous a$$ in Giles County. If we keep pushing on him, there will be inequities in his actions! I look forward to the day he moves on! He has been lousy the last few years as mayor, and I never thought I would think Robert Barnes was good.....until I have seen Dan in action.
But what makes Dan worse is that he has been taking advantage of us!
I wish I knew how much Dan and Terry pocketed for the Sam Davis Park deal. We had a local contractor who was within $8,000 on the project, and who would not have.....right off of the bat....jacked their services up by over $300,000!
Sam Davis was another Milkyway scam - only this one made it through the firewall & the citizens will get nailed in the end - again!
Can we please stay on topic. Your inability to keep on track is precisely why this blog is ineffective...
What and where is Holcomb's new job?
What reason did Holcomb give for resigining?
Holcomb's new job is as Executive Director at Columbia Power. He has moved on. Let's concentrate on the sleazies we are left with in our elected and self-appointed people.
I never get on here to address any of the strange views of any of those posting, but why question Mr. Houston. He is a really good man who just happened to be appointed to this board. If you want to crucify or nail Dan, stick to doing it with Dan and leave Mr. Houston out of it. The commissioners make decisions, but you can't lump all of them into one basket when the group made a decision.
Who do you want appointed this board. Do you think you might be appointed with the terrible attitudes that some of you have with your posts?
I agree with 8:32. Which of you volunteered to serve on the PES board? Is the new man who was appointed as CEO going to meet the qualifications of anyone on here?
I hear that Bridgette Weisser has taken on the task of being the chief negotiator for the GCEA. What are your thoughts on that one?
What money is Tee spending now? Was it appropriated by the commissioners when they met?
What money is Tee spending now? Was it appropriated by the commissioners when they met?
If Speer wants to appoint Mr. Houston to the Power Board, Mr. Houston HAS to be one of Speer's puppets! Get real! No one with a mind of their own or any courage would be appointed to any position by Speer. We are talking about M. Houston, aren't we?
You people jump around from one topic to the other like head lice. No wonder most people don't pay any attention to what you have to say.
Just because Speer or any other head official ask you to be on a committee doesn't make it an offense to serve on that committee or become a "Puppet" of the one appointing. What shallow thinking. I guess you are offended that he didn't ask you 9:11 Huh!
Dan is arrogant. Why? Nobody runs against him and Dan truly believes that he is invincible as a politician. Is he dumb? No way! He is very smart and extremely cagey in that he knows exactly what to do and when. He knows how to bend and twist the system to meet his agenda.
He truly believes that he has done nothing wrong for if what he does meets what he wants, then it is good. The rules apply to the public; but, not to Dan when he so decides. He is above the huddled masses because he believes that he is greater than everyone else. Why NOT! He has been elected to the position of Mayor for 20 years!!!
Until we have a citizen who is willing to be put through the personal harassment that is required to be elected, has the fortitude to stand up against Dan, and the smarts to create a coalition of citizens who have the best interest of others before their personal agenda …. We will be stuck with DAN.
Why does DAN do what he does???? BECAUSE we allow him to do it!!! We are too busy, or self-centered, to stand up for our rights and the well being of all our citizens. It is easier to ignore the mess and complain, than it is to stand up and voice an opinion and back that opinion with positive action.
I thought that with the election of Mr. Baddour some fresh new ideas would come about. After seeing his behavior in a local eatery recently, I'm not so sure that his "fresh new ideas" are what this community needs.
I observed how Mr. Baddour interacted with the employees. I can say with all honesty that he was rude, condescening and generally arrogant.
I've never had any dealings with Mr. Baddour so I don't have an axe to grind with him. All I can report is what I observed that day.
How unfortunate.
There was a very viable candidate(Stanley Newton-ex police chief) that ran against Dan and was ahead in the votes until the early votes were counted and than Dan had a huge lead. People in the county do not get to vote for City Mayor although everything that the City Mayor decides affects them in just about every way, but it doesn't seem the county did a much better job at picking a mayor than the city did!
Then you have attorney Hoover interpreting the laws to suit what Danno wants.
Once on here someone wrote that a former alderman was as useful as a warm bucket of spit. Wrong! Anybody else know which aldermen really fit that description? Really, I wouldn't have thought the mayor could fit four adults in his pocket but he did it somehow. I called some of the aldermen and tried to talk with them about the electric system. Lost cause except for two. Only the voters can empty those pockets for the mayor now.
Just one opinion. I think Holcomb was mislead. Notice I didn't say blameless. I just said mislead. From reading and listening I believe powerful Speer led Holcomb to believe that he could spend and do as he wanted. Led him to believe that it would all be okay. As long as Speer approved everybody else would. Electric system board seemed to have no clue about a LOT LOT LOT of stuff that came out. Rubber stamping at best. So I think Holcomb decided to take the fall. Since it sounds like he already had his eye on moving on to bigger and better things. Was already in the process since wife already moved. Whatttaa think?
I never cease to be amazed at the self proclaimed "intelligent, know-it-all people on these blogs that think they have the inside scoop and that only they are right - while in fact, they are just mealy mouth little whiners. Do you all do heavy drugs before bedtime and wake up thinking your dreams are true? Some accusations that start these blogs may have some merit, but most of you are just tag-alongs , with no ideas , only lies made up , so you might "fit in". Anyone that would believe a 10th of the griping that goes on here, deserves to have you as a friend. Get a life - oh sorry, you have one- following idiots around with your nose placed at their posteriors.
Why would an alderman be opposed to the reappointment of a power board member when that member is used as a reference on a job resume at PES for the spouse of said alderman?
VERY, VERY INTERESTING!!!
I gotta know who is the Alderman? Are we speaking of Harwell, Baddour, Jenkins, etc. Who?
Maybe thet PES board member was just listed as a "personal reference". Makes a difference, ya know. Too, that alderman was doing the right thing by seperating the situations.
Why don't PES go on and hire this individual and make this alderman happy. Maybe, for just a little while!
If you are talking about Mr. Harwell I figure he applied for jobs after the election. Stands to reason.Then went back to former job. What is sinister about applying for jobs.I've never known him to be anything but honest and hard working. Most folks have to work - err, unless they're rich. Seems to me that someone at light company trying to say something underhanded going on. Question on my mind is who saw the application to be putting this information out in public. Gotta be mangement at light company. Maybe that glorious power board. Could be mayor or hoover. Every time I have applied for a job I have listed folks I knew who worked there. Thought that was how it worked. Let me get off that and say what I wanted to tell. I typed two pages of questions for the public hearing. Lived here all my life. Go to church with some of the folks who've been on the hot seat. Hate to see them coming my way now though since I know whats going on.In business. Give lots of money to things in county. Didn't want to be the one to ask the questions. Maybe I am chicken. But some of my income comes from some of these folks. In case you dont know business ain't all that great here. But did want answers. So I took my questions to Mrs. Harwell and asked if she would ask them. I drove out to Jenkins house but never could catch his truck at home. Knew Harwell worked down town and dropped off my questions at her office. Several of the questions she asked were mine. So it's probably my fault that you are starting this junk about her and her husband. I took the time. Went to the meetings and listened. Fact is this ain't about who applied for a job where. This is about ENOUGH. The people have had enough. Certain aldermen seem to need hearing aids. It looks like they didn't get the message. That will have to be fixed next election. I believe it will for sure. Folks I hear talking still like these people. In clubs with them. Church with them. Work with them. But they aint representing us anymore. The light company has got too big for their britches. I wanted to see credit card charges. Was on my list. My eyes were opened. Wide. Fine expensive trips. Bunches of travel. Big tag meals. One day two meals was over FIFTEEN hundred dollars. Talk about good eatin. Expensive hotels on us. Not just employees. Many charges listed for Speer. Hoover. Jerry Bryant. One trip this year over ELEVEN THOUSAND dollars. Know from socializing with some of these folks that they took their wives. Want to travel a lot for free. Get on that power board. Don't blame Speer. I'd appoint myself too for all the perks. Light company has become biggest gift giver in town. On the backs of us who pay our light bills. For sure. They buy flat screen televisions for folks. Give tons to the mayors economic development. Bought him a nice car. Pay for the worlsd cell phones. Thinking about sending them my bill. Big friend to Martin College. But this ain't about who applied where. Or one alderman or two or three. I tried to take my questions to Jenkins. What would you have wrote about him. His wife. It is about folks hollering ENOUGH. Folks don't want to pay for all that anymore. Looks like light company is out of money. Time to cut back. Enough. Enough. Enough. If they didn't hear that they need a hearing aid.
All the big dogs that spent the money on their so called business trip should have to repay it. I wonder if the line crew got to spend that kind of money when they went to Kentucky for the ice storm and Scottsboro, Alabama to work in bad weather (I know for a fact they didn't). They worked long hours, ate junk and slept in a regular hotel room. Most of all they put their lives on the line for people they did not even know. While Speer, Hoover, Byant, Holcomb and Kelly and their spouses went on a vacation I be willing to bet all of the lineman that was gone for weeks did not spend 3/4 the money the board did. I think there should be an itemized statement showing each detailed things the money was spent on and I bet it wasn't all business related. A credit card company can supply you with that information, but the receipts should be kept at the electric company unless the secretary has already destroyed those records for the big dogs. Another thing I think it is real low down, but good for the power board to give Kelly Holcomb's job. I hope Kelly will wise up and not be as low down as Holcomb. Did Kelly write his own contract and how much will he make now?
I am 9:53 again. Just wanted you and other folks to know that my request to Mrs. Harwell was to also ask for back up information for credit card charges. She told me she did and has not been given that information yet. I waited several weeks to get my hands on the credit card charges. I can imagine why they didn't turn over the receipts. The trip in February to D.C. I can only guess was fine wining and dining for everyone including wives. Yes. I agree completely. They need to pay us back.
Receipts for credit card charges have to be retained to support the audit so Tammie Bub should have them. Its open records so if Ms Harwell is not getting the copies asked for, it needs to be reported to the State. Wes Kellys salary will be as it is now which is around $116,000. Still inflated for a public utility and non-management material but maybe he will prove himself and the PES board should hold him at that salary for a few years.
Have close friend working at electric company. Hear that four folks stood in floor and said if Holcomb left they were leaving. Wes Kelly. Charlotte Hughes. Susan Carlisle. Sorry. But I can't remember the other name. First question I would asked Kelly is if that was true. Asked before he got the job.
Now you can't have your cake and eat it too. You want everyting in possession of PES to be public record. Well I don't thank they keep job applications at Fort Knox. Let's back up. Maybe you missed the point. Why in the world would a honest hard working person want to work at PES if it is so called to some-corrupt. Would all this be happening if that person had gotten hired. Probably NOT. So, if you are an elected official, represent the people without your personal feelings getting in the way. Pure and Simple and real easy to understand.
All of this happened regardless of anyone being or not being hired. We the people are better off because it happened.
I totally agree that elected officials should represent the people regardless of personal feelings, threats, or perceived threats. Hopefully that is what happened with the job situation.
A potential conflict of interest works both ways - preferential treatment to get a job or not getting a job because palms of power were not greased. It's a situation were the mind can run away with reality. It can be a situation inviting corruption. Conflict of interest is not good for anyone - puts a cloud over everything for everybody. Unfortunately, we have a couple of cases in GC where it's highly counter productive.
Heard Tammie Bubb quit ????
7:38 AM - Do tell?
Who all has quit lately at your place of employment? Or do you have a job?
11:57:00 PM
How about checking into how many or who all has been laid off in Giles County this year.
You would be frightened to know. People being laid off, jobs lost, no money, but Hoover, Speer, and others spend like there's no end.
Keep the fire going and let's not let up on Speer. Keep being involved and let all officials know we mean business. It's our money they are spending outrageously. Let's send a strong message to anyone whether official or not, we are tired of this and we're gonna end it. Be thinking of someone to run against all the spenders in this county and let's get rid of them. #1 Spender and Dictator SPEER.
Do you people honestly think you only have problems with city government??? Open your eyes for a change. We have got big problems with the county that continues to get zero attention. Not all of us live in the city but, all of us live in the county. So, by gosh if you are going to get all fired up over Speer and Hoover and so forth, you might want to look at Giles County Govt while you are at it. I guarantee you there is as much if not more underhanded deals going and many tax dollars being wasted. Someone already posted some interesting information on another thread about the county paying for part-time employees receiving health insurance benefits. That is OUTRAGEOUS!!!!! Wake up people!!!!!
Let's take a closer look at this issue before some of you stroke out and have to use your health insurance benefits. First, let me clear the air by stating that I am not a part time employee for the county. This thing works both ways. If the county has part time positions available, it is a benefit not only to the employee, but the employer as well. Why employ someone full time, but only have them actually working part time. By the way this probably happens a lot of the time anyway. So, if the county hires someone to work part time that means that person probably has to work another part time job to make ends meet. So, if a person has to hold down part time jobs is it fair to them to be denied health insurance benefits? If I'M not mistaken a school bus driver is afforded health insurance benefits and rightfully so. My question is, If a part time employee is a valuable asset to the business, why not offer them health insurance?
Why not offer health insurance! Health insurance cost the county about %5,000 a year. I guess I should say cost the tax payers $5000 per year. The part time people in that office make more than most full time employees.
11:43 you bring up an interesting point. Why do school bus drivers get health benefits ? They only work maybe 10 hours a week.
I think you will find they work more than 10 hous a week. How about riding a bus and see how long it takes.
I know they still don't put in 40 hours a week, neither does cafeteria workers, but they get less pay and are still considered full time employees.
You people are missing the point!!! This is not the school system employees we are talking about. We are talking about part-time employees working for the county. The schools is a complete and separate issue. It is scary that some of you don't know the difference. No wonder nothing gets questions and everything gets swept under the rug. The county is violating their own personnel policy handbook. Why have rules if you don't obey them? Sometimes the things people say on her for excuses for our leadership violating the law astonishes the crap out of me!!! Pull your heads out people!
11:43, You ask a valid question in that part time employees probably should receive benefits, not at tax-payer expense, but as part of a group plan in which they are eligible for "benefits". They would be able to purchase ins. at a much less expensive rate and the county, POSSIBLY, (Freely admit I know nothing about the ins industry) but possibly the county would receive a better rate for the policies they do pay for because of the larger number of participants.
That being said, that is not the issue of this thread. Apparently according to county policy, which is basically a binding agreement, law, or whatever you want to call it, part time employees are NOT eligible for benefits. If a supervisor grants said benefits for a part time employee, that employee broke the law. Pretty cut and dried. Granted, I am not saying the law is fair or just, but one person in a democratic society should not be allowed to pick and chose which rules and policies they will abide by. Work to change the rules, but until they are changed, the person disregarding the rules is a criminal, unethical, dishonest, and a thief.
That is the topic of this particular thread; not what should be but rather what is
Deanna
deanna - good post - hits the problem squarely. If laws & written rules can be ignored there is no justice, no equity, no true freedom. you make a difference.
Why are we not holding feet to the fire? we're a bunch of sheep!
People talk about what is and what is not county policy. The fact of the matter is you make policy by what you practice. So, if you allow one part time employee to receive benefits, then you have an obligation to allow anyone else. I'M not saying business should be handled in this fashion, as your written policy should be binding. However, a policy maker will be held to what he or she practices.
So 8:42 if the head of a department decides to help themselves to a handful of money out of tax funds that then becomes the policy and those rules prohibiting such actions are irrelevant.
You missed the point. The example you are using would be criminal in nature and thus subject to prosecution.
All this talk about Policy ------ Have ay of you read the court house personnel policy??? I haven't. Some need to put it on here for all to read. I know bus drivers that are through with their route in less than 1 hr. (Town routes)
Guess what Mr. Speer is up to now? He has Danny RAy Cobb running for Bobby Lee's seat on the county commission. Wonder why that is? Is he afraid someone may vote against him? I hope someone comes out against him and beat him on the commission. We don't need any more Spearites in our governament.
How can Danny Ray Cobb run for Lee's seat when he lives in Minor Hill?
Cobb lives in town near college. I was told two commissioners talked him in race. My guess is Bill Holt and Tommy Campbell.
Well, I guess he is like Vanzant has two homes and lives where ever it will suit him at the time he needs something. I know for a fact he lives in Minor Hill.
Cobb is a retired school teacher .
Phone directory sayes Cobb lives on West Jefferson Street. Wbich happens to be near MC Can you give a valid Minor Hill address?????
Melanie
He owns I guess two homes. Which a lot of people do, but the one at Minor Hill is on Jackson Clinic Rd. I think Mr. Cobb has a lot of experience that will be useful as long as he is not a yes man to Speer, Holt, Jackson and Campbell. Mr. Cobb, I hope you can be your on individual self with a mind and mouth of your own and not let others tell you what to do and how to vote. Mr. Cobb if you do replace Mr. Lee please stand up for the citizens of Giles County. You are a retired teacher and you know how much an excellent education is to our kids, so please help our kids become better educated. Have a backbone.
Why do you not think he is a yes man? Look who got him to run at the urging of the King Speer.
He in fact does have two homes. The one in Minor Hill was left to him as an inheritance and the one in town, with the exception of a metal roof years ago, is basically dilapadated. He did have land that he inherited as well but was forced to sell most of it so that his family could keep up with the "Jones'"
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