Did You See The $12,000.00 Tossed Out The Window At The Courthouse Annex???

It was learned today that eight million dollars, principle from the hospital sale, was used to purchase a 30 day CD at .5 percent, from LGIP, this will result in a yield of 40,000 dollars interest. Problem is the very same amount could have been invested in a local bank under the exact same conditions with the exact same protections for .65 percent which would have yielded 52,000 dollars interest or a difference of $12,000.00. While $12,000.00 may not seem like much to some folks it's a lot to me, but more importantly it's just another indication of how little effort goes into handling county money. Allen Barrett

Ambulance Committee Meeting Cancelled

This report is from the WKSR website posted today

The Giles County Commissions Ambulance Committee was to meet Friday in an emergency session to discuss a resolution to adjust the Ambulance Service tax rate. Committee Chairman Ramona Flacy has cancelled the meeting.

WKSR has learned that one of the items to be discussed Friday was the closing of the Ambulance North Substation.

Director of Finance Loretta Garner said in a phone interview, that the only way to make a seven cent cut in the property tax rate work is to make cuts in the budget. Agencies that will take a hit will be the rescue squad, public library, senior citizens center and any other agencies the county is not required to fund. Included in that list is the Ambulance Service North Station.

“We’re not going to make the Ambulance Service take the entire cut,” Garner stated, “but even with the tax cut spread out, there is no way to continue to operate the North Station.
Allen Barrett

Questions Needed In Advance Of PES Public Hearing?

This topic was taken from the newspaper.

The Pulaski Board of Mayor & Alderman will conduct a public hearing Tuesday, July 14th at 6:30pm at Pulaski City Hall to discuss the Pulaski Electric System.
According to Pulaski Mayor Dan Speer, all questions for the PES public meeting must be submitted in writing to City Administrator Terry Harrison by noon Friday.

Why would these questions now, at this late date, be required to be submitted to the city administrator when it was not a part of Mrs Harwell's 23 June motion setting up this hearing?
As reported and posted by WKSR on 24 June 2009, "Harwell restated her motion to ask for a public hearing so the public could ask general questions of officials with Pulaski Electric System. The motion passed and a public hearing will be held Tuesday, July 14th at 6:30pm at Pulaski City Hall.

Now weeks later we are told that only questions submitted for review by the city administrator will be allowed. This is censorship in its most vile form. Will there be a committee that determines which questions will be asked or will this be left entirely up to Mr. Harrison to choose which questions will be asked? Will these questions be given to Mr. Holcomb to prepare smoother pat responses, he certainly did not fair so well when asked direct questions by the City Council?
Why must this hearing exclude spontaneous questions and follow up questions? Mr. Holcomb has already demonstrated that the veracity of his responses are somewhat less than principled.
Allen Barrett

What Happened With Commissioner Bill Holt At The Little League Ball Field?

I have been bombarded with questions about what happened at the Little League ball field when Commissioner Holt's grandson wasn't chosen for the All-Star team. I have been accused of covering this up and protecting Mr. Holt because I had not posted it on this Blog. I want to assure folks that there has been no effort by me to cover this up, I simply was not there when it happened and could not get direct confirmation until recently.
I am posting this topic due to the overwhelming request for it and to avert further charges of a cover-up. Allen Barrett

PUBLIC MEETING ON THE COUNTY BUDGET

There was a public hearing held at Pulaski Elementary School on 6 July 2009. The budget committee was there, the cable network camera crew was there, several county commissioners were there and three private citizens were there.
One person addressed the committee with comments about the budget.
Indifference won the day. Allen Barrett