Giles Free Speech Zone

The purpose of the "Giles Free Speech Zone" is to identify problems of concern to the people of Giles County, to discuss them in a gentlemanly and civil manner, while referring to the facts and giving evidence to back up whatever claims are made, making logical arguments that avoid any use of fallacy, and, hopefully, to come together in agreement, and find a positive solution to the problem at hand. Help make a difference! Email "mcpeters@usit.net" to suggest topics or make private comments.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Would You Pay This Invoice The Way It Is Presented?




This is a copy of the "itemized bill" supposedly, I say supposedly because there is nothing on this that identifies it having come from Mrs Henson, sent by Mrs Henson to the Financial Management for payment. Payment was made for the full amount based on this bill.
Several interesting things about this "itemized bill". First of course it's easy to notice that it is not on any official letterhead, in fact it has nothing identifying where it came from or from whom.
Second the charge is for 98 hours of work but there is nothing stating what that work was for or how it was spent.
Third the 98 hours charged is over twice the number of hours my attorney spent preparing for this case.
Fourth notice the expenses charged for the court reporters they are twice what I was required to pay, yet they were to be divided three ways not two.

Some questions that I find interesting. Did the County Attorney actually charge the county for both her and Mr Williams fees? Mr Williams was the counsel for Mrs Coleman concerning a violation prior to her election which means she was not entitled to a county paid attorney.

Since the charge for the court reporters was double what I was charged the question arises did Mrs Henson charge the county for both the county and Mrs Coleman's share of the reporters fees?

Recently Mr Williams dropped Mrs Coleman as a client and became the lead attorney for the county for the appeal. This was done, I was told by Mr Menke with the "Pulaski Citizen", by Mrs Henson on the authority of the Election Commission which gave approval. The question is where did the Election Commission get such authority, and if this is a matter under the control of the Election Commission why aren't they using election funds instead of County General Funds?

Why is Mr Williams now doing the job of the County Attorney when the appeals process does not require two attorneys nor does it require any additional work other above what's been done already?

With this amount Mrs Henson as county attorney has charged and been paid over $56,000.00 this budget year with the promise that there are more expenses to be paid her office.

It is my opinion that the County is being defrauded in an attempt to collect from the County taxpayers, attorney fees for Mr Williams and court reporter fees owed by Mrs Coleman.

It is also my opinion that the whole matter needs to be brought before the Tennessee Bar Association and the Comptroller's Office of Audit and let them ask the questions that the County Executive and Commissioners are so determined not to answer.