Anonymous Letters Being Sent To Some Commissioners

Under new business an issue was voiced that a commissioner had been sent a letter that was very critical of the Commission and it's members. The commissioner that received the letter voiced no objection to the criticism only the fact it had been sent by someone "too big a coward to sign their name to it".

Another criticism voiced by a different commissioner was that some "very bad and wrong information was being put on the blog by people who were too cowardly to sign their names".

The commissioner expressed some concern that people might believe some of the stuff that wasn't true. I have re-read the post from the topic the commissioner spoke of and could not find the specifics of one matter which was an absolute untruth. I agree with this commissioner and have stated the criticism before, "Only a yellow back coward would post personal attacks or gossip as truth then sign their name as anonymous".

I believe there is a need for some to post anonymous and cowardice has little to do with it, but those folks would not make a personal attack against someone or post known lies as truth, these folks usually post something in support of their statements.

On the other hand a coward posts evil, provides no support for such accusations and then hides under the name anonymous. Those people have no credibility and should be labeled for the destructive cowards they reveal themselves to be.

State Open Meetings Law Alteration Vote

The decision was made by a large majority of Commissioners that it was inappropriate to vote on supporting a change to the state "Open Meetings Law" and it was sent to the Legislative Committee for discussion.

The request under consideration would allow government officials to meet in secret make decisions without public knowledge. Basically it would isolate the public from knowledge of who supported or opposed different legislation and open a Pandora's Box of opportunity for mischief and corruption.

Hospital Funds Now Being Dipped Into For Daily Bill Paying !!!!!

During the meeting of the Giles County Legislative Body, it is not a court, one thing revealed was that during the past few months the Financial Management Director has taken it upon her self to ignore the directions of the County Commissioners who months ago passed a resolution that prevented the Principle from the sale of the hospital from being spent. Only the interest is authorized to be used. Now comes Mrs Garner who responded to questions by Commissioner Jackson and others that, "this is a lean year and cash flow is slow". She assured the commissioners that when the tax money came in the money would go back into the hospital fund.

This is much like the situation that arose a couple of years ago with the school budget when a large sum of money vanished from the textbook account. For over a month the School Board and the public were left in the dark about what had happened to the missing. Finally it was reported by Mrs. Garner that the money designated for textbooks had actually been spent on things completely outside the authorizing line item. Mrs Garner was severely criticized by a Board Member and directed to never do such a thing again.

Commissioner Pope asked the direct question of Mrs. Garner, "who authorized you to dip into this fund"? While Mrs. Garner spoke for approximately five minutes in response to that question she never once came close to answering it, even after the commissioner asked it again.

One interesting thing brought up by Commissioner Reedy was that when the Sun Trust Building was being bought commissioners had been told that the Hospital Funds could not be used because they were all tied up in interest bearing investments. When Mrs. Garner used the money suddenly there was no problem with them being in interest bearing investments. Seems there are many things that can be or can't be done based on convenience.

This topic is scheduled to be discussed at the next Budget Meeting and Financial Management Committee Meeting.