Say It Ain't So!!!!!!!
Even here surrounded by the warm waters of Orange Beach and it's beautiful sunshine and 80 plus degree temperatures people are asking, has there been a new person hired in the Giles County Financial Management Office to serve as assistant director?
The word is circulating that Mrs Melissa White wife of the state auditor that just completed the audit of the county finances has been hired as Assistant Director of the Financial Management Office. Is this, could it even be true? I have not been in town to confirm this yet, but it comes from very reliable sources. Did anyone see an advertisement for this position?
This also comes as part of the report of current events in the Financial Management Department. Commissioner Jackson was elected to be the chairman of the committee over the County Director who then refused to serve as the Vice-Chair.
If this report is accurate then how can there be no questions of conflicts, pay offs and just plain corruption of the system?
The word is circulating that Mrs Melissa White wife of the state auditor that just completed the audit of the county finances has been hired as Assistant Director of the Financial Management Office. Is this, could it even be true? I have not been in town to confirm this yet, but it comes from very reliable sources. Did anyone see an advertisement for this position?
This also comes as part of the report of current events in the Financial Management Department. Commissioner Jackson was elected to be the chairman of the committee over the County Director who then refused to serve as the Vice-Chair.
If this report is accurate then how can there be no questions of conflicts, pay offs and just plain corruption of the system?
posted by Allen Barrett | 12:09 PM
82 Comments:
why should our County Administration follow any rules other than their own rules. As Commissioner Campbell stated "we have been doing fine rumnning this county for 200 years". He, other commissioners and the county executive see no reason for any oversight, or any reason to answerable to their citizens.
It's their way or no way.
Quit whining and accespt the fact that the majority of County voters defeated the proposed Home Rule Charter and they now will live with a style of government that they deserve.
You've got to be kidding me.? Really?
If this is true it has to be the most outragous thing they done next to spending all the hospital money.
Melinda White is the new hire and yes, the job was advertised. I know another lady that was interviewed, so they did go through the correct procedures. Don't stir the pot and make accusations before you know everything. (and yes, I know you said you weren't sure, but it is still making an accusation that wrong doing went on with the hiring process.) Mrs. White is a CPA so she is very qualified.
Did they have an assistance when Mrs. Garner was there?
Funny a question can't be asked without someone not liking it.
Is she really married to the auditor that's the question I want somebody other than Barrett to answer.
How can an accusation be made about wrong doing going on when the questioner said he didn't know for sure but was asking for infor. damn you can't even ask a question without some smart fart trying to turn it into a attack against somebody.
I'm begining to think there ain't nothing Barrett can say or anyone else with out getting attacked.
What's with all the exclamation marks? I see alot of women doing that these days. Seems very silly to me. Also makes Barrett appear to be a smartass. WTF?
8:18 don't get so worked up, Partner. Seems ole Scooter wasn't asking a question, just firing off half-loaded again (actually I don't think he hit the 50% mark on this story) about corruption and pay-offs.
Must have had a little too much sun down there.
lol...okay then...."It Ain't So".
Yes, Melinda White is the new assistant. She is a very qualified, very knowledgeable person, in fact she would be a better director than assistant. She is also Beth Moore's best friend. How can it not be a conflict of interest, I don't know unless her husband has swapped our county with another. This happened last week so I don't know why it took so long to get out.
Well hell, scooter, how do you figure it wasn't a question ole B posed? Is your grasp of grammar as limited as your vocabulary? I guess you're just way too cool for this blog, ain'tcha goob?
9:03 I don't understand your post.
Where is the exclamation marks?
I've looked at the above post several times and can't find one.
I had to click out of thread to see Barrett had several !!!. So you are making fun of him and I thought you had lost it.
Well, you can make fun of Barrett if you want to but looks like he once again has uncovered the truth about our government.
"Melinda White is the new assistant."
"She is Beth Moore's best friend."
"Her husband just finished the audit of the county"
No conflict of interest, no buddy network, no favoritism, wow.
Well, pooter looks like he got more than 50% right and I didn't read it in the paper or hear about it on WKSR.
The problem will be if her husband continues to be the county auditor.
Don't look like that would be lawful.
Was there any input at all from the financial management committee. Where did the advertisement for the job run and what length of time did they take applications. What is the salary of this position?
If the person is a CPA, I am glad to see those qualifications in positions hired in that office but I am concerned about the audits and the personal connections to the person doing the auditing if it is true what has been stated.
We have already had too much controversy from the hiring practices and accounting practices in that office.
Did we ever get an answer to where the 2million plus missing dollars disappeared to?
Why do the local news outlets refuse to report on county and city business that concerns the citizens tax dollars?
11:28 the news people are part of the problem with more interest in protecting their friends than exposing their actions.
Jealouisy and resentment are the real problems as I see it.
Since we only get a newspaper once a week it is old news before they ever report it.
You all are the largest bunch of crybabies on the planet.
So you don't see any conflict with the man doing an audit on a terribly questionable year of uncontrolled spending then having his wife hired by the same people he did the audit on?
Do you really think an unbiased audit has been done and that there was no influence used in hiring the wife of the auditor?
Excellent post, those talking about being crybabies and that don't admit those questionable practices/circumstances are only kidding themselves an not fooling anyone. What a crock.
How quickly it gets to personal attacks.
Hope your enjoying the sun Barrett. Hope you keep your ass down there!
Is Ms Moore a CPA? Glad the new assistant has one, but it looks like she was installed after her husband completed a favorable audit? Or have we even seen the audit? Although she's not the "director" she could be considered a "silent" director running the show if Ms Moore doesn't have a CpA. All that and both ladies are apparently nice an qualified to perform the job, so why all the shell games?
exactly 7:28. Have a nice vacation Barrett and thank you for keeping this blog going and bringing info to the people that some feel the people should not be privy to.
oh 11:39 you are so clever, you are
11:39 Wish I could delete you. Leave the ugly words off. I know if Barrett deletes the post of 11:39 some one will have something they think is cute to say about it.
I think the personal attacks were Scooter's baseless allegations of pay-offs and corruption. How much was that pay off? Who got paid? Who committed corruption?
Either you can back up your allegations Scooter or you take the cake of making reckless irresponsible statements.
Anytime a system isn't working as it was intended it has become corrupted much like the hard drive on a computer. It doesn't mean something illegal is happening but that something unacceptable has happened.
The pay off isn't someone taking a bag of money to buy personal things for their-self but could be a well meaning friend helping another friend or it could be scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.
In this case the system could be corrupted because it has become unfair to the average citizen who does not have the same opportunities as others. The payback here could be as has been seen in other areas of county government, a good audit will make it easier for your wife to be hired here kind of thing.
Nice try. But unfortunately payoff and corruption have been defined in our criminal laws. They are not simply terms you may define as "unacceptable" or a "favor". While a candidate or job applicant may not be acceptable, the world knows it is a much more sinister label to call them "corrupt". You really think "payoff" means a well-meaning friend helping a friend. Where in the world is the "well-meaning" in the concept of "payoff".
So I repeat my request. Who is corrupt? Who was paid off? By whom? And how much was paid?
Let's see if Scooter can back up some of this stuff he spews.
I saw it advertised on the county's web site!
Yep, still there right there under Public Notices
Did it run any where other than public notices and when was it posted? Was it posted the day before the deadline? No way to tell from the posting. Did it run in the local paper? I know it was not on WKSR's website. Seems like they would want to get the word out to as many people as possible that there is a job opening.
Looks like 5:41 will go to any length to satisfy self, but the simple fact of the matter is that words are not limited to the very narrow meaning of legal terms as determined by a court. If words were limited to their strict legal terms people could not wear a "suit", they would have no "will" to be better, they could not buy a "case" of sodas, etc.
The poster at 5:29 is correct in their assertion that because something is corrupt does not make it illegal or against the law. Sometimes metal is covered with corruption also called rust, corruption is simply a departure from the original. Payback is what either GCHS or LCHS seeks each year during the Cowbell Game. It's a sort of revenge but it is also a return on an investment. As 5:29 stated you scratch my back I'll scratch yours, you help me I'll help you.
As for the matter of who is corrupt and who was paid off again it depends on how you interpret the terms "corrupt" and "payback".
When used as the 5:29 poster stated and as I have tried to explain the whole Financial Management System as implemented in Giles County is corrupt because it was not implemented as the law required. It has not been the open accountability tool it was originally intended to be. It has not, for various reasons ranging from incompetent to plain laziness, produced the outcomes originally intended.
Clearly by her interference, influence and lack of respect for segregation of duties the County Executive has helped corrupt the whole financial system of the county to a point of near collapse.
As for "paybacks", I suspect there was a clear "payback" for Terry Harwell, for running against me in the commission election and his son in law providing legal defense for Commissioner Coleman, he got a job in the Financial Management Office. How else can one explain his hire after such public behavior that should have forced his removal from the commission and being less qualified for the position?
So while I do not respond to the name scooter, which is actually a child's toy consisting of two wheels a foot-board and a steering handle, I have responded to the utter ridiculousness of the 5:41 posters claims that limit the meaning of words in an apparent effort to ridicule another poster.
Big Bon Fire for all rules, regulations, protocol, board policies the constitution,and Roberts Rules of Oreder. They mean nothing to politicians and citizens who stand by and allow these laws to be broken so why not get them off the shelves and make room for coruptions, dishonesty, under the table payoffs and pay offs. People bitched for years about where Janet VanZant lived, Tee Jackson lived and bringing in outsiders for jobs that Giles Countians of very capable of doing. But the school board thinks a stones throw away is making Debbie Braden a Giles Countian? Interim or not she does not live in Giles County. So let's schedule a big bonfire and get rid of everything most of us believe in.
Nice try again Scooter, but you didn't say "pay-back" you said "pay off".
So please enlighten all of us to this wisdom and knowledge you surely had before you made such an allegation.
It really is simple. Who was paid? How much? and by whom?
I am sure you knew that information before you chose the word "payoff". Didn't you?
lol...Giles County beats Lawrence County. Pay-off Complete.
I missed that headline Barrett.
907, you need look no farther for your answers---just find out who hired,advertised and pays the new assistant---what is that salary? ---that's how much is paid do t you think?
That sounds like the employee's salary.
I was asking about the Pay-Off Scooter mentioned.
1:45 good post to 11:45. Just had a good laugh.
145..... Yes, salary in this context could be considered a payoff-- when its seemingly prearranged, nice thing is that this payoff is provided by joe taxpayer an we call it a salary.
Thx 158---this whole county government is about as comical as J Carney talking about Libya.
Actually it is funnier than that. More like Paul Ryan telling us the pro-choice Mitt Romney is now anti-choice. THAT is the knee slapper
There is no rule anywhere that says the interim or any other employee of the school system has to live in Giles County. It did say in the job description for the last director they he/she live in Giles County. There have been no law or policies broken by hiring Debbie Braden as interim. Quit whining about that one.
I think we need to make the commissioners pay for there taxpayer funded week trip to Memphis! I'm tired of paying for them to go get drunk! That trip would have paid to find a new school district leader
Really? Who got drunk? Please let us know.
Week trip? I thought it was 2 nights. I believe that the state requires some of these for training.
I don't understand a lot of you people. 12:18 started this off with a great point. A county commissioner commenting on the county being run the same way for 200 years. Anyone that adheres to that type of government needs some serious help. Even the constitution has been amended to account for change. Mr Barrett brings up question that should require a "Why" and start an intelligent conversation and a lot of you make it personal. I would think that people would want an open and straight forward government. A town newspaper that would provide all community information positive and negative. Tax payers have a right to know for what and where their tax money is being spent. When a question arises like the location of two million dollars, people deserve a truthful answer. With the financial shape the county is in commissioners should be doing everything in their power to conserve funds.
One last thing if your going to take the time to make a comment at least uses your first given name on it so that people can properly address you with use a number.
I agree, commissioners should be working to conserve funds, instead there off wasting taxpayer money on trips. There are no more truthful answers in this county, or not until we get the current executive and her buddy spear out of our government.
"spear?" What are you referring to? That instrument described in the post Barrett condones for being the instrument Black people need to be thankful to Whites for not having to use to kill their dinner? I just don't understand.
"Ha Ha Ha Ha .... We are Commissioner-rales. You know the perpetual police."
"If you are the commissioner-rales, then where are you badges?"
"Badges? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges. I don't have to show you no stinking badges!"
I hope that was a bad attempt at sarcasm..... Or if was legit--sorry for my sarcasm. Speer meaning Dan Speer I believe is what they were referng to.
8:52 where did Barrett condone that post? Respecting a persons freedom of speech no matter how stupid it is is not condoning it. By you re-posting a statement like that it looks as though you are the one condoning it. Shame on you.
Just because the commissioners went on a trip does not mean they were drunk. If they had a drink on the free time that is their business. They are required by the state to go to these things for training. You want them to do things right so let them learn what to do. Friday 9:06 p.m. were you on the trip with them? How do you know what went on? I am so tired of the lies that are told on this blog. Don't believe everything you hear! For once folks, think for yourself!
Hate speech is not protected on blogspot. In fact it is expressly prohibited. Barrett just doesn't like to follow rules unless they benefit him.
If Barrett deleted all hate post, he would be a busy man. Look at the post that are hate at him as well the hate to others. Why add to it?
Do you think our school board will follow the one in Florida that lowered expectations for black and mexicans. From what I read, they had to do it because blacks and mexicans couldn't keep up with standards as well as Asians and whites. Some people were upset about it but facts are facts. I think alot of it has to do with how they spend their time at home.
6:22 I think the question is why are you so defensive? Were you on the trip with them? If they were drinking on their free time did the tax payers pay for those drinks?
I am not defensive, no I was not with them, no I am not a commissioner. I just get tired of people assuming things or spreading wild rumors. The conference was from Wednesday afternoon until Friday, they met in meetings all day Thursday and Friday morning, no alcohol is not reimbursed or paid for by the county. And if they attend the meetings that they were supposed to then their free time is their own. If on the other hand they go and vacation instead of meet that is another story. But if I had doubts about what they were doing I would ASK THEM instead of listening to rumors. I want an informed commissioner not one who has to hear what they should be doing from Allen Barrett. If they don't go to these meetings how are they supposed to know what is going on or what is coming up next.
Like the commissioners have been on the up and up about county finances what a joke. Since you have such faith in our commissioners please tell us all where the 2.7 million dollars is that is not missing just covered up by using the hospital fund. You are such a joke.
5:04 Was Barrett the one told about the commissioners going to a meeting and said one or more got drunk?
Since you know everything, tell 5:28 what happen about the money.
Who is held accountable for the 2.7m that is missing. All you have to do is listen to the commissioners speak and it's obvious why the county finance is in horrible shape. Most of them are uneducated rednecks that have no business being in a business/decision making role. I am amazed at how the people continue to vote for them, I guess it's because normally they are unopposed. And I was referring to Dan Spear in an earlier post. Its time the people took back this county and we start by getting rid of most all of the buddy system, money squandering commissioners! Note I said most all commissioners, not all.
200 years
That's how we've done it.
Keep on vote'n
For that encumbering incumbent.
If you are so unhappy with your commissioners then it is your moral duty to run yourself. Why would you allow someone that you think is doing wrong to be your commissioner when you could run yourself? I really don't understand that. Obviously the majority of the citizens think their commissioner is doing a good job or they would not keep voting them in.
There is no "missing" money. Over spent, mistakes made yes. It was mismanaged. I don't think the commissioners get any better answers than we do. Hopefully with the new personell in the Finanacial Management office the books will be managed better. I think we have some very capable people in the office now.
Not every one can run for a number of reasons, but they can question and it is their duty to question those who are currently in office. As far as the ones in the financial management office being qualified that remains to be seen. The conflict with the auditor and his wife being hired and Terry Harwell's qualifications lead me to disagree with you.
There is no money missing? What a joke. What position do you hold in the government or are you related to 6:43?
They need to tell us what the money was spent on.
Did they think they had a million dollars to spend so spent it and they only had a thousand. Someone should pay for that mistake.
They need to tell the tax payers what happen.
Considering the position that assistant had was not much different from what it is now. She was the fiscal consultant and worked with the books already. Do we know if arrangements were made for her husband not to work on Giles County? I don't work for the government but I know several that do and several commissioners. I try to stay up to date with what is going on but I don't suspect that everyone is a crook. 5:51, someone made a mistake and they don't work for us any more. They thought they had money and there was a problem with bills that were still going to be due that they did not realize about. I think that one of the problems was the combination of the county and school system books. Either one of them is a lot to handle and if you are not familiar you can end up with the problems that we had.
Are you saying best fit hiring practices may not have been the best way to go 6:41? Aren't there some others that are still in that office that were hired under best fit practices? But as you claim not to be in government then you know as much as you claim Barrett does. Isn't that true? No you do not question the lines they feed you so you probably know less.
Wrong 6:41 This was not the first time there was a large amount of money missing or misplaced. Jackson manipulated the books as has Vanzant both in conjunction with the former director. Keep in mind also that as the assistant director the current director was deeply involved.
Yes the new assistant director is the wife of the state auditor who did the recent audit of the county.
The request was made by a large number of citizens for an independent audit of the county but it was refused by Vanzant and the state auditor was used instead and now his wife has been hired at over 40,000 a year. If there is no conflict of interest at least you must admit there certainly is a strong appearance of conflict that is not being addressed to the public.
When was money "missing" before? If best fit is the most qualified then the right person got the job. Who would know more than a former auditor, former financial manger for Maury County, and state fiscal consultant? The commissioners checked on an independent audit and were told by the state that unless there were discrepencies found in the state audit that they could not order one. The state did check more than normal when they did this audit. Melinda's husband is the supervisor but he does not do the audit himself. 7:46 maybe Barrett and I both question things and don't take them at face value. I do question things but I also don't believe everyone is a crook. Maybe because I grew up with these people and know their character where Barrett came in here later.
Two years ago Jackson was severely reprimanded by the school board, specifically Mr. Story, when they tried to buy new textbooks and over 200,000 set aside for those books had already been spent on other things without the board's knowledge and without approval to move the money from one line item into a different section of the budget.
6:53 Having grown up with these people may be clouding your vision of their activities. How often do we read about some killer being described as such a wonderful child by those that knew him growing up.
Bernie Madhoff is still described by many as a very generous, thoughtful man who worked hard all his life, and of course there is the very recent 91 year old woman who was re-elected as mayor of River Falls, Al. in August then plead guilty to stealing $201,000.00 from taxpayers. She was loved by everyone as a grandmother of the town.
When you only look at the surface you miss the realities. While I don't believe everyone is a crook I don't blindly believe everything someone says and especially when that person has a history of being less than truthful.
And I grew up in this town, went to church with some of the commissioners and know exactly what type of people they are and some of them have not earned my trust and their actions do need to be scrutinized. Especially in light of the situation. And when some one has been involved with an audit of the very office their wife is then hired into leaves one to wonder if the audit and the reason the person was hired was on the up and up.
6:53 You or spouse or family member has to be on the inside to be able to answer this.
Thanks for telling us: "The commissioners checked on an independent audit and were told by the state that unless there were discrepancies found in the state audit that they could not order one. The state did check more than normal when they did this audit."
No one else seem to know this.
The Finance Department wouldn't have been here if the school system hadn't been spending money wrong. All the talk about that caused lots of people to vote for it. They needed an overseer but that didn't work did it. Garner must not of been the best fit after all.
Garner was the best fit for Vanzant a long time friend and neighbor. Problem was she wasn't strong enough to stand up for what was right instead she fell for what was convenient.
The problem has never been the finance department but some of the people that were put in there and the fact that the county did not follow the law when it was started.
the state has no authority to prevent a county from having an independent audit if they want one, the problem is Vanzant did not want an independent audit and used the state as her scapegoat.
All jurisdictions within Tennessee may order, acquire and pay for an independent audit of their financial books. The State "audit" does not look as to how and why money was gathered and spent; rather they look to see if procedures were correctly followed. The State does not care if Giles County dipped into and continues to dip into the "Hospital Fund"; so long as Giles County payes its bills the State does not give one damn. The State does not care if a jurisdiction over spends its budget, so long as the bills are paid and that the paperwork is correct and on file. The State does not look for any malpractice such as Alsup always providing insurance to Giles County and not willing to divulge what the cost is to him. Why is it that Jimmy Alsup does not want anyone to know what the insurance underwriter is charging him??? All he does is bill the County and the County pays him. Why the secret?
The Jimmy Alsup situation is another question that this county executive and finance office has failed to disclose the answer to. This should be be setting off bells all over the place. Keep asking that question and maybe one day we will get an answer.
Barrett
Per your 8:09 post, why should anyone believe you? I certainly don't "take much stock" in anything you say.
5:01 I guess you want us to start posting to you. laughable
There hasn't been much going on the blog lately has there?
I think everyone knows by now you don't like Barrett.
Aw hell, 10:01, it probably just took 5:01 this long to read B's post. In addition to everyone knowing he doesn't like Barrett, we all know he is of less-than-average intelligence.
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