Economic Development Cuts Budget Request, NOT.
After it was reported on this blog last year that the Director of Economic Development was enjoying some rather lavish and very questionable benefits at taxpayer expense some County Commissioner said enough. Unfortunately they were not in the majority and after some very high promises from the Attorney and Chairperson of the Economic Development, the Legislative Body voted to restore funds that had been cut in previous meetings. Those high sounding promises were for such things as monthly expense statements and activities of the Economic Director and the promise that expenses would be looked at with an eye for cutting all waste.
To date, after speaking with a number of commissioner none have received a regular monthly accounting of expenses by check number and with the release of the newly proposed budget not only did the Economic Development Committee not cut their budget, as promised, they have increased it by well over $10,000.00. That is split between the county at $5,000.00; the city at $5,000.00 and the Electric Department at an unknown amount. Folks this is in addition to the amount they asked for and received last budget year.
There is already much talk of a property tax hike, this is in addition to the increased tax assessments most people have received with their recent tax bills. To help cover the PES share the proposal has been made to increase rates by 2.7% this year and 2% each of the next two years. (This proposed rate increase will be discussed again at the next PES Board meeting at 7AM on Tuesday 28 May at the PES offices). The current plan for the city is to do as in past years when money is needed just take it from the cash cow officially known as the Gas Department.
My question is the same as it was last year and the years before, "How can these expenses be justified". To date, even when the Chairperson and Attorney spoke at the Legislative Meeting last year, no justifications were offered just empty promises and an attitude of this is what you get, find a way to like it.
To date, after speaking with a number of commissioner none have received a regular monthly accounting of expenses by check number and with the release of the newly proposed budget not only did the Economic Development Committee not cut their budget, as promised, they have increased it by well over $10,000.00. That is split between the county at $5,000.00; the city at $5,000.00 and the Electric Department at an unknown amount. Folks this is in addition to the amount they asked for and received last budget year.
There is already much talk of a property tax hike, this is in addition to the increased tax assessments most people have received with their recent tax bills. To help cover the PES share the proposal has been made to increase rates by 2.7% this year and 2% each of the next two years. (This proposed rate increase will be discussed again at the next PES Board meeting at 7AM on Tuesday 28 May at the PES offices). The current plan for the city is to do as in past years when money is needed just take it from the cash cow officially known as the Gas Department.
My question is the same as it was last year and the years before, "How can these expenses be justified". To date, even when the Chairperson and Attorney spoke at the Legislative Meeting last year, no justifications were offered just empty promises and an attitude of this is what you get, find a way to like it.
posted by Allen Barrett | 7:34 PM
92 Comments:
Let's just agree to disagree. Your definition of lavish and mine are not the same.
No one seemed to care that it was reported that the additional funds were to support the Small buss development center--iE chamber of Commerce that is again without a director. Gotta support that arm of the EDC.
When will we be getting new jobs in Giles County?
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Barrett you are a sick man! Report the facts and not your opinion!
That's not his opinion....it did get raised...and here were promises (empty) made.
And Magnetti had to go to the State Economic Development to get expansion in here. if the Gov wouldn't have been involved it is my opinion that expansion would not have seen the light of day. Would have been like Frito Lay, denied, or sitting down on Pulaski Pike in Huntsville like another business that was turned away. In addition we did not want Walmart distribution in industrial Park South. No telling how many other employers have been turned away that have never been reported. Probably why Dan has to keep three cell phones for one job.
The chamber also asked for more as did tourism, so what’a the real reason for Dan’a increase, maybe the county club upped membership fees
The tourism people could advertise Giles County as "This is how it was done 200 years ago, today in the post modern era".
9:48
Can you produce proof Walmart wanted to locate here?
Can you produce proof Dan Speer has 3 cell phones?
Or are you just spreading rumors? Just like WAB!!!
So it starts---away from the topic.
6:54 bullshit!
Barrett started this post on economic development and its spending then someone else probably Barrett anonymously posted to get things stirred up! So 6:26 is dead on for calling 9:48 out!
6:26
Go ask Dan about Walmart. While you are there ask about Toyota then report back to us.
Simply read the blog when they went through Dan's expenses and the bills for three cell phones. Maybe he has only one phone, but the taxpayers were billed for three.
Is 6:26 enabling Mr. Speer?
Dan Speer is the only employee that is paid by government (County and City) funds who receives total and complete health care, dental, eye, etc with no deductible; AND he gets his health insurance from an unbiased source .... his WIFE.
Now if that ain't lavish and double dipping I stand corrected.
To 8:57 whose post had to be deleted for vulgar language and 8:59 whose inability to distinguish between fact and commentary and any other whiners who can't accept the truth, I challenge you to show proof of one thing in this thread or any other that I have posted that isn't true.
For the one who challenged the three cell phones for Mr. Speer. I never said he had three cell phones, what I have said is that his office last year had monthly bills of $17.87 for one land line, $17.87 for one dedicated fax line,
$44.45 for ? phone, $149 to $151.00 for cell service.
Now add $130.00 for the Bronze tier Cable with HD and $170.00 for meals for the board and you have to wonder what's going on. I didn't even include such luxuries as golf club membership and meals there.
The promise made was clearly to cut the budget not increase it by over $10,000.00 which will be paid not just by property owners but also those who use natural gas and electricity.
To say Mr Speer has a very luxurious deal would be an understand.
WAB do you not consider a land line, fax line and cell phone necessary tools for running a business! Probably not because you have no clue how to run a business of any kind! You're just a chronic whiner!
You can't prove one single thing on this blog, it is you your blatant lies AGAIN!
Who promised to cut that budget?
Barrett , you post it, you prove it!
Otherwise it is another classic lie by Barrett!
Thank you for clearing up my error about the cell phones.
WAB isn't all this simply to vent your dislike of Dan Speer! Can you do a better job than he? Why doesnt the entire commission follow yours, Connie Howell, tommy pollard, Louise Faulkner and a few other narrow minded commissioners lead and cut out Economic Development all together and see where this puts our county. You ignorant dislike of Dan Speer and his Board is no justification for nitpicking about a cell phone bill and what you call lavish spending. I would call it necessary evils of recruiting industry. By the way $130 for a cell phone bill is cheap if you have anything other than a prepaid! My iPhone with AT&T and 1200 minutes per month cost me $145. So am I lavish?
Barrett you have an inability to see the Forest for the trees!
5:17
Isn't that likewise the case with THREE current threads devoted to smearing Terry Harwell and his family? Lots of people out there think so.
It was designated for helping the SBDC of te chamber.
Looks like the Speer defenders as well as the Barrett haters are in full force. Glad you love him an all, but when all other offices continue to be de-funded, his was increased, and questions of spending continue to be ignored. Business as usual.
I always want to see our efforts at recruiting industry and educating our children going up. Always. I expect to see those expenditures increase yearly. If we are not moving we are dying.
Why does Speer have to have a dedicated phone and/or fax line????? Why cannot he be an extension off the City Hall numbers???? Why does he have a gold plated health insurance plan??? why is he not insured as a County Employee, or City employee??? Why does he have a dedicated car??? The Mayor, County Executive, Aldermen and Commissioners are all satisfied driving their own vehicles????
Why does Dan insist that he be held higher up than anyone else???? Or, is it he has a real short man attitude and that he is better than anyone else????
If the matter was only about cell phones it would not be that big of a thing but the problem is a number of combined issues that directly benefit Mr. Speer personally. I do not dislike Mr. Speer, I don't know him well enough to like or dislike, I do however dislike his attitude toward the citizens of this county.
Now, let me give an example of a cell phone bill. Each month my cell phone bill with Verzion is $248.00 to $250.00 and for that price I have three smart phones, unlimited minutes and 8GB of internet service. So it would seem that plan is far superior to $150.00 for one cell phone. I wonder why the attackers didn't mention anything about the HD Bronze Level Cable, this is the third level tier with premium movie channels at about $100.00 a month; neither did they say anything about membership at the Country Club; the $170.00 meals for the Board each month; the $35.00 car washes; the insurance through a family members agency, etc, etc.
While I don't have the Industrial Development budget for this fiscal year, I do have it for last fiscal year and these numbers are absolute based on that budget.
Now the question was asked who promised to cut the Industrial Development Budget? On 17 September 2012 at the County Legislative Meeting Mr. Bob Henry the attorney representing the EDC and Mr. David Rackley the Board Chairperson spoke to the Commissioners. Mr. Henry stated among many thongs he spoke of, "We, (looking at Mr. Rackley), plan to increase communications with the County"; "we will go through and tweak the budget". Mr. Rackley then spoke and echoed Mr. Henry, "We will cut unnecessary expenses".
Now for those who have specific complaints accusing me of be untruthful about these matters I would simply refer you to the budget and let you determine if the numbers lie.
Do you not think that a Country Club membership is critical to economic development? The membership belongs to them, not Mr. Speer.
Barrett
But it's your attitude toward Several Giles County citizens that causes you to be so widely disliked. Think about that. Make the appropriate application.
8:59 Are you kidding, "a country club membership is critical to economic development".
The place is a broken down mess with fewer and fewer members because it offers nothing that can't be gotten elsewhere except maybe a slot machine.
The reason that the Country Club is a broken down mess is because the leaders (including citizens) have not supported it. I would guess that all thriving towns today have a viable Country Club! I would also suggest that the dying towns do not.
I would suggest that if the country club had something to offer, was better managed and the people had jobs that they could afford the dues it might become worthwhile. Whatever happened to the other nine holes for the golf course that was surveyed out years ago? Spending tax money on a private club is against the law. When county folks are excluded from using the course there should be no county money spent on it.
Few people in Giles county make enough to belong to a country club.
Probably those that do make enough belong to a country club in another county.
I don't know the county pays anything except Speers membership, but if the county is paying other things to keep it up, that's not right.
This is to the poster 5:17. I didn't even know Dan Speer had one phone and certainly not three. As you called me narrow minded, why don't you post your name and we can talk about it. If you would go back and check the records the whole commission had a vote on this and they voted to cut out EDC. We didn't know anything about where our money was going. I am glad to say since that time I have received the minutes from each of their meetings. If you would like to discuss this with me, please give me a call and I will be glad to discuss this.
Good for Mrs. Faulkner. I wish all commissioners would speak up like that.
You are doing a good job Mrs.Faulkner.
I find it very intriguing that I have been attacked on this thread for the things I have posted but as yet not one single sentence has been written disputing, with contrary numbers, the expenses I reported. Not one sentence with factual information has been written on this thread that disputes the things I have stated.
I wonder way so much anger against me personally but nothing disputing the things I stated. The simple explanation is when you can't dispute the message you attack the messenger in an effort to continue the abuses that are taking place, those who do nothing while knowing a wrong is taking place actively become apart of the wrong by enabling that wrong to continue.
Amen to that Mr. Barrett.
I thought last year the commissioners all had a copy of EDC expense accounts as that was what Commissioner Pollard was upset about and the EDC attorney and some other fella said they would reduce their budget down this year (at least that is what was in the paper about it).
WAB. I just read your post. Perhaps you should interpret this as something that you need to improve.
I have said it all along....your presentation kills what you are trying to accomplish. You have a small group of cheerleaders. Outside of that, you might as well not exist (in your current state).
Barrett..
Just because someone disagrees with your "positions' does NOT mean that person is enabling wrong. Your need to stop telling that lie and repent. Shame on you.
cg I thought you didn't care for Dan Speer. Hatred for WAB over powers it. lol
Noticed this on WKSR web site
Downtown Revitalization Committee Discusses Improvements to Pulaski Square
Posted on May 22, 2013
New street lights was one of the things. I thought it hadn't been many years since new street lights was put in. Just wondering about that.
$200,000 for streetlights in an area that does not have enough parking for courthouse and businesses, employees, and customers? Hope property owners will follow suit and improve buildings in an area that customers don't have any where to park. Absolute geniuses!!
2:25
It must be lonely at the top? You guys have all the answers and know what's best for us, but NOBODY is asking you the questions. How frustrating that must be.
You are right 2:43 they just expect us to pay the bills while they make all kinds of dumbass decisions. Maybe they should just make more parking places for the police/sheriff and the electric cars.
They spent a fortune on street lights a few years ago, the problem ain't being able to see it's being able to think. When downtown has something for people to go for they'll go but without good parking it's got to be something mighty good.
Congratulations to the Bridgeforth Middle School faculty and students for the two year achievements they have accomplished. Good Job!
6:24 A big AMEN!
4:11 So I guess that you think that if we don't spend any money on the downtown, and we let everying deteriorate, that that will bring positive change to Pulaski? Who is the dumbass?
Any reasonable person can see the downtown area needs help. Parking is the main thing. If customers can not find parking then all the lights in the world will not help. Just more ass-backward thinking by the Pulaski, City Council. All about aesthetics and nothing about functionality.
They should have consulted with you.
They need to consult with someone. That is for sure.
So I assume that you would like to twitch your nose and create some additional parking.
You people are so full of yourselves, and so intellignet.
I have noticed that there is usually plenty of parking on the square. Its just that most people, like yourself, want to park directly in front of the store in which you are shopping. It wouldn't hurt most of you to park at Sam Davis, and walk to the square.
Hey, That is a great idea. Why don't some of the courthouse employees park at Sam Davis and walk to the square? Parking problem would be solved.
Yopu, When an elder person goes to the doctor and wants to get their medicine at Reeves, they may not be able to walk a little distance to park.
What about the vacant lot on one corner, why don't they try to make a parking place there for the courthouse employees?
I noticed the street lights poles could stand a good painting.
Sounds like children who need something to do.
I hope the city thinks about patching some of these streets that have been torn up and are big pot holes now.
Like McGibbons and Whitworth Circle.
10:48 I also hope they patch these two roads soon. Just try traveling them when it's raining hard.
Looks like the country club membership worked out great for the unemployment rate of Giles County, guess they needed another increase.
Ya'll have to understand that Dan Speer is above the huddled masses. He is important and will always be important. He is the reason that Giles County is thought of as "a retirement community" Dan does not want BIG businesses to move here for they may take control from him and dictate what the local labor force must do. Dan refuses to relinquish any control that he currently has.
Dan insists that he be paid over $100,000.00; have extraordinary benifits and a free car provided by PES. All of his paid for benifits are routed through Brenda's (his wife) office.
If any of you whiners disagree, please refute with facts and not opinions.
Dan Speer has so-called followers just like you say Barrett does. The only difference is Dan only has 3. David Rackley, his wife and himself.
1:29
Uh...I think you have that backward. Didn't you mean Allen Barrett is the one who only has three friends, himself included? I wonder, if Mr. Barrett had a chance to do it all over, would he fall in love with himself again?
Frankly, I'd like to see both Speer and Barrett leave town.
1:29 and 3:17 full of yourself aren't you. What would Jesus think of your post?
Oh my gosh! I just found out Dan has. $5000 a month expense account and he has been using it to entertain the Italians from Magneti Marelli! I understand he has taken up golf and paying for everything they do at the country club on his expense account!
If he has done that, it has helped to bring some jobs to this county.
If he has done that, it has helped to bring some jobs to this county.
The governor helped bring jobs to town. Why is unemployment up in Giles County since Dan is doing such a good job? I am just glad he did not screw up what the governor handed him and chase it off like he has other industry.
Hate to tell you 8:57 and 10:20 but it is very well known that the state brought Magneti Marelli here and ole Dan was completely cut out of the loop. He is an afterthought in this deal but he has tried to take all the credit.
if you are correct, my mistake and apology.
9:30 is not correct just jealous. Pulaski and Giles County were KEY in bringing MM here and in getting the state to move on this project.
B.S. 5:55
What the hell does 9:30 have to be jealous about. I would think that if Speer was responsible in any way for bring an industry to Pulaski everyone would be grateful and singing his praise. Unfortunately, that does not seem to be the case. It just doesn't fit with his self-proclaimed vision of Pulaski being a retirement community.
Ray
Ray, you still have time to make something of yourself. Don't follow in the footsteps of the very few other Barrett followers. You are starting to shit on the ones that can help you get a job. Unless you think a check from the government is enough?
Finding a job in Giles County will be hard to do. What if you aren't able to hold down a job 7:11 do you still condemn them?
8:39 you simply follow Ray Lanier and depend on the rest of us to keep you up! what a worthless excuse for a human!
If he has time to monitor and post so much know it all bullshit on this blog he could get a real job!
7:11/10:08, the knowledge y'all possess would fit on the head of a pin with room left over for an elephant. I have paid into the programs since I was 13, so as of yet I have not taken anyone's money but my own. I sometimes go days without posting: I doubt you can say the same but we'll never know because your cowardice prevents you from signing your name. A judge determined that I was disabled in a hearing for that purpose. I'm sure either one of you could have a favorable decision based on your mental defects. Good luck living with the fact that it has to suck to be y'all. Love ya, darlins.
Ray
Ray...Too funny...go get 'em.
What is your disability Ray?
8:42 What business is it of yours what Ray's disability is? Your disability seems to be nosy.
I'm hard to get along with, but on the plus side, I like tater tots.
Ray
I have every right to know what his disability is, you and I are paying for it. This "I've paid into this and that program since I was 13" crap is exactly that, crap. The money that was paid then was for the generation of that time - the money that was paid has been spent. Its all gone.
Have you ever taken a government tax credit, used a sidewalk, street, or any other property or service my tax dollars have gone into funding? If so I demand to see your medical files 10:21.
10:21 PM No, you do not have a right to know a person's medical condition. Have you not ever heard of privacy laws? Idiot!
10:21 Show us proof of how much you have paid. And what kind of idiotic logic are you trying to create? "The money that was paid then was for the generation of that time - the money that was paid has been spent. Its all gone". You are a tool.
10:21 You are too funny. Do you really think you should be allowed to see everyone that is disable in Giles County's medical record or even just Ray's?
Sorry privacy act want allow you too.
Do you work for the IRS?
Hey dumbass at 10:21, you have absolutely NO right to know what my disabilities are. That is a direct violation of the hippa laws. That would be akin to me saying I had the right to know what STDs you are carrying. It's none of my business (just try to get them cleared up, ok?).
To the other posters who tried to explain this to the dumbass: You have my thanks.
Ray
Ray...
You go Breeze. Good post. Aren't you glad people who think like that have no real power here in our county?
Funny I thought that was a commissioner wanting to know Ray's disability.
cg cooled off and the blog is dying.
Always thought that would happen.
No cg is still trying to get the first thread changed to him.
Please people ignore him.
9:16
That's a lie. But nice try.
CG you just have to have the last word? What a school yard bully and coward you are.
The response of a man who can't come up with an intelligent reply. "That's a lie." Too clever.
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