Has The Ball Been Dropped On Development Of The Wastewater Project At Interstate Exit 14?

It's been years since talk began about developing the Exit 14 asset. It's been well over a year since actual actions began to be taken. We now are sitting and waiting for apparent Divine intervention to develop that very valuable asset. Why do I say waiting for "Divine Intervention" because there don't seem to be any human actions being taken. Everything seems to be bottled up in the County Executive's office and no information is being shared with the public or the commissioners as a whole.

There is a building with 6,500,000 square feet, over 17.5 miles of hallways yet it takes less than eight minutes to reach any point in that building from any point. About 23,000 employee work in that building each day with more than 120,000 visitors each year.
Now I tell you those things to give an idea of just how large and well planned this building is so that what I am about to say becomes even more impressive.

The task of designing this building was given to architect George Bergstrom and LTC. Hugh Casey on a Thursday afternoon and told to have it completed by the next Monday morning. That Tuesday the president approved the design and presented it to the congress. Sixteen months later 33,000 workers moved in the new facility. Sixteen months to plan, approve and build the Pentagon yet we can't even get started with a small project like the wastewater facility at Exit 14.
WHERE IS THE LEADERSHIP/

Interesting Information From The E-911 Board Meeting ON Tuesday 15 July

Some questions and comments about that meeting.

How does a person over look $33,000.00 and just accidentally leave it out of the budget as income and then after approval just happen to find it and low and behold it's equal to an expediture the director sans to make.

If the E-911 office has approximately a thousand square feet now do they really need a new building that is 4300 square feet and cost $850,000 to $900,000 dollars to build? I agree they need more space but a million dollar facility that is almost trip in size? This is an example of how priorities need to be established.

Much thanks and appreciation go out to Chiefs Dickey and Collins who challenged the need for such a large and extravagant new building and offered an option in the possibility of simply adding on to the existing building at a far less expense.

Chief Dickey asked, if the new building was built would there be enough money in their income to maintain such a building?  The director after much effort to redirect the question and it being asked several more times finally stated, "no".

Finally a motion was made by Chief Collins and approved by the board to study the cost of an addition at the existing building and to study the cost of a downsized new building.

The last issue raised was the matter of an investigation into the possible inappropriate behavior of the Director and inappropriate relationships at the 911 workplace.

Should Commissioners Be Paid If They Fail To Attend Meeting?

At the Legislative Committee Meeting on Thursday 10 July I raised the question of whether it was appropriate, ethical and legal to pay someone who did not attend meetings.

Currently the rule is that commissioners are paid for each committee and full commission meeting they attend. 

I provided the example of Commissioner Coleman who was signed in on 24 April, by Mrs. Vanzant, as having attended the meeting and being paid a full thirty dollars as a committee member, after the budget committee meeting had been adjourned and several commissioners had already left the room.

There was some outraged defense from other 7th District Commissioners, that I had no business being allowed to even bring the subject up.  Others suggested that all the commissioners be paid a flat fee for being commissioners whether they attended meetings or not. Even those who proposed that idea agreed that those who don't attend are less informed and able to represent their constituents. They even agreed that it was unfair to pay everyone the same amount whether they attended or not. 

As for Commissioner Coleman she was thirty one minutes late for this one hour meeting adding to her unbroken string of being late or absent from over 97% of the committee meeting she is a member of.

Another Power Grab BY The Speer/ Rackley Conglomerate?

At the Legislative Committee meeting on 10 July Mr. Dan Speer presented a proposal to the county to alter the make up of the “Industrial Development Board”. Currently there are eight members on this board equally divided between appointments from the county and city of Pulaski. 

Mr. Speer who appointed the original members while mayor, now wants to add an additional member to this board in the person of the chairman of the “Economic Development Commission”. 

The state requires that a minimum of seven members make up the board. There is no maximum number required. Mr. Speer was asked about putting Mr. Rackley on the Board and another person from the county so that the board would continue to reflect equal representation of the city and county. Mr. Speer quickly and firmly dismissed this suggestion with “NO”.  

The reason Mr Speer gave for having Mr. Rackley on the IDB is a matter of convenience that by serving on both boards it would provide more interaction. Well, he could continue to be a non member who attends the IDB meetings and still provide plenty of interaction.  

The Legislative Committee chose to send the request to alter the IDB make up to the full commission without a recommendation. Several commissioners stated they wanted to study the proposal and ask constituents about the proposal. This brought a protest from Commissioner Harwell who emphatically stated in reference to asking the people, “99% of the people wouldn’t understand what we was talking about”.   If anyone questions the accuracy of this quote you can simple request to view the video of the meeting.

Some questions that need to be asked by the commissioners before approving this “power grab” are, Why is Mr. Speer so opposed to the continual equal representation on this board? Why is it so important to him that the city have five members and the county only four? Could it be that he feels more control over the city appointees? 

I raised the question, at the meeting, it’s hard enough to get information from these groups now if another member is add from the Speer camp you’ll never get any information other than the bills owed. Yes, commissioners get a report each month, after threatening to cut off funding, but that report gives very little details and nothing about the huge and numerous lawsuits they have been involved in and lost. Those reports say nothing of the hoops local business people are required to jump through while giving huge tax breaks to outsiders.

A nine member board with five appointed by the city will, I believe, lead to a disaster for the 

Speech Given At The Democrat Sponsored Meet The Candidates Event At GCHS on 11 July 2014

This is the speech that I prepared to give, well the first three minutes of it was heard at least, at the candidates gathering sponsored by the Giles County Democrat Party. This was a really good event and I congratulate the democrats party for their outstanding efforts. I’m sorry so many candidates failed to appear and state their case for why they should be elected by the people of Giles County. Certainly there are legitimate reason for missing this opportunity but to me it was a simple matter of disrespect by most missing candidates.

“Good evening, I appreciate this opportunity…. but as my time is very limited…. let’s get right to it.

My name is William Allen Barrett…. or just Allen…. or Barrett or WAB and I’m asking to represent the people of the 7th District as their commissioner. 

Some of you no doubt have heard my name…. but maybe don’t know me…. I’m no politician…., I’m way too direct for that…  I’m just a simple… what you see is what you get kind of guy. Here’s the thing, I have enough self respect and respect for you to not lie to you or threat you like some unimportant dunce. 

I am a Constitutional and fiscal conservative, I vote as a republican because they don’t  Boo God at their conventions or seek to kill babies….. I respect this nation and its people,,,, and I believe it should be an English speaking nation that protects it’s borders. We are a melting pot but there are a lot of folks coming here that don’t want to melt…. just remake the nation into what it has never been…. a godless nation. 

I’ve been  married to my best friend for the past 49 and a half years.… Brenda is the Church Administrator at First Methodist Church in Pulaski. 

We have two children Kelly and Toby…. both graduated from Richland and we have three super grandchildren, two graduated from Giles County High…. and the other just graduated from La Verge High School this year.   

I was born in Murfreesboro where I grew up in the housing projects with my Mother, Granny, three sisters and brother … there I learned a lot of valuable lessons about survival. I sold the Daily News Journal  newspaper on the street at age nine until I could get a route at twelve. I worked on a coke truck…. then in a grocery store where I did everything from stock to paint signs in the windows…. I worked my way up to head meat cutter and then was drafted in 1964. I spent the next twenty years in the military working at a variety of different jobs.… We retired in 1984 and moved here, the only place in my life where… I… got to choose.  

During my time in the military…. I completed my college work at the University of Texas at El Paso, Columbus University and the University of Maryland….

I became a Baptist Minister and served two churches in Giles County for over twenty years…. I am now retired and operate the “GILES FREE SPEECH ZONE”… a blog that keeps the county informed and gives an opportunity for citizens to know about and discuss local issues.… This has led to being…. both vilified and praised…. depending on whether you’ve been exposed for political misdeeds or not.

So… Why should you vote for me?????  the best way to know what I’ll do in the future….. is by what I’ve done in the past. 

My name is still on the lawsuit that prevents county wide zoning; I’ve organized honkathons and petition drives to oppose the implementation of wheel taxes, and property tax increases…I researched and led the fight to establish the financial management act of 1981 as the county budgetary system which by the way…. led to the county having no deficiencies in the latest audit and requires more openness in how the budgets are made and used

I alone…. publicly challenged the largest water rate increase in our history and stand for a consolidated water system where everyone has access to public water and pays the same low rates; I was the first one…. to stand up against the abuses and cover ups of the director of schools and the school board….  As a result they had me arrested… but… it resulted in the public being able to speak at School Board Meetings and the Board acts more in the open, not necessarily wiser but more openly.

I was the first…. to alert the community to the fact that the Hospital Funds were being dipped into and spent without authority from the county commission…. That won me a lot of friends among the bosses. 

The main thing to remember about me…is that when I get into a thing…. I don’t let it go until completion is realized. That means I will be on things like…. the wastewater project at the interstate and will be asking and demanding answers on it’s progress every week instead of allowing it to linger in never never land…. where it’s been for almost a year. 

Once we were a nation of laws that sought to protect the individual citizen…. today we are a nation of convenience… where the Constitution matters little…. when it’s inconvenient, this county has also drifted into a disregard for the law in favor of selfish convenience….. that’s why we’ve  been involved in and  lost so many lawsuits. I will…. work to restore the rule of law and equality to individuals in this county. 

I will continue to demand…. that local officials follow the law and that citizens be allowed to be a part of the decision making process..… This’ll be done in part by holding some committee meetings in the evenings…. along with community meetings before every Full Commission meeting so that citizens can express their thoughts on the issues that effect their lives and well being…..    I firmly believe… we can not… be properly represented if we don’t talk with each other…. my phone will always be answered and your questions will always be responded to…. I will do all in my power…. to keep you informed and a part of the governing process. If you’re like me…. you’re sick and tired of being told to pay the bills… and keep your mouth shut about what the bills are for….. Government is supposed to be… about serving the people… not the people serving the government. 

Each of the current commissioners in the 7th District has openly stated, in committee meetings… their support for a wheel tax and a property tax increase…..  I.. will.. NOT.. support a wheel tax in any amount…. nor will I support a property tax increase. And I will fight against any attempt to impose either…. I’ve sat through every budget committee meeting this year…. I’ve asked more questions than most commissioners and I’ve gone through the budget throughly… there is…. sufficient ways to cut the spending without harming services. 

As you walk around tonight asking questions of candidates, ask them if they even know what the property tax rate is for the county….  ask if they know… where our property tax rate fits in the list of other counties in the state. Ask why we continue to lose population.  Ask where they were when committee meetings were held and situations discussed. 

I appreciate you listening to me… I apologize if I don’t get to visit in your home before the election…. I don’t walk so well anymore.  

But please go and vote…. and if you’re registered in the 7th District please… cast your vote for a more open honest government by voting for only one commissioner, William Allen Barrett. Thank you I look forward to your questions.