Giles Free Speech Zone

Glitch in the System

2012-01-26T14:38:00.002-06:00

Google has again made some changes in its Chrome system. Those changes have resulted in several problems with blog administration. One problem is that it's now much harder and more complicated for me to sign in and post a topic.

Another change that has taken place and effects readers and posters is the unintended glitch that no longer allows viewing posts past 200 without actually making a post to that thread. Hopefully this problem will be resolved soon, I apologize for the inconvenience caused by this situation.

Liar, Liar Pants on Fire!

2012-01-25T07:37:00.002-06:00

Liar, Liar Pants On Fire is the only thing that can describe the re-election speech given as a State of the Union address by one Barack Hussein Obama last night.

Was the speech out of desperation or just out of a character void of all integrity? Grandiose ideas with no way to pay, lies so blatant that even my cat left the room to vomit.

More debt accumulated during his three years than all the presidents combined. Ten trillion in debt when he took office and now sixteen trillion in debt but he claims to have cut the debt. The only budget he has submitted, which is required by law, got not a single vote from his own party. Under his administration the country doesn't even operate from a budget his party has approved.

Never has one person worked so hard to divide this nation and set its people against each other.

Success is not presented as something to condemn while underachievement is now celebrated and subsidized.

It is amazing to me that Obama can condemn others for not paying their share but the year before he became president he made over four million dollars and gave only one percent to charity. This is the most arrogant liar ever to grace the public stage in such a high position but that's what you get when more than half the country has become parasites without any sense of responsibility to the nation or their-selves.

Charter for the County

2012-01-24T14:23:00.003-06:00

This comment was posted on another thread. I have used it to start a new Thread to open discussion of the proposed County Charter or home rule.

Common Sense said...

http://www.mtas.tennessee.edu/KnowledgeBase.nsf/0/C9DD85972D740F6B8525702A004EBFCA?OpenDocument

This document gives a little more information about the charter. Only 13 cities have the charter. 3 have repealed their charter. 5 people asked said they would like to repeal it. There are more disadvantages on the list than advantages. I am NOT for the charter. There is no GREAT benefit for the citizens. The only reason this thing has been brought up is becasue a few people keep getting upset over not being elected. They can't get their way, so they want to try and force their way. I talked to several people over the last couple days that said they thought they had to vote for a charter commissioner. Leave Giles County if you don't like it. Property is just as cheap in surrounding counties and according to some of you, those counties are the only place to get a job. Tuesday, January 24, 2012 7:16:00 AM

=================================================================

Allen Barrett said...

Seldom have I read a more one sided, dishonest and purely political hit piece than what’s contained in the document mentioned.

The dishonesty comes primarily from the lack of full disclosure that the MTAS (Municipal Technical Advisory Service) is funded by taxpayers through the municipalities and like its sister organization CTAS (County Technical Advisory Services) does and says whatever the controlling organizations request of it. I have yet to see a report by the MTAS or CTAS that did not support whatever the legislative bodies of the county or city wanted.

Very little of what was written by Mr. Don Darden even applies to counties in the same way it does to cities and the cities in Giles County will be no more altered by the proposed Charter than by any changes made by the State Legislature by means of a private act.

The Charter is posted on http://www.pulaskicitizen.com/Charter for everyone to read. It’s been there for several months. Misinformation will be abundant in the next few months, even more so than in the past few months. A person should become armed with the truth in the face of this onslaught by those wishing to remain in the past. Commissioner Campbell made the statement and even posted a large sign in the Courthouse, in violation of anti-political signage, that the county has worked fine for the past two hundred years and don’t need any changes now. If you agree with that assessment then by all means vote against the Charter but if you are fed up with being governed via their inaccessible meetings, private dealings and their way or the highway then you will want to consider the Charter form of government for the county.

None of the cities mentioned in the article have had a request initiated by the citizens to revoke their Charter every request has been from the management. It’s interesting that the article states that most of the cities have not had a tax increase in more than twenty five years leading many to believe that their taxes have stayed the same. Hogwash, there is not a city in the state that has the same tax income they had twenty-five years ago and while their rates may be similar a simple consideration of the change in property assessments during that time is enough to blow your mind.

Mr. Darden subject as stated on the paper was “Home rule; Home rule--Laws and regulations; Charters--City; Charters--City—Tennessee”. His focus was clearly not on counties and his information as presented is as flawed as the unemployed numbers that come out of Washington D.C.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 2:22:00 PM

County Legislative Meeting for 17 Jan 2012

2012-01-17T10:33:00.002-06:00

After convening and honoring the Colts Cheer-leading Team for their National Championship the Legislative Body for the County began conducting other business of the county.

Acceptance of various reports and the appointment/reappointment of several officials they moved into the resolutions to be voted on.

Resolution 2012-1 Approval of surety bonds for county employees and officials. APPROVED -NO DISCUSSION

Resolution 2012-2 Authorizing Highway Department to do work for the Cities of Elkton, Adrdmore, Minor Hill, Lynnville and Pulaski. APPROVED - NO DISCUSSION

Resolution 2012-3 Approval of County Road List for 2012. - APPROVED -NO DISCUSSION

Resolution 2012-4 Named bridge on Hwy. 64 (3rd bridge East of SR 166) James A. Wells Memorial Bridge. APPROVED AFTER STATEMENT THAT IT WOULD BE AT NO COST TO THE COUNTY.

Resolution 2012- 5 Authorizing application for Fastrack Infrastructure Development Program to build a spur behind Richland Steel. APPROVED AFTER STATEMENT IT WOULD BE AT NO COST TO THE COUNTY.

Resolution 2012-6 To amend Rule XV of the Rules of Order of the Legislative Body. THIS WAS WITHDRAWN AT THE REQUEST OF THE SPONSOR COMMISSIONER FAULKNER.

No Unfinished Business was Presented.

New Business: The motion was presented by Commissioner Jackson to appropriate $25,000.00 to secure a price of $370,000 plus to purchase 93 acres at the Hwy. 64 and 65 interstate exit.

After much discussion, mostly opposed to the motion a vote was taken with only Commissioners Cary, Flacy, Jackson, Wilburn, Reedy, Woodard, and Harwell voting to spend the money. Commissioner Harwell's vote was withdrawn after it was pointed out that he could not legally vote of financial matters before the Commission.

The main objects expressed to refocusing attention on the new property was; (1) The lose of ninety thousand dollars already spent on the original property to be used for the waste water disposal project. (2) The fact the property does not have road frontage, Eighty acres could possibly be purchased later for roadfrontage. (3) Extreme cost to develop property it include but not limited to building an access road, building a bridge, a number of culverts, altering of wetlands, and massive fill. (4) Need to stay focused on current project get it finished and get development started at the site so new tax sources can be realized. (5) The county just don't have the money.

Main reasons expressed for pursuing new property was (1) Selling price for the 15 acres will not be known until after condemnation has been completed and price set by the judge, the price is expected to be known in February 2012; (2) The property will be more expensive later; (3) The county could make a lot of money after the wastewater treatment facility is built by selling the 93 acres to developers.

Ambulance Committee Meeting 12 Jan. 2012

2012-01-12T23:24:00.002-06:00

In a very unusual move it was reported that state auditors suggested that the Secretary from the Ambulance Service take notes of the committee meetings and keep a copy at the Ambulance Service and at the Courthouse. While county guidelines require a secretary be provided I have never heard of a state auditor requiring such a move.

The Ambulance Director presented a request to purchase "turn out gear" at a cost of $9,999.90 to replace worn gear being used now. This item was not in the budget and there wasn't enough money in the ambulance fund balance which was reported to only have $7,000.00 in it.

Everything seemed simple enough until Mrs Garner began to explain her expectations about incoming funds. Apparently Mrs Garner didn't read the newspaper or listen to WKSR report that Mrs Townsend had stated that tax collections were coming in slower than last year, because Mrs Garner reported that tax collections were the same or better than last year. The "hope" is that the money will be here when it comes time to pay the bill. Commissioner Jackson made the statement that when the ambulance fund balance comes up to $9,999.90 they can purchase the equipment. At that point Mr Griggs stated that he had another "fund balance" of $15,000.00 he could draw from. How a department could have two fund balances is beyond my understanding.

Questions: If Mr Griggs knew the equipment needed to be replaced why wasn't it put in the budget to begin with. If the budgets aren't followed what's the point of having them and where is the extra money coming from. If this money is given, based on the way budgets are made in the county this will be rolled into the next budget and announced as being the same as this year.

Property & Budget Committee Meeting 12 Jan 2012

2012-01-12T22:42:00.002-06:00

There was a combined meeting of the Budget and Property Committees this morning. Three matters were brought under discussion.

1) After rejecting a bid of over $200,000.00 to replace the steps at the Courthouse a new proposal was discussed for repair of the steps for a cost of approximately $60,000.00. Agreement was reached to pursue this and bids will be sought.

2) Stevenson Bridge. The County Executive presented very convoluted information that left those present more confused than before the discussion which led to the matter being postponed until the 19th when the County Executive hope to have more complete information.

Basically CSX claims they gave the bridge to the county but there is no written record of the county having accepted it into the county system. There is a partial contract agreeing to re-build the bridge signed by a former Road Superintendent but no signature of a County Executive or any Commission official.

It seems the state is trying hard to stiff arm the county into building the bridge to nowhere by claiming that if it's not re-built the county will have to pay more than $112.000.00 this includes paying $1,000.00 a day to CSX for a flagman during demolition. The demolition also will have to be done under the supervision of CSX who will also determine what machinery can be used in the demolition. If the bridge is re-built the state claims that there will probably be no cost to the county because stimulus money will be used.

The question is if only four or five people are pushing for this bridge that no one on the Stevenson Road wants why would anyone be willing to spend more than a million dollars to build it? If CSX actually gave the bridge to the county why isn't there any record and why would CSX have any control of how it is demolished? If there is a contract that obligates the county to re-build the bridge why doesn't the county have a copy that was properly signed by county officials? The matter has been postponed until the 19th when hopefully more and better information can be gathered.

3) Waste water Treatment. To date approximately $90,000.00 of the 2.1 million obligated for the waste water facility at the interstate as been spent. Now a proposal has been made to abandon the 15 acres sought for the site in favor of 93 acres farther on down the road for a cost of $374,900.00. This proposal was defeated in the committee but plans were expressed to bring it up at the full commission.

Questions: While it sounds good on the surface should the county be in the speculative real estate business, especially with the terrible history we have in that area? With part of the new property having a creek running through it how much extra expense and time delays will be incurred dealing with development of wetlands and possible flood zones? Does it make sense to lose the $90,000.00 and the time that has already been spent on the 15 acre tract.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-22T22:03:00.002-06:00

May your heart be filled with the truth that Christ was not sent but that God came to us.

Merry Christmas to everyone. Our prayer is that you will always have the joy of Christ birth and the Hope of Christ Resurrection filling your heart, mind and life.

Investigation In Indiana!

2011-12-14T06:59:00.002-06:00

My, my how time changes but things seldom do and there seems to always be a Giles County connection. An investigation is being launched in Indiana into the illegal actions of placing a person on an election ballot who did not have the sufficient number of signatures on their nomination paperwork.

It seems that President Obama's nomination petitions had a large number of forged or unaccepted signatures that left him with less than the minimum number to be on the ballot.

The Democrat spokesperson in Indiana stated that "if we had known we were short then we could have went and obtained more". Does this sound familiar?

The election officials have so far only stated, "I guess we made an innocent mistake".

Is this more like the Chicago style of politics or the Giles County style, or have the lines been so blurred that there is no longer any separation between the two?

Presidential Monkeys?????

2011-12-14T06:35:00.002-06:00

Should presidential candidates be referred to as monkeys? Not long ago there was a verbal outrage and move from the "reverends" Jackson and Sharpton to prevent all references to President Obama and the popular children's book and TV character "Curious George". Even though some people saw a resemblance between the President and the cartoon character it was deemed to be racist in nature.

Now comes David Axlerod, the main man in President Obama's election and re-election campaigns, and former high ranking Obama adviser making a statement referring to Presidential Candidate Newt Gingrich as a "monkey". Axlerod stated in reference to Gingrich, "the higher a monkey climbs in the poles the more you see his butt".

Question, is this any more or less a "racist remark" than comparing Pres. Obama with a cartoon monkey? How do you think the media will portray this comment and the man who made it? Will this again prove the media bias toward liberals?

Questions About Economic Development ?

2011-12-08T19:10:00.002-06:00

While there may be many questions that need answers about the Economic Development Committee their actions and expenses there are a couple that need answers now. The problem is no one in an official capacity has bothered to ask these questions during the past few years.

Why is there no written contract between the EDC and the Executive Director Mr. Dan Speer?

Why is there no written job description for the Executive Director Mr. Dan Speer?

Why is there no Inter local Agreement with the EDC/IDB?

On 30 June 2011 $56,650.00 was paid out for operations, $10,000.00 for Industrial Park maintenance and $18,247.03 for shell building interest payments? Almost $85,000.00 paid out and what did the county get in return?

Why aren't cities other than Pulaski paying their fair share to this organization as was agreed upon?

$92,519.60 was requested from Giles County taxpayers for Economic Development for the fiscal year 2011-2012, where has that money gone and what benefits did the county receive?

Anonymous Letters Being Sent To Some Commissioners

2011-11-22T22:57:00.002-06:00

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

2011-11-22T22:49:00.002-06:00

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 !!!!!

2011-11-22T22:22:00.002-06:00

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.

County Commissions Trying To Kill Sunshine Law

2011-11-10T08:49:00.002-06:00

This appeared in the Daily News Journal as an editorial on 10 November 2011. It alerts readers to a very serious attempt to weaken and destroy the State Open Meetings Law. Some Giles County Commissioners have already been in discussions supporting this proposal. While many aspects of the law are already ignored if the law is changed by this proposal there may as well be no Open Meetings Law.

"Public. Private. We often associate the first word with "government," the second with "business."

But when it comes to "government business," the first word should always apply. That's why a proposal by the president of the Tennessee County Commissioners Association to weaken the state's 37-year-old sunshine law must be stopped in its tracks.

Williamson County Commissioner Bob Barnwell has cooked up a wrong-headed proposal under which any number of members of a county commission, school board, or city council — up to a quorum — could meet and discuss public business. Public notice would only be given if a quorum of the body was present.

Bad idea. Horrible idea.

The people's business should be public, with few very specific exceptions. Yet we continue to have elected officials — those who've been granted the honor of representing the citizenry — searching for ways around the sunshine law so that public business can be conducted in the shadows and behind closed doors.

Conducting government business out in the open benefits not only the public but elected officials as well. Records are kept and maintained to hold everyone accountable. It gives credibility to the workings of government because it ensures that decisions are being made in the light of day for taxpayers to see for themselves, then determine whether those decisions are right, wrong or indifferent.

According to Frank Gibson, executive director of the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government, Barnwell is urging county commissions statewide to back his proposal with resolutions that ask their local state representatives and senators to support the measure when the General Assembly reconvenes in January. Barnwell has reportedly secured a sponsor.

Under the state's sunshine law, two or more members of a government body may not gather privately to "deliberate" toward a decision.

Contact your county commissioner today let them know that you want the public's business to remain just that."

Naming Bridges, Roads, Bridges and Buildings

2011-11-07T11:20:00.003-06:00

What should be the criteria for naming Bridges, Roads, Ball fields and Buildings in the county?

This topic was first posted on 2/3/2006

Courthouse Hours Of Operation

2011-11-07T11:14:00.002-06:00

Many complaints have been expressed about the difficulty of working citizens being able to get to the courthouse and conduct business with the current hours of operation. Current hours of operation are 8 to 4 with one hour for lunch, which means each employee is paid for forty hours while working only thirty-five hours each week. How does that serve the public and the taxpayers who fund the government?

This topic was first posted on 2/2/2006

Do You Believe That The City, County and School Board Are In Compliance With The State Open Meetings Laws?

2011-11-07T11:08:00.003-06:00

This question was first posted on 2/6/2006.

Do you believe that since the State Open Meetings Law requires all meetings, including those with less than a full committee, be open to the public, that the law is being fully complied with?

Do you believe that the City, County and School Board is in compliance with the State Open Records Law?

Do you believe the local media is doing a good job in providing information about meetings and records such as the cost of lawsuits against the city, county or school system?

Are you satisfied with the level of information being provided about the actual cost of operations for the City, County and School System?

How Has The Increased Cost Of Utilities Impacted You?

2011-11-07T11:01:00.003-06:00

How has the increases in electricity, water and sewage impacted you?

How do you feel about the Electric Company selling, Cable TV, Internet and Electricity?

If you knew that the electric rates were being used to subsidize the internet and cable operations would you feel different about Pulaski Electric providing those services?

Are Land Tax Appraisals Fair?

2011-11-07T10:55:00.002-06:00

After having received your property tax notices, do you believe the assessments were fair and reasonable? With property values, especially in town, having decreased so greatly and the housing market suffering so greatly do you believe your assessment was fair and reasonable? Did your assessment go up or down in this time of recession and numerous foreclosures?

How Do Citizens Get Information About Local Issues?

2011-11-07T10:43:00.002-06:00

How would you change the way citizens get information about the local issues that are important to our lives? This topic was first posted on 2/2/2006.

Presently there are only a few means by which information is shared with the general population; the weekly newspaper, WKSR AM & FM radio, WXXL radio, and this blog. A less general audience receives news from the PES cable channel, the Columbia newspaper and the Nashville and Huntsville stations, the latter two seem only interested when there is a murder involved.

Sen. Alexander Proposes New National Sales Tax

2011-11-07T09:25:00.002-06:00

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R) Tennessee is currently writing a proposal for a new national sales tax. This would be a new tax charged on ALL online purchases.

To contact Sen. Alexander and express your thoughts on this new tax:

Washington Office
455 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-4944

E-Mail -

http://www.alexander.senate.gov

Interesting Testimony Over Election Irregularities

2011-11-05T16:28:00.002-05:00

During the trial Mrs. Bassham gave testimony that firmly established that she or her staff had fully explained, at least twice, to Mrs. Coleman the requirements for becoming a candidate for office in the 7^TH District.

Mrs. Bassham made it abundantly clear that she and her staff had explained numerous times that only those properly registered voters residing in the 7^TH District were qualified to sign a nominating petition and no one could sign for another person.

Mrs Bassham testified that she could remember nothing about when Mrs. Coleman turned in her nominating petition because there were so many other people turning in their petitions (ten) at the same time 8:50 AM on 1 April. Later it was shown that only two people had submitted their nominating petitions on that day prior to 10AM nowhere near the ten that was claimed.

Question: tell us specifically what happened at 8:50 AM on April 1^st when Mrs Coleman apparently brought in her nominating petition to your office.

Mrs. Bassham: “I don’t recall, that was the qualifying deadline, I don’t recall.”

When questioned about the large number of disqualified signatures on Mrs Coleman’s petition Mrs Bassham consistently replied, “I don’t recall” or “it was a mistake”.

When questioned about how the same signature on the school board petition had been disqualified but had been approved on the commissioner petition, Mrs Bassham no less than five times that, “she didn’t recall or she didn’t know” now such a “mistake” could be made.

Question: In looking at the receipt, it says, “Below information for election commission only”. And the first sentence says, “The signatures above have been compared with permanent registration records and are the same.”

Did your office actually compare those records of permanent registrations with the actual signatures on the petitions.

Mrs. Bassham: “I don’t recall”.

Question: Based on your review now should those persons have been approved?

Mrs Bassham: “No Sir”.

Question: Do you have any explanation why those signatures were approved.

Question: “No, sir I don’t. We in good faith thought they were correct . We made a mistake.”

Question: Can you explain how Ms. Johnson was disapproved on the earlier school board petition but accepted on the later commission petition?

Mrs. Bassham: “No sir, I cannot”

Then comes the matter of withdrawing from the school board race which Mrs Coleman had qualified for. Mrs Bassham testified that Mrs. Coleman had withdrawn from that race by coming into her office and requesting a withdrawal form and filling it out. Mrs Bassham seemed more than a little confused when questioned about this procedure.

Question: As a matter of course, do you not date stamp documents that come into your office?

Mrs. Bassham: “Yes, sir; normally we do. We did not.”

Question: For other persons who have withdrawn from office and filled out one of these forms, did you in fact date stamp those forms?

Mrs. Bassham: “I don’t recall. I don’t recall. She’s the only one that withdrew for this election. We didn’t have anymore.”

Question: When you were served with a subpoena to produce this document, do you recall being served with that?

Mrs. Bassham: (Respite)

Question: Do you recall being served with a subpoena wherein we requested this document?

Mrs. Bassham: “Yes, Sir.”

Question: Did you make a comment at the time to the gentleman who was serving you that you didn’t know what this document was?

Mrs. Bassham: “No, sir, No, I did not.”

During the testimony of Mrs. Bassham and Mrs. Coleman over seventy questions were answered with “I don’t recall” or “I don’t know”. Not once did they say “I don’t remember “ but always the same “I don’t recall.”

I Lost In The Court of Appeals

2011-10-18T07:26:00.002-05:00

OK, so I lost in the Court of Appeals. It was reported in the newspaper and on the radio. It's interesting that the radio reported it before the decision was officially released to the public but that's the way life is. Sometimes justice prevails sometimes it don't. I continue to sleep well.

This is a comment I deleted from a thread and then was criticized by the writer later with the claim that he had not written anything that was untrue or out of place.

"I would like to see a topic about WAB losing his case in the court of appeals, and costing the County 10s of thousands of dollars. This post shouldn't be removed because nothing defamatory or untrue is written in it. If it is removed, it shows how WAB will dish out lies and slander about others, but can't handle the truth about himself. Is it true that he has been arrested multiple times? Yes. Did he lose his case and cost us thousands of dollars? Yes. Are there records and proof of both? Yes. I agree with the poster at 6:55pm. WAB has a very unfair way of choosing what is appropriate to be on here, and what he deems as needing to be removed. Monday, October 17, 2011 7:55:00 PM"

If anyone would like to suggest a topic for discussion I will be glad to post it as long as it meets the guidelines. This is a long standing policy that has not changed and does not require any threats or stupid attempts to manipulate. It may take awhile, if you do not submit the text for your topic, depending on what other things I am involved with. Not being the best or fastest typist it takes an average of over fifteen minutes after I see your request for me to read your request, type it proof read and post it. Patience maybe a virtue but it's in short supply among the self centered.

What was the monetary cost to the county for this procedure? It's been reported to be over $35,000.00 just for attorney fees, but why? My attorney charged $200.00 an hour the county attorney charged $150.00 an hour yet her bill was over twice the total of my attorney. The question has been raised as to whether the county actually paid for two attorneys instead on only the one that was authorized. Now, ask how much does the county spend each year on public defenders, why is there no outrage about that enormous expense. I challenged an unfair and illegal action my a county agency and used my own money. The county officials could have simply admitted they were wrong as they did when they were under oath and the matter would have been resolved but they chose to deny what they admitted under oath and therefore the expense. A drug dealer is caught and county money is used to prosecute and defend yet the chief complainer against me has said nothing about that cost to the county. Seems a bit disingenuous to me.

The poster claimed, "This post shouldn't be removed because nothing defamatory or untrue is written in it. If it is removed, it shows how WAB will dish out lies and slander about others, but can't handle the truth about himself. Is it true that he has been arrested multiple times? Yes. Did he lose his case and cost us thousands of dollars? Yes. Are there records and proof of both? Yes."

Not only has the poster written defamatory and untrue things they offer nothing in support of such outrageous claims. While I challenge anyone to show where I slandered anyone with an untruth or failed to take responsibility for what I have written by putting my name on every one of my posts, this poster hides from that same responsibility by posting their cowardly claims anonymously.

As for having been "arrested multiple times" that is a plain out and out lie. I will give $5000.00 to anyone who can produce any record of me having been arrested other than for the one arrest at the school board meeting. So big mouth with little brain you say there is a record, all you have to do is produce it and collect $5000.00 which I will pay to you on the steps of the courthouse the day you produce an official record of any arrest other than the one I have admitted too.

The final analysis is your topic is posted and your post was removed because it was slanderous lies with absolutely no redeeming qualities, proof of accusations or intellectual content. You have proven yourself to not only be a liar and a coward but also a person of low moral character and no integrity.

Change in Blog Policy!

2011-10-17T17:33:00.002-05:00

In order to prevent some extreme elevations in the blood pressure of some folks I want to announce a change in policy for posting to the blog.

Beginning today the new policy requires that all post be on subject and responsible. If you post your real name and a phone number where that name can be verified you will be allowed to write without restrictions other than that the posts not contain vulgar language or negative comments about private citizens. If no verifiable name accompanies the post, the post must be on topic and of interest to the general readers or it will be deleted.

Some no doubt will whine that this is an arbitrary decision and you will be partly right. This was a decision made out of the necessity to provide responsible non-distracting communication opportunities, not simply a capricious and unreasonable act of my will.

How Can A County Commissioners Represent Their Constituents While Being Paid A Full Time Wage By The County?

2011-10-17T15:14:00.007-05:00

Just when you think that things can’t get any stranger with the administration of county government you wake up and find that yet another big payoff has been made to a political crony.

It seems that County Commissioner Terry Harwell one of the most oblivious advocates of the County Executive has just been installed as an employee of the Financial Management Office. What unique qualifications does he have for such a job, a family history filled with bankruptcies, used car salesman, a beer joint musician, absentee commissioner, are these the qualities needed in a financial management office where tax monies are dispersed daily? Perhaps the most important qualification is loyalty to the right person and a wife high in the democrat party.

Now I’m not claiming that there’s a particular political connection in gaining this position only declaring that “it’s a strange, strange world we live in Master Jack”.

The conflict of interest alone should have been so overwhelming in it’s stench that disqualification for the position would have been automatic but then this is Giles County.

Here are some important questions that need to be answered about this situation but I’m sure nothing short of a court order will get them. However I will ask anyway. 1) When was this position posted? 2) How many other people applied for the position? 3) Were there any other people interviewed for this position and what were there names? 4) Since the position duplicates the work contracted out to a company through the Ambulance Service is this position even necessary? 5) Were any commissioners aware of this position being opened and filled prior to this morning?

Are African Americans Brainwashed Into Voting For Democrats?

2011-10-04T14:15:00.004-05:00

Presidential candidate Herman Cain made the statement that “Many African-Americans have been brainwashed into not being open-minded, not even considering a conservative point of view,"

Mr. Cain has received much criticism for this statement but so far no one as provided any evidence that it isn’t true. In this thread I hope to provide evidence that Mr. Cain was correct by offering a small history lesson and opportunity for adult discussion.

For example did you know that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a republican? Did you know that it was Republicans who pushed through the civil-rights legislation in the 1960’s and that it’s still Republicans who actually seek to empower blacks and others to get them out of poverty?

Are you aware of the term and the origin of, “yellow dog democrat”? It was first used in 1928 by Senator Tom Heflin of Alabama at the democrat convention in response to Al Smith condemnation of the KKK which largely controlled that convention. Sen. Heflin coined the term and it became a common statement of democrats who said I’d rather vote for a yellow dog than a republican because the republican party is full of blacks”.

Francis Rice is an attorney and retired army Lt. Col. She wrote this, “ the liberal party pushes programs that keep my fellow blacks dependent on government handouts and temporary fixes, and encourages them to see themselves as victims.”

From it’s founding in 1854 as the anti-slavery party it has been Republicans who have stood at the forefront of the civil rights movement. It was Republicans who fought against slavery, amended the Constitution to include all people in its freedoms of citizenship.

Why is it that most people seem to have forgotten that it was a democrat, George Wallace who stood in the door of an Alabama school house in 1963 and declared “segregation now and forever”? It was a democrat Eugene “Bull” Connor the public safety director who ordered the dogs be turned loose and the fire hoses turned on peaceful demonstrators in Birmingham. It was the democrat Governor Faubus of Ark. that tried to stop the integration of schools in Little Rock and a republican president who sent troops there to enforce those rights.

Why is it that most have forgotten or was never taught the truth about democrats who re-started the KKK to keep blacks and white republicans away from the polls and under control?

Dr. King spoke eloquently of judging people on their character instead of the color of their skin,

It was Republicans who started the NAACP in an effort to stop the lynching by democrats. It was democrats who, when they took control of congress in 1892 that overturned practically every civil rights law that had been passed by the republicans.

Many may recall the civil rights struggles of the 1960’s and credit President Johnson with their passage but in reality it was the leadership of Senator Everett Dirksen that made passage possible. This was done in spite of the votes as such notable senators as Al Gore, Sr. Robert Byrd, Fritz Hollings. Even the young Senator from Mass. John F. Kennedy voted against the 1957 Civil Rights Act. Kennedy also opposed the 1963 March on Washington by Dr. King. Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy in her taped memoirs referred to Dr. King as a tricky, terrible man.

Democrat President Lyndon Johnson explained to two governors his motivation for pushing the civil rights laws and great society, “I’ll have those n-gg—s voting Democrat for the next two hundred years.”

Democrat Senator Robert Byrd described by Sen. Ted Kennedy as the conscience of the Senate stated in 1944, after he had quit the KKK, “Rather I die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds.”

It defies logic that so many people of color continue to vote for the very party that has sought to keep them from reaching their greater potentials. The problem, it seems is that many people are victims of a faulty education system and tend to cast their precious votes based on the sweet sound of words and empty promises instead of the realities of actions.

Was Mr. Cain correct in his statement, “Many African-Americans have been brainwashed into not being open-minded, not even considering a conservative point of view," You decide, for me the evidence is an obvious yes.

"REVIVE GILES COUNTY"

2011-09-30T08:32:00.002-05:00

This is posted at the request of a reader. It is certainly a great event and opportunity for all to show just where they stand in this world of turmoil. It is posted as it was sent.

Would you consider posting something about "Revive Giles County" which will be held this Saturday, October 1 at 6:30 p.m. on the courthouse square. I'm sure many folks have heard about this from the radio, local television station(s), the newspaper, and other sources. I thought that it would be nice to also have a discussion of this event (or a notice of some sort) on your blog, because I know it is widely read. I have a copy of a brochure concerning this event. Here is what is on the brochure:

"We are calling on the citizens of this county to join us in a day of "Prayer and Fasting" for America and Giles County. In these perilous times families are under attack. It is our prayer that you will join us as we call on God to revive this great Nation as we turn back to him.
Saturday, October 1st will be a day of prayer and fasting. We will assemble that night on the Pulaski Square, singing praise, offering prayers and hearing encouragement from God's word."

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

This effort is initiated by a Group of Giles County Christians who long for God to return to his people. For more information call 931-363-2245.

New Committee Assignments for 2011- 2012

2011-09-19T17:27:00.002-05:00

Listed below are the Committees established by the County Legislative Body for the 2011-2012 year legislative year.

AUDIT: (c) CARY, (vc) POPE, ADAMS, (s) REEDY, HOLT, HOUSTON & CAMPBELL

BUDGET: (c) FLACY, JACKSON, ADAMS, (s) BEECH, POLLARD, BROWN, (vc) CAMPBELL

SCHOOL: (c) POPE, REECE, REEDY, CARPENTER, (vc) HOWELL, (s) FAULKNER & HARWELL

HIGHWAY: CARY, (c) POPE, (vc) RISNER, WOODARD, HOLT, FAULKNER, (s) HARWELL

LAW ENFORCEMENT: REECE, WILBORN, (vc) RISNER, BEECH, HOWELL, (s) BROWN,

PUBLIC SERVICE: REECE, (vc) POPE, (c) CARPENTER, WOODARD, HOWELL, HOUSTON, (s) COLEMAN

ENVIROMENTAL: CARY, (vc) WILBORN, ADAMS, REEDY, (s) HOLT, FAULKNER,

AMBULANCE: (c) FLACY, (vc) JACKSON, CARPENTER, (s) WOODARD, POLLARD, BROWN, COLEMAN

LEGISLATIVE: REECE, (vc) WILBORN, CARPENTER, BEECH, (s) HOWELL, (c) FAULKNER, HARWELL

BUILDING: CARY, (c) JACKSON, RISNER, BEECH, (s) POLLARD, HOUSTON, COLEMAN

INSURANCE: (s) REECE, JACKSON, ADAMS, (c) REEDY, (vc) HOLY, HOUSTON, COLEMAN

NEW MEMBERS APPOINTED TO TWO YEAR TERMS ON THE BEER BOARD:

CARY, ADAMS, HOWELL, CAMPBELL

ETHICS: FLACY, WOODARD, HOLT, HARWELL & JOANN TOWNSEND

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT: VANZANT, TEE JACKSON, BARRY HYATT, COMMISSIONERS FLACY, CAMPBELL, POLLARD, POPE.

Comments Made At The Legislative Meeting 19 Sept. 2011

2011-09-19T16:49:00.003-05:00

This is the text of my comments delivered at the County Legislative Meeting this morning. The five minutes I was allotted ran out before I was able to finish but Mrs. Vanzant graciously allowed me the extra time to recite the poem I had written at the end. I do appreciate that consideration.

"I greatly appreciate this opportunity to address the commission this morning. Please understand that it is not my intention to be overly critical or belittle anyone. We may disagree on the process but I believe each of you are motivated by a desire to do what’s best. I’m no politician with great skills in tact. I’m just an old soldier who spent more time focused on getting the job done than sweet talking hard headed recruits. So please excuse me if I speak too directly for your comfort.

The first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution were ratified December 15, 1791, and form what’s known as the “Bill of Rights.” These are the foundations of freedom our founding fathers thought to be the most important.

The very first of these important freedoms is “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances”. Five freedoms; Religion; Speech; Press; To Assemble Peaceably; and to Petition Government for a Redress of Grievances, this in the very first Amendment.

The courts have held that the most basic component of freedom of expression, is the right to freedom of speech. The right to freedom of speech allows individuals to express themselves without interference or constraint by the government. The Supreme Court requires the government to provide substantial justification for the interference with the right of free speech where it attempts to regulate the content of that speech.

This amendment has been abused, misused and completely overlooked when convenient. Once this great nation was considered to be a nation of laws, which means that the law was paramount and each citizen could be confident in its equal application. Unfortunately that was and is more myth than reality to many citizens. Just ask a citizen who has been denied their right to address their government even after meeting all the requirements set down by that government. Ask a citizen who is verbally and physically attacked by a government official then told I’m a County Commissioner so what’s you gonna do about it. Denial of a person’s rights may not seem like such a big deal unless it’s your rights that have been violated. The truth of the matter is that when the rights of one are violated the rights of all are jeopardized.

Those who selectively apply the law for their benefit see no problem with its enforcement. Many of you should remember Bull Connor the democrat public safety commissioner in Birmingham who saw no problem with turning the dogs loose on peaceful demonstrators. He had no problem interpreting and enforcing the law, only problem was it was wrong. Many in Birmingham knew it was wrong but they were too fearful to demand it be applied rightly and equally.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was labeled by government officials as the most hated man in America, a troublemaker who was always stirring up trouble wherever he went. Government Officials used real and imagined laws to jail him beat him, do all they could to silence him. They weren't concerned with the truth of his words only that his words were disturbing to their comfort. Even the FBI was involved. Many knew that what was happening was wrong but they remained silent and allowed the wrong to continue. Finally the truth was heard and the wrong was faced up to. His statue was recently unveiled on the Washington Mall.

You, have established rules that support the 1st Amendment but you also have allowed those rules to be selectively applied. Selective application of the Constitution makes for no Constitution. Recently I met every requirement, followed every rule in order to address this Legislative Body, I was denied and the only reason given, was one of utter contempt for the Constitution, that state law prevented my speaking. No such law was named and no such laws exist. My Constitutional rights to speak and to petition the government were violated and the U.S. Constitution was made null and void without a single objection from this legislative body.

As County Commissioners each of you raised your hands and swore this oath, “I do solemnly swear that I will perform with fidelity the duties of the office to which I have been elected, and which I am about to assume. I do solemnly swear to support the constitutions of Tennessee and the United States and to faithfully perform the duties of the office of county commissioner representing the _________ district of _____________________, County, Tennessee. This oath expires when your term of office ends.

Others of this group took a different oath, I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”

This oath has no expiration date, just as once a Marine always a Marine, once taken, this oath remains apart of our lives. Some of you suffered and sacrificed greatly in defense of this oath, some of you lost great friends and family in defense of this oath. But In the ease of our comfort that oath has become less and less important until we hardly blink when that Constitution is violated.

Most people understand, at least in part, that being in the military and defending this nation in a war is a very noble and honorable thing but that oath was to “defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic”.

We must protect it from those within who seek to destroy its financial and moral strength. We must protect it from those who would corrode and abuse the Constitution that has made this the destination of millions oppressed in their own countries. Blindly defending those who have proven to do wrong is not the act of a patriot but of a coward too lazy to demand right behavior and accountability. Defending a nation on its home front is just as necessary as defending it on a battlefield in some foreign country. In fact it may be easier on the foreign battlefield because most of the time you at least can more easily tell who the enemy is.

"What We Abuse We Lose"

All gave some and some gave all;

And many were never counted,

Their sacrifice was taken for granted.

Then what had been their treasure,

Was lost to mindless pleasure.

For what had been died for

Was no longer worth... standing for.

Flags At Half Staff?

2011-09-09T16:15:00.003-05:00

Driving through town today I noticed that the U.S. Flag at the Court House was lowered to half staff yet the U.S. Flag at the Federal Post Office was not lowered to half staff. This is troubling as there were also several U.S. Flags posted around the courthouse improperly.

If the U.S. Flag is ordered by either the president or governor, the only two authorized to issue such an order, then why wasn't the flag at the Post Office Building also at half staff and why wasn't the flags around the courthouse posted properly?

If an appropriate order is issued to lower the U.S. Flag to half staff all U.S. Flags on government property are required to be flown at half staff. For those not able, because of size, or having been fixed to the staff, to be lowered to half staff a black ribbon may be attached at the top of that staff.

While we rightly remember this Patriot's Day with respect and prayers, we should also follow proper flag protocol in doing so.

This Is The "Rules of Order of The Board Of County Commissioners Of Giles County, Tennessee" As Sent To Me By DAW

2011-09-03T11:22:00.024-05:00

The Great One Issues Another Decree

2011-08-25T15:24:00.003-05:00

It seems that a citizens right to free speech isn't the only thing that the chosen one is threatened by.

Today an empirical decree was issued from the stately throne room high above the Suntrust Bank that there would be no more commissioner committee meetings held until after the September appointment of new committee members. It seems that the Legislative Committee had gotten out of control in their efforts to actually enforce a nuisance law passed more than ten years ago and the friend of vehicle junk yards everywhere could not allow that to happen.

So just as she stepped in and put a damper on the Adult Board when they had the gall to suggest certain beer joints on 31A comply with the law, she has cancelled the joint Legislative/Environmental Committee Meeting that was to have a member from CTAS and the solid waste officer attend.

The thing that's amazing to me is as the county executive she doesn't even have a vote on what the commission does. The chairperson of each committee sets their meetings not the county executive. Will this be the final straw that forces the commission to grow a collective backbone and actually stand up to the abuse of power being displayed by this interloper from Lincoln County? Will another invisible law be quoted justifying the suspension of reality and common sense?

Letter From Janet Vanzant

2011-08-24T11:32:00.003-05:00

This is a copy of the actual letter Mrs Vanzant sent telling me that I could not speak at the County Commission Meeting. Notice that she acknowledges that my request was made on 21 July 2011.

Thus proving, as some have claimed, that the request was in well within the time requirements.

Why Is The County Attorney So Defensive About A Simple Question?

2011-08-12T09:28:00.003-05:00

There was a meeting of the County Legislative Committee held last night at the Annex.

Those in attendance were Commission Members Mrs. Faulkner, Chairman; Mrs. Howell; Mrs. Reece; Mr. Carpenter; Mrs. Coleman; Mr. Jackson sat in for Mr. Wilburn. Mr. Beech, a member was absent. Also in attendance were the County Attorney; Mr Manke from the paper and three citizens. There were no deputies present.

The county attorney presented an extensive list of reasons why the nuisance laws passed in 2000 haven't been enforced, and no plan to enforce them now exist. This was termed unacceptable and a motion was approved to research and compile information needed to adopt an enforcement authority.

Among other topics discussed was the need to adopt clear language fund balance levels for each department of county government and comply with them.

Another question was whether there must be fifteen members, all appointed by the County Executive, on the Planning Commission. It was stated that each member is paid $30.00 per meeting and they meet ten times a year at a cost of $4,500.00. While the county is required to have this Commission to maintain it's three star rating it is unclear if it must have fifteen members or if less would suffice.

The second part of the meeting involved the question I was allowed to ask the county attorney. "A letter was sent to me and the commissioners denying me the privilege to speak at the last Commission Meeting. In that letter it was stated that you advised that state law prevented me from speaking. What was the specific Tennessee Code Annotated number that you used to make that decision?"

Mrs Henson's response took almost everyone by surprise when she stated, "you have two attorneys ask them".

I stated, "you're the one who used the code I just want to know what it was". Mrs Henson, "I'm not going to tell you, ask your attorney".

I stated that, "there was no TCA that prevented me speaking" to which Mrs Henson very red-faced left the meeting and the meeting was adjourned.

The question is one of credibility on the County Attorney's part. If there is a Tennessee Code Annotated that prevented me from speaking simply tell what it is and that's the end of the story. If there is no T.C.A. number and the whole thing was simply made up then she needs to apologize and resign as county attorney. The credibility of the county attorney is of immense importance and reflects on the full commission and all the county. If this decision was based on imaginary Codes and unsupportable what else has she advised on that is of questionable legality?

A Simple Mistake?

2011-08-12T09:09:00.003-05:00

Why did the vote to add over $72,000.00 to the budget state on the Tally Board that it required a 2/3 majority to pass and that Item 3 failed with 10 no's and 11 yes's but the County Executive announced that it passed? If this was a mistake why wasn't it pointed out at the time? Why didn't a single commissioner question the conflict? With such a discrepancy should the vote be re-taken in order to remove any question as to what was being voted on and what was required?

Why The County Legislative Body Is Not A Court and The County Executive Is Not A Judge

2011-08-01T17:36:00.003-05:00

Recently there has been several questions about the County Legislative Body being a County Court and thus the County Executive a judge. I can understand a normal citizen possibly not knowing that this term was changed in 1978 but there can be no excuse for the County Executive, the county attorney and a number of Commissioners not being aware of such a change. Only a complete ignorance of the State Code Annotated by an elected official or practicing attorney would leave one unaware of as simple a matter as the proper name of the Legislative Body for which they work.

Tenn. Code Ann. § 5-5-101 (Copy w/ Cite)
Pages: 2
Tenn. Code Ann. § 5-5-101

TENNESSEE CODE ANNOTATED
© 2011 by The State of Tennessee
All rights reserved

*** CURRENT THROUGH THE 2010 REGULAR SESSION ***

Title 5 Counties
Chapter 5 County Legislative Bodies
Part 1 Substantive Provisions

Tenn. Code Ann. § 5-5-101 (2011)

5-5-101. Basic legislative unit -- Name changes.

(a) The county legislative body is established as a basic legislative unit of each county of this state; provided, that the provisions of this subsection (a) shall not apply to counties that have already adopted the metropolitan form of government.

(b) Effective September 1, 1978, except in any county organized under the consolidated government provisions of the Tenn. Const., art. XI, § 9, the quarterly county court, county council and any other forms of county legislative bodies are abolished and all legislative powers that remained with such court, council and other forms of legislative bodies are hereby vested in the county legislative body. The county legislative body is further vested with all legislative powers and duties vested in justices of the peace prior to May 11, 1978.

(c) References to the quarterly county court, county council or other county legislative body appearing elsewhere in this code shall be deemed references to the county legislative body.

(d) References to the magistrates, justices of the peace, members or membership of such court, council or body appearing elsewhere in this code shall be deemed references to the members of the county legislative body.

HISTORY: Code 1858, §§ 4179, 4180, 4186 (deriv. Acts 1794, ch. 1, § 44; 1835-1836, ch. 6, § 1; 1837-1838, ch. 135, § 1); Acts 1875, ch. 70, §§ 1-3; integrated in Shan., § 5992; Code 1932, § 10193; Acts 1967, ch. 235, § 1; T.C.A. § 5-528; Acts 1978, ch. 934, §§ 7, 9; 1979, ch. 69, § 1; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 5-501.

COMMENTS DEEMED FORBIDDEN BY COUNTY EXECUTIVE

2011-07-27T10:16:00.002-05:00

The following statement is the entire content I requested to make before the Giles County Legislative Body at it's called meeting on 27 July 2011. The County Executive refused to allow me to speak even after I had met all the requirements to speak.
I had hope the Commissioners might have the strength and integrity to stand up to the abuse of power and override her violation of my civil rights, they failed.

My name is Allen Barrett…. I’m a retired soldier and retired minister. Giles County has been my chosen home since 1983 and I currently reside on Jackson Drive in Pulaski.
I appreciate your respect for my civil rights and giving me this generous allowance of time before you, to address the issue of the tax rate and the budget.

1) We’ve been told that the reason we’re gathered here today is because the state says..... Well, the state can’t talk... but it can be used as a scapegoat to pass the buck for excess spending.. Ladies and Gentlemen this budget is one big lie after another.

a) We were told that the tax rate... had... to go up from 2.69 to 2,77 or $350,000 because the Equalization Board had not completed their work before the rate was set. Yet the Calculation Form for the certified tax rate filled out by the tax assessor reveals that the equalization Board made zero changes.

b) Half a million dollars is in the budget as revenue from a weight station that isn’t even built yet, but we’re told that “Franklin County assured us that’s the amount they got” They don’t even have an interstate in Franklin County much less a weight station.

c) What happens if that money don’t materialize, will we be required to pay more in taxes later in the year? What will happen to next years rate?

d) We were told loudly about all the cuts but then all the cuts were quietly restored. We were told county employees would have to pay for the increase in their insurance but that too was secretly changed back to where it was….. 100% paid by the county. There’s no question the salary and benefits of government workers are already higher than the average citizen in the county.

2) For a change think about where this money is coming from, not where it’s going.

A) Asking the ninety year old lady down the street from me on a fixed income and
already paying to have her garbage hauled off, seems unfair to have her pay for a cow to be hauled off someone’s farm. That may be needed but how does it effect that lady?

B) You give money to the EDC/IDB which may be a good idea, but $35.00 car washes and
thousands of dollars for luxury rooms and meals don’t set well with folks struggling with how they’ll get their next meal. That money would pay for a lot of dead animal removal. Most of the money given the edc/idb….. the commission doesn’t have a clue where it’s gone.

C) The money is coming from people hit by 20% unemployment, gasoline prices 100% higher than last year, electricity up 40%, water up 25% in three years, sales tax maxed out. Well, you may say they can eat beans and taters and cornbread, but pinto beans increased 60% in past year to $1.15 a pound, potatoes and corn doubled in price. Fixed income ain’t fixed….. it’s shrinking.
There was no increase in Social Security this year but there was an increase in Medicare premiums. Our Seniors are paying more toward their medical insurance than county employees are.

3) There’s more space being used in the newspaper for foreclosures than for news.

A) Assessments were done not by our elected assessor looking at the property but by a formula and a guy from Nashville.

4) Many of you sitting here today have complained about the burden created by the federal government, yet you, are making this county government into the same kind of burden.
If this government is for the people and by the people then why is it making so many suffer unnecessarily? If this was a legitimate budget and process why was so much of it conceived and birthed in secret and open debate squelched?
I urge you please vote no on this illusion and the deceitful process under which it was created. Thank You

During the meeting, the $500,000.00 of possible money was removed from the budget and three positions that had been cut were restored. Two of those positions were custodians, the most productive of the custodians, and were needed. I believe they had only been cut to provide a stage to restore the third position in the Financial Management Office. The position in the Financial Management Office wasn't actually cut the person had quit three weeks ago and the director and County Executive wanted the position filled. Basically the Commission voted for a new hire. Understand that most of the people in the courthouse only work 35 hours or less but we'er told they can't possible get by with one single less person!

42 U.S.C. § 1983

2011-07-25T20:23:00.002-05:00

42 U.S.C. § 1983, popularly known as "Section 1983," is a federal law that allows lawsuits for violations of constitutional rights.

Statutory Language
42 U.S.C. §1983 authorizes lawsuits against state officials, local officials, and sometimes local governments for violating federal constitutional and statutory rights. The text of the statute is as follows:
Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any State or Territory or the District of Columbia, subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States or other person within the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding for redress ....

Supreme Court Standard
Chief Justice William Rehnquist wrote for a nearly unanimous Court:[1]
Section 1983 provides a federal cause of action against any person who, acting under color of state law, deprives another of his federal rights. 42 U.S.C. § 1983. In order to prevail in a § 1983 action for civil damages from a government official performing discretionary functions, the defense of qualified immunity that our cases have recognized requires that the official be shown to have violated "clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known." Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 818, 73 L. Ed. 2d 396, 102 S. Ct. 2727 (1982). Thus a court must first determine whether the plaintiff has alleged the deprivation of an actual constitutional right at all, and if so, proceed to determine whether that right was clearly established at the time of the alleged violation.
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Having met every stipulation required in order to speak to the Called Commission Assembly it is obvious that the County Executive in collusion with the County Attorney has conspired to violate my civil rights of political speech. In so doing the County Executive's misuse of her position and power has violated the most basic of Constitutional Rights of every citizen in this county. It can not go unchallenged.

REQUEST AND DENIAL TO ADDRESS THE COUNTY COMMISSION!

2011-07-25T11:30:00.002-05:00

Having been denied the opportunity to speak at the Budget Committee Meeting and the Public Hearing on the Budget, because of arbitrary and unreasonable restrictions applied to those not in favor with the "county monarchy", the "pseudo servants of the people", I naively presented a formal letter requesting to address the Full Legislative Body at the called meeting to discuss setting the tax rate and adopting the budget. When I returned home last night I had a letter from the county executive denying me the opportunity because of "State Law". Of course there was no specific Tennessee Code Annotated Regulation or law mentioned but the law does often stop a woman determined to have her way. I am posting the body of my request to speak and the letter denying my right to address the Legislative Body. Three things to note: (1)there no specific law mentioned prohibiting me from speaking; (2)This decision was made without any input from the County Legislative Body; (3)My request specifically states that my remarks are about the adoption of the Tax Rate.

Mrs. Vanzant,
In accordance with County Legislative Rules and at the urging of several County Commissioners I am requesting to address the County Legislative Body at its called meeting scheduled for the 27th day of July 2011 at 9AM.
The topic of my address will be the proposed budget and tax rate under consideration at this called meeting.
Sincerly, Allen Barrett

Dear Mr. Barrett:
Thank you for your letter of July 21, 2011 with regard to your request to speak at the special meeting on July 27, 2011. I have consulted the county attorney concerning this matter and this request must be denied.
In accordance with Tennessee law, no other business but that embraced in the call shall be transacted during such a special session.
Sincerly, Janet P. Vanzant

YOU BE THE JUDGE OF THIS ACTION!

Freedom of Speech, Rest in Peace!

2011-07-21T12:11:00.002-05:00

What does it take to simply get fair and equal treatment from the County Executive and those who blindly follow after her. Apparently you must be among the select and not ask any difficult questions.
Today in the Budget Committee Meeting a remarkable lesson in obfuscation was displayed for those present. Not only were many false and misleading statements made in support of adopting a tax rate of $2.77 no one from the audience was allowed to challenge those statements or present documents disputing those statements. Even though I held my hand up to speak several minutes and a commissioner continued to direct the chairperson to recognize me to speak I was ignored.

Now following the Budget Committee Meeting the chairman announced a five minute recess, over the objection of some commissioners, with instructions that the Public Hearing on the budget would begin at the end of that recess.

As soon as the Public Hearing was called to order by the Budget Committee Chairman, the question was asked if there was anyone to speak and as I raised my hand, an immediate motion to adjourn was made. I stated that I had applied to speak and was told I didn't get the request in on time. The requirement was to request to speak five days prior to the meeting but no specifics as to what the request must include was published. I stated that each time I tried to find information about the request there was no one in the office that could tell me.

The ad that was required to be posted only stated that a written request was to be turned in five days prior to the meeting. No specifics were stated as to what the request was to include. That's why I tried to contact the County Executive to make sure my request was correct. The newspaper came out on Tuesday night but wasn't delivered until Wednesday afternoon thus the latest a request could have been made was Thursday. One and a half days notice is not reasonable. Without any other requests to speak why couldn't three minutes be given for rebuttal of the things that had been stated earlier, the answer is the very fact that a rebuttal was to be offered.
I have now submitted a written request to address the full commission on the 27th
of July. It will be interesting to see what procedures will be tried to prevent me speaking on that day.

The Budget and Public Meeting held today will be posted on the website http://pulaskionline.blogspot.com/

A Great New Website To Visit

2011-07-21T12:01:00.003-05:00

If you are one of the many who want to know what's happening in the county but don't have access to the PES cable channel or unsatisfied with their irregular coverage there is great news for you. Now not only are county meetings being filmed and broadcast but also such things as the replacing of the Eagle on the Courthouse can be found at

http://pulaskionline.blogspot.com/

Make this site a regular part of your day. Watch for yourself what is happening in our county instead of having to rely of faulty word of mouth. See and hear for yourself.

Is It Time To Either Combine The EDC And The IDB Or Get A Less Extravagant Director?

2011-07-20T14:44:00.004-05:00

More and more it is being revealed that the expense of both an Economic Development Commission and an Industrial Development Board is just too great. One suggested solution is to combine the two into one and cut the amount of money going into it.

A second suggestion is that the current director should be replaced with a less extravagant Director who works with a much smaller salary and given a bonus based on what jobs are brought into the county.

One thing I do know is that there's a need for a thorough discussion of the responsibilities, accomplishments and expenses for the EDC/IDB.

Here are some expenses from July 2010 through June 2011.

$9986.46 for Dan Speer Insurance.

On 5/23/2011 there were nine different charges for food totaling $303.76 along with two charges for a Holiday Inn at $1210.21.

Three checks totaling $36,494.07 for interest on building. No payments were listed toward the principle.

$2,133.00 was spent on meals and entertainment to Hillside Hospital

$1,032.00 was spent on dues for Hillcrest Country Club

While I understand that it takes money to get business moving into the county I certainly fail to understand the amount of taxpayer money being used for such high living in relation to the amount of gain being made by the county. Presently there is more than 310,348 square feet of empty manufacturing space in the county under the control of the EDC.

The county gave $66,650.00 to the EDC for Fiscal Year 2010-2011.

It is past time for something to change.

Who Makes $112.50 An Hour In Giles County?????

2011-07-18T14:22:00.002-05:00

I'm sure that there aren't many in the County making $112.50 an hour but that's what Commissioners made this morning for their thirty-two minute Legislative Meeting. Now to be fair they certainly don't make that much on a regular schedule and some donate their salary as commissioners and others were not pleased with the fact the meeting this morning was held with another called meeting coming so close, 27 July at 9AM.

By all accounts there was nothing done this morning that could not have been easily put off until the called meeting on the 27th. At the very least the meeting this morning, instead of being adjourned, could have been recessed until the 27th, either way the expense of two full Legislative Meetings could have been avoided and nearly two thousand dollars saved or better used.

Some might be surprised that both Commissioners Holt and Campbell along with several other commissioners were in agreement with the idea of combing the two meetings and saving a sack of money. Commissioner Campbell even commented that he had "approached the powers that be with the very idea and was told a flat NO". While he didn't identify the "powers that be" it's very obvious that the person who has the power to set and change the meeting is the person who is the chairman Mrs Vanzant.

Since the shenanigans that were pulled to manipulate the tax rate seem to have worked and all the cuts to the budget are about to be restored, apparently there was no need to try and save money by combining these two meetings.
Oh, for those who will say there was no manipulation of the tax rate I would simply challenge them to do the math, these numbers are rounded off to the nearest thousand, if the new rate will bring in $52,000.00 per penny then seven pennies will bring in an extra $364,000 dollars just the amount of the previous cuts. My, my isn't that just amazing?
A public hearing will be held after the Budget Committee meeting this Thursday starting at 9AM in the Courthouse Annex.

Nothing Is Certain But Taxes, Death And Obfuscation Of The Truth

2011-07-14T09:58:00.005-05:00

I started this new thread in order to post an e-mail from the State Equalization Board concerning what is being said by the tax assessor and county executive about the increase in the tax rate. It is claimed by the Tax Assessor and the County Executive that a letter was sent by the state requiring that they increase the property tax another seven cents. As reported by Mrs. Vanzant, when a copy of the letter was requested, that letter had been taken by Mrs Garner on vacation with her. Already a called meeting of the Finance Committee and the Legislative Body has been scheduled for only days after the regular Legislative Body meets on the 18th.
This is from the State Equalization Board:
Property tax reappraisal and certified tax rates.
The closest thing to a prohibition on property taxes being higher in a year of reappraisal is the certified tax rate law, sometimes called “truth in taxation.” This is a summary of the law.

Property taxes and reappraisal
Property taxes are the largest single source of funding for local governments, and are used primarily to fund public schools. The tax is based on a percentage of the fair market value of property determined as of January 1 of the tax year. The percentage of value, known as assessed value, varies according to whether the property is farm/residential property (25% of fair market value), commercial/industrial property (40%) or public utility property (55%). In addition to the property value, the other determinant of the total tax bill is the tax rate, expressed as an amount per $100 of assessed value, which is adopted by county commissions and city councils each year after considering their annual budgets. Taxpayers can discuss or complain about property value at the office of the assessor and the county board of equalization, usually during May or June of the year, and they can discuss or complain about the tax rate at the office or meetings of their county commissioners or city councilmen or aldermen, beginning usually in July of the year.

The law requires that land and buildings be revalued for property tax purposes at least every six years (sometimes more often) because actual property values change at different rates in different parts of the county. Unless the assessor’s recorded values change with these actual rates of change in value, the tax as a percentage of the actual value will be greater for one homeowner or business than for another owner of the same type of property.

Certified tax rates
Higher values during a reappraisal do not necessarily mean higher taxes. The law requires the counties and cities to reexamine property tax rates after a reappraisal to make sure higher taxable values do not automatically result in a tax increase. Known as the certified tax rate law or “truth-in-taxation”, the law requires local governments to conduct public hearings before adopting a property tax rate that generates more taxes overall in a reappraisal year than were billed the year before at the previous year’s lower values. If the new tax rate following a revaluation does not exceed the certified rate, the average tax bill may actually remain the same. If the property value increased as the result of the revaluation more than the average, the taxes may be somewhat higher, while if the value increased less than the average, the tax bill may actually be lower in a revaluation year compared to the year before.

Once a certified rate is calculated by the assessor and chief executive of the tax jurisdiction, and reviewed by the State Board of Equalization, it is submitted to the jurisdiction’s governing body for formal determination, usually for consideration with the budget. If the budget will require an increase above the certified rate, the governing body must publish notice of a public hearing on whether to exceed the certified rate and then may proceed to adopt an actual tax rate after the hearing. If the certified tax rate is exceeded, the jurisdiction must send the State Board of Equalization an affidavit of publication for the hearing notice, and a certified copy of the final tax rate ordinance or resolution.

Questions about the certified tax rate law may be directed to the State Board of Equalization at (615) 401-7883, or e-mailed to sb.web@tn.gov.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the highlights of the above statement:
The tax is based on a percentage of the fair market value of property determined as of January 1 of the tax year

In addition to the property value, the other determinant of the total tax bill is the tax rate, expressed as an amount per $100 of assessed value, which is adopted by county commissions and city councils each year after considering their annual budgets.

Taxpayers can discuss or complain about property value at the office of the assessor and the county board of equalization, they can discuss or complain about the tax rate at the office or meetings of their county commissioners or city councilmen or aldermen

The law requires the counties and cities to reexamine property tax rates after a reappraisal to make sure higher taxable values do not automatically result in a tax increase.

the law requires local governments to conduct public hearings before adopting a property tax rate that generates more taxes overall in a reappraisal year than were billed the year before at the previous year’s lower values.

Once a certified rate is calculated by the assessor and chief executive of the tax jurisdiction

If the budget will require an increase above the certified rate, the governing body must publish notice of a public hearing on whether to exceed the certified rate and then may proceed to adopt an actual tax rate after the hearing.

What Happened To The $2.70 Tax Rate Set For The County?

2011-07-13T11:41:00.004-05:00

It seems that between the tax assessor and the county executive the $2.70 property tax rate that was approved by the Budget Committee and sent to the County Commission after the required public meeting was held, just wasn't enough so without benefit of the Budget Committee or the Commissioners they have decided to tack on another seven cents so that the property tax rate will now be $2.77 not $2.70.

While a regular Commission Meeting is scheduled for the 18 of July, there is now a special called Budget Committee meeting on the 21st of July and a special called Commission Meeting for the next week. Of course since the county planted the new money trees a few hundred dollars extra for special meetings isn't a problem. "PPP" is not an excuse for this kind of wasteful spending.

Questions About The Ice River Springs Deal?

2011-07-13T11:26:00.002-05:00

By now most should know that the deal made several years ago by the Industrial Development Board with Ice River Springs to build a plant in Giles County has now fallen through and they want their money back.
As the story goes Ice River purchased the land for the plant and paid $280,000.00 with the stipulation that they would be given the money back if they did not build in Giles County, now they want their money back.

Some questions that need to be answered are where has the money been these past number of years? Has it been invested? Has it been drawing interest? Has it been spent? Has it been in escrow or buried in someone's backyard?

Is the land now worth the same ten thousand dollars an acre or has the land like most all property in the county lost some value. If the Tax Assessor has a say in this question no doubt the land will be worth twice as much now as before the recession.

There is a Board meeting tomorrow, 14 July at 11 am, in the PES Building. Bring your questions and address them to the board.

Is It Time To Exterminate Fat People?

2011-07-13T10:10:00.002-05:00

Have we finally come to the time when "fat people" are such a strain on the general public that it's now time to exterminate them for the betterment of society?
Now, that may sound like an incredibly insensitive and absurd question but how absurd was the question of women having abortions in 1910 or the question, in 1944, should children be allowed to begin the school day with prayer? Even as late as 1960 it would have been an absurdity to question if reciting the "Pledge of Allegiance" was appropriate in school.

This is from the Associated Press and Wall Street Journal.
"A pair of Harvard scholars writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association advocate stripping away the custody rights of parents of obese children."
"Despite the discomfort posed by state intervention, it may sometimes be necessary to protect a child," said Lindsey Murtagh, a lawyer and researcher at Harvard's School of Public Health. The study's co-author, David Ludwig, says taking away peoples' children "ideally will support not just the child but the whole family, with the goal of reuniting child and family as soon as possible." Ludwig, an obesity specialist at Harvard-affiliated Children's Hospital, said his eureka moment was when a 90-pound, 3-year-old girl entered his obesity clinic a number of years ago," reports Lindsey Tanner at the Associated Press."
If there is already much strong public criticism about people being overweight and talk of removing overweight children from their parents, Mrs Obama has taken good nutrition as one of her "passionate interests", however it didn't prevent her from having a huge plate of ribs while in Denver or decrease her dress size, how long before the government dictates that us fat people have to go?
When the matter of abortion on demand has been questioned it's met with the liberal mantra "the government has no place in a woman's womb". When the matter of perverted sex comes up it's met with the liberal mantra "there is no place for the government in our bedrooms". Now the question is raised about what we eat and not only is the government in our kitchens they are crawling into our bellies. If the liberals are really interested in the general public losing weight I would suggest the best way for the public to lose a tremendous amount of weight is simply by the government getting off our backs.

Are People Satisfied With The Changes At GCHS and Elkton?????

2011-07-12T19:51:00.002-05:00

It has come to my attention that there are many folks very unhappy, to say the least, with a couple of major changes that have been made by the school system.

First there is the matter of Mr. Ron Shirey being moved from the main office to Asst. Principal at Giles County High School.

The second move is far more troubling to me as it involves the hiring of Mr. Michael Gonzales as the new principal at Elkton. Based on past dealings with Mr. Gonzales I fear he does not possess the temperament to be in control of children much less as a principal. Many will remember that Mr. Gonzales was a former School Board Superintendent who had several very unusual events take place on his watch. The arrest of myself and Fred Winkles on trumped up charges and conflicting testimony given by Mr. Gonzales and Mr. Jackson under oath; extensions of the School Directors contract far beyond the next school board's control; the taking of tax money by the school board to make "emergency" purchases of buses then the money was used for other things; the misuse of funds and the bid process for work on the Richland ball fields and walk areas; etc.
Some questions that arise over this employment is was there a public hearing where this hire was discussed? How many other candidates applied for the position and how were those candidates informed of the open position and when were the interviews held? Should the people of Elkton have any say in who is installed as principal especially when there is so much negative in the appointees history?

Amazing Events or Common Sense Approach

2011-07-07T17:33:00.002-05:00

How did the Legislative Committee Meeting manage to take place this afternoon without the presence of a deputy sheriff? Was the absence of the county executive, meeting was at 4PM she goes home at 3PM, the reason no one felt threatened and people were able to discuss matters in a friendly open manner?
Is it possible that the only reason the expense of having a deputy sheriff attend committee meetings during the day is that it's only during the day that the vindictiveness of some behaviors creates a paranoia that can't be squelched?

Has the Tax Assessor's Judgement Become Impaired?

2011-06-29T10:28:00.002-05:00

At the County Commission Meeting Monday a behavior was publicly exhibited by the County Tax Assessor, Mr. Steve McGill, that has many shaking their heads and wondering if it was a matter of poor judgement or something more serious.
It seems Mr. McGill took extreme exception to the idea being discussed by Commissioners concerning compliance with the Financial Management Act and having the fee offices turn their fees into the general fund with dispersal made by the Financial Management Office.
Mr. McGill, whose office was unaffected apparently decided that he would challenge Commissioner Reedy with the very unseemly slur, "did God come to you in a vision and tell you to do this"? Mr. McGill, who seems to have an ever present Sundrop bottle, a disheveled look and blurry eyes, has shown such behavior before toward Commissioners. He was called down three times by the County Executive before he would sit down and be quiet.

When Mr. McGill was reprimanded for a Driving Under the Influence charge he was warned that such behavior would not be tolerated in the future. The question now arises, in light of this recent activity, as to whether it's appropriate for Mr. McGill to continue as a representative of county government?

What Happened?

2011-06-29T09:44:00.002-05:00

A few weeks ago after another dirty deal, this time by the Equalization Board I decided that I would just withdraw from any active role in Giles County politics. I had even started looking for someone to take control of the blog. I was so disgusted with the way things are and the complacent attitude of so many of the sheep awaiting their turn to be sheared I just had enough. I even stopped attending committee meetings and stopped posting on the blog I was so fed up. I was finished, the political thugs had won. Then comes this frivolous lawsuit and I'm pulled back into the fray. "Let sleeping dogs lay" should have been followed.
While I can't comment directly on baseless lawsuits I will say opening that can of worms is going to entangle some very important people and bring up some mighty interesting questions under oath.

Why Has The Jail Spent More Than $100,000.00 Over Budget?

2011-06-13T19:51:00.000-05:00

At a recent Budget Committee Meeting it was announced that the jail was more than $100,000.00 over budget. How could this happen, was no one watching the books?
Chief Deputy Chapman explained the situation in fine detail and it’s not pretty. The reason the jail is so far over budget is the medical cost incurred treating prisoners. A female prisoner seems to have convinced herself that it’s her responsibility to get pregnant and the county taxpayer’s responsibility to pay her medical bills. Of five children she has had I’m told three including the one she is currently pregnant with were gifts from the county taxpayers. As of Friday this person was still in St. Thomas Hospital racking up thousands of dollars a day in hospital costs and overtime for deputies that have to continue guarding her around the clock. The story was told had one time this woman was forced out of the jail on probation, against her will, in an effort to avoid the county having to pay for yet another baby. She is said to have told deputies upon leaving that she would be back that the county would pay. After leaving the jail she went straight to a convenience store and robbed them then sat and waited for the police to come get her. She basically was back in jail before the paper work for her release was completed.

It seems that some have learned to work the system so well and the justice system has become so broken that people are going to jail for their medical and dental care. If you do meth until your teeth rot out the county is obligated to get you new ones or fix the ones you have. A five or six thousand dollar dental bill is not that unusual. If you have a serious illness simply commit a crime and go to jail for free treatment.

People are being put on probation time and time again in an effort to avoid the huge medical bills being created but those who work the system know this and continue to commit crimes until they get back in the jail.

Freedom From Religion Foundation

2011-06-09T12:04:00.000-05:00

Someone asked about a thread to discuss the actions of a group called “Freedom From Religion Foundation” who recently made some noise against the practice of having a prayer offered at a Kindergarten Graduation. As far as I have been able to determine nothing official has been done by this group other than to make a complaint to the school director.

This is from their website:
“Welcome to the Freedom from Religion Foundation
The history of Western civilization shows us that most social and moral progress has been brought about by persons free from religion. In modern times the first to speak out for prison reform, for humane treatment of the mentally ill, for abolition of capital punishment, for women's right to vote, for death with dignity for the terminally ill, and for the right to choose contraception, sterilization and abortion have been freethinkers, just as they were the first to call for an end to slavery. The Foundation works as an umbrella for those who are free from religion and are committed to the cherished principle of separation of state and church.”
As you can see they have taken the liberty to re-write much of western history to show them in a more favorable light. The truth is however that they are just another anti American, God hating, pseudo-intellectual, group of liberals set on the banishment of other peoples freedoms in favor of their own.

Understanding that the worship of God is only one small part of what being religious means, there are few groups that are as religious as atheist. The dictionary defines religion as “the service and worship of God or the supernatural.” A second definition is “a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices”. Basically it’s this belief and practice, that man is the only god, that has become the atheist‘s religion. While man may possess many great traits and abilities he has yet to create one single solitary thing, the best he has been able to do is re-arrange and combine things that were already here.

For me every person has the right to worship anything they choose but they have no right to prevent me from exercising that same right. Sacrificing babies on the alter of selfishness is disgusting yet I must accept that some believe in that religion. The difference is that when a person practices that religion it becomes the most hideous of murders and steals the rights of that child, thus imposing another’s destructive will on them.

Would You Pay This Invoice The Way It Is Presented?

2011-05-31T11:34:00.002-05:00

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.

Are The Property Assessments Realistic?????

2011-05-20T07:40:00.002-05:00

I have spoken with several dozen people about their new property assessment and not a single person I have spoken with has seen a decrease in their assessment.
While some property owners have seen their tax liability go down some that is the result of the state mandated reduction in the tax rate.

Here is a couple of interesting things about the current tax rate that some may not know. It is controlled by the County Executive and the Commissioner. They can raise or lower it as they choose. The legislative Body of the county even has authority for the state to freeze taxes paid by certain citizens as in the senior tax freeze that the county refused to adopt.
The other thing, which is less well known but I suspect will soon become a much discussed issue, is the authority to apply to the state as a "hardship" case and seek an exception to the rule and be allowed to raise property taxes even in this reassessment year.

The questions every property owner needs to ask themselves is, can I sell my property for the assessed price; have I made significant improvements to my property to justify this increase; based on the criteria used to assess the property is this increase justified; would a bank or other lending institution actually lend me the money to buy this property at this price? When I looked at my property the answer to each of those questions was a very clear, no.
When I looked up every piece of property in my neighborhood not one single property had maintained the same value it had in 2005, every piece of property in my neighborhood had fallen in value. When I looked up various properties around the county every piece of property had lost value since 2005. The tax assessor is on record as saying, that there was a lot of property that was undervalued in the past and my question to him is whose fault is that. Should citizens pay a penalty because the tax assessor didn't do his job properly?

I will be going before the Equalization Board and I urge everyone else to get an appointment and challenge these unrealistic assessments.
The thing to keep in mind is while your tax bill may have gone down a bit this year the stage is being set for a big increase next year if not sooner.

What Happened To The Investigation Into Missing Property From Emergency Management ?

2011-05-19T14:00:00.002-05:00

After much more than an adequate amount of time for an investigation into the matter many questions are still unanswered.
What is factually known about the situation is that a large number of county owned items ended up missing from the Emergency Management Department. Things like a laptop, radios, uniforms even tires off county vehicles among other things. An investigation was launched then, possibly because of the upcoming election or other political considerations, everything seems to have quietly gone away including the person at the center of the issue.

It has been reported to me that a former employee of the Emergency Management Office, Derek Lemire was on parole in Rhode Island at the time he was serving as an assistant director of that office. It is further reported that Mr. Lemire, with the help of a letter from the Giles County Sheriff's office, has now had his criminal record in Rhode Island expunged or sealed and is employed by the Boston Office of Homeland Security.
I do not know to what degree, if any, Mr. Lemire was involved with the missing property. I do know that he was certainly a person of interest in the investigation.

If these things are true, then the question is how could they have happened, is the investigation complete, has anyone been charged, why so much secrecy attached to the matter, who was responsible for the hiring, who wrote the letter, and what did the investigation reveal? It seems that with several thousand dollars of equipment missing no one should be satisfied until the person or persons responsible are held accountable.

Victory Over The Wheel Tax

2011-05-16T11:45:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to all the horn honkers, phone callers, sign holders and especially to those Commissioners who listened to those they represent. It was your efforts that forced the withdrawal of the Wheel Tax resolution. The resolution was withdrawn without a vote because of a lack of support from the Commissioners.
While we may not know with absolute certainty who the Commissioners were that would have voted for this odorous resolution we do commend those who said they were against it.
This is a victory for all the citizens in the county.

Who Is Costing The City Money?

2011-05-14T15:59:00.001-05:00

This is a request from a reader and is posted as it was presented.

"I wish you would start a thread about "who is costing the City money??" I live inside the city limits and I want to know if my tax dollars are being spent on the city's attorney fees for this doctor's lawsuit. Someone with the city should come forward and make a public appearance to inform the citizens about all the lawsuits that the police department is and has been involved in. We deserve answers!!!"

From the Insurance Committee Held This Morning

2011-05-13T18:59:00.002-05:00

During this mornings Insurance Committee Meeting it was discussed and agreed that finally county employees would be required to pay a portion of their health insurance premiums.
The premiums are scheduled to go up 7.1% this year and the county just don't have the money to continue paying all the cost. This means that the approximate increase of $42.00 will be paid by the employee if this is passed in the Budget Committee and the full Commission.
The resolution that was passed this morning states that the county will pay the first $590.00 of an individual employee's health insurance premium and the employee will be obligated for the rest of the cost.

Blog Was Closed For Repairs

2011-05-13T13:47:00.002-05:00

The blog has been down for repairs by the main administrator. I have been just as frustrated as anyone about it being down and not knowing why, especially when topics and post were deleted. Last night I received a message that it had been closed for repairs and updating but should be back up sometime today. They stated that they would try to re-post the items that were deleted but could not guarantee it. Finally it came back but apparently the deleted items could not be re-posted by the administrator.

Just Who Is Costing The County Money?????

2011-05-13T13:21:00.002-05:00

Well it seems that, if you believe everything you read, the county is almost bankrupt because of me.
The newspaper reported that the County Attorney Lucy Henson, has billed the county $16,638.00 for defending the county in a lawsuit filed by me, “an unsuccessful 7th District County Commission Candidate in 2010”.

Boy was I shocked to learn how much the County Attorney had charged the county and then to learn that the County Executive Janet Vanzant the former director of the Senior Citizens Center that lost so much toilet tissue and food under her leadership, believes that it will require hiring another attorney to assist Ms. Henson because of the appeal.

As I total up the cost of my defense against the incompetent, illegal and abusive behavior of the Election Office I am amazed that my attorney charged so little. You see my attorney charged me $150.00 an hour his fee was just at $9,000.00, but he did travel from Columbia several times, then another $2,000.00 for an expert witness, filing fees, subpoenas and such the cost was just over $11,000.00 dollars on an itemized bill. Because there is basically nothing that can be added in the appeal process there is really very little cost other than the administrative matters which I have to pay. Certainly nothing that would require an additional attorney, unless of course that additional attorney might be Mr. Williams who defended Mrs Coleman at no cost as was been reported.

Hummmm, at $150.00 an hour that means Mrs. Henson spent about 110 hours on my suit. Wonder if she has submitted an itemized bill for her services?

Some questions that come to my mind as I ponder this matter; Ms. Henson is paid $40,000.00 a year to handle county business has she really exceeded that amount on other matters of county business. I realize her standard response to very question is “I have to research it”. Heck, she’s been researching the question of the illegal action taken by Mrs Vanzant in overriding the County Commission decision about the distance rule to sell alcohol for over a year now.

I’m sure it took a lot of time dealing with the order that came down from the State Attorney General that the county had to alter their distance law or face legal action.
I wonder since, in court, under oath Mrs Bassham admitted to a number of very serious “errors and mistakes” that led to this lawsuit if she has receive any type reprimand or given any reprimands to she staff? I mean after all had her office fulfilled there duties properly and responsibly there never would have been a suit to file.

I wonder why there has been more embellished exaggeration from the County Executives office about my cost to the county than about Mrs Vanzants cost to the county, after all the county didn’t have to pay me $70,000.00 for racial discrimination against Mrs. White or several million spent on the jail mess over none existent dangerous mold, and I haven’t even heard anything about what she cost the county in mishandling the Hunter Smith Building. Will I guess she just don’t want to brag about her accomplishments.

Oh, for the folks who were so critical of this lawsuit, as Judge Jones stated to Mr. Williams in court, “this is no frivolous lawsuit so you can forget throwing it out”, the lawsuit I filed was not by my choosing but was forced on me by a government and individuals who refused to follow the law or respect the basic rights of citizens.

HONK AGAINST THE WHEEL TAX

2011-05-13T13:17:00.001-05:00

On Monday morning 16 May 2011 at 9:00 AM the County Legislative Body will come into session and on the agenda for that meeting is the issue of circumventing the voters of Giles County by passing a Private Act to implement a Wheel Tax of $50.00 per vehicle on the citizens of the county. If this passes it will be given to Representative Eddie Bass to take before the state legislature for approval. My understanding, at this time, is that Rep. Bass has agreed to do this. Understand that there is nothing that legally requires Rep. Bass to do this. It is merely an act of courtesy to the County Legislative Body.
While a Private Act usually applies to such things as a state recognition of an individual, event or place it seldom is used for such an odious deed as imposing an unwanted and unneeded tax on citizens.
Because this Private Act, if approved, will not allow the people to vote on it our only opportunity to express our opposition will be in the form of a "Honkathon" around the square. While we will be limited to only four sign holders on the corners of county property we are asking that everyone who is opposed to this abusive action come to the square and honk your horns as you travel past the courthouse.
We plan to begin around 8:30 and continue throughout the meeting.

Understand there are a number of Commissioners who have committed to vote against this sleazy maneuver and are just as disgusted as anyone about it, they need our support. Call your commissioner and the County Executive ask where they stand on this issue politely express your objection to the wheel tax then on Monday come to the Courthouse Square and "honk" your opposition.

“Commissioners Consider A Wheel Tax”

2011-05-13T13:01:00.002-05:00

“Commissioners Consider A Wheel Tax”
That was the headlines in the newspaper but there was much that was left out about the consideration for a Wheel Tax.

According to the paper the Financial Management Director says the proposed Wheel Tax of $50.00 would provide $1,600,000.00 a year for the Highway Department if all the money went to the Highway Department. While I agree the Highway Department needs to be properly funded this is not the way as it creates an additional financial burden on citizens at a time when many are hardly making ends meet. There is sufficient money in the county revenues to fund the Highway Department even give an increase over last years budget but it would require cutting the hefty budgets of other less necessary departments.

Some Commissioners led by Commissioners Campbell, Holt and County Executive Vanzant are using the same scare tactics as the federal government liars who continue to pad their own pet projects while crying that any cuts would result in Grandma starving.
Have you ever had someone ask you to buy their beer and cigarettes for them? I’ve had many people come and ask for help paying their utility bill or buy groceries for their kids while they reeked of tobacco or beer. You see some people will use the claim of need as a means of getting others to pay for their wants. This is what some on the Commission are doing now, using the Highway Department to increase revenue while continuing to spend wastefully in other areas. They have blown through six million dollars in reserves because they lack fiscal discipline and responsibility. If a Wheel Tax is passed it will only free up other money for these same spendthrifts to waste.

Another tactic is to make people believe that if a Wheel Tax is implemented there will be no need for a property tax increase or even the more outrageous lie that a Wheel Tax will mean a reduction in property tax. Incompetence and stupidity have not balanced the books in Giles County for several years and as long as the arrogant incompetence that currently exists continues to lead the budget will never be balanced regardless of how much money is made available.

Another thing that’s driving this desire for a Wheel Tax is envy. Some have expressed the idea that not everyone pays a property tax and a wheel tax would make them pay their fair share. To date no one has told me how they would be better off paying a $50.00 Wheel Tax because someone living in an apartment is paying it.
People who rent do not pay a direct property tax but they do pay the tax indirectly. It would be a terribly poor manager or government official to not pass the expenses of owning a property on to the one renting that property. How can a person who owns their own home have envy toward one who has to rent theirs? Does a person whose income is $80,000.00 a year envy the person’s salary that is only $20,000.00. If the tax must be imposed at least don’t let it be because of envy and contempt for the poor among us.

The proposal is for a Wheel Tax of fifty dollars for twenty years but the truth of the matter is that there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that can be done by this legislative body that can inhibit future legislative bodies. In other words if later on the desire is to increase the amount of the tax, it can be done. If later on the desire is to extend the time, it can be done? After the tax is implemented there’s nothing to prevent changes being made as has been done in every other county that has adopted a wheel tax. Some started with a mere five dollar tax for schools now it’s increased to seventy dollars for schools, highways, recreation facilities, salaries, practically any and every thing government desires it for.

Another thing to question is why a private act? By doing this with a Private Act it simply takes away any involvement by the citizens the tax will be imposed on. In other words silence the voice of the voters. Understand there is absolutely nothing that legally requires Representative Bass to accept this and present it to the state legislature for approval. It is merely a courtesy and normally is used for non-controversial things such as state recognition of a person, an event or a place. A private Act to impose an unwanted tax increase on citizens is as sleazy as politics gets.

Who Owns The Speculation Buildings Pulaski, Industrial Development or Economic Development ??????

2011-05-04T10:50:00.003-05:00

This topic was submitted by a reader and is posted as written except for the clarification on what EDC and IDB stand for. The person's name has been withheld because they did not specifically state that it was to be used.

"The speck building in Pulaski was built at a cost of approx $1.2 million it is worth today approx $7 to $800,000. Who pays the difference if we sell for less?

The problem with all of this is that EDC (Economic Development Committee) owns the building which is not legal! They are trying to move it over to the IDB (Industrial Development Board)as soon as possible!

Who arranged this deal and who signed the paperwork? This came up at the City Council work session on Monday.

Can you please put this on the blog?

Property Tax Assessments

2011-04-18T20:39:00.002-05:00

By now most folks have probably gotten their notice of the new appraised value of their property. Along with that appraisal is the new value assessed on that property and judging from the calls I've gotten this week they are really something.
I have heard of up to forty percent increases in the appraisal value with most being approximately twenty-five percent increases which translates into some very hefty tax increases.

There are some who will falsely believe that this "appraised value" means that their property has actually increased in value but unfortunately that is not reality. We are in the midst, as most people are aware, of a very depressed economy although inflation is beginning to show it's ugly head. Property values in Giles County are extremely depressed and there is no way possible to justify any size appraisal increase on the same exact property as the last appraisal and there is certainly no reasonable justification for a 40% increase. The tax assessors appraisal does not mean that your property will sell for the amount he has appraised it at. Ask yourself if the house across the street from you sold for $89.000.00 and it was appraised at $130,000.00 should your house be appraised, with no improvements, ten thousand dollars higher than the last appraisal of $120,000.00?
I would urge everyone who disagrees with this new appraisal to call 1-931-363-2166 between 18 April and 29 April and ask for a meeting to explain the justification for such large increases in such a depressed market.

How to Figure Your Property Tax Bill

Property taxes are calculated using the following four components:

1. APPRAISED VALUE - The Appraised Value for each taxable property in a county is determined by the county property assessor.

2. ASSESSMENT RATIO - The Assessment Ratio for the different classes of property is established by state law (residential and farm @ 25% of appraised value, commercial/industrial @ 40% of appraised value).

3. ASSESSED VALUE - The Assessed Value is calculated by multiplying the appraised value by the assessment ratio.

4. TAX RATE - The Tax Rate for each county is set by the county commission based on the amount of monies budgeted to fund the provided services. These tax rates vary depending on the level of services provided and the total value of the county’s tax base.

The Tax Rate For Giles County is $3.07
With the cities having an additional rate of Ardmore: $0.26; Elkton: $0.33; Lynnville: $0.65; and Pulaski: $0.62

To calculate the tax on your property, multiply the ASSESSED VALUE by the TAX RATE.

Assume you have a house with an APPRAISED VALUE of $100,000. The ASSESSED VALUE is $25,000 (25% of $100,000), and the TAX RATE has been set by your county commission at $3.07 per hundred of assessed value. To figure the tax simply multiply the ASSESSED VALUE ($25,000) by the TAX RATE (3.20 per hundred dollars assessed).

$25,000 / 100 = 250 x $3.07 = $767.50 or ($25,000 x .0307 = $767.50)
for a tax bill of $767.50

In 2010 there were a total of 19073 parcels with 18477 taxed parcels and 596 exempt parcels. The total assessed value was $442,850,844.00.
The total Appraised value was $1,618,895,097.
These numbers were supplied by the Tennessee State Comptrollers Office.

A Prom Where and How Much?????

2011-04-04T16:39:00.002-05:00

Why is GCHS holding it's prom in Nashville instead of here? A prom is a very expensive thing to parents especially in this economy, "the dresses, the tux, the hair, the accessories etc", so adding $65.00 to the cost for transportation and set up at a hotel in Nashville seems unreasonable. It was mentioned that some people thought this was an easy way to keep the "undesirables" away but I fear if true it may be keeping many others from enjoying one of the most important events in their young lives.

Debt Service vs General Fund

2011-04-04T15:21:00.002-05:00

During the called meeting of the County Legislative Body this morning it was stated by the Finance Director that if the county entered into the proposed loan for up to four million dollars it would in no way cause a need to increase or create any new taxes.
She explained, in response to a question by Commissioner Pope, that when Commissioner Greene was on the Commission he set up the bonds so they could be paid off early not realizing that there was a penalty for paying them off early. Having watched Commissioner Greene at work I find it very odd that would have been over looked as he was most through in financial matters. The Director went on to explain that the "excess" money used to pay off the bonds was going into the general fund and that excess could be used to pay for the new loans. No explanation was given as to the meaning of "excess funds".
Here's my problem with the Finance Director's explanation. First of all I am in full support of putting a wastewater treatment system out at the interstate, I have been for over ten years. There is no separate income for the debt service and since the amount that was apparently designated for debt service has been going into the general fund taking that money out of general funds would now mean taking it from other expenses since the county has run a deficit of over a million dollars a year for the past several years. Let me try and make an example of the situation. If you have twenty dollars in income and spend five dollars on your credit card debt that leaves you with fifteen dollars to spend somewhere else. Now you decide to buy a car and you have to pay ten dollars on it each month. So now you are required to pay five dollars on your credit card and ten dollars on your car debt which leaves you with only five dollars for everything else. Each time there is a new obligation created there is taken away an equal amount from general purchases.

Now one other question that I need some help in understanding. The loan itself. At a budget meeting I asked Mr. McAnulty what would be the cost of the 4 million bond issue. He stated the specifics for a total administrative cost of $48,000.00.
At the end of that meeting that was the agreement. Then came the Full Commission Meeting and the proposal had been withdrawn by the County Executive. No explanation was given at the time. It was later learned that Steve Walkers a former CTAS employee now working for a finance company had presented the County Executive with a different proposal that would cost the county only $2,000.00 in administrative fees. Is a $2000.00 administrative fee realistic for such a loan? Is this an example of the buddy system once again? Why isn't the written proposal for this loan put on the County website? Why isn't any of the county financials put on the website like was promised more than a year ago? If the cost of the loan is only $2,000.00 I say congratulations to the County Executive and anyone else who worked out this deal but but shame on you for the secrecy that you have it surrounded in.

Did I Lie About The Poster I Labeled "An Enabler Of Wrongdoing"?

2011-03-30T19:19:00.002-05:00

Sometimes it just don't pay to leave town for a few days especially when you return and find a person who continuously asks others to refer to him as a "Christian Gentleman" and claims to never call people names has made several posts where he refers to me as a liar. This absurd claim is justified in the mind of the enabler simply because he says it is. "There never was an enabler if you are referring to me. That is a lie allen barrett told about me" has now appeared in several posts from the enabler. The problem I have with this, and according to the posts a number of others also have the same problem, is the fact that the enabler never provides anything to support his claim. Not once has he provided anything other that it's a lie because I say it's a lie in support of his claim.
The question is why would I simply make up something and publish it knowing that if it can't be proven it would be used to destroy the credibility I so value? Here is my reasoning in support of my belief that I did not lie nor was I inaccurate when I labeled this person "an enabler of wrongdoing".

The term enabler refers to one that enables another to achieve an end; especially one who enables another to persist in self-destructive behavior, (as substance abuse), or behavior inconsistent with what's normally acceptable, by providing excuses or by making it possible to avoid the consequences of such behavior.

By continuing to support a person who has been caught and exposed as a liar the enabler supports that behavior. When the County Executive was caught in a lie about her involvement in changing the rules for distances between places that sell alcohol and churches, schools or public gathering places he continued to make excuses for her and deny it even happened.
When the lie was exposed about the need for the budget to be passed last year on that particular day or "the ambulances would have to be parked"; the rescue squad could not respond"; "teachers and other county workers would not get paid", the enabler continued to deny every aspect of the situation. Even after documents were provided that disproved the accusations of the County Executive, the ambulance director and the budget director the enabler still sought to deny the truth revealed by those documents. Whenever there is any criticism of an enablers friend the enabler tries to change the subject and take the heat off the subject thus allowing the wrongdoer to continue unabated.
When the video, "I'm a county commissioner, what you gonna do about it", of Commissioner Harwell was being seen by thousands of people the enabler was denying it even happened later he modified his position by claiming it wasn't Harwell's fault he was provoked into defending his wife. It was a matter of what are you going to believe what you see with your own eyes or what someone tells you?
I could list a number of other very specific examples of how this person has enabled wrongdoing and attempted to enable wrongdoing but you get the point.
Did I lie when I called this person "an enabler of wrongdoing"? I do not believe I lied based on the evidence but this is a matter for each individual to decide.

Commission Votes To Not Allow Recess Of Charter Commission

2011-03-23T13:29:00.002-05:00

The request was made by the Charter Committee to seek approval from the County Legislative Body to allow the Charter Committee to recess until April of next year and present their Charter at that time instead of this April. The purpose of the recess was to allow Charter Members to hold community meetings to discuss and seek ideas about the proposed Charter for the County, make additions, deletions and clarifications based on the input from the citizens.

The resistance to this recess was voiced strongest by perhaps the most anti-charter member in the room, commissioner Campbell who even opposed allowing the Chairman of the Committee, an elected official, to even address the Commissioners.
Commissioner Campbell, who erected a sign in the Courthouse expressing his great opposition to citizens having a say in their government. "Your County Has Existed For 200 Years on General Law", basically why change anything now when I'm so happy with no progress.
Commissioner Campbell also added, in his speech against the Charter, that, "People BORN in Giles County wonder why this Charter thing is even necessary.

I will respond to that comment Commissioner Campbell by stating that many of the people not born here and many born here have lived outside the county at times and have experienced life where there was opportunity to get a job based on what you knew not who you knew; enjoyed the benefits of having elected and appointed officials, certainly there are many outstanding public servants in the county but there are also some real stinkers, who did not treat them like servants; who know what makes a county progress and create jobs for the generation coming behind them instead of having to watch them leave for other areas; they've seen the difference between competency and lazy, willful incompetency and are not willing to settle for the incompetency anymore. People are dissatisfied with having to continually pay the ever increasing bills without having any say in how those bills are created. General law was fine 200 years ago but, in spite of your not noticing, the world has changed and much of what worked 200 years ago just don't cut it anymore.

Has The County Outgrown It's 9-1-1 Center?

2011-03-23T12:55:00.002-05:00

Has The County Outgrown It's 9-1-1 Center? That was the headline below the fold in the front page of the Pulaski Citizen 22 March 2011.

According to the paper the 9-11 Board of Directors discussed a problem with the current system. According to the Ambulance Director the current system requires callers to give their information to 9-1-1 operators and then seconds later to EMS when the call is transferred. The "simplest solution to the problem is to hire four or five more dispatchers, except the 9-1-1 call center doesn't have room to accommodate any more personnel".
Surely the math wizards in local government can find a couple more million dollars to build a new facility and meet the payroll of the extended staff. I mean what's two million more dollars in a budget that is every bit as out of balance as the federal government and they can find more ways to keep spending.

Here's a novel idea, why not cross train the current 9-1-1 operators as most other counties have done? The second thought is since any calls transferred to EMS would necessarily be an emergency why take time to get details again. The basic information should be relayed to EMS, who are prepared for all emergencies, in route. Be assured no matter how many times information is given to people everyone who comes into direct contact will require it be repeated to them. I can not recall the number of times I attended an emergency call with no idea of the nature other than the most basic. Information, regardless of what has been shared previously has to be repeated to the medic on scene.
Have you ever been to the Emergency Room and counted how many times you give the same information to different people?

To me, this idea seems more in tune with a group of folks with less to do than to talk about. The necessity, based on the information available at this time is simply absurd and a waste of money with little or no benefits. There should be no consideration at this time to either increase the staff or the facilities of the 9-1-1 system.

Request to Exempt Citizens From State Inspections

2011-03-23T11:20:00.002-05:00

During the January Legislative Meeting the Commissioners, based on some very, very faulty and misleading information presented by the County Executive and a couple of her most trusted cohorts, voted to give full authority to the state to inspect all new construction for its energy efficiency. It was clearly stated by the state that this was only the first part of implementing a full inspection fee program that would eventually add several thousand dollars to all new construction including small home improvements and additions.

After much investigating by some responsible commissioners and the assurance, from those who approve the grants, that the program would have no effect on grants or loans from the state the matter was to be re-voted on. Because of degeneration of the spine and the lack of active brain cells in some commissioners, who simply stated that the facts of the matter did not matter, they voted to take more personal freedom from the individual citizens and put it in the hands of bureaucrats in Nashville.

Commissioner Campbell justified his support for this intrusive action by saying, "this isn't zoning. Take government money you play by their rules". While this isn't zoning it's certainly a big step toward it. Twenty two other counties have opted out of this program because of its expensive intrusion into citizen's lives and there is no connection between this program and receiving state grants.
Commissioner Reedy offered this observation, "the inspection program is needed to get us to a more energy efficient level with government. The $5,000.00 initial cost will be recovered in energy savings in five years". While this may sound good where are the unbiased statistics to support such a claim. I know that in my own house to save $5,000.00 on energy in five years would require cutting my energy use by more than half. Here's the thing every time, every single time people have cut back their energy use the rates have increased so that the same level of income will be maintained at the utility providers, so how do you realistically save anything?
I do commend Commissioner Coleman for having the will to change her vote after becoming aware of the State's true position.

Legislative Meeting 21 March 2011

2011-03-23T10:57:00.002-05:00

Several items of business was conducted in the March Legislative Meeting.
Among those items of business were the following:

1) Appointment of an Audit Committee with one member from each district consisting of Commissioners Cary, Pope, Adams, Beech, Holt, Houston and Coleman. Commissioner Holt is the chairman, Houston the Vice Chair, and Cary the Secretary. This committee will have responsibility to identify and implement any needed changes involving audits of various departments.

2) Appointments of Mr Edwin Lovell and Mr. Chan Harris was approved by a vote of 19 to 4.

3) Appointment of a delinquent tax attorney for the county. The fees for this position are scheduled to be taken from delinquent taxes collected.

4)All new business that was scheduled to be discussed and approved involving the wastewater treatment facility at the interstate was withdrawn by the County Executive. No reasons given but a reschedule of a budget meeting was called for and the announcement that another special meeting of commissioners would be scheduled for April. Perhaps had the County Executive and some commissioners been less concerned, during the last budget meeting, with rushing off to lunch they could have gotten the needed answers then instead of having Mr. McAnulty make an unnecessary trip from Nashville and redo both budget committee and commission meeting, but it's only money and time.

Two other more controversial decisions were made and they will be posted as separate topics.

Congratulations to Lindsey Perkins

2011-03-23T10:21:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to Lindsey Perkins, a junior at Richland High School who was named a winner in the 2011 National Voice of Democracy Program and recipient of the $1,000 Department of Georgia R. D. "Bulldog" Smith, Jr. and the $1,000 Department of Ohio Chester J. Koch Memorial Scholarship Awards (for a total of $2,000.) Lindsey plans a
possible career in the fields of writing, music, or law and she was sponsored by VFW Post 4577 and Ladies Auxiliary in Pulaski, Tennessee.

Miss Perkins presented her winning speech, "Responsibility of My Generation", at the Giles County Legislative Meeting Monday and received a standing ovation.

Congratulations again Miss Perkins you represent your generation well and have made the County very proud.

Two Question For Which One Answer Will Suffice

2011-03-17T10:36:00.002-05:00

Question One.... What happened to the committee appointed to develop rules for the creation of subdivisions so that the county doesn't get stuck paving roads for private individual benefit and profit?

Question Two.... What happened to the committee appointed to explore and develop rules and enforcement of those rules dealing with the nuisance, unhealthy, unsightly, unacceptable and dangerous situations on private property affecting those who live in that area, laws?

Answer.... NOTHING.

After much outrage over the county highway department, not by their choosing but by existing rules, being manipulated into paving, at county expense, the roads in a housing development under construction all sorts of talk was made to correct and prevent such an abuse from ever taking place again. What happened that nothing was done? Why does the county still sit exposed to the possibility of this same experience being repeated?

Why when the Tennessee Code Annotated makes it perfectly clear that counties can establish and enforce nuisance laws, that prevent such things as the huge accumulation of garbage, junked vehicles etc on private property, animals from running loose in communities, etc, we can't even get an appointed committee of commissioners to meet and discuss the matter?

It seems we have a problem with hands out for gimme, mouths full of smiles but no backbone for doing things necessary for a better county.

Planning Committee or Plan Committed?

2011-03-17T10:12:00.002-05:00

It seems that the County Executive has joined the ranks of those who recycle. Now before you get excited about adding another recruit to saving the environment the recycling she plans is not what you normally would expect from one who recycles.
As politicians are inclined to do, our County Executive seems determined to recycle some old politicians she is indebted to. Her plan seems to be appointing former Commissioners Chan Harris and Edwin Lovell to the Panning Commission Chaired by Ms Shari Flacy.
While I congratulate the County Executive on choosing private citizens to fill positions on some committees, if she would only do that with the Financial Management Committee and Budget Committee imagine the money that might be saved, I must admit to a great disappointment in her choices of Mr. Lovell and Mr. Harris.
In my opinion their appointment is nothing less than payback for their support in the beer sales fiasco that took place last year and led to their defeat in the August elections. If you remember they led the way into a morass of convoluted maneuvers that cost the county a considerable amount in legal fees and resulted in the State Attorney General ruling that we not only didn't have a distance established for the sell of beer the situation had to be reversed or even greater legal fees and penalties would be incurred by the county.
Doing special favors for friends and political allies not only has proven to be illegal and costly it reveals the unethical levels to which some will stoop.

Who is Running The Pulaski Police Department????

2011-03-10T15:15:00.002-06:00

Who is in charge of discipline at the Pulaski Police Department? Is it the Mayor, the City manager, the Police Chief or some small time political hacks with an ax to grind? It seems this should have a very simple answer but with recent events one has to wonder just what is going on at the Police Department.
A former state employee and current political appointee was charged with a crime but he apparently thought one in his position should be given much greater consideration than the average citizen so he demanded that the officer, who has a long history of integrity and professionalism as a Police Officer, should be fired or severely reprimanded.
The newspaper reported that according to the Police Chief, Lt. Glossip the officer with the professional attitude, rather than some who may feel entitled to special privileges, would not be demoted or fired. Most thought this was the end of the caper but there was no fat lady singing only a fat guy squealing.
The next thing we're told is that Lt. Glossup is now moved into the "community welfare" division which seems to consist of only Lt. Glossup. This was reported to be a lateral transfer with no loss of rank or pay. Now in the most recent issue of the newspaper we're told that Lt. Glossup is no longer a lieutenant that his pay has been reduced but that is not a demotion. Is there a duck quacking somewhere?
In my opinion Lt. Glossup did his job with professionalism and did it correctly and punishing him to quiet the elitist crowing of a rooster is disrespectful to every citizen in the county.

Vote To Approve Extension For Charter Committee

2011-03-10T14:43:00.002-06:00

The Charter Committee has asked for an extension or more accurately a delay in the time frame they have for submitting the proposed Charter for the County.
It's my understanding that this request was made so that the committee could go into the county areas and hold community meetings to discuss and fine tune the Charter proposal before submitting it for a vote.
The alternative to this proposal is to buy advertising on TV, the radio and in the newspapers, make direct mailings and pamphlets available as directed by the state which requires the county to spend up to fifty thousand dollars on this procedure.
The Charter Committee has been very, very frugal with their expenses thus far and should be congratulated.
It seems to me that those interested in saving the county a bundle of money would be voting to alter the time frame for submission of the Charter. When I tried to address this subject in the Budget Committee some Commissioners such as commissioners Jackson and Campbell were simply not interested. It seems some may have already made up their minds that if they vote not to alter the time frame this will somehow defeat the Charter, it will not. The Charter will be voted on by the people the only question is how much delay and expense is the Legislative Body willing to subject the County too. I can only hope others will be more responsive and foresighted.

Wastewater Treatment at the Highway 64/ Interstate 65 junction

2011-03-10T14:26:00.002-06:00

This morning in the Budget Meeting what could become the most important investment to be made by the County in the past fifty years was discussed.
With the installation of a wastewater treatment facility at the I-65 junction with Hwy 64 two very strong business opportunities await.
Pilot Refueling station is looking to be in business by 2013 and Capitol Brands Distillery is ready to start groundbreaking on their 17 million dollar investment including a 150,000 square foot facility that will need approximately 120 employees. They estimate their facility, much like the Jack Daniels Distillery will be a tourist destination with about 125,000 visitors stopping and shopping each year, Jack Daniels has about 300,000 visitors a year.

The cost to the county will be minimal. A vote will be taken by the commission to issue bonds up to 4 million dollars to build the wastewater treatment facility, an Activated Growth System capable of treating 50,000 gallons a day. Pat of the four million will be used for other projects the county hopes to develop.

Responsibility for Drug Clean-ups

2011-03-10T14:15:00.002-06:00

The request was made that this be a topic for blog discussion. A recent newspaper article stated that the county will now be responsible for the expense of cleaning up any illegal or hazardous chemical, (including Meth. related sites), discovered in the county.

Why don't we put something in the proposed charter as a local ordinance that requires the owner, operator, accomplice or anyone convicted of any offending 'chemical dump' (to include meth labs ) shall be automatically required to pay for 100% of cleanup costs and if necessary the sheriff shall be authorised to confiscate property/business or any other personal assets sufficient to cover such costs plus the costs associated with the confiscation.

Collective Bargaining A Right, A Privilege Or Organized Crime????

2011-02-28T15:08:00.003-06:00

Blog Editorial:
The subject of collective bargaining has become a hot topic around the nation these days. In Wisconsin the government has basically been shut down by politicians, too cowardly to face the responsibility of casting a vote, greedy union thugs, wannbe hippies looking to justify their laziness and government workers who have lived too large on the backs of other peoples productivity.

It's very hard for most of us who live in so called "right to work states" to understand that in union controlled states either you join the union or you don't get a job. It's very much like many of the totalitarian governments that have been established you didn't have to join the nazi party, the communist party, the socialist democrat party, etc you just couldn't work and make a living for your family. You didn't have to vote for the party nominee your alternative was to stay at home and not vote.

Here's the problem with the situation in Wisconsin and many other states, basically the union has sat on both sides of the bargaining table then the final approval was made by politicians that were in line for huge donations from those same unions.
That's worked until the money ran out. Now Gov. Scott Walker has said enough is enough if there is to be a future for those in Wisconsin the budget must be brought under control. Gov. Walker has become a hero to many including me as he has stood firm against the union thugs from within his state and those imported from other areas. It is reminiscent of President Reagan standing up to the air traffic controls who went on an illegal strike.
Folks the money has run out in Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, New York, California and Tennessee including Giles County.
The time has come, actually it's long past, that those elected into and appointed into leadership positions act like leaders. Cut the fat, the waste and the unnecessary and make budgets that are responsible.

I apologize for the incomplete and inaccurate posting of the first draft for this topic. I was in a hurry with people waiting on me and I hit the "post" instead of the "save" and unfortunately the draft was posted. I appreciate the one who posted the correction of my posting Minnesota instead of Wisconsin. There is no excuse but I have offered the reason for the mistake.

Budget Time

2011-02-21T09:29:00.001-06:00

Budget time for the county is upon us once again and until now there has been no public mention of making a new budget or a Budget Committee Meeting scheduled to address the issue of a new budget for the county.
It seems that once again the pattern for making a county budget is waiting until the last minute and push a little thought out budget through hurriedly with very little time for debate. The citizens of this county deserve more.
For the past few years the County has failed to submit a balanced budget relying on the use of reserves to fill in the gaps of more than a million dollars each year. Now the reserves are down to near the minimum acceptable to the state. County spending has continued to increase in spite of a claimed, but totally bogus and unsubstantiated, 10% reduction last year.
What will be the remedy for this year’s lack of spending discipline? On election night we heard the solution offered by a newly re-elected long time commissioner, “we have to raise taxes”. Before the election this was an idea strongly denied by most candidates but since the election what I had predicted is openly discussed among some officials, a property tax increase and a wheel tax is on the near horizon.
As I did before the election and before the last budget was made I requested suggestion on how to best deal with the County Budget.
For me a tax increase is not necessary and any new tax is detestable. What is needed is planning and spending discipline to cut a minimum of 20% off last year’s budget or even better start at zero with a budget and build from there, justifying each expenditure and employee.

Below are some suggestions that would help prevent a property tax increase, fee increase and creation of a Wheel Tax. Please add your suggestions and thoughts.

1) CUT COMMISSIONERS PAY FOR COMMITTEE MEETINGS 33% FROM 30.00 AND 15.00 TO 20.00 AND 10.00 AND MAKE THAT THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT CAN BE RECEIVED PER DAY. Currently Commissioners are paid for each Committee Meeting they attend. As a member of a committee one could collect $30.00 then in less than ten minutes collect another $15.00 for attending a different meeting as a non member. I have seen Commissioners come to a meeting late and leave the next one early signing in for both and being paid for both.

2) REDUCE THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE’S OFFICE BY TWO PEOPLE OR JUSTIFY THEIR CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT THERE. If all employees were required to work a forty hour week would there be a need for the extra personnel.

3) REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OFFICE BY AT LEAST ONE OR JUSTIFY THEIR CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT THERE. Salaries should be reevaluated in the Financial Management Office and if all benchmarks set for employees have not been met salaries should be reduced.

4) CUT THE PAY OF THE DIRECTOR AND ASST. DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL MANAGENMENT BY 5% OR SHOW WHERE THEY HAVE BENEFITED THE COUNTY BY MEANS OF COST SAVING MEASURES.

5) CUT THE SECTERARY POSITION AT THE AMBULANCE OFFICE. The new recording system has made the position obsolete.

6) CUT EVERY DEPARTMENT BY 20% UNLESS THEY CAN FULLY JUSTIFY THEIR BUDGET. That 20% should be off the total of their last year’s budget and not just one portion of their budget. Last year some departments increased their budget by up to 30% overall while claiming they had cut 10%. The County Executive’s Office is a perfect example of this situation.

7) REORGANIZE THE CUSTODIAL SERVICES FOR THE COURT HOUSE AND CUT THE AMOUNT OF CONTRACTED SERVICES. All custodian personnel should be performing duties associated with their job description not traveling about town and delivering mail. Do away with everything in the break room except a table, chairs and a microwave. There is no necessity for a computer for custodial staff.

8) REORGANIZE THE SECURITY DETAIL AT THE COURTHOUSE. STAFF THE COURTS AS REQUIRED BY LAW AND PUT THE OTHER DEPUTIES ON PATROL. Any deputy not scheduled to be in the court room should be either at the jail or on patrol.

9) INVENTORY AND SALE ALL EXCESS COUNTY PROPERTY THAT CARRIES A LIABILITY. If it’s not making money is it needed and if it’s costing the county through insurance or other expenses get rid of it.

10) LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF SICK LEAVE AN EMPLOYEE CAN TAKE AND PREVENT HIRING A REPLACEMENT AND PAYING BOTH FOR THE SAME JOB
There is no legitimate reason for an employee to be on sick leave for a year instead of on disability and it is beyond reason to hire someone as a replacement unless the person they are replacing is taken off the roles.

11) REDUCE TO THE LOWEST ALLOWABLE AMOUNT BY LAW THE FUNDING TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. Only contribute as specific opportunities advance, in other words stop paying for nothing.

12) CUT FUNDING TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BY 25%. If an entity can’t show specific programs and how they have helped the county then cut the funding.

13) ESTABLISH AN INSURANCE COMMITTEE TO EVALUATE EVERY INSURANCE EXPINDITURE THAT INVOLVES COUNTY FUNDS

14) REQUIRE A DAILY LOG BE KEPT ON THE USE OF EACH COUNTY VEHICLE AND MONITOR THAT LOG’S ACCURACY EACH WEEK. PERSONAL USE OF COUNTY VEHICLES MUST BE PROHIBITED AND REIMBERSEMENTS MADE ALONG WITH REPRIMANDS FOR VIOLATIONS.

There are other ways of creating savings, these are starters, add your suggestions and thoughts. The County must be made financially secure with a balanced budget and healthy reserves without imposing a greater tax burden on the citizens who already are struggling with rising gas, utilities, food, medical, clothing and federal taxes along with decreasing jobs and wages.
For those who believe we should pay more in taxes, may I suggest that at anytime you choose you can make voluntary contributions to the county, city, state or federal government..

First 100 Days As Mayor!

2011-02-21T09:25:00.002-06:00

This topic was requested by a reader.

After 100 days in office what do folks think about the job being done by the new mayor?

What To Do About Dead Animal Disposal In The County?

2011-02-02T21:54:00.001-06:00

The issue of dead animal disposal continues to be a very big and expensive problem for the county. It appears that the county is leaning toward renewal of the current contract for another six months. This is supposed to give the leadership some breathing room, the problem is that they had the last six months and nothing was done until the contract was up for renewal.
While I agree that the current expense of disposal is much too great for the county I also believe that without the county leading the effort there will be a number of very serious potential problems that may develop. Many farmers do not have land area sufficient to bury animals properly. Because the expense of disposal will be more than some can afford I fear some may decide on less than appropriate means of disposal.
I believe a possible solution may be in a voluntary contract service such as now exist with the Fire Department.
Each year those who chose to participate would pay a fee based on the number and size of animals they keep, something in the neighborhood of ten or fifteen dollars a head for large animals and five to ten dollars for smaller animals.. The fee would provide for animal disposal for that individual during the year. Those who choose not to take part would be responsible for the total cost of proper disposal. Those caught violating proper disposal procedures would be severely fined.
Under this plan the county nor the citizen would be responsible for the full expense of disposal but would together provide the much needed service at a reduced cost to each.

Legislative Meeting 2 Feb 2011 4:30PM

2011-02-02T18:45:00.004-06:00

Some information from the Legislative Committee that met this evening.

The Charter Commission had requested that the nine months set aside for them to meet and develop a County Charter, be structured where they could be on hiatus from April 2011 until May of 2012. This was requested so that the committee would be able to meet as individuals in their respective districts and discuss with groups of citizens their ideas for the Charter. There would be no additional expense incurred because of this change in schedule.
Presently the County Charter is completed and posted on the Pulaski Citizen website. It is this post that the committee hopes citizens will read and make suggestions. All suggestions will be considered with the greater consideration placed on those suggestions that are heard the most.
The Legislative Committee voted unanimously to approve this structural change.

A second matter brought before the Committee was the issue of "Nuisance Laws" and resolution 03-51 which was passed in 2003 establishing a "desire" to use nuisance laws to stop such things as trash piles, overgrown fields, abandoned/junked machinery and house trailers, etc. Since the passage of this resolution there has been no enforcement and the problems caused by a lack of enforcement have only gotten worse.
It was decided to form a study group to define what a nuisance is and what to do about it. This ad hoc committee is made up of Commissioners Beech, Carpenter and Howell they will be joined at their meeting Monday, this is a tentative date, night by the County Attorney Mrs. Henson.

The third item of business involved the recent decision by the Legislative Body not to opt out of the state mandated inspection program. Commissioner Wilburn presented an e-mail from the head of the Grant Division for the state who in writing stated that the only grants that would be impacted by the county not being in the program was those that directly involved energy conservation. She went on to state that there were no more energy grants in the state and no expectations of any new ones coming.
Clearly the Legislative Body was misled about the impact of getting grants from the state. Because the vote of the Commission was cast under the influence of misinformation the committee voted to present the issue for a re-vote at the next regular scheduled meeting. Commissioner Beech expressed very strong opposition to doing a re-vote or opting out of the inspection program.

Budget Committee Meeting 25 Jan. 2011

2011-01-25T20:13:00.002-06:00

This committee met this morning with the following members and substitutes Commissioners Adams, Howell, Brown, Campbell, Woodard, Jackson and Chairman Flacy.
Also at the table were the County Executive and the Financial Management Director.
The first item of discussion was the problem of dead animal disposal. After Griffin Industries closed the county entered into a contract with a local company to pick up and dispose of large dead animals. This contract was for six months at a cost of over $29,000.00 and was for the most part a means of giving the county some breathing room to decide what to do on a more permanent basis. To purchase an incinerator would cost over a hundred thousand dollars and would then have to be staffed at additional cost. It was reported that through discussions by commissioners in their districts the response has been about 70% opposed and 30% for continuing the service of disposal of dead animals. The Budget Committee without exception voted to recommend to the full commission that the county no longer provide, at taxpayer expense, the service of dead animal removal.

Mr. Sam Collins with the Historical Society made an impassioned plea for the county to pay for half the expense, $3500.00 the other half has already been paid by the city, of a heat/air unit for the area of Library Building where the Historical Society provides their services. He also reminded those present of some benefits provided by the Society and the fact that membership is open to anyone interested in county history and only cost $15.00 a year.
The vote to recommend this to the full commission was 4 to 3.

Mr. Whitt director of the rescue squad reported to the committee that he had $60,000.00 left in his budget but that he currently was experiencing problems with radio equipment being broken, a motor in an important vehicle was down and sub-par construction had resulted in one building's roof sweating and creating damage to the ceiling.

The Courthouse foundation is crumbling in some areas and must have an engineer inspection which will cost in the neighborhood of $2000.00.

One last item was the problem, the long time problem of the traffic light at highway 166. It is not working properly as many have observed. The cost to repair and adjust will be approximately $2500.00.

Financial Management Committee Meeting 25 Jan.2011

2011-01-25T19:25:00.002-06:00

This committee met this morning, for the first time since new commissioners were appointed, and elected Commissioner Campbell as the chairman and Commissioner Flacy as Vice Chairman.
Committee members present or sitting in for other Commissioners were Commissioners Campbell, Pollard, Pope and Flacy, School Director Jackson, Highway Director Hyatt and County Executive Vanzant. The Financial Management Director served as secretary.
Four main items where discussed.
1) Disposition of Hwy. Dept. excess/obsolete equipment which will be sold in a sealed bid auction or posted on the gov.com website for sale. A third option was to sell as scrap. The best possible means of disposal will be checked before any action will be taken.
2) The county is required to have a disaster recovery plan, now additionally a disaster recovery plan must be made for each office.
3) The Financial Management Director is exploring the possibility of obtaining credit cards for use by county employees when no other means of payment is easily available.
Rules for usage will be drawn up and implemented with the assistance of CTAS and the state auditors.
It was proposed that if an employee should use a card for an unauthorized purchase they should reimburse the county when it is discovered. It was suggested that if an employee misused a county credit card they should be severely punished along with having to reimburse the county.
4) Three deficiencies were discussed that resulted from the state audit. (1) An employee had left his county job and taken several items of county property. This had been turned over to the Sheriff's Office but was still considered a deficiency. (2) Some deposits had not been made within the required three day limit. Now an individual is assigned to that specific duty. (3) There is a need to establish an audit committee for the county. This will be presented to the full commission and commissioners appointed to serve on that committee.

One item of discussion that did not have a conclusion was the question raised by Commissioner Pollard for some constituents, "Does the current Financial Management Office actually save any money over the old system"?
While there is no definitive study on the issue my belief, and no one disputed it at the meeting, is that other than the elevated salary cost of the Director and Asst. Director the amount is monetarily about the same. The biggest benefit to the county both administratively and monetarily is the increased accountability that has been created through tighter controls on bidding, accounts receivable and expenditures, etc. A huge additional benefit is the decrease in deficiencies found by the state auditors.
Except for the excessive salaries and manipulation of the committee the Financial Management Act has been a major plus for the county booth monetarily and administratively.

When Is A Meeting Not A Meeting?

2011-01-18T20:38:00.002-06:00

At the Legislative Meeting this morning it was announced by the County Executive that there had been in recent days a meeting in the Annex. about the resolution recommending the County opt out of the State required home inspections. In this meeting were some people from Financial Management, at least one Commissioner, the County Executive and a representative from the state. Immediately after stating this meeting had taken place she corrected herself and stated it was not a meeting, it was just a gathering of individuals.
Well, according to state law it was a meeting and it was held in direct violation of the state open meetings law.
T.C.A. 8-44-102 states that "all meetings of any governing body are declared to be public meetings". Governing body is defined in the statute as "any public body consisting of two or more members, with the authority to make decisions for or recommendations to a public body on policy or administration". "It is not necessary that a decision be reached before the sunshine law applies."
The statute "warns" that chance meetings shall not be used to deliberate public business in circumvention of the spirit of the act."
To simplify this entry the County Executive did instigate and take part in yet another violation of state law.

Another Freedom Bites The Dust

2011-01-18T20:30:00.000-06:00

A second important vote was taken this morning in the Legislative Meeting this one will get much deeper into citizens pockets than a time change for the meetings.
Today in an act of moral cowardice Commissioners voted not to opt out of the new requirements by the state that will require a $350.00 new fee to be paid to the state for inspections of all new single and two family dwellings. A few months ago Mr. James Pillow with the state Commerce and Insurance Department came and met with the County Legislative Committee. In that meeting Mr. Pillow gave a very candid account of the results of taking back our tax money in the form of grants. The state requires that all new residential construction be inspected for environmental compliance. Right now that involves windows but will soon include almost every other area from roof material to water units used when flushing toilets. Currently the inspection cost $350.00 on a $150,000.00 house. Next year it will also include any additions containing 30 square feet or more. Of this fee $15.00 will stay in Giles County and the rest will go to Nashville.
Mr. Pillow explained that there are three options available to the county: 1) Do nothing and accept the situation as it has been implemented by the state. 2) Create our own program and enforce our own codes within the guidelines of the state. This could also be accomplished by contracting with the City of Pulaski's building program. 3) The county can opt out of the program by a 2/3 vote of the County Legislative Body. This would have to be re-voted on with each new election of commissioners. To opt out will not prevent the county receiving grants but it will reduce the score given counties by 15 points at the most. Currently 21 counties have opted out of the program and within Giles County the cities have opted out.

The committee voted unanimously to send the recommendation to opt out of the program to the full Commission. They also decided to hold community meetings to give the public an opportunity to address the issue.
Have any of you been to one of these meetings, so far only Commissioner Beech has held a formal meeting and mostly contractors were there and in favor of the fees and restrictions.

Every commissioner that spoke agreed that this was an encroachment into the rights of citizens, that it would be costly and that it was just the first step in a move to have every aspect of houses, additions, repairs and other buildings inspected for a fee. Yet ten commissioners voted to strip citizens of the right to control their own property and impose this new fee on the people.
Commissioner Campbell even went so far as to say if we opt out of this we probably won’t get the Hwy. 64 and I 65 projects completed.
Over and over commissioners complained about “being held hostage” by the state and forced to do this but few had the guts to stand tall and vote against it.
As was stated in the meeting this morning, “building codes and zoning go hand in hand”. This is just another underhanded attempt to impose county wide zoning on people who have consistently made it very clear they do not want it.
Those voting to opt out were Commissioners Reece, Pope, Wilburn, Adams, Carpenter, Risner, Howell, Pollard, and Faulkner.
Those voting to roll over for the state and accept these fees and restrictions are Commissioners Cary, Flacy, Jackson, Beech, Woodard, Holt, Brown, Campbell, Coleman and Harwell. Commissioners Reedy and Houston were absent.

To Change Or Not To Change

2011-01-18T20:29:00.000-06:00

The County Legislative Body met this morning and discussed, then voted to keep the Commission Meetings at 9AM instead of moving some of them to the requested evening time. Commissioners Reedy and Houston were absent due to injury and illness.
Commissioner Campbell led the charge against the change stating, “we tried this before and it didn’t work why try it again?”
Commissioner Harwell was next to speak, having been a supporter of changing the time of the meeting during the election I was hardly surprised when he stated, “5:30 would be harder for me than 9:00.”
The first voice of reason came from Commissioner Faulkner who made the simple statement, “we need to remember why we’re here and how we got here, and the people should be considered.”
Commissioner Pope when given the opportunity stated, “we need to keep personal agendas out of this.”

After these statements the vote was taken and ten Commissioners voted for the time change and nine voted against it. The proposal failed because it required a two thirds majority to pass.
Those voting to change the meeting were Commissioners Reece, Pope, Wilburn, Adams, Carpenter, Risner, Howell, Pollard and Faulkner.
Those voting to keep the meeting time as is was, were Commissioners Cary, Flacy, Jackson, Woodard, Holt, Brown, Campbell, Coleman and Harwell.

One Charge Dismissed Another Investigation Starts

2011-01-12T20:34:00.002-06:00

"One Charge Dismissed, Another Investigation Starts" was a headline from the "Pulaski Citizen" front page.
The article reports that the charges against Mr. Clay McAlister of destroying my political signs has been dismissed. The charges were dismissed after the video that was in the possession of the police department turned up with a section missing. Fortunately that section was viewed by Lt. Glossup prior to it being locked up in evidence and he reported what was on the disc. I never claimed that anyone altered the disc and all I have said is that there was footage on there the night Lt. Glossup viewed it and the next day only blue sky was seen in that section. I never made any claim as to what happened to the disc or how it happened. The TBI was unable to confirm 100% that the disc was altered or that the prints on the signs were those of Mr. McAlister thus the charges were dismissed.
Of all those police officers who have been actively involved in this activity Lt. Glossup has continually shown the most integrity and professionalism and is deserving of praise not a continued harassment because he bucked a system where the well connected are protected and given special privilege.

Trash on Highways

2011-01-10T10:13:00.002-06:00

This topic was requested by a reader. It may seem somewhat out of place on a day when God has covered all the ugly trash with this beautiful snow.
It seems that for whatever the reason trash along the highways is increasing. While it is an eyesore it is also a reflection of an attitude of selfish, thoughtlessness that shows an extreme amount of contempt for others and the community and is without any legitimate excuse.
Those who litter have either become more numerous or far more thoughtless that in the past as those who pick up the litter are now unable to keep up. Only the cessation of such obnoxious and criminal behavior will have a real impact on this problem.

Report Card For Giles County Schools

2011-01-10T09:40:00.003-06:00

This information is available from the website for Tennessee Department of Education.

According to TDOE the Giles County School System has 4143 students in eight schools. There are 306 teachers and 23 administrators. The state expenditure per student is $8,773.00 the Giles County school system has an expenditure of $8,961.00 per student.

TCAP SCORES FOR GRADES 3-8

SUBJECT 2009 2010 STATE

MATH 45 43 49
READ 47 45 49
SOCIAL STUDIES 47 47 51
SCIENCE 48 47 49

5-8 WRITING
5TH GRADE 3.9 3.9 4.1
8TH GRADE 4.1 4.0 4.2

WRITING
11TH GRADE 4.0 4.0 4.2

ACT ACHIEVEMENT
COMPOSITE 19.7 19.3 20.3
ENGLISH 19.9 19.4 20.3
MATH 18.3 18.0 19.6
READING 20.4 20.0 20.7
SCIENCE/REASON 19.6 19.3 20.1

ATTENDANCE 95.1 94.7

GRADUATION RATE 86.6 89.7

I apologize if this seems somewhat hard to follow the written part is fine but when posted it becomes of of sync. The first numbers are from 2009 the second 2010 and where there is a third set of numbers it's the state's objective.

CHANGES IN ELECTRICITY RATE STRUCTURE COMING IN JANUARY

2011-01-10T08:11:00.001-06:00

TVA Moves Forward With Plans for Major Rate Structure Change:
Will Result in Cost Increase to DREMC Members
Despite concerns expressed by many of its power distributors, including Duck
River Electric, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) appears determined to move
forward with plans this fall to implement a major rate structure change that will ultimately
affect how wholesale and retail electric bills are calculated as well as potentially impact
the total cost of energy. The change could come as early as October of this year.
While TVA asserts the rate change is “revenue neutral” to TVA as a whole, it will
have varying impacts on different TVA power distributors. Unfortunately, the impact on
DREMC and its members will be to increase the rates TVA charges to DREMC and
ultimately to its members for power consumed. DREMC is still analyzing the degree of
the impact and methods to mitigate it, but it now clear that TVA’s charges to DREMC
will be going up.
For approximately two decades TVA has billed its power distributors through a
rate methodology known as “end-use wholesale rates,” which in lay terms means all
municipal and cooperative customers of TVA power are billed each month for the
amount of energy sold or used and metered by that individual power distributor to that
specific class of customers. This particular method of billing does not take into account
the peak demand for power during a given period of time by all consumers, nor does it
matter what time of day, day of the week or season of year the energy is used.
TVA began discussions with power distributors through the Tennessee Valley
Public Power Association’s (TVPPA) Rates and Contracts Committee more than a year
ago to arrive at a new “demand and energy” rate methodology that will in the future
account and bill for hourly use of power at differing rates as well as introduce rate
incentives for peak load demand reduction through time-of-use rate calculations, direct
load control devices, etc.

HIGHLIGHTS OF GILES COUNTY AUDIT ENDED 30 JUNE 2010

2010-12-23T10:32:00.002-06:00

OFFICE OF THE FINANCIAL DIRECTOR

FINDING 10.01 SOME AMBULANCE SERVICE COLLECTIONS WERE NOT DEPOSITED WITHIN THREE DAYS OF RECEIPT.

In some instances, collections at the Ambulance Service were not deposited with the County Trustee within three days of receipt. Section 5-8-207, Tennessee Code Annotated, requires county officials to deposit public funds within three days of receiving the funds. This deficiency can be attributed to a lack of management oversight. The delay in depositing the collections increases the risk of fraud and misappropriation..

RECOMMENDATION: Officials should ensure that all collections at the Ambulance Service are deposited with the County Trustee within three days of receipt as required by state statute.

FINDING 10.02 A COMPUTER AND TIRES WERE REPORTED STOLEN FROM THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE
(Internal Control – Significant Deficiency Under Government Auding Satandards)

The thief of a laptop computer and tires from the Giles County Emergency Management Office was reported to the state Comptroller’s Office on January 12, 2010. The computer and the tires were valued at $1,200 and $300, respectively. A police report has been filed with the County Sheriff’s Department, and the matter is under investigation.

OFFICE OF CLERK AND MASTER

FINDING 10.03 THE OFFICE HAD DEFICIENCIES IN COMPUTER SYSTEM BACKUP PROCEDURES (Noncompliance Under Government Auditing Standards)

System backups were not regularly stored off site. Section 10-7-121, Tennessee Code Annotated, provides that records required to be retained by any government official may be maintained on a computer or removable storage media as long as certain standards are met. One of these standards requires that all data generated and stored within the computer system should be copied to storage media daily, and media more than one week old should be stored at an off-site location. This deficiency is the result of management’s failure to implement adequate disaster recovery planning procedures. In the event of a disaster, all backup data could be destroyed, resulting in costly delays in generating and recording information accounted for through the automated process. The office began taking backups off site in July 2010. Proper system backup procedures are now in place.

OTHER FINDING AND RECOMMENDATION

FINDING 10-04 DUTIES WERE NOT SEGREGATED ADEQUATELY IN THE OFFICES OF CLERK AND MASTER AND REGISTER (Internal Control- Significant Deficiency Under Government Auditing Standards)

Duties were not segregated adequately among the officials and employees in the Office of Clerk and Master and Register. The officials and employees responsible for maintaining accounting records were also involved in receipting, depositing, and/or disbursing funds. Accounting standards provide that internal controls be designed to provide reasonable assurance of the reliability in financial reporting and of the effectiveness and efficiency in operations. This lack of segregation of duties is the result of management’s decision s based on the availability of financial resources and is a significant deficiency in internal controls that increases the risk of unauthorized transactions. Also, this deficiency is the result of management’s failure to correct the finding noted in the prior-year audit report.

RECOMMENDATION: The clerk and master and register should segregate duties to the extent possible using available resources.

MANAGEMENT’S RESPONSE – REGISTER: The cost of hiring enough employees to segregate each step involved is not feasible for the Tegister’s Office. We now have only two employees in the office. The budget will not allow us to increase our staff to comply with this recommendation.

AUDITOR’S COMMENT: We have not recommended hiring additional employees. We realize that due to limited resources and personnel, management may not be able to fully segregate duties among employees. However, duties should be segregated to the extent possible.

WASTEFUL GOVERNMENT SPENDING

2010-12-21T09:50:00.003-06:00

Each year I get a copy of Sen. Coburn's "wastebook". In it is listed the worst examples of government spending during the past year.
These are the top ten from this year's "wastebook"

1. Upkeep for Unused Monkey House and Other Buildings by Department of Veterans Affairs $175 Million

2. Sprucing Up Apartments Before They Are Torn Down in Shreveport, LA $1.5 million

3. Museum Where Neon Signs Go to Die in Las Vegas, NV $1.8 million

4. “Free” Grateful Dead Archive in Santa Cruz, CA $615,000

5. Unnecessary Printing Costs in Government Agency - $930 Million

6. Studying World of Warcraft and Other Virtual Games in Irvine, CA $2.9 Million

7. Dept. of Energy Fails to Turn Off the Inefficient Lights - $2.2 Million

8. Fraudulent Medical Testing by Criminal Gangs - (U.S. Center for
Medicare and Medicaid Services) $35 Million

9. Poems in Zoos - (AR, IL, LA, WI, &FL) $997,766

10. Shooting Range in Las Vegas, NV $15.68 Million

This is the website where you can access the details of these and a large number of other examples of very wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars.
Simply Google, "wastebook of government spending"

Thinking about a new electric car?

2010-12-17T10:24:00.002-06:00

With the release of the new Chevy, pardon me Chevrolet, (it has been deemed unacceptable to refer to a General Motors vehicle as a Chevy).
With the help and influence of Algore Nissan has the "Leaf" and Chevy the "Volt" and others are said to be coming.

Before you run out and buy one of these "miracle earth saving vehicles" you might want to consider that the initial cost of over $40,000.00 is only the beginning. An advertising campaign is now under way that shows how you just drive into the ole garage and plug her in for an over night charge and you're ready to go next morning unless of course you plan on travelling more than seventy miles.
What isn't shown in these commercials is the fact you have to purchase some components in order to recharge at home.
Since it is the beginning of electric vehicles, why not start to learn
about the components needed to recharge such vehicles at home?
Most home garages are equipped with 120-volt outlets and electric vehicles can be charged from these outlets. However, the recharge time for the Chevy Volt
is about 10 hours from a 120 outlet. A 240-volt outlet cuts the recharge time
to about 4 hours. The cost of a ten hour charge under proposed TVA rate charges is significantly higher than a four hour charge both will require about as much electricity as an average size house uses in a full day.

Both Nissan and Chevrolet offer complete charging systems for
homeowners. This includes assessing the home, obtaining the
electrical permit, installing the equipment, and performing warranty
service. Nissan says that its equipment costs $2,200 and Chevrolet provides
it for $2,000.

Oh don't forget that the batteries will have to be replace after approximately three years at a cost of over $4,000.00. And don't worry about having an accident because you'll be sitting on top of those nickel metal hydride batteries when they explode.

What is gained by this great advance you get to drive about eighty miles for 3 dollars of electricity instead of eighty miles for $8.00 for gasoline. For those who are saving the earth by not using fossil fuels keep in mind that those fossil fuels are being used to make the electricity.

Response To The Enabler Who Claimed I lied

2010-12-08T18:33:00.003-06:00

I wanted to post this earlier but I’ve only been able to stop laughing just a few moments ago. One of the amazing things about my friend Kendrick and his intellect was his incredible sense of humor. It’s that sense of humor that has once again revealed the enabler as a ridiculously small mined person who’s solitary mindset is to protect wrongdoers while attacking anyone who disagrees with him or fails to support the status quo of those who would use their positions for their own benefit. The enabler, by failing reader comprehension fell into a deep chasm of self-righteousness that once again reveals his ignorance.

This is what the enabler of wrongdoing posted under the thread “Legislative Meeting 29 November 2010”.
Anonymous said...
9:40 Another lie by Barrett.

This is straight from Kendrick and this blog: Attention! An Important New Change in Policy
Well folks, I listen... And the people of this blog have spoken... both in public, and via private email. And it’s unanimous... My new policy of "censoring" the phrases "anal buffoon" and "garbage dump" is disliked by everyone who has commented on it. But, as I said.... I listen.
Therefore, I am quite proud to announce a NEW change in policy, to take effect immediately: (drum roll)
From now on, I will continue to "censor" the two phrases I find so offensive, but I won’t be a "dictator" about it. From now on, if one of your posts falls "victim" to my extremely light "censorship," you can APPEAL its deletion to my just created "Board of Blog Appeals." This seven member panel will have an absolute power to override my "censorship" decisions. All you have to do is convince four out of the seven that I am wrong, and your post will be restored, lickety-split! What could be more fair? Who could ask for anything more?
If this ain’t "free speech" my new policy has to be the next best thing to it. And, honestly people, do you really NEED to talk about "anal buffoons" and "garbage dumps?" There are literally hundreds of billions of two word phrases in the English language, and I’m simply asking that you stop using TWO of them. Is that so unreasonable? And now that the actual final decision will be made fairly and impartially by the new "Board of Blog Appeals," only a whiner would complain that their "free speech rights" were being violated.
So, that’s the way it stands now. Never let my commitment to freedom of speech be questioned ever again! Thank you for your time and attention.... posted by J. Kendrick McPeters | 8:08 PM

If the enabler would only read slowly he might not get so caught up in his own traps of humiliation. This actually is what Kendrick posted on FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2006

“Attention! An Important New Change in Policy Well folks, I listen...
And the people of this blog have spoken... both in public, and via private email. And it’s unanimous... My new policy of "censoring" the phrases "anal buffoon" and "garbage dump" is disliked by everyone who has commented on it. But, as I said.... I listen.
Therefore, I am quite proud to announce a NEW change in policy, to take effect immediately: (drum roll)
From now on, I will continue to "censor" the two phrases I find so offensive, but I won’t be a "dictator" about it. From now on, if one of your posts falls "victim" to my extremely light "censorship," you can APPEAL its deletion to my just created "Board of Blog Appeals." This seven member panel will have an absolute power to override my "censorship" decisions. All you have to do is convince four out of the seven that I am wrong, and your post will be restored, lickety-split! What could be more fair? Who could ask for anything more?
If this ain’t "free speech" my new policy has to be the next best thing to it. And, honestly people, do you really NEED to talk about "anal buffoons" and "garbage dumps?" There are literally hundreds of billions of two word phrases in the English language, and I’m simply asking that you stop using TWO of them. Is that so unreasonable? And now that the actual final decision will be made fairly and impartially by the new "Board of Blog Appeals," only a whiner would complain that their "free speech rights" were being violated.
So, that’s the way it stands now. Never let my commitment to freedom of speech be questioned ever again! Thank you for your time and attention....” posted by J. Kendrick McPeters | 8:08 PM | 51 comments”

This is what Kendrick wrote, in response to the question about the make up of the appeal board for the new censorship rules,

On 12 August 2:06 at 3:01 pm J. Kendrick McPeters said...
Anonymous asked, So who all is on the appeal board? Wab I guess?

You bet Allen Barrett is! Who could be better? He's not only an ordained minister, but he's faced jail time in his pursuit of free speech. And for those impeccable qualifications, I've named him to be chairman of the board. I'm sure he'll do a fine job keeping me in line, just like he would've done a fine job keeping the county's spendthrifts in line, had he been elected as commissioner.
Honestly, if you can't trust WAB to guarantee your freedom of speech on this blog, who could you trust????

On 13 August 2006 at 12:50 AM Kendrick wrote
J. Kendrick McPeters said... Anonymous said: Anonymous got away with saying "garbage dump" because he is an anti-zoner. Right? Right,

Dude, the joke is over, and the blog is back to normal. See the topic "GOTCHA!!!" at the top of the blog's main page.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2006
GOTCHA!!! A Lesson for the LUMPsters
Years ago, before he became a shill for the GOP, I used to enjoy listening to Rush Limbaugh. I especially enjoyed the times when he "illustrated absurdity by being absurd"... such as when he spent a whole day advocating "higher taxes for the poor."
Anyway, I’ve been trying to debate with the pro-zoners here, and there’s one argument that I’ve not quite found a handle on rebutting-- the "so what if we lose freedom argument." But a couple of days ago, it occurred to me that I could force the zoners to understand the value of freedom, by taking away a little bit of THEIR freedom, and seeing how much they liked it. And so, I decided to "zone" away a few of their favorite phrases and arguments. posted by J. Kendrick McPeters | 10:49 PM | 28 comments

J. Kendrick McPeters said...
Of course, I would only "zone" their arguments "lightly!" I wanted to follow the precedent of the LUMP, and I did just that:

My blog: copied rules from an earlier blog, and then didn't enforce them. The LUMP: copied rules from an earlier zoning plan, and then didn't enforce them.

My blog: rules changed on a dime, in order to favor me and my friends. The LUMP: rules of amendment ignored, in order to disfavor me and my amendment

My blog: has an "appeals board" made up entirely of my anti-zoning friends. The LUMP: has an "appeals board" made up entirely of pro-zoners

My blog: "you can trust in the process because Allen Barrett is a devout man" The LUMP: "you can trust in the process because Roger Reedy is a devout man"

My blog: "freedom of speech is only slightly abridged, so quit your whining" The LUMP: "property rights are only slightly abridged, so quit your whining"

I expected a lot of bellyaching, and I got it. Frankly, I had hoped for even more negative reaction, but I may have made two tactical mistakes-- first, in giving pseudo-plausible justifications for my "new policies," and second, in bringing up my glaucoma problem. Had I simply refused to defend the new policies rationally, I probably could've stirred up more indignant anger.

Well, the experiment is over. The nonexistent "appeal board" is dissolved, and full free speech is returned to the forum. I hope you pro-zoners out there learned something of a lesson. The loss of property rights is far more significant, under the LUMP, than the last couple of day's loss of free speech rights has been on this blog. And you can bet that my "appeals board" -- not being a politically selected body -- would behave more honorably than the LUMP's.

If you are a pro-zoner that can think in abstractions, then perhaps you will realize that the very idea of taking away your God-given rights, and then having a bunch of politically appointed hacks in charge of whether you get them back, or not, is, by it's very nature, outrageous and intolerable. Yet that is the essence of the zoning plan you are so anxious to impose at bayonet point, on your neighbor.

Think about how unhappy you were to see selective enforcement of the blog rules, and the blatant favoritism of the blogmaster. And then multiply that by a hundred, to see how you'd feel if someone told you how you could use the land you "own" and pay taxes on.

Then try to realize that there are other ways, besides zoning, to achieve the goals of protection from nuisances that is your goal. And remember that I pledge now, as I have before, to offer unlimited assistance in developing a nuisance protection plan, that will satisfy both sides of this divisive issue. Working together, we can fix this problem once and for all, and make Giles County a much better place to live in. Isn't it at least worth trying??? Saturday, August 12, 2006 11:02:00 PM

wab said... (this was written at the time in response to Kendrick's joke)
It was a great experiment that revealed the reality of flaws in the good intentions of out of touch politicians and uninformed citizens. I only regret that no appeals were brought before the "censorship appeals board" so we "couldn't" have a meeting to do nothing about the situation. Allen Barrett

So the fact is I didn’t lie about Kendrick censoring something I wrote on this blog it was a matter of “Dude you been had”.

Information regarding TCSA Fall Conference

2010-12-03T08:36:00.002-06:00

This is how the information was given to me. The only addition I made was to include the totals. Some had their rooms paid by the county instead of being reimbursed. Some took their spouses thus did not share a room with another commissioner and some did not take reimbursement for transportation. Because of the way this space is allocated I can't make a simple list of columns and have included the code (T)for transportation; (L) for lodging; (M) for meals and other.

Commissioners: Houston 141.92(L) 56.82(M)- Cary 290.00(T) 116.80(L)- Howell 53.32(L) 43.50(M)- Reece 293.00(T) 53.32(L) 58.50(M) - Garner* 186.00(T) - Faulkner 279.50(T) 432.24(L) 60.00(M) - Jackson 300.00(T) 288.16(L) 29.25(M) - Pollard 106.64(M) - Pope 302.00(T)129.80(L)- Coleman 287.50(T) 58.50(M) - Brown 432.24(L) 70.00(M) - Garner* 93.00(T) 124.25(M) - HIGHWAY DEPT.: Kelley 166.44(T) 115.00(M) - Hyatt 122.49(T) 115.00(M) - Phillips 166.44(T) 115.00(M)

3 payments to vendors Best Western Plaza Inn 161.13 Best Western Plaza Inn 449.79

TOTALS 2486.37(T) - 2258.72(L) - 952.46(M)

* Listed in two different spots

Can Anyone Justify The Head Of TVA Making 3.6 Million Last Year?

2010-11-30T08:40:00.002-06:00

Just two years after TVA buried 400 acres under a coal ash spill that resulted in millions of dollars to clean up TVA handed out over 94 million dollars in bonuses this year. The top 90 executives averaged over $120,000.00 each, the non-executives will get an average of $6,917.00 each.
Tom Kilgore head of TVA was paid $3.6 million dollars for the fiscal year that ended in September 2010 making him the highest paid federal employee in the country. Next year he will be eligible for another $200,000 added to that salary.
Now in addition to these very lucrative bonuses salaried employees are scheduled to receive a 2.9% raise this fall.
While consumers struggle to pay their ever increasing electric bills it seems those at the other end of the power line are doing very well, very well indeed.

Cost For Commissioners And Others To Attend The TCSA Fall Conference

2010-11-29T17:35:00.002-06:00

On October 26-28 the Tennessee County Services Association (TCSA) held its fall conference in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

According to the County Financial Director fifteen people attended the conference. According to some other sources as many as eighteen attended along with many wives.
The following is the list of attendees according to the Financial Management Office.

Bernetta Houston; Bill Cary; Connie Howell; Janice Reece; Loretta Garner; Louise Faulkner; Stoney Jackson; Tommy Pollard; Tommy Pope; David Adams; Vicki Coleman; Yvonne Brown; Steve Kelly; Barry Hyatt; Julie Phillips.

The cost of this conference:

Registration 14 @ 165.00 each, total $2310.00. Three from the Highway Department attended but no registration fees have been reported.

Transportation: $2486.37

Lodging: $2258.72 Nothing has been reported from the Highway Department for lodging expenses.

Meals and Other: 952.46

Some questions I find interesting and in need of answering are if county vehicles were used why was mileage paid?
Why were some commissioners reimbursed for lodging as low as 53.42 and others charged up to $141.92.
Why did some charge the county as little as $29.25 for meals while at least one charged the county $124.25.
How did the three people reported from the Highway Department get reimbursed exactly $115.00 each. Was this for actual cost of meals or was it some guesstimate.

While I understand the need and benefit for these type conferences I find it appalling that this kind of expense was approved at a time when property tax increases and wheel taxes are being discussed to keep the county out of bankruptcy. It does not sit well to see such spending when so many can't buy their medicine and groceries or pay their utility bills and buy gas to get to work if they have a job.