What County Says and What County Does are Two Different Things

Local News

Written by Jimmie Doyle Wednesday, 21 March 2007 06:44

Editor:

Attending the County Commission meeting March 19 was a disappointing experience for me.

We hear/read about the property tax reform being considered by the legislature and the negative impact change will have on the financial structure of our county government. Yet, our officials seem to concentrate on spending, not saving, or even spending wisely. The quality of government is not measured by how much money is spent, how plush the offices are or even how many people it employs.

A new position was created, without the pay range being stated, at the March 19th meeting yet there is supposedly a hiring freeze. The County Administrator talked about costly space management, two commissioners expressed concern about the county attorney having been paid over a half million dollars in the past 18 months. That attorney admitted he has been unable to get the septic tank ordinance right. Four tries and he still did not have it right. What are we getting for our money?

At the February 5th BOCC meeting Commissioner Brimner made a motion while discussing the water issue. This was not an item listed on the agenda. It came under items for discussion by commissioners. The motion received a second, was voted on and passed. That motion was to spend taxpayers’ money. On March 19th Commissioner Green made a motion to request an operational audit as a means to help the county spend money more wisely. That motion was not allowed because “protocol” does not permit motions on discussion items. Hopefully one day we will have leaders who follow the same protocol at all meetings. Maybe protocol allows motions that require spending money to be voted during discussion but no motions that might save money.

Don’t miss Commissioner Kessler’s town hall meeting March 27, 7 P.M.

Jimmie Doyle
Crawfordville

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This letter originally published on March 21, 2007.

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