Public Services Committee Rejects Ford's Resolution Asking that MUS Build-out in Populous Areas of Hamblen County Before Going into Other Counties

At the March 7, 2016, Public Services Committee meeting, Hamblen County Commissioner Stancil Ford introduced a resolution to request that MUS build out its Fibernet service in Hamblen County before entering into a plan to provide Fibernet outside of Hamblen County.

The resolution asking that MUS build out in Hamblen County before jumping county lines was voted down in a 6-3 vote. 

Commissioners Stancil Ford, Tim Goins, and Johnny Walker voted FOR the request.

Commissioners Howard Shipley, Rick Eldridge, Randy DeBord, Hubert Davis, Joe Huntsman, and John Smyth voted NO to the request.

Here are videos of the discussion:

Part 1

Part 2



Nov 29, 2015 Solid Waste Board Asks DA To Seek Restitution from Ronnie Brady

The Hamblen County/Morristown Solid Waste Board was asleep at the wheel for the 3-plus years during which its Director Ronnie Brady stole nearly $225,000 from the Hamblen County/Morristown Solid Waste Authority.


Brady was indicted after a special investigative audit was completed by the State Comptroller's Office. Click here for a prior post with links to the State Investigative Audit. Tracing the money that Brady took back to its source, the money came out of the pockets of the taxpayers and residents of Morristown and of Hamblen County as the City and County paid monthly garbage disposal/tipping fees to the Solid Waste Authority and Brady, in turn, siphoned a lot of these taxpayer dollars/public funds for his own use.
 
Recently, the Board voted to ask DA Dan Armstrong to request that Brady make restitution to the Hamblen County/Morristown Solid Waste Authority for the insurance deductible and extra audit expenses that the Authority incurred when the theft was finally discovered. Here is the SWB on November 20, 2015, voting to seek restitution for extra audit services and the insurance "deductible." There are rumors afloat that this restitution is part of a plea deal that has been offered to Brady. It remains to be seen if DA Armstrong plans to let someone steal nearly $225,000 in public funds and only have to make restitution for an audit and an insurance "deductible."



The Board's former chairman Stancil Ford was an "in-law" of Brady up until Stancil's divorce years ago. Ford and the rest of the Board apparently had such great faith in Brady that they didn't bother to make sure that all payroll and other checks that Brady was writing on the City/County Solid Waste Board checkbook were legitimate.


For years, while the SWB did nothing, Brady helped himself to an extra $190,000+ in payroll checks AND paid some of his car repair and credit card expenses (including a trip to Disneyworld) with public funds. Brady apparently felt that his $80,000+ salary along with car allowance and insurance benefits was not "enough." The SWB's former auditor Craine-Thompson-Jones didn't catch the theft until after several years had passed and Brady had helped himself to nearly a quarter million dollars --or more-- of public money!



July 8, 2015 Brittain Proposes 20-cent Property Tax Hike to County Budget Committee

All the talk about conservatism in county government was just that---talk, meaningless babble.


At yesterday's budget meeting, County Mayor Bill Brittain pulled out the old shell game--moving taxpayer/public money from one pile to another and then from another to another.


Since this shell game and exercise in money-shifting accomplished nothing, Brittain then proposed a 20-cent property tax "solution." A10-cent hike for the General Fund (sheriff, courts, mayor's office, county clerk, Cherokee Park, etc) and a 10-cent hike for the Highway/Road Department (paving projects).


And even that huge 20-cent property tax hike didn't take care of the Brittain spending budget, so Brittain also proposed that the county appropriate the spending of $447,000 from the county fund balance (savings/reserves). Sort of like a person getting a hefty salary increase and then still having to dip into their savings account to meet their proposed spending plan.


Brittain then distracted commissioners with some "pick your poison" options for the Highway Department---instead of a 10-cent property tax hike for the Highway Department, he said commissioners could enact a $22 increase in the wheel tax OR they could do a 3-cent property tax increase and a $16 wheel tax increase,


Brittain saved any mention of the school budget to the end of his presentation. The school budget is primarily a function of State BEP money and local money which can not decrease from year to year.


To his credit, Stancil Ford asked Brittain about the state BEP money. Brittain stated that the schools are getting 2 million in new state BEP money for the next budget year.


Then the discussion turned to local money for the schools. Last year, the schools received $25,736.740 in local money. That amount can not decrease, but there is no requirement that it increase. Despite the county's and the taxpayers' economic situation and despite the fact that the schools are getting a 2 million boost in state money, Brittain proposed that the local money for schools be increased by $515,987 to $26,252,727.


Ford pointed out to commissioners that the local money did not have to increase. With the schools already set to get 2 million more from the state, the local money budgeted for education could stay the same as last year ($25,736.740) and the $515,987 could be moved to the county general fund or highway department.

It was an amazing presentation from the conservative Mayor of Hamblen County who handed out his budget changes and sweeping "spend and tax" proposal(s) at the beginning of the meeting, leaving commissioners little time to read and study the different scenarios. Of course, making budget changes and tossing out multiple proposals at the last minute gives a distinct advantage to the Mayor in that most commissioners are not prepared to ask questions right after they get a new 19-page document outlining convoluted revenue and spending changes.


Just like Washington DC, the game is the same in Morristown and Hamblen County, Tennessee.


Grow government. Hide the ball. Make a few token budget "cuts"--"cuts" that are not really cuts but are simply reductions in the previously proposed increases. Then increase taxes and spend other people's money to grow the little kingdoms at the courthouse and at the city center.


Hire and make jobs for relatives and friends. One-bid contracts. Boards that provide zero oversight so that $225,000 can be stolen (Solid Waste Board).  And while salaries and benefits are the largest component of the county and school budgets, don't provide a list of employees by name and position with 4-year historical data on hourly rates or salary.


And then let the chest-thumping begin as all proclaim themselves the most conservative people on the planet. 

June 18, 2015 Hamblen County/Morristown Solid Waste Board Theft and Trip to Disney World Comes in Third Place in Beacon Pork Contest

Hamblen/Morristown former landfill director Ronnie Brady's theft of over $220,000.00 from the local Solid Waste Board garnered third place in a "government pork" poll by the Beacon Center.


Click here for the poll results.


Brady's theft was beaten out for the top "pork" spot by the transfer of $165,000,000.00 of taxpayer dollars to VW in Chattanooga and the $46,000.00 spent by Governor Haslam to come up with a new state "logo."


Brady's theft was accomplished primarily by issuing LOTS of "extra" solid waste payroll checks to himself and also using solid waste funds to pay his personal bills.


The theft went undetected for at least 3-1/2 years even though there was a nine-member board with oversight duties, even though the SWB was audited every year, and even though SWB chairman Stancil Ford was supposed to physically sign or personally stamp his signature on checks along with Brady's signature.


Most businesses and governmental entities require TWO signatures on all checks to try to prevent exactly what happened at the solid waste board.


Ford, however, was not personally signing or personally stamping the "extra" checks. Ford apparently had given Brady access to Ford's signature stamp which, of course, defeated the whole purpose of having two signatures on checks.


After all, it's not really a "check and balance" against potential theft when one person (Brady) can sign his signature to checks and can also stamp the signature of the other person (Ford) on the checks.


Giving someone your signature stamp or access to your signature stamp opens the bank door for theft. 


And the door to the SWB bank account was left wide open by Stancil Ford failing to physically sign SWB checks or at least go and use HIS signature stamp on the checks HIMSELF.


Maybe Stancil deserves an "assist" in helping Ronnie Brady win 3rd place in the Beacon pork and waste (and theft) contest!

June 4, 2015 Tennessee Comptroller Justin Wilson: Stancil Ford Violated Tennessee Law (TCA 12-4-101)

Tennessee's conflict of interest laws are weak in many areas. However, they are crystal clear in one area--elected officials, committee members, and those holding similar supervisory positions can't supervise themselves.


Now let's look at Stancil Ford and the Hamblen County/Morristown Solid Waste Board (SWB).  


In February 2014, former SWB Landfill Director Ronnie Brady resigned amid allegations of theft from the SWB. Brady was indicted in March 2015 on charges of theft over $60,000. The Tennessee Comptroller's Office put the theft at almost $228,000.


Following Brady's resignation, the SWB named one of its own--SWB member Stancil Ford--as interim landfill director. Ford served as interim landfill director and later as an "assistant" interim landfill director up through May 30, 2014. Ford remained on the Board during that entire time. Ford received about $8800 during the 3-1/2 month period that he was interim director, "assistant" interim director, and a member and Chairman of the SWB.


On April 29, 2015, Tennessee Comptroller Justin Wilson informed the SWB that Ford had a statutory conflict of interest in serving on the SWB and serving as SWB landfill director/assistant director. Ford violated TCA 12-4-101.




[Ford is a sitting county commissioner. He was also the State Representative for Hamblen County for many years until his defeat in 2002.]

March 8, 2015: Solid Waste Investigative Audit Indicates That Ronnie Brady Used Stancil Ford's Signature Stamp To Write $192,206.00 Worth of Checks to Himself

The Comptroller's Report and TBI investigation into former Hamblen County/Morristown Solid Waste Director Ronnie Brady's forgery and theft are complete. Brady was recently indicted by the Hamblen County Grand Jury for theft over $60,000.00.


The Comptroller's Report is here. The report is short.


It shows one of the many unauthorized checks that Brady wrote to himself. The check in the report is for $2,026.59. Brady apparently wrote many other unauthorized checks to himself over a 3-1/2 year period for a total of $192,206.00.


The unauthorized check shown in the report has then-SWB Chairman and current County Commission chairman Stancil Ford's stamped signature on it. Unless Ford claims that Brady stole Ford's signature stamp, it appears that Ford allowed Brady to have access to Ford's stamp, giving Brady the ability to write checks ($192,206.00) to himself with the required "two" signatures.


Brady also made personal charges totaling "at least" $31,875.00 on the Solid Waste's AMEX credit card. The report gives two examples of personal charges that Solid Waste customers paid for, i.e.  repairs to Brady's BMW and a $2,175.00 mattress delivered to Brady's residence,


In addition, Brady wrote Solid Waste checks to pay for personal charges on a non-Solid Waste Board Capital One card.

September 5, 2014 Ford Calls Special Meeting Without Authority, Adjourns Meeting When Objection Raised by Commissioner

County Commission Chair Stancil Ford issued the call for yesterday's special meeting of the Hamblen County Commission.


Ford, however, had no authority to call yesterday's meeting.


Under state law, T.C.A. 5-5-105(a)(2), the chair can only call for a special session if the Mayor or a majority of commissioners apply in writing to the chair for such a meeting.


Neither the Mayor nor any commissioner had submitted such a request to the Chair. Ford had just taken it upon himself to call the body into session.


[Under T.C.A. 5-5-105(a)(1), the County Mayor also has the authority to call a special session but only if, in the mayor's opinion, the public necessities require it. Mayor Brittain did not issue the call for the special meeting.]


During public comments, I provided information regarding the above state law and an email exchange with an attorney in the Comptroller's office confirming the very clear requirements that must be met before the chair can call a special session of the commission.


County Attorney Chris Capps admitted that Ford had called the meeting without authority--that there had been no written request for this meeting. 


Brittain recommended that the meeting continue saying he and Stancil had "discussed" a meeting.


Attorney Capps recommended that the meeting continue while acknowledging that it was a technical violation of the statute. Capps added that it should only go forward if no commissioner objected.


Commissioner Johnny Walker objected.

A few commissioners were willing to go on with a meeting that had been called by the chair without authority to do so.


Ford, while serving as chair, entered into the discussion and said he thought the meeting should go on.


Walker said what kind of precedent does that set if we are not doing what we are supposed to.


Ford then asked Capps to explain what CTAS (County Technical Advisory Services) had said about the situation.


Capps said that his conversation with CTAS (County Technical Assistance Services) was not actually a specific discussion of T.C.A. 5-5-105 (a)(2) but was a "general" conversation. Capps added that he and Brown painted it "with a broad brush" in that conversation, and she did not consider it a "real big deal so to speak"

Commissioner Joe Huntsman then stated that he wanted to do what was right and he didn't want to set a precedent by breaking the law on their first day there. 


Stancil Ford again asked Walker if he objected. Walker said yes.


Ford closed the meeting.

January 24, 2013 Wayne NeSmith Appointed To County Commission Seat Vacated by State Rep. Tilman Goins

The Hamblen County Commission appointed Wayne NeSmith to the District 4 Commission seat earlier this afternoon.

The vote was 10 votes for NeSmith and 2 votes for Darrell Williams, a member of the Downtown Merchants Association. Williams previously ran for an at-large City Council seat in 2011. [Paul LeBel won that council seat by about 24 votes over Charles Cook with Williams and Luke Pack coming in a distant third and fourth respectfully.]

NeSmith replaces Tilman Goins who was elected to the county commission in 2010 and resigned in December 2012 after his November 6 election to the State House of Representatives. Goins defeated former State Rep. Don Miller in a stunning victory in the 2012 Republican primary. Goins was officially elected State Representative in the November General Election without Democrat opposition. Click here.

NeSmith has lived in Morristown/Hamblen County almost all his life and was a strong Goins supporter in the State House of Representatives race. NeSmith will fill out the remainder of Goins' term which expires in August 2014.  All commission seats will be up for election in 2014.

Voting for NeSmith were Larry Baker, Larry Carter, Tim Dennison, Rick Eldredge, Stancil Ford, Tim Goins, Herbert Harville, Nancy Phillips, Howard Shipley, and Dana Wampler.

Voting for Williams were Doe Jarvis and Doyle Fullington.

Not present was Paul LeBel.

September 21, 2012 Donation of $125,000 in Public Funds to MHHS Foundation Fails in Hamblen County Commission

On September 10, the Hamblen County Budget Committee voted 8-4 to recommend that the full commission give $125,000 of public funds to the MHHS Foundation for use in a building project and reserve all remaining funds in the former Hamblen County endowment fund for future jail capital projects. Click here.  [Paul LeBel and Herbert Harville were not present at the Budget Committee.]

When that recommendation went to the full commission yesterday, it failed to get the 2/3 majority vote (10 YES) that was required for approval. 

Yesterday's vote was 8 YES and 6 NO, two short of the ten required for approval under the special act.

Doe Jarvis voted for the recommendation in Committee but voted NO yesterday. He was joined with a NO vote from his very good friend Paul LeBel.

Although it's hard to resist pressure from powerful people who come to commission asking for public money for their projects, it appears that there is---at least for now---a significant group of commissioners who feel that public money should go for county government projects first and foremost.

Helen Ross McNabb Center Foundation and MHHS Foundation have raised huge amounts of money already, plans are drawn, and both will more than likely proceed with their planned construction with or without a donation of public money from the Hamblen County Commission. 

But they go to public bodies (MUC and County Commission), ask for a public donation, and are often able to get support from commissioners who have no trouble in spending other people's money even while major county needs for roads and jails are present.

The eight YES votes were Stancil Ford, Larry Baker, Howard Shipley, Nancy Phillips, Dana Wampler, Rick Eldridge, Tilman Goins, and Herbert Harville.

The six NO votes Doyle Fullington, Larry Carter, Tim Dennison, Tim Goins, Paul LeBel, and Doe Jarvis.

That Hamblen County endowment money is burning a hole in commissioner's pockets. If it is not clearly set aside for county government capital projects soon, foundations and other non-profits will continue to come and ask for 14 people to take public dollars and donate them for foundation and non-profit capital projects.

September 17, 2012 Hamblen Budget Committee Votes to Send $125,000 Donation to MHHS Foundation to Full Commission

Stancil Ford made the motion to give $125,000 to the MHHS Hospital Foundation for a building project to add beds in a cancer wing.  Doe Jarvis seconded the motion. [MHHS was sold to Covenant Health several years ago.]

Tilman Goins who opposed the earlier donation of $100,000 to Helen Ross McNabb for its building project agreed to support the MHHS Foundation donation if Ford would amend his motion to include earmarking all remaining Hamblen County endowment funds for the jail. Ford agreed to the amendment.

Doe Jarvis took exception to the use of the word "conservative" by Commissioner Goins. Jarvis commented that this was a lot of "horse whatever" and added "I frankly don't believe you know what you are talking about...."

The vote was 8 YES and 4 NO with Commissioners Paul LeBel and Herbert Harville absent.

Voting for the donation and earmarking all remaining funds for the jail were Stancil Ford, Larry Baker, Doe Jarvis, Tilman Goins, Howard Shipley, Nancy Phillips, Rick Eldridge, and Dana Wampler.

Voting NO were Tim Goins, Tim Dennison, Larry Carter, and Doyle Fullington.

It appeared that the four NO votes were based on the belief that all Hamblen County endowment  public money should be reserved entirely for county government capital needs. 

Fullington had stated earlier in the meeting that he would be voting against the donation of money to both the non-profit Helen Ross McNabb Foundation and the non-profit MHHS Foundation.

Fullington had also pointed out what everyone knew---the hospital and/or the hospital foundation could and would build the new wing with or without the county's donation. Click here for the earlier McNabb vote and discussion.

Dennison and Carter had also voted earlier in the meeting against donating public money to the Helen Ross McNabb Foundation. Tim Goins had abstained from the McNabb vote due to a conflict of interest.

Those who voted against the donation to McNabb but then voted for the donation to MHHS Foundation were Tilman Goins, Rick Eldridge, and Nancy Phillips.

September 16, 2012 Hamblen Budget Committee Votes Against Donating $100,000 to Helen Ross McNabb Building

On September 10, the Hamblen County Budget Committee--which is composed of all 14 commissioners---voted against recommending that the full commission donate $100,000 of public money to the Helen Ross McNabb Foundation to use in a McNabb construction project.

The vote was 5 YES, 6 NO, and 1 ABSTENTION.  [Commissioners Paul LeBel and Herbert Harville were not present. Commissioner Tim Goins abstained]

The vote came after spirited discussion about the very nature of non-profits and donating public money to non-profits.

Commissioner Doyle Fullington commented that he wanted to hold on to the money for county needs--particularly with the economy in the shape it is. He said he would be voting against the donation of $100,000 to the Helen Ross McNabb Foundation for a McNabb building project and the donation of $125,000 to the MH Hospital Foundation for a Foundation building project.

Commissioner Tim Dennison reminded everyone that the county already has specific needs on its plate with a decertified jail and road maintenance and repairs. He wanted everyone to look at using this money wisely.

Commissioner Doe Jarvis led the push to donate public money to the McNabb Center for a McNabb construction project. He thinks there are "answers" for the jail.

Commissioner Fullington made it clear that it was never his intention that money from the Hamblen County endowment would be donated to non-profits. In referring to the request for $125,000 from the Morristown-Hamblen Hospital Foundation, Fullington noted that the hospital directors sold MHHS hospital to Covenant precisely because of Covenant's ability to fund improvements and operate the hospital.  He added that the term non-profit can be misleading since non-profits may make a profit--they just don't give it to shareholders. 

Voting against donating public money to McNabb for the McNabb building project were Doyle Fullington, Tilman Goins, Tim Dennison, Larry Carter, Rick Eldridge, and Nancy Phillips.

Voting to donate public money to McNabb for the McNabb building project were Doe Jarvis, Stancil Ford, Larry Baker, Howard Shipley, and Dana Wampler.

[Previously, Helen Ross McNabb obtained a donation of up to $51,000 of "round-up" funds from the Morristown Utilities Commission for the proposed McNabb building project. Click here for video of the MUC vote, and click here for video of the initial McNabb request for $148,000 from MUC.]

June 11, 2012 Hamblen County Budget Meeting with School Board

The Hamblen County Commission Budget Committee is composed of all 14 members of the full Commission. The Budget Committee has been meeting to go over the Hamblen County budget for the past several weeks. 

At its May 31 meeting, the Budget Committee voted on the Hamblen County Schools budget, recommending a 5.1% or $3,495,000 increase in school funding for FY 2013 year.  Despite the nearly $3.5 Million increase, the school system left that meeting upset because the nearly $3.5 Million increase is $272,000 shy of the increase that the school board wanted and expected.

After the May 31 committee vote on the school budget, Director of School Dale Lynch apparently met with County Mayor Bill Brittain and Finance Director Joey Barnard and appeared at the June 7 Hamblen Commission Budget Committee meeting (video above) to ask for another meeting/ work session with the Commission.

The joint meeting/work session will take place tonight at the Courthouse (Chancery Courtroom) at 6 PM.

November 26, 2010 Final Judgment in Holden v. Swann: Hamblen County Ethics Committee and Its Members Violated the Tennessee Open Meetings Act

The Tennessee Open Meetings Act, like the Tennessee Public Records Act, is an extremely important law for those who truly support open and accountable government.

Ironically, the Hamblen County ETHICS Committee violated this law in December 2008 and failed to even attempt to correct its violation of the law until after a citizen, Gwen Holden, filed suit on February 17, 2009. I represented Ms. Holden in this matter (Holden v. Swann, et al)

The 3-page Final Judgment in Holden v. Swann was signed on October 1, 2010, finding that the Defendants (Hamblen County Ethics Committee, Joe Swann, Stancil Ford, Bill Brittain, James Harrison, and Jack Cartwright) violated the Tennessee Open Meetings Act.

The Judgment enjoins the Defendants from future violations of the Open Meetings Act and provides that the County pay all court costs ($282.50) in the matter and pay $1500 for attorney fees and discretionary costs incurred by Ms. Holden.

You can click on each page to enlarge, read, and print it out. 

Interestingly, the Hamblen County Ethics Committee was dissolved by the Hamblen County Commission on February 18, 2010, while Holden v. Swann was still pending and before any Judgment had become final in this case.  

When it dissolved the Ethics Committee, the Hamblen County Commission, in a divided vote, appointed the county's attorney, Frank "Rusty" Cantwell, as the "County Ethics Officer."  [Cantwell, acting as county attorney, represented the Ethics Committee and the individual defendants in Holden v. Swann, et al.]

All future Ethics Complaints against a county official or county employee will be referred to County Ethics Officer Cantwell.

Then County Ethics Officer Cantwell, who is also the county's attorney for county officials and employees, will decide what to do with any complaint against his client(s).  More on this set-up later.

August 4, 2010 Stancil Ford: Too Sick To Stop after Hit-and-Run, Well Enough To Preside at County Commission Meeting 90 Minutes Later as Though Nothing Had Happened

Yesterday's News-Sentinel story on Stancil Ford's hit-and-run on June 30, 2010, is still available to online readers by clicking here.

The paper quotes Stancil and MPD Chief Roger Overholt as saying Stancil wasn't charged because he hit the people due to a "medical condition."

Well, the "medical condition" that prevented Stancil from being charged in the incident did NOT prevent him from ignoring his victims and going on about his important business on June 30 as if nothing had happened.

This picture (above) is of Stancil talking to Larry Baker before the start of the 5:00 meeting of the county commission on June 30, 2010.  Does Stancil look concerned about the two elderly people that he had hit 90 minutes earlier and left on the side of the road? There is another picture of Stancil at the meeting on my original post of July 17. 

He hit and left two elderly people on the side of the road and went to a county commission meeting. In the News-Sentinel article, Stancil tells just how concerned he was about the elderly couple.

FORD: "The only thing that bothers me is that it's being used politically."

Me. Me. Me. Stancil never mentions any concern for the victims of his hit-and-run! Stancil never offers an explanation to the public or to the victims of why he left the scene only to show up at a county commission meeting?

Readers of the News-Sentinel can make online comments. If you go to the story and continue to scroll down past the article to the comments, there are some interesting and pointed comments such as:

Mr. Ford's medical condition is commonly referred to as: "hitandrunism".

Usually not recognized by most law enforcement unless you are a politican in need of some excuse for bad behavior. Apparently the Morritown Chief thought it was good for this occasion. The voting public is suppose to buy anything thrown at them I suppose!
------------------------

Sometimes, when you 'absolutely, positively' have to be there....well, a little rear ender is nothing...
-------------------------
 
But yet he went to the county commission meeting. Stancil Ford is the biggest loser ever. I vote for ANYONE that is running against the main.

August 3, 2010 Run, Stancil, Run! (Hit-and-Run!)

While the local "news"paper is still protecting County Commission Chair Stancil Ford from any local  coverage of Ford's hit-and-run on June 30, 2010, there is a brief report in today's Knoxville News-Sentinel. Click here for the News-Sentinel article.

I provided info on Stancil's hit-and-run on July 17 with copies of the Traffic Crash Report and Impound Form. Click here for the blog post and documents.

Thankfully, Stancil didn't hit the older couple head-on and no one was killed. But just like Teddy Kennedy's cut-and-run at Chappaquiddick, what Stancil did and said after the accident is telling.  According to the News-Sentinel, Stancil said, "The only thing that bothers me is that it's being used politically."

No concern for the victims. No explanation of why he went to a meeting right after the accident. It's all about Stancil! It's all about power. It's all about protecting the powerful. FORD: "The only thing that bothers me is that it's being used politically."

Stancil and MPD Chief Roger Overholt say that Stancil wasn't charged with hit-and-run because there was a medical problem.  Overholt then admits knowing that Stancil went to a county commission meeting after the wreck! 

Overholt never explains what kind of medical condition prevented Stancil from being charged with leaving the scene of an accident but didn't prevent Stancil from showing up at a county commission meeting immediately after the crash.

Stancil doesn't comment at all about showing up at a county commission meeting immediately after the wreck and apparently driving right past the people he had hit so he could do what he wanted to do instead of what he was legally and morally required to do.

Click here for a picture of Stancil at the county commission meeting 90 minutes after the crash. Too sick to be charged with hit-and-run but healthy enough to make it a county commission meeting? 

When the cover-up starts, it never ends.  And, in typical political fashion, protect yourself and blame someone else. FORD: "The only thing that bothers me is that it's being used politically."

Jacko Fishman and Miko Fishman own Stancil and don't want to damage their puppet. Jacko and Miko and crack reporter Bobby Moore know that it's pretty near impossible to explain--with a straight face--how Stancil was too sick to be charged with hit-and-run but was plenty healthy enough to drive past his victims and show up at a county commission meeting.  There is no local "news"paper or "news"radio.  Both are controlled by the Fishmans and simply ignore any "inconvenient" news and facts about political friends.

Stancil is part of the good old boys ruling class, so he can flee the scene of an accident involving $6,000 property damage and personal injury to others, go to a county commission meeting, and not be charged and not have it even mentioned in the local "news"paper.

[Sometimes the local "news"paper is forced to report "news" after the Sentinel or some other outlet breaks the story. After totally ignoring the story for over a month, we'll see if there is some little "all is well" report in today's or tomorrow's "news"paper.]

According to one of the victims, 73 year-old Betty Eldridge, her car still hasn't been repaired. Well, of course not.  Stancil has more important things to take care of--like making sure that HIS truck has been fixed and re-painted and doesn't show any evidence of his hit-and-run. 

It's all about Stancil. The little people? They don't count.

July 17, 2010 Commissioner Stancil Ford's Hit-and-Run

County Commissioner Stancil Ford of Cedar Hill Road was involved in a hit-and-run accident on June 30, 2010, just an hour-and-a-half before the above picture was taken at the County Commission meeting at 5:00 PM on that same day.

Did the local "news"paper report that Stancil's truck had hit a vehicle in which a couple in their 70s were riding just 90 minutes before Stancil arrived at the June 30th County Commission meeting? That Stancil's truck just kept on going after side-swiping the couple's car? That Stancil's truck was found abandoned in a driveway at the intersection of 11E and Merchants Greene?  That the driver had fled on foot or had been picked up before the police arrived?  No, No, No, and No.

Did lots of people know about this? Yes. Who? County Mayor David Purkey, some county commissioners, some elected officials and courthouse employees, EMA Director Eric Carpenter, hospital personnel, EMS, and on and on the list goes.

But why no mention in the "news"paper about Stancil Ford's hit-and-run? Why no mention of Stancil's illness?  "News"paper owner Jack Fishman pulls the strings on what is reported in the "news"paper. 

Somebody ordered and directed the cover-up of Stancil's hit-and-run, and that somebody has managed to keep a tight lid on it.  It's been over two weeks, and the "news"paper hasn't mentioned it.  The documents below, the Vehicle Impound Form and the first three pages of the Traffic Crash Report, give you information about Stancil's hit-and-run that Jack and his "news"paper don't want you to know. Click on the images to enlarge and read.

Now if a county commissioner or city councilman or an individual that Jack Fishman and company dislike had been involved in a similar hit-and-run, Jack and his crack reporter Bobby Moore would have been all over it--pictures and maybe a series of articles. Commission Chairman Stancil Ford is involved in a hit-and-run, and it's like it never even happened. 


Anyone can have an unexpected medical problem such as a stroke or heart attack or black-out while driving. If that's what happened and if someone was afraid to wait for an ambulance and took Stancil from the scene directly to a hospital to get medical attention, then that should have been reported.

But if Stancil had a medical problem and simply ran from the scene or had someone take him from the scene to the Courthouse just so he could swing the gavel at a brief County Commission meeting, that's a serious problem involving not only Stancil but also whoever took Stancil from the hit-and-run to the Commission meeting without talking with the police and without checking on the couple who were hit.

And if Stancil had been in the hospital just a few hours before the accident and left the hospital against the advice of his doctors--just so he could swing the gavel at a brief County Commission meeting--then the public and especially the people that he hit need to know this.

Now, we'll see if the "news"paper continues to ignore Stancil's hit-and-run. The "news"paper will either continue to stonewall this story or it will start "spinning" the story as it makes excuses for Stancil's actions on June 30th. 

Yes, if Stancil had a medical problem and was taken directly to the hospital after the accident for treatment, that's understandable. But if Stancil was involved in an accident, didn't stick around to talk to the officer, didn't go directly to the hospital, and didn't check on the couple that he hit but, instead, went to a county commission meeting, then there's a lot of explaining to do.  And the big question is (1) Where was Stancil and who was he with between 3:38 PM (when the officer arrived to investigate and found Stancil's truck abandoned in a driveway) and 5:00 PM (when Stancil was sitting in the Courthouse swinging a gavel)? 

July 1, 2010 Stancil Ford Leaves Meeting with Help and Is Hospitalized

This picture of Commission Chair Stancil Ford talking to Commissioner Larry Baker was taken at yesterday's Hamblen County Commission meeting where the tax rate and budget for 2010-2011 was approved.  Right after the meeting concluded, Stancil Ford was helped out of the building and reportedly taken to M-H Hospital. [Several officials reported that Stancil had been in the Emergency Room earlier yesterday but had insisted on leaving the hospital so he could attend the county's brief budget meeting at 5:00 PM.  He got through the meeting, but he was obviously very disoriented and unfocused.] 

June 30, 2010 State Certified Tax Rate for Hamblen County Is $1.86, NOT $1.85 as Found in the June 21st Tax Resolution

                                                                      

You really have to watch your local officials and tax rates in property re-appraisal years---like 2010.

Why? I was serving on commission during the last re-appraisal in 2005. We received the new state certified tax rate in our packets just a couple of days before a budget meeting.  Fortunately, I was familiar with the budget and tax rates. That's why it didn't take long for me to spot an error in the certified tax rate in our packets.

I reported the error to the Assessor who contacted the state. End result: the "new" state certified tax rate for 2005 was changed, REDUCING the tax rate for Hamblen Countians by around 10 or 11 cents. The state and/or locals probably rarely make a mistake on the certified tax rate. [Or maybe mistakes slip by because no one ever verifies the numbers.]  When I was on Commission, I tried to check and verify as much as I possibly could. By checking the certified tax rate in 2005 and getting it cut before any scheduled votes, I was able to save the taxpayers over $1 Million dollars in property taxes.

This year (2010) is also a re-appraisal year.  Commission Chair Stancil Ford has been pushing and pushing to get everything--including setting a new tax rate--wrapped up by June 30.  To help push things along, Stancil even moved the regular June 24 commission meeting to June 21 for a first vote on the new tax rate and budget. One of the documents above is the tax rate resolution that was prepared for the June 21 meeting that would have set the tax rate at $1.85 (countywide + garbage). [This post has been revised to correct a typo and show the uncertified rate proposed on 6/21 as 1.85]

At the beginning of the June 21st meeting, however, before any votes were taken, I reminded the Commission that because this is a re-appraisal year,  they could not vote on a tax rate--or a budget that depends on that tax rate--until the state certified tax rate is received.  Click here. Not only was there no certified tax rate ready on June 21st, but since there was no certified tax rate, no one could have checked the certified tax rate.

At the end of the 6/21 meeting, when the $1.85 tax rate resolution and budget came up, it was admitted that the certified tax rate had not been received and must be received before a tax rate and budget are passed.  No vote was taken.  A vote will probably be taken today at 5:00 PM in the Chancery Courtroom in the old part of the Courthouse.

How important is it that the commission heeded the warning not to vote on a tax rate or any other tax rate until the certified rate is received? 

Well, the state certified tax rate for Hamblen County--that arrived on June 28--is $1.86!  Had the commission voted on the tax rate resolution that was prepared and in their packets on June 21, they would have been violating state law that they wait for the certified tax rate before voting on a tax rate and budget and then they would have been stuck with $1.85 (taxpayers probably wish that had happened!) or they would have had to vote again and "explain" why they rushed the first rate through and are raising the rate to $1.86.  [Two of the documents above give the new new county basic rate ($1.65) and the sanitation rate ($0.21) for a total certified rate of $1.86.]

Haste makes waste. Trust but verify. You might save the taxpayers a boatload of money or save the commission from having to do multiple votes to finally get it right.

June 22, 2010 Stancil Cancels Tax Levy and Budget Vote

During public comments at the beginning of yesterday's meeting of the Hamblen County Commission, I pointed out to Chairman Stancil Ford and all commissioners that there is currently no certified tax rate for Hamblen County. I noted that Commissioners could not vote on a tax rate or budget yesterday since they are still waiting for the certified tax rate. [Ironically, it was Stancil Ford who had changed Commission's regular meeting date to June 21 just so he could try and push a tax and budget vote through quickly.]

As the tax rate and budget discussion begain toward the end of the meeting, Ford acknowledged that there is no certified rate and admitted that the budget and tax rate could not be voted on at this meeting.  Bill Brittain said that appeals of appraisals were just ending, and he thought that a proposed certified tax rate might go to the state on Friday and perhaps be approved by the state on Monday, June 28, after which a vote on the tax rate and budget could be taken.

What's funny in all this is that it was Chairman Ford who created all the uproar by changing the regular meeting date from June 24 to June 21. As usual, haste makes waste. No matter how quickly Ford wants to push a budget and tax rate through, state law requires that certain procedures be followed and, in re-appraisal years, the certified tax rate must be set prior to tax rate and budget votes. 

Stancil and all commissioners need to realize the importance in taking time to do things right and even check the math before attempting to pass a tax rate levy and a budget.

Just how important is it to get the certified tax rate and check the math in Hamblen County? In 2005, it was worth ONE MILLION DOLLARS in savings to taxpayers.

During the last re-appraisal year (2005),  I was on County Commission.  We received the certified tax rate in our budget packets, and the Finance Director, Trustee, Assessor, and County Mayor were using that certified tax rate in budget calculations.  Just after one quick look at the "certified" tax rate that was being used, I knew something was wrong. It was clearly too high. I pulled out the old pencil and paper, checked the math, and found that the certified rate was indeed incorrect and that the miscalculated rate would result in overtaxing the property owners in Hamblen County in the amount of more than ONE MILLION DOLLARS.

I brought this miscalculation and tax overcharge to the attention of Assessor Keith Ely. Ely then pointed out the miscalculation that I had found to the state. After my one question, the 2005 tax rate was recalculated and the certified tax rate was reduced  by about 10 cents, saving the taxpayers of Hamblen County over ONE MILLION DOLLARS.

Haste makes waste. Trust but verify. Follow state law--it is there for a reason.

April 1, 2010 Conference Call with Good News from Hamblen County Commission Chair Stancil Ford and Mayor David Purkey

I had a very nice surprise conference call with Hamblen County Commission Chair Stancil Ford and County Mayor David Purkey early this morning.

Stancil initiated the call, but Mayor Purkey was on the line as well.

Stancil said that the two of them had been studying commission operations and the way appointments are made to boards and commissions and they have decided to adopt some suggestions that I have made over the years in order to be more open and citizen-friendly. I listened.

Two of the changes that Stancil and David are proposing are:

1) Stancil said that Committee meetings will begin at 5:00 PM--just like commission meetings--instead of the current 11:30 AM. Stancil said that he had finally realized that having committee meetings at 11:30 AM shuts out the citizens of Hamblen County who want to hear the discussions and have input but have to work for a living. I thanked him.

2) David then said that he was going to propose time or term-limits for people who serve on boards and commissions in Hamblen County.

David said that Stancil and he had finally realized that the same people do not need to be appointed over and over to the same board and do not need to serve on 3-4 boards at the same time. They thought the Commission would go along with their idea. I thanked them.

It was a good conversation and I think they had some other ideas to share with me, but I didn't have time to listen.

In my best Stancil imitation, I banged the phone/gavel down and growled/shouted "Your three minutes are up!"

UPDATE:  To all who e-mailed or called to tell me how pleased you are about this change of heart/policy by Stancil and David. Sorry, there hasn't been even the slightest change of heart by either one. It's April 1st and you just got pranked!