July 9, 2010 Morristown Mayor and City Council Pass Amendment Increasing Tax Rate from $0.98 to $1.05

Councilmembers Gene Brooks and Frank McGuffin weren't present yesterday, but Mayor Barile and Councilmembers Bob Garrett, Claude Jinks, Doc Rooney, and Kay Senter passed the amendment increasing the property tax levy of $0.98 that was passed in June to a figure of $1.05.

2010 is a reappraisal year. The whole budget/city tax rate fiasco occurred because City Administrator Tony Cox and Budget Director Brian Janish--and the Mayor and Council--refused to wait for the reappraisal and appeal process to run its course with receipt of the certified tax rate from the state.

Cox and Janish set budget, new garbage fee, and tax rate votes for June 15 and June 17 at which time a property tax rate of $0.98 was approved. 

Just 11 days later, the reappraisal numbers were finalized and a certified tax rate of $1.05 was received from the state for the City of Morristown.

The City, which had "jumped the gun" by approving a tax rate before receipt of the certified tax rate, then  decided to re-do or amend its previous tax vote and adopt the higher $1.05 tax rate.

[Unlike the City, Hamblen County recognized the requirement to wait for the final reappraisal process and receipt of the certified tax rate before voting on a new tax rate and budget. Click here for when the county delayed its scheduled vote on a tax rate because the certified rate had not been received. Click here for info on the certified Hamblen rate that was received June 28.  And click here for when a vote on the Hamblen County tax rate and budget took place on June 30 after receipt of the certified rate.]

January 3, 2010 Consultant Tells Jefferson County: Align with Knox Area Instead of Morristown-Hamblen County

The Jefferson County Standard Banner headline on December 29, 2009, reads: County Should Align Itself with Knox Area. 

Jefferson County's Industrial Development Board hired an Atlanta consultant, Jay Garner, to assemble information and statistics about local economic development and to recommend ways to improve how county handles business recruitment and growth.

Garner's study notes that almost as many Jefferson Countians commute to Knoxville for work (5000) as Jefferson Countians who stay in the county for work (5353).  Based on this greater "synergy" with Knoxville, Garner recommends that Jefferson County should try to be removed from the Morristown MSA (metropolitan statistical area) and seek to be included in the Knoxville MSA.

Garner also suggests that Jefferson County be a part of the Knoxville-Oak Ridge Innovation Valley as an effort to bring high-tech jobs with good salaries to Jefferson County. According to Garner, Jefferson County's per capita income is currently $25,200---$8,000 below the state average.

Garner's 72-page report will be reviewed at the Industrial Board's January meeting.

April 29, 2009 The Tribune Is Way Too Easy..."Reporting" on Debt Via Press Release

Gotta love it. I blog about the county and city debt and then the Tribune jumps in with not one, but two front-page news articles--- actually they're more like front-page press releases---with the county and city saying everything is just fine while ignoring the real issues with the structure of the city and county debt.

If you ask the wrong question, you'll get the wrong answer. And that's exactly what the Tribune did with the county debt.

The county article was about the county's bond rating. The key questions, however, are NOT about the county's bond rating or whether the county can eventually pay off its debt. The county can pay down its bonded debt; it just hasn't done so for the last 10 years! The county keeps refinancing and passing the ever-growing debt down to another generation. What a legacy "for the children." This county has taken its cue from the feds. Debt is great. Even more debt is better. And handing debt off to the unborn is the best--after all, the unborn aren't here to complain.

The right questions to ask about county debt are: 1) why has the county not paid down one penny of the 1998-2001 county-school bond issues and why has the hospital not paid down one penny of its bond issues? 2) why did the county get into technical, complex, and risky derivatives/swaps? 3) does the county now owe even MORE in bonds than it owed just one year ago? and 4) why in the world does the county let a person (Joe Ayres) who has his finger in every piece of the financial pie provide financial advice that always leads to more fees, more commissions, and more money for Joe?

Who's looking out for county taxpayers? Where's the person who'll stand up and say "Whoa! We've got to get this fox out of the henhouse and start paying off our debt!"

The Tribune ignored the key questions and just provided front-page space for a county press release on bond ratings. Our bond rating may be OK---but why is the county making interest-only payments and why is the county allowing someone (Joe Ayres) to lead us into financial deals that line his pockets over and over and over again? The Tribune never once mentioned that the county's financial advisor-- Joe Ayres -- made national news in the NY Times--and it wasn't a pretty sight.

In the City debt article, Morristown City Administrator Jim Crumley was very defensive. The article on the City's debt was longer, more interesting, and didn't seem as much like a press release, but answers to crucial questions were left out such as: Why did the Tennessee Municipal League (TML) sever its relationship with Bank of America? What other seven municipalities--in addition to Morristown--is Moody's reassessing? Is Moody's going to look at the debt of other municipalities? Why were eight cities singled out for reassessment? If so, why?

And isn't it "convenient" that Moody's report on the City debt won't come out until after the city council elections!

And isn't it convenient the city audit (for the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2008) still isn't ready and won't come out until after the city council election! Wonder why?

The City pays a tidy sum for an annual audit. What a shame that the City can't see its audit until over 9 months after its fiscal/audit year ended. Imagine trying to prepare a budget for FY 2010 when you still don't have the audited figures for FY 2008! And who knows if anyone has a clue about where the city really stands in the current FY 2009?

How many "bonuses" and "pay raises" and "car allowances" has Crumley single-handedly handed out. Who got what? How much other money has he spent, where did he spend it, and from what line item did he pull the money--without notifying city council!

It's time for the City to pull its financial act together. The Council needs to step up and say we don't just appropriate one big lump of money and hand it to the City Administrator to spend and shift around however he chooses.

Then City Council needs to say to Mayor Barile and Crumley, "Paying attention and asking where the money goes is NOT bad and is NOT micro-managing. It's our job! Questions and oversight by the council provide a system of checks and balances instead of a City Administrator-run dictatorship."

And the City sure needs to get its long-time auditor on-the-stick or have someone else perform the city audit. Did anyone consider letting several CPA's submit proposals to do the audit?

The county used to wait and wait for the same auditor to finish the county audit. When I was elected to county commission in 2002, my first proposal was to eliminate the use of a private auditor and have state auditors perform Hamblen County's audit. The result was two-fold: 1) the county saved a bundle since the state auditors charged less than 50% of what the private auditor had been charging; and 2) with a new set of eyes on the county's finances, a lot of violations of state law and other irregularities that had been going on for years and years were spotted and corrected.

The first year (2003) that the state auditors performed the Hamblen County audit over 27 findings and irregularities were reported. In that year Hamblen County had more findings and irregularities than any other county in the state. [The previous year, the private auditor reported only one finding/irregularity]. Click here for a summary. At long last, a lot of problems were straightened out and processes were improved.

The city and county--despite the Tribune's many press release articles--have spending problems, debt problems, and serious accountability and openness issues.

April 28, 2009 Why Won't the Tribune Report Hamblen County's Debt Mess?

The New York Times ran an article weeks ago about how many counties in Tennessee are being hit with additional debt due to debt swap agreements arranged by Joe Ayres of Cumberland Securities, Joe Ayres of Morgan Keegan, Joe Ayres of Regions Bank, and Joe Ayres of TNLoans.

Yes, the fox (Joe Ayres wearing his many financial hats) guarding the henhouse (taxpayers' pockets) and getting paid big bucks by county governments, including Hamblen.

It's a nationwide story, and, yes, Hamblen County is one of Joe Ayres' many clients. But the local Tribune is quiet. No series of articles. No front-page story. You'd think the Trib would print the NY Times article since the Trib prints editorials from other papers.

Even if the Trib doesn't consider this a story, you can read about what Joe Ayres and his many companies have gotten Tennessee counties, including Hamblen, into by clicking here for the New York Times article.

No wonder Hamblen, after shelling out millions in interest, still owes the same money that it owed 10 years ago. Click here and here.

And is anybody checking out the City of Morristown and its debt?

April 27, 2009 Sevier County Voting on Sales Tax Increase (Again)

The News-Sentinel has an article and interesting comments on a second sales tax increase referendum in less than a year in Sevier County. Hamblen County also has a second sales tax increase referendum on the May ballot.

There are many similarities between the Sevier and Hamblen sales tax increase referenda. The article and online comments on the Sevier referendum are here.

Sevier County voters defeated a sales tax increase about 10 months ago. Hamblen County voters defeated a sales tax increase a little over a year ago.

The powers-that-be in Sevier (school board, county commission, etc.) have put the sales tax increase referendum back on the ballot in Sevier. Ditto for Hamblen County.

The leaders in Sevier think that the voters didn't understand the issue the first time. Ditto for Hamblen.

This time, the powers-that-be in Sevier are trying to better educate the public in order to get the voters to vote in favor of the sales tax increase. Ditto for Hamblen.

The sales tax increase in Sevier is, of course, for the children. Ditto for Hamblen.

There is one interesting difference, however, between Sevier and Hamblen.

Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters says he has agreements from the cities of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg to give all the sales tax that would normally belong to each city to the schools.

Hamblen County Mayor David Purkey has never gotten an agreement from Morristown--the only city in Hamblen County--to give all or a large part of the sales tax that would normally belong to the city to the schools.

The City of Morristown goes on and on about education when the City is trying to garner votes for a sales tax increase. Click here.

But Morristown-- unlike Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg--quickly forgets about education once the sales tax increase passes. If a sales tax increase passes, Morristown keeps every penny that it can instead of giving all or a large portion of its share of the sales tax increase to the schools. Click here for more information.

Whether the current sales tax increase passes or not, Maybe Mayor Purkey and Director of Schools Dale Lynch ought to contact Morristown Mayor Barile and see if she can get the City to donate all or a large portion of the City's sales tax to education.

February 20, 2008 Knox Audits Prove It: Regular Audits Do NOT Look for Fraud, Waste, and Abuse

I have not blogged in-depth about Knox County conflicts of interest, open meeting violations, p-card abuse (purchasing cards), and audits.

The outrageous and illegal actions of Knox officials and employees have been headline news in the Knox News-Sentinel, on Knox talk radio, and on internet sites for over a year and will likely continue at a hot clip for at least another year.


The audits of vehicle usage, P-cards (county credit cards), the hospitality slush fund, community grants and grant awards, and several others are set to be released at long last.

One pre-audit casualty is Cynthia Finch, the Mayor's long-time aide. What the regular audits missed (fraud, waste, and abuse), special audits found (fraud, waste, and abuse found).

Now it's a waiting game to find out who and how much and whether the abusers just resign with a hefty severance package or whether they are truly held accountable for their actions.

Knoxville is fortunate to have a paper that has decided to do true investigative reporting (here and here) instead of government press release reporting. Morristown and Hamblen County are not so fortunate. Part I Part II Part III Part IV

Knoxville is fortunate to have a paper that stood up for open meetings and joined in a suit that exposed backroom deals and deliberations made outside of the public eye. Morristown and Hamblen County are not so fortunate.

Knoxville is fortunate that their major talk radio stations are not owned/partly owned by the same individuals who own the only newspaper. Morristown and Hamblen County are not so fortunate.


If you wonder what would happen if anyone investigated what happens in Morristown and Hamblen County, just take a look at the Knox County audits, the coverups, the lawsuits that it has taken to start the clean-up process, and the multiple resignations of which Cynthia Finch is only the latest.

Many Knoxvillians who were apathetic or who assumed everything was OK are now aware of the widespread conflicts, corruption, fraud, waste, and abuse that are at the core of their government. With INFORMATION provided by the News-Sentinel and talk radio, Knoxvillians came out on February 5th and started the clean-up process.

July 22, 2007 Teddy Ray Mitchell Lawsuit

Several people noticed a small blurb in the Citizen-Tribune on July 11, 2007, stating that a lawsuit had been filed by Teddy Ray Mitchell and Judy Mitchell against Hamblen County and the City of Morristown.

Teddy Ray Mitchell was carrying a lawn chair and a small American flag on an aluminum pole on June 24, 2006, when he started up the First North Street entrance to the Courthouse lawn. He was planning to attend an anti-illegal immigration rally.

When officers told him that he could not take the aluminum pole with the small American flag onto the Courthouse lawn, Mr. Mitchell objected. Words were exchanged. At some point, Mr. Mitchell was allegedly tasered, taken to the ground, and arrested.

There was an absolutely massive display of law enforcement present that day.

Several individuals asked if I would post the entire complaint that was filed in US District Court in Greeneville so they could see what it says.

Plaintiffs are Teddy Ray Mitchell and wife Judy Lee Mitchell. A jury trial is demanded.

Defendants are City of Morristown; Hamblen County; Officer Frank Lane; Officer Matt Stuart; Officer Troy Wallen; Officer Andrew Kyle; Officer Eric Carson; Lt. Chris Weisgarber (sic); Chief of Police Roger Overholt; Mayor Gary Johnson; and John Doe's.

COMPLAINT

Come the plaintiffs and for cause of action would state as follows:

1. The plaintiffs are citizens and residents of Hamblen County, Tennesse.

2. The defendant City of Morristown is a municipal corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Tennessee and existing in Hamblen County, Tennessee.

3. The defendant Hamblen County is a governmental entity existing and created in the State of Tennessee.

4. The individual officer defendants, Frank Lane, Matt Stuart, Troy Wallen, Andrew Kyle, Eric Carlson, Chris Weisgarber (sic), are police officers employed by the City of Morristown and may be served with process through the Chief of Police in Morristown, Tennessee. (NOTE: Chris Wisecarver)

5. Chief of Police Roger Overholt is employed by the City of Morristown and may be served with process through the Chief of Police in Morristown, Tennessee.

6. Mayor Gary Johnson is employed by the City of Morristown and may be served with process at 100 W. First North Street, Morristown, Tennessee 37816. (NOTE: Sami Barile is now Mayor of Morristown)

7. The John Doe defendants are parties who are employees of the City of Morristown or Hamblen County who participated in the actions that led to the planning, policy, and decisions that resulted in the violation of civil rights of the plaintiff, Teddy Ray Mitchell, and his resulting injuries, as well as John Does that participated in the violation of his civil rights. None of these individuals are known to plaintiffs at this time. Those would include Sheriff's department deputies that participated in the events and arrest of Teddy Ray Mitchell on June 24, 2006.

8. The defendants and all of them acted in their official capacity to violate the plaintiff, Teddy Ray Mitchell, of his rights.

9. This is a civil action seeking relief and/or damages to defend or protect the rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States. This action is brought pursuant to 42 USC (Section) 1983, as well as other remedies. This Court has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 USC (Sections) 1331, 1343(3)(4) and 2201.

10. Venue exists in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee.

11. On or about June 24, 2006, the plaintiff, Teddy Ray Mitchell, a 61 year old veteran, was on his way to attend a "concerned citizens" pro-America rally. This rally was a peaceful rally that had been orgranized in part by some of the leaders of the Hamblen County community and at which certain public officials would be speaking.

12. Citizens were encouraged to attend and to bring American flags. Mr. Mitchell brought along with him a lawn chair and an American flag to attend the rally. He also wore around his neck a picture of himself in his Navy uniform from the 1960's. Mr. Mitchell was not a member of any group or organization. He simply wanted to attend a pro-America rally.

13. Upon arrival, Mr. Mitchell was surprised to find that the entire grounds of the Hamblen County Courthouse where the rally was to occur had been cordoned off. Mr. Mitchell understood this to be a peaceful rally and, therefore, did not understand the high degree of security.

14. While approaching the entrance to the rally, Mr. Mitchell was confronted by the above-noted defendant officers.

15. The officers forcefully demanded that he would not be able to take his flag into the rally. Mr. Mitchell objected to this. He asked if a Mexican flag would be allowed and was told by one of the defendant officers that, yes, a Mexican flag could go in. The officers then did forcefully try to take the flag from him and grabbed Mr. Mitchell and forced him to the ground. At the same time, they stunned and/or tasered him.

16. Mr. Mitchell is 61 years of age. The officers used unnecessary force and did violently violate his constitutional rights to freely attend a public rally and carry an American flag.

17. The above-stated defendants did violate Mr. Mitchell's constitutional rights, including the right of free speech and to carry an American flag; the right to be free from an unlawful attack; the use of unnecessary force by a police officer; and the unlawful arrest of him, all in the the exercise of his protected constitutional rights.

18. Mr. Mitchell and other American veterans have served in our Armed Forces to protect our right to carry and present the American flag. The officers in questiosn sought to deprive Mr. Mitchell of this right and did so forcefully and with unnecessary violence did take his American flag from him. causing injury to him.

19. The aforestated defendants violated Mr. Mitchell's constitutional rights, including those protected pursuant to the Fourteenth Amendment and 42 USC (Section) 1983.

20. The defendants, through their planning of the security for this event and through the actions that led to the injury and arrest of Mr. Mitchell, did act in concert to violate his civil rights.

21. Further, the defendant officers have maliciously prosecuted him, all in an effort to prevent Mr. Mitchell from exercising his civil rights.

22. As a result of the actions of the defendants, the plaintiff, Teddy Ray Mitchell, has incurred damages, including personal injury and attorneys' fees. He continues to be wrongfully prosecuted. All of these actions have caused and will continue to cause him damages and injury and are intended to hinder him in his protection of his civil rights. The plaintiff prays to recover any and all damages to which he has suffered.

23. The plaintiff, Judy Lee Mitchell, has been deprived of consortium of her husband and is therefore likewise entitled to damages.

Having set forth their Complaint, the plaintiffs pray to recover an amount not less than $100,000, as well as their attorneys' fees and costs and such further and other relief as to which they are entitled. The plaintiffs request a jury to try this cause.

Respectfully submitted this 22nd day of June, 2007.

Signed by: Teddy Ray Mitchell
Judy Lee Mitchell

James C. Wright (Attorney for Plaintiffs)

March 12, 2007 Conflicts of Interest on State and Local Election Commissions

A recent News-Sentinel article discusses a proposed law to address conflicts of interest on Tennessee state and local election commissions.

There is information about past involvement by election commissioners in Hamilton and Knox counties who advocated and/or wrote letters of endorsement for a particular candidate while these same election commissioners were charged with the conduct of fair elections in their counties.

The Tom Humphrey article also reports that local state Rep. John Litz (D-Morristown) mentioned during hearings in Nashville that two election commissioners in Hamblen County have children who are public officials.

One of the sponsors of the legislation Rep. Bill Dunn (R-Knoxville) thinks that the current proposal would: "... send a signal to commissioners that they need to appear impartial if they are going to be overseeing the integrity of the election process."

Other lawmakers oppose restrictions on election commissioners.

When asked whether he would support Dunn's bill, Gov. Phil Bredesen said he wasn't familiar with the bill's specifics but that "having election commissioners taking part in partisan elections is probably something that ought to be eliminated."

Amen.

March 10, 2007 Rumors of Change

I'm hearing lots of rumors from two or three different sources that a big announcement and perhaps even a job change in Hamblen County Government might be coming---maybe within the next month or more.

It could all change in the twinkle of an eye, but I'm hearing that an elected official just might have decided that the heat is too hot here. While he's been drawing a handsome salary from Hamblen County, he has apparently been out job hunting elsewhere.

If everything works out-- and there are probably still some details and timing to work out--you can bet that the move will be quick.

Of course, there will be an announcement that a "wonderful opportunity" has suddenly come available.

Of course, he'll say that he has been presented with a "real challenge."

Of course, he'll say that he hates to leave. Of course, he'll add that he just can't pass this up.

The departing statement will make it sound like he's had a tough time making a decision when really he's been working to get another job for a long time.

March 7, 2007 A Tough Ethics Policy

As a result of the Tennessee Waltz arrests in 2005, the state legislature now requires that each county adopt an ethics policy no later than June 30, 2007.

Hamblen County has been considering adoption of a new Ethics Policy for several months now, but few public comments have been made by Hamblen Commissioners.

At one meeting, there were one or two comments with Larry Baker asking the county attorney whether commissioners who work for Hamblen County or for Hamblen County Schools (or who have close relatives working for the county or school system) have to declare a conflict of interest before casting a vote on budgets or issues involving their or their family's employer?

Joe Swann mentioned that he's concerned that the Ethics Policy might be used "against" sitting commissioners by potential opponents.

Avoid conflicts of interest and any appearance of impropriety and you have nothing to worry about.

Government corruption, nepotism, and conflicts of interest are everywhere. It's not just Hamblen County. It's Memphis. Sumner County. Knox County. Williamson County. Claiborne County. The State Legislature.

People are sick of it. Many people have simply dropped out of the political process entirely because of a complete sense of hopelessness in the face of widespread favoritism, cronyism, and corruption.

Shelby County is looking at a very stringent policy that applies to a broad range of government officials and employees. The Memphis Commercial Appeal has a link to the Shelby policy. Sections 4-9 provide standards and an enforcement mechanism through an Ethics Committee.

Hamblen County should take a look at the Shelby County proposal.

The standards that are set in the Ethics Policy and the effectiveness and composition of the Ethics Committee are the key elements to whatever is adopted locally.

The Ethics Committee should be selected from a broad base of individuals and should include citizens with no connection to the government payroll---as was done in Knox County and as is proposed in the Shelby Ethics Policy.

The Ethics Committee does not need to be just another elite board of just commissioners and other elected officials---government types who naturally pander to the power structure to which they themselves belong.

Officials are naturally going to resist even looking at ethical violations by their fellow "good old boys and girls." An Ethics Committee doesn't need to be another board of government-types who rule over themselves.

The fox shouldn't be put in charge of the henhouse!

February 11, 2007 Nepotism? In Hamblen County?

Several recent posts on this blog as well as links to other bloggers and articles in the News-Sentinel have criticized the blatant nepotism, appointing family members to public jobs, by the Knox County Commission at its Jan. 31 meeting.

Is nepotism unique to Knox County? No. There is rampant nepotism, hiring family members, in Hamblen County Government as well. And the smell is just the same as in Knox County. The only difference is that a lot of people in Hamblen County have gotten used to the odor of nepotism here, and the people who benefit---and there are plenty---sure aren't going to complain.

Most officials try to keep Hamblen County nepotism "under-the-radar." It's sort of a Courthouse secret or practical joke on the taxpayers. And there are people who benefit or who have friends who benefit from local nepotism. They try to excuse all the family hirings because we're a "small" county or community.

Well, we are not a small county. We ranked 20th in population out of 95 counties in 2000. We have about 60,000+ residents. Qualified, non-family members are available IF that's the kind of open and fair hiring process that officials want.

Trustee Bill Brittain made a statement to me years ago about county government--well before I was elected to the Commission in 2002. I have never forgotten his words. He said that each elected official has his or her own little "kingdom."

What I found out later is not only are there kingdoms, but the elected official who is the king or queen grabs every opportunity to build his/her kingdom and increase his/her extended family's income by hiring family or swapping out family hirings with other officials. You hire my family, I'll hire yours.

Blatant nepotism, where available jobs are not posted or where there is a pretend posting but the family member who will fill the position has already been selected, is just one of the many reasons people are turned off by government and don't even bother to show up at election time.

Nepotism, self-serving deals, and family hirings make a lot of people wonder if officials really run for office to serve and to vote in the best interest of the taxpayers or whether these people run for office just so they get to set up a kingdom and promote their and their families' personal financial interests.

When kingdoms are in place, too often you end up with corruption, taxpayer-funded family hirings, and taxpayer-funded deals and no-bid contracts.

There is a lot of lip-service about avoiding favoritism in hiring, but nobody really wants to get rid of sweetheart deals and family hirings. The party in control of the kingdom now is happy, and the party that is out of office is just waiting until it eventually grabs control of a kingdom and gets to be a kingpin disguised as a public servant.

February 10, 2007 Public Records Ombudsman in TN?

Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen is discussing setting up a public records "ombudsman" to work out of the Comptroller's Office to help resolve public records issues for citizens.

The Tennessee Coalition for Open Government [TCOG] has been pushing for over 3 years to improve Tennessee's open records and open meetings laws.

[I support groups that encourage open government, and I am a member of TCOG.]

The full AP article is posted on the website of Tennessee Coalition for Open Government (TCOG).

Difficulty in getting public records often occurs at the local level. TCOG did a statewide public records survey in 2004 and found that citizens who requested public records at the local level were denied those records about 1/3 of the time.

Currently, if a citizen is denied a record that he thinks is public, there are only two options: (1) give up (government loves that) or (2) file a lawsuit (often expensive and time-consuming).

Now the Governor is talking about a third option--an ombudsman that citizens can contact when public document issues come up.

I hope that "government officials" groups, such as the Tennessee County Commissioners Assn., the Tennessee County Mayors Assn., and others will not oppose efforts to open up government.

[The 2/8/07 article states that Doug Goddard with the Tennessee County Commissioners Association was not available for comment.]

While on the Hamblen County Commission, I met and spoke to Doug Goddard several times. I think that Mr. Goddard himself believes in open government. I hope that the Tennessee County Commissioners Association that he leads also believes in open government and recognizes that there should be a way to resolve public records requests short of a lawsuit that costs the county and the citizen.

I'll be watching and contacting my legislators soon (Rep. John Litz rep.john.litz@legislature.state.tn.us and Sen. Steve Southerland sen.steve.southerland@legislature.state.tn.us) in support of ways to make government transparent and open.

With the goal of making local government more open and transparent, I asked the Hamblen County Commission at its January meeting to consider posting government information (e.g. minutes of all meetings, budget data and amendments, quarterly line item financial reports, monthly check listings, property records, etc) on the Hamblen County Government website.

The information is there. The technology is there. The only thing lacking at this point is government willingness to open up!

February 9, 2007 Knox Conflicts--Great Article

There's a great article by Greg Johnson in today's N-S about the shenanigans, double dipping, and triple dipping in Knox County government.

I'll post later on similarities between Knox and Hamblen conflicts of interest.

UPDATE: Joe Powell has a really good post on Ethics & Government.

December 5, 2006 Hamblen-Jefferson Financial Problems

The new Jefferson County Mayor Alan Palmieri made the front page of the Sunday newspaper expressing concerns about the fact that Jefferson County has been making interest-only payments on the county debt and shuffling money all around.

Hamblen County has been doing the very same thing---and more. See recent posts here and here.

Here are some bits and pieces of Palmieri's discussion of the type of financial sleight-of-hand that occurs when power is centralized, checks and balances are ignored, and no one asks and no one answers tough financial questions.

---------------------------------

Palmieri took office as county mayor Sept. 1, replacing Gary Holloway (sic) who had served in the office for 20 years. The issues, according to Palmieri, include the justice center which is $2 million over budget...

...the planning for the $14 million center did not take into consideration staffing and utilities issues. "Those issues should have been handled up front," he said.

Although the sheriff was told initially that the bond issue included funding for those areas, he now says "the money was spent for other things."

Palmieri points out that the county also is facing a school building project...

He says the cost of the school expansion project has ranged from $18 million to $70 million and "somehow we are going to have to deal with how we’ll fund that project and how soon we’ll get it off the ground."....

The county mayor will make a proposal for a 12-year plan to eliminate the county’s current $63 million debt, take care of the school building needs and develop an industrial park without raising the county property tax rate.

Palmieri is tight lipped about his financing plan or how much he will propose for the various needs of the county, but he is critical of the past practice of "making interest payments but no payments on the principal of the debt."

-----------------------------

Hamblen County? Same financial story, but no newspaper articles.

There won't be a front-page story with the truth from an elected official or from an investigative reporter about what's going on here.

There won't be a picture of the County Mayor and an article where he expresses concern about years and years of interest-only payments and switching money around.

There won't be a story where the paper or commissioners ask questions and report the Hamblen County Mayor's role and actions in bypassing county commission in making an appropriation of money.

The Mayor just takes a county matching funds spending resolution, signs it, has his employee sign it, and then sends it to the state along with a letter falsely telling the state that the matching funds resolution he signed was voted on and approved by the commission.

Who needs a commission to make an appropriation of money as required by law when the Mayor just signs, seals, and delivers it without bothering to get a vote?

There won't be a story where the Hamblen County Mayor is asked to explain why he enrolled the director of one local non-profit organization, his close personal and political friend, on the county's insurance but didn't offer the same enrollment/payment deal to other non-profit directors.

No questions about whether it was legal to put the friend on in the first place. No questions about, if it was legal, why weren't other non-profits given the same opportunity?

The 11-year shell game has gone ka-put. Now what?

Where is the man or woman on commission--or anywhere else--who is prepared to insist that the Mayor answer truthfully to allegations of falsifying documents, putting friends on the county insurance, and shifting money around without authorization?

Where is the man or woman on commission--or anywhere else--who is prepared to publicly say that such actions, if true, show abuse of office and contempt for our system of checks and balances?

Where is the man or woman on commission--or anywhere else--who will start to ask questions and really watch the county's finances closely.

A newly-elected official in Jefferson County is opening up the information pipeline, admitting problems, and using common sense to address the issues.

Anything less than that in Hamblen County, and you're just rearranging the chairs on the deck of the Titanic.

November 19, 2006 And the answer is...

There was a quick answer to Friday's Tennessee Trivia question.

Question: Who was Hamblen County named for and when was Hamblen County established?

Answer from JCS: Hezekiah Hamblen. 1870.

September 15, 2006 Tennessee Trivia Question

I haven't blogged for a while, but as soon as the Florida game is over, it will be blogging catch-up time.

Right now, though, it's Trivia Time in Tennessee!

Hamblen County is the 3rd smallest county in Tennessee.

Question (two-parter):

What is the smallest county in area?
What is the largest county in area?

Send your answers to noe4accountability@yahoo.com

The deadline for answers is Monday, September 18th--when the answers will be posted right here!

December 3, 2005 Hiking/Biking Trail Grants and Morristown's Sesquicentennial Time Capsule

On Wednesday, November 30, Governor Bredesen came to the Morristown City Center to announce the award of a $600,000 grant to the City of Morristown for greenway construction at the Morristown College Campus site.

I stopped in to watch the grant award and to hear Morristown Mayor Gary Johnson discuss the new Sesquicentennial Time Capsule.

The greenway construction is part of the city's ongoing trail development. According to the Tribune, last year the city got $1.2 million for trail construction between central Morristown and the lake.

This newest $600,000 is for greenway construction at the college campus in order to construct a walking and biking trail around the college site and link the campus with the main greenway artery.

There were jokes about how welcome the governor is---particularly when he brings money with him. The governor was given some Christmas ornaments at the ceremony and he quipped about this "exchange" of gifts.

Someone behind me laughed and whispered that we ought to give the governor some more ornaments and he can give us some more money! Not a bad idea.

Also on Wednesday, there was a special local activity tied to the Morristown Sesquicentennial (150th birthday). A Time Capsule containing all kinds of reminders and items from 2005 was buried to be unearthed in the year 2055 when Morristown celebrates its bicentennial (200th birthday).

I was around during the 1955 Centennial. There were all kinds of events then with women running around in long dresses and bonnets and men sporting old-timey beards and mustaches.

I participated in a play about school days. My role in the play was to run up about three steps and hand an apple to the teacher. Sounds simple, doesn't it? Well, try running up steps in a long dress that goes to your ankles in your acting debut.

I fell almost every time we performed the play.

I probably won't be around for the Bicentennial in 2055, but I want my children to know about the history of Morristown and Hamblen County. I picked up one of the brochures containing the list of over 180 items that have been placed in the Sesquicentennial Time Capsule that was buried on Wednesday.

The Capsule has items like school yearbooks, area newspapers, scrapbooks, club information, postcards, history and information about area churches and hospitals, and lots more.

One of my personal Time Capsule favorites is the book Hamblen County, Tennessee: A Pictorial History by local historians Jim Claborn and Bill Henderson. I have a copy at home that I treasure, and future generations will no doubt enjoy this book when the 2005 Time Capsule is opened in 2055.

Now, we have just 50 years to go before the celebration of the Morristown Bicentennial begins!