Check out my 15 points on my blog, www.votingundertheinfluence.blogspot.com.
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15 points to start reforming Anderson County government
I will discuss those points here or on my blog. I want the conversation to begin.
I agree with all 15 points on your blog. Implementing those will go a long way toward regaining the trust of the voters.
Those ideas are good, but some of them are just fluff and for show. If we're going to really move forward, there are several County employees and Division Directors who were in the Preston "inner circle" who needs to go. If Mr. Cunningham is going to take this County forward, he needs to have his people in place he can trust.
There are also too may people and organizations in place who "do" Economic Development. There needs to be one voice and only one group with the County's best interest at heart who can deal with prospects for Anderson County. We need to be inovative; textiles are dead and manufaturing in this country is on life support.
I agree that wasting money on an audit is fruitless. Just modify the rules on spending and move forward.
We've suffered with "country bumpkins" on County Council for too many years. Maybe we need to have a requirement that County Councilman should at least have a college degree with a masters degree preferred.
Well, these are my thoughts.
Brian---Great ideas. I would like to add that it might be a good idea to have all of the awards presentations done between the 6pm and 7pm hour so the award winners can be on TV and then leave if they desire (as they usually do) before the business part of the meeting begins. I would also suggest that these awards be done on maybe a quarterly basis. I would also recommend that the presenters not read the entire certificate. Some of those certificates read like books. The first paragraph should be enough. I would start the 7pm hour with citizens comments and then get down to business. This way those concerned about county affairs won't have to set in those hard seats for hours on end. My posterior would greatly appreciate the expediting of these meetings.
Maybe we need to have a requirement that County Councilman should at least have a college degree with a masters degree preferred.-andersonresident
That is elitest B.S. on so many levels!
One of those long time members leaving the current council as well as one current members that is staying are both former teachers.Brian, while I agree on some of your ideas I also disagree on some, and if I may elaborate for a moment:
1. Forget Joey Preston. Absolutely not. For 12 years Preston has run roughshod over Anderson County and the harm he has done will take years to correct. Once we have an open government again and have full access to 'his books' I believe there will be tons of evidence to haul his sorry butt to court and hopefully to jail. I will never accept allowing a bank robber to keep the money he stole and ride off into the sunset with my money.
2. Only have a special audit if there is extra money left in the budget to have one. Again, absolutely not. The previous council election had a complete audit as a trademark and is supported by the three new incoming council members in addition to Mr. Waldrep and Ms. Wilson. I believe a full audit will not only implicate Preston but will also implicate his notorious Gang of Shame, consisting of Bill McAbee, Michael Thompson, Larry Greer, Gracie Floyd and Ron Wilson. It is my opinion that those five council members have been in cahoots with Preston on many questionable deals.
3-7. Pretty much agree with you.
8. Limit access to county credit cards. For sure and keep close control of every card, which should be in one departments safe, signed out, and returned with full documentation to verify every charge, including the administrator.
Loose use and control of county credit cards were the very backbone of the rise against Preston and his cronies as I'm sure you remember. Never again.
9. OK, but with some type control so that the council member cannot pick his family, etc. as voices for his district.
10. No county employee outside of public safety shall be allowed to regularly drive a county vehicle home. Agree. Also, I would like to see the County Seal on every county vehicle that we own. Then if we see one parked at Cater Lake at 10 pm we can get our cameras out.
11. Eliminate the Park Police. But not in it's entirety. I would favor keeping a couple of the local men (none of Preston's imports) to use in the old Court House as needed. This will not include hauling Graceless Floyd around town at our expense.
12. Move to privatize the county museum. But provide some services to it, perhaps in the way of limited money, upkeep, etc.
13. Instruct the economic development operation to work with the SC Department of Commerce on targets. Good, after a house cleaning in the EcoDev dept. Heather Jones has been a poor dept. head considering the awful performance of her dept. We need a new dept. head and evaluate each employee of the dept. to see if pulling their weight.
14. Revise the schedule of county council to include one "town hall" meeting every quarter. Good idea but let's keep the citizens comments before and after the meeting.
15. OK.
Good job Brian. With a few additions of course.
Yes I agree good job overall.
Gas cards. Everyone with a car also has a gas card. There is no reason to have people like Heather Jones equipped with a car (and lights!), a motor pool or reimbursement for millage on a POV is acceptable.
One of the problems I see is the legacy of Preston that will keep us from moving forward. Look at the Sheriff's Office. Skipper is bringing with him the employees he knows will work with him to accomplish his vision. Crenshaw did it and so did Taylor. Now we have Cunningham and the same people Preston hired who helped him run the county as he did. I think as negative as the term "cleaning house" sounds to some delicate ears, it is about the only way we will have a new group of players who are neither tainted by the old regime or familiar with the old practices. I would have an application process that is adhered to and if we have a personnel committee they should address any issues of how Council interacts with county employees and not the Administrator and our court system. Talk about a waste of the courts time.
One other change(s) that need to be addressed are any ordinance changes that allowed Preston to behave as if his word and ideas alone were how the county should be run. The Administrator needs to be fully accountable to the County Council and take direction form them.
To all you who pick on C Wilson & Waldrep, and call us "negative" for our views, let's wait and see how things change over the next year. Maybe the blight will prove to have been Preston & McNair and not those two.
Again, let's remember who hired and wrote the contract for Cunningham, Preston! The guy that bilked the county for a cool million. What did he do for us? Tried to force another law suit or buyout for someone who simply doesn't deserve it. That job should have been posted country wide on a Public Administration Assn. and allowed the best candidate to be hired.
I will say this that is a positive. I have enjoyed the absence of the Preston 5:00 club downtown. It has been much nicer not to see or listen to that group make disparaging comments about everyone they hated, cursing like sailors.
Gas cards. Everyone with a car also has a gas card. There is no reason to have people like Heather Jones equipped with a car (and lights!), a motor pool or reimbursement for millage on a POV is acceptable.
One of the problems I see is the legacy of Preston that will keep us from moving forward. Look at the Sheriff's Office. Skipper is bringing with him the employees he knows will work with him to accomplish his vision. Crenshaw did it and so did Taylor. Now we have Cunningham and the same people Preston hired who helped him run the county as he did. I think as negative as the term "cleaning house" sounds to some delicate ears, it is about the only way we will have a new group of players who are neither tainted by the old regime or familiar with the old practices. I would have an application process that is adhered to and if we have a personnel committee they should address any issues of how Council interacts with county employees and not the Administrator and our court system. Talk about a waste of the courts time.
One other change(s) that need to be addressed are any ordinance changes that allowed Preston to behave as if his word and ideas alone were how the county should be run. The Administrator needs to be fully accountable to the County Council and take direction form them.
To all you who pick on C Wilson & Waldrep, and call us "negative" for our views, let's wait and see how things change over the next year. Maybe the blight will prove to have been Preston & McNair and not those two.
Again, let's remember who hired and wrote the contract for Cunningham, Preston! The guy that bilked the county for a cool million. What did he do for us? Tried to force another law suit or buyout for someone who simply doesn't deserve it. That job should have been posted country wide on a Public Administration Assn. and allowed the best candidate to be hired.
I will say this that is a positive. I have enjoyed the absence of the Preston 5:00 club downtown. It has been much nicer not to see or listen to that group make disparaging comments about everyone they hated, cursing like sailors.
anderson resident, I agree with you on economic development. There needs more coordination. However, on the college degree thing, I disagree. To me the degree thing is what is wrong with American business today. Too many worry about what degree a guy or gal holds or where they went to college. The rest of the world simply finds people who can get the job done. Dave Thomas never finished high school. Ever heard of Wendy's? Bill Gates quit college. I can go on.
Get the job done, and I don't care where your education was or when it ended. Just get the job done.
Prevail, we are more alike than different in our point of view. However, the reason I suggest "moving on" has nothing to do with protecting Preston or whomever. I worry about the reputation of this county to the outside world. Sure, it would feel good, especially for me, if you think about it, to "stick it to" those sons of a bitches. But Anderson County is bigger than me and you.
To dwell on such things will keep people from the outside looking to invest here out. Who wants to invest in a place in the midst of controversy? Preston and his gang has us on that one. At least he is gone. That is something. I don't like the SOB either, believe me. Some things his lackeys said about me make me boil. But, that is that. I am big enough to to contend what is right for the county, not for me personally.
Sure, there is a part of me that would like to see some huge guy named Arkeeba make you know who his bitch in prison, but my brains tell me that is not going to happen. As such, I won't waste one minute of my time on that lousy SOB. Sometimes, you just have to realize its over and that you won, no matter how ugly the win appears. Such is the case now. Conservatives won. Preston is gone. Let's get on with showing people how we can lead, not dwell on Preston or any others.
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One of the problems I see is the legacy of Preston that will keep us from moving forward. Look at the Sheriff's Office. Skipper is bringing with him the employees he knows will work with him to accomplish his vision. Crenshaw did it and so did Taylor. Now we have Cunningham and the same people Preston hired who helped him run the county as he did. I think as negative as the term "cleaning house" sounds to some delicate ears, it is about the only way we will have a new group of players who are neither tainted by the old regime or familiar with the old practices. I would have an application process that is adhered to and if we have a personnel committee they should address any issues of how Council interacts with county employees and not the Administrator and our court system. Talk about a waste of the courts time.-1-opinion
Are you really that clueless?
In a bureaucratic structure, you can NEVER clean house. That is the NATURE of bureaucracy. Specific to the laws and governances of County Council, as set forth in STATE LAW (a little thing called Home Rule), you will never be able to "clean house." You, and your ilk are attempting to undo what took TWELVE YEARS to put into place. Rome was neither built nor destroyed in a single day. If you and your ilk are able to continue to win elections (highly doubtful) then maybe you can REMODEL the house, but not CLEAN the house.
The Personnel Committee ... oh my ...
Since council only directly employs TWO individuals, the County Administrator and the Clerk to Council, the only matters that a CC-based Personnel Committee can address is ... well ... their two employees. Anything else crosses the line and invites interpretation from a judge. Home Rule and the County-Administrator form of government is VERY specific as to how limited the power of CC is. I suggest you study Home Rule if you intend on being an effective leader (ROFLMAO).
As for Stanton's assertion that 2-366 applies to the Personnel Committee, I'd suggest you look at 2-361 AND 2-370. That Personnel Committee is an AD HOC committee. The law could be interpreted that 2-366 applies to standing and not ad hoc committees.
- SSHM
No I think you are fairly clueless. All the employees are "hire at will", except Cunningham. So they can all be kicked to the curb. Department heads can fire subordinates and the Administrator can deal with the Department heads if we have one worth a damn.
A "bureaucracy" is simply this, an Administration of a government chiefly through bureaus or departments staffed with non elected officials. How does that stop the reorganization of a County? That's just stupid.
A "bureaucracy" is simply this, an Administration of a government chiefly through bureaus or departments staffed with non elected officials. How does that stop the reorganization of a County? That's just stupid.
No I think you are fairly clueless. All the employees are "hire at will", except Cunningham. So they can all be kicked to the curb.-1-opinion
Yes ... but ... again ... a key detail is glossed over. The Anderson County Council does not, in the current form of government, have the authority to hire and fire county employees "at will." Talk about clueless . . .
Department heads can fire subordinates and the Administrator can deal with the Department heads if we have one worth a damn.-1-opinion
A true statement. Impressive.
A "bureaucracy" is simply this, an Administration of a government chiefly through bureaus or departments staffed with non elected officials. How does that stop the reorganization of a County? That's just stupid.-1-opinion
How does it stop a re-org? The better question is why bother to reorg.
With the exception of constitutionally elected positions in the county (ex. Sherriff), everyone reports to the County Administrator. The County Administrator, in turn, reports to CC. A reorganization (which I question if CC has the authority to do that within the confines of Home Rule) is akin to shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic - why bother? The reporting structure remains unchanged, no matter which department heads you have reporting to other department heads or even senior department heads.
At the end of the day, they, the county employees, all report to Cunningham and will continue to do so for the next three years.
- SSHM
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Here is what you wrote:
[quote] In a bureaucratic structure, you can NEVER clean house. That is the NATURE of bureaucracy. Specific to the laws and governances of County Council, as set forth in STATE LAW (a little thing called Home Rule), you will never be able to "clean house."
You said it can't be done not that it should not. Home rule or not anyone can be fired that deserves it , or not. Oddly you don't see the Sheriff's Office as a bureaucracy LOL. Come on man, at least keep it straight, they are and house cleaning is taking place. Say "I do not want a house cleaning to happen I want Preston's poeple to keep taking care of our business", don't sugar coat you line as anything else like "home rule" won't allow it LOL.
Do you think it was responsible of the Council to sign another contract after just having felt they needed to pay one off before any court action? Is that what you think consititues a well thought out contract award? McNair (Tom) even said Preston dictated it to him, there by releaving himslef of any responsibility as the "County Attorney". ROTFLMAO. Had he been "the County Attorney" he would have asked what drugs Preston was on. If you had to pay off someone out of your own money LOL then I doubt you would make the same mistake twice. We'll see what happens however suffice it to say that changes are coming and we'll see if Cunningham is there for three years. That man may not want to spend all his hard earned money suing the county and making himself another pariah of Public Administration. At his age, he'll take a deal or be blackballed IF the contract is still valid and IF suing your bosses is not cause for dismissal in the minds of the new Council. He wants to keep the suits coming and he needs to go. You can't compare C Wilson and her suit to a freaking employee, she is an elected official, he is simply someone Preston and his five mignonettes put there. He has shown us all we would have is three more years of Preston antics and that was what those Driver people (and the rest of the informaed) don't want.
I check back in and find SSDD.
[quote] In a bureaucratic structure, you can NEVER clean house. That is the NATURE of bureaucracy. Specific to the laws and governances of County Council, as set forth in STATE LAW (a little thing called Home Rule), you will never be able to "clean house."
You said it can't be done not that it should not. Home rule or not anyone can be fired that deserves it , or not. Oddly you don't see the Sheriff's Office as a bureaucracy LOL. Come on man, at least keep it straight, they are and house cleaning is taking place. Say "I do not want a house cleaning to happen I want Preston's poeple to keep taking care of our business", don't sugar coat you line as anything else like "home rule" won't allow it LOL.
Do you think it was responsible of the Council to sign another contract after just having felt they needed to pay one off before any court action? Is that what you think consititues a well thought out contract award? McNair (Tom) even said Preston dictated it to him, there by releaving himslef of any responsibility as the "County Attorney". ROTFLMAO. Had he been "the County Attorney" he would have asked what drugs Preston was on. If you had to pay off someone out of your own money LOL then I doubt you would make the same mistake twice. We'll see what happens however suffice it to say that changes are coming and we'll see if Cunningham is there for three years. That man may not want to spend all his hard earned money suing the county and making himself another pariah of Public Administration. At his age, he'll take a deal or be blackballed IF the contract is still valid and IF suing your bosses is not cause for dismissal in the minds of the new Council. He wants to keep the suits coming and he needs to go. You can't compare C Wilson and her suit to a freaking employee, she is an elected official, he is simply someone Preston and his five mignonettes put there. He has shown us all we would have is three more years of Preston antics and that was what those Driver people (and the rest of the informaed) don't want.
I check back in and find SSDD.
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Simple solution to solving all of these local problems. Eliminate Home Rule, ever since it was enacted local government has been nothing but a pain for SC. If we could ever get rid of Reynold v. Simms (thank you Earl Warren) we could go back to the old system where each county's Senator (each got 1) headed up the delegation, which made all of the local decisions. Much simpiler system.
You said it can't be done not that it should not. Home rule or not anyone can be fired that deserves it , or not. Oddly you don't see the Sheriff's Office as a bureaucracy LOL. Come on man, at least keep it straight, they are and house cleaning is taking place. Say "I do not want a house cleaning to happen I want Preston's poeple to keep taking care of our business", don't sugar coat you line as anything else like "home rule" won't allow it LOL.-janedoe
Sigh ...
I guess I must break out the crayons for this one.
Anyone can be fired in a right-to-work state. That is a fact. The matter on the table is WHO, yes WHO has the authority to fire people. The incoming CC, and for that matter, subsequent CC(s) only had the authority to hire and fire TWO INDIVIDUALS: The County Administrator and the Clerk to Council.
THIS IS A FACT. PERIOD. END OF DISCUSSION.
As it stands right now, I sincerely doubt you will find a County Administrator or Departmental Heads that will simply start to "fire and clean house" just because a new council is to be seated. If anything, you will see a closing of the ranks, especially in these tough economic times.
Do you think it was responsible of the Council to sign another contract after just having felt they needed to pay one off before any court action? Is that what you think consititues a well thought out contract award? McNair (Tom) even said Preston dictated it to him, there by releaving himslef of any responsibility as the "County Attorney". ROTFLMAO. Had he been "the County Attorney" he would have asked what drugs Preston was on. If you had to pay off someone out of your own money LOL then I doubt you would make the same mistake twice. We'll see what happens however suffice it to say that changes are coming and we'll see if Cunningham is there for three years. That man may not want to spend all his hard earned money suing the county and making himself another pariah of Public Administration. At his age, he'll take a deal or be blackballed IF the contract is still valid and IF suing your bosses is not cause for dismissal in the minds of the new Council. He wants to keep the suits coming and he needs to go. You can't compare C Wilson and her suit to a freaking employee, she is an elected official, he is simply someone Preston and his five mignonettes put there. He has shown us all we would have is three more years of Preston antics and that was what those Driver people (and the rest of the informaed) don't want.-janedoe
While I'm not here to debate the payout (as it is MOOT), I will say that taking steps to prevent futher liability exposure and court costs is certainly a prudent measure. The point for which we will never agree upon is if limiting county liability is worth in excess of $1 million dollars (I believe it's worth every penny).
Again, Cunningham has a legally-binding contract that keeps him employed for three years. I shudder to think that the first action of the incoming council, a council which has SOLD (emphasis on the SOLD part) the electorate on change - change for the better - will make one of its first actions an effort to invalidate Cunningham's contract and attempt to reclaim monies from JRP ... whom has legal protection by the buyout agreement.
I mean really ... so much for the "healing." It sounds more like the start of another Spanish Inquisition. Oh, and Brian - if you are reading this ... I don't think Anderson is "quite" ready for a "third viewpoint." It's still very much one side or the other. If you really want that "third viewpoint," it's time to import talent, intelligence, and opportunity from Columbia. A cock fight in Honea-Path is reason enough to import ... but I digress ...
One of the questions that I feel certain was glossed over or was simply not asked while "Team Dribble" was in Columbia was this: Is the contractual buyout of a public individual common place? Is there a precedent for such an activity?
Had you asked that question of the AD and his staff, you would have discovered the answer - an answer for which I have spoken to HERE previously: YES. CONTRACTUAL BUYOUTS OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, CONTRACTS, ETC. are VERY COMMON. Again, it goes back to the fact that a certain radio crowd needs to "get out more" and "see how the other 45 counties do it" and how "precedents are set from their activities."
Oh well ... it's a sad day when logic and reason can't triumph over stupid ... and my GOD there is a lot of STUPID in Anderson.
- SSHM
SSHM,
I have certainly found your legal analysis of the validity of Cunningham's contract interesting, but I think you're making it seem too black and white. I've looked around on Westlaw some today, and from what I've seen, South Carolina courts have never ruled on the ability of one county council to bind another one, but there are several cases on municipalities and special purpose districts being able to bind successive councils.
The case that deals with this issue most thoroughly is City of Beaufort v. Beaufort-Jasper County Water and Sewer Authority (1997). The state Supreme Court held in that case that a municipal corporation could bind itself in a contract if the subject matter of the contract dealt with the municipality's proprietary duties instead of its governmental duties. The court did not define the difference between the two except to say that "the test for whether the action is governmental or proprietary should be 'whether the contract itself deprives a governing body, or its successor, of a discretion which public policy demands should be left unimpaired.'"
So, I think a court is going to have to decide whether an contract to bind a future council by hiring a county administrator deprives the county of discretion which public policy demands should be left unimpaired. I personally think the ability to hire and fire an administrator should be left unimpaired, but some judges will get to decide whether or not that's in the interest of "public policy."
Okay.. let's go through these delusions one by one:
1. Forget Joey - Not going to happen
Cindy and Bob still want to destroy Joey. Their opponents just want Cindy and Bob to go away after the way they treated Joey and numerous county employees.
I still recall the meeting in 2006 where Cindy admonished Mr. Preston for hiring Tim Busha's pregnant daughter. As if being pregnant was a reason that a woman shouldn't be hired... That right there is enough to keep the fire of anger burning in me, and other injustices drive other people.
2. Only audit if we have "leftover" cash
I suspect the audit will never happen, but if it does, expect to find some expensive meals and alcohol purchases.... totaling a few thousand dollars. I hope we don't spend hundreds of thousands just to find out that some top level officials abused credit card dining rules.
3. Hold the line on taxes - Not going to happen
It always happens. Southern Republicans campaign against taxes, sign pledges, and make campaign promises. Then, they get elected, have a change of heart, and spend spend spend. Michael Thompson, Ron Wilson, and Bill McAbee were anti-tax when first elected, but they all voted for increases anyway.
4. Prioritize our budget - Not going to happen
We'll hear lots of platitudes about prioritization from the new council members, but as soon as it moves past the discussion phase, it'll lock up. It's nearly impossible to get 4 people to all agree on such a huge sweeping change as doing away with our current priorities and reorient our course. It's much safer to stay with the status quo, and that's what they'll do.
5. Eliminate slush funds - I laugh at you for even including this on the list. Are you running for office?
NEVER, In a million years will council do it.
6. Board members from each district - Isn't this the current regulation already?
7. Eliminate mileage pay - Indifferent. Not gonna happen.
8. Limit access to credit cards - This is actually the first reform mentioned that has a snowball's chance in hell.
I hope council will do away with the obscene amount of cards. We also need to put in some rules to prevent things like Holt Hopkin's Myrtle Beach dinner from ever happening again.
9. Citizens voice committee - This is just lame, Brian.
If they ever made something like this, it would get stacked with whoever is most agreeable to that councilman's position and they'd be paraded about as "evidence" that the citizens are happy and complacent with every decision they make.
10. No drive-home vehicles - Okay, once you exclude public safety, you're taking away 2 or 3 cars.
Who elses has a county vehicle besides the finance head and the head of economic development?
11. Eliminate park police - There are good arguments for and against this position, so I doubt it will happen.
12. Privatize the museum - Uh, no? Private museums can do fine in big citys or in areas with major tourist activity. We don't have the draw to sustain that with our museum. The museum is a treasure of local history that we, the public, wouldn't have access to unless it was supported by government fudning.
13. Economic development - Honestly, this department needs to be scrapped and taken back to the drawing board. The entire gameplay of focusing on luring in a big plant every few years is backwards. They should be using their networks to leverage local (small) businesses to success.
14. Town Hall meetings - Seconded! They should be dispersed at locations around the county and bring in communities that don't want to come to Anderson for a meeting. Also, should be held on Saturday afternoons so nobody is getting home at midnight.
15. No campgin funds from outside of Anderson - Not a chance.
You're talking about the first amendment. Most of the out of state money on the county council level comes from family and friends. These are the folks that put in the initial money for most of our candidates.
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You asked what I thought, there ya go. Your list of reforms is lame.
Here is the Cliff Notes version of your list:
1. No more politics, it's mean
2. Incoherent babbling about government finding "leftover" money
3. Repeat same 'ole anti-tax rhetoric from the 80's despite it never happening
4. These are my priorities, they are better than your priorities. No, mine are best!, No. etc.
5. No more earmarks, the council administrator knows best with his budget.
6. Pointless idea
7. Pointless penny pincher
8. Reform credit card use
9. Pointless bad idea
10. Pointess penny pincher
11. No more park police
12. Really bad suggestion to shut down the museum
13. "Direct" floundering department to do better at pointless mission.
14. Hold Town Hall meetings to make government more accessible to citizens around the county
15. Bad unconsitutional idea
I went ahead and highlighted the legitimate ideas that might make a real difference.
1. Forget Joey - Not going to happen
Cindy and Bob still want to destroy Joey. Their opponents just want Cindy and Bob to go away after the way they treated Joey and numerous county employees.
I still recall the meeting in 2006 where Cindy admonished Mr. Preston for hiring Tim Busha's pregnant daughter. As if being pregnant was a reason that a woman shouldn't be hired... That right there is enough to keep the fire of anger burning in me, and other injustices drive other people.
2. Only audit if we have "leftover" cash
I suspect the audit will never happen, but if it does, expect to find some expensive meals and alcohol purchases.... totaling a few thousand dollars. I hope we don't spend hundreds of thousands just to find out that some top level officials abused credit card dining rules.
3. Hold the line on taxes - Not going to happen
It always happens. Southern Republicans campaign against taxes, sign pledges, and make campaign promises. Then, they get elected, have a change of heart, and spend spend spend. Michael Thompson, Ron Wilson, and Bill McAbee were anti-tax when first elected, but they all voted for increases anyway.
4. Prioritize our budget - Not going to happen
We'll hear lots of platitudes about prioritization from the new council members, but as soon as it moves past the discussion phase, it'll lock up. It's nearly impossible to get 4 people to all agree on such a huge sweeping change as doing away with our current priorities and reorient our course. It's much safer to stay with the status quo, and that's what they'll do.
5. Eliminate slush funds - I laugh at you for even including this on the list. Are you running for office?
NEVER, In a million years will council do it.
6. Board members from each district - Isn't this the current regulation already?
7. Eliminate mileage pay - Indifferent. Not gonna happen.
8. Limit access to credit cards - This is actually the first reform mentioned that has a snowball's chance in hell.
I hope council will do away with the obscene amount of cards. We also need to put in some rules to prevent things like Holt Hopkin's Myrtle Beach dinner from ever happening again.
9. Citizens voice committee - This is just lame, Brian.
If they ever made something like this, it would get stacked with whoever is most agreeable to that councilman's position and they'd be paraded about as "evidence" that the citizens are happy and complacent with every decision they make.
10. No drive-home vehicles - Okay, once you exclude public safety, you're taking away 2 or 3 cars.
Who elses has a county vehicle besides the finance head and the head of economic development?
11. Eliminate park police - There are good arguments for and against this position, so I doubt it will happen.
12. Privatize the museum - Uh, no? Private museums can do fine in big citys or in areas with major tourist activity. We don't have the draw to sustain that with our museum. The museum is a treasure of local history that we, the public, wouldn't have access to unless it was supported by government fudning.
13. Economic development - Honestly, this department needs to be scrapped and taken back to the drawing board. The entire gameplay of focusing on luring in a big plant every few years is backwards. They should be using their networks to leverage local (small) businesses to success.
14. Town Hall meetings - Seconded! They should be dispersed at locations around the county and bring in communities that don't want to come to Anderson for a meeting. Also, should be held on Saturday afternoons so nobody is getting home at midnight.
15. No campgin funds from outside of Anderson - Not a chance.
You're talking about the first amendment. Most of the out of state money on the county council level comes from family and friends. These are the folks that put in the initial money for most of our candidates.
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You asked what I thought, there ya go. Your list of reforms is lame.
Here is the Cliff Notes version of your list:
1. No more politics, it's mean
2. Incoherent babbling about government finding "leftover" money
3. Repeat same 'ole anti-tax rhetoric from the 80's despite it never happening
4. These are my priorities, they are better than your priorities. No, mine are best!, No. etc.
5. No more earmarks, the council administrator knows best with his budget.
6. Pointless idea
7. Pointless penny pincher
8. Reform credit card use
9. Pointless bad idea
10. Pointess penny pincher
11. No more park police
12. Really bad suggestion to shut down the museum
13. "Direct" floundering department to do better at pointless mission.
14. Hold Town Hall meetings to make government more accessible to citizens around the county
15. Bad unconsitutional idea
I went ahead and highlighted the legitimate ideas that might make a real difference.
MY RESPONSES ARE IN CAPS, NOT FOR SHOUTING, JUST TO DISTINGUISH MY REMARKS FROM YOURS.
Okay.. let's go through these delusions one by one:1. Forget Joey - Not going to happen
Cindy and Bob still want to destroy Joey. Their opponents just want Cindy and Bob to go away after the way they treated Joey and numerous county employees.
I still recall the meeting in 2006 where Cindy admonished Mr. Preston for hiring Tim Busha's pregnant daughter. As if being pregnant was a reason that a woman shouldn't be hired... That right there is enough to keep the fire of anger burning in me, and other injustices drive other people.
WHETHER OR NOT IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN DOES NOT MEAN IT SHOULD HAPPEN. IF ANDERSON HAS A CHANCE AT BEING AT ITS BEST TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD THAT INVESTS HERE, WE HAVE TO GET OVER JOEY PRESTON. PETTY PERSONAL POLITICS HAVE NO PLACE IN THIS HARD ECONOMY.
2. Only audit if we have "leftover" cash
I suspect the audit will never happen, but if it does, expect to find some expensive meals and alcohol purchases.... totaling a few thousand dollars. I hope we don't spend hundreds of thousands just to find out that some top level officials abused credit card dining rules.
I THINK WE SOMEWHAT AGREE. SPENDING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS TO SAVE A FEW THOUSAND IS JUST PLAIN IGNORANT.
3. Hold the line on taxes - Not going to happen
It always happens. Southern Republicans campaign against taxes, sign pledges, and make campaign promises. Then, they get elected, have a change of heart, and spend spend spend. Michael Thompson, Ron Wilson, and Bill McAbee were anti-tax when first elected, but they all voted for increases anyway.
IF IT DOES NOT HAPPEN, THE NEW MEMBERS OF COUNCIL WILL FIND THEIR FATES IN THE PREVIOUS MEMBERS. IT WAS TAXES THAT TURNED THOSE FOLKS OUT.
4. Prioritize our budget - Not going to happen
We'll hear lots of platitudes about prioritization from the new council members, but as soon as it moves past the discussion phase, it'll lock up. It's nearly impossible to get 4 people to all agree on such a huge sweeping change as doing away with our current priorities and reorient our course. It's much safer to stay with the status quo, and that's what they'll do.
AGAIN, IF THAT HAPPENS, SO BE IT. BUT IT DOES NOT MEAN IT IS RIGHT. OTHER COUNTIES ACT RESPONSIBLY IN BUDGET PRIORITIES, WHY CAN'T ANDERSON'S?
5. Eliminate slush funds - I laugh at you for even including this on the list. Are you running for office?
NEVER, In a million years will council do it.
WELL, THEY SHOULD. THE SLUSH FUNDS ARE AN EMBARRASSMENT. IMAGINE THE OUTRAGE IF A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY COULD ORDER THE PAVING OF HIS NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY OR THE FUNDING OF HIS PET GROUP. LET THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FIGHT FOR SUCH IN THE GENERAL BUDGET DEBATE.
6. Board members from each district - Isn't this the current regulation already?
WELL, ONE WOULD THINK. BUT, I KNOW AT LEAST ONE MEMBER DID NOT ADHERE TO THAT RULE AND NO ON SEEMED TO CARE.7. Eliminate mileage pay - Indifferent. Not gonna happen.
THIS IS NOT PETTY PENNY PINCHING. IT IS A CALL TO REALITY FOR COUNCIL. THIS PERK IS SOMETHING THE PEOPLE THAT THE COUNCIL REPRESENTS DOES NOT HAVE.
8. Limit access to credit cards - This is actually the first reform mentioned that has a snowball's chance in hell.
I hope council will do away with the obscene amount of cards. We also need to put in some rules to prevent things like Holt Hopkin's Myrtle Beach dinner from ever happening again.
WE AGREE. WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE USE OF CREDIT CARDS WAS UNACCEPTABLE. THERE HAS TO BE TIGHTER CONTROLS. I MERELY SUGGEST ONE IDEA OF HOW TO DO IT.
9. Citizens voice committee - This is just lame, Brian.
If they ever made something like this, it would get stacked with whoever is most agreeable to that councilman's position and they'd be paraded about as "evidence" that the citizens are happy and complacent with every decision they make.
YOU MAKE AN INTERESTING POINT. BUT, I STILL BELIEVE IN THE IDEA. ANDERSON COUNTY POLITICS IS AT THE POINT OF EXPLODING. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY VALVE, AS JUSTICE HOLMES SPOKE OF.
10. No drive-home vehicles - Okay, once you exclude public safety, you're taking away 2 or 3 cars.
Who elses has a county vehicle besides the finance head and the head of economic development?
IN THAT CASE, THE POLICY SHOULD NOT BE HARD TO MAKE HAPPEN.
11. Eliminate park police - There are good arguments for and against this position, so I doubt it will happen.
I STAND BY IT. NO COUNTY THIS SMALL HAS SUCH A THING. IT WAS DONE TO GET GIMMICK POINTS FOR CERTAIN RATINGS.
12. Privatize the museum - Uh, no? Private museums can do fine in big citys or in areas with major tourist activity. We don't have the draw to sustain that with our museum. The museum is a treasure of local history that we, the public, wouldn't have access to unless it was supported by government fudning.
I DISAGREE. UNION COUNTY IS TINY, YET THEY HAVE A PRIVATELY FUNDED MUSEUM. ANDERSON COUNTY HAS SOME BIG MONEY WITHIN IT AND THAT SHOULD FUND "EXTRA" THINGS LIKE THE MUSEUM.
13. Economic development - Honestly, this department needs to be scrapped and taken back to the drawing board. The entire gameplay of focusing on luring in a big plant every few years is backwards. They should be using their networks to leverage local (small) businesses to success.
WELL, WE AGREE AND DISAGREE. ANDERSON HAD A SHOT A BIG PLANT WITH THE ICAR RELATED PLANT THAT ENDED UP IN LAURENS. WE LOST THAT ONE BECAUSE LAURENS SHOWED UP LOOKING UNITED AND WORKING WITH THE STATE. THE NATURE OF OUR LOCAL POLITICS AND THE LACK OF COORDINATION WITH THE STATE MADE US LOOK LIKE A BUNCH OF CRAZY HILLBILLIES.
14. Town Hall meetings - Seconded! They should be dispersed at locations around the county and bring in communities that don't want to come to Anderson for a meeting. Also, should be held on Saturday afternoons so nobody is getting home at midnight.
HMMM. AGREE. YOU MAKE A GOOD ADDITION TO MY IDEA ON THIS POINT.
15. No campgin funds from outside of Anderson - Not a chance.
You're talking about the first amendment. Most of the out of state money on the county council level comes from family and friends. These are the folks that put in the initial money for most of our candidates.
WRONG ANSWER, HAMMET. A GOOD BIT OF THE OUTSIDE MONEY COMES FROM PEOPLE MOST HAVE NEVER HEARD OF WITH NO RELATION. JUST CHECK OUT THE DISCLOSURE FILES. ALSO, THE NOTION THAT ANY MEMBER OF COUNCIL CAN HAVE A PRIVATE LEGAL FUND TO SUE THE COUNTY IS NOT A FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUE. INDEED, HOW CAN IT VIOLATE THE FREEDOMS OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT IF WE SIMPLY ASK THAT THOSE WHO ARE REPRESENTED BY COUNCIL ARE THE ONES WHO CAN MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD THROUGH THEIR DONATIONS. WHAT RIGHT DO PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNCIL HAVE IN DETERMINING WHO REPRESENTS THE ACTUAL PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN ANDERSON COUNTY? ISN'T ACTUALLY A VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE OF ANDERSON COUNTY TO HAVE OUTSIDERS INFLUENCE WHO REPRESENTS THEM ON COUNCIL?
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You asked what I thought, there ya go. Your list of reforms is lame.I APPRECIATE YOUR POSITION. HOWEVER, DESPITE HOW LAME YOU MIGHT SEE MY PROPOSALS, I CONTEND THEY ARE RIGHT FOR THE COUNTY IF WE ARE TO GET BACK ON TRACK. IN COMING UP WITH THE POINTS, I WAS NOT WORRIED ABOUT WHAT WAS POLITICALLY CORRECT OR POLITICAL FEASIBLE. I SIMPLY STATED THE RIGHT THINGS TO DO.
BRIAN
AGAIN, MY REMARKS ARE IN CAPS NOT FOR SHOUTING.
I mean really ... so much for the "healing." It sounds more like the start of another Spanish Inquisition. Oh, and Brian - if you are reading this ... I don't think Anderson is "quite" ready for a "third viewpoint." It's still very much one side or the other. If you really want that "third viewpoint," it's time to import talent, intelligence, and opportunity from Columbia. A cock fight in Honea-Path is reason enough to import ... but I digress ...
SSHM, YOU ALWAYS MAKE VALID POINTS. HOWEVER I DISAGREE WITH YOUR REMARK ABOUT THE THIRD WAY. PEOPLE ARE SICKED AND TIRED OF THE NONSENSE. THEY WANT A LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT PRODUCES RESULTS, NOT PETTY HEADLINES.
AS FOR YOUR REMARK ABOUT HONEA PATH AND THE COCK FIGHTING BUST, YES, IT HAPPENED. THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN THIS GOOD TOWN ARE GLAD IT DID. A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE IN HONEA PATH ARE MAKING MOVES TO CLEAN UP THINGS. I AM PROUD OF THEM FOR THAT. I AM PROUD TO BE FROM HONEA PATH, AND FRANKLY, SIR, I DON'T THINK THAT DIMINISHES MY POINT OF VIEW ON COUNTY POLITICS ONE BIT. THERE ARE A LOT OF HARD WORKING PEOPLE WHO MAKE THEIR LIVES IN HONEA PATH AND HELP PAY TAXES FOR THE COUNTY. THOSE FOLKS DON'T DESERVE A CHEAP SMART ASSED REMARK.
- SSHM
-sshm
