December 5, 2007
DEALS,
PROMISES, AND COMMISSIONERS PERSONAL INTERESTS
TWG
expects the next Chairman of the BOC, to be elected
at the January meeting, will be Comm. Hill.
It
appears that some promises were made to forge a coalition
of Comm. Yarbrough, Comm. Hill, and Comm. Bernard
at the December meeting.
It is believed that the Chairmanship was promised
if Comm. Hill went along with certain appointments
wanted by Comm. Bernard.
Being
Chairman is not more important than serving the people
of the County and doing what is best for the County
as a whole, but that was hard to see at the December
BOC meeting.
The
BOC meeting started on an interesting note.
Before the meeting could start, the County
Manager
had to find Comm. Hill and Comm. Yarbrough--they were
in one of the offices "talking." It didn't
take long for those in attendance to sense that "back
room deals" had
been made. The normal
3-2 vote during the December meeting consisted of
Comm. Hill, Comm. Yarbrough, and Comm. Bernard vs.
Comm. Johnson and Comm. Pennamon.
The
"Zoning Committee" appointments were on
the agenda. This is the
Committee that the County
Attorney
said wasn't necessary when questioned by Mr. Francis
Cason at the November meeting; he decided that is
was "part of the contract" after all. (Mr.
Cason had read the contract and knew what he was talking
about!) Comm. Bernard
did his best to stack this Committee and got help
from Comm. Hill and Comm. Yarbrough.
Nine
people signed up for the Zoning Committee which will
review and make recommendations on the proposed NEW/REVISED
Zoning Ordinance. Comm.
Pennamon and Comm. Johnson said all 9 should be put
on, but oh, no, Comm. Bernard wanted
only 5 so he could make sure the people he thought
would not tow his line would not be put on the committee.
The other Commissioners never speak up and
suggest someone from every District, instead they
allow Comm. Bernard to submit most of the names and
ignore the citizens that apply on their own.
Some
of the people suggested by Comm. Bernard have never
attended meetings or shown an interest in county matters.
Not one person put
on the Zoning Committee represents Agriculture in
the County--while the majority of the land in Jasper
County is zoned AG.
The following people were put on the Zoning Committee--Michelle
Jackum, Gail Folkerts, Nancy Wood (all recommended
by Comm. Bernard and then were asked to submit "resumes");
Tyson Harty, and Dennis Hart.
Comm. Bernard also recommended one other citizen
that was not appointed. TWG
is not saying these people won’t do a good job
or make reasonable recommendations but more
balance is needed.
No one from
District 1, District 2, and no one living in the
AG district were appointed. The
proposed Zoning Ordinance has serious limitations
in the AG district--fence heights, metal buildings,
etc. One wonders
if all of these appointees have ever read the Zoning
Ordinance or any proposed changes.
Comm.
Bernard has pushed several zoning issues and may think
he can push these committee members into what he wants
in the new ordinance rewrite.
He certainly attempted to manipulate the "Hospital
Committee" and those appointed to that committee.
Comm.
Bernard attends P&Z meetings and hearings; speaks
out at those meetings; and then votes on the same
issues at BOC meetings--such as the 1800 sq ft requirement
that has the County in a current lawsuit.
This appears to be improper for a member of
the Governing Authority of the County.
Other members of the BOC fail to call Comm.
Bernard's hand on these activities.
Citizens
need to pay attention to what the Zoning Committee
recommends and approves. Zoning
Ordinances affect your private and personal property!
Committee meetings are open meetings, must
be posted, and can be attended by the public.
JUST
WHERE IS DISTRICT 2?
Comm.
Hill has problems knowing where his district is.
Even though he was one of the Commissioners setting
the boundaries of the current (gerrymandered) districts,
he isn't sure of where those boundaries are.
During
the Zoning hearing he asked two or three times what
district the zoning request was in.
Apparently, he didn't read the zoning report
included in his meeting packet.
He found out to his surprise it was in his
district--that being District 2!
The people of District 2 are not well represented.
District
2 doesn't have any roads being paved under the SPLOST
program because Comm. Hill failed to recognize that
none of the roads were in his District--even after
attending SPLOST promotion meetings where the roads
were listed!
The
next BOC Chairman? We
will all soon see if promises are honored.
