Russell quits Nicholson
The central figure in the Pendergrass whistleblowers scandal has resigned his position as city attorney in the South Jackson town of Nicholson.
Rob Russell, chief administrator and police chief in Pendergrass, was also serving as Nicholson’s lawyer.
“Rob Russell offered a letter of resignation and the city has accepted,” said Nicholson Mayor Ronnie Maxwell.
In addition, Nicholson asked Brant Erickson, city marshal, to resign, Maxwell said. The marshal’s position has been eliminated, said Maxwell.
“It was beginning to look too much like a police department and we don’t want a police department at this time,” said the mayor.
Russell has been the key figure in a Pendergrass scandal where three whistleblowers have accused him of misusing city funds, fixing tickets, profiling drivers for traffic stops and knowingly misusing city SPLOST funds.
The group also claims that Russell had been using Pendergrass resources to help Erickson prepare to be a police chief in Nicholson. Several Pendergrass employees had reportedly been involved in that effort under Russell’s direction.
“Rob Russell offered a letter of resignation and the city has accepted,” said Nicholson Mayor Ronnie Maxwell.
In addition, Nicholson asked Brant Erickson, city marshal, to resign, Maxwell said. The marshal’s position has been eliminated, said Maxwell.
“It was beginning to look too much like a police department and we don’t want a police department at this time,” said the mayor.
Russell has been the key figure in a Pendergrass scandal where three whistleblowers have accused him of misusing city funds, fixing tickets, profiling drivers for traffic stops and knowingly misusing city SPLOST funds.
The group also claims that Russell had been using Pendergrass resources to help Erickson prepare to be a police chief in Nicholson. Several Pendergrass employees had reportedly been involved in that effort under Russell’s direction.
Hmmm...and the Mayor of Nicholson had NO IDEA this was going on, either...did he?
It was Rob Russell trying to put in a police department in Nicholson, behind everyone's back. The poor Mayor was totally clueless?
So, either the Nicholson Mayor doesn't have a clue what his OWN CITY ATTORNEY is up to, right under his nose...OR...the Nicholson Mayor was trying to sneak a city police force in the back door, and then when the truth started coming out, he got rid of the city marshall to cover his own involvement?????
So, which is it, Mayor Maxwell? Are you totally incompetent or are you as guilty as Rob Russell of trying to betray the trust of the people of Nicholson?
Also, I love that "concerned citizens" think it's possible to just start up a police department out of thin air. You know what happens if you do? Corruption, which this whole shebang should illustrate to you. There are good reasons Nicholson doesn't have a force, and if anyone would bother to actually talk to the Mayor and City Council you may actually learn why. If you have concerns with the sheriffs, that's Stan Evans and Jackson County's job.
As I see it, Mayor Maxwell is trying his best to improve this city for pittance pay and what appears to be even littler respect and thanks. Got issues with the city? Maybe you all should get off the message boards and attend a city council meeting or two and actually talk to the decision makers here. Then you'll understand the best way to move a mountain is one shovel at a time.
If YOU had been to some of them, YOU might know the kind of ordinances that have been installed under the reign of King Ronnie, and if you had HALF a brain, you'd be madder than spit about it, too.
As for the "Russell did his dirty work in Pendergrass, not Nicholson", give me a break. You honestly believe that none of this took place in Nicholson, and that nobody in the Nicholson city government had any idea that the CITY ATTORNEY was trying to get a police department started? You mean to tell me that Russell just decided that he was going to do this and he thought poor old dumb Ronnie wouldn't find out? So, are you saying that you think Ronnie is that stupid, too? Who do you think came up with the idea of putting a police department in Nicholson to start with? It was none other than King Ronnie himself. If YOU had been at any of those city council meetings (like I was) you would know that. Maybe YOU need to get YOUR facts straight before you start slamming others and defending the mayor.
The mayor doesn't want a police department to protect the city and stop the drugs and control the traffic. The mayor wants a police department so that he can have the power to rule the city with an iron fist (think Boss Hogg from the Dukes of Hazard, on a smaller scale). And, since he's the ONLY mayor in the county who's city doesn't have a police force, I'm sure his ego is hurting when he has to meet with the "real" mayors from other towns.
Its all about power and ego. Pure and simple. The blatant bullying of the employees and the rough-shod way he runs over anyone he can't use as an ally is more than ample proof that its time someone else was "King".
I hope that someone has the courage to run against this man this year, and that the people of Nicholson are smart enough to figure out what needs to be done.
I, for one out of many people, think the whole idea of having a police department in NICHOLSON, is ridiculous. I mean come ON!! Who would be in charge of starting it-----RONNIE MAXWELL, what a joke!! Anyone who has ever seen that pathetic little fat man in action at the city hall should know better than to even consider some of his ideas. Look what he did to Ms.B at the library. It is an absolute shame to see an old lady with those kind of health problems lose her job, a job she has been with for many many years, and was like a "fixture" with the community. Why did she lose her job???? Well, if you are one of the few that may not know, Ronnie thought she was too much of a liability with her health, and that the big town of Nicholson would be much better with out her. Come on people! What kind of leadership is that???? Do we really want someone like that to be our Mayor, or anyone else even half-way important in our community? I say NO, and when election time comes around, I dont care who runs against Ronnie Maxwell, really, I DO NOT care who, I will support them 100%....... Maybe with a little common sense you will too. Ronnie Maxwell deserves to be taken out behind the barn & have the "crap" beaten out of him. (if Ronnie Maxwell can actually read, and happens to read this, he will know exactly what im talking about. If you are confused, go to JCSO & get a copy of the police report. Kinda sad that Ronnie Maxwell has been caught trying to fight an old man behind the post office. He must be really insecure. How freaking pathetic!!)
In reference to comment number 2, what kind of idiot is going to put Jackson County Sheriff's Deputies and Ronnie Maxwell in the same category. Who are you to even comment of something you know nothing about? My child attends Benton Elementary and I have seen the deputies on the phone before, but not when the buses are ready to leave. Do I know who they are on the phone with? NO, I do not, therefor I am in no position to speculate on the fact that they may be engaged in something that is not work related, and neither are you. As for your comment on someone passing a bus in a school zone, I for one have seen Jackson County in action these days, been pulled over & handed a citation too! There is NO way, if someone was passing a school bus, in a school zone, while speeding, AND in the presence of an Officer, they would get away with it. No Way. By the way, even though I did get a ticket, the Officer was very polite and respectable. Guess I shouldn't have been speeding!
One thing that has been a constant is that the people here have strong opinions and they are very passionate about them. A fact I have been very proud of until I read some of the latest attacks. There are many tough decisions made by the council and the mayor. I don’t believe any one could make all of the people happy all the time nor should they. Blaming the mayor for drugs or another man’s behavior in another city is not only rude but borders on slander. Why does it seem the ones who give so much get slammed for it. My guess is that people who really don’t have anything to give have so much time to sit around and talk about the ones who serve. Thank You Mr. Mayor and City Council for a great Job. I have enjoyed watching this community grow and truly appreciate the Job you do.
Thank God we live in a nation where one can voice their opinions. Even when they are contrary to our own, and I suppose when the best you can do is attack a man’s appearance, offer personal attacks, lies or innuendo well you have already spoken volumes on your own character and as far as calling him stupid well like I said you have already spoken volumes about your own character and judgment. I’m sure that there are many tough decisions that have to be made in city politics Mrs. Bee being one of them. Do you really mean to suggest that Nicholson keep someone on the payroll whose health will not allow her to do the job? You didn’t mention they asked her to retire or take a part time position something she could handle. God forbid they had kept her on and she got hurt you same people would be screaming about the mayor being a slave driver that worked that poor woman till she hurt herself, and by the way keeping some one on the city payroll when they can not perform there duties is the same good ole boy corruption you are trying to pin on the mayor.
Ronnie has done a lot for Nicholson far more than your idle words.
The point, Proud Citizen, is that there are a lot more people who think the his lordship has done quite enough "for" the town of Nicholson already, than there are "proud citizens" who want to keep the current administration in office.
And don't condemn other people for posting anonymously when YOU DID THE SAME THING. Very brave of YOU to give YOUR name, too. So stop slamming people when you don't have the courage to live up to your own comments.
As for Rob Russell doing "another man’s behavior in another city", Rob Russell was the Nicholson City ATTORNEY who was hired under the authority of the Mayor and who worked under the authority of the Mayor. And you think its not the Mayor's responsibility to make sure that the city's LEGAL ADVISER is NOT doing ILLEGAL ACTIVIITES??? He hired this guy, and didn't even check him out enough to know that Russell has the moral values that allowed him to do ILLEGAL things IN THE NAME OF THE CITY OF NICHOLSON, regardless of the actually location that he did the "crime"????
Are you SERIOUS? Did you stop and think about what you are implying here? Really?
I didn't insult the Mayor's appearance, I didn't mention his weight, I didn't say anything about beating anyone up.
But I DO believe that the mayor knew exactly what Rob Russell was up to as far as the police department issue is concerned, and I have SEEN HIM FIRST HAND being rude and overbearing to city employees. If he's such a great Christian man and wonderful leader, he wouldn't be doing backroom deals with crooks like Rob Russell, and he would be treating the city employees like human beings instead of slaves...and he would LISTEN when citizens try to warn him that his course of action is less than beneficial to the citizens of the town he is supposed to be serving.
And since you must not have a dictionary to check the definitions of your words, its NOT slander if its the TRUTH. As if you had a clue what the TRUTH is about what's going on behind those closed doors in the City Hall of Nicholson.
You might be better served if you got rid of those blinders that you are wearing and figured out just exactly what kind of Mayor you have, instead of merrily going along believing that he's the saint you paint him as being.
I have been checking out the comments made on this article and I agree with Proud Citizen that Mayor Maxwell has done nothing but improve the city of Nicholson during his time in office.
What you are saying is slander because you have no evidence to back any of your claims. "Back room deals?" That IS slander.
I am Miss Bea that Proud Citizen was refering to. I had been the library manager of the Harold S. Swindle Library for many years. I loved my job and I loved the patrons.
I was able to do the job that is required of a library manager without any problem. Even after I fell on March 3rd., in front of Dan's, and dislocated my shoulder I could still have worked. I was given a note from the doctor stating I could continue to work. The Mayor refused to allow me to do so and only days later sent an employee of the city to get the keys to the library and said if I did not give them to him the mayor would have the locks changed at the library.
At NO TIME had I been ask to give up my job. At NO TIME was I ask to take the job part time.
The mayor never spoke to me after he had my keys picked up. He terminated me in a letter and stated he wanted to take the library in a new direction.
I deeply appreciate all the love and support I have received from the citizens of Nicholson.
There is no hate in my heart for anyone who had a part in my termination. The Bible tells us "the truth will make us free". I simply want the truth to be known.
May God bless you all.
Please excuse me for lumping you in with the more mean spirited postings. I can understand that you might have been offended by that. It’s just that it truly does sound like it coming from the same source. In regards to your posting I too think the Mayor has done so much for our town. I personally have enjoyed the civic center. The great singings at the pavilion, the fire works show. Can you believe it? Our little town is actually being the object of some good press. And the City hall the parks and rec. fields in Nicholson. All of these things affect me and my family personally and I never hear you mention any thing but the negatives. So, again forgive me for thinking you had some sort of hidden agenda.
As to Rob, didn't that take a vote of the entire city council?
If you have lived in Nicholson for long you should remember what went on in Nicholson before Ronnie “Not Much".
We are growing up; we have stop light and thanks to him side walks. Guess you haven't noticed any of these things. Maybe you should spend less time in town council meetings and more time in town.
To answer your question. Yes I know the definition of slander: But just to make sure you do
Slander: A false statement or report meant to do harm to the good name and reputation of another
syn.. defamation
2)The spreading of false reports about persons.
I suppose you meant that you didn’t say anything that you could be taken to court about.
That doesn't make it right.
So yes you did not say anything about physically harming the mayor. You are much more honorable. You just attack his integrity and reputation.
I guess the definition does not apply to you.
Let’s see if I understand your definition: you can say whatever you want, you can vent and harm another man without one shed of proof, just because you feel like it - or as you said you believe it. I would tell you what I believe, but it would make you mad again.
You said you have seen him first hand being rude. Ronnie used to coach me in football at Benton. He can be very direct, you might have mistook this for rude because he said it to the person's face. Funny thing though - we were undefeated most of the years he was our coach. I'm not sure if you were trying to imply that you witnessed firsthand some shady back door dealings. Is that what you are leading me to believe? I wonder why you were there and why you have not come forward with the details.
So you think we need a new mayor. Maybe some one like you? Maybe you liked it better before Ronnie was mayor when no one but the clerk was ever in city hall and Nicholson didn’t have anything. Why don’t you get all those people you’ve been talking to and get them to vote for you? Then see how long it takes, before they turn on you.
Keep up the good work Mayor Maxwell. I believe you are doing a great Job.
In closing, Concerned, I have known Ronnie most of my life. He has earned my respect. You have not. You asked me to get rid of the blinders. I’m afraid I would need blinders to believe anything you print. I know the old saying "where there is smoke there is fire" and maybe that used to be true. However today far too often I find that where there is smoke there is a person that loves to blow smoke.
I hope that you remember your position, later, when you have to reap what Ronnie Maxwell sows.
But I suspect that you will either suddenly pretend that you opposed all of his actions all along, or you will (more likely) refuse to admit that things are so bad because of what he has done (or failed to do) and will seek to place blame one everyone except the truly guilty.
But, deep down, you will know the truth. And that is that YOU are one of the people responsible for allowing this type of behavior to continue.
I hope you can live with yourself.
"fake" names like Concerned Citizen et al.
Nicholson may be the only City in Jackson County that
does not have a City Property Tax except Hoscton but the
City Council is trying very hard to adopt one. Lets compare the two Cities and the finances.
Nicholson: Community Center Hoschton: None
Nicholson: Amphitheather Hoschton: None
Nicholson: Ball Fields Hoschton: None
Nicholson: $600,000+ Banked Hoschton: maybe $10,000-
Nicholson: City Debt NONE Hoschton: Millions
It seems to me the Mayor is doing a great job with the
SPLOST for your City providing services for the City
and not having a City Property Tax. SPLOST is something
you use or lose and it is your sales tax that you spent
buying goods in Jackson County.
As far as the Police Department goes, having spent 30+
years in Law Enforcement, both Military and Civilian,
the Mayor and I have spoken about the need for one in
Nicholson and he agrees with me that one is not needed
at this time. The City Marshall is for Code Enforcement
in the City and with the new zoning there is a need for
one and by the way that position also needs a certain
level of POST Certification.
Instead of blasting the Mayor why not look at the Water
Authority and what is going on there.
Ron Johnson, Chairman
Jackson County GOP
Nicholson does have quite a lot of nice things due to the work of the Mayor and the City Council and many volunteers. Anyone who doubts that can look at the Community Center, Amphitheater, etc...and clearly see that for themselves. But, that is NOT at issue here.
How much money the city owes is not the issue at hand and has no regard to the character of the Mayor. A mayor can be a crook or an honest man and still provide community improvements and keep the city debt under control. How and why he or she does any of this is as important, or even more so, than the fact that he or she did or did not do it.
The SPLOST, again, has no relevance to the current issues being discussed here.
As far as a Police Department is concerned, my understanding is that the police department is a "dead deal, at least at this time", a statement made by Mayor Maxwell some time ago. However, the accusation is that is was not, after all, a "dead deal" if the former City Attorney was still working on trying to install one.
If the City Marshall was for "code enforcement", then way was he not called a "code enforcement officer"? When the position was created in Nicholson, it was indeed called a "code enforcement officer". Why was it retitled to City Marshall if it was only for code enforcement? It would have been nice if you would have explained that, so that the people of our town would know the true reasons behind it instead of leaving it another source of concern.
As for the Water Authority, the members are appointed by the Nicholson City Council. If there are problems with the Wather Authority, why doesn't the City Council remove those members and replace them. Regardless, that also has nothing to do with the issues at hand, here.
It might have been helpful, Mister Chairman, if you addressed the specific issues so as to disprove the accusations rather than using the same diversionary tactics that ALL of the other posters have already used.
Your post has done nothing to resolve any of the issues, and indeed does seem to be someone from outside of our town sticking his nose in where it isn't wanted. If you aren't going help clear up the accusations about the Mayor of our town by actually addressing the issues at hand, then you are only making the situation worse by your comments.
When you become a Nicholson resident, please feel free to vote in the City elections. Until then, you might be well served to take care of your OWN job and leave Nicholson politics to the citizens of the town.
Thanks, and have a NICE day!
And for a certain Nicholson resident, thank you for the compliment, but no, I didn't write the posts that you thought I did.
What exactly is going on here at the Water Authority. We do not get SPLOST money or any other tax money to spend as we please. Our money is all from the system users and put back into the system for the users. So please enlighten me on your one sided information.
You might want to question your sources, but it sounds like someone is trying to shift the attention from themselves to someone else. But whatever the case we at Nicholson Water Authority have nothing to hide.
You also need to check your City of Nicholson and City of Hoschton facts. Nicholson does not have ball fields, Jackson County does, its called East Jackson Park. Hoschton also has ball fields that are County fields they are called West Jackson Park. Hoschton also has a Community Center which they spent over $100,000.00 to renovate (according to a Hoschton resident) whereas Nicholson spent over $500,000.00 to renovate their's. Nicholson also has a RDEV loan and last time I checked a loan is debt. So you might want to get your facts straight before saying something that might make you look foolish, just in case you want to run for BOC chairman again.
Let's remember that Ronnie Maxwell did NOT support you as Chairman of the BOC, nor did a majority of the voters in Jackson County support you thus your defeat !
You sir have no business representing the Republican party in Jackson county or elsewhere...didn't vote for you and after reading this crap you can guarantee you lost a few more votes.
Ron Johnson = Sour grapes !
You said “none so blind as those who refuse to see”. I really feel sad for you. I would not respond at all but I know how you work. You couldn’t recognize the truth if you stared it in the face and that’s ok with you. Because you know if you say the same things true or not enough times some folks will believe you. You called Ronnie King. I guess that makes you the court jester. I didn’t say fool because that would be untrue; you know exactly what you are doing. We should save the title of fool for anyone foolish enough to believe your hateful lies. You speak of honesty yet you do not speak honestly you ask for others to open their eyes yet you will not see. As to the goings on in Nicholson you are right I support the Mayor and I believe the people of Nicholson are much smarter than you give them credit for. I think you have proven yourself a proper jester. With no truth and less knowledge you have proven yourself entertaining, comedic hopelessly blind, engulfed in your laughable routine like a monkey dancing to the music of the organ grinder. Pardon me if I do not laugh.
One last thing I did notice, however, is that you obviously know that I'm right or you wouldn't be so upset about what I've said, and as for laughing, thanks very much for bringing it up, because not only am I laughing at you, pretty much everyone outside of Ronnie's family is laughing at you too. You would be even more entertaining if you weren't so pitiful. Stay proud...but please, for your own sake, get some help with that disorder.
A voice of reason and truth.
Water Authority Members can not be removed until thier
Terms are up. You can check the Laws on this and It can
not be dissolved unless the Members or the State disolve
it.
Answer to Ginger Dempsey If you take the $80,000 Loan
that the City has and subtract it from what is in the
Bank What do you get, a City with no DEBT. I am also
not sure your comment about the SPLOST is true, are you
sure that the Water Authority is not trying to get the
SPLOST and use it to run lines? I will be at your next
meeting with some questions.
Answer for those who didn't vote for me or are concerned
that I might not be a resident of Nicholson. I really
do not care if you voted against me that is your
American choice. I also have been looking for property in
Nicholson and might be a resident soon along with some
friends that have already begun to build their house.
That is the reason I am concerned with what is happening
there.
it."
And your point is? How does ANYTHING to do with the Water Authority have ANY reference to accusations against the Mayor?
As I said before, if you aren't presenting anything to prove or disprove those accusations, you are merely wasting space. With reasoning like yours, its a good thing you didn't get elected to the BOC Chairmanship. You seem to think that issues that have NOTHING to do with the discussion at hand, somehow, by some strange twisted logic, are relevent.
"I also have been looking for property in
Nicholson and might be a resident soon along with some friends that have already begun to build their house."
God help us all. And I thought things were already bad in Nicholson. That's all we need, some other new "metrosexual intellectual" to come in here and tell us how we've been doing everything wrong all this time.
I can assure you that I won't be rolling out the welcome mat for you, sir. They ran you out of your last community, looks like they are running you out of West Jackson now. I hope you don't think you will find us "good ole boys" very neighborly to someone with YOUR attitudes.
And you know what, even bothering to try to have a discussion with you is a moot point, since you can't seem to "get it". So go ahead and rant on with some other inane rambling. I've wasted enough time on you.
Nobody in Nicholson really cares what you think anyway, and I'm done with this thread.
I demand that we allow same sex marriages in Nicholson.
Also, on the platform of same sex marriages in NIcholson and freeing Tibet - I'd like to announce that I'm running for Mayor. Sorry I've been such an Anonymous, spineless, slanderous loud-mouth. The truth is the truth in my world - when I'm on the pills. But it doesn't matter I'd rather climb a tree and tell a lie than stand on the ground to tell the truth. After I get everything straight at rehab I'll get a life and stop sitting around in my elmo pjs writing on the blogs at midnight.
PS Ronnie Rocks .... NO- LOOK AT THAT CHICKEN!!
Nice sense of humor!
PS There ARE some nice chickens in Nicholson! I think I saw some Rhode Island Reds (yard birds) out on Sanford Road the last time I was out that way. All nice and colorful, just about ready for that frying pan!
But I didn't see the MONKEY!
Jenifer since you brought it up one of the problems with Pendergrass is that they kept it all in the family and blood is always thicker than water, politics or ethics for that matter. One of the things the mayor has been blasted for is cutting some positions. This in truth was a unanimous decision of the city councel. As well as bringing Rob Russell on board at Nicholson. Times are hard and a lot of people are tightening their belts yes even some govt. agencies. I can understand your loyalty to the water authority isn’t you kin to four of them at the authority. I read in the paper where you received a 10% raise recently that’s great to know in these trying times some one is doing well. I guess blood is thicker than budgets to.
And concerned I have another definition for you:
An innuendo is, according to the Advanced Oxford Learner's Dictionary, "an indirect remark about somebody or something, usually suggesting something bad or rude;
That’s the sad part you don’t realize you haven’t said anything you have just implied it.
This entire thread shows how petty and immature all of you people in Nicholson are.
But did you really need to prove it to everyone by posting it here? LOL
You've only made your town a joke to the rest of the county. Of course, I think everyone already knew that you people are all a joke. I just thought you might need to be told, since you don't seem to realize it. LOL
And I think it is absolutely too funny that you keep posting messages to each other even after someone says that they aren't going to read or post messages here any more.
You people would be a riot if you weren't so pathetic. LOL
What a bunch of losers! LOL
I can't stop laughing at the lot of you! LOL
I just stumbled across this running gag of yours by accident, so I won't be reading any of your replies (and I know that you losers will have to reply, you can't help yourselves) but I wanted you to know that you and your town are so unimportant to me and everyone else, that I won't even bother to come back and read any of it. So go right ahead and show your continued idiocy to everyone else who might read this string of horse manure that you've been posting.
LOL I have to go try to stop laughing so hard that I can't breathe, now.
I truly hope that you and your town get exactly what you deserve!