Pendergrass axes public comments

Wednesday, September 30. 2009

The Pendergrass City Council axed its practice of allowing citizens to ask questions or make comments at its meeting Tuesday night.

Following a brief meeting at which the council voted to mortgage city hall to raise cash for the city government, Pendergrass Mayor Monk Tolbert abruptly adjourned the meeting without allowing the usual comment period for citizens.

One Pendergrass resident asked Tolbert, “Why can we not speak during the city council meetings anymore? You don’t want to answer our questions?”

The mayor said anyone could come talk to him or other city officials individually.

“Are you worried about a reporter being here?” the woman asked.

City attorney Walter Harvey said, “Lady, this is not a political forum, this is a government meeting.”

Two policemen went and stood next to the woman during the brief exchange.

BORROWING

Saying the city was facing financial difficulties due to the economy, Mayor Tolbert got a unanimous vote for the city to borrow an unspecified amount of money.

The council approved a resolution to use the city hall/library complex as collateral and finance or refinance a loan against.

“We don’t have a specific amount,” Tolbert said after the meeting. “We just have appointments with the bank at this time.” Tolbert said he has contacted Community Bank and Trust and Hometown Community Bank about a loan.

For the complete update on issues confronting the City of Pendergrass, see the Sept. 30 issue of The Jackson Herald.

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#1 Sick & Tired on 09/30/09 at 10:51 AM [Reply]

Tolbert and his yes-men must be really scared! They are a joke and they know it. Their days are numbered.

#2 JAUTRY on 09/30/09 at 12:18 PM [Reply]

Since there were no questions or comments after the meeting I'll bet there will be plenty of them here. Starting with:

Hmmmmmmm, no questions or comments, wants to borrow unspecified amount of money against City assets, Officials facing the possibility of being recalled, already broke or attempted to break several laws regarding handling of City business with regard to it's citizens, has boldly stated that one does not care what the citizens think, he will do whatever the hell he wants to.......... I would be getting an uneasy feeling about the final destination of any money borrowed against City assets at this particular juncture!

#2.1 Speechless on 09/30/09 at 03:27 PM [Reply]

I completely agree with you - how can these people be trusted with any of the city funds at this point let alone take out a loan and use city property as collateral??? I wonder if there is any way the citizens of Pendergrass can file an injunction so that they are not allowed to operate pending the outcome of the recall???? It's just shocking to me as a law abiding citizen that they can continue to operate and get by with the crap they do!!!

#2.1.1 thetruthandnothingbut on 10/01/09 at 08:41 AM [Reply]

I agree that we need to clean house in Pendergrass. Get rid of them ALL and start over. With that being said, I do have several issues with Mainstreet News and their selective news reporting. Journalism 101 dictates that you are supposed to report the news, not make it. It sems you will do anything to sell newspapers. If you truly care about our community you wouldn't continue to turn a blind eye to the corruption and nepotism at the Jackson County Sherrif's Department. Anyone that dares to disagree with you, Mike on any subject is called out for public ridicule in one of your editorial rants. You know what they say about picking fights with someone who buys their ink by the barrels, don't you? I like my nws to be the pure unvarnished truth, not slanted towards what the reporter wants to believe. Simply put, Mike....you are a bully! Grow up and quit abusing your forum.
I'm all for recalling the bunch in Pendergrass, and while we are at it, getting rid of Stan Evans and while we are at that, Billy Chandler needs to go, too! Let's bring Jackson County into the modern era

#3 Speechless on 09/30/09 at 02:06 PM [Reply]

There's a part of me that doesn't even know how to respond to this story. The whole thing leaves me sort of speechless because I am so shocked that the council and the Mayor can run a meeting this way! Were the police officers trying to intimidate the woman asking questions?? The arrogance these city leaders have is appaling!!! I can't wait to see if the Judge is going to allow a recall election. I hope these idiots realize their days are numbered.

#4 Kate on 09/30/09 at 04:29 PM [Reply]

Well, it certainly is obvious the Mayor and Council do not care about the citizens of that town. What was it the Mayor said? Something about, "I'll do whatever the hell I want to do." I just can't believe nothing has happened to these "supposed sevants for the citizens" Wouldn't it be a fantasy if citizens could trust their elected officials. Wouldn't be a fantasy if elected officials were honest. The in your face action of not letting the citizens speak. What are they scared of? People not bowing down and worshiping them and saying how wonderful they are? (oh! please Mayor and council spend my money for your personal pleasure. Forget that I had to work my %$^% off to pay the tax bill so you could buy clothes and dinners and toys!) How long before Justice is served to these monarchy wannabees?

#4.1 Matthew on 10/01/09 at 06:24 PM [Reply]

Kate, we'll see soon if you are correct...or if the people you are accusing are actually correct. Time will tell, however the truth will appear..whether you like the outcome or not!

#5 Just thinkinging on 09/30/09 at 06:57 PM [Reply]

Just curious. Why a city that got rid of all trained, experienced, and educated employees because of money, hire and keep less trained,experienced, educated employees. Rehired a city employee whose husband was the illegal alien. How does the city justify a city employee who breaks federal and tax laws. Hire family member and his friends to work on weekend? Isn't m-f enough? Oh he goes to school on weekdays. I'm sure there are plenty of men who are trying to feed there families that need the job. We must accommodate his hours! How is the city working on the comprehensive plan that is required by law? I haven't heard any of the required public meeting!! Why does a city so small require the city administrator to have a take home car? New chief I wish you the best of luck! You may be the only one with sense!

#6 Ricky on 09/30/09 at 07:13 PM [Reply]

Okay I think this Pendergrass , thing has gone on way too long and there needs to be an end to it, I am getting tired of seeing it on the front page every week! I have a question if the 2 that had not gotten fired would any of this have been brought out?? If the city and the police dept was doing illegal things then why did the officers who worked there and the city clerk let it go on for as long as they did without speeking out?? If they had not have lost there jobs would it have been brought out? Yes Pendergrass did do illegal things and to let them get away with it is as wrong as what they have done but the legal system plays favorites and you have a kin folk here who is all related and has friends in high places!! To me they need to be out of office any other person would have been found guilty and charged! Also why did the officer who had the sexual harassment case go back to work for a the city? Seems like that would have been the last place I would want to work? Something else I have been wondering has any of the citizens ever gone to a city meeting before and question the way things was being run or is this the 1st time anyone has gone to a meeting, seems like alot of folks juts sit around and wait until something happens before speaking up! Be proactive not reactive dont wait until the time that something happens and then want change do something about it before that times comes so it will not happen. Pendergrass under state law cannot have closed meetings without informing the public, but let me point another issue about this county out, has any of you ever went to your local fire board meeting if and when they have them? Yes your local fire depts are supposed to have open meetings and post them so the public can know what is going on? I only know of one dept that currently post there meetings and that is West Jackson Fire Dept. It is not just Pendergrass that is doing illegal things it is the whole county and until folks start complaining and going to the meetings there will never be any change in anything. Get involved in your community find out what is going and if you dont like it speak out , this way maybe things would not get as bad as it has in Pendergrass. We came together on 9/11 so why has it seemed like we stopped doing what is right? Public Safety should be about helping the community it serves as well as the local government should be doing the same if people would stop and use common sense and think before they do things might not get as bad.

#6.1 Kate on 10/01/09 at 09:58 AM [Reply]

Hey Ricky, I came back to the website to check to see if my posting wa actually and couldn't help but read your post. You are very passionate. You have a lot of questions. If you haven't read; you should read the 1st and 2nd article which shows a timeline of the "whistleblowers" whereby the 3 who are the only ones of the original "let go" wmployees are now the only ones not working. I remember reading that the whistleblowers brought up evidence to the Mayor and then they were let go. Sounds more like retaliation to the whistleblowers than anything. You might want to brush up and read the past articles. it might help you understand the "full" story. To me it looks like the clerk and officers did try to bring forth a stop to the corruption but were slapped in the face for doing so.

#6.2 FJCR a.k.a. One krazy Redneck on 10/09/09 at 05:37 PM [Reply]

Ricky Ricky Ricky Don't tell me you can't figure out why the police officers and the city clerk let this coruption go on as long as it did? If you are that sheltered I'll explain it to you. No.1.The officers needed their jobs. No.2.the officers were just as dirty as the people running the town. No.3 the officers were getting a kick back for the tickets they wrote. No.4. anyone who goes against the Mayor and city council is fired and hung out to dry?
I thought it was already proven the city clerk was dirty?

#7 Ricky on 09/30/09 at 07:56 PM [Reply]

I just got done reading the headlines about Pendegrass again. Okay just because it is a goverment meeting does mean they can not let the citizens ( the tax payers ) speak out , seems to me like the officers was standing next to the wrong person , seems like they should have been standing next to Mr. Tolbert instead. In a way the city violated the woman that wanted to ask a question her right in asking it , whey cant the council members speak out when the meeting is going on and answer the questions? Yes if money had not have used like it was , the city may not have gotten in that bad of shape with money issues. Seems like there was a poor lack in budgeting and keeping records that should have been kept on file! Also I have a few more questions, why did the city need motorcycles and and ambulance that was given to them by the county? Yes the county may have gave them the ambulance for free but somewhere down the road it took money from somewhere to fix it up? To me that was a waist of money. Pendergrass is a small town , I mean it is growing but it is still small and did not need the motorcycles or an ambulance. Not sure when they got the ambulance if they was looking at adding a swat team or not?

#7.1 Speechless on 10/01/09 at 10:19 AM [Reply]

If you attended the city council meeting last month it would be clear to why they wouldn't let the citizens of the city ask questions . . . . Last month they ripped them apart and they deserved it. I guess they figure they can just ignore the citizens of this city. There must be some law that gives the citizens the right to speak at a public meetings as long as it's done properly. As a tax paying citizen I have a right to speak my opinion to the very people elected and paid with my taxes, aren't they supposed to be our voice. Maybe Mr. Buffington can check into this although, why would they care -they obviously don't since they perform illegal secret meetings!! (They must since they hired a new police chief - it wasn't voted on last month and the council has to vote on it before he could be hired)
It's quite scary that the city leaders who have been accused of spending city money illegally are now going to use city assets to secure a loan to get more money to spend - how can they do this when they are under investigation. A recall vote cannot happen fast enough!!!!

#8 Sick & Tired on 10/01/09 at 12:16 PM [Reply]

I think we should all line up at City Hall at the same time to speak with the mayor and council members! I will ask them to quote the mission & vision statements of the City and explain how their current actions support these statements!

Mission Statement:
"It is our mission to meet the present and future needs of the of citizens of Pendergrass in a fiscally responsible manner to ensure the highest quality of life."

Vision Statement:
“We are a family orientated, safe, and attractive community that respects our natural environment and celebrates our culture. We are a City of pride, progress, and possibilities. We are Pendergrass...The best place to live in Georgia.”

#8.1 Anon on 10/02/09 at 09:49 AM [Reply]

Sick and Tired...Your missing the entire point! The mission statement and the vision statement of the city is correct, but only if your a crooked Tolbert or if you have significant interests with the Tolberts.

#8.1.1 Donna on 10/07/09 at 05:31 AM [Reply]

I was considering moving to Pendergrass due to job movement.

I think I will stay in Statham a bit longer.

#8.1.2 Laughing at the morons - on 10/16/09 at 01:08 PM [Reply]

Attention - All- The new city motto has been changed. It now reads "Pendigrass - A city impowered by it's emperor, guarded by it's Barney, and financially broke by it's councilpersons - Come to Pendigrass, we're here for your money" hehe

#9 Dave on 10/02/09 at 02:04 PM [Reply]

Um, Tar? Feathers? Hog tie the turd and give him a beautiful new set of clothes (albeit chicken feathers)this would certainly show other corrupt leaders in Jackson county cities what is in store. Oh shoot, there's not enough tar to go around for all these other criminals.

#10 Maybe There Will Be Justice on 10/09/09 at 01:21 PM [Reply]

To anyone interested in being in the court room with the citizens of Pendergrass. The recall hearing will be in the Jackson county Courthouse room 1 at 9:30 AM Friday, October 16th (next Friday).

Remember if you live in Jackson County you have a stake in this. How this Pendergrass issue ends is how other cities and counties will follow suit. Although the credit card use may not be county citizen concern - the misuse of SPLOST funds are. County citizens pay SPLOST. Although there is no "legal" way to reprimand elected officials for misuse of SLPOST by not doing something about it you are saying it's okay to do whatever they want with YOUR tax money. DO SOMETHING. Help change democracy and show the citizens of Pendergrass you care what happens in government. Is it right to let elected officials do "whatever the hell they want to do?" (quoted by the Mayor of Pendergrass). Is it right to stop PUBLIC COMMENT at city council meetings because the elected officials do not care what the citizens have to say. Since when should citizens be silenced??? The more citizens who show up at the courthouse will prove to the judge at the hearing that this needs to be taken seriously.

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