Ethics complaint filed in Nicholson

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Ethics complaint filed in Nicholson

Wednesday, March 30. 2011

Former Nicholson council member, Carol L. (Faye) Seagraves, has filed an ethics complaint against a City of Nicholson council member.

In her letter to the ethics board dated January 8, 2011, Seagraves said, “I come before you today to right an injustice. I tried to handle this through regular council meetings, but was told that an Ethics Committee would have to be formed in order to hear my complaint.”

Seagraves alleges that during her time in office, 2006-2009, the mayor and council received travel expenses for taking their personal vehicles to the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) Convention in Savannah.

Seagraves said council member Lamar Watkins signed that he was driving and he took travel expenses even though he actually rode with council member Howard Wilbanks to the convention.

“Watkins did not operate his own vehicle, but he took monies from the Nicholson City Budget Funds,” Seagraves said. “Mr. Watkins has been asked repeatedly to reimburse the city for the funds he illegally received, but he has yet to do so.”

For the full story, see the March 30 issue of The Jackson Herald.

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#1 Amy on 03/30/11 at 10:05 AM [Reply]

Everytime I see him, he can barely get around walking let alone drive. What dummy gave him this should have to pay as well (with their job)

#2 Michael McCarthy on 03/30/11 at 01:22 PM [Reply]

They think it's their money. They think you pesky taxpayers should just shut up and pay.

#2.1 Doughraeme on 04/01/11 at 07:42 AM [Reply]

You are just like everyone you want someone to yell about 210,00 in Nicholson but I don't hear you saying nothing about the fact he's totally disabled drawing disability yet running a firewood service where he cuts splits loads and haul firewood and sells for a profit so where is your voice now that it involves your tax dollars

#2.2 Doughraeme on 04/01/11 at 07:42 AM [Reply]

#2.2.1 Michael McCarthy on 04/01/11 at 08:11 AM [Reply]

Do say! Maybe Social Security should be notified.

#2.2.1.1 I agree on 04/01/11 at 11:56 AM [Reply]

IRS too, he owes taxes on the money that he has rcvd. Trying to beat the system with this travel expense thing will be ugly in the end.

#2.2.2 Maysville on 04/05/11 at 02:20 PM [Reply]

I gave him some wood that was left behind when I had some trees removed, he stopped and asked if he could have the left over wood, he sold firewood and this is what he does for a living and needed the wood to sell. he got along pretty well for a man of such bad health! had that wood cut and loaded in his truck in no time.

#3 say what? on 03/30/11 at 11:00 PM [Reply]

That's a crime not an ethics violation. Brad needs to know about this. Hey Mike, can you ask Brad if he knows about this? Doesn't matter if he pays it back now.

#4 Simply stunned on 04/04/11 at 01:48 PM [Reply]

Geez...will this insanity EVER end?

Every time I think the people of Nicholson have, perhaps, learned a lesson, this kind of thing comes up again.

Thanks to the childish behavior of the people in the city government, the town has become the laughing stock in a county that is full of less than stellar government behavior.

People, before you start getting bent out of shape about these accusations, try getting a copy of the documentation from the city clerk. See for yourself if there are indeed records showing that he signed paperwork, and minutes from the council meetings and work sessions that show how this was (not) handled.

In the mean time, lets see what else the city government (and former members of the city government) can come up with to embarrass the citizens of Nicholson with.

#4.1 Marie on 04/13/11 at 05:46 PM [Reply]

People, you are so quick to tear another human apart! If all of you would stop and think for just a minute and find out the details you might not be so quick to judge. ALL of the members are given 210.00 for expenses just to GET to where they are going. This is for gas and 1 or 2 meals. Now do the math, it does not cost 210.00 to get there and back (Savannah). Every member is just as guilty because did any of the members give back what wasn't used? Even if they only had 20.00 dollars left isn't it cheating to keep it? This 210.00 is not for any other expense, they are allotted more money while they are in Savannah. So do you not think that all the members may have a little money left out of the 210.00? The person who started this is only doing this out of meanness, there is a lot that is not being told. For the people who are so worried about someone being on disability and making a little money, this man did not asked to be on disability-he was devastated when he was diagnosed with MS, went for a long while were he couldn't walk without a walker and GOD has seen fit to let him have a little good health. You all should be ashamed at yourselves, I dare you to take 5 minutes and put yourself in his place, no that won't work because you can't understand a person like him, he will go the extra mile to help anyone, checks on the elderly, GIVES a lot of wood to people who can't afford to buy it-I could just go on and on... Instead of tearing him apart, you should be thankful that there are still people who REALLY cares about other people, who knows, it may be one of your loved ones that he helps one day.

#4.1.1 John wells on 04/14/11 at 11:10 PM [Reply]

Sounds like he is just a reguar old Jesse James all the old folks loved him to and robin hood put a wolf in sheepskin clothes what you got?

#5 Frances on 04/04/11 at 03:59 PM [Reply]

It's not just $210.00 I know for a fact he did this for 4 years I went to the GMA Convention.I just want the People of Nicholson to know this. I would like to comment on THIS INSANITY EVER END!!! He needs to do the right thing PAY IT ALL BACK. The people of NICHOLSON needs to know what is going on behind there backs.

#5.1 Simply Stunned on 04/05/11 at 03:07 PM [Reply]

I couldn't agree more. The people of Nicholson DO need to know what is going on behind their backs. Like certain city ordinances on the books that, if the common people KNEW were on the books, would cause outrage in the streets. Ordinances that every one of the current city council members and the previous 3 sets of council members either know about or were actually involved in making. I don't see THAT being preached loudly from the lofty position of the sinless. So be VERY careful just how much of that light you toss around so easily, or you might get a sunburn yourself when ALL of the truth comes to light.

#5.1.1 Mary on 04/05/11 at 06:20 PM [Reply]

I dont see what allthe ruckus is aboutif you would like to find out the truth go to the meetings and you will see you for yourself whats going on

#5.1.1.1 TO MARY on 04/06/11 at 09:22 AM [Reply]

Well Mary, the ruckus is about someone that took money that did not belong to him and as this comes out, everyone is finding out not only did he steal from the city, he is taking money from "US" our paychecks so the gov't can keep him up as he complains to be disabled, I got news for you, working in the medical field I see many many patients that should have disability and as much help as available for them and they are turned down, they struggle everyday, put off medical care due to no money and here we have a lazy citizen getting fed money and making money under the table, that Mary my friend is the rucus. A big mouth thief!

#5.1.1.1.1 Marie on 05/01/11 at 06:35 PM [Reply]

You seem to know everything. He has MS and while he is in remission now, since you are in the medical field, you should know that it is only a matter of time before this disease gets worse. He would love to work but no one will hire him because of the disease. What would you do? If one day you had a job and were able to pay your bills then were struck with a disease that made you stop working? How would you pay your bills? Let me tell you, I was there when he was diagnosed with this terrible disease and saw how it did him in the beginning, he tried to continue working but finally they made him stop. It really makes me mad when people judge others when they really don't know what they are talking about. His employment stopped but his bills did not. Have you ever received any birthday money more than 15.00? Or won money from a scratch off ticket? Did you report it as income? Well if the government knew about it you would be in trouble because any money received beyond 15.00 MUST be reported as income. I just wish people would stop jumping to condemn another human being when if you look at yourself, you might see that all of us do things that are not right.

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