BOC argues over unapproved expenses

A lot of money on government projects was spent by the county’s former manager without approval, according to members of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners.

The issue came up at Monday night’s BOC meeting when the board went back and approved money that former county manager Darrell Hampton had already spent.

County policy states that purchases over $20,000 must be approved by the BOC. But chairman Hunter Bicknell said officials discovered “two or three months ago” that Hampton had not always followed that rule. He said that $3.5 million to $5 million in projects were approved by the former county manager.

The issue came up when the board voted to belatedly approve a $2.4 million upgrade to the county’s public safety communication system. The upgrade was authorized by the former county manager, but was never brought before the full BOC for a vote or discussion. Commissioner Tom Crow questioned why the BOC is being asked to fund this after the equipment has already been installed.

Commissioner Chas Hardy asked Crow why he wasn’t asking questions “months ago.”

“Where were the red flags months ago,” he asked Crow. “Why weren’t you asking questions then… You enjoy the pleasures of grandstanding and that you uncovered it…It is time to move on.”

For the full story, see the Oct. 19 issue of The Jackson Herald.

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#1 All Lies on 10/20/11 at 08:11 AM [Reply]

The whole thing is a dog and pony show. Go back and look at the minutes.
The BOC approved intergovernmental agreements for radio tower sites months ago ? But they knew nothing ??? Really ??

Crow, Smith and Hardy all knew about this months ago just don't want to admit it.

That is why they don't want to talk about it... no public bid . No public specs. Nothing.

What should happen is a full investigation as to why 2.4 million was spent with out over site.

Last comment to Mike Buffington. Next time dig deeper when you get a tip on a story.

#2 zyma snozer on 10/20/11 at 09:59 AM [Reply]

Tough Questions need to be ask. But who is gonna call for audits,bid questions,and the way money is spent. Buffington needs a Investigative Reported. Oh thats funny ain't it

#3 Barry Goldwater on 10/20/11 at 03:57 PM [Reply]

And the man who oversaw this wants to run for a state position so he can spend even more millions without oversight. Really, is this best America has to offer for public service?

#4 why on 10/20/11 at 04:12 PM [Reply]

They kept it quiet for 2 reasons.

1. They have installed a system that no scanner can cover. There accountable to no one at all media included.(can't hear it !)

2. The powers at be were bought and paid for by Motorola who came up with the whole "narrowbanding" excuse. Banks county and others spent $40,000 narrowbanding there system .

Wait 5 years and the whole system will be obsolute. Mark my words Jackson county just started a money pit process that will cost for years.

Blaming a "former " manager is nothing more then an excuse. #1 is right all show !

#4.1 Anon on 10/20/11 at 08:20 PM [Reply]

Exactly, the new system was sold by the Motorola rep without the public safety director or the radio repairman/disabled paramedic having a clue what it is. The system is crap and will be nothing more than a huge expense. Why did they go away from a system that could talk to most all counties around? Biggest profit and commission to the Motorola dealer.

#4.1.1 Follow the $ on 10/20/11 at 08:24 PM [Reply]

And how much of the profit on the sale and commission was kicked back to the commissioners?

#5 BOC asleep at the wheel on 10/20/11 at 05:49 PM [Reply]

These clowns were responsible for Hampton, he was their employee, THEY were asleep at the wheel. Perhaps they should personally reimburse the taxpayers for Hampton's generous severance package that they approved, particularly since they now complain about his performance.

#6 county on 10/20/11 at 11:41 PM [Reply]

managers should be accountable to the board it the boards fault for not required co signing of payments!!!

second if the Sheriff wasnt hiding what his dept was doing why would they need narrow banding?

Something is starting to give a bad smell and there is no FISHERMENS WHARF in JAckson county, but I suspect many Wharf Rats!!!!

#7 I'm been telling you on 10/21/11 at 01:26 PM [Reply]

I am glad to read some intelligent commnts. I have been saying the same thing for years. M Buffington should dig deeper. The whole sorry bunch that either doesn't know or is lying should do all of the citizens a favor and resign. Don't hold your breath. This is what happens when you have failed people who want to draw a salary amd have access to funds without working a real shift jobs. You have a retired school employee who is allowed to "work" parttime. I guess Bicknell wants more pay. You have these clowns who run as fiscal conservatives but once they are in office and have access to tax funds they spend like Jethro Bodine in a restaurant. Vote all the rascals out. I think Ron paul is the only rats trapper.

#8 anyoneknow on 10/21/11 at 06:59 PM [Reply]

This is off topic but does anyone have any info on the county buying 50k worth or art for the jail?

#8.1 clarke county on 10/21/11 at 08:14 PM [Reply]

The Clarke County Commission is considering art work for their new jail.

#8.1.1 anyoneknow on 10/21/11 at 08:19 PM [Reply]

We heard from 2 sources today that Jackson already made the art purchase but that it was for the employees benefit. Now Clark County is considering some art also???

#8.1.1.1 anyoneknow on 10/21/11 at 08:25 PM [Reply]

This must be a rumor mixed up with some accurate information from Clark.

#9 Justplainoldbob on 10/21/11 at 07:51 PM [Reply]

Sad so sad. Does any part of our total government leadership take any responsibility let alone accountability. Our tax monies are not free money to be given away.

And our Sheriff write him an email and wait till the place freezes over before you get an answer.

Maybe all this poor under the table management choke choke laugh laugh is why my taxes are 50% higher than the national average. It is a disgrace what they charge and offer literally nothing in return other than a visible patrol car or two.

Someone needs to audit the Jackson County books. It is time we all take our government back and quit whining if you do not vote.

#10 T. Jones on 10/22/11 at 08:13 AM [Reply]

I'm interested. Can you show how you got your 50% higher taxes number?

#11 JessieJames on 10/22/11 at 11:32 AM [Reply]

Sheriff "Andy" Stan Evans says the department doesn't have enough funding or deputies to do the job, et the department has 600+ employees and a huge budget. In my way home every day I meet several sheriff cars. Something doesn't seem right. I think this many employees could be better utilized. Who checks on the sheriff's department? Nobody? The County Commission? Give me a break. Check the records to see how many homes of working citizens are being broken into.

#11.1 barney on 10/22/11 at 09:53 PM [Reply]

oh come on now. are you the outlaw Jessie James worried that Andy's or his dept may get you.are you someone that dont read the arrest section to see what a good job they do.you think they can stake out e very home in the county.no more than boc can fix everthing or please everyone.

#12 how about on 10/22/11 at 11:57 AM [Reply]

The finance director keeps getting off free but why would he just release funds knowing the BOC had to approve them ?
Someone needs to put Hulsey under a microscope and find out why millions gets spent without him redflagging them ?

Talked with some law enforcement folks today and they are not impressed with the new system. Watch this whole thing blow up into we bought a lemon.

#13 make on 10/22/11 at 01:28 PM [Reply]

sure the people we entrust with serving the public have the public interest in mind rather then interst of friends and family

#14 Interesting on 10/24/11 at 01:12 PM [Reply]

In todays Athens paper Steve N said the radios were paid for with "leftover" jail $.
That was supposed to be used to add personal to the jail not for a countywide radio system ?

Hey Barney if you have nothing to hide why Encrypt the system ? 9 times out of 10 when systems encrypt its to hide what they are or not doing.

The whole fiasco is another reason why we need to vote them all out. Starting with Tom Crow and ending with the head thief Bicknell.

Where is the Jackson herald ?? Oh yeah worrying about booster club funds and HS pranks while 5 Million goes POOF !

The tax payers in Jackson got screwed again !

#14.1 fish on 10/24/11 at 07:56 PM [Reply]

Where is the Jackson Herald? Trying to find breaking sports news.Who cares what else goes on in county as long as they get the latest scores in.

#14.2 duh on 10/27/11 at 06:41 PM [Reply]

The narrow banding was a federal mandate. It had to be completed. Encryption comes with it.

#14.2.1 no it wasnt on 10/28/11 at 01:33 AM [Reply]

Mandated!!!
Mandated my butt! only Private frequencies of private companied were mandated. here you go

In the radio spectrum set aside for public safety communications, agencies and jurisdiction licensed and operating in the following bands will need to comply with the narrowbanding mandate;

Very High Frequency (VHF) - High Band Range
148-174 MHz

Ultra High Frequency (UHF)
450-512 MHz

This will not affect every one. Agencies and jurisdictions licensed and operating in the following bands are NOT subject to the narrowbanding mandate;

VHF Low Band Range
25-50 MHz

800 MHz
Conventional or Trunked

#15 Jessie James on 10/26/11 at 08:10 AM [Reply]

barney I'm not that Jesse James. For your information I work in the legal field. I know every problem can't be fixed but we have a problem with breakins in JC. The Sheriff's office needs to be more proactive. Before you make any offhand remarks about someone you don't know or their motivations think about it. Thank you.

#16 concerned citizen on 10/27/11 at 06:32 PM [Reply]

Is it true that Don Clercy salary is 1 million 170 thousand dollars a year that our county is paying him ?Just what does he do ? If we are going to cut back in our county ( furloughs) why not cut back with the guys who make the big bucks.Come on give me a break.

#16.1 More Money on 10/27/11 at 08:09 PM [Reply]

If the BOC doesn't stop his automatic pay raise, his salary will jump another 4% at the end of the year.

#17 sheep on 10/28/11 at 09:44 AM [Reply]

Dear duh,
Banks county completed narrow banding for less then $40,000. All they had to do was up date there repeaters and a few radios.
Encryption and digital has nothing to do with narrow banding. That was a feature law enforcement wanted so no one can monitor them (AKA do what we want)

There was no requirement to go to a trunked ,digital and encrypted system. The big question that no one wants to ask is???
Why was it done behind closed doors with no public bid and or specs ?

The narrow banding effecting Jackson was :

After 15 years, numerous Petitions for Reconsideration and other challenges, the final FCC plan was decreed by the Commission early in 2007, with the setting of firm dates for the transition. The proceeding enacts a maximum 12.5 kHz bandwidth across the land mobile bands between 150-512 MHz, and increases available channels by creating new ones between existing channels.

While 12.5 kHz channel spacing is widely mentioned in communications media, there is usually no corresponding mention of the difference in channel spacing between VHF and UHF, which leads to the erroneous assumption that 12.5 kHz will be the standard channel spacing across the board. In truth, 12.5 kHz channel spacing (and eventually 6.25 kHz) only affects UHF between 420 and 512 MHz.

VHF land mobile narrowband uses 7.5 kHz spacing. Existing VHF channels will remain, with new ones - already in use in some areas for the past few years, mostly in the public safety portion of the band - created between existing channels.

In other words Jackson had to be narrowband "capable" by 2013 but the channels they had would remain.

Bottom Line_ They bought a Cadillac when all they needed was a Chevy.

#17.1 they bought on 10/28/11 at 10:16 AM [Reply]

a vintage ferrari when all then needed was an Escort!!!

#18 concerned citizen on 10/28/11 at 03:45 PM [Reply]

Mike you have always been upfront, someone needs to stand up for the people in our county and find the answers to these questions on the spending of the big dollars .Maybe it is a time for change .People don't need more unemployment in this county, we just need common sense and a balanced budget. If you don't have it don't spend it. Jackson County cannot borrow from China.We have good hard working people that needs good leaders.

#19 social hermit on 10/28/11 at 04:06 PM [Reply]

Self education of the facts is the most important asset in gaining the real truth. Relying on the news and its bias and what other people say is the problem with everything in this country. Nobody wants to do research for themselves for the real truth. "Well he heard this from somebody, who said that and it came from the newspaper and the TV or some other guy and then its fact no matter what." Blah, Blah, Blah! Research for yourself the FCC website and discern for yourself what the county needs and if you can't find it there, RUN FOR OFFICE, Oh, and hold YOUR elected officials accountable, don't ask somebody else to do it for you.

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BOC argues over unapproved expenses

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