Hardy slams fellow commissioners

Wednesday, January 23. 2013

A newspaper ad purchased by board of commissioner Dwain Smith and BOC chairman Tom Crow alleging that someone in county government is “hiding money being spent” angered fellow commissioner Chas Hardy and led him to call for a meeting with all of the information being presented instead of “misinformation and half-truths.”
“We are elected to speak for the citizens of Jackson County,” Hardy said at the BOC meeting Monday night. “One thing they have told us is to be good stewards of their money and I feel like we have done that. This is an open forum. This is a public meeting. We are here to discuss the issues of Jackson County. For some reason, you feel like you need to discuss the issues of Jackson County in a way that is rather demeaning to the members of this board. I would like to ask that we consider placing on next month’s agenda, a full report and a full open discussion from day one of this whole issue. Let’s get it out in a public meeting where we are all here able to discuss it as men and not in the newspaper. Discuss it face to face. So that the people of Jackson County can get an unbiased, unaltered look at the actual facts that go along with this case.”
For the full story, see the Jan. 23 issue of The Jackson Herald.

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#1 pot stirring on 01/23/13 at 12:57 PM [Reply]

Tom Crow stirring the pot ? Is anyone really surprised at all ?

Tom Crow has no business on the BOC nor does Mr.Smith.

Couple of good old boys who are in over their heads and have no idea what is going on.

If this continues are BOC is going to be a huge joke and meanwhile nothing that needs to get done will be.

#2 Throw the rascals out on 01/23/13 at 05:08 PM [Reply]

Why on earth would the BOC Chairman purchase an ad to say that ?

Tom Crow continues to make bad decision after bad decsion.

My question is.. Tom and Dwayne were both on the BOC when the EMS building was debated, both were on the BOC when the no bid radio system was built.( no one can explain that one..Crow sure won't )

Both are saying "someone in county government is “hiding money being spent” " Well boys they did it under your watch to so look in the mirror!

#3 JustPlainOldBob on 01/23/13 at 06:28 PM [Reply]

Kind of simple. Why does the county not post the budgets on their website for all of us to see if we wish.

Open government. Now laugh.

#3.1 T. Bell on 01/24/13 at 07:29 AM [Reply]

Bob,
I think all City and county governments post their yearly budget on the UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government website.
Jefferson posts their complete budget and their monthly up to date expenditures every month on their website under a meeting management tab and they have a monthly budget update at every council meeting. Not very fun to read but very open!

#4 Way to go Hardy on 01/24/13 at 03:46 PM [Reply]

Thank you Chas for standing up for the county. I'm glad you are in office and not Mr. Thompson. I'm sure he would have been in on "hiding money being spent”.

#4.1 HELLO is anyone thers on 01/31/13 at 06:51 PM [Reply]

Since you seem to know Chas, ask him what percentages of the meetings he attended last year. You might be surprised about how well Chas is representing the citizens of Jackson County. The golf course is where he and the other 2 commissioners made the deals in 2012.

#4.1.1 Hmm on 02/01/13 at 01:04 PM [Reply]

Seems like you know more than anyone. Why don't you tell us?

#4.1.1.1 Citizen on 02/02/13 at 08:26 AM [Reply]

Until laws are passed that put some teeth in the punishment concerning "Oath of Office Violations" the corruption and Greed will never cease. This goes from the Local lever to the Federal level. But, guess who have to inact those laws's. Chamblis is a good example. Very glad he's retiring and getting that monthly check from us for the rest of his life. He DID NOTHING.
Back to the local level, The commissioners need to pass restrictions on themselves to require at least 80% meeting and conference attendence to recieve the monthly salary. If that is not met, Reduction of 50% show take effect. They would make time for the meetings then. The previous Cahirman is most likely 1 of the 3 who know where the money came from on the WJ fire station. The previous property owner of the property is probably retired and down in Florida now.

#4.1.2 Ken Nugent on 02/01/13 at 06:51 PM [Reply]

Hey Jody, don't you more pressing matters to deal with right now other than the sour grapes you keep squeezing?

#4.1.2.1 Tim Bruant on 02/02/13 at 07:49 PM [Reply]

I'm definitely not this Jody somebody you refer to, and I live in WJ. Are you really Ken?

#4.1.2.1.1 HUH? on 02/03/13 at 08:38 PM [Reply]

What in the world does an ex-commissioner from 8 years ago have to do with this mess? If Chas wanted answers, he should have come to the meetings.

#5 sj71 on 01/24/13 at 09:28 PM [Reply]

I guess Tom will put everything in future ads that he voted no for and lost 3 - 2. We need to go back to the days when the chairman only voted in cases of a tie (balance out that power Tom thinks he has now). Your personal vendettas have no place on the board or in this county. I bet a lot of folks wish they had thrown that Catfish back in the lake.

#6 Keep stiren Tom on 01/27/13 at 01:12 AM [Reply]

I think the only "huge joke" here is how this whole EMS debacle got started anyway. As is always the case...anything to do with the government will eventually turn into a disaster and a BIG waste of money!! I'm going to bet that the previous 6 individuals posting comments all live in or close to the new EMS station.

Overall we have lost sight of what the real issue is here:
A)Should we be spending over $1 million for a new EMS station?? Especially when there are areas within the county that still have long response times.
B) The current Braselton EMS station has operated out of what was previously a residential home...for years. Why is it suddenly imperative that we have Million dollar + EMS station located here??? Especially when this money does nothing to improve response times to "other" tax paying citizens within the county ???
C) Why wasn't the "Citizens Advisory" board set up to review government expenditures of SPLOST funds as it was supposed to have been done??? Obviously this would make government more accountable...and what commisioner would like for that to happen??
D) As has recently been brought out - why was additional money spent in conjunction with the Zion Church road re-alignment project + additonal money spent for the easement to this propert??
E) What has become of the previous properties that had been designated for future EMS locations? At least one of these properties would have serviced the same response area as the current Braselton location + it would have reduced response time to the outlying areas around Braselton! I can see no viable reason for abandoning this plan.

So with all the stupidity already displayed by our commisioners...Tom Crow & Dwaine Smith placing an add in the Jackson Herold bringing insight & information to the people of Jackson county doesn't seem like a bad thing to me. If they had not done this...we surely wouldn't be discussing this topic now...would we?? And thus the government waste / stupidity would still be going on. So with that, I for one say...JOB WELL DONE...to commisioner Crow & Smith!! At least they had the nerve & wear with all to express their 1st ammendment right and put themselves out there in order to put information on the table that otherwise had already been swept under the rug! At some point on time you have to take drastic measures to wake up the dumb masses. Looks like it worked.

And on the topic of "getting information" regarding this matter. Over the past several weeks I have e-mailed my county commisioner (distric 3) numerous times via the county web site requesting answers to questions that I had. I requested a response either by e-mail or by phone. I have yet to receive a response (in either fashion) to my request!!! So on that note - I again applaude Commisioner Crow & Smith! At least they took the time to try to inform the people with information regarding this matter. Irregardless of whether people "think" it is "boarderline scandalous" or "making accusations"...at least these two put something forth to start the converstion! If commisioner Hardy is so secure on the decisions of the commision why isn't he out in front of "this crap" explaining the decisions of the commision to those who are asking for information. Some of us don't have the luxory of being able to attend the monthly commisioners meetings (i.e.- we have to work for a living in order to pay our taxes!). And as I have found out...getting information out of my county commisioner has been a real fruitful experience! After all, this EMS station is a pretty sweet deal for him...the majority of his constituates are happy to see a bright new shiny EMS station go up in the town where they reside! So...I doubt we'll see much push back from the commissioner from distric # 3! (Yes...I do have to wonder, who is hiding the money??)

#6.1 Your wrong on 01/27/13 at 04:20 PM [Reply]

I am not from West Jackson and the fact you keep throwing that around means your more then likly one of those involved in this suit or friends with them.

SOME ANSWERS

C) As stated in court it was set up but the board never met..

E) Those sites were unusable because of soil and erosion measures that needed to be met. Jackson County paid huge fines in the past for not meeting those requirments... State EPD issue.

B) Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.... ie we have always done it that way equals dumb.

Tom and D.Smith oversaw a fire training center that was to be around 800,000 and approved funds in excess of $2 Million. ( Guess who was over that project D.Waters and James Lyles)

They both let the county put in a no bid radio system and cry wolf yet the minutes of several BOC meetings included motions for towers and equipment and both voted Aye ? Do Crow and Smith even know what they vote for ?

Yes let's let Tom keep stirring. I would love for all of Mr. Crows secrets and under the table deals to become public.

Mr Buffington you might want to keep an eye on Pat Bell who has all of a sudden become Tom Crows new left hand.

#6.1.1 Keep stirren Tom on 02/05/13 at 09:18 PM [Reply]

Your wrong:

First of all...though your name is fitting...if I were you I'd change it!

Second...I know no one involved in this suit, however,I'm glad someone took some action to try to stop this government waste!

C) As stated in court it was set up but the board never met... Why didn't the board meet? And if it did not meet..how were the commissioners able to allocate SPLOST money. Wasn't this a condition for spending SPLOST money??? So in other words the commission skirted arond the provisions of SPLOST and thus money has been misappropriated (i.e.- wasted on only one EMS station)! Gee...it almost sounds like grounds for a lawsuit doesn't it??

E) Sites were unusable due to soil errosion or EPD issues...really??? I drive right by one of these sites everyday. It is a perfectly flat lot with no apparent "errosion" issues. As for EPD issues...if there actually are any...someone should possibly alert the nearby homeowners as this site is adjacent to a subdivision! I'm sure these people should be made aware that there is EPD issus on a lot next to them, that makes it unusable for an EMS station! WOW...this seems newsworthy to me..can you provide any details???

B) Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.... ie we have always done it that way equals dumb.
~!~!~! You couldn't have said it better! Wasn't it only a few short years ago when our "grand & glorious" court house was rammed down out throats?? Seems to me we are travelling down the same road again...a MILLION dollar EMS station...really! I have to wonder how Braselton ever made it all these years by running the current EMS station out of a residential house?? If your definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results...it's certifiable...this county is insane! We've had a courhouse rammed down our throats with no representation by the people AND we now have an elaborae EMS station that has been rammed down our throats...once again..without representation! And the best part is we did get the same results...OVER BUDGET & UNNEEDED!

Your are Wrong....maybe you SHOULD keep your name!

#7 JustPlainOldBob on 01/29/13 at 09:49 PM [Reply]

Jackson County is anti progress, good old boy system, with no vision to the future. It is almost part of metro Atlanta but is being held back because we have no professional, trained, experienced, people to over see the mess that is created. This is 2013 we need a skilled County Manager to guide us into 2013 instead of 1813.

But then I get the feeling the ones holding us back are happy.

Meanwhile we all struggle. And when the excitement of Wally World Walmart coming in trumps common sense (I am not opposed to Walmart) that show the place is not progressive.

This could be a really nice place to live and grow families. It is not.

We need a huge change in our government. They need to be held accountable. Whittling away million here million there reminds me of the government complex called county courthouse. What numbskull got us in that place? When I go here feel like it is leading up to a mansion then get there and feel like a BB rolling around in a box car.

SPLOST where is the accountability? Where does the money go?

Property taxes WOW OH MY GOSH you would think we are living in Buckhead.

#8 Idiocy on 01/30/13 at 10:57 AM [Reply]

You sound like someone who has never been to a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce. There is a vision. There are trained professionals working to make it happen; most of them are volunteers. Get off your ass and participate.

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