Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Dems complete set of 60 clowns in U.S. Senate.

2010 Congressional elections now America's only hope! http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/30/minnesota-high-court-rules-franken-senate-battle/

Beware of fake Kingfish Feller!

TOPIX posts attributed to Feller, but coming from Kingsland, are bogus. The poster is NOT Sandy Feller. Don't let the copy-cat omission of capital letters fool you. Moreover, the spelling, grammar, and quality of thought are all much too good to be the real Feller. Here is the latest example. sandy feller Kingsland, GA Reply » Report Abuse Judge it! #24 55 min ago you want specifics. 1...rezone camden county (master plan) showing 50% residential, 50% commercial. 2...institute impact fees to pay for capital for infrastructure (water, sewer, roads, etc). eliminate psa and jda and give the powers back to people who were elected by the citizens. call for a 2 day retreat for all elected officials so that they might make up a new mission statement for camden county and the cities. make sure the public is invited to participate in all aspects of planning. when finished hire a professional planner to market the county. make sure he is paid for results only. if you the public want this you are going to have to fight for it.

The revenge of "No Conflict Bird" Ethics Committee hearing for the "Airport 4" is tomorrow.

Conveniently scheduled at 5:00 PM in the Lilliput City Council chamber. All of the info the city apparently thinks the public needs to know can be found at: http://www.ci.st-marys.ga.us/

Got pistol?

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2009-06-30/story/glynn_county_police_investigation_weekend_home_invasion_robberies

Monday, June 29, 2009

Data on Lilliput's upcoming elections.

Click on images to enlarge.
Jay: I have contacted the IT Department by copy of this email to add the mayor and council term expirations to the website and to check the link to my email address on the website as well. The Mayor’s seat (Eskridge) and Posts 4 (Deloughy), 5 (Johnson), & 6 (Weaver) will be on the November 3rd ballot. The election ordinance for the qualifying dates, fees, etc. has not been approved by council and will be presented at the July 13th City Council meeting. Monthly salaries for mayor is $700 and $500 for council. Beginning January 1st their salaries increase to $950 for mayor and $750 for council. Attached is a calendar of events for the general election that my office puts together for informational purposes only. The City contracts with the county for elections so any additional information regarding elections could be obtained by contacting the Camden County Board of Registrars office at 576-3245. Or, visit Georgia Secretary of State’s website at http://www.sos.ga.gov/Elections/ for election data, dates and updates. If you should need further assistance, please feel free to contact me. Best regards, Darlene M. Roellig City Clerk City of St. Marys 418 Osborne Street St. Marys Georgia 31558 912.510.4039 Telephone 912.510.4013 Fax mailto:darlene.roellig@tds.net From: Jay Moreno [mailto:jaymor@tds.net] Sent: Saturday, June 27, 2009 9:07 AMTo: darlene.roellig ci.st-marys.ga.usSubject: Election data Darlene, I've been waiting for that upgrade to the website to include dates of term expiration for the mayor and council, but no luck so far. I would like to publish some info on the next election on my blog, http://camdencommentary.blogspot.com/ . Please furnish me with the following data: 1. Which posts are up for re-election? 2. What are the opening and closing dates for qualifying? 3. What are the qualifying fees for mayor and council, respectively? 4. What are the dates for the primary and general elections, respectively? 5. What are the currently monthly salaries for mayor and council positions, respectively? Thank you. Jay Moreno P.S., Are you aware that when I go to the city website and click on your e-mail address, e-mail does not come up like it is supposed to? One has to copy and paste your e-mail address after exiting web site and opening e-mail.
Update at 1430 HRS: Per my earlier suggestion, the city web site has just been upgraded to show the term expiration dates of all St. Marys elected officials. http://www.ci.st-marys.ga.us/ccouncil.htm#ccouncil

It takes a village garden.

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2009-06-29/story/community_garden_grows

The ESPLOST 7th penny in sales tax goes into effect on Wednesday, July 1st.

Planning on a major purchase? You might want to buy it before midnight tomorrow.

Major cuts in state spending / services take effect Wednesday, July 1.

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2009-06-29/story/georgia_to_begin_feeling_pinch_of_tighter_budget_wednesday

Sunday, June 28, 2009

But wait! I'm not done yet!

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/06/28/mays.death/index.html

89 new Georgia laws take effect July 1st.

The first new law under "Education" should be of particular interest in Camden County. http://www.jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2009-06-28/story/georgias_89_new_laws_take_effect_wednesday

Thirty years on, steps to protect sea turtles have clearly worked.

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2009-06-28/story/research_vessels_high_numbers_of_juvenile_turtles_good_sign_for_specie

Sunday Funnies; Volume 70.

At the end of the tax year, the IRS sent an auditor to audit the books of a Synagogue. While he was checking the books he turned to the Rabbi and said, 'I notice you buy a lot of candles. What do you do with the candle drippings?' 'Good question,' noted the Rabbi. 'We save them up and send them back to the candle makers, and every now and then they send us a free box of candles.' 'Oh,' replied the auditor, somewhat disappointed that his unusual question had a practical answer. But on he went, in his obnoxious way: 'What about all these bread-wafer purchases? What do you do with the crumbs?' 'Ah, yes,' replied the Rabbi, realising that the auditor was trying to trap him with an unanswerable question. 'We collect them and send them back to the manufacturers, and every now and then they send us a free box of bread-wafers.' 'I see,' replied the auditor, thinking hard about how he could fluster the know-it-all Rabbi. 'Well, Rabbi,' he went on, 'what do you do with all the leftover foreskins from the circumcisions you perform?' 'Here, too, we do not waste,' answered the Rabbi... 'What we do is save all the foreskins and send them to the IRS, and about once a year they send us a complete DICK ...

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Suburban Bambi

Yesterday morning, at 0815 HRS, I happened to glance out of my master bedroom window. I have two vacant lots on either side of my house. It turns out that it was about an hour before the monthly mowing of those lots. The weeds were still up to about mid-calf to knee high, with a healthy smattering of wild flowers. Some movement caught my eye. About 150 feet away, just outside my nearest neighbor's fence and within a few feet of the treeline stood a white tail doe. About thirty five to 40 feet out into the field stood her spotted fawn. I'd say this fawn was about the size of a Labrador retriever. I'll leave it too more woodsy types to guesstimate how old that would be. I watched them for about ten minutes, somewhat amazed that they were out in the open long after sunup and in plain view in a residential neighborhood. The doe never once put her head down to graze. She just kept the lookout while the fawn - also not foraging - just gamboled in the field. He would slowly walk out to a distance of 35 -40 feet from the doe, look around for a bit, the suddenly turn around a run and jump in a wild zig-zag pattern back to the side of the doe. The fawn repeated that behavior about three times in the ten minutes before a red neck's macho, car-crushing, big-tired truck roared by and scared them both back into the woods. That would be the woods back behind that black Baptist church (Mt. Zion, I think) across Highway 40 from Saturday Park. So far they have not shown an appetite for any of my trees or shrubbery. It looked like the doe had just brought the fawn out to an open area for a good romp, if I may wax eco-weenie anthropocentric for a moment.

Another Georgia ex-sheriff goes to the federal pen.

http://www.news4jax.com/news/19866685/detail.html

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Who knew!?

According to one melodramatic local leftie, it would appear that unbeknownst to me, I have been elevated to the pantheon of despised and feared conservatives - dare I say right up there with Rush, Dick and Newt! See for yourself. Naturally, I'm surprised, but deeply honored. Archimedes Kingsland, GA Reply » Report Abuse Judge it! #129 31 min ago Moreno is, though replusively annoying, fairly harmless. He tries to fan the flames of hatred and bigotry in this county with his rhetoric...and the truly sad thing is that so many lower themselves to his mud-slinging standards. Stay above insults, people. The best way to deal with psychosis is to ignore it. Leave him to his strange rants - it seems that that's all he that he has in his life so he may be more deserving of pity than censure.

Oh, my goodness! Now it turns out that, according to Kingfish Feller, I am such a clear and present danger to the community that I have "to be watched" - presumably by the PC thought police!

sandy feller Saint Marys, GA Reply » Report Abuse Judge it! #130 1 hr ago Archimedes wrote: Moreno is, though replusively annoying, fairly harmless. He tries to fan the flames of hatred and bigotry in this county with his rhetoric...and the truly sad thing is that so many lower themselves to his mud-slinging standards. Stay above insults, people. The best way to deal with psychosis is to ignore it. Leave him to his strange rants - it seems that that's all he that he has in his life so he may be more deserving of pity than censure. (Now "No caps" Kingfish writes) you are.. (? sic) to a point. the ravings from this gentleman tend to turn people off. however, he has to be watched, least (sic -the dottering old fool meant "lest") he go too far. so i suppose the proper way is observe but maintain silence. good point, such people do not thrive well on silence.

Storm does millions in damage to large gantry crane at sub base.

This just in from a reliable source: Just so you will be on top of things, which you generally are. Last night there was a tremendous storm at the sub base and one great crane was damaged and pushed down the track on which the crane was mounted and slammed into another crane. One of the workers from the base said that the crane that was down the tracks had a boom that was to rotate with the wind but the wind blew the boom back over the crane. These are the cranes that do the refit work at the docks on the subs. It did untold millions in damage. Lots of cars were also damaged. That would explain what I saw at lunch today. As I was entering the Chinese buffet there at the old Walmart parking lot, about 8 burly and very happy (big pay day?) guys were coming out together laughing and cutting the fool. They were all wearing T-shirts that said something like "International Heavy Crane Operators' Union" on the back. P.S., My waitress today was without a doubt the most beautiful young Chinese woman I've ever seen. Worth the trip at twice the price. Update: T&G coverage of 6/24 http://www.tribune-georgian.com/articles/2009/06/24/news/top_stories/1topstory6.24.txt

This just in from a reliable source.

Got this in my e-mail at 1356 HRS today. This may or not be of interest to you. At 1:30 pm the Winn Dixie parking lot on Hwy. 40 was blocked off and the cops were at every entrance. I called Gordon to tip him off and he said some one left a package in the parking lot and the bomb squad was called. I would suspect that it is more likely a sack of taters. But here any thing that gives the enforcement folks a chance to turn on the blue lights is an opportunity. They really seem to enjoy the bells, whistles, etc. I would be surprised if some one was intent on bombing the Winn Dixie parking lot. However, here that may not be out of line. This is Homerville by the Sea. I love it here. Best place ever.

The conversation with the maudlin, super saccharin, super narcissistic, green eco-weenie, "Greenery" continues in a prior post.

http://camdencommentary.blogspot.com/2009/06/as-stomach-turns-cherubs-with-violins.html

Change you can believe we should have seen coming.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124562449457235503.html

All charges against Sheriff Gregory's administrative assistant are dropped.

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2009-06-23/story/charges_against_camden_county_sheriffs_aide_dropped This confirms that the sheriff made exactly the right decision by not firing her before the legal issue was resolved. NOW is the correct time for him to get her side of the story and THEN take a decision (one does not "make" a decision) on her continued employment. This just in at 11:05 HRS: Sheriff Gregory has this morning terminated his administrative assistant. No further details at this time. Watch for the full story in tomorrow's GTU for sure and possibly in the T&G, if they got the story before deadline.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Looking for a really good plant nursery?

If you've ever looked for really good plant material around here, then you know that unless you happen to hit Lowe's at the right time, there really is no reliable nursery with a good selection of very high quality traditonal southern plants plus some exotics. I've encountered that problem recently when I was looking for some good specimens of red Calypso oleanders. Then I remembered that I had an old Jax phonebook. I hit the jackpot with my very first phone call. I drove yesterday to the Bartram Trail Nursery at 1859 State Road 13. That's also known as San Jose Blvd. Their phone number is (904) 230-4200. They are a bit far away, but worth the trip the next time you have business in Jax. Take I-295 South across the Buckman Bridge over the St. Johns. At the east end of the bridge, exit immediately onto State Rd 13 / San Jose Blvd. Take a right at the end of the ramp and drive south on San Jose /S.R.13 for six miles. Look for a "Kangaroo" convenience store on your right. The nursery is about another 100 yards on the left. The mid-fiftyish guy who owns and operates it - and does the plant care - really knows his stuff. He has just about anything you have ever heard of that grows well in our zone - and many things you haven't. He has an elaborate drip irrigation system set up all over the property. Each pot is individually watered. The result is that he has some of the healthiest looking plants, shrubs, and trees I've ever seen. My four, 3-gallon, red Calypso oleanders are all perfect specimens with three stems per pot, very full, lush, green, 36" high foliage. They were $12.95 per 3 gallon pot - absolutely competitive with Lowe's - and way, way healthier. And, yes, I do know that all parts of the plant are poisonous and that even the smoke from burning them is poisonous, thank you. Does anyone have any recommendations for any closer nurseries with a good selection of high quality materials?

Obama has found yet another rat hole - high speed rail - to dump stimulus money down.

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2009-06-21/story/federal_aid_revives_plans_for_georgia_high-speed_rail Can any of you think of any circumstances - save maybe taking the kids or grandkids for a train ride - under which you would use a high speed train to go to, say, Atlanta?

Sunday Funnies; Volume 69

The train was quite crowded, and a U. S. Marine walked the entire length looking for a seat, but the only seat available was taken by a well dressed, middle-aged, French woman's poodle. The war-weary Marine asked, 'Ma'am, may I have that seat?' The French woman just sniffed and said to no one in particular 'Americans are so rude. My little Fifi is using that seat.' The Marine walked the entire train again, but the only seat left was under that dog. 'Please, ma'am. May I sit down? I'm very tired.' She snorted, 'Not only are you Americans rude, you are also arrogant!' This time the Marine didn' t say a word; he just picked up the dog, tossed it out of the train window, and sat down. The woman shrieked, 'Someone must defend my honor! This American should be put in his place!' An English gentleman sitting nearby spoke up, 'Sir, you Americans seem to have a penchant for doing the wrong thing. You hold the fork in the wrong hand. You drive your cars on the wrong side of the road. And now, sir, you seem to have thrown the wrong bitch out of thewindow.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

As the stomach turns. Cherubs with violins, come in now...

Greenery Kingsland, GA Reply » Report Abuse Judge it! #1 18 hrs ago Each day I go down to the Memory Garden to water the plants and trees that were generously donated (and set in place by intrepid volunteers on a sweltering day). Each day I thank the community that allowed me to pay some small tribute to it - and to my parents -and I stand before the plaque, aching that my mother and father did not have a chance to see and feel St. Marys. And each day I pick up the detritus around and in the gazebo: water bottles, chip bags and so forth. Today the garbage of the callous and ignorant included a condom wrapper (my apologies - I did not manage to find the condom itself). That anyone (no matter their age) would find this place a suitable venue for public sex astonishes me and I fear that it may be only a matter of time before it is grievously defaced by knives or paint.To all of you who take night-time golf-cart cruises or walks - please try to pass by from time to time. Perhaps this will dissuade the over-sexed, irreverent, despicable and simply stupid among us.

Interesting.

I found these two recent posts on TOPIX rather interesting. I would appreciate any thoughts my readers might have after reading them. Oh, and while you're at it, do you have any thoughts on Commissioner Sears performance on the county commission so far and her prospects for re-election. Thank you. Jay. Anno Kingsland, GA Reply » Report Abuse Judge it! #10 11 hrs ago Mr. Feller, You missed the jest in my post. You are an unannounced candidate with a blog. I used to read your blog, but after you lied about Bill Smith being cleared of all charges the night before the election, I lost all confidence in your blog. If you did not post that on your blog, please tell me I am wrong. If you did post that on your blog,(as you did) please tell the masses that you lied! I know you did, and most everyone else who used to read your blog knows it as well. You stated that Bill Smith had a hand in your re-election loss, and that I believe is the truth, but you also burned some bridges due to your deep hate of Steve Berry. I do not like Mr. Berry, so don’t toss this post as a Berry supporter. You were an ineffective commissioner and that is the truth. Can you tell me today that Tommy Gregory is in Steve Berry’s back pocket as you implied in your support of Bill Smith? NO!! So Steve Berry is throwing others under the BUS just like you did. Can you tell me the difference??? I doubt it. Please tell me one piece of meaningful legislation you authored while you were a commissioner. I will wait for an answer, because I am sure it will take you a while to come up with one. I do not support Buddha, as you call him; I think he is an idiot. I just hope the citizens of St. Marys can have a better choice then 2 blooming idiots. Does that tell you how I came to my conclusion?? Also as a former school board member in NY, I would think that you could type using the proper English text and capitalization.Who loves you baby?? Manic Mouse Saint Marys, GA Reply » Report Abuse Judge it! #12 1 hr ago sandy feller wrote: please tell us how you came to your conclusion. reading my blog will give you a good picture as to whether i am worthy. http://www.camdenganews.com/ and www.camdenganews blogspot.com . there are 400 posts plus untold comments you could use to make an evaluation. I do not think you or JM would make a good Commissioner or Councilmen. It was after I read your Blog and JM's Blog that I made my decision. I'm sure you are basically a good person, but too wishy washy in my opinion. I'm sure JM is just what he projects on his blog. An arrogant, bitter, Agnostic who just wants to make everyone believe that he is the most intelligent person on earth and should have his way about everything. Unfortunately he is lacking the essentials that it takes to be able to get along with the people who would be voting for him and the other Board members. You, Mr. Feller, have the same problem working with Steve Berry, right?

Could used police cruisers be a viable stop-gap measure for CCSO?

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2009-06-20/story/mcintosh_county_buys_used_patrol_cars_to_replace_those_totalled_in_cha

Two arrests so far in CRCT cheating scandal; more likely.

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2009-06-20/story/atlanta-area_principal_arrested_in_cheating_scandal

Friday, June 19, 2009

King Rainer okays throw-away vote to aid Sears' campaign.

http://www.tribune-georgian.com/articles/2009/06/19/news/top_stories/1topstory6.19.txt Voting for the loans on projects already too far under-way to abandon was, of course, the responsible thing to do. However, knowing what a tough row to hoe Charlene will have if she actually runs, her new political Svengali, St. David, no doubt gave her the okay to do what she needed to do to impress the bubbas. They are already singing her praises on TOPIX. Need I say more?

1,091 acres of commercial and development tracts in Kingsland and St. Marys to be auctioned June 30th.

http://www.woltz.com/657/

Change you can count on.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/19/house-eyes-new-taxes-senators-pare-health/

An example of the shape Camden could be in with the proper mix of businesses and bedrooms in the tax base.

http://savannahnow.com/node/740637

State unemployment rate hits record high.

http://www.news4jax.com/news/19789430/detail.html

Sheriff Gregory forced to let go up to six employees.

And that is just to be able to finish out this fiscal year which ends June 30th. Berry tells him to "shut up." St. David, a Bill Smith supporter, tells him, in effect, "tough nuggies." http://www.jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2009-06-19/story/layoffs_planned_by_camden_county_sheriff

Still think that Sheriff Gregory should summarily fire his indicted but not convicted secretary?

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2009-06-19/story/fired_brantley_sheriffs_assistant_accepts_100_000_settlement

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

So why-in-the-hell are the idiots still living there?

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/06/17/montana.asbestos/index.html

The first of the new 100,000 ton Ford class of CVN is under construction.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,526833,00.html

What amazes me is the courage shown by the principal and teachers.

http://cbs2chicago.com/local/bradwell.elementary.8th.2.1047246.html

North River, LLC, finally declares bankruptcy.

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2009-06-17/story/north_river_has_filed_for_bankruptcy T&G coverage: http://www.tribune-georgian.com/articles/2009/06/17/news/business/1business6.17.txt

Has "No Comment" Bird struck back anonymously?

Click on images to enlarge.
Update @1930 HRS, 6/17.
I have just retrieved an unsolicited e-mail from Councilwoman Hase in which she assured me that no meeting of the four councilmen who are co-signatories which would have been a violation of the Open Meetings Act ever occurred. It seems entirely likely to me that being aware of the potential for this move by Bird or on his behalf, they would have gone to great lengths to insure that no more than two of them dicussed the matter together at any one time. That would of course have been quite easy to do.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Venomous visitor.

This morning, I was in my capacious, wheelchair-friendly master bath when my Scottish housekeeper arrived at 0900 HRS. She let herself in with her key. When I emerged she said, "Oh, by the way, Jay, when I was coming in, there was a cute little brown snake coiled up by the door." My front door sits inside of about a four or five foot deep alcove. Sure enough there was a "cute" little pygmy rattlesnake coiled up in the corner. I briefly considered blasting it with my .45, then posting a picture of myself holding it by the tail and grinning like one of the inbred hunters from Deliverance, but decided it was too easy (someone please explain that one to "greenery"). Instead, I went to the kitchen and retrieved my 36" "reacher" or "grabber" that I use to get things off of high shelves. I went out the garage door and approached the coiled snake in my power chair. Even though the sending unit for my indoor/outdoor thermometer, mounted in the alcove about 3 feet above the snake, was already reading 80 degrees, the snake, coiled on the relatively cool concrete and in the shadows, seemed in a hypothermic torpor and not aware of our presence. I reached down and grasped him with the rubber tipped grabber at about one third of his body length forward of the tip of his tail. Even then, he just barely woke up and uncoiled slowly. I held him at arms length until I could deposit him in the vacant lot next door. They're out there folks, and some are their larger diamondback cousins. Stay alert and step lightly.

Close, but not entirely accurate.

God Help Us Saint Marys, GA Reply » Report Abuse Judge it! #1 1 hr ago Well I see Master Jay Moreno's campaign is chugging along as expected. So far he's referred to the Earth Keepers as liberal tree hugging militant eco-weenies, stated his firm disbelief in God, called some of his constituents poor ignorant asses, labeled his supposed opponent as Kingfisher, and used his usual charm to refer to an assorted number of voters as ignorant,stupid,and used a vast number of Park Avenue name-calling I'm sure most fail to recognize. And come the fall he will expect your vote so when in office he can turn his expansive vocabulary on the taxpayers. And all of this while calling for a tax increase to fund the school system, general government office, and sheriff's office the three government organizations or agencies with the worst track record of responsible and accountable spending in Camden County. Clarifications: First of all, the next Camden County election for commissioners is in the fall of 2010, not 2009. So much for the author's accuracy. The take on my view of the Earth Keepers is about right. I have never "stated (my) firm disbelief in God." That would make me an atheist, which I am not. Moreover, I would point out that my thoroughly researched and thought out and deeply held religious beliefs are irrelevant insofar as America is not a theocracy and the constitution specifically forbids the imposition of a litmus test upon political candidates. A kingfisher is a bird. My appellation of Kingfish for the well known obstructionist and political whore, Sanford Feller, is a reference to the famous calculating populist "Kingfish" Huey Long, not a bird and certainly not the Amos & Andy character of the same name. That Camden is populated by a significant number of arrogantly ignorant asses is self evident, witness TOPIX Kingsland. That some would reside in District 4 is a statistical certainty. Yes, the ESPLOST was needed and a good idea. Obviously, a majority of the voters agreed with my position. The "general government office" is in the dire straights it is in thanks to the vote buying of the Terrible Troika (Rainer, Rhodes, Herrin) when for several years they buttressed their incumbent advantage by invading the county's reserve funds in order to pass off a millage rate increase as a sign of their managerial prowess. They were warned repeatedly not to. The mess we're in today is the result of their disregarding the warnings. I have NOT called for a tax increase to remedy this situation. What I would try to convince the other commissioners to do is to leave the millage rate where it is until the economy has clearly made a full recovery. In the interim, when and if property values rose (after the three year moratorium), I would recommend forgoing the property tax rollback in the face of an increased digest until such time as the budget needs were met AND the reserve funds were replenished. Finally, as the funding of the CCSO. It is highly probable that the sheriff will have no choice but to seek a writ of mandamus for additional funding before the end of FY-10. The county will no doubt have to borrow money to comply. Had I been on council a couple of weeks ago, I would have had the county manager supply the commission with the numbers on how much the millage rate would have had to be raised for FY-10 to cover the CCSO budget vs. the anticipated costs of borrowing, then made a decision as to which way to go after presenting the alternatives to the public and seeking feedback.So, if you are a voter who would appreciate an honest, outspoken candidate with the intelligence and education to handle the job and the ability to effectively communicate ideas to both the electorate and fellow commissioners, and absolutely no relatives in the county nor business interests, nor Good Ol' Boy loyalties /obligations, then I would be your candidate if I decide to run. On the other hand, if you are an obstructionist conspiratorialist or you vote based upon your libidinal fantasies, competence be damned, there will likely be other choices for you.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Georgia Supreme Court rules in favor of Cisco!

From an absolutely reliable source, this communique: The Ga. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Cisco, et al. on the matter of the RICO action by the State to take Cisco's assets. It is a very hard to fathom decision. I think the bottom line is that there was a denial of due process and that the property was taken prior to adjudication of guilt. What I am wondering is what now happens to the property that was liquidated and/or the funds paid out to the Receiver for handling all the dealings. If you want to look up the ruling the following is information you will need for the Georgia Supreme Court cite: S09A0371. Cisco v. State of Georgia S09A0375. Moore et al. v. State of Georgia The D.A. relied on the law as it was in Georgia and the Court ruled the law was wrong. Not the D.A. Good D.A. lousy law. Update, 6/16: GTU coverage http://www.jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2009-06-16/story/georgia_supreme_court_rules_personal_rico_seizures_unconstitutional

The down side of drought-busting, grass greening rains.

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2009-06-15/story/heavy_rains_ruin_southeast_georgia_blueberry_tobacco_crops

Sunday, June 14, 2009

The airport issue has become a cause celebre for local green eco-weenies.

Well, I see my early premonition about the true nature of the local Earthkeepers crowd was well founded. I invite your particular attention to the leftist, anti-capitalist, man-as-scourge-of-Earth tone of the anti-airport crusading remarks of one "Greenery." http://www.topix.com/forum/city/kingsland-ga/T4JVKR7USHNQ23QDM/p14#lastPost P.S., Just this Friday, at about 2:00PM, as I was headed to Aunt B's, a "rare swallow tailed kite" lazily drifted over Colerain Road about 100 yards east of the Agape Christian Church. Addendum @ 1600 HRS: You know, I'll predict right now that when the new JDA director finds a business - God forbid an industry - willing to loacte here, if it will produce a cubic yard of a gaseous emission or a liter of liquid effluent, these same effete eco-snobs will oppose it. The chosen site will probably be touted as the last known pristine habitat for the endangered sabre-toothed sand gnat. These folks are, of course, our local dues-paying members of Green Peace, the Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth, et al - the same folks who are preventing offshore drilling, drilling in ANWR, and U.S. energy independence in general. What the hell, they've already made theirs and retired here. I can't help but wonder about the environmental foot prints of the endeavors where they made their fortunes. Oh, and by the way, poor old Kingfish, the shameless vote whore, still desperately vying for attention and votes at any cost, has called their attention to this post. Alas, "Greenery" professes to be unaware of my blog's existence. Kingfish of course does not know how to post a link. Would someone please do it for me. Thank you. another voter Reply » Report Abuse Judge it! #289 25 min ago You mentioned 9 different potential sites. Where are the others? Trust me: it matters not. They would find an environmental imperative to ban the monster, man, from developing those sites as well.

Today is flag day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_Day_in_the_United_States

Local Navy retiree assumes command of state VFW.

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2009-06-14/story/retired_navy_lieutenant_from_kingsland_is_new_state_vfw_commander

Sunday Funnnies; Volume 68

Joe died, leaving a will that provided $30,000 for an elaborate funeral.As the last of the visitors departed the affair, his widow Helen turnedto her oldest friend and said, "Well, I'm sure Joe would be pleased."I'm sure you're right," replied Jody, who then lowered her voice andleaned in close, "How much did this really cost?""All of it," said Helen. "Thirty thousand.""No!" Jody exclaimed. "I mean, it was very nice, but $30,000?"Helen replied, "The funeral was $6,500. I donated $500 to the church.The wake, food and drinks were another $500. The rest went for theMemorial Stone."Jody computed quickly. "$22,500 for a Memorial Stone? My God, how big isit?""Two and a half carats."

Friday, June 12, 2009

Yep, he scares me too.

http://www.snopes.com:80/politics/soapbox/youscareme.asp Thanks to Charles Davis for bringing this letter to my attention.

The kind of change defeatist, liberal, socialist, green eco-weenies can believe in.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/financialcrisis/5516536/US-cities-may-have-to-be-bulldozed-in-order-to-survive.html

The perfidy versus the verity. (Read this e-mail exchange starting at the bottom.)

Ok., Except Ken tells me that I am mixing up the Cloister with Sea Island Resort, so we have never been to a party at Sea Island Resort. Also Ken says he was already on the airport authority before I was elected mayor. His memory is better than mine, I guess. deborah From: Jay Moreno [mailto:jaymor@tds.net] Sent: Friday, June 12, 2009 8:30 AMTo: deborah.hase ci.st-marys.ga.usSubject: Re: I figured y'all should know about this. Deborah, That was a very effective response/refutation. I could of course paraphrase it on my blog, but I think it would be much more effective as is. May I have you permission to publish it verbatim? I'm doing well, thank you. I'm finally finished with my post-baccalaureate teacher certification program at Armstrong. I'm just waiting on the state to crank out my certificate with endorsements for middle grades social studies, middle grades language arts, and high school level political science. Prospects for a job in Camden are not looking too good for next school year. I'm thinking about doing substitute teaching next year while adding a couple of more endorsements to my license. I'm thinking economics and history, respectively. I'm also going to knock out a quick BBA from the local college - Coastal-Whatever-It-Is-This-Week. I'll turn 62 in November. After that, state tuition is free! Jay ----- Original Message ----- From: deborah.hase ci.st-marys.ga.us To: Jay Moreno Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2009 5:24 PM Subject: Re: I figured y'all should know about this. (Note to my readers: At about 7:00 PM this evening, one of the TOPIX liars cut and pasted Mrs. Hase' statement (below) on TOPIX and used her name as if she had posted it. I know for a fact that she did not. Jay) Jay, making these type of false accusations are just a diversion, and smoke and mirrors; but please feel free to inform "sheepdog" that I have never stayed at the Sea Island Resort, but I went to a party there once or twice; and that I didn't put Ken on the authority, council did. Remember, the mayor doesn't vote unless it is a tie. Also, I don't know what they are talking about with the study, but there has been so much that has happened over time, that I can't recall everything. And whatever it was, the AA voted on it (unanimously), not me. But that is when the AA owned the airport property; now the city does, so the AA wouldn't be voting on those issues today. What matters is what is happening now. Things change over time. Projects change over time. Oh yes, and people change over time. As far as "scrutiny", the closest thing I have to having a conflict here is that my husband is a pilot that hasn't flown for a long time; and a brother-in-law who is a pilot and has a plane that lands at our airport occassionally. It would certainly be more convenient for me to pick them up at the current location than at another one; but I don't do what is best for me, I am under oath to do what is best for the city. Tell "sheep dog" to cut his hair so he can see the facts and come look me in the eye with his evidence/accusations. It is so easy to make anonymous statements, and that is why I don't blog unless I use my name. Give me names, then we will talk. I like to know who I am speaking with. Cowards use code names instead of their own. As for Greg's conflict, it is too plain and papable for serious dispute. If no one else, the voters will decide in 2 1/2 years. Hope that you are doing well, Jay. God Bless. Deborah Hase On Thu, Jun 11, 2009 at 4:42 PM, Jay Moreno <jaymor@tds.net> wrote: This was posted at about 4:30 this afternoon on TOPIX, Kingsland: Sheepdog Saint Marys, GA Reply » Report Abuse Judge it! #237 8 min ago I have been contacted by two good sources that have told me when Debra Hase was mayor, that she and her husband Ken spent a few days at the Sea Island Resort at a cost of $10,000.00 but that Sea Island picked up the cost. Hummmm, me smells a skunk. Also, I have a copy of the Airport Authority minutes from April 5, 2004, where Mayor Debra Hase spoke to the Authority and said the "FAA would not fund the entire study because the price was too high. One option is to reduce the scope of the study." The part of the study that was omitted was the first part which assesses the ability of the current facility to meet current and future needs. Her husband Ken (who she had just recently put on the Authority) made the motion, "Motion by Hase to inform City Council that the Authority is not opposed to the deletion of the first part of the study,...voted to accept unanimously."She sure has worked real hard to shut Councilman Bird up and said he was guilty of violating ethics. He has had two complaints with no evidence to support the accusations of conflict of interest. I wonder how she would fair out under such scrutiny?

Better than a sharp stick in the eye but what is the federal fiscal logic behind this giveaway?

http://www.tribune-georgian.com/articles/2009/06/12/news/top_stories/1topstory6.12.txt

Savannah principal pays students from her own pocket for exceeding standards on CRCT.

http://savannahnow.com/node/737315 Your thoughts?

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

I've made my point, and , frankly, they bore me.

Yes, dear readers, I'm sure that you all now realize that TOPIX is peopled by miscreants and malcontents who are fiercely proud of their ignorance. Almost nothing they write is either truthful or logical. Exposing them for what they are and besting them at every turn was fun for a while, and needed doing. However, it's just too easy. Ergo, it's boring. Henceforward, unless they are engaged in an insufferably egregious attack on the truth of such import that it might damage the commonweal, I shall endeavor to ignore the fools. Note to TOPIX morons: "damage to the commonweal" does not involve a flat tire.

Wrong again, bozos!

Polk -a- Dot Kingsland, GA Reply » Report Abuse Judge it! #95 Yesterday Correct! Thats because I am sure Ms. Bowick informed him that the employee health insurance committee is indeed made up of herself, the two Daniels, B. Soles, etc. with very little if any representation from the actual "hourly" ranks which Moreno thought it was. The facts: I never asked and she never told me. To this very moment, I have no actual knowledge of who is actually on the committee and don't care. I don't care because the very premise of an employee (and the folks you morons tell me are on it ARE employees) "insurance committee" is a prima facie absurdity. In any organization where folks labor for paychecks, there are managerial people and non-managerial people. Non managerial people, by definition, should have no say in a managerial decision such as health insurance plan selection and administration. Moreover, in most organizations, in both the public and private sectors, that job falls to either the human resources shop or the risk manager. In Camden County government, it rests with the risk manager. The risk manager (along with several other hats she wears) is Staci Bowick. Ms Bowick , in consultation with the plan's third party administrator, is perfectly competent and capable of advising the county manager and, on his behalf, the county commissioners, on needed changes to the plan. Unfortunately, only two of our five commissioners have shown themselves to be up to the challenge of doing their part to control outrageously inflated costs in a lavishly overgenerous health care plan heavily subsidized by the heretofore unwitting taxpayers.

Of course not!

Rick Rogers Joined: May 31, 2007 Comments: 624 Seattle, WA Reply » Report Abuse Judge it! #132 56 min ago sandy feller wrote: i was just curious, why would my havivg been there before be considered a negative? Sandy would you vote to end executive session?Jay,I will ask you the same question:would you vote to end executive session? No, Rick, I would not, nor would anyone else who understands the legitimate need for executive session. The problem is not executive session, per se, but violations of what can and can not be done in executive session. I'm not certain without looking it up, but if what MAY be discussed in executive session (generally, pending real estate transactions and matters, personnel decisions, and legal matters) is not REQUIRED to be discussed in executive session, it probably should be. Having said that, if I were serving on an elected legislative body and we were in executive session, the very moment a member headed down an illegal path, I would advise him or her to stop. If he did not, I would abstain from participating, and then, immediately upon reconvening of the regular session, reveal to the public what violation(s) had occurred and who did it, despite my admonishment not to. My loyalties would be to the electorate and the law, not my fellow elected officials.

You tell 'em, T&G! Write on!

http://www.tribune-georgian.com/articles/2009/06/10/opinion/2opinion6.10.txt

Eskridge and "No Conflict" Bird team up for combined assault on The Camden Partnership at Monday's Lilliput council meeting.

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2009-06-10/story/st_marys_mayor_says_groups_interference_not_helping_airport_move

Ponder, if you will, the quality of the typical TOPIX mind which came up with this piercing question.

Marion Kingsland, GA Reply » Report Abuse Judge it! #117 11 hrs ago Politics wrote: Jay is going to find the answer to the most relevant question. Could the taxpayers save more by having a consolidated insurance plan for all city and county workers.. Don't you need the facilities and resources?

College of Coastal Georgia on the grow. Dorms on main campus by fall semester, 2011.

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2009-06-10/story/fine_arts_center_dorms_in_plans_for_college_of_coastal_georgia_preside

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

You, poor, poor, ignorant, red-necked, ass!

Manic Mouse Saint Marys, GA Reply » Report Abuse Judge it! #149 1 hr ago Manic Mouse wrote: My guess would be that they pay nothing for insurance coverage. That is why they like having a self insurance program. They can make the rules as they see fit. Mr. Moreno, I read your blog today and see that you have a new name for the people on Topix. Shibboleth's. Well thank you for using that one, I for one am very happy not to be in your class. My class of people are upstanding, generous, loving, god fearing and have low tolerance for your class. I am wondering if they are paying Ms. Bowich over 60,000. per year just to answer your silly questions? I do not believe anything I read on your blog, including Ms. Bowich's repies. Did you think to look up the definition of "shibboleth" before revealing to the world what an ignorant, uneducated ass you truly are? I doubt the clown owns a dictionary. Would someone else care to explain it to him?

No, you thought wrong - if you thought at all!

Birdy1 Kingsland, GA Reply » Report Abuse Judge it! #110 43 min ago I thought one had to be 65 to get on medicare...however...maybe medicaid would be the word. When you become disabled, at any age, if you have paid into Social Security for at least 30 quarters, you begin to receive Social Security Disability Benefits (SSDI) six months from the date of the onset of your disability. One year from the beginning of your disability payments, you become eligible for Medicare - which you have to pay for just like any other Medicare recipient. And, no, I did not remove my answer to that idiot, although I'm sure that he wishes I had given that his question revealed him so utterly as the fool he is.

Camden property tax bills may be delayed until July.

Mr. Moreno, There is no date set yet. We're looking at mid June or July depending on several laws being implemented this year. Thank you ----- Original Message ----- From: Jay Moreno To: camdenassessors@tds.net Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2009 7:57 AM Subject: Tax bills Mr. Daniel, This question came in to my blog, Camden Commentary, last night. Anonymous said... What is the status of the property appraisals for downtown Saint Marys? The projected date for mailing appraisals to property owners was 15th of May? I have not seen or heard anything about it? June 8, 2009 9:25 PM Could you tell me what the answer is? Thank you. Jay Moreno

The federal cow fart tax: coming soon to a supermarket near you?

http://www.businessandmedia.org/printer/2009/20090602135111.aspx

Left turn law clarified.

http://savannahnow.com/node/735432 Here's a local example I encounter almost daily. Imagine that you are traveling westbound on Colerain, approaching the intersection with Kings Bay Road. You want to turn left onto Kings Bay headed for Aunt B's or Walmart. The law requires that when you make that turn, you turn into the left hand lane of Kings Bay Road. If you want to change over to the right hand lane, the law requires you to travel a certain minimum number of yards in the left lane ( not sure, but I think it's fifty) before you change to the right. I always go about 100 yds before changing. I always do that to be sure that there are no high speed vehicles on Kings Bay in the right hand lane or impatient asses who turned left behind me, but immediately into the right hand lane unlawfully. If you are ever behind a left turning tractor-trailer in that situation, be warned that even though he may look like he is swinging into the right hand lane at first, he will be swinging back to the left. Don't try to turn inside of him into the left hand lane. Of course, if he does it right, the rear of the trailer will always block that left lane anyway.

Early retirements eased impact of schools budget shortfall.

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2009-06-09/story/early_retirements_help_budget_woes_in_camden_schools

Monday, June 8, 2009

Two more shibboleths of the TOPIX lunatic fringe bite the dust!

Click on images to enlarge.

Here's what Glynn County is doing with that seventh penny.

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2009-06-08/story/on_time_under_budget_and_ready_for_the_students

Record breaking Sunday.

Yesterday, 111 individuals visited this blog 565 times. Thats about twice the average for a Sunday. I'm not at all sure why, but glad to have y'all.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Green eco-weenies, rejoice! Here's a site for you.

http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2243569/sales-stall-prius-big-japan

A cautionary tale for county commissioners.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a.CwwA.37.g8&refer=worldwide

We have a 350 acre ATV park? Where is it?

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2009-06-07/story/muddy_parks_open_for_atvers_as_south_georgia_cracks_down_on_illegal_us

Sunday Funnies; Volume 67

Sex for the first time A girl asks her boyfriend to come over Friday night and have dinner with her parents. Since this is such a big event, the girl announces to her boyfriend that after dinner, she would like to go out and make love for the first time. Well, the boy is ecstatic, but he has never had sex before, so he Takes a trip to the pharmacist to get some condoms. He tells the pharmacist it's his first time and the pharmacist helps the boy for about an hour. He tells the boy everything there is to know about condoms and sex. At the register, the pharmacist asks the boy how many condoms he'd like to buy, a 3-pack, 10-pack, or family pack. The boy insists on the family pack because he thinks he will be rather busy, it being his first time and all. That night, the boy shows up at the girl's parents house and meets his girlfriend at the door. "Oh, I'm so excited for you to meet my parents,come on in!" The boy goes inside and is taken to the dinner table where the girl's parents are seated. The boy quickly offers to say grace and bows his head. A minute passes, and the boy is still deep in prayer, with his head down. Ten minutes pass, and still no movement from the boy. Finally, after 20 minutes with his head down, the girlfriend leans over and whispers to the boyfriend, "I had no idea you were this religious." The boy turns and whispers back, "I had no idea your father was a pharmacist.

Friday, June 5, 2009

150,000 hits and climbing!

I see the old hit counter went over 150,000 visits earlier today. Good show! I sure would appreciate it if each of my readers brought me just one more new reader this month. Remember, all you have to do is tell your friends to Google Camden Commentary. Thank you.

Thanks, reader, for a great idea!

Anonymous said... Steve Berry and Willis Keene deserve their own thread on this issue. The taxpayers are the MAJORITY, not the county workers. And why are we giving so much away in exemptions. These two guys are keepers...... June 5, 2009 4:57 PM June 5, 2009 5:32 PM Jay Moreno said... That's a very good point, and you just gave me a great idea. Henceforward, any elected official, in any Camden office, who would like to do a "guest post" on Camden Commentary" is more than welcome to do so. All he or she need do is, rather than submit it as a "comment," e-mail it to me at jaymor@tds.net. I will then promptly publish it as a post, verbatim, in its entirety. June 5, 2009 5:35 PM

Note to readers.

There are still new comments coming in on posts on the next previous page. You might want to scroll down and click on "Older Posts" to check them out. I invite your particular attention to the new comments on "Folks, the Camden County Jobs Program Insurance Committee needs your help." Readers are sending in some very interesting numbers on what they are paying for group health insurance in the private sector, as compared to the county employee premiums.

Can this relationship be saved? Should it?

http://www.tribune-georgian.com/articles/2009/06/05/news/top_stories/2topstory6.3.txt

And now, the T&G's coverage of Tuesday night's county commission meeting.

http://www.tribune-georgian.com/articles/2009/06/05/news/top_stories/1topstory6.5.txt

Product review.

Click on image to enlarge. No drooling on your keyboard, please.
When it comes to frozen entrees,they have really come a long, long way since the original Swanson's "T.V. Dinners." One of my favorite brands of late is Boston Market. They have just come out with a new one I recommend you try. It's called "Turkey Breast Medallions in a Cranberry Relish." Here's what it says on the box: "Our cranberry relish is a tantalizing blend of dried cranberries, pineapple, orange juice, raisins, onions, and jalapeno peppers with balsamic vinegar. It's a perfect complement to the roasted white meat turkey. Served with a side of our signature sweet potato casserole you're sure to love." And I did. It is really tasty. It comes one serving - 460 calories- to a box. As I recall, the price was north of $2.50 but south of $3.00. A tad high on carbs (64g) for us diabetics, but OK for an occasional treat. Try it - you'll like it. They are stocking it right now at Walmart. Not sure about other stores. Note to Cathy and Janie: I'll bet y'all could replicate this sauce. The balsamic vinegar might be a little pricey and the dried cranberries will make your food rep work a little harder, but cheap as turkey is, this dish might be good for y'all.

Green eco-weenies lose a big one on Cumberland.

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2009-06-05/story/park_service_clears_way_for_cumberland_island_vehicle_tours

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Special to TOPIX morons.

The dodo is an extinct bird. The expression is that he/she is "in deep doo doo." And yes, it is spelled "moron," not "maroon." You're ( not "your") welcome.

The county may be busted, but, thank godness, it will be tidy.

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2009-06-04/story/camden_county_becomes_a_keep_georgia_beautiful_community

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Folks, the Camden County Jobs Program Insurance Committee needs your help.

Apparently, from the moving testimony heard last night, most of the county employees have worked so long and loyally for Camden County that they are completely out of touch with the realities of the private sector. As you know, the majority of your county commissioners voted last night to abdicate their responsibility to set the county health plan benefits and rates to the employees themselves. Clearly, the Employee Health Insurance Committee needs some up-to-date info on the actual cost of comparable plans in the private sector. Now, we know from past experience that if I solicit anonymous input via the comments section of this blog, lying TOPIX vermin and self-interested county employees will queer the resulting info. Therefor, I would ask that some of you who work in the real world would e-mail me what you are currently paying per month for coverage for your whole family at your place of employment in the private sector. When I publish the results, your indentity will be protected. Please let me know whether or not your full family coverage includes dental and if your plan is a PPO (preferred provider organization.) My e-mail address is jaymor@tds.net. Thank you.

Judge affirms right to be buried in concrete.

http://savannahnow.com/node/732675

Amen to that! Go get 'em, David!

http://www.tribune-georgian.com/articles/2009/06/03/opinion/2opinion6.3.txt

Masochistic city council set to ink new contract with defiant, litigious, hobbyists on St. Marys Airport Autority.

http://www.tribune-georgian.com/articles/2009/06/03/news/top_stories/1topstory6.3.txt Meanwhile, Bird continues to vote. http://www.tribune-georgian.com/articles/2009/06/03/opinion/letters/02letter6.3.txt

Camden County sheriff's secretary indicted for credit card fraud.

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2009-06-03/story/camden_county_sheriffs_assistant_indicted_for_credit_card_fraud Before you ask, yes, I've read the article and I agree with he logic behind Sheriff Gregory's decision. Of course, Thuggies will howl that he should fire her now, then face a lawsuit if she is subsequently acquitted of the charges. She is NOT a sworn officer, is NOT accused of any wrong doing in her present job, and has no access to a county credit card or control of or access to county funds. Case closed until the jury is in.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Well, folks, they whimped out - just as we all knew they would.

Yes, folks, 3 out of 5 commissioners caved in tonight to the demands of the 347 or so county employees on the health plan and said to hell with the other 99.9 % of us taxpayers who do not work for the county. No changes to the health plan - NONE. The county budget passed as presented. I'll give full details of who said and did what tomorrow. I've got it all written down. I'm just way too damned disgusted at the moment. All but two of them MUST GO. We cannot afford these gutless wonders any longer. Wednesday, 7/3/2009: Good morning. During the first public comments section last night, three county employees - well, two current and one former - spoke to the proposed, exceedingly modest changes to the health plan. The first was Chris Gobel (sp?). He stated that he had had no salary increase in 11 years. I assume he meant that no one had had a salary increase in 11 years. If that is true, that is deplorable and a separate issue from health care which needs to be addressed - and in fact should have been addressed last night. He went on to say something to the effect that any change in benefits or premiums would be seen by the employees as a repudiation of the value of their work by the commission. The threat of retaliation at the polls hung heavily in the air. Next up was former tax commissioner Brenda Wainwright. She suggested that the employees had been deprived of "input" in the decision to make two cost saving changes and the first rate increase since 2004. When was the last time your boss checked with you before changing the health premiums where you work? It turns out that, believe it or not, there exists at the county government an "insurance committee" comprised of administrative staff members and rank- and-file employees. Wainright went on to speculate that if the committee had a say and the risk manager embarked on a campaign of going around to each department and personally pleading her case to all of the employees, why, the employees might just come to agree that they were paying way too little. Oh, yeah. That has obviously worked in the past as evidenced by the current sweetheart premiums. Lastly, Jimmy somebody, apparently the #2 dog in the tax assessor's office, also opined that the risk manager (Staci Bowick) needs to embark upon a comprehensive explaining and listening tour to solicit the understanding of all of the employees. Is that how it works where you work? Apparently, county government is not run so much like a business as it is a sheltered workshop. I hope you've had your breakfast already. Sickening, isn't it? When the time came to vote on it, the first crack in the dam came from Charlene Rebecca-of-Sunnybrook Farm Sears. She owhined that it just wasn't fair to the employees to not give them six months to a year to get used to the "idea" that a rate increase was coming. She said that she rarely gets any calls from anyone in District 4 on ANY issue (I wonder why?) but had gotten tons of calls on this issue. Not only did the calls come from whining county employees, but, according to Sears, from dozens of concerned and empathetic citizens concerned with the plight of the pitiful employees. Therefor, she made a motion to table the whole health care issue until January of 2010. When St. David, Patron Saint of Good Ol' Boys, called for a second, there was a long, pregnant poise. Finally, Berry broke the silence by seconding the motion "for purposes of discussion." Berry subsequently did not have much to say on the issue, but Keene spoke very eloquently on behalf of the best interests of the other 99.9 % of us who do not work for the county. Had he been addressing folks with spines, it would have been effective. Rainer then chimed in with his classic, beady-eyed, mealy, mumbly-mouthed explanation of how there was really no rush to make the changes and that the poor employees had not been allowed to have any input in the decision. Keene countered that it was the responsibility of the commissioners, not the employees, but to no avail. Zell clucked out a few timid and unmemorable utterances telegraphing that she was prepared to go with the flow. Rainer went through the laughable charade of harrumphing that the employees should clearly understand that there would have to be a rate increase of some amount NLT January and that they should prepare themselves for it. Keene then called bullshit on him by calling for them to vote in the changes last night with the understanding that the changes would take effect on January. You should have seen old Mealy-Mumbly Mouth backpedaling. In a last ditch effort, Staci Bowick got up and explained that A, if an employee went to the ER and the medical code for the visit turned out to be one considered a bona-fide emergency (i.e., and acute asthmatic attack), then the the proposed higher ER co-pay (versus current $100.00) of $250.00 would be waived; and B, if you had to go to a specialist and there was not an in-network specialist within 100 miles, the higher out-of-network co-pay would be waived and the lower in-network co-pay would be charged. These are standard features in virtually all PPOs, by the way. Mike Fender got up and spoke in support of making the changes now. All to no avail: the vote was 3 to 2 to table until January. Voting to table it (i.e., do absolutely nothing) until January were St. David, Sears, and Zell. Clearly, they need to go. We can rid ourselves of Sears and Zell as early as January 1, 2011. St. David will take a little longer, but he can be nullified with the right replacements for Sears and Zell. Berry and Keene were in favor of making the changes last night. They are both keepers - and have been for a while now. With regards to the budget, several folks spoke to it. Some Georgia Forestry Ranger spoke in favor of retaining the $4,800 dollars the county had been paying as a "supplement" to the salaries of 4 rangers assigned to Camden. That stayed cut entirely. Of course, Mr. Copeland spoke his personal detailed analysis of the budget. He started at 1822 HRS and finished at 1827 HRS, - a personal best for brevity. When it came time for the commissioners to speak, Berry led off. He gave the audience a lecture about how the problem was not really spending, but a lack of revenue. While he acknowledged that he economic downturn was a real problem, he said that the underlying problem is really the outrageous number of "tax exemptions" that the county has voted for various properties in the county. He said that the exemptions had cost the county $184 million in lost revenues in 2001; $198 million in 2007; and $207 million this fiscal year. He cited the local hospital and all of the 44 nearby medical office buildings as an example. All of that prime property is totally exempt from property taxes as a 501c3 tax-exempt organization. He went on to detail all of the e-mails he had received via his author's website complaining about the proposed health plan changes and the proposed, reduced budget. He strongly defended the actions of the commission and commended the hard work of the staff coming up with the budget. He also launched on the T&G for their failure to do anything but criticize without coming up with suggestions to cure the county's fiscal ills. Finally, Berry lectured Sheriff Gregory, who was in the front row, on how he was just going to have to get by on the+/- $5.8 million the CCBOC was giving him. (Gregory, at the end of the meeting, got up and rebutted Berry's comments, specifically denying Berry's characterization of his statements that he might have to seek a writ of mandamus for full funding when funds run out as a "threat.") Berry also warned that because property values have been frozen for the next three years, in the absence of millage rate increases, there will be very austere budgets for he next three years as well. Sears, who has obviously been reading this blog, quite surprisingly commented that we are in the fix we are in now because in prior years, the CCBOC had cut the millage rate too much. She did not go on to state WHY they (the Terrible Troika) had done that. She talked about how the CCSO would eventually have to be funded, no matter what and how the employees were long over due for a raise. She chewed (when she wasn't literally chewing like an ruminating ungulate on whatever she was eating at the dais last night) all around the edges of actually, emphatically suggesting that they should vote right then and there to increase the millage rate sufficiently to cover the nut for all of FY-10. St. David said a few ass-covering words to placate county employees, then they voted. The vote to adopt the budget as presented and maintain the current millage rate for FY-2010 was unanimous. At the end of the meeting, the new JDA Executive Director, David Keating, got up and introduced himself. His brief statement was far more impressive than the some total of all utterances by his two immediate predecessors. As I told him when I introduced myself after the meeting, he certainly does not have very big shoes to fill. Speaking of introductions, as I was qued up in the line of folks wanting to meet the new JDA director, Judge Lewis introduced herself to me and told me how much she enjoys this blog. Clearly, a woman of discernment, intelligence, and sound judgement.