Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Tonight's work session and county commission meeting.

I had intended to go, but as the day wore on, I got to feeling like I might be coming down with a cold or the flu so I bowed out. Here is an interesting account from TOPIX. lisa Saint Marys, GA Reply » Report Abuse Judge it! #42 23 min ago Well all we learned tonight is that Sherff Gregory had one month to prepare and it appeared that he took all of 1 minute to do so instead. I was shocked at the ill prepared state in which he gave his presentation. It was like he had no idea what is going on there. Then, to top it off, he threatened the commissioners with a cost to house inmates out of county. This was smartly shot down by Berry who told Gregory to do it if he wanted, but he was going to have to pay for it. Not us taxpayers. We also learned that Sears grew up on a prison and loves it. She also has no problem voting to spend taxpayers money, but is against spending taxpayers money. I know, it made no sense at the meeting either. She seems to have a strong desire to please Sheriff Gregory. A comment was made by the local newspaper reporter that her husband is a high ranking official with the Sheriff. If this is true, doesn't this harken back to the days of when she could not vote on Sheriff matters when she was an employee? Or does it not count now???? The reporter said that many citizens have asked him to check on the status of her husbands employment, and the votes that Sears has made since her departure from the Sheriffs office, but he had not had time. He then said that after this meeting, he has to wonder too. Oh well, not much gained from the work session, or the meeting following it. Seemed like a waste of time to drive all the way up there. Good night. Sorry I missed the part about Sears growing up on a prison. Anyone know the story on that? Who in the world was the blabbermouth reporter - if that's true? Any other first hand accounts out there?

12 comments:

Aaron said...

I was there and that account pretty much sums it up. The entire room was shocked when Tommy threatened the Commissioners the way he did. Then we all kind of sat bask as Steve took him to task on it. I feel Tommy lost a great oppurtunity to come out smelling like a rose bynot having another option, if not a few more. He really came off as sounding like the kid on the playground that has the baseball. "Play my way or I am going home" Steve Berry shot it down right out of the gate. He said "if we spend this 1.4 million we will be overcrowded exactly 24 hours after it is opened. This solution is makes no sense and we need to look at more sound options." Charlene did go on a rant about growing up on a prison farm, but she did not offer much in the way of ideas to the problem. Several folks remarked after the main meeting about her sudden affection to please Tommy and how her husband is a big shot at the Sheriffs office now. I have no idea who her husband is or her background so I just walked on out. The actual meeting offered little else other that a comment from a lady named Janet Heath. Evidently she has been doing some research on the site of the existing jail at Bryan Lang library and there are some records that report there is a slave cemetery on the site where the new jail is proposed. This could prove to be interesting. Before I retired, I did some minor research on a site in West Georgia that had a small slave graveyard that shut down a proposed steel plant. But who knows. Sorry you feel bad, but you did not miss much.

Jay Moreno said...

Excellent report - you're hired!

Do you recall where that prison farm was? I thought her political bio was that she was born and reared in St. Marys.

Anonymous said...

This just goes to show you that the Sheriff is arrogant and is not open minded to bring different solutions to a problem (overcrowding) he has let grow since taking office. Bonding procedures for misdemeanors who are county residents and not going to skip town would solve alot of hisissues. It's Tommy's way or else!

Jay Moreno said...

Arrogant? How soon you forget what arrogance in a sheriff actually looks like.

Anonymous said...

I agree Jay but Bill's took over twenty years to grow. Tommy's arrogance is right out of the box, first year. He should have a fresh mind that can come to the table with more than one solution to these issues.

Jay Moreno said...

Well, i suppose he could have put on a show of taking the audience trhrough all of the thought processes that winnowed out all of the options he did not choose before getting to the only one he thought viable given the dire straights the county treasury is in but it looks like he chose to cut straight to the chase.

So, what other solutions do you think he missed?

Anonymous said...

Sears' husband is no big shot at the Sheriff's Office. He isn't even a ranking officer. Boy site is worse than the paper when it comes to misinformation.

Jay Moreno said...

By the way, speaking of Chris Sears, is anyone at CCSo still out playing in a boat everyday, or is the fleet tied to the dock? Better yet, have any of those boats been sold yet?

Anonymous said...

None have been sold, Chris Sears runs them now for Tommy, but Chris Sears has to get approval from Tommy before putting them in the water. How sad is that. I think it's call micro management, but thats a guess. Keep up the faith for Tommy Jay, he really needs it.

true blue law dawg said...

Oh he is still running the boat. As far as not being a big shot. How about the special "operations" he has been given by the Sheriff. I work there and I know what goes on. This is no different then what happened with the previous administration, and I fully understand political favors. But please don't try and sell it to me as he just being a lowly officer.

Jay Moreno said...

How sad is that? Not sad at all, really, that is exactly as it should be. I do not believe that the CCSO should have a regular marine patrol function on a daily basis. They have, what, a half dozen boats? They should sell all but the best two and use them only for search and rescue when called for and possibly weekend patrols in the summer for boating DUIs.

For those of us who don't work at the CCSO, what "special 'oprations'" has Chris Sears been given by the sheriff?

Jay Moreno said...

Well, I had just barely finished typing that last comment when my phone rang. It was Sheriff Grgory. He gave me the facts. When he took office, the CCSO owned 12 boats! It now owns 4. I believe he said that seven of the other eight have been sold. The eighth was "given" to the rangewr at the Crooked River State Park. I say "given" because there is an understanding that in case of an emergency, the CCSO can use it.

Now, as to the remainig 4: 2 were kept for the use of the volunteer search and rescue unit when the need arises. The newest 2, including the celebrated 500 HP behemoth that Smith purchased last, are retained by the CCSO for posible patrols for riverine DUI enforcement during heavy use summer holidays and whatever other legitimate waterborn law enforcement activities may arise. The reason the most expensive one was kept (for now) is because insofar as it was purchased with drug money, I may not legally be sold until the CCSO has owned it for two years, When that date arrives, it will be sold.

There ARE NO regular marine patrolling activities from the CCSO. All remaining engines are turned over once per month, often idling at the dock.

If the need arises to put out, Chris Sears will go becuse he is the only remaining employee with a Coast Guard captain's license.

Our conversation went on for a good 30 minutes. For further details, see my remarks under today's post of the GTU coverage of Tuesday's commsiion meeting.